Mike Wolfgang

Last Friday afternoon I was enjoying watching some pretty good college football and thinking about making the trip to Hershey to watch Manheim Central take on West York in the District 3 Class AAA football championship.
I was comfortable on my recliner just before five o’clock, when my phone rang. A name didn’t come up, rather just a number, so I answered it.
It was one of those phone calls you don’t like to receive. It was a phone call telling you someone had died. That person was former Columbia running back of the early 1970s Mike Wolfgang.
Wolfgang’s death was very unexpected and shocking. I had just seen Mike about two weeks earlier when his officiating crew on its way back from a playoff game between York High and Bishop McDevitt stopped at a local watering hole for some food and drinks after the game.
That night Mike was so full of life, talkative and funny. He was holding court with his six other officials, talking about their game, politics, football in general and talking to the “out of towners” about growing up on Fourth Street in Columbia.
We only got to see Mike do one Columbia game this year. He requested being the”white hat” (referee) for the L-S game, which was Hall of Fame Night at Columbia. He wanted to be there because his high school coach Jack Yohe was being inducted, along with some former teammates.
We talked a little bit that night, before the game and during the game.

For more, read this week's Columbia Ledger.

Wrong move

Monday afternoon, I had my weekly column all written.
I was going to tell everyone that I reluctantly have joined the Charlie Manuel bandwagon and had a special picture already to go.
By 11 o’clock Monday night, I had to re-write my column.
Seems Major League baseball in an attempt to make a few more million dollars, decided to play game five of the World Series Monday night at the Bank in the rain and cold.
Why? The only answer I can some up with is money. Money drives sports today, not the poor suckers like you and me, who put their fannies in the stands to support their favorite teams.
There is no way in creation that came should have been started last night. Major League Baseball made a huge error in judgement. What if say a Cole Hamels and “Eva’ Longoria would have suffered say a career-ending injury?
As I sat at home, watching the rain fall harder and harder and getting an uneasy feeling that the series was heading back to  Florida, I kept saying why.
The infield, despite the efforts of the ground crew, was flooded. There was more standing water on that field than on most streets after a hard rain.
Okay, it does seem kind of odd that baseball waited until the Rays tied the game at 2-2 to put the tarp on and call the game, but apparently it was all part of some type of grand plan.
Remember talking heads Buck and McCarver saying that once the game reached the bottom of the fifth, it was official and if it was called with the Phillies winning 2-1, they would win the game and series.
Well, seems the suits who run Major League baseball decided to alter the rules somewhat, saying the game wold go nine innings regardless and apparently didn’t tell anyone. Fox didn’t know it and neither did the teams.
So when Tampa Bay tied the game, it was the logical time to say “we’ll see you on another night.”
But there are other problems.
The umpiring in the series has been horrible -- both ways. MLB and its umpires union has this contract, which doesn’t call for the best umpires to work the post-season. That’s a mistake. There are some good umpires sitting at home because of this.
And my final gripe has to do with the late starts. Saturday, again, well after 10. Perhaps that one should have been called as well.
You say, eight isn’t a late start. Well, by the time you get the Fox talking heads telling us what will happen in a game during the pre-game, the line-ups and the god awful renditions of the National Anthem, its nine o’clock.
Baseball wants young people to get involved in the game. How can they when its early the next morning when the game ends.
That has to change.
The series is still not over as I write this. I will say I am surprised with the pitching performances the Phils got from Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton.
But, common sense didn’t prevail at all by Major League Baseball in games four and five in Philly.

Columbia-Catholic

Knowing the fact the Crusaders were suppose to have the best team around, I was looking for scores in the 70s. Myself and many others were predicting a night of disaster.
But it really wasn’t. While Friday’s game wasn’t a classic, it was still a good effort by the Tide, one they can be proud of and use as a steppng stone for their final two games of the regular season and the playoffs.
The Tide continued its improvement against Catholic.
Catholic, despite putting 49 points up on the scoreboard, didn’t dominate the game as man expected.
If Columbia doesn’t give the Crusaders two short fields to work with and converts two fourth and less than an inch, the game may have been a different story.
Would Columbia had won, probably not, but the outcome may have been a lot closer.
And no, I wasn’t drinking anything before the game. Catholic didn’t crush Columbia like many had thought. I sure the Catholic people would say otherwise, but so be it.
The fact that they had 60 plus players and Columbia barely enough for two teams might have had something to do with it.
Catholic didn’t drive the field up and down like some of the Tide opponents did earlier this season. In fact over the last three weeks, no team has really gone up and down the field against the Tide as will.
Columbia, with a variety of trick plays kept Catholic off balance on offense.
The Tide plays its final home game tomorrow night against Pequea Valley. Its a game they should dominate. They close the regular season next week against rival Donegal.
If all goes well, the Tide should have some momentum heading into the playoffs, where their likely first round opponent will be the best team in the state, Steel-High.
Like I said last week on line, I’m usually pretty upset if Columbia loses to Lancaster Catholic. Friday I was not because I thought the kids played well.
It also didn’t help matters that there were a couple of questionable calls, one that killed a Tide drive and another that kept a Catholic drive going.
Here’s hoping the home stands will be packed for the final time on Friday. I know they won’t be, but at least I can wish it.
The Tide played well despite some big odds last week and should use that to build on.

A fun three weeks

I wasn’t sure what to write about this week -- the CHS football team, the huge opening win by the Eagles, or the home stretch of the baseball season.
As I prepare for the long road trip tomorrow night to Daniel Boone, I just want to tell the CHS football team to hang in there. If you work hard in practice and listen to your coaches as they prepare the game plan, good things will happen.
Don’t want to say too much about the Eagles, who beat a hapless St. Louis team Sunday.
Here are my two cents on that win.
I was finally impressed that Andy Reid decided to throw the ball downfield. In the NFL, three things can happen -- a big play, a penalty or an incompletion. The Eagles had forget to throw the ball downfield for a while now.
The second with the big Monday night game coming up, I’m still trying to decided what anti-Dallas shirt to wear. I have two of them and both have something to say about TO.
Now to the point of this week’s column, the pennant race in the National League East.
As I write this, the Phils are 1.5 games back of the Mets. Taking two of three over the weekend from the Muts was good, but a sweep would have been better.
They are also three games out of the wild card, behind Milwaukee, which will attempt to make a withdrawal from the Bank this weekend during a four-game series.
The Phils are right there, despite some problems like the lack of production from Pat Burrell and Charlie’s continued managerial mistakes.
Each day when I come in, my first visit is to check the fan forum section of the Phillies’ web page. They are saying things about Charlie almost daily, which is what I said all long.
The guy is the worst manager in the game. If he knew how to manage, put the players in the right position and manage a pitching staff, the division race would be over.
Hopefully, when we make our final trip to the Bank at the end of the month, the game will mean something.

