Monday was a version of “D Day” for me…actually more of “DD Day” as in daughter driving. Call it one of those defining moments for a parent and child when for the first time you’re in the passenger seat with your 16-year old behind the wheel. My Alex officially got her learner’s permit this weekend and when I picked her up at school after track practice yesterday she basically said “move over, I’m driving home.”
This was not the first time our roles were reversed but the previous driving experience was pretty much limited to an empty parking lot, not the often-congested area of downtown Toms River. Plus she did her training hours in a much smaller vehicle then my SUV which it appears about a year from now will be hers anyway.
So with that said at around 3:30pm we buckled up and proceeded south on Hooper Avenue for the trip between High School South and Beachwood which to me seemed more like a cross-country venture when it’s actually only a few miles. There were a few occasions when I told Alex to slow down, stay in her lane, etc but for the most part she did pretty well which is more of a credit to her driving instructor then yours truly. Learning to drive in local traffic is certainly not easy because everyone is in a hurry and other drivers don’t know that an inexperienced and probably terrified kid is behind the wheel. Actually I think I was more terrified than my daughter, who like all kids looks forward to the independence that will come when she turns 17 and gets her license. For now though she’ll have to be content driving with her Mom or Dad, getting criticized, cautioned and second-guessed. It’s one of those rites of passage that mark growing up from child to young adult or in my case from adult to much older adult.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
Big Blue & Bucket List
I don’t want to portray all Giant football fans as those who think the glass is half-empty but I can only imagine water-cooler talk today:
Fan #1- Boy am I glad Tony Romo got hooked up with that Jessica
Simpson because she did what our defense didn’t in the first
two games….stopped him dead in his tracks.
Fan #2- Yeah and Eli was okay but he’ll be terrible in Green Bay
because it’s going to be about 9 degrees at kickoff and
everyone knows he can’t play in the cold weather.
Actually Eli was better than just “okay” and regardless of what happens next he and Big Blue has far exceeded expectations of most of their fans and so-called experts. Plus how cool is it going to be to watch a game on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field Sunday Night?
One footnote to Sunday’s game. Did you notice that appearing on the sidelines in the final minutes was Dallas owner Jerry Jones? Not only did he show up but was standing right next to the head coach. Jones loves being on camera and I’m sure he wanted to be the focus of attention when Dallas pulled the game out…instead watching his agony over the loss was (as they say in the commercial)….priceless.
If you like a movie that has the ability to make you laugh and cry then don’t wait too long to see “The Bucket List” which has to be one of the best films I’ve seen in years. The pairing of Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman is simply perfect and this is a film that all adults will enjoy. We
saw it Saturday night at the Marquee Cinema in Toms River and when the movie ended the jammed theatre broke into a round of applause…something you rarely see. This is a terrific film!
Fan #1- Boy am I glad Tony Romo got hooked up with that Jessica
Simpson because she did what our defense didn’t in the first
two games….stopped him dead in his tracks.
Fan #2- Yeah and Eli was okay but he’ll be terrible in Green Bay
because it’s going to be about 9 degrees at kickoff and
everyone knows he can’t play in the cold weather.
Actually Eli was better than just “okay” and regardless of what happens next he and Big Blue has far exceeded expectations of most of their fans and so-called experts. Plus how cool is it going to be to watch a game on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field Sunday Night?
One footnote to Sunday’s game. Did you notice that appearing on the sidelines in the final minutes was Dallas owner Jerry Jones? Not only did he show up but was standing right next to the head coach. Jones loves being on camera and I’m sure he wanted to be the focus of attention when Dallas pulled the game out…instead watching his agony over the loss was (as they say in the commercial)….priceless.
If you like a movie that has the ability to make you laugh and cry then don’t wait too long to see “The Bucket List” which has to be one of the best films I’ve seen in years. The pairing of Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman is simply perfect and this is a film that all adults will enjoy. We
saw it Saturday night at the Marquee Cinema in Toms River and when the movie ended the jammed theatre broke into a round of applause…something you rarely see. This is a terrific film!
