I spent 35+ years working alongside Dick Tracy announcing football, basketball, and baseball.  I knew Dick as a coach, a teacher, a professional colleague, and, most importantly, as a friend ever since I began my broadcasting career.  He passed away on Friday, September 4.

Six years ago, while I was on vacation and out of the country, the news broke about Dick Tracy’s retirement after 40 years of announcing basketball, football, and baseball here at RCN.  Dick and I chatted about his decision right before I left and he specifically asked that there be no publicity.  And, at the very end of his life, he still did not want any publicity.  His instructions to the funeral director included this line:

“Others will write and talk about all of the accomplishments, so why should I pay to talk about myself.”

He was right.  I will happily write about him for free!

His coaching career speaks for itself with his phenomenal record (205-51) and a state basketball title in 1982.  I can still vividly recall following the ’82 team to their state semifinal win only to be told that we could not broadcast the state championship game from Hershey.  Bob Gehris and I could not have been more disappointed.  We had followed this wonderful team made up of wonderful young men, coached by a defensive basketball genius. We wanted to call their last game.  I watched Dick’s team put the defensive clamps on that night to win the state title.  The telecast was on Channel 6 out of Philadelphia and all night long they showed the school librarian who was on the Whitehall bench and referred to him as Coach Tracy.  I think that is where the cliché “I could have thrown my shoe at the set” came from.  The announcers and the production team did not even know the state championship coach.  They did not talk to Dick or, and this is probably closer to the truth, Dick would not talk to them.  “Pleasant”, “congenial”, “sympathetic”, “sociable”, “complaisant” are all words I would NOT use to describe Dick Tracy.  “Cranky”, “obstinate”, “hard-nosed”, “stubborn” and “ornery” seem to come to mind much more easily.  But, with that said, the game announcers did not do their homework.

They did not do their homework.  It seemed so ironic because these are words that could never be uttered ABOUT Dick Tracy.  He ALWAYS did his homework.  Nobody was more prepared for an opponent; nobody was more prepared for class; nobody was more prepared for a broadcast.  Nobody was more prepared!

Dick’s preparation, however, never got easier because he was a technological misfit.  All his notes were done by hand.  He had to write out lineups, background information, records, stats, etc. each and every time we did a game.  There was no computer file- there was no computer.  Why would there be?  Dick could never use one – a TV remote pretty much stretched his technological wherewithal.  But for Dick it all worked.  He was passionate about everything he did and everything he enjoyed.  He didn’t just root for the Yankees – he lived and died after every game.  He didn’t just love Notre Dame – he worshiped the Fighting Irish.  He didn’t just go to a game – he tirelessly understood the game before we got there.

What I most remember, however, about the man I spent so much time with the past 35 plus years is the iconic persona thrust upon him by so many people.  Dick was a former Marine and certainly knew the meaning of “semper fi”- “always faithful.”  His former students, his former players, his former assistant coaches absolutely adored the man and I always had the sense they would do anything for him and that they knew him so well he did not have to solicit their help.  They anticipated what he needed and they were “always faithful” as he was to them.

If respect and friendship are the true measure of a man, Dick Tracy was immeasurable.  Today they refer to these people as “peeps” or the “posse”.  Dick only heard the words “Coach” or “Mr. Tracy”.  These three words represented who this man was to so many people and represented the love and respect they thrust upon him.

Dick gave his time, his effort, his insights, and his friendship to his students, to his players, and to all of us at RCN for so many years.  He was a pioneer behind the microphone and he did the job with grace and humility.  His spirit, for me and my colleagues, continues to be a part of every broadcast.

Finally, on a personal note, I will miss my color analyst and my friend.  We had a great run together!  I have no greater wish than for him to meet up with his beloved Mary.  Much like the nights when I returned Dick home only to see her waiting at the door, I am quite certain she waited for him at the Gates!  They will be together again and, despite my sadness, that puts a smile on my face.

Frances Richard “Dick” “Coach” Tracy – May you rest in peace!

However, with both Dick and Mary in heaven together again, I am a bit concerned about God’s peace!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)

Not in “Musing” mood this week.