Odds and ends...

• Watched some college football over the weekend. Seems like the Erin Andrews look is in for sideline reporters.
You know, the blonde, good looking type.
• Best bit of the weekend was on the Fox pre-game show and it involved Frank Callendo’s picks and Michael Strahan.
• The Patriots will be an average team without tom Brady.
• Who is the favorite in the AFC now that the Big Two, New England and Indy are 0-1.
• And this comment about Brett Farve. His two touchdown passes on Sunday were typical. Get a little pressure and just throw the ball up for grabs and hope someone from m team catches it.
• The game of the year in high school football is tomorrow night when Central hosts Catholic. Both are 1-1.
Both have eyes on a long season and both could get that if they don’t get a lot of players banged up for the start of the league season next week.

Don't jump off the bandwagon

Columbia High School fans are loyal. If you win, the fans will travel from Columbia to Scranton or even Pittsburgh to watch the Tide play.
Friday night in the rain up on the hill, that thud you heard after the game was what I will call”not so loyal” Crimson Tide bandwagon after a disappointing opening night loss to Eastern.
Granted the crowd wasn’t as big as many thought because of the weather. had the weather been nice, the stadium would have been packed.
Friday night, the Tide is home again for another non-league game with York Suburban, a team they haven’t played in a few years.
Will the stadium be packed to support the Tide? I don’t even need to answer that one. The answer will be no.
That’s because the Tide lost one game. Sure, it was to a rival, but it wasn’t Lancaster Catholic.
The cheerleaders were selling t-shirts over the summer, with the phrase “there are two kinds of people -- people from Columbia and people who wish they were from Columbia.”
In our town, and its not all fans, there are people from Columbia who jump off the bandwagon just as quick as they jump on.
Folks, it’s just one game. There are still at least nine more left in the season, and who knows when the Tide starts to right its ship this weekend, there will probably be a trip to the District Three playoffs.
Although I haven’t heard much of it, but I’m sure there are plenty of nay sayers, who may have or may not have went to the game on Friday, who have nothing good to say about what happened. To those folks, I say, and always will, stay away, we don’t need you or want you to attend games.
The players on the field, along with the coaches are giving their best. Remember, they are only high school athletes and the last I looked they weren’t getting paid millions to play.
Perhaps a few words of encouragement would be better.
I’ve said my piece and I will always be on the bandwagon.

Odds and ends...

• Went to a junior high football scrimmage last week at Northeastern High School in York County.
They are playing varsity football for the first time this season.
Nice facility, but they only have bleachers on one side of the field.
Hit of the scrimmage happened on the far sidelines when a player from Northeastern did a “Joe Paterno” to one of the Columbia coaches. Let’s just say, it wasn’t that graceful!
• Is it just me, but didn’t it seem like it rained every Friday night last football season.
A new season started Friday night, and it rained again. And the weather forecast for this week isn’t looking that great either.
• Watched the Phillies last week.
I know I am writing about him almost every week, but right now the two games that Charlie Manuel blew last week with his moves may have cost the Phillies the division.

Time to get ready

As a wondered what to talk about this week, a number of topics came to mind.
The end of the Olympics, the Phillies, the Eagles and of course the start of the 2008 high school sports’ season.
So like any good weatherman forecasting a foot of snow and we get less than an inch, I pulled out my trusty dart board.
My topic this week -- the start of the high school sports season for 2008.
One of the things I hear most from coaches, is a lack of numbers.
I feel for the coaches and often wonder why students don’t come out for sports, or get involved in school activities such as band, chorus or cheerleading.
I’ve been out of high school 32 years. I will tell anyone that asks, there are some things I would have gotten involved with in high school and didn’t. With that in mind, sports or school activities aren’t for some.
While I understand that, I will also make the comment for those who aren’t getting involved in their schools, they don’t know what they are missing.
I know there are athletes walking the hallways of our schools. I’m not the type of person anymore, maybe 10 years ago, who would make an issue out of it. When I was coaching early on, I thought it was important to get as many players on a team as possible. I was using the logic that there was nothing bad about getting involved.
The older I got, the more I understood. While I don’t agree with it, our kids today are spoiled. When as I kid, I spent the day at the local playground, going to the pool, playing whiffle ball or a pick up game, today, most, not all of our young people wouldn’t know a pick up game from a pee-gee ball. It’s more about IPods, text messaging, staying in the air conditioning and wanting to be talked into doing something.
That’s sad, but that’s the way I see things today. Again, most of our young people don’t know what they are missing.

Odds and ends...

• I am 2-0 wearing my Charlie Manuel t-shirt.
• I thought wearing a Manuel t-shirt or anything was odd. Sunday night at the Bank, there was a fan wearing a Steve Smith jersey.
He’s the Phillies’ third base coach. Don’t know if I’d be caught dead in that one.
• Larry Bowa doesn’t look right in Dodger Blue. Didn’t see it, but was told he received a long ovation on Friday night.
• Typical Charlie on Sunday.
He had a chance to make a double switch by taking starter Joe Blanton out of the game in the sixth and replacing Gregg Dobbs at third.
Instead, he left Blanton come out and warm up for the seventh, then removed him. He later made the double switch.
• My question is why go to a game, at any level, and not watch it. Sunday night, I think we were up and down 12 times just for two people.
• Looking forward to the fall sports’ season, on the field and food-wise. I’ll try to report each week on on the field actions as well as the Friday night food of choice.