Friday, January 11, 2008
Friday Thoughts
Just a few random thoughts and notes heading into the weekend:
For quite a few of you life has or will be returning to normal as your children return to college after a long holiday break. My son heads back to Penn State today for his final semester and while we will miss him dearly we won’t miss him coming home at bizarre hours and deciding to raid the kitchen. Actually the next time he comes home we would hope it’s to gather his belongings in preparation for his first job.
Ironically I was out last night (drinking diet soda) with five of my longtime friends from our days at Ocean County College. Even though it was some thirty years ago our conversations always center on the same things we don’t want our children to do today. Sort of a “do as I say, not as I did” kind of thing.
The Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce will hold a special luncheon next Wednesday (January 16th) at Woodlake Country Club to present Pinnacle Leaderships Awards to OceanFirst Bank Senior Vice-President Nina Anuario and the Toms River Township Police Department, represented by Chief Mike Mastronardy. Both were past recipients of the Chamber’s Distinguished Citizen and Organization of the Year Awards and continue to contribute to the betterment of the community. For ticket information you can call the chamber office at (732) 349-0220.
It’s a bit disappointing that retiring Congressman Jim Saxton is backing Medford Mayor Chris Myers to replace him in Washington because it’s about time for Ocean County to have representation in the 3rd congressional district. Myers will be challenged by Ocean County Freeholder Jack Kelly in the June 3rd Republican primary and there could be quite a battle between the two.
I’m glad the Giants and Cowboys game is this weekend because I’m really tired of hearing about Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson. Here’s hoping the Giants pull off the upset and we don’t have to hear about the couple again until they announce they are no longer together, which is inevitable. Unfortunately I think Dallas will beat “Big Blue” for the third time this season.
For quite a few of you life has or will be returning to normal as your children return to college after a long holiday break. My son heads back to Penn State today for his final semester and while we will miss him dearly we won’t miss him coming home at bizarre hours and deciding to raid the kitchen. Actually the next time he comes home we would hope it’s to gather his belongings in preparation for his first job.
Ironically I was out last night (drinking diet soda) with five of my longtime friends from our days at Ocean County College. Even though it was some thirty years ago our conversations always center on the same things we don’t want our children to do today. Sort of a “do as I say, not as I did” kind of thing.
The Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce will hold a special luncheon next Wednesday (January 16th) at Woodlake Country Club to present Pinnacle Leaderships Awards to OceanFirst Bank Senior Vice-President Nina Anuario and the Toms River Township Police Department, represented by Chief Mike Mastronardy. Both were past recipients of the Chamber’s Distinguished Citizen and Organization of the Year Awards and continue to contribute to the betterment of the community. For ticket information you can call the chamber office at (732) 349-0220.
It’s a bit disappointing that retiring Congressman Jim Saxton is backing Medford Mayor Chris Myers to replace him in Washington because it’s about time for Ocean County to have representation in the 3rd congressional district. Myers will be challenged by Ocean County Freeholder Jack Kelly in the June 3rd Republican primary and there could be quite a battle between the two.
I’m glad the Giants and Cowboys game is this weekend because I’m really tired of hearing about Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson. Here’s hoping the Giants pull off the upset and we don’t have to hear about the couple again until they announce they are no longer together, which is inevitable. Unfortunately I think Dallas will beat “Big Blue” for the third time this season.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Remembering Rich Petrosino
I’m often reminded of something my father said years ago…”the worst thing about getting older is you know more people who die.” Of course that’s something you expect with age but in a perfect world you wish young people would be immune from dealing with the reality and finality of losing a loved one way before their time. However we know far too well that is often not the case and I don’t have to look very hard for a pair of recent examples.
Just last week I attended the wake of 23-year old Keith Howells, who for many years was part of a soccer team I coached in Beachwood. It was a picture of Keith displayed at the service that provided comfort and allowed me to smile at a time of sadness. It was one of those posed sports pictures in which Keith was in his soccer uniform with that Cheshire grin that I will always remember him for.
