A Spectacular Weekend

A little of this and a little of that after a spectacular beach weekend at the Jersey Shore:

It was a simply magnificent weekend after quite a bit of rain Friday night for most of us. The ocean was quite rough on Saturday with dangerous rip tides which kept lifeguards quite busy. However things quieted down by Sunday which was as nice a beach day as we’ve had all summer with ideal water conditions as well. My daughter and I went over to our favorite spot in Seaside Park very early and within an hour of so had a group sit no more than 5 feet away from us when there was plenty of room. I bit my tongue and did not say anything but later moved…I must be getting soft in my old age. I think later this week we’ll bring back my beach rules reminder.

While you might not have World Cup fever you have to admit that the way the U.S. women beat Brazil Sunday was nothing short of miraculous. Playing shorthanded for a good part of the game they scored in the final moments of injury time on a great play to send the game to penalty kicks where the Americans prevailed 5-3. Next up is a semifinal date with France on Wednesday. The captain of the U.S. team is 36-year old Christie Rampone, a former Point Pleasant Borough and Monmouth University standout who now lives in Manasquan.

Brick and Toms River American won a pair of games in the District 18 Little League Tournament over the weekend and have put themselves in the best position to represent the Ocean County area on the road to Williamsport. In the semifinals yesterday, Brick topped Holbrook 13-5 and Toms River American beat Jackson 11-3 and the two winners will face one another tomorrow night in Berkeley. Holbrook and Jackson are still alive in the tournament and will also play tomorrow night with the loser bowing out of the tournament. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday.

Don’t you have to believe the guy who caught the Derek Jeter home run and 3,000th hit baseball Saturday is now having second thoughts? 23-year old Christian Lopez traded in the ball for season tickets for the rest of the year and some autographed items and said asking for money never entered his mind. However now that he’s probably been told the ball was worth at least $250,000 and maybe a lot more you have to wonder.