Don't drop sports

On and off over the past week, I’ve been watching the Olympics.
Michael Phelps chase for eight for great; the pursuit of gold by the US in basketball is expected and the start of the track and field competition is a blessing. Don’t forget the beach volleyball.
But as the Olympics finally wind down, there’s two things I can’t understand is why baseball and softball are being eliminated as Olympic sports and trampoline and badmitten remain.
Well, Tuesday morning, I got the answer as to why baseball and softball are no longer going to be Olympic sports.
Baseball-wise, the Olympics want “dream teams.” Apparently they want Major League baseball to shutdown for two weeks, or allow their stars to compete in the Olympics.
As a baseball fan, not sure if I like the idea of shutting down the season in the middle of pennant races. Knowing the “powers to be” in baseball,” it will probably happen.
Softball-wise, apparently, the reason is that no one can beat the United States. To me, that’s a poor excuse.
What’s next, not allowing the US to enter the swimming because Phelps won eight gold medals? Or, not allowing the US team of May and Walsh to compete in beach volleyball because no one can beat them?
I wasn’t sure if I liked the US having a “dream team” in men’s basketball. But after listening to reason that the other country were sending their pros, I bought into the idea.
Sometimes I wonder if those in power in the Olympics are just making rules because we are too powerful of a country.
And one thing, before I stop venting about the Olympics. Outside of having to get an atlas out to determine where some of the countries were located, I was taken back a little by the choice of who carried the American flag for the opening ceremonies. The track athlete wasn’t a native American. I heard all the reasons, etc. I don’t really care. We are the United States of America and an American should have carried the flag, not a transplant!
Yes, I am a proud American!

Odds and ends...

• Larry Bowa, the real Phillies’ manager returns home this weekend.
But I will still wear my Charlie Manuel t-shirt (50th birthday gift), perhaps with a sign on the back of it.
By the way, I think this is an important home stand for the Phillies and Charlie needs to manage every game like its the last game of the season.

Bowa returns

Sunday night is one of those dates I circled on my calendar even before I got sick.
It got double circled when I got sick as one of the three dates I wanted to be recovered by.
Why?
That’s because the Los Angeles Dodgers are coming to Philadelphia for the weekend.
I had that date circled long before the Dodgers acquired Manny Ramirez from Boston.
So, what’s the big deal?
Well, the “real” Phillies manager Larry Bowa will be patrolling the third base coaches box for the Dodgers. Thought he looked odd in Yankee pinstripes, well, he doesn’t bleed Dodger blue that well either.
This is his first trip back to Philadelphia since he got uncermonously dumped by the Phillies and replaced by Charlie Manuel.
I have maintained all long that is Bowa was managing the Phillies, they would have easily won the National League East last year and wold be well on their way to another title this year.
I for one, will be standing and cheering him when he takes the field Sunday night and when I watch the games Friday and Saturday (I know get a life), the old Bowa stories will be coming to life again.
The Dodgers series in the middle part of an important home stand for the Phillies. It opened earlier in the week with Washington and closes with those Mets.
Heck, by next week, the Phillies could be out of it.
They wouldn’t be if Bowa was in the dugout. He would provide the fire and leadership needed that would have gotten the team through this tough spot.
I recall writing a few weeks back that I was warming up to Charlie because his lack back style was working. Well, it’s not working right now, because this team needs a kick in the pants, which he can’t provide.
Some of this top players, like Rollins, Myers and Burrell have had public blowouts with “Uncle Chuck.”
This is the same guy, who has offered no real reason as to how to turn it around. If your are the manager, the buck stop with you.
Yes, I will wear by Charlie Manuel t-shirt (a 50th birthday gift), but I may put a taped line through it and wear a sign welcoming home the “real manager of the Phillies.”

Odds and ends...

• Got to two scrimmages over the weekend -- Ephrata at Columbia and Daniel Boone at Eastern.
Boone was the best of the four teams I saw.
• Saw where Eastern is tearing down their old high school.
The old school will become practice fields and parking.
Saw a lot of good games across the river, football and basketball, over the years.
• Was listening to a talk show discussion last week about what Olympic sports should be dropped, since after this time there will be no baseball or softball.
While I ask why, how can badmitten and trampoline be Olympic sports and baseball and softball not?

A great day

To be honest with people, over the last two months or so, I’ve had more bad days than good days.
Not sure, but I guess my illness and recovery had a lot to do with that.
But Sunday was a great day, one of the best I’ve had for a while.
Why?
I went to see the Phillies play for the first time since April. I didn’t think I’d get down to August if then, but last week, we decided to make the trip. The only thing are me using a wheelchair and having a spot to sit. So, we called the Phillies earlier in the week and they told us how to go about it.
So, I got to see a game and get away for the day with no apparent problems.
I never felt better. Okay, the Phillies won, thanks to Pat Burrell, who should be an all-star; but it was just getting away after more than two long months of being a shut-in (only going out about five or six times other than a doctor’s appointment).
So one can easily see why I was so excited.
I need to thank my friend Steve for coming up with the idea.
Sunday’s game with the Diamondback was all I expected with two of the best hurlers in the game today, Brandon Webb and Cole Hamels on the mound.
It was a great comeback by the Phillies. I will say in the bottom of the eighth with the score tied at 2-2, I called that the Phils were gonna win. After all, they had Utley, Howard and Burrell coming up.
Here are some other highlights.
• The peanuts were outstanding.
• We got the Shane Victorino figurine that they were giving out. Guess is pays to go in on a wheelchair.
• Please explain to me why Charlie Manuel went out to argue a “fair” ball call late in the game. It took him longer to get out to argue than he did speaking with the umpire.
• The National Anthem was outstanding, but I can’t say the same thing for the seventh inning God Bless America.
• The weather was outstanding until we got close to Park City.

Odds and ends...

• Can’t believe Charlie Manuel picked Jamie Moyer to start the second half of the season.
• The Phils are still short at least two pitchers.
• The Phils will win the NL East by five game or more, if they get a couple of arms and perhaps a bat.
• Really tired of the Brett Favre stuff.
• If you are a Columbia football fan, you’ll like the fact that all home games and a few road games will start at 7 p.m.
• Wonder how many people will be playing the numbers 8, 8, 08 for the Big 4 when the Olympics open next month?
• For some reason, the Arena Football League doesn’t really fill the bill in the off-season.
• The Sixers have improved themselves with the signing of Elton Brand. I think it was a bold move.
• Say what you want, but I think Charles Barkley is one of the most interesting people to listen to. It’s a shame, he can’t golf a lick.
• So, what is the best giveaway ever at a ball game? I’d have to say those bobbleheads, but I’d like to see more of the old-timers.

