The Manatee Hurricanes going to New Jersey?
Yo!
That coach Joe Kinnan's team is close to a deal to play Don Bosco Prep is wonderful and I'm proud Manatee will make that trip.
I'm a Jersey Boy, who graduated from DePaul Catholic H.S., in Wayne, N.J., not far from where the 'Canes will play the 2009 national champs in Ramsey.
The DePaul Spartans were pretty good themselves, losing only once in the two years I went there, but that was w-a-a-a-y back in the day.
Try 45 years ago.
The 'Canes planned trip evokes some wonderful memories.
Going to the Pequannock-DePaul game, a good rivalry
Hanging out at the Milk Barn in Pompton Lakes, N.J., afterward.
Following the duel between Fairlawn High's Bruce Jankowski and DePaul halfback Tommy Zampetti for the state scoring lead.
Jankowski went to Ohio State.
Zampetti went to Vietnam.
He was wounded but came back, thank goodness.
A good guy.
Those are the kind of kids and times that come to mind, thinking about Manatee's trip to North Jersey in September.
Not the morons in "Jersey Shore," who, with one exception, are all from New York.
Where the 'Canes are headed is my New Jersey.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Singer channels Elvis at McKechnie Field
Martin Lutero says he is a gospel singer.
He even brought a CD of his music to Saturday's national anthem tryouts at McKechnie Field.
Whether the Brazilian native makes the cut, the 51-year-old definitely left an impression on the audience and judges.
His interpretative version of "Our Star-Spangled Banner" evoked comparisons -- distant comparisons -- to the King of Rock and Roll.
"Is this guy doing Elvis?" asked Bradenton Police Lt. Darrell Akemon, who was on hand to watch daughter Mary audition, but was amused by Lutero's delivery.
Dan Wolfert, the new GM for the Bradenton Marauders FSL ballclub, made the same connection while judging the event.
"Elvis?" he wrote on his notes.
"If he had started shaking his hips ... " Wolfert said later, grinning.
Lutero's gestures were limited to his hands and arms, but even without the hip wiggle or leg shake, he was definitely channeling Elvis.
Or trying.
"I was raised by Americans in my country and the first singer I fell in love with was Elvis Presley," he said. "I followed his style, I have this baritone voice. I've done this many times."
Can't wait to see if it will play at McKechnie Field.
He even brought a CD of his music to Saturday's national anthem tryouts at McKechnie Field.
Whether the Brazilian native makes the cut, the 51-year-old definitely left an impression on the audience and judges.
His interpretative version of "Our Star-Spangled Banner" evoked comparisons -- distant comparisons -- to the King of Rock and Roll.
"Is this guy doing Elvis?" asked Bradenton Police Lt. Darrell Akemon, who was on hand to watch daughter Mary audition, but was amused by Lutero's delivery.
Dan Wolfert, the new GM for the Bradenton Marauders FSL ballclub, made the same connection while judging the event.
"Elvis?" he wrote on his notes.
"If he had started shaking his hips ... " Wolfert said later, grinning.
Lutero's gestures were limited to his hands and arms, but even without the hip wiggle or leg shake, he was definitely channeling Elvis.
Or trying.
"I was raised by Americans in my country and the first singer I fell in love with was Elvis Presley," he said. "I followed his style, I have this baritone voice. I've done this many times."
Can't wait to see if it will play at McKechnie Field.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Scenic route beats bullet train
I’m big on taking the scenic route, especially when the destination is Orlando.
Maybe Route 64 east to U.S. 27 and turn north.Or Route 62 east to U.S. 37 then north.
Or east to U.S. 17, then north and over to U.S. 27.
It’s involved, but I avoid Interstate 4 as much as I can.
Even if my future bride is riding shotgun.
“I’d like to get there sometime today,” is Sherri Manring’s refrain.
Sounds like a candidate for the proposed bullet train.
Too bad we may not live long enough to see it in Manatee County.
Read more in Sunday's Mannix About Manatee.
