On a day when Congress voted down a bailout plan and Wall Street tumbled the fact that a high school senior had made a college choice would not appear to be big news. However in the world we live in it was big enough that some in the media could not wait even when we were asked to do so for all the right reasons.
Glenn Carson is a very talented football player at Southern Regional High School and many of the nation’s top colleges were bidding for his services.
A 6’3, 225 pound linebacker who also doubles as a running back, Carson was sought after by Penn State, Rutgers, Notre Dame, Boston College, Stanford, Virginia and a host of others. It’s no coincidence that all those schools have strong academic reputations because Carson understands there is no guarantee that a pro football career awaits and academics are a large part of the college experience.
Along with his parents, Glenn Sr. and Barbara, Glenn had made quite a few visits to colleges across the country and all along said he was hoping to make a decision early in his senior year. That decision was cemented Saturday night when he stood on the sidelines at Beaver Stadium and looked at the 108,000 white-clad Penn State fans in attendance during their nationally-televised game against Illinois. What teen-ager wouldn’t picture themselves being part of such an atmosphere? By the end of the weekend word started drifting out on various web sites that Carson wanted to be part of Penn State’s storied tradition….after all players like Jack Ham, Greg Buttle, Shane Conlan, LaVar Arrington, Paul Posluszny and Dan Connor
are why the Nittany Lions have been dubbed “Linebacker U.”
Yesterday I got the word that Glenn had indeed made an oral commitment to Penn State but he was asking that the announcement be held until today so he personally could notify all the schools that had offered him scholarships. In the “me-first world” we live in that shows you the make-up of the young man who had said all along the most difficult thing would be saying “no” to schools and programs he liked very much. However in the battle to get the story first some just could not wait and honor his request and by the end of the day Carson has no choice but confirm he was headed to Happy Valley.
He also learned a valuable lesson….to some in the media “off the record” is a waste of words.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Monday Musings
For the last time today this season I lament on what it’s like to be a Mets fan where you come to expect disappointment although you’re not always sure how the road will lead you there. To be honest as I’ve gotten older I’ve become much more accepting and I realize that Sunday’s end-of-season loss will have no long term effects. You still have to get up for work in the morning and go about your daily routine and most of the sting has already worn off. Sports are for the most part a distraction from the mundane, a place to channel our emotions and an outlet for many to display a different side. The beauty of being a passionate fan is that winning is not a guarantee so you celebrate those moments because losing is always right around the corner. So if you are a Mets fan and feel like you have nothing to root for then join me in rooting against the Phillies…it’s the next best thing to hoping the Yankees lose.
The coolest thing about Paul Newman was he didn’t have to act cool…he was born that way and he died that way over the weekend at age 83. He played great roles in terrific films like “Somebody Up There Likes Me,” “The Hustler,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The String,” and “The Color of Money.” for which he finally won an Oscar. However my two favorite Newman roles were a down-and-out lawyer in “The Verdict” and a broken-down handyman in “Nobody’s Fool.” That 1994 film was the last for Jessica Tandy and the two old-timers were wonderful together. It is a terrific movie and Newman I thought was at his best. Hollywood today features plenty of despicable characters who love to bring attention to themselves with bad behavior that the media chronicles….Newman’s philanthropy and 50-year marriage to Joanne Woodward were truthfully much better stories.
Despite the weather the Borough of Beachwood held their annual community wide yard sale this weekend and we were among the many who participated. You truthfully see some strange sites and my favorites are the drive-by shoppers who never get out of their car and sometimes don’t even stop. They just slow down and glance out the window, obviously in search of a particular item because when it comes to yard sales always remember….”one man’s junk is another’s treasure.”
The coolest thing about Paul Newman was he didn’t have to act cool…he was born that way and he died that way over the weekend at age 83. He played great roles in terrific films like “Somebody Up There Likes Me,” “The Hustler,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The String,” and “The Color of Money.” for which he finally won an Oscar. However my two favorite Newman roles were a down-and-out lawyer in “The Verdict” and a broken-down handyman in “Nobody’s Fool.” That 1994 film was the last for Jessica Tandy and the two old-timers were wonderful together. It is a terrific movie and Newman I thought was at his best. Hollywood today features plenty of despicable characters who love to bring attention to themselves with bad behavior that the media chronicles….Newman’s philanthropy and 50-year marriage to Joanne Woodward were truthfully much better stories.