You heard it here

In a few weeks, thank god, the area will be alive with the sound of fall sports practice as preparations begin for the 2008 season.
Until then, the pickings are sparse.
During my recent two weeks in solitary confinement, I got to watch a lot of television, the good, bad and real ugly. Okay, mostly ugly.
I did get to watch a lot of the Phillies. Despite a horrible trip through the American League, they still remain in first place, some how.
But there’s one thing I don’t think you’ll see the rest of the year and that’s Brett Myers wearing pinstripes. They tried to trade him before shipping him to Lehigh Valley and since he make some comments about pitching in the bullpen, rather than being a starter, I don’t see him fitting the bill.
Sure, there is an opening in the bullpen with “Flash” Gordon being out, but I think Myers, who I thought had some physical issues, is a mental case. I think and I’ve heard some talk about it, he would be better off, being traded.
If his head is screwed on straight, he can definitely help the team, but...
Right now, I think the Phillies need three pitchers to finish the season. One to replace Myers, another to send Adam Eaton out to pasture and another arm in the bullpen. Clay Condrey and Rudy Seanez need to go.
Offfensively, they are fine, except I’m running out of patience with Carlos Ruiz (Chris Coste needs to catch five days a week) and Geoff Jenkins. Perhaps another bat off bench would help.
But it all comes back to one thing and even though he’s been pretty steady this year, that one thing that could really hurt the Phillies resides in the dugout and his name is Charlie Manuel. He still doesn’t use his pitchers right, often times leaving them in too long. He also needs to settle on a batting order. Forget moving it around against lefties. These guys are pros and if Jimmy Rollins is suppose to lead off, keep his at that spot.
Some tweaking is needed, but I don’t see any big reason as to why the Phillies shouldn’t repeat. As for making a long run in October, they need to get a couple of arms.

Odds and ends...

• Training camps in the NFL open next week and will someone please tell Brett Favre to stay retired.
• Won’t be going to the Eagles’ camp this year, breaking about a 10 year streak, if not longer.
• Media Day for the L-L League in football is Friday, Aug. 8.
• Didn’t watch it, but was told some of the best television over the weekend was the Wimbledon men’s final.
Told you, tennis is like watching auto racing and golf. Nap time!
• I think the United States will do well in track and swimming based on the trials I saw the last few weeks.
• Nice to see former WGAL sportscaster Jim Stone getting some air time covering the Olympic track.
He’s in San Diego and was working for NBC as sort of a stringer-type for the track.
• All-Star game on Tuesday night will be one to watch just because its at Yankee Stadium, one of the classic parks in the game.

Starting to change

I am the type of person that doesn’t like too much change. At almost 50, I’m sort of set in ny ways.
In order words, a tough nut to crack.
But each night as a sit on the old recliner and watch the Phillies, I am amazed at how well this team continues to do.
Sure, they got five of the best players in the game -- Utley, Rollins, Lidge, Howard and Hamels and a couple of other players that are borderline being the best like Myers, Burrell and Victorino.
They play hard night in and night out and no deficit seems to faze them.
They have some holes, but lately the holes seem to be producing.
Sure, this is the Major Leagues and they are being paid big bucks to produce.
So I keep asking myself why and then then show Charlie Manuel in the dugout, blowing a bubble or looking like he doesn’t belong in the dugout. He just looks the part of a hillbilly.
I have been tough on Charlie ever since he replaced Larry Bowa and will continue to do so.
There are a few of us who think had Bowa been managing last year, the division race wouldn’t have went down to the last day of the season.
This year, the Phillies are on a roll. I think only the Cubbies have a better record in the National League.
So even though he looks like a “buffoon” in the dugout, maybe the laid back approach by the manager is the way to go.
As I right this, the Phillies have a four game lead in the National League. They have a big series with Florida this week and could easily create some more space.
While I am not completely converted yet as a Charlie Backer, because my fear is he’ll do something stupid that will cost the team, right now, he’s one of the reasons they are doing well.
Of course having the best player in the game right now in Utley doesn’t hurt either.

Odds and ends...

• I saw the Eagles are holding their annual summer celebration this weekend at their End Zone store at Rockvale. No word on any of the players who might attend.
Hard to believe but training camp is a little more than a month away.
• Like watching the college world series in baseball and softball, but John Kruk was out of place at the softball championships.
• Now that I have the digital cable package, there are a couple of old favorites I’m tuning in for.
Remember Emergency with Squad 51? How about the A Team (I pitty the fool)? Hawaii 5-0 (book ‘em Danno!).
• Don’t want to say that I told you so, but I warned everyone that Big Brown had a built in excuse for not winning the Belmont. But to finish last, come on!
• Can you believe the NBA season will be ending maybe tonight or over the weekend. Three months of playoffs is too much.
• From the who cares file. I was home one day last week and EPSN or the Duece had European Soccer on live.
Like tennis, golf and sorry to say auto racing, a waste of time on the tube.

Why are they winning

As I write this week’s column, the Phillies lead the National League East heading into a four-game series with the Cincinnati Reds.
Last season at this time, the Phillies were floundering. Many were waiting for the axe to fall on Charlie Manuel.
There was no firing, which at that time last year, I thought was a good thing.
What the Phillies did was hang in there all year and in the final few weeks of the season pull out the division. Even then, I was probably among the dissenters still wanting Charlie to be fired.
So what is the big difference this year in the Phillies?
They are winning and it has taken the heat of Manuel and his bonehead moves. I still believe that if the Phillies had Larry Bowa managing the team last year, they would have won the division going away. As for this year, Manuel’s bonehead moves I think have cost the Phillies around five games. Not sure if there were any when I was recently in the hospital, I was THAT far out of it.
One of the team’s biggest strengths this season has been its bullpen. The grouping of Madson, Romero, Gordon (although I hold my breath when he pitches), Lidge, has been lights out compared to Mesa, Alfonseco and Geary last season.
They have overcome injuries again. J-Roll misses a month and they weren’t buried. He comes back and everyone hits.
Chase Utley is the MVP of the National League, if not all of baseball. He plays the game the right way.
If there is a question mark, it has to do with the starting pitching. Brett Myers has been up and down; Cole Hamels has been down right awful in his last two outings and Adam Eaton, well, let’s just say he wouldn’t be on the team if I was in charge.
The saving graces of the starters has been Jamie Moyer and Kyle Kendrick. But how long can you count on Moyer? He’s 100, going on 200.
If Myers and Hamels get straightened out and a fifth starter is found, the division title will return.
The everyday eight is as good, if not better than any team in the game. They may have to scores 20 runs a night to keep winning.
If the Phillies repeat, they might not only get their third straight MVP, but also Manager of the Year. Oops, I’m sorry, I just woke up from a mid-afternoon nap -- just an MVP.

