Sports Beat column - August 17, 2007

Sports Beat
August 17, 2007

Sports Beat by Bill McCaffrey

I start this column on a sad note, the passing of former Chief Judge Ernie Loveless of the 7th Judicial Circuit. He also was a former member of the House of Delegates. I met him when I was a member of the House of Delegates. He was a very good man and everybody who met him liked him. He was a graduate of Surrattsville High School (where he was class president), University of MD and GWU law school. Our deepest sympathy goes to his family. He will be missed.

Another death last week took Phil Rizzuto away. He was one of the key New York Yankees in the 1940's and 1950's. In New York City it was always who was the better shortstop â¤³ Rizzuto or Pee Wee Reese of the Brooklyn Dodgers. But there were other outstanding Shortstops playing then like Alvin Dark, Harvey Kuenn, Chico Carrasquel, Lou Boudreau, Dick Groat, Marty Marion, Johnny Pesky, Eddie Joost, Vern Stephens, Cecil Travis, and Luke Appling. But in the Big Apple you would have thought there were no other shortstops than Reese and Rizzuto. Phil Rizzuto was a great one and he'll be missed.

Recently there was talk about Navy joining a conference (something we talked about last year), however we suggested a smaller one to go along with their greatly reduced schedule. I think Navy should combine with Delaware, Towson, Morgan State, John Hopkins and Salisbury State (plus Villanova, William & Mary or Temple). Navy could play Army, Air Force, Notre Dame and San Diego State, giving them conference games plus four outside games and this would give the Middies enough games to qualify for a bowl game and their precious victories. Let's face it Navy wants a winning schedule and they would get enough wins to go bowling.

Well the Orioles blew a series then derailed the New York Yankees peanut express by pasting the Bronx Bombers. Anytime Erik Bedard pitches the Orioles will be a favorite to win. Its just too bad the Orioles didn't make a management change earlier.

The Ravens really looked sharp in their win over the Eagles. It also probably sealed a departure from Purple land for Kyle Boller. You know â¤¦Big Egoâ¤? is not going to cut Troy Smith and Europe NFL fugitive Drew Olson looks like he will be one of the three QB's that â¤¦big Egoâ¤? keeps.

WE GET LETTERS

Folks, I hope everyone is having a great summer. I'll be doing two more presentations for my book â¤¦The Lizard King Was Here: The Life and Times of Jim Morrison in Alexandria, Virginiaâ¤? this fall and both are shaping up to be big events. One will be on Sunday, September 30th at the Cameron Perks Coffeehouse in Alexandria, Virginia (1pm) and the other will be over on the Atlantic Coast at Sundial Books in Chincoteague Island, Virginia on Saturday, October 13th (6pm). For details on these events, go to www.capitolrock.com and click on â¤¦Latest News.â¤?

The Capitol Rock website has also been updated and a page entitled â¤¦Searching Forâ¤? has been added. This part of the website lists out Washington, D.C.-area musicians (mainly from the fifties and sixties) that I am trying to locate and interview. There is a good chance that many of these individuals have passed on, making it difficult to obtain detailed biographical data on them. Any information regarding these musicians will be greatly appreciated. Go to www.capitolrock.com and click on â¤¦Searching For.â¤? Thanks, Mark O

Bill, Margot Lusby here, thinking of you. Joan told me that you had some health problems and Iâ¤m checking in on you and hoping you are up and about and feeling better. You are in my prayers. Hugs, Margot

Dear Margot, Thank you, I am recovering from a stroke and blood clot in my leg, but I think I am coming back stronger than ever. How's your sister Adele, say hello to Joan for me. Hugs and kisses to all. Bill

Bill, Did you know a Mary Jo Rhodes who married a Tom Edwards. I'm not sure if he was in your class but she was. I've been trying to locate her as she is a part of the Rhodes family I've been trying to locate for a few years. She had a brother named Charles, also Billy and a sister, Ellen. The family lived in Anacostia for quite a few years. The Rhodes family and my parents were great friends for many years. The father's name was Emmet and the mother, Grace. Both families lived in Detroit for Ford and came to DC about 1935-36. Please if you know anything about them, let me know. Mary Jo is the eighth on the list I sent you. Bob Alexander

Bill, I remember Wal Chipple, he was an outfielder for the Washington Senators in the 1940's. Eddie Bell

Dear Eddie, Right you are, he played 18 games in 1945 and hit .136 for the Nats. Say did you go to Bell Vocational? Bill

Dear Bill, 'Your column, you, and your readers make the weekly fix for all the news that is news of D.C.. Love ya, Charlie

