Remembering William Frank Sr.

If you’ve been to a baseball game at Toms River South or Toms River East over the years there’s a pretty good chance you’ve seen William Frank Sr.

You might not have known who he was but you’ve probably seen him because he didn’t miss many games when the Indians and Raiders were at home. One of my rituals when attending a game at South in recent years was to seek Mr. Frank and his wife out because they would often sit in their car next to the bleachers down the right field line and watch from there. It’s not like they couldn’t get better seats…I mean the baseball stadium is named after their oldest son but they liked that vantage point.
They rooted for the Indians and the Raiders with passion, except on those days when the teams played one another. This was pure torture for William and Julia because it meant their boys would play one another which of course would result in one of them losing. So when Ken’s Toms River South Indians went up against Bill’s Toms River East Raiders the parents would basically just pray that when it was over the two would still be speaking to one another.

I could only imagine what it was like when the boys were growing up in Jersey City because I’m sure there was a fight or two which Dad had to eventually settle in one fashion or another. Both were very competitive and that really didn’t change all that much as they grew into adults and became fathers themselves. I remember quite well a period years ago in which their coaching rivalry went over the top and they ended up in a feud in which they weren’t speaking to one another. Mom and Dad were not happy and you could cut the tension with a knife. The boys of course finally settled their differences and like their parents always preached are best friends and each other’s biggest fans…except of course when they play one another.

William Frank Sr. got as much joy as any parent could in watching the success of his two son’s and being a part of hundreds of victories and plenty of championships on the baseball field. Just as important was watching six grandchildren grow up because family was always #1.

After a long illness he passed away this week at the age of 89 and he’d be the first to tell you he had a great ride. Family and friends will gather tomorrow at the Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals on St. Catherine Boulevard in Toms River to say their goodbyes. Not seeing his car parked at Ken Frank Stadium will be a sad reminder that he’s gone but he’ll still be watching from the best seat in the house.

The Return Of Winter

For the past several years we have wondered what happened to the winters many of us remember when we were younger. The ones featuring ice skating (outside), sledding and mornings when we turned to the radio looking for the news that school was closed. Let’s face it, with few exceptions there wasn’t much use for sleds, snow blowers and shovels the last decade or so. When we got slammed with a huge and surprising snow storm before Christmas there were two schools of thought….this was our one big snowfall for the winter OR this was a preview of things to come.
Needless to say we all now know which of those scenarios turned out to be prophetic.

Welcome to the winter in which snow blowers are precious, snow plows are gold mines and kids with ambition can earn plenty of cash. Not only are we getting more than our fair share of snow but unlike any year I can remember….South Jersey is taking it on the chin even more than the northern part of the state. It seemed for years we would talk about how being close to the coast always meant we got rain when others received snow but that has not been the case this time around. Depending on what happens today we’ll have had two significant snow events in a matter of days that will have produced more snow then we’ve had in many winter seasons.

While all of this may be welcome news to kids who love having days off from school it is wreaking havoc in many other circles. First you have parents who have to scramble now that kids are home because they both might have to work. Then you have the strain this is putting on towns, counties and the state in terms of manpower and cost. Budgets for overtime are being blown up and public works employees are being pushed to the brink in some cases and road salt is becoming a premium item. If that’s not enough at a time when businesses need all the help they can get the snow is an unwelcome visitor that has resulted in reduced revenues.
With Valentine’s Day and President’s Day coming up this is usually a busy time for many but today and maybe even tomorrow will be largely lost.

One thing is for sure….nobody will ask the question, what ever happened to winter because it’s here.

A Super Night

Going into Super Bowl 44 there were surveys that indicated just as many people were interested in watching the commercials as the game itself. The good news is both provided drama and plenty of laughs as well Sunday night.

