The Inclusion Kid turns 21; his life has been a community grand slam

Flip disc to slipped discs - The Inclusion Kid Davey Fred will celebrate his 21st birthday Saturday, Dec. 16, with family at Grotto Grand Slam. He could have his choice of SoDel restaurants because of the Uncle Buck of Anna B Street connection (Scott Kammerer), but he’s a Grand Slam guy. I have a thousand photos and stories of Davey’s sojourn on Sesame Street by the Sea. He represents inclusion at its best; he immerses himself into groups who assimilate him into their cultural cliques with no hesitation. The wrestling culture, from coaches to grapplers, has been steady in outreach mode, and not just the Cape program, but everyone. Two years ago before the state finals at Cape, the officials, led by Paul Hertz, presented Davey with a red/green flip disc. They wanted him to be an honorary flipper before a state title match, but DIAA wouldn't allow it, citing “no protocol.” Davey then went to the wrestling room because he could sense the seriousness of the special night. He promptly lost the disc, which was later found by Cape coach Chris Mattioni, who presented it to Davey at the season-ending banquet. A  lyric written by country singer Randy Travis: “A hero will help you find good in yourself. A friend won’t forsake you for somebody else.” Two-way heroes, like two-way mirrors: “Are you looking at me?” 

Still the same - “You're still the same/I caught up with you yesterday. Moving game to game/No one standing in your way.” - Bob Seger, 1978. Sports venues are the meeting houses – or longhouses – of the greater community. I dropped in on Mariner boys’ and girls’ basketball hosting Sussex Academy Dec. 11. “Yo, Fred," I heard from the parking lot before I pulled the door marked GYM. It was Albert Davis from 1976. Once inside, it was WC Clark from 1983. Coaches John Wright, Terry Hazzard and Josh Hackney came over to say hello. And then Dania Cannon, whom I covered in the same gym when she was a seventh-grader 10 years earlier. I know as the older guy doing the Biden stiff-man shuffle, they are glad I’m still the same person, and I am grateful they continue to appreciate me. 

The Punch - A book published by John Feinstein in 2003 tells the story of a 1977 fight between the Rockets and Lakers, and how one punch changed the lives of Kermit Washington, the punch thrower, and Rudy Tomjanovich, whose face was obliterated. I immediately thought of the book Wednesday morning after watching the Draymond Green ejection following his wild swing on the Suns' Jusuf Nurkic, which knocked him to the floor. This was two weeks after returning from a five-game suspension for putting Rudy Gobert in a choke hold. I’m more of a liberal, easygoing, enabling personality type, but if I were the NBA commissioner, I’d suspend this reckless menace for the rest of the season. 

Common sense - “That common sense don’t make no sense no more.” - John Prine. The Sussex Academy middle school girls’ basketball team beat Delmar 25-2 Dec. 6. On Dec. 11, the Seahawks lost at Mariner 25-4. They were scoreless midway through the third quarter when the official blew his whistle and called them for three seconds in the lane. And later, the official called a 10-second violation on a free-throw attempt. Correct calls, I’m sure, but a harsh application. But from the NFL to middle school girls’ basketball, the rule is the rule, although discretion is the better part of valor. In other words, “Don't go looking for trouble.” 

Field hockey All-American teams - The NFHCA  announced its All-American teams across all divisions for the 2023 season. Alia Marshall (Cape) of Northwestern was chosen third-team All-American for Division I. Darby Klopp (Cape) of Franklin & Marshall and Anna Stancofski (Cape) of Swarthmore were selected third-team All-Americans for Division III. All three women played at Cape together. Darby and Alia graduated in 2019, while Anna graduated in 2020. Alia has committed to play spring lacrosse at Northwestern. 

Snippets - LT Messick, a freshman at Misericordia, played football in the fall and is now on the roster for indoor track. Tia Jarvis (Cape) is a sophomore at Delaware State and listed on the Hornets’ indoor track team. Andrew Schaen (Cape) is a freshman wrestling at 141 pounds for the Ursinus College Bears. Anthony Caruso, a two-time state champion at Cape, is a senior 133/141-pounder wrestling at Midway University in Kentucky. Go on now, git!