Maybe Route 64 east to U.S. 27 and turn north.Or Route 62 east to U.S. 37 then north.
Or east to U.S. 17, then north and over to U.S. 27.
It’s involved, but I avoid Interstate 4 as much as I can.
Even if my future bride is riding shotgun.
“I’d like to get there sometime today,” is Sherri Manring’s refrain.
Sounds like a candidate for the proposed bullet train.
Too bad we may not live long enough to see it in Manatee County.
Read more in Sunday's Mannix About Manatee.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Something for survivor to laugh about
Jeanne Valescot's recent journey to Haiti did not have many light moments.
She'd gone there to bury a grandfather, only to get caught in the horrific earthquake Jan. 12 that killed more than 100,000 of her former countrymen.
The Bradenton woman spent two day helping family and friends make it through the overwhelming ordeal.
She had nothing to eat.
Bottled water and salted crackers were it.
Valescot said she was too busy to have an appetite.
When her hunger finally hit her she was at the airport awaiting passage aboard a military transport back to Florida Jan. 15. American military personnel were handing out infamous MREs -- meals ready to eat.
"I had a piece of chicken or ... I don't know what it was," Valescot said.
She laughed long and loud at the recollection.
It had to feel good.
She'd gone there to bury a grandfather, only to get caught in the horrific earthquake Jan. 12 that killed more than 100,000 of her former countrymen.
The Bradenton woman spent two day helping family and friends make it through the overwhelming ordeal.
She had nothing to eat.
Bottled water and salted crackers were it.
Valescot said she was too busy to have an appetite.
When her hunger finally hit her she was at the airport awaiting passage aboard a military transport back to Florida Jan. 15. American military personnel were handing out infamous MREs -- meals ready to eat.
"I had a piece of chicken or ... I don't know what it was," Valescot said.
She laughed long and loud at the recollection.
It had to feel good.
Monday, January 25, 2010
New Orleans ex-patriate feels Saints
Know any New Orleans Saints fans?
No?
Meet Fred Sullivan.
The wonderful publican at Sully's Bar at Sean Murphy's Beach Bistro on Holmes Beach has been a Saints fan for as long as he can remember. He had a home and a restaurant in the Big Easy before Hurricane Katrina changed his life forever in 2005 and he moved to Holmes Beach.
"Thirty years of suffering," as Sullivan jokingly puts it his Saints allegiance.
That includes stretches of last Sunday's overtime NFC Championship victory over Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings.
When No. 4 got the football back with about 2:37 to left in regulation, Sullivan couldn't watch.
It was like deja vu, as Favre drove the Vikings toward what looked like a classic set up for the game-winning field goal and a ticket to the Super Bowl that went with it.
"I'm thinking, here we go again," Sullivan said. "No matter how good a season the Saints had this year, it all seemed about to go down the drain."
Aah, but then Favre through that interception, the Saints won the coin flip in overtime and punched their ticket to Miami.
Sullivan was getting calls Sunday night and all day Monday from friends in New Orleans.
"I can just imagine the celebrating that went on," Sullivan said. "It's amazing to think how a silly game like football can give a city such a good feeling."
After what New Orleans went through, its people deserve it.
Fred Sullivan, too.
No?
Meet Fred Sullivan.
The wonderful publican at Sully's Bar at Sean Murphy's Beach Bistro on Holmes Beach has been a Saints fan for as long as he can remember. He had a home and a restaurant in the Big Easy before Hurricane Katrina changed his life forever in 2005 and he moved to Holmes Beach.
"Thirty years of suffering," as Sullivan jokingly puts it his Saints allegiance.
That includes stretches of last Sunday's overtime NFC Championship victory over Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings.
When No. 4 got the football back with about 2:37 to left in regulation, Sullivan couldn't watch.
It was like deja vu, as Favre drove the Vikings toward what looked like a classic set up for the game-winning field goal and a ticket to the Super Bowl that went with it.