I have to admit that I need to get a life. I also have to admit that when dealing with my favorite teams, i.e., the Phillies and the Eagles, my blood pressure gets boiling pretty quickly.
It would probably be worse if I lived in Philly.
So, let’s talk about the draft. Although I didn’t do a lot of reading on the top picks this year, I knew that the Eagles with a dozen picks Saturday and Sunday had the potential to get some pretty good players.
They could have addressed their needs at wide receiver, on the line and maybe at defensive back.
I also thought Lito Shepherd was a goner. He’s an All-Pro without a position. I was thinking he could have gotten us that game breaker at wide receiver. After two days, he’s not an ex-Eagle, which if you listen to Big Red, that’s not such a bad thing.
When it came time for the Eagles to pick, there were a number of good, not top flight receivers on the board. So what does Big Red do, he trades out of the first round with Carolina. About the only good thing that happened all weekend was getting an extra first round pick next year.
Then with his top two picks, Big Red takes a defensive lineman from Notre Dame and a smallish wide receiver from California. If you trade out of the first round, I think you should get something of value. The jury is out.
What I would have done was package a few of those 12 draft choices and Shepherd and went out an got a Chad Johnson, Mike Williams, or someone like that.
Adding insult to injury was the fact that in a later round, the Eagles picked a DB from Wisconsin, who can’t even play next year and perhaps not at all.
Perhaps its time for Big Red to give up control and just coach, because despite what I think is a relatively easy schedule, with the draft, the Eagles could struggle.

Odds and ends...

• Talk about draft overall -- Monday night, there was a long program on ESPN recapping the draft. There was also a two hour show on Tuesday.
• Best moment of the draft came Sunday when Army had a player drafted.
• Can’t wait till Saturday. Michael Jack Schmidt is at a card show at the West Manchester Mall in York.
The goal is to get my picture taken with him. That means I have my picture taken three of the Phillies’ big four -- Carlton, Schmidt and Kalas. The other one of the big four is Ashburn. What, you thought I was gonna say Charlie Manuel!
• Been watching the Flyers. Whoever the announcer was on Monday night was poor.
Guess we can’t have Doc Emerick and the late Gene Hart all the time.
By the way, I think the Flyers are getting screwed against Montreal.
They’ve had dumb penalties called against them and goals scored that weren’t.
Seems like in baseball where everyone, well almost everyone, wants the Yankees to win, seems the NHL wants “Canada’s team” to win. It was a discussion I heard on Monday after the game.

Phillies-Mets

Sometimes there are things that mystify me or leave me shaking my head.
More often than not it happens when I go to athletic events ranging from the youth level to the professional level.
Not don’t get me wrong, I like to drink a chilly adult beverage from time to time and within moderation.
Sunday, we had the opportunity to take in the Phils-Mets showdown at the Bank. Going to the game, I had the over and under of the number of fights at six.
Here’s why.
• One, the Phillies were playing the Mets and sorry to use the expression, but New York people are jerks.
Okay, I guess the same goes for the Philly people, but New York people are the worst.
• Two, it was a night game so those attending the game had all day to drink their favorite adult beverages.
Take for example the four people sitting in front of us in Section 139 -- two girls, who sat down with a total of four beers ($28) and the two young men, also a few beers. They already had their package on. It was kind of fun tormenting the two female fans, but only because they really looked wasted.
So, I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy night.
The left-center area of the 100 level of the Bank has taken over for the former 700 level at the Vet. Each game we’ve been too over the last few years, they verbally abuse, all in good fun the opposing leftfielder.
Sunday night, I think that’s where four of the five fights were. There was even one, well a punch job, in the bathroom, while I was standing in line.
Knowing the fact that young people, night games and alcohol aren’t a good mix, my question is why even sell alcohol at all for those games.
It hasn’t been the first time we’ve seen this and won’t be the last. It just get worse depending upon what team visits.
Although its been years since I’ve been to an Eagles game, I heard its worse there.
I know I don’t go to a game to get a load on. Heck, you’d go broke trying to get wasted. I go to a game to watch and cheer for the home team.
I just wish others would as well.

Odds and ends...

• They had a silent auction Sunday night to benefit the richie Ashburn Foundation.
Sunday night was the 60th anniversary of Richie’s debut in Major League Baseball. By the way, the video looks like a great one.
Among the items up for bid at the auction were a brick they said was from Connie Mack Stadium and a batting practice jersey autographed by Charlie Manuel.
The starting bid was $100, which was about $100 too much for me.
• Did you know the NBA playoffs are under way. Don’t worry about missing any games, they last until next season!
• Big day on Saturday. The NFL Draft will be held.
Probably as widely anticipated as the opening of training camp and the season.
Can’t way to hear all of the nonsense coming from New York.
• Also starting this week are the Barnstormers.

TV

Still can’t understand our current cable television set-up. When the Phils’ game are UPN (except for Sunday), its basically pot luck as to whether we see the games in this area.
But then again, if you are lucky enough to have Comcast E-town, you see the games.
It’s frustrating when the games aren’t on Comcast Sports Net, and what’s even worse is that the new radio station in York, now broadcasting the Phillies, has an extremely weak signal.
Can’t we fans get what we want?

Please sit down

Sunday was the second trip of the season to the City of Brotherly Love.
It started as a nice day, but quickly turned chilly, but not as cold as the pre-season game.
So why am I asking peole to sit down?
Well during the game, Mark DeRosa of the Cubs hit a “long drive” to left that was going out of here. It was ruled a homer by the rookie third base ump.
But right away, one could easily see the ball was foul. Just didn’t have the look of a fair ball.
The fans started screaming and so did Pat Burrell. In fact, he had to be pushed away from the umpire.
So, chugging out to argue was Uncle Charlie. It didn’t take a lind squirrel to see the play and I though perhaps Charlie would say a few words and just go back to the dugout.
Well after the umpires together and made the call stand, Charlie took one for the team. He got tossed for standing behind his team.
I was glad to see that. And know, I am not really changing my mind about him, but it was refreshing.
I also got a kick out of the fans the rest of the game as well, which by the way, the Phillies lost in 10.