NFL PICKS LAST WEEK – 9-7 (56%)

DENVER
CAROLINA
NEW ORLEANS
PITTSBURGH
DETROIT
NEW ENGLAND
ARIZONA
TENNESSEE
CINCINNATI
ST LOUIS
GIANTS
BALTIMORE
MIAMI
PHILADELPHIA
SEATTLE
JETS

Did you ever wonder why our favorite sport is called “football”?  After all, it is a game that is played primarily with your hands.  Soccer, on the other hand, deserves the name “futbol” because it is played with, well, you can guess.  So why do we call it “football”?  According to Wikipedia:

There are conflicting explanations of the origin of the word “football”. It is widely assumed that the word “football” (or “foot ball”) references the action of the foot kicking a ball. There is an alternative explanation, which is that football originally referred to a variety of games in Medieval Europe, which were played on foot. There is no conclusive evidence for either explanation.

In other words, no one seems to know.

There is one high school coach, however, who knows the name should definitely not be “foot-ball”.  He could appropriately call it “No-foot-ball”.  Kevin Kelley is the coach of Pulaski Academy in Arkansas.  He has been the coach since 2003.  He took over a struggling program and in the past 11 years his team has won three state titles.  His record is 124-22.  AND, except in very special situations, he never punts.  That’s right.  He never punts!!

Why?  Because he has statistically proven that there is no advantage to giving the other team the ball.  Even if you have the ball on your own 5-yard line, Kelley says you should not punt.  If you make the first down, there is no problem.  If you do not, the opponent’s chance of scoring is 92%.  If you punt the ball, statistics show the other team will get the ball around your 40-yard line.  Again, statistics show the opponent still has a 77% chance of scoring.  That’s only a 15% difference.  More numbers – Pulaski gets the first down 50% of the time.  California University professor David Romer agrees.  He said high school punters are very unreliable and therefore high school teams should never punt.  And your chances of making ten yards in four downs as opposed to three are dramatically increased.  The only time Kelley does punt is near the end of a half or at the end of a game when he feels time does not permit the other team to score.

When Kelley’s teams score, he adds another ripple to his unconventional style.  He ALWAYS onside kicks.  His team is successful 20% of the time in recovering the kick.  That is not a very high percentage, but once again, statistics prove his point.  The average drive after a kickoff starts on the 33-yard line.  The average field position after an onsides kick is the 47-yard line, a difference of just 14 yards.  Pulaski will cause a turnover one in five kickoffs – well worth the 14-yard risk.

How do you think Lehigh Valley fans would react to this decision-making?  We all know that fans’ patience with high school coaches’ decisions is far from tolerant.  Going for and failing to make a first down inside your own five-yard line on fourth down would definitely create, to put it mildly, disgruntlement. One of Kevin Kelley’s fellow coaches succinctly explained why he is not a disciple of the Pulaski philosophy, “I like my job, and I would like to keep it.”

This would, however, bring the “foot” back to football, I suppose, because the coach would get “booted” from his job!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)

1. I returned from vacation Saturday morning to the devastating news that my friend and fellow announcing buddy for so, so many years, Dick Tracy, had passed away on Friday. My last visit with him suggested it was time.  More on Dick next week.
2. I was off the ship Saturday morning, got home, and back in the broadcasting booth on Saturday night for the opening game of the 2015 football season – William and Mary at Lafayette and now in high definition. It was great to start another season, but my make-up budget just increased dramatically!
3. Friday night football went as expected with the Lehigh Valley teams destroying the teams from up north in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference OUTSCORING THEM 359-132 (47 by Stroudsburg in a loss). I wonder if I will see the day when the Pocono teams become formidable opponents.
4. Congratulations to Liberty for their win on Saturday night. Bethlehem Catholic took a bit too long to get over opening night jitters; Liberty, not so much.  Despite the outcome of game one, Beca will have a terrific season.
5. I hope you didn’t spend Labor Day “laboring” at the computer like I did.

NEW ENGLAND
GREEN BAY
HOUSTON
CLEVELAND
INDIANAPOLIS
MIAMI
CAROLINA
SEATTLE
ARIZONA
SAN DIEGO
TAMPA BAY
CINCINNATI
DENVER
DALLAS
PHILADELPHIA
MINNESOTA

Green Bay kicks off to Chicago at 1:00 on Sunday, September 13, and the NFC is underway for the 2015 season.  The Eagles do not play until Monday night at Atlanta, so Philadelphia fans need to be a bit more patient (if that’s possible).  To test your patience even further, here are my projections for the NFC.