Despite the weather the Borough of Beachwood held their annual community wide yard sale this weekend and we were among the many who participated. You truthfully see some strange sites and my favorites are the drive-by shoppers who never get out of their car and sometimes don’t even stop. They just slow down and glance out the window, obviously in search of a particular item because when it comes to yard sales always remember….”one man’s junk is another’s treasure.”
Friday, September 26, 2008
To Play Or Not To Play
There is probably no bigger headache for athletic and school officials then making a decision on playing a high school football game when you have weather like we have this weekend. Football is a game that was designed to be played in all kinds of elements and some would say that as long as safety is not the issue then play the game. I used to share that mentality but have softened over the years because high school football is not just the game but an event comprised and enjoyed but more than just players. You have the band, cheerleaders and other support groups who also look to perform for their fellow students and other spectators and while their participation is not a priority it’s a large part of the pageantry of a Friday Night or Saturday game.
When you think about a school usually only has 4 of 5 home games during a regular season and playing in bad weather with a small crowd can have a very negative impact. Different groups might sell refreshments as well as clothing, programs, 50/50’s and more to raise money. That money might go to help extracurricular programs or even fund scholarships and when you play a game in inclement weather it means less people and less cash.
There is nothing like a good football game between rival schools on a nice fall day or evening to help school spirit. When a few thousands fans pack Detweiller Stadium in Toms River and you hear PA Announcer Dave Correll shout “first down Indians” it’s part of an electric atmosphere. It’s not much different at Southern, Brick, Jackson Memorial and other places throughout the shore.
However when the rain is pouring down and the band can’t play and a few hundred fans are just trying to find a way to stay dry a high school football game is just a game….not an event. And that is something everyone should take into consideration.
When you think about a school usually only has 4 of 5 home games during a regular season and playing in bad weather with a small crowd can have a very negative impact. Different groups might sell refreshments as well as clothing, programs, 50/50’s and more to raise money. That money might go to help extracurricular programs or even fund scholarships and when you play a game in inclement weather it means less people and less cash.
There is nothing like a good football game between rival schools on a nice fall day or evening to help school spirit. When a few thousands fans pack Detweiller Stadium in Toms River and you hear PA Announcer Dave Correll shout “first down Indians” it’s part of an electric atmosphere. It’s not much different at Southern, Brick, Jackson Memorial and other places throughout the shore.
However when the rain is pouring down and the band can’t play and a few hundred fans are just trying to find a way to stay dry a high school football game is just a game….not an event. And that is something everyone should take into consideration.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Random Thursday Thoughts
Random notes and thoughts this Thursday morning:
Officially it’s called Digital Video Recording but more commonly it’s referred as DVR and beginning tonight it becomes a necessity, not just a luxury. I have to record The Office, ER & Grey’s Anatomy…three of our favorites which will be added to the list of programs I already have recorded which I have not had a chance to watch yet. That’s because evenings and now completely devoted to watching the Mets crash and burn which of course one must watch live….not later.
I should be the last person to question anyone’s priorities. By the time I got home last night President Bush was addressing the nation about the current financial crisis and my first thought was thank goodness the Met game is not on a network carrying the Presidents speech.
Rich Petrosino was simply one of those guys who always made you feel like the glass was half-full and he was a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. I can’t remember him without a smile and those who knew him the best probably miss that the most. The Toms River resident lost a swift battle to pancreatic cancer early in the year and now family and friends have organized a golf outing in his name with proceeds to benefit the Rich Petrosino Memorial Scholarship Fund. The inaugural outing will take place on Monday, October 20th at Woodlake Country Club and organizers are looking for golfers and sponsors. For information you can call Sean at (732) 551-0163.
Every Thursday night during the football season I co-host the AutoLenders High School Football Show and tonight will be the first of several live on location broadcasts. We’ll be at Klee’s Bar & Grill in Seaside Heights from 6-8pm and guests will include head coach Bill Hill and quarterback Kevin Gilmore of Toms River South and Monsignor Donovan head coach Dan Duddy and his son Mike, a running back for the Griffins. The show airs on the Shore Sports Network, including 1160 WOBM AM.