Charlie, Thanks. Bill

Ed F's letter to Nasty Nestor Aparacio:
I'm done with the Orioles and baseball in light of Jordan's comments today on top of Tremblay's and Roberts last week. That was absolutely the last straw for me. I have no interest until the old man sells the team. Mark Suchy had it right in his blog on WNST.net today. This mess is not the fans fault and those clowns at the warehouse don't get it. Forget baseball, it's football season anyway and in two months I'll have hockey as well. GO Ravens! Ed

Ed, Good letter. You and Nestor keep up the good work. You know a lot of folks don't like clowns. Bill

Bill, Thanks so much for the column, wonderful as always, love it. Sooo wonderful to finally be able to see some football once again. Even if our favorite team, the Indianapolis Colts, got beat by the hated Dallas Cowboys tonight. Bah humbug. I remember the 823 club. Wasn't it downtown, maybe on 15th street, n.w.? Everyone would go there after work. Nice place, clean, good music and not rowdy. Which reminds me I also remember the Surf Club but forgetting where it was. Bladensburg Avenue maybe? Another fave place was the "Showboat Lounge" when Charlie Byrd and his trio were there. Magical was what that was. On 18th and Columbia Road in Mt Pleasant wasn't it? Yes So sorry to hear about Ray Huff, will keep him in our prayers. And now there is the odd couple who would deserve each other - crazy old "Colonel" Phil Sullivan and lalaland babe Lindsay Lohan who is still a teenager, right? Watched David Beckham make his official debut with US Men's Soccer in DC tonight with his LA Galaxy up against the DC United. He is putting men's soccer in the limelight in this country and making it fun again. Besides which he is one good looking dude. Always did have a weakness for blue eyed blonde men. When he took off his shirt and loosened his shorts for a moment there after the game I thought I was going to pass out. Whew. Bet Her Poshness had something to say about that. There are Sonics all over the place down here but nothing will ever, ever, match our old Hot Shoppes after the football games in DC. Georgia Avenue, Silver Springs, was the place to see and be seen and wolf down those cheeseburgers, Teen Twists, Mighty Mos, onion rings and root beer floats. Yeah. Obviously bored Dale still in Daytona.

Dale, 823 was on 15th Street Surf club was on Bladensburg Road which then ran into Kenilwork Ave was near Flechers Field. Yes thatâ¤s where the â¤¦Showboat Loungeâ¤? was. Colonel Bud told me you have been exchanging emails, hum, is something going on that we should know about? Colonel Phil wants to know if you want to become the Chair of the L.L. Fan Club (Florida Branch). Heâ¤ll be glad to set it up for you. Bill

SPORTS NOTES

Veteran Baltimore area coah Hal Sparks was named the new head football coach last week at Anne Arundel County's Northeast High School and this week citing problems at the school â¤¦were bigger than I thoughtâ¤? quit after only a week.

Our deepest sympathy goes to the family of Allan Morton Ostrow (Central DC) High School who passed at age 76. Rosecroft Raceway was sold to the Penn National Gaming Inc. Casino gambling is on its way! I hear that David J. of Annapolis, Frank Shore and Downtown Brown were in Play Lounge when David Beckhan and Bayonce were there last Saturday.

Look-a-likes, Downtown Brown and Zema â¤¦Chief Zeeâ¤? Williams. The â¤¦Chiefâ¤? has an agent Rich Landon who can be reached at chiefzeebookings at www.myspace.com/chiefzee wait a minute â¤¦my spaceâ¤? I think I heard about that place.

I see Cecil County local elected officials are asking the State to extend MARC in that area. Former State Senator Walter Baker and Delegate Dave Rudolph have been after this for years and this has been what Governor O'Malley has promised Rudolph, even tho the MTA, MARC and MDOT planning officials have been saying it will never happen (these are the same officials who cut it down when Parris Glendenning was Governor). By the way where is Parris now? If you see him say hello to him for me.

In that ad on TV with a beaver, Abe Lincoln look-a-like and someone inside a divas suit. First the Lincoln look-a-like is not Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold, â¤¦Downtownâ¤? Brown and Norris Walker are not in the diver suit and the beaver is not Frank Shore's fuzzy animal pet â¤¦Lurchâ¤?. Will Boller end up with the Falcons? Jay Gibbons will not be back with the Orioles in 2008. Queen Anne's Brian Brainer is now in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. No truth that Arnie Philstein has donated his library to the University of Maryland athletic department. How healty is the WNBA? Roller Derby is back, more to follow on this. No Rachel Welch will not skate in this league.

BOXING AT ROSECROFT BIG HIT!