NFC WEST 

1. Seahawks – This is the strongest defensive division and Seattle is the best of the best. There is no reason to pick against the Seahawks getting to the division championship again and then on to the conference championship.
2. Rams – Nick Foles opens against the Seahawks in St. Louis. A win here could catapult both him and his team to a very successful season.
3. Cardinals – They are always a difficult team to figure out. Defensive coach Todd Bowles went to the Jets.  So if defense is better or worse because of that could spell the difference between success and failure for this team.
4. 49ers – Old players gone; tough schedule; rebuilding. None of these aspects are a formula for success.

 NFC SOUTH 

1. Panthers – They will play against only four playoff teams from last year and QB Cam Newton looked angry and focused in camp. Defense is certainly strong enough to win the division.
2. Falcons – This is just a wild guess, picking them over the Saints, but my prediction is all about new coach Dan Quinn who came over from Seattle. The Falcons will certainly improve defensively.
3. Saints – TE Jimmy Graham is gone; they lost five straight at the end of last year. Their schedule should help them achieve at least a .500 record.
4. Bucs – Bucs’ QB Jameis Winston vs. Titans’ QB Marcus Mariota in game one. Great scheduling; great matchup, EXCEPT neither team is very good.

NFC NORTH 

1. Packers – With a healthy quarterback, they may have been the best team last year. The loss of Jordy Nelson could really hurt their success, but I think they will adjust.  Home field advantage means more to them than any other team in the league.  They play Chicago away and Seattle at home to start the season.  That is an early barometer.
2. Vikings– Yes, the Vikings. Adrian Peterson is back and Teddy Bridgewater is good, potentially very good.  Defense is young and solid.  This is a different Vikings team.
3. Lions – DL Ndamukong Suh (I do not want to type his first name again) was traded to the Dolphins and so, too, is the strength of their defense and a motivational leader.  They should have found a way to keep him.
4. Bears – Their defense will have a new look, but the offense not so much. If QB Jay Cutler plays well, they could move up past the Lions.

 NFC EAST 

1. Eagles – Offensive line aside, this is a much better Eagles team. They are loaded with offensive talent and they have surrounded Sam Bradford with outstanding rushers and receivers.  Is the defense good enough?
2. Cowboys – No offensive line problems here. They may be the best in the NFL.  OR was last season more about DeMarco Murray’s ability?  Time will tell.  Early starts against the Giants, Eagles, Falcons and Saints will offer answers about their defense.
3. Giants – Defense weaker if DE Jason Pierre-Paul is not effective. Can they run?  Can they protect Eli Manning?  Can they stop the run?  Too many unanswered questions.
4. Redskins – I loved RG III when he came into the league. If his offensive line can protect him, he might return to his earlier form.  The defense needs to help him stay in games.

 NFC Championship Game

                         Seahawks defeat the Packers

The 2015 NFL football season is just a little over two weeks away.  The NFL kicks off with the Pittsburgh Steelers taking on the New England Patriots.  That is one of the premiere AFC matchups this season, despite all the controversy and absence of star players.  So, there is no better time to make my AFC predictions for 2015.

AFC WEST 

1. Broncos – Peyton Manning has outstanding receivers, and RB CJ Anderson, a so-so offensive line, but that offense is supported by a very good defense. They should repeat as division champs.
2. Chiefs – Jamaal Charles is, perhaps, the best running back in the league. Jeremy Maclin was brought over from the Eagles because no Chiefs’ wide receiver caught a TD pass last year.  Justin Houston leads an outstanding defense.  Could win division; definitely a wild-card.
3. Chargers – Their schedule is a bit unfavorable – three early starts in the East.
4. Raiders – Oakland is gradually becoming very good with draft choices. Not quite ready to make the playoffs, but the future is bright.

AFC SOUTH 

1. Colts – The Colts record has improved every year since Andrew Luck started at quarterback – wild card in 2012; division playoffs in 2013; AFC title game in 2014. Hmm – what does the mean for 2015?
2. Texans – If they have good quarterback leadership (either Brian Hoyer or Ryan Mallett), this team looks very good. RB Arian Foster’s injury could really hurt them, but their defense, led by JJ Watt, can win games.
3. Jaguars – Despite being young and talented, they are not ready for prime time.
4. Titans – They have an awful schedule that will keep them in last place, but I want to watch Marcus Mariota succeed.

AFC NORTH 

1. Steelers – They are in the toughest division; have a very difficult schedule; a reworked defense. BUT, they could have the best offense in the conference when RB Le’Veon Bell comes back in the third game.
2. Ravens – They are ALWAYS good and this year will be no exception. Five of first seven on the road does not help, but they will make the playoffs.
3. Bengals – The Bengals have not won a playoff game in 24 years. Make it 25.
4. Browns – Are they ever picked anywhere else? Don’t be fooled by easy early schedule.