While the Saints 14-point win was actually the largest margin of victory since 2003 the final score was very deceiving. New Orleans and Indianapolis waged a terrific battle and it appeared the game was heading into overtime until Tracy Porter’s interception return for a touchdown secured the win for the Saints with just over three minutes left. The game was well-played with only one turnover and four punts and featured two quarterbacks at the top of their game until Peyton Manning’s ill-timed interception gave New Orleans the NFL Championship in their first-ever Super Bowl appearance. How could you not be happy for Drew Brees and the Saints and while the media may overdue the story about how this has helped heal the Hurricane-ravaged city there is no doubt it’s been a big help.

As for the commercials….well everyone has their favorites but there were several that stand out for me and they include:

1. The E-Trade ad with the baby talking with his girlfriend
2. Snickers commercial featuring Betty White & Abe Vigoda.
3. The Doritos ads featuring the man in the casket, the dog getting revenge and the little boy lecturing the man dating his mom.
4. Volkswagen ad with the punching game.
5. The Budweiser commercial with the Clydesdale and friend.
6. Bud Light commercials with the asteroid threat and house made of beer cans.
7. I also liked the remake of the Chicago Bears Super Bowl shuffle for Boost Mobile.

All in all Sunday gave us a very good game that was not decided until the end and some memorable commercials and you really can’t ask for much more.

Letter Of Intent Day

Things certainly have come a long way when it comes to the football program at Monmouth University and you only have to look at the last week or so for proof. Last Sunday Hawks coach Kevin Callahan was in South Florida watching a former player, Miles Austin start for the NFC team in the Pro Bowl game. A couple of days later Callahan was at the podium announcing the latest recruiting class for the Hawks and it’s a group that has him very excited about the future for the Blue and White. Not that long ago there was not much interest over this but the success of the program has made many open their eyes to what’s taking place in West Long Branch.
Austin’s breakout year in Dallas and tight end John Nalbone playing for the Dolphins gives Monmouth two NFL players and who knows if there’s a future pro among the 17 student-athletes who signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday.

Heading up that group are seven shore area high school standouts, including a pair of defensive standouts who could make an impact as freshman. Manchester’s Jimmy Lawson turned down a wrestling scholarship to Rutgers to play football for the Hawks and the 6’, 285 defensive tackle should fill a big void for Monmouth. For Manasquan’s Dan Sullivan the question will be how quick he can adjust to a position change as he’ll move from defensive end in high school to the linebacker spot at college. Both Sullivan and Lawson will be joined by high school teammates
as the new class includes Squan wide receiver Neal Sterling and Hawks offensive lineman Josh Siemanowicz. Other shore players headed to Monmouth are Raritan running back Jesse Raymond, Howell wide receiver Phil Adamo and Colts Neck kicker Eric Spillane.

Among yesterday’s other notable football signings saw Barnegat’s first-ever Division 1 recruit Jarrett Darmstatter sign with Boston College and Central’s Adam Skidmore ink a Letter of Intent to Tulane University. Ocean County’s consensus Player of the Year, Toms River East’s Nico Steriti signed with the University of New Hampshire. Steriti made a verbal commitment to the Naval Academy last month but changed his mind shortly after returning from Annapolis.

Ground Hogs, Volleyballs & Commitments

I’m all for the tradition that comes with Groundhogs Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania but somebody needs to investigate what’s going on there.
It was cloudy on Gobbler’s Knob and throughout most of Pennsylvania yesterday morning when Phil came out and yet somehow saw his shadow which legend says will bring six more weeks of winter. I think the only reason there was a shadow was because of all the TV lights….seems like those who make up the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle had already decided the outcome even before Phil could make his prediction.

Eric Maxwell has done a tremendous job building both the Girls and Boys Volleyball programs at Southern Regional High School. The Rams have become a state power in both and last fall the girls team won a state-record 40 games as Maxwell was named Asbury Park Press Coach of the Year.
However much of that good has been wiped out by an incident that has gone public this week and the 45-year old Maxwell deserves better. A video has surfaced from a game back in October in which the coach hits one of his own players in the head with a ball. Maxwell has said that it was a mistake that came out of frustration and the day after the game issued a letter of apology to the parents on his team. The story has taken on new life 3 ½ months later because a video shot by someone from Cherry Hill East made its way onto web sites like YouTube. I have watched it several times and while it’s a bit shocking school officials had already handled the matter and placed Maxwell on probation. If the unidentified player and her family are okay with everything then its time to move on. Maxwell has done a lot of good for his players, school and sport and that should not be forgotten.