It was a cold one

Saturday was the first trip to Philadelphia for the 2008 season. Sure it was a meaningless exhibition game with Toronto, but it was a day to get the juices flowing for the new season.
Unfortunately, the juices never got flowing.
It was the coldest baseball game I ever went too. Not only were the temperatures in the low 40’s (according to the crackers on the radio), but the winds were blowing, which probably lowered the temperature into at least the high 20s.
Not exactly baseball weather. There was a time, I just wanted to get up and give the Eagles cheer, it was THAT cold. But I couldn’t because I was afraid the words would freeze coming out of my mouth.
I was dressed for the trip. Three sweatshirts and a heavy jacket. One thing I forget were gloves. Not a big glove man.
It wasn’t too bad walking the concourse after I got there, walking through the Ashburn Alley store and eating places, or the Majestic clubhouse store, off third base.
Since it was Dollar Dog Day, didn’t try McFadden’s or Harry the K’s for the pre-game meal. Stuck to the dogs, or should I say they stuck to me.
I did eat my share of the dogs and had a diet ice tea, which was more expensive than my four dogs. By the way, the total was six for the day, in case anyone was asking.
I didn’t start to freeze until I got to my seat. The winds were swirling. Heck, it even hurt the crowd. They said they had 35,000 for the game. In our section in the last six rows, there were probably four people.
I like baseball, but Saturday was a little too much.I excited in the fifth as Jamie Moyer started to fade.
What struck me more going out of the park was there was still people coming in. Why would you go to a game and not show up until the fifth inning? Is that fashionable? I think its just plain stupid.
Beer was $7 a bottle and in the Majestic store, they had their alternate hats for sale. I looked at one for $15 and was going to get a second one, same style, but it was $22. I would have gotten two if they were both $15, but the lady at the check out said they were both $22, needless to say, they went back on the shelves.
I do need a new Phillies’ hat, but it was just the principal tat made me not get one.
The next trip is next weekend when the Cubbies are in town. I hope it gets warm soon.

What will the Red Devil do?

Saturday will be the first baseball trip to the City of Brotherly Love since last September when the Phillies beat Washington to win the National League East.

What a day!

But a new season opens Monday afternoon at the Bank. The question I was asked the other night when I was out having a few “sodas” while watching the basketball tournament is when am I going to write about the Phillies.

So here goes.

The MVP shortstop of the Phillies, Jimmy Rollins, has already predicted the team will win 100 games. So that leaves 62 games to play with.

Everyone knows I am not a big Charlie Manuel fan.Okay, he did something that the likes of Larry Bowa and the “Boston Legend” Terry Francona didn’t do -- win a division. Maybe his “country charm” is just what the team needs, I don’t know.
Perhaps if they win the division again and do something in the post-season, I might become a convert.

Let’s just say this that Charlie will cost the team at least 10 games this season. So that only leaves 52 games to play with, just in case J-Roll’s prediction needs help.

In the front of the rotation, the Phils might have two of the top arms in the National League in Brett Myers and Cole Hamels. Both could win 20. They need to get between 10-15 wins out of the rest of the rotation.

Will Kyle Kendrick suffer the sophomore jinx? Will Jamie Moyer pitch like Cy Young until it gets hot? Those are two spots to watch.

The number five spot in the rotation is also a big question. Adam Eaton has a lot to prove and unless they are willing to take a chance on some of the kids, there’s not much left there.

The bullpen will be solid if everyone is healthy and stays in their roles.

Carlos Ruiz and Chris Coste are solid behind the dish.

The infield of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, J-Roll and Pedro Feliz might be the best in the game. All four are capable of stroking more than 30 homers each and glove-wise, aren’t that bad either.

If there’s one question I have, its in the outfield. Will Pat Burrell pick up like he ended last season? Will Shane Victorino be better in center? How good is the platoon of Geoff Jenkins and Jayson Werth? If they all play up to their expectations, it will be a fun year.

Hopefully Charlie won’t screw it up too bad.

Tide is a top 5 team

Call it a little hometown bias, or pride, but after watching the second half (there’s a story here) and the overtime of Saturday’s Class AA state championship between Jeanette and Trinity, I’d have to say that the Columbia boys’ basketball team ranks in the top five in the state.

What? Are you dreaming? No, but I was sleeping. Seems after eating ice cream from the Creamery during the second half of the Girls A game Saturday, I dozed off for most of the first half of that game.

No, I am not dreaming, That’s how good Columbia was this season.
Mansion, along with Jeanette and Imhotep (who I saw on television), Columbia, Trinity and Holy Cross, who I did not see, but based on records, I would have to say are the top AA teams.

My ranking order would be Jeanette, Mansion, Imhotep, Columbia, Holy Cross and Trinity.

Now wait a minute, Trinity beat Columbia didn’t they? Yes, but my thought process is that if they would play 10 times, Columbia would probably win at least eight. It was just one of those nights.

Columbia played Mansion tougher than anyone in the state playoffs and had a couple of shots dropped or not dropped the other way, Columbia would have been playing Saturday.

That’s how special this team was.

Happy Valley bound

The high school basketball season, with the exception of a few all-star games, ends with this weekend, with the state finals at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College.

Last year, for a variety of reasons, one being the location (move to State College from Hershey), was the first year in about two decades are more, our group didn’t make the trip.

The state finals, at least the Friday games, have long been a tradition. When it was in Hershey, Chocolate World and Parkside were two of the traditional stops. You know, had to take the tour and get those tasty cheeseburgers between games.

I’ve been to the BJC once years ago when someone named Bob Knight was coaching Indiana and they played the Nittany Lions. Don’t remember much about the place, other than Knight’s post-game news conference carried on the closed circuit television.

So, it will be a new experience, finding new things to do before and between games. It will also be new that we’re actually planning on staying for the Saturday games as well.

Okay, when we planned the trip we were hoping that Columbia was going to be playing on that Saturday. So, hopefully Strawberry Mansion will be playing. It would add a nice touch to the season to say that Columbia played a state champ.

The games we will see on Friday are the Girls AA, Boys A, Girls AAAA and Boys AAA.

We’re going to see either York Catholic or Trinity in the girls’ AA game and I have to admit that if it’s Trinity, it will be tough not seeing the late Harry DeFrank on the sidelines. We’re most likely going to see an All-District 3 final in Boys AAA between Susquehanna Township and Steel-High.

We’re probably going to see Chester in the Boys AAAA game.

While the state finals is now more than two hours from our town, I would highly recommend the trip, not only for fans but athletes as well. Same goes for the state wrestling finals.

I think its important for our young athletes to get a taste of what they can do with their talent. Get that hunger in their stomachs that they want to get to the big game.