Officially it’s called Digital Video Recording but more commonly it’s referred as DVR and beginning tonight it becomes a necessity, not just a luxury. I have to record The Office, ER & Grey’s Anatomy…three of our favorites which will be added to the list of programs I already have recorded which I have not had a chance to watch yet. That’s because evenings and now completely devoted to watching the Mets crash and burn which of course one must watch live….not later.
I should be the last person to question anyone’s priorities. By the time I got home last night President Bush was addressing the nation about the current financial crisis and my first thought was thank goodness the Met game is not on a network carrying the Presidents speech.
Rich Petrosino was simply one of those guys who always made you feel like the glass was half-full and he was a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. I can’t remember him without a smile and those who knew him the best probably miss that the most. The Toms River resident lost a swift battle to pancreatic cancer early in the year and now family and friends have organized a golf outing in his name with proceeds to benefit the Rich Petrosino Memorial Scholarship Fund. The inaugural outing will take place on Monday, October 20th at Woodlake Country Club and organizers are looking for golfers and sponsors. For information you can call Sean at (732) 551-0163.
Every Thursday night during the football season I co-host the AutoLenders High School Football Show and tonight will be the first of several live on location broadcasts. We’ll be at Klee’s Bar & Grill in Seaside Heights from 6-8pm and guests will include head coach Bill Hill and quarterback Kevin Gilmore of Toms River South and Monsignor Donovan head coach Dan Duddy and his son Mike, a running back for the Griffins. The show airs on the Shore Sports Network, including 1160 WOBM AM.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Password Is...
I’ve addressed this issue before but because my frustration level is rising I’m going to bring it up again. What are we going to do about the need to have a password to access just about everything in our lives? For many this started when they got their first ATM card…you probably had to create a four digit number and of course were advised not to use things like birthdays, addresses and phone numbers.
That might have been easy enough but now there is a password of some kind attached to just about everything and often I can’t remember which one goes with which item. Just this morning I needed a code to get into the building, log onto my computer and check my phone messages. That’s just for starters and for obvious reasons they can’t all have the same passwords and some require constant changing. The other problem is where do you record all of them in case you forget…..honestly I wrote them down once and put them in a special place. However I forget the place and to this day don’t know where they are although it really doesn’t matter because by know many had to get changed. That’s because when you forget a password usually you are directed to come up with a new one and that starts the entire process over again.
This is supposed to be for our protection and it is but there’s not much you can do without a password or code any longer. Check your bank statement, your EZ pass account…even read a newspaper on line and they ask for your number. Then there’s that bad feeling you get when you put the wrong one with the wrong item and you get that message in red “password not valid.”
You panic because if you can’t come up with the correct one they will force you to change and that means another number you can’t remember. So you try and finally on your third and last attempt you enter your children’s soccer uniform numbers and that’s it. What a relief….then you go home and find out one of them just a new uniform…with a new number.
This is just not going to work.
That might have been easy enough but now there is a password of some kind attached to just about everything and often I can’t remember which one goes with which item. Just this morning I needed a code to get into the building, log onto my computer and check my phone messages. That’s just for starters and for obvious reasons they can’t all have the same passwords and some require constant changing. The other problem is where do you record all of them in case you forget…..honestly I wrote them down once and put them in a special place. However I forget the place and to this day don’t know where they are although it really doesn’t matter because by know many had to get changed. That’s because when you forget a password usually you are directed to come up with a new one and that starts the entire process over again.
This is supposed to be for our protection and it is but there’s not much you can do without a password or code any longer. Check your bank statement, your EZ pass account…even read a newspaper on line and they ask for your number. Then there’s that bad feeling you get when you put the wrong one with the wrong item and you get that message in red “password not valid.”
You panic because if you can’t come up with the correct one they will force you to change and that means another number you can’t remember. So you try and finally on your third and last attempt you enter your children’s soccer uniform numbers and that’s it. What a relief….then you go home and find out one of them just a new uniform…with a new number.
