Friday Thoughts

Thursday was a stark reminder that being a police officer means you go to work each day not knowing what to expect. Four members of the Lakewood Police Department were shot while executing a search warrant and for all but one the injuries don’t appear serious. By the way two of the cops were helped by the fact they were shot in their bulletproof vests. It does make you think about what law enforcement officials face on a daily basis and the burden that’s often placed on their families.

The Borough of Beachwood will hold its annual town wide Yard Sale this weekend. Participants, including my family can be identified by balloons which will be displayed on their mail boxes. Please stop by and purchase everything.

This is the first weekend of fall and according to Alan Kasper it will feel very fall-like at high school football games. Tonight the Shore Sports Network will be at Toms River East’s Dvorak Field as the Raiders host cross-town rival Toms River South. The game features two of the most exciting players around in East’s Nico Steriti and the Indians Rob Whitfield.

We will broadcast the game on 105.7 The Hawk, 1160 WOBM AM and Fox Sports 1310. Tonight’s other key games include Howell hosting Jackson Memorial, Brick is at Middletown North, Monsignor Donovan plays host to Point Beach, Barnegat entertains Pinelands and Manchester travels to Ocean.

My predictions on these and all the other games involving teams from Ocean and Monmouth County appear in today’s Asbury Park Press where I’m putting my reputation on the line against six of their sportswriters. I am in last place after two weeks but there’s a long way to go.

There will be a couple of golf outings on Columbus Day, October 12th that will help benefit high school athletic programs. The football and baseball programs from Central Regional will hold their Fall Golf Classic at Cedar Creek Golf Course in Bayville. Meanwhile the Toms River East Parents Baseball Association and Toms River South Diamond Club will hold their 5th annual outing at Sea Oaks Country Club in Little Egg Harbor.