Also, by the way, there are a couple of Columbia ties that might come into play this weekend. Don Holt, a 1974 grad of Columbia, has a daughter, who is a starter on the Trinity team and “Tink” Lutz, the equipment manager for the football team, has a grandson playing for Kennedy Catholic, who just might be playing in the Boys A title game.

Who knows, if he’s not suspended for a fight last Saturday, we might even hear that Terrelle Pryor from Jeanette is going to Penn State to play football and the legend himself, Joe Paterno, might even make an appearance.

The other side

Let me preface this column with this comment. “We don’t know how lucky we have it around here.”

The Lancaster-Lebanon League, and even for the most part District 3, has some of the nicest facilities around. Whether it be football, baseball or softball fields, gyms and courts, we are fortunate.
Perhaps we are spoiled in that regard.

Then you have the other side, well not quite the world as the headline mentions, but the other part of the state.

Saturday, I got to see the other side when I traveled to Philadelphia to see the Columbia boys’ basketball team play Strawberry Mansion High School.

It was a great game, but the amenities left a lot to be desired.

Just for some background, this was third or fourth year that the Philadelphia Public League has been competing with the other PIAA schools. Use to be before they joined the PIAA, jumping from school to school, or program to program was pretty much common place.

Not so anymore.

The game was at South Philadelphia High School, just over a mile from Citizens Bank Park, the Linc, the Spectrum and Wachovia center. That was the good thing.

The rest, well let’s just put it this way was a treat.

Okay, there was a small parking lot in front of the school, but not really that big. Most of the parking had to be done on the streets, at whatever location one could find. Not good.

Then there was the walk to the gym and up a step that had granite steps with no railings for support.

It was also kind of nifty to have to go through a metal detector, which I can proudly saw I set off.

I had been warned about some of the things with the gym before, but was still surprised.

On a good day, the gym might have seated maybe 800. There were no bleachers on the one side of the floor and pretty much limited seating elsewhere.

The concession stand was no more than 10 feet off the floor and ran out of hot dogs. After a two-hour trip, that was the last thing I wanted to hear that I couldn’t get my Phillie frank.

You couldn’t drink out of the water fountains and the bathrooms were smaller than what we have here at our office.

And despite the two-hour trip, more than 300 fans from Columbia showed up. Mansion, who was within shouting distance might have had about 30.

Oh yeah, there was the scoreboard clock that had so many lights out, one would have thought they didn’t pay the electric bill.

And in all my 30 years or so of going to basketball, I rarely have seen a fan go out on the court and yell at a coach.

Saturday, there was a fan from Mansion, who during a second or third quarter run by the Tide walked out on the court near the Mansion coach to tell him he needed to play zone, and walked back. Myself and others sitting around me where like “Wow.”

So I guess the moral of the story is the next time you think we have it bad, its a lot worse elsewhere in terms of facilities and fields.

Students should support their own

You probably won’t find a bigger backer of students and student/athletes than myself.

I love it when a student section at a particular school pulls together, rooting and dressing the part of a supportive student body.

In my travels across District 3 and the state for the last 30 years or so, I’ve seen some great student groups and some I wonder how they got away with what they did.

But at the same time, they are just students, anywhere between say 12 and 18 and as the old television show once said, “children say the darndest things.”

How true!

I believe schools with large student sections, who know the proper way to cheer for their teams, etc., are often worth a couple of points or can be the sixth or 12th man at games.

But there’s one thing I don’t really like is when students criticize other students for what they are doing on the court, field or mat. Sure, some of them may play the game and may understand what it takes to compete. Others, are probably clueless.

The same can probably be said for some adults at games as well. More often than not, some of the adults are more clueless than the students.

And like some of the students, the adults don’t think about harm they can cause by their comments. I just chalk that up to being stupid or ignorant on the part of the adults.

But with the students, that’s another story. They should be supportive of their classmates and cheer loudly for their success. Not become vocal in a harmful way when players aren’t shooting well, playing defense or rebounding, etc., etc., etc.

The criticism on an athlete’s performance should come from a coach, not from a fellow student. That’s when the imaginary line has been crossed.

That’s when problems start and tends to get hostile.

And when it gets to that level, its time for students to step back and consider not coming to the games. Or, if they want to continue to set the tone with their negative comments, then I think schools must step in and ban them from the games.

It really saddens to to here that there are students out there that would criticize one of their own, when the player is out there giving their all and hustling all over the place for not only themselves, but their teammates, the school and their town as well.

Again, more often than not those with the massive vocal cords are not “players,” but ones who wish they were.

It’s really sad that this goes on and needs to stop.

Basketball will miss a good person

Over the years, I’ve gotten to know a lot of people through my association with midget sports and in the media.

Some that you’d like to forget and others that leave a lasting impression.

When I go to an athletic event, one of the first things I tend to notice, isn’t so much the crowd, but who the officials are. In the playoffs, it’s not so much who they are, but what chapter they are from (more on that later).

So why is that so important? Well, depending who walks into a football stadium, gym, or baseball/softball field, you know you’ll get a quality game.

As I’ve said over the years, the Lancaster-Lebanon League has been blessed with a number of quality officials in football and basketball. The same goes in baseball and softball.

How can you tell a quality official? Well for me, its one that doesn’t try to dominate a game with his whistle; one that understands the game and has a genuine desire to excel at his craft.

Back when I was in high school and even later, those type of officials included the likes of Jack Eby and Bob Diehm, Bob Burke, Fred Engle (who is still doing games today), the Flick brothers and Jerry Larish. I’m sure I am missing a few.

As those guys retired some new faces came into the chapter. One of those new guys was Tim Bartholomew.

He worked hard at his craft to become a quality official.

Not only did I get to know Tim through officiating, but also baseball coaching, as he helped out with the Ephrata and Akron youth programs.

Quality guy. Quality official.

But that quality official, quality guy is no longer with us.

He passed away last Thursday night after calling a District Three playoff game between Hershey and Boiling Springs at Red Land High School.

I got a phone call about it Friday morning, but the caller didn’t know who the official was. After doing some searching on the internet, I was able to find out who.

Talk about getting hit by a ton of bricks. Basketball, at least in the Lancaster-Lebanon League lost a quality person.

You can’t blame a guy for cutting back his schedule over the last few years because he wanted to see his son play at Ephrata. When when he did games, they were quality.

Hopefully some of the younger, heck, even some of the older officials in the chapter, were able to learn something from him.