This is just not going to work.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Goodbye Summer
Officially it is over whether you or I like it or not. No I’m not talking about the Mets season (although that’s pretty close) but rather summer…the very best time of year. The calendar says today is the first full day of autumn and the signs are everywhere…days are shorter, leaves are falling and bright summer colors are being replaced by browns and oranges and UGH! While the next month or so can be a beautiful time of year it’s what comes next that makes me so sad…that of course being winter.
I guess it comes down to the fact that summer at the shore makes me feel young…or at least not as old. It’s invigorating and easy…shorts, tee shirts, sandals and baseball hats. Sunrise and sunset at the beach are equally beautiful and what’s better than a stroll on the boardwalk with a cool ocean breeze providing relief? Summer is a time to barbeque and you try and squeeze as much out of a day as possible.
Now that’s pretty much over and in order to get to another one you have to go through fall, Winter and Spring. That means rain, sleet, snow, ice and plenty of cold days. Green will be gone as will flowers, replaced by bare trees and brown grass. Bright will be replaced by dull and water cooler conversation will center on things like American Idol, which is a sure sign that I and you have no life.
However in a poor attempt to sound optimistic I tell you the following….it’s 94 days until Christmas, 175 days until St. Patrick’s Day and just 244 days until Memorial Day, 2009 which of course…is the unofficial start of next summer. If you put things in perspective that’s just around the corner, although it’s a very long corner.
I guess it comes down to the fact that summer at the shore makes me feel young…or at least not as old. It’s invigorating and easy…shorts, tee shirts, sandals and baseball hats. Sunrise and sunset at the beach are equally beautiful and what’s better than a stroll on the boardwalk with a cool ocean breeze providing relief? Summer is a time to barbeque and you try and squeeze as much out of a day as possible.
Now that’s pretty much over and in order to get to another one you have to go through fall, Winter and Spring. That means rain, sleet, snow, ice and plenty of cold days. Green will be gone as will flowers, replaced by bare trees and brown grass. Bright will be replaced by dull and water cooler conversation will center on things like American Idol, which is a sure sign that I and you have no life.
However in a poor attempt to sound optimistic I tell you the following….it’s 94 days until Christmas, 175 days until St. Patrick’s Day and just 244 days until Memorial Day, 2009 which of course…is the unofficial start of next summer. If you put things in perspective that’s just around the corner, although it’s a very long corner.
Monday, September 22, 2008
No Tears For The Stadium
I’m going to be honest. Yankee Stadium meant very little to me, only that it was the scene of so many moments which allowed Yankee fans to celebrate something great and remind Met fans that with few exceptions we would always take a back seat to the guys in pinstripes. As a matter of fact I’ve only been to three Yankee games in “The House that Ruth Built” and the last one was about ten years ago. However in watching the ceremonies surrounding the final game at the old ballpark Sunday night you would be foolish not to admit it was a special place that will always hold a special fondness to many. It was where Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Yogi,
Reggie, Mattingly and Jeter called home….it was where Johnny Unitas and the Colts beat the Giants in the Greatest Game in NFL history. It was for generations of New Yorkers a place that needed no introduction and soon it will be gone….replaced by a new ballpark with all the modern conveniences and a price tag to go with it.
The sad truth is that most Yankee fans will love the new place more than the old, even if it doesn’t have the history to go with it. It will have all the comforts that are important today from wider concourses to more bathrooms and you can bet most will admit next year it was time for the old ballpark in the Bronx to go.
There are so many golf outings taking place this time of year it would take me a long time to mention all. But a few hold a special place, including Klee’s Bar and Grill’s 17th Annual Outing for the benefit of Ocean of Love. It takes place on Wednesday, October 1st at Gambler Ridge and you better move fast….call (732) 830-1996 for more information.
The Brick Township Lions Club is sponsoring a golf tournament in memory of the late Hank Handchen, the longtime Athletic Director at Brick Township High School. The tournament will be hold on Monday, October 13th at Lakewood Country Club and for information you can call Steve at (732) 833-7505.
Atlantic Physical Therapy is holding their 3rd Annual Golf Tournament on Thursday, October 23rd at the Colts Neck Country Club. Proceeds from the golf tournament will benefit a scholarship fund in the memory of James Warnock and the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center. For information you can call the Freehold office of Atlantic Physical Therapy at (732) 431-2883.
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