Friday I will join many in paying respects to the family of Rich Petrosino, who passed away this week at age 44…another victim of cancer. The Toms River resident was a graduate of then-St. Joseph’s High School and was a fixture when it came to youth sports, coaching just about everything. That’s because his three children were and are very involved…oldest son Rick played baseball at Toms River South and is now in college, daughter Nikki is a sophomore who plays three varsity sports at South where youngest son Steven is a talented three-sport freshman as well.
I actually got to know Rich just a few summers ago when Steven’s Toms River Little League team won the state title and made it to the regional’s which we broadcast from Bristol, CT. He and his wife Kelly were the type of youth sports parents you welcomed….enthusiastically supporting their children in a very positive manner.
This death is especially difficult for my 16-year old daughter who counts Nikki as among her best friends. As a matter of fact she and another friend came on a cruise with us last summer and we had a really great time with the three girls. My daughter Alex has such a strong feeling of inadequacy and almost frustration in not knowing how to comfort someone she cares about.
Sadly was we get older that feeling never changes.
Just last week I attended the wake of 23-year old Keith Howells, who for many years was part of a soccer team I coached in Beachwood. It was a picture of Keith displayed at the service that provided comfort and allowed me to smile at a time of sadness. It was one of those posed sports pictures in which Keith was in his soccer uniform with that Cheshire grin that I will always remember him for.
Friday I will join many in paying respects to the family of Rich Petrosino, who passed away this week at age 44…another victim of cancer. The Toms River resident was a graduate of then-St. Joseph’s High School and was a fixture when it came to youth sports, coaching just about everything. That’s because his three children were and are very involved…oldest son Rick played baseball at Toms River South and is now in college, daughter Nikki is a sophomore who plays three varsity sports at South where youngest son Steven is a talented three-sport freshman as well.
I actually got to know Rich just a few summers ago when Steven’s Toms River Little League team won the state title and made it to the regional’s which we broadcast from Bristol, CT. He and his wife Kelly were the type of youth sports parents you welcomed….enthusiastically supporting their children in a very positive manner.
This death is especially difficult for my 16-year old daughter who counts Nikki as among her best friends. As a matter of fact she and another friend came on a cruise with us last summer and we had a really great time with the three girls. My daughter Alex has such a strong feeling of inadequacy and almost frustration in not knowing how to comfort someone she cares about.
Sadly was we get older that feeling never changes.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Nothing Serious For Wednesday
Today is one of those days in which I can’t address anything serious and need to just focus on things as trivial as the weather, which by the way has been terrific. We all know that winter will make its presence known before too long but we’re gaining daylight each day and it’s only 85 days until the Lakewood BlueClaws season-opener.
Speaking of the BlueClaws they will host the Phillies annual Winter Tour in Lakewood on Friday, January 18th at Eagle Ridge Golf Club. Scheduled to appear as part of a sit-down dinner are Phills manager Charlie Manuel, pitcher Kyle Kendrick (who played in Lakewood), catcher Chris Coste and new Phillies radio broadcaster Tom McCarthy, a graduate of Brick Memorial High School. Tickets are available by calling (732) 901-7000 or visiting the team’s web site… BlueClaws,com.
Brendan Burke, the radio voice of the BlueClaws whose games are carried on 1160AM and our Shore Sports Network spends his winter broadcasting hockey for the Wheeling (West Va.) Nailers. Burke has been named to he broadcast team for the ECHL All-Star game in Stockton, California later this month, quite an honor in just his second year behind the microphone. He will be returning to Lakewood in the spring to resume his duties with the BlueClaws.