AFC EAST 

1. Patriots – No Brady early, but they started 2-2 last year. As much as non-New England fans want them to fail, Bill Belichick is still the best coach in the division until someone proves otherwise.
2. Bills – What Eagles’ fan will not be watching LeSean McCoy’s numbers? He will really help the Bills on offense and they always have a good offense.  They have not made the playoffs in 15 years.  Can Rex Ryan get them there this year?
3. Dolphins – I am uneasy about this pick. This team could surprise everyone.  Their schedule, early on, is very easy.  Ndamukong Suh is a great addition to the defense and QB Ryan Tannehill just keeps getting better.
4. Jets – Excellent defense. QB Geno Smith out for awhile. They’re the Jets, however.  Enough said.

AFC Championship Game
                         Colts defeat the Patriots

I was going around the dial this past week and, as is often the case, I stopped at ESPN as they were broadcasting a regional semifinal leading up to the Little League World Series played in Williamsport, PA.  I really enjoyed watching the game. However, I remembered that last year there was a controversial end to the championship when the team from Chicago, Jackie Robinson West, was stripped of their title because they were accused of violating boundary rules.  The Chicago organization is suing to have their title reinstated.  No matter the outcome, the kids are victims here of adult decisions.

With that said, I still intend to tune into the championship series when it begins on August 20 through August 30.

The Chicago incident reminded me of a blog I wrote a while back about Mike Matheny, the very successful St. Louis Cardinals manager. He once was a Little League coach and wrote a letter to parents when he coached his kids in youth baseball.  What he has to say about youth baseball is a message that can and should be read by all parents of all athletes and coaches so that incidents like the one last year would not happen.

To paraphrase some of the points:

1. Coach orphans – the biggest problem in youth sports are the parents.
2. Youth sports should be all about the youths.
3. He had three main goals – teach the players how to play; have a positive impact on them; do everything with class.
4. There will be bad umpiring.  The boys will not be allowed at any time to show any emotion against the umpire.  Parents should do the same. Get them there on time and enjoy the game.
5. A parent should be a silent source of encouragement.
6. If you hand over your child to me to coach them, let me do the job.
7. Spend time with them to help them improve – pitch, hit, field with them.
8. I will demand the proper attitude, concentration, and effort.  These are things they can control.
9. Make your child responsible for his/her own drinks; don’t ask them if they are thirsty or hungry during the game.
10. The kids can miss a game or practice, but out of respect for the other kids there may be some repercussions – running, altered playing time, or batting order position.
11. The coach is always right – even when he is wrong.
12. The boys should come ready to play every time they step on the field – shirts tucked in, hats on straight, and pants not drooping to their knees.  They should always hustle.

There is much more to the letter.  Every parent should read it.  In fact, every athlete should read it.  You’ll find it below.
www.mac-n-seitz.com/teams/mike-matheny-letter.html

In case you did not notice, Mike Matheny, as of this writing, is the manager of the team with the best record in major league baseball.  It has often been said of professional sports that it is men playing a boys’ game.  It seems this manager certainly knows how to coach boys (of all ages).

ABOVE THE EARS

1. Do you realize that Terrell Owens is eligible to be on the Hall of Fame ballot this coming year? His numbers for TDs (153), yards receiving (15,934), and receptions (1078) warrant his admittance, but does his deserved reputation of ruining teams in the locker room also warrant voting “no”?
2. Tuesday, August 11, was the first time in modern Major League baseball history that the home team won every game on the same day. Hard to believe.
3. By the way, college football officials hold on to the game-day footballs right up to kickoff. The NFL allows the home team to prepare and deliver the footballs before the game.  I am assuming that might change.
4. If you needed another reason to watch the Eagles this year, Sam Bradford to Jordan Matthews should be enough. They have the makings of being a spectacular combination.
5. My AFC and NFC predictions are coming the next two weeks and the weekly predictions begin on September 7.

For a sports fan, this past week was rather uneventful.  Unless you are a huge major league baseball fan, there is not much happening in the way of major sports stories.  No important football yet (the Vikings beat the Steelers 14-3 in the Hall of Fame game – ho hum!); NBA and college basketball is done; the ice is gone in the hockey arenas; the PGA is next week and so on.  So, to me, the best competition this week took place in Cleveland when ten Republican candidates took the stage for the first presidential debate of the 2016 presidential campaign.

