Football-less Friday

A couple of random notes heading into the first weekend without pro football since early September.

I still love broadcasting high school sports and one of the reasons why is doing a basketball game from Gepp Gym at Monsignor Donovan High School. It’s no Ritacco Center but always makes me feel nostalgic about the way things used to be as it serves as both a gym and auditorium and we broadcast last nights Donovan-Central game from the stage. There is nothing like that gym packed with fans that are right on top of the court and of course in good times the student section called “The Pit” makes it a nightmare for visiting players. Many years ago we had a basketball team at the radio station and the WOBM “No Stars” would annually play a game against the Donovan faculty and it was comical to have those students rip you each time you did something wrong. It was also great to see former Griffins coach and Athletic Director Steve Gepp at the game. He is truly one of the best people I have met in my years covering sports and he
was a lot of fun to watch on the bench for so many years. By the way the Griffins rolled to an easy win and they are a team to watch as six of their top seven players are underclassmen. Included in that group are a pair of impressive sophomores in guard Sean Grennan and 6’5 center Anthony Duszczak, who scored 18 points and was our player of the game.

January is National Mentoring Month and the theme for that at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County is “expand your universe; mentor a child! Right now there are 75 children, most of them boys on the waiting list for a mentor to come into their life. If you have even thought about getting involved now is the time to find out how you can make a difference. Big Brothers Big Sisters will hold an Open House at their office in Lakewood on 85 Williams Street on Wednesday, January 28th from 3-7pm. You can meet the staff, Board of Directors and “Bigs” and “Littles” to find out more about a program that has changed lives. For information you can call the office at
(732) 905-5349 or visits bbbsoc@optonline.net.