"I'm thinking, here we go again," Sullivan said. "No matter how good a season the Saints had this year, it all seemed about to go down the drain."
Aah, but then Favre through that interception, the Saints won the coin flip in overtime and punched their ticket to Miami.
Sullivan was getting calls Sunday night and all day Monday from friends in New Orleans.
"I can just imagine the celebrating that went on," Sullivan said. "It's amazing to think how a silly game like football can give a city such a good feeling."
After what New Orleans went through, its people deserve it.
Fred Sullivan, too.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Last Saturday at Manatee County Fair
Saturday afternoon at the Manatee County Fair was a culinary delight.
Make that adventure.
Had a corn dog from Manatee Sunrise Kiwanis. Again.
Scarfed down a slice of pizza.
Ate half a bag of kettle corn.
Had some strawberry shortcake from Church on the Rock.
All of it washed down with Pepsi.
Didn't ride any rides this year, but enjoyed watching others get their kicks.
Especially on the Freak Out, a ride that swings four sets of thrill-seekers back and forth from a 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock position, rotating the seated-and-strapped-in riders as they go.
Watched the Robinson pig races, too, a better, longer entertaining amusement than the dog-riding monkeys last year.
But the biggest kick I got was watching kids climb the Spider Web.
It was a column of nine ringed platforms spaced 3-feet apart, crisscrossed with strips of trampoline-like material.
The object was to climb through each platform, then dive into the entrance of an inflated chute and slide back to the ground.
Watching kids try to conquer this thing was hysterical.
Most would manage to get through a couple of platforms, then fall through one. Or both.
It took a while to do it.
In fact, there was one boy who just could not climb past the third rung, unlike his brother who navigated his way to the top and then down the chute in no time.
We finally left, half-expecting to see that youngster still gamely working his way up the Spider Web our next trip around.
May try to climb that sucker myself next year.
Think they give senior discounts?
Make that adventure.
Had a corn dog from Manatee Sunrise Kiwanis. Again.
Scarfed down a slice of pizza.
Ate half a bag of kettle corn.
Had some strawberry shortcake from Church on the Rock.
All of it washed down with Pepsi.
Didn't ride any rides this year, but enjoyed watching others get their kicks.
Especially on the Freak Out, a ride that swings four sets of thrill-seekers back and forth from a 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock position, rotating the seated-and-strapped-in riders as they go.
Watched the Robinson pig races, too, a better, longer entertaining amusement than the dog-riding monkeys last year.
But the biggest kick I got was watching kids climb the Spider Web.
It was a column of nine ringed platforms spaced 3-feet apart, crisscrossed with strips of trampoline-like material.
The object was to climb through each platform, then dive into the entrance of an inflated chute and slide back to the ground.
Watching kids try to conquer this thing was hysterical.
Most would manage to get through a couple of platforms, then fall through one. Or both.
It took a while to do it.
In fact, there was one boy who just could not climb past the third rung, unlike his brother who navigated his way to the top and then down the chute in no time.
We finally left, half-expecting to see that youngster still gamely working his way up the Spider Web our next trip around.
May try to climb that sucker myself next year.
Think they give senior discounts?
Friday, January 22, 2010
Mother's voice affirmation from Haiti
Isemarine Civil’s voice was weak and sounded like she’d been crying for days.
"You could hear the sadness," Cristine Civil said.
Yet it was still a sublime moment for the 2005 Bradenton Christian School grad.
Her mother was alive in Haiti.
So was her brother, Wilkinson, and grandmother, Jasmine.
"I cried from happiness," said the 24-year-old. "A big burden was lifted from my shoulders."
Read more in Sunday's Mannix About Manatee.
"You could hear the sadness," Cristine Civil said.
Yet it was still a sublime moment for the 2005 Bradenton Christian School grad.
Her mother was alive in Haiti.
So was her brother, Wilkinson, and grandmother, Jasmine.
"I cried from happiness," said the 24-year-old. "A big burden was lifted from my shoulders."
Read more in Sunday's Mannix About Manatee.
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