As far as the game of politics is concerned, this was the opening day in baseball; the start of the NFL season; the dropping of the puck – okay, enough of the analogies.  By now, I guess you can surmise that this week’s blog will not be about sports but about an equally entertaining competition – the race for the presidency.

Based on various polls around the country, Fox News selected the starting lineup – supposedly, the ten most electable candidates.  High ratings were pretty much guaranteed when the poll leader was Donald Trump.  24 million viewers tuned in.  Trump claimed Monday that number would have been no more than two million had he not been on the stage.  I know he is the reason I watched.

Donald did not disappoint.  Although I did feel the moderators treated him rather unfairly with the opening question, he still managed to say things that only he seems to be able to say and, instead of paying a political price for his answers, only gains in popularity every time he says something outrageous and/or ridiculous.  His lead in the polls increased over the weekend to double digits.

If any real good came out of Thursday night for the Republicans, it was the emergence of some of the other starters.  Marco Rubio, although being the youngest candidate, seemed to take the right tone with his answers and came across as both likable and intelligent.  Ohio Governor John Kasich seemed to have the most common sense when dealing with those communities of people that Republicans can’t embrace.  He maintained the Republican principles personally, but showed tolerance for those who did not agree with his opinion.

The losers in my mind were the bickering duo of Rand Paul and Chris Christie as well as the underwhelming performance of Jeb Bush who many believe will eventually get the nomination.  He has to raise his game in the next debate.

Scott Walker, Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee, and Ted Cruz did not stand out in my mind.

Nor did the moderators.  There were very few policy questions, solution questions, and, for that matter, governing questions.

I also am somewhat bewildered that this process has been embraced by the political parties.  No coach would ever want the opposition to know their foibles and weaknesses.  Here, the opponent is given plenty of fodder to use when the REAL campaign begins.  Unlike sports, in politics no scouting report is necessary, no “spygate” needs to be contemplated, and no insider information culled.  The opposition will simply point out the real shortcomings of their own teammates.  Strange.

After this political game film is analyzed, who will learn from their mistakes, who will be benched, and who will be promoted for the next “game”?

Rest assured, there will be changes in the starting lineup!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME NO-HIT MUSINGS)

1. I guess I should not have been surprised when listening to the tributes given for Frank Gifford following his passing on Sunday, that so many of the observations came from those who were too young to have ever seen Gifford play. I grew up watching Frank Gifford run and catch the ball for both Southern Cal and the Giants; I saw the Chuck Bednarik hit when it happened; and I listened to Frank on Monday Night Football.  He was a special talent for sure.  And I’m old, I guess.
2. 43,000 fans came to Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday to watch the Eagles practice!! It was Military Day and, following the practice, the players gave the members of the Armed Forces who attended their special military version jerseys.
3. Eating crow is not my favorite meal, but if the Phillies continue to play the way they have since the All-Star break, crow will be on my plate. I am actually watching them again and, when I can’t, I am checking scores.  Maybe it was Ryne Sandberg.
4. It is always special to get your first hit in the major leagues. Richie Shaffer of the Tampa Bay Rays got his first hit last Tuesday and it was a home run.  His teammates jokingly gave him the “silent treatment”.  Watch:

5. High school and college football are a month away! I can’t wait!

Chip Kelly became the Eagles’ head football coach in January of 2013.  And, boy, has he shaken things up.

DeSean Jackson is gone; LeSean McCoy is gone; Nick Foles is gone; Michael Vick is gone; and most of the secondary is gone.  Add Trent Cole, Jeremy Maclin, Todd Herremans, Evan Mathis to the “gone” list, and, just this past weekend, Brandon Boykin was let go.

The Eagles were 10-6 in Kelly’s first two years.  They made the playoffs in year one; just missed them in year two.  Not bad, right?  Obviously, it was not good enough for Chip Kelly.  Eleven of last year’s twenty-two starters are gone!  Nine of the eleven were part of the 2013 playoff team.

So, will they be better?

OFFENSE
They will be better at quarterback if Sam Bradford’s knee holds up.  They should be better with both DeMarco Murray and Ryan Matthews sharing running back duties with a sprinkling of Sproles.  They may be equal to last season with this receiving corps and just as good at tight end. The offensive line cannot possibly be better.