Today is probably the single most important day in college football. It’s National Letter of Intent Signing Day as recruits can finally sign binding contracts with the colleges of their choice. Among the most highly-recruited high school players from the shore area were Jarrett Darmstetter from Barnegat who will sign with Boston College and Raritan’s Bennett Jackson, who is headed to Notre Dame. Both will appear on the “Shore Sports Report” today which airs on 1160 WOBM AM between 3-6pm and will be broadcast live from Monmouth University as the Hawks announce their new recruits.

Valentine's Day Advice For Men

Today of course is Groundhog Day as men in tuxedos in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania gather and watch Phil come out of his burrow on Gobbler’s Knob to predict the weather for the rest of the winter. Not truth to the rumor that the groundhog and Allan Kasper are close personal friends.

Anyway I don’t want to get into detail about that but rather this morning offer a public service to our male listeners because we are less than two weeks away from Valentine’s Day. With that in mind I have a list of some things you should never ever ask a woman. While inquiring about her age is an obvious one there are another dozen or so statements and questions you would better off keeping to yourself because nothing good can come out of saying the following:

• Why aren’t your married?
• What did you do to your hair?
• Your best friend is really hot!
• You aren’t one of those feminists, are you?
• You’re really cute when you’re mad.
• That’s not the way my ex did it.
• You sound just like your mother.
• Do you really think you should be eating that?
• So when are you due? (This is an obvious reference to a pregnant woman but please make sure she is pregnant before you ask).
• Relax!
• Do you really need another pair of shoes?
• What’s the big deal; you have another birthday next year.
• I don’t care…whatever you want. It doesn’t matter to me.
• Is it that time of month? (Should need no explanation).
• So how old are you really? (I know I said this is obvious but some guys continue to make the mistake).

I am still looking for the follow-up list of things women should never say to men. It would start with, “what’s the big deal, it’s only a game.”

College Choices

I guess by now many of you know that calling me a fan of Penn State University would be a gross understatement. Sure much of this has to do with their football team but it actually goes further than that and for four years we were proud Penn State parents as my son graduated in 2008. For the past several months we have been going through the college process again with my daughter Alex and while everyone assumed she too would be a Nittany Lion I don’t think at first she wanted to follow in her brother’s footsteps. However as time went on Penn State became her first choice and it was one of the half dozen schools she applied to in the fall.

The first school she heard from was Michigan State and when she was accepted into their College of Communications it became a place she would seriously consider. It had everything Alex wanted, a big school with big-time sports and great school spirit. She liked what she heard from students there and we scheduled a campus visit late last week. Meantime while she was accepted into other schools she was still waiting to hear from Penn State and a decision was expected by the end of January. We decided that she and I would make the visit to East Lansing and just before we left last Thursday she got the word she was waiting for….acceptance into PSU for the fall semester. We were all very happy, especially my son who now figured he was a place to crash for the next four years when he visited. However I did not want Alex to rule out Michigan State so we made the planned trip.

We had a really good couple of days together and the campus was pretty much what we expected. There were things we really liked and certainly couldn’t make a big deal out of the single digit temperatures because it was pretty much the same back home. Ironically they have had less snow this winter then we have although that’s not the norm. The best part of our trip was catching the sold out Michigan State-Michigan Ice Hockey game…we were among almost 7,000 fans and I really got into rooting for the Spartans.

Anyway it was a great experience and I’m glad we went because I was thrilled to spend time with her. So will it be Michigan State or Penn State? Well we’re going to make a campus visit to State College, Pa later this month but the decision has been made. Happy Valley…here comes Alex Williams.