The Toms River North boy’s basketball team has been on quite a roll since a season-opening loss to Toms River South. The Mariners beat Southern Tuesday for their 9th straight victory as they remain atop the Class A South standings. Andrew Bilodeau is in his first season as head coach after replacing the retired Bob Nastase but Bilodeau had success previously as the head coach at Manchester. North has been led by the play of Steve Nyisztor, who was MVP of the WOBM Christmas Classic.
I did want to mention an act of kindness with a sports twist. Michael Adamski Jr. is in his first year at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis after graduating from Lacey Township High School last June. He was one of four recipients of $500 Christmas Classic scholarships but he immediately donated his check to Ocean County College to help fund the education of a student with learning disabilities. That’s a young man who truly understands that giving can be better than receiving.
Speaking of the BlueClaws they will host the Phillies annual Winter Tour in Lakewood on Friday, January 18th at Eagle Ridge Golf Club. Scheduled to appear as part of a sit-down dinner are Phills manager Charlie Manuel, pitcher Kyle Kendrick (who played in Lakewood), catcher Chris Coste and new Phillies radio broadcaster Tom McCarthy, a graduate of Brick Memorial High School. Tickets are available by calling (732) 901-7000 or visiting the team’s web site… BlueClaws,com.
Brendan Burke, the radio voice of the BlueClaws whose games are carried on 1160AM and our Shore Sports Network spends his winter broadcasting hockey for the Wheeling (West Va.) Nailers. Burke has been named to he broadcast team for the ECHL All-Star game in Stockton, California later this month, quite an honor in just his second year behind the microphone. He will be returning to Lakewood in the spring to resume his duties with the BlueClaws.
The Toms River North boy’s basketball team has been on quite a roll since a season-opening loss to Toms River South. The Mariners beat Southern Tuesday for their 9th straight victory as they remain atop the Class A South standings. Andrew Bilodeau is in his first season as head coach after replacing the retired Bob Nastase but Bilodeau had success previously as the head coach at Manchester. North has been led by the play of Steve Nyisztor, who was MVP of the WOBM Christmas Classic.
I did want to mention an act of kindness with a sports twist. Michael Adamski Jr. is in his first year at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis after graduating from Lacey Township High School last June. He was one of four recipients of $500 Christmas Classic scholarships but he immediately donated his check to Ocean County College to help fund the education of a student with learning disabilities. That’s a young man who truly understands that giving can be better than receiving.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Roger Said, Brian Said
After watching the latest edition of the Clemens-McNamee almost family-feud I’m more confused then ever. Roger Clemens held a news conference in Houston Monday and after an opening statement by his attorney we all got to hear a 17-minute phone conversation that took place the other day between the pitcher and his former personal trainer, Brian McNamee. He’s the person who told investigators that he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone which was revealed in the Mitchell Report last month.
Obviously McNamee did not know the phone conversation was being recorded which was legal in this case. He sounded very shaky and emotional and talked about the health problems his son is experiencing. Clemens, who continues to deny ever taking any steroids said at one point on the tape “I’m telling the truth and I want it out there” to which McNamee responded “Tell me what you want me to do. I’ll go to jail. I’ll do whatever you want.”
However what left my wife and I both perplexed (and probably many of you) was that at no point did McNamee offer to say he lied about Clemens taking steroids and more puzzling was the fact that Clemens never asked him to come forward and say that. While his attorney would later say he did not want to appear like he was coercing a federal witness it just seemed like the logical thing would have been for him to say “Brian, just come forward and tell people the truth that I never took steroids and all you injected me with was B-12 and a pain killer.”
I’ll be honest in that I don’t know what to make of this story in which Clemens has now sued his ex-trainer for defamation and next week will appear before a congressional hearing in Washington and testify about steroids in baseball. He said yesterday he will tell them “everything I know about the situation but he admitted that’s not all that much.”
One thing is for sure…this story won’t be going away soon.
Obviously McNamee did not know the phone conversation was being recorded which was legal in this case. He sounded very shaky and emotional and talked about the health problems his son is experiencing. Clemens, who continues to deny ever taking any steroids said at one point on the tape “I’m telling the truth and I want it out there” to which McNamee responded “Tell me what you want me to do. I’ll go to jail. I’ll do whatever you want.”