DEFENSE
The defensive line is solid.  The exits of Trent Cole and Casey Matthews seem to make the Eagles weaker at linebacker and that is never a good thing.  The Eagles really needed help at cornerback and appear to have acquired that help when they got Byron Maxwell from the Seahawks.  They retained Nolan Carroll and signed four rookies.  Success rests on the improvement of this area over last year.  Malcolm Jenkins returns at free safety, but the strong safety spot does not look particularly strong.

Will they make the NFL playoffs?

For some reason, I have faith in Chip Kelly.  I certainly enjoy his style of football; I respect his confidence in the changes he has made; I like his philosophy of keeping players who love to play football as part of a team.

Eagles’ fans, as we all know, are an impatient bunch (perhaps, much like Kelly himself).  All of Philadelphia is ready for a winning season from at least one of its major pro teams and the city painfully waits for the next championship team.  It will be awhile (make that a LONG while) for the Sixers, Flyers, and the Phillies.  And certainly the expectations rest more heavily upon the Eagles and Chip Kelly to get it done much sooner.  Make no mistake, Kelly knows that and I, for one, think he will excite the Philadelphia masses this year.  I don’t envision a Super Bowl quite yet, but, if at all possible, try to be PATIENT!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME NO-HIT MUSINGS) 

1. Remember this past Wednesday when Twitter put it out there that the Mets’ Wilmer Flores was traded to the Brewers. Flores got word while he was playing for the Mets and cried in the infield.  He had been in the Mets’ organization since he was 16-years old.  It turns out the internet was wrong.  He remained a Met. Flores capped off the week with a walk-off home run against the Nationals on Friday night.  Watch:

2. Triple Crown winner American Pharoah won the Haskell Invitational in Oceanport, NJ on Sunday. A record crowd of 60,983 people cheered him on.  Betting on him, however, did not make anyone much money – $2.20 on a $2.00 bet.  It is anticipated that the $5 million Breeder’s Cup Classic will be his final race in October.  Then, it’s on to the breeding life.
3. For Eagles’ fans who love to read anything bad about the Cowboys comes the story out of training camp that WR Dez Bryant got into a fist fight with CB Tyler Patmon on Sunday. Each one swung at the other and both missed!
4. Unlike Dez Bryant, UFC Bantamweight champion Rhonda Rousey did not miss her foe on Saturday night. She knocked out the previously undefeated Brazilian Bethe Correia in 34 seconds in Rio de Janeiro.  Her last three fights have lasted a total of 64 seconds!

5. As I write this, the Mets are tied for first place in the National League East and the Phillies are the hottest team in baseball in the last ten games going 8-2. It must be a very cold day in Hades!

This past Saturday, Cole Hamels, purportedly about to be traded this week, pitched a no-hitter for the Phillies against the Cubs.  The final out was quite eventful:

The first players to greet Hamels were Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz. Ironically, all three have been rumored to be on the trading block.  This was the 13^th no-hitter in Phillies history.  It was the third no-hitter in baseball this year.  It was the first by the Phillies since Hamels, Jake Diekman, Jonathan Papelbon, and Ken Giles combined for one last year against Atlanta.  Watching this one brought back memories of the night I watched one LIVE.

On September 28, 2012, I was in Pittsburgh to broadcast the Lafayette-Robert Morris football game.  Since it was the night before the game we decided to leave our hotel in Moon Township and travel in to Pittsburgh for dinner.  As we approached the city, we saw the lights on at PNC Park.  The Pirates were playing the Cincinnati Reds.  We decided to forgo dinner at a restaurant and head over to the ballpark.

As the five of us were nearing the stadium, a ticket hawker approached us and offered us five “terrific” tickets for $50.  We were a bit apprehensive, but since the investment was minimal, we took our chances.

Upon entering the ballpark, we discovered it was Fan Appreciation Night and we were all handed a Pirate T-shirt.  The $10 ticket fee was looking better.  It really improved when our seats were located about 15 rows off of third base.  We settled in for some ballpark food and a night of baseball.

It was the bottom of the second inning.  The Reds had scored in the top of the first and had three hits already.  Homer Bailey was pitching for the Reds.  He easily retired the Pirates in order for the second time.  The Pittsburgh leadoff batter in the third reached first on an error by Scott Rolen.  Bailey retired the next three batters.  He followed that by facing the minimum nine batters in innings four, five and six.  Bailey had retired 12 straight and, through six innings, the Bucs had zero runs and zero hits with the only runner getting on via an error.

