Have fun in the stands

I’ve been reading a lot not only in the local newspapers, but a certain web site as well, about fan conduct at basketball games this season.
Earlier in the year, a couple of student sections were cleared out at games because of bad behavior.
Last week, Sunday News staff writer Mike Gross wrote an article about the sportsmanship of fans throughout the Lancaster-Lebanon League.
There were a number of incidents mentioned in the story, including some chants at the last Columbia and Lancaster Catholic game.
I’ve been to gyms all over the Lancaster-Lebanon League, the state and District 3. It wasn’t that long ago that Trinity played Sto-Rox in the state finals, where the fans emptied onto the floor at the Giant Center because of a brawl.
I thought then and still think to this day, that both teams could have been striped of their medals. But, it didn’t happen.
So why am I writing this now and why have I written about this in the past. Well, first off there’s a big game on Monday night and it was mentioned in Gross’ article about how that other school meets with its students about sportsmanship. I will not comment on that.
Then, I’ve been reading about problems over at Manheim Township, where the school is taping the student sections. I understand Hempfield does the same.
I know the L-L League, just like District 3 and the PIAA have sportsmanship policies in place.
I can remember last year at Pequea Valley, complaining about the conduct of their students and nothing was done.
My feeling is and always will be, that is a policy exists, it need sto be enforced equally at every school and not enforced by what school is visiting. It shouldn’t be up to the schools to pick and choose what part of the policy they want to enforce.
It’s almost to me like how different some officials officiate during the regular season and in the playoffs.
Poor sportsmanship has filtered down to the youth level.
I guess what I’m trying to say that fans need to be on their best behavior and not try to bring attention to their schools. That’s how schools get bad reputations.
Schools should also promote in the right way of how the student bodies get involved in the right way.
I think video taping of fans, at the high school level, is a little too much. But selective enforcement of sportsmanship policies isn’t the right answer either.
Let’s keep it clean Monday night and enjoy the biggest game of the season!

That ball is out of here

It might be freezing outside, but last night, thoughts of warm weather and the great sport of baseball were on the minds of more than 600 people who attended the annual Baseballtown Banquet at the Sheraton in Wyomissing.
While the highlight of the evening was suppose to be the crowning of the “Queen of Baseballtown,” the highlight for me was getting to talk baseball, specifically Phillies baseball.
The National League East champs (which has a nice ring to it) made a stop at the dinner. Those in attendance were Assistant GM Mike Arbuckle, Manager Charlie Manuel, players Shane Victorino, Brad Lidge and JC Romero. Also spoke with the legend, Harry Kalas and the Phillie Phanatic.
By the way, I purchased a CD about Harry. It gave me chills listening to it.
Charlie was the first person we spoke with. He’s ready to go. He said the Ryan Howard, who is involved in a contract problem with the team will get his money and it won’t be a distraction. He also said the team who see on the roster now won’t change much and he feels the team, could, as shortstop Jimmy Rollins predicated win 100 games.
Here are some other tidbits:
Lefty reliever Romero, who signed a new contract with the team in the off season, said it was “his duty” to resign with the Phillies.
“Everything will fall into place this year and we’re going for something big,” Romero said.
Victorino, who will move from right field to center this year, was very cocky. He talked about his calf injury, which sidelined him for the better part of the final two months of the season.
“My rushing back didn’t help and made it even worse,” Victorino said.
Harry the K, who I would talk to all night, had this to say about last season.
“It was an experience we haven’t seen in Philadelphia since 1993,” he said.
He’s also excited about his new broadcast partner Tom McCarthy, who returns to the group after a year in New York.
He’s not sure what the roles of the broadcasters will be. Here’s hoping he gets all nine innings.
“There are very high hopes (this season), there’s no question about that,” Harry said.
Let’s hope he crooning, “High Hopes” again in October.
Also spoke with Arbuckle. he said the front office is always looking for help. He did say that there are players out there they are looking at and looking for their agents to lower their demands.
Lidge is the new closer. He’s anxious to put on the pinstripes.
“I feel that I am lucky to go to a team that is on the up swing,” he said.
My final chat was a during-the-dinner chat with the Phillie Phanatic. Wait, he doesn’t talk. Okay, it was with his alter ego, Tom Burgoyne.
He said when he attended St. Joe’s Prep in Philly, he wanted to be the Phanatic.
He’s been wearing the green for 20 years now.
“It’s a great love affair between the Phillies’ fans and the Phanatic,” he said.

Thirsty for more. Check out next week’s edition!

Local doc to compete in Wing Bowl

WIP radio is one of my favorite radio stations to listen too, especially around Wing Bowl time. I've always wanted to attend the event and a couple of years ago I actually went down to the big city in a futile attempt to get in.
But this story written by staff writer Cheryl Stansbury leaves me shaking my head a little. There's a local doctor who has qualified to compete in the event.
Here is a "Wingy" taste of her story, that will appear in next week's Columbia Ledger.

There’s something wrong with this picture. Doctors are suppose to be promoting good health and good eating habits. Not filling your stomach with unhealthy food.
Then there’s Dr. Bret Daniels of the Twin Rose Primary Health Care facility located at the Columbia Health Center. Daniels is in training to participate in the 16th annual Wing Bowl, sponsored by Philadelphia radio station WIP. The event, which fills the Wachovia Center, will be held tomorrow. Wing Bowl is a wing eating contest that features some of the top professional eaters in the world, such as El Wingador, Joey Chestnut and the Black Widow, Sonya Thomas. Last year’s champion, Chestnut ate 182 wings. El Wingador, also known as Bill Simmons has won the event five times. He’s back this year to defend his championship with the Wing Bowl being Philadelphia against the World.
Daniels, who is also the doctor for the Columbia School District, has been working on his wing eating skills at Mosby’s Pub in Mount Joy. He worked out last Thursday and did so earlier this week. Last Thursday., Dr. Daniels ordered seven dozen or 84 wings and ate 71 or 72 wings in 14 minutes.
So, why would a doctor, who is suppose to be promoting healthy habits, get involved in the feat of wings and other attractions that go with the world famous contest?
Daniels said he has never been to Wing Bowl, but became interested in the contest while listening to one of his favorite radio stations, 610 WIP. To qualify for the event, Daniels had to propose an eating stunt and had to go to Philadelphia to show off his stuff. since it was the Christmas season, Daniels proposed 12 Days of Gluttony and 610 WIP liked the idea. The station brought him to perform his 12 days of gluttony in which he ate things like 10 lumps of lard, seven fish still swimming, and six raw eggs.
“I thought it would be fun to not only go to Wing Bowl, but also compete,” said Daniels.