Control what you can

It’s something that I have heard too many times that it has started to bother me.

Maybe, it’s just me because I’ve been around so much, or the fact that people just like to talk to me because I listen.

But what has bothered me more so over the last month than anytime I can remember are things that are out of anyone’s control.

I will try to list some of those things I’ve heard and see if you agree. If you don’t, oh well.

• The referees missed this call or that call. Why did we have that referee.
The officials is something you can’t control in sports.There are good ones and bad ones. Everyone calls a different game. You have to adjust.

It bothered me more after last Thursday’s game with McCaskey. I had people complain about the officiating in the game. One of the complaints was the hand-checking, grabbing of Columbia players that wasn’t called.

Folks, it wasn’t a factor in the game! The only call I didn’t like was an illegal screen call with about a minute left. Let the kids decide it.
Columbia lost the game because they didn’t shoot well. Not because the referees blew it.

• Why aren’t the other media in the area covering the basketball team?
Again, that part is out of Columbia’s control. We shouldn’t worry about if a television is at the game or not. It’s nice, but its no big deal.

• That person is coming to a game for the first time. I watch this too, its called the jinx factor that goes back a long way.
But when you have a hot team and people want to come to the game, they can do what they want.

Again, there’s no control over that.

There are probably a thousand other thinks I could write. But, while it may bother some, you have to roll with the punches. Worry about what you can control.
The coaches and players can worry about the X’s and O’s on the court. The fans need to worry about cheering loudly for the home town and forget the factors they can’t control.

This week's column

I am writing this week’s column on Tuesday morning and by my count, the history making Columbia boys’ basketball team has three games left in the regular season.
The first would be tomorrow night against Lancaster Mennonite; Monday’s game at Catholic and next Wednesday’s home game with Annville-Cleona.
I probably shouldn’t have to write this, but I will. Here is a call for Columbia basketball fans, of all ages (you know the drill) to pack Elmer Kreiser Gym tomorrow night and next Wednesday and make that brief little road trip down Route 30 on Monday.
I’ve seen the bandwagon filling up over the last few weeks. Let’s not jump off the bandwagon for the games against Mennonite and A-C because they don’t mean as much as Monday’s game. Some Columbia fans have a tendency to do that.
Remember you can’t have Monday night without two wins this week, including tomorrow night. That’s why it is important for fans to pack the stands.
The same goes for next Wednesday’s regular season finale with Annville-Cleona. Sure, the Tide may have won the section title by the time that one is played. But, it’s important to show the boys that the town cares, no matter the outcome on Monday and to thank them for such as great season.
There has been plenty of positive things written about the team during their 18-game winning streak. Positive things about the place they play in, so as fans, we need to keep the momentum going -- right through the end of the regular season, the L-L playoffs and the rest of the post-season, however, long that might be.

This week's column

I can remember as a high school student, if not even younger, when the old Lancaster County basketball league ended its season, it was time to make the trip to Hershey for the league championship game. It was like an annual rite of the winter.
Then the old Lancaster County league became the L-L League. And after years of playing its championship games at local colleges, they decided to return the finals to Hershey and the “old barn.”
I’m a firm believer that championship games, no matter the sport, should be played at the biggest site available. In other words, the football championships, no matter the class deserve to be played on the turf in Hershey. Ditto for wrestling. Track is in a perfect spot, Shippensburg and I wouldn’t mind seeing baseball at one of the local stadiums.
You just get that championship feel, which I don’t think you can get at a local high school or college.
So when the old arena was replaced with the Giant Center, the L-L League moved its championship games to the new place, with limited success.
The games apparently were not a success financially for the league, so they have decided to move the league finals to the local area in either a high school or local college. And because of the expected crowds, it doesn’t look like the finals will be played on the same night. That’s too bad.
I’ve been to the Giant Center for a new hockey games, a couple of basketball games and the state wrestling finals. In my mind, the jury is still out on the place because I don’t think it has the atmosphere (the smell too) that the arena had. There’s no place to be a “rail bird” is one problem I have.
While I have been on the floor for wrestling, I haven’t been on the floor yet for basketball. Why not you ask.
The reason is simple, I didn’t want to sit on the floor when my team isn’t playing. I want to be able to enjoy the “new barn” when I have a reason to be there.
Over the past few years, Columbia has come close to playing on the big floor. And now with the Tide’s winning streak at 16 games, I was rally looking forward to sitting on the floor in the league finals.
Well, I guess I will have to wait until the district playoffs to do that.
Like I said earlier, championship games deserve to be played in the best places and Hershey is the best. I also understand the financial aspect.
But then again, sometimes you have to look at the teams that played in the finals and how many fans they would draw.
The Giant Center sounds like a perfect place for Columbia to pack.

Odds and ends...

• Ran into the best basketball concession in the L-L League the other night at Lebanon. The chicken corn noodle soup was just a tad heavy on the noodles, but still good.
Lebanon also gets the nod for the best pre-game and in-game music, in the non pep band division.
• Hard to believe, but in less than a month, you’ll hear the four best words in all of sports: “Pitchers and catchers report.”

Is it fixed?

I have to admit that during the first round of the NFL playoffs last week, I wasn’t exactly glued to the television.
One, my Eagles weren’t playing and two none of the games really interested me.
This weekend was another story. Watched all four games Saturday and Sunday and here’s something to ponder.
The weekend started with the league’s four top teams -- New England, the Colts, Dallas and Green Bay, all favored to win. The weekend entered with just two of those teams advancing -- the Pats and Pack.
So here goes.

Odds and ends...

• Hard to believe, but in less than a month, you’ll hear the four best words in all of sports: “Pitchers and catchers report.”
• Ran into the best basketball concession in the L-L League the other night at Lebanon. The chicken corn noodle soup was just a tad heavy on the noodles, but still good.
Lebanon also gets the nod for the best pre-game and in-game music, in the non pep band division.
• Look for some possible movement on the Ephrata football coaching job this week.
Understand there was a big “secret squirrel” meeting on Monday night.
• I think I said this one a few weeks ago, but next week, I’ll be making the trip to Reading for the Phils’ winter caravan stop.
Harry the K is the headliner. On the R-Phils web site, they ran a poll the other week about who fans most want to hear from at the dinner. Harry the K was first, followed by Shane Victorino and Brad Lidge. Charlie was fourth, which tells you how much he’s liked.

So you want to read the entire column, check out this week's Donegal Ledger.