Bailey issued a walk in the seventh (erased trying to steal).  He got the other two batters.  Now, the entire crowd was beginning to stir.  Homer Bailey was six outs away from a no-hitter.  Even the Pittsburgh fans were beginning to cheer his effort.  The eighth was uneventful – three up, three down.  It was still 1-0 heading into the ninth.

The Reds went down in order.  Now it was Homer Bailey’s turn.  There was tension and anticipation with every pitch.  The atmosphere was electric.  The first Pirate batter struck out; the second flied out.  Only Alex Presley was left.  He popped out to second.  Homer Bailey’s first career no-hitter was complete.  The crowd went wild and everyone knew they had experienced some baseball history.

There were twelve no-hitters that year.  Homer Bailey’s was the last.  Since there were three hits and one run scored before we arrived at the Park, for $10, we saw only four hits (all singles) and no runs scored.  But the night (as MasterCard promotes in their commercials) – PRICELESS!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME NO-HIT MUSINGS) 

1. The next no-hitter after Homer Bailey’s in 2012 was by none other than Homer Bailey in 2013 against the San Francisco Giants.
2. On June 8, 2012, the Seattle Mariners beat the Dodgers 1-0 and used six pitchers to accomplish the feat.
3. Cincinnati’s John Vandermeer threw consecutive no-hitters four days apart back in 1938 beating Boston and Brooklyn.
4. There have been 22 perfect games (27 batters retired in a row) in Major League history. The last one was in 2012 by Felix Hernandez of Seattle.
5. Bob Feller of the Cleveland Indians threw the only opening day no-hitter on April 16, 1940 against the White Sox and won 1-0.

“Courage” is defined as “the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.”  This past Wednesday night the ESPYs aired on ABC and the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage was presented for the 23^rd time.  Previous winners have, for the most part, come from the world of sports like Jim Valvano, Muhammad Ali, announcer Robin Roberts, etc.  There have been other winners, such as Nelson Mandela, who are not sports-related figures.  The winner, according to the award, should always “transcend sports”.

The honor is named for Arthur Ashe because he was a great tennis player (winning three Grand Slam events, including being the first African-American to win at Wimbledon) as well as the first black player selected to the Davis Cup team.  Arthur Ashe contracted HIV from a blood transfusion during his heart bypass surgery and spent the rest of his life educating others about the illness and fighting to defeat AIDS. He died from AIDS-related pneumonia in 1993.  Truly, his was a life that symbolized “courage”.

This year’s winner was Caitlyn Jenner, who you know, unless you have absolutely NO access to anything considered current events and, therefore, probably cannot access this blog anyway, transitioned from being a man to a woman.  Bruce Jenner was a world-class Olympic athlete and, as Caitlyn Jenner, has become the spokesperson for those who feel they are trapped in their bodies.  It certainly took courage for Jenner to not only accept herself for who she is, but also to get “out front” with that decision.  Hopefully, Jenner’s greater acceptance by the general public will help those who are currently battling with gender identification.   I just have a little trouble with the millions of dollars she will make because of it.  She purportedly will receive $5 million for her reality series, “I Am Cait”. She also continues the tradition of the Kardashians’ exploitation of their lifestyle for the mighty dollar.

My vote, if I had one, would have gone to Lauren Hill.  She played basketball at Mount St. Joseph University in Ohio.  Lauren suffered from terminal brain cancer and died April 10, 2015.  She did not choose to make her battle public, but it became news when the NCAA allowed Mount St. Joseph to move up the starting date of their season by two weeks so Hill would get a chance to play prior to her death.  The away game was moved to a home game so she would not have to travel and then moved to a 10,000-seat arena to accommodate the crowd.  She played in four games, made five layups, and served as an assistant coach.  She also helped to raise over $1.5 million for pediatric cancer research.

The only limelight she sought was to help others and that light now shines on the “Layup 4 Lauren” foundation.  She did posthumously receive the “Best Moment” award on the ESPYs Wednesday night.  Her parents accepted for her.  When her parents were asked if she would have thought she should have won the Ashe Award, they responded that that thought would have never entered her mind so she would not have commented at all.