Boxing returned to Rosecroft raceway last week and can casino gambling be far behind? You know in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Dover boxing and slots and casinos go hand in hand. A nice crowd turned up at the Ft. Washington oval. A good card was provided by Gene Molovinsky and Keystone Boxing. Unbeaten 323 pound Ernest â¤¦Zeusâ¤? Mazyck ran his record to 6-0 by hammering Jamal Terry into submission at .19 of the second round. Thomas Snow remained unbeaten (9-0) by scoring a TKO at 1:30 of the first round over Markel Muhammed. Alexander Johnson put Ed Edwards to sleep at 1:24 of the first round. Norman Allen won an unanimous decision over Kendrick Walker. Horace â¤¦Rayâ¤? Grant recorded an unanimous decision over Myaheed Moor. Five amateur bouts opened the show. Former Cruiser Weight Champion Boone Pultz is back in action on a future Jake â¤¦The Snakeâ¤? Smithâ¤s Baltimore Pro Boxing show. Referee Ken Chevalier is really coming on as a top boxing referee.

Maryland Women's Basketball Participate in Jimmy V Game, Face Rutgers
Terps take on NCAA Tournament runner up on ESPN

The V Foundation announced the pairings for the sixth-annual Jimmy V Classic on Wednesday and pits the Maryland women's basketball team against 2007 NCAA Finalist Rutgers on Monday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. in Piscataway, N.J. The game airs nationally on ESPN2 and proceeds benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Tickets for the Classic go on sale October 1 at the University of Rutgers Ticket Office at 866-445-GORU (4678). Donâ¤t forget these dates! It is Maryland's first appearance in the Jimmy V Classic, while the Scarlet Knights are making their second showing. It will be the first meeting between the teams since 1998, as the Terps lead the all-time series, 18-10.

Maryland has already announced games against nationally recognized teams and is participating in the prestigious Preseason WNIT, which tips off on Friday, Nov. 9 against Princeton in College Park. Possible opponents are LSU, who has reached the NCAA Final Four four-straight years, 2001 NCAA Champion Notre Dame and 2005 NCAA Finalist Michigan State. The tournament features six 2007 NCAA Tournament teams overall. Just two games into the 2007-08 schedule, the Terps face Big 12 Champion Oklahoma on Nov. 11 in Chapel Hill, N.C., in the State Farm Tip-Off Classic. That game will also be televised on ESPN2.

The ACC announced earlier this summer the formation of the Big Ten/ACC Women's Basketball Challenge, in which Maryland battles Big Ten Champion Ohio State on Friday, Nov. 30 at Comcast Center. Maryland returns four starters from last year's squad which went 28-6 and welcomes five freshmen. Among the returnees is two-time All-American Crystal Langhorne and All-ACC performers Marissa Coleman and Kristi Toliver. For information on the team or tickets to home games, visit www.umterps.com. Fans can purchase tickets by phone by calling 1-800-IM-A-TERP.

McKinley Tech was one of the best High Schools in DC, guys and gals I remember from there were Reba Wilson, Dixie Lee, Tremane Finch (Frank Shore's traveling partner), Francis Stringfellow, Betty Brown, â¤¦The Moleâ¤? Bill Breen, Snooky Kerman, Rupert White and Judy Hurst. Shame, shame â¤³ I read a story in the New York Times on the plane that set on the tarmac at Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall International airport for over three hours and they left out the â¤¦Thurgood Marshallâ¤? part of the name and the lightweight Maryland Aviation Director one Jonathan O. Dean was quoted in the article and he did not do anything about the omission. The State legislature should censor O.D. for this. Its an insult to the great name of Thurgood Marshall. This has the potential to become a Don Imus blow up. Come on OD learn who you work for. The Volume 3 video collection of Charlie Chan is now on sale.

Our deepest sympathy goes to the families of the following: Janet L. Gildea (Woodrow/DC) Wilson HS grad and U. of MD grad); Jacqueline Rose Davis (Woodrow (DC) Wilson HS and former wife of Harold Pollin, they all passed away recently. Look for Annapolis area Christian School to surprise a few opponents in their first football season. Is Rick Tubman at Kent Island HS one of the worse HS coaches around? I hear he likes to play favorites and not the players who deserve to make the team. Look for Mark Brunell soon be an ex-Redskin, losing out to Todd Collins who will back up Jason Campbell and Kyle Boller to join the Redskins or Atlanta Falcons who earlier were looking at another ex_Raven Chris Redman. One of the real beauties I knew growing up was Joan Gray. Margot Fowler and Pat Kessler were right there too. How many of you remember the Toddle House on Georgia Avenue? Who's your favorite burger place (past or present)? Who remembers Walter Winchell? How about Ma Perkins? Remember how Walter Johnson did the baseball play-by-play on the radio for the Nats.

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