However what left my wife and I both perplexed (and probably many of you) was that at no point did McNamee offer to say he lied about Clemens taking steroids and more puzzling was the fact that Clemens never asked him to come forward and say that. While his attorney would later say he did not want to appear like he was coercing a federal witness it just seemed like the logical thing would have been for him to say “Brian, just come forward and tell people the truth that I never took steroids and all you injected me with was B-12 and a pain killer.”
I’ll be honest in that I don’t know what to make of this story in which Clemens has now sued his ex-trainer for defamation and next week will appear before a congressional hearing in Washington and testify about steroids in baseball. He said yesterday he will tell them “everything I know about the situation but he admitted that’s not all that much.”
One thing is for sure…this story won’t be going away soon.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Post-Vacation Catch Up
The last time we were together I was wishing you a good holiday so you know it’s been some time. I spent most of it at the Ritacco Center in Toms River where the 24th annual WOBM Christmas Classic concluded with championships for the Toms River North Boys and Colts Neck Girls.
My special thanks to an incredibly hard-working staff which makes those very long 14-hour days not only bearable but a lot of fun at times. We’ll begin working this month on our 25th anniversary tournament, which will truly be something special.
If Roger Clemens is going down he’s not going easy. The much-talked-about “60 Minutes” interview aired Sunday night in which Clemens reiterated his defense of never taking any performance-enhancing substances, which he has been accused of by his former personal trainer Brian McNamee. The interview conducted by Mike Wallace did not reveal anything not brought up before but Clemens admitted shock that his former teammate and close friend Andy Pettitte had used human growth hormones on a pair of occasions.
Just before the interview aired Clemens filed a defamation suit against McNamee in a Texas State Court and is expected to talk about that later today at a news conference in Houston.
There was a time when visiting a New Jersey Motor Vehicle Agency was an experience which you would put off until the last possible moment because it was often time-consuming and frustrating. Last week I strolled into the Toms River office in need of renewing my driver’s license and was greeted by a smiling receptionist and helpful people. I was in and out in just over 15 minutes…what a pleasure.
Some Rutgers football fans are making a bit too much out of this weekend’s bowl-game victory over Ball State. Sure it’s a nice way to end the season but the Scarlet Knights lost five games and much more was expected then a trip to the International Bowl. Plus it looks like their best player, running back Ray Rice is headed to the NFL. This is a far cry from last year when Rutgers was the talk of college football.
My special thanks to an incredibly hard-working staff which makes those very long 14-hour days not only bearable but a lot of fun at times. We’ll begin working this month on our 25th anniversary tournament, which will truly be something special.
If Roger Clemens is going down he’s not going easy. The much-talked-about “60 Minutes” interview aired Sunday night in which Clemens reiterated his defense of never taking any performance-enhancing substances, which he has been accused of by his former personal trainer Brian McNamee. The interview conducted by Mike Wallace did not reveal anything not brought up before but Clemens admitted shock that his former teammate and close friend Andy Pettitte had used human growth hormones on a pair of occasions.
Just before the interview aired Clemens filed a defamation suit against McNamee in a Texas State Court and is expected to talk about that later today at a news conference in Houston.
There was a time when visiting a New Jersey Motor Vehicle Agency was an experience which you would put off until the last possible moment because it was often time-consuming and frustrating. Last week I strolled into the Toms River office in need of renewing my driver’s license and was greeted by a smiling receptionist and helpful people. I was in and out in just over 15 minutes…what a pleasure.
Some Rutgers football fans are making a bit too much out of this weekend’s bowl-game victory over Ball State. Sure it’s a nice way to end the season but the Scarlet Knights lost five games and much more was expected then a trip to the International Bowl. Plus it looks like their best player, running back Ray Rice is headed to the NFL. This is a far cry from last year when Rutgers was the talk of college football.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