Simply put, Lauren Hill should have won the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage on Wednesday night.  She and Arthur had much in common.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. Golf’s majors are beginning to look like the “Survivor” reality show. After the desert-like conditions of Chambers Bay in Washington State for the US Open, the golfers this past weekend have been battered by the hurricane-like conditions at the British Open.  Charles Darwin and his “survival of the fittest” mentality would have made him a perfect analyst for ESPN.
2. It’s tough on the bicycling front these days, too. Tour de France leader Chris Froome complained that this past Saturday a spectator threw a cup of urine at him and shouted “doper”.  It should be noted that Froome has never failed a drug test.
3. The “deflategate” ball that was caught by LeGarrette Blount for a touchdown in the AFC Championship was sold at auction for $43,740. Does every rule infraction have to be eventually rewarded?
4. Local product and Nazareth High school graduate Sage Karam finished third this past Saturday at the Iowa Corn 300 Indy Car series. He did anger sixth-place finisher Ed Carpenter, however, who said Karam has no respect for the other drivers and “has no clue”.  Karam responded he is “going for the win”.  The former Nazareth wrestler always went for the win.
5. Who is Sarah Thomas? She will be the NFL’s first and only female official this season.  Fans may want to tone down the bad-call expletives.

We all knew the Phillies were going to be “bad” this year.  Every baseball analyst at the beginning of the season predicted that the Phillies would be the worst team in baseball.  It appears, now that we are at the All-Star break, that “worst” may not be a strong enough word.

“Worst” is the superlative for “bad” – you remember how your English teacher talked about degrees of “not good” especially when it came to your English.  In this case, the superlatives for “bad” are “worse” and “worst”, not “badder” or “ baddest”.  I suggest that for the 2015 Philadelphia Phillies, we need to consult a thesaurus to find the appropriate adjective to describe them.  None of the above seem strong enough.

The 1997 Phillies lost 61 games by the mid-season break.  At the All-Star break, this year’s Phillies are 29-62.  Let’s put THAT into perspective.  It is the worst All-Star record for ANY Phillies team in history.    And that is saying something.  Since 1900, of the 20 worst season records in baseball history, the Philadelphia Phillies (6) and the Philadelphia Athletics (3) own nine of them – that’s right – almost half.  By the end of this season, I will probably be able to eliminate the word “almost” from the previous sentence.

The 2015 Phillies have 29 wins, nine fewer than the second worst (I need to find another word) team in baseball right now – the Milwaukee Brewers.  The Brewers are 18.5 games out of first place in the National League Central division, but they are trailing the very best team, the St. Louis Cardinals.  The Phillies are 21 games back!

The Phillies will lose 100+ games.  They have lost their manager (even he couldn’t stand watching this team and he was getting paid for it); Ruben Amaro, Jr. has been just awful as the general manager; and the press only talks about who will be gone on the team roster by July 31.

Their three most recognizable players, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Carlos Ruiz, are batting .226, .179, and .234 respectively.  Statistically, they are among the worst (getting the picture here?) at their position.  And the pitching has been so bad that in one game the bullpen took the phone off the hook!

The Philadelphia Phillies have been around for 133 seasons.  From 2010 through 2012, they ranked first in National League attendance each season, averaging 45,000 fans per game.  This season, they are averaging 24,400.  Everything, it seems, from talent to fan support, is diminishing at an alarming rate.

So how would you describe the 2015 edition of the Philadelphia Phillies – abhorrent, atrocious, hellish, horrible, horrid, nauseating…?  Consult a thesaurus because both you and I know it is “worse” than “worst”!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. There was really good news out of State College this week that freshman Saquan Barkley of Whitehall has impressed the Penn State staff with his athletic ability and his community involvement in the Lift for Life charity. One player was quoted as saying he is a “freak athlete” and that’s a good thing.
2. Good for Lancaster, Pa.! The town more widely known around here for their horse and buggy Amish citizenry put on a great U. S. Women’s Open golf tournament this past weekend.  134,016 fans attended the four-day event and that set a new Open record for attendance.
3. Jordan Spieth won the John Deere Classic, his fourth golf tournament victory of the year on Sunday. He became the first to win four in a year before the British Open since Tiger Woods in 2000.  His golf earnings this year are $8,709,836.  He is 21 years old!
4. Tiger Woods, according to Golf Digest, had a net worth at the end of 2014 of $1.37 billion which includes golf, endorsements, corporate outings, etc.
5. It appears the EPC basketball boys’ and girls’ favorites will be attending school at Parkland. The Stellar tournament is always a good indicator of winter success and the Parkland girls won the championship and the Parkland boys lost in the finals to Archbishop Carroll.  The Parkland football team is heavily favored to win the EPC football championship in the fall.