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Dec. 24
Some holiday trivia for  Wonderful Life fans
   
Well, I certainly did a bad job blogging the past 10 days, but hey, the Christmas rush affects us all, eh?
Anyway, when you're watching It's a Wonderful Life tonight, remember this little tidbit.
The Sesame Street characters of Bert and Ernie were named after Bert the Cop and Ernie the cabdriver from Bedford Falls. The movie was one of Muppet creator Jim Henson's favorites, and his reasoning was, whether George Bailey was born or not, Bert and Ernie were still friends. He figured that kind of friendship deserved to be on his show. How's that for a tasty holiday tidbit?
It makes me wonder though, was Oscar the Grouch based on the guy who lived in the house where George cracked his tree up at. Afterall, that guy was a miserable cuss whether George was born or not.
Oh well, Merry Christmas everyone and see you in a few days! 

Dec. 12
Christmas decorating, oh what fun
So, I was finally able to decorate the outside of the house yesterday with lights and all that stuff. Of course, after torturing myself with the Christmas tree in the front yard (which concludes with me just throwing lights toward the top and hoping they cling to a limb), I plugged in one two many lights and a whole strand blew out.
    So, I cursed a lot, then tried to adjust what I could. The bottom line is, if you're riding down the street and see a pine tree lit up, but with all these hideous gaps in it, stop in and say hello.
     Which reminds me of today's Christmans nitpick: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. And you know what. . .I have none. It is the perfect Christmas movie. I laugh just as hard the millionth time I watch it, as the first time. Hard to believe Chevy Chase gave all that up for that putrid talk show. 
 
Dec. 9
Old-time journalism. . . wow!
    In doing the research for today's Nostalgia page, not only did I discover that my neighbor of 12 years, Tim Filiopowicz, was a Steinert wrestler, but I also learned that the 1959-60 Hamilton High basketball coach was a pretty short fellow.
    "Huh?" you are saying.
     Just read the 1959 section of today's Nostalgia. I couldn't stop laughing when I read it. They say today's journalists are insensitive, but those guys back in the day were pretty crass without even realizing it. Not only that, they misspelled the guy's name throughout the story.
     Moving on to Christmas movie/special nitpick, I have another question about Charlie Brown, which was on last night. During the dancing scenes ("Isn't it a great play Charlie Brown?"), who the heck are those twins. I've read Charlie Brown strips forever, I've never seen twins before. What was the big idea of putting them in there?
Dec. 7
College overlap stinks
    In spending countless hours at the Hamilton Library microfilm machine researching the Fish4Scores Nostalgia page (have you checked it out? You should!), I take much longer than neccessary because I become engulfed by old stories that didn't deal with Hamilton Township sports,  and start reading them as well.
     And in looking at old papers from this time of the year, one of the things that brings a smile to my face was how college football and basketball were set up.
It used to be so simple. College football's regular season ended on Thanksgivng and college hoops started that weekend. A nice simple transition, a one-weekend overlap allowing us to enjoy the culmination of one sport and gear for the start of another.
       Yesterday, I covered the Rutgers-Colgate basketball game. .It was Rutgers eighth game of the season (on Dec. 6), and writers covering the basketball game were scurrying to find out where the RU football team was headed for a bowl, since the season just ended Saturday.
    It's insane, and it stinks. Even though I cover college hoops, it sneaks up on me every year because it starts so freaking early. You're still in football mode, but basketball is underway. It just seems to dilute everything, as a writer or as a fan.
   But, it ain't going away, so at least I have those old archives to keep me warm.    * * * * 
      Today's Christmas movie nitpick is one of my all-timers, along with my friend Denise Fink. We complain about it year-round, not just at Christmas time.
    It has to do with the maid in "White Christmas". For those not familiar, she listens in on a private conversation with Bing Crosby and his buddy, hears only half the conversation, has it all wrong, then tells Bing's love interest what she thinks she knows.
    This sets off a chain reaction of Bing looking like a jerk (no one ever stopped to ask him the real story), and tons of things go on to straighten everything out.
    In the end, everyone loves the maid anyway, and no one once says to her "Hey you stupid idiot, if you're gonna invade our privacy, at least get your story straight."
     Denise and I, well, we hate that maid. We just hate her, hate her, hate her! 
Dec. 5
Uncle Billy? Are you kidding me?
    Only have time for a quick Christmas movie nitpick today as I'm living at Rutgers all weekend between football and basketball.
    Anyway, in "It's A Wonderful Life," we all know Uncle Billy handed over $7000 to Mr. Potter like the idiot that he is.
   So why, at the end of the movie, after Mary gets it all back, does she give the money to Uncle Billy to carry into the house? How do you ever trust that guy ever again around 7 cents, let alone 7 grand?
   I know, that's a weak nitpick. Oh well.
Dec. 4
 
Whatever happened to Rutgers-Princeton basketball rivalry?
    If you read college basketball boxscores, don't be fooled by the 4,000-plus listed under the attendance of the Rutgers-Princeton basketball game Thursday night. None of the media members were. In fact, one guy went nuts in the media room when he saw it. "This is bull----! How can they put this here!" he cried.
    I wasn't that upset by it. It could have been tickets sold. But they were lucky if there were 3,000 at the RAC last night. What upsets me is what has happened to this so-called rivalry.
    Well, I know what happened. Rutgers hasn't gone to the NCAA Tournament since 1991 and Princeton is still digging out from under the Joe Scott rubble.
   But it's sad. This was a great, intense, anticipated game at the start of this decade. The RAC or Jadwin were filled or close to it when they met. At least four papers double staffed the game and would have two stories on it, plus a notebook.
   At decade's end, however, you could hear flesh smacking flesh on the fouls it was so quiet in the gym. Each paper has one story, because it has to.
    I arrived at 7:10 for a 7:30 start and I drove to a parking spot as if it were an afternoon practice session. It's a shame, it really is.
    Two Central Jersey programs that have had a lot of success over the years, just 20 miles from each other, and there were less people in the gym than the Rutgers-Vermont game.
    Will it ever get better again?
    Sure. Whenever the teams do.
   Now, onto more cheery things, my Christmas movie/special nitpick. This really isn't a nitpick, just an amazed observation.
    In Miracle on 34th Street, the guy who plays the judge's political advisor is none other than William Frawley. Yes, Fred Mertz from I Love Lucy.
   Didn't the casting director realize that all William Frawley could ever do, was be Fred Mertz? I'm watching him give slick, cutting edge advice to this judge and all I can think of is Ethel calling him fat.
     Some actors were born to play just one character. And if that character isn't Santa Claus, they should never be in a Christmas movie. Hmmm. . .maybe it was a nitpick afterall. 
       
Dec. 3
Page links being worked on
    You may or may not have noticed (or you may or may not care) but the menu that rests above this blog has been void of the swimming and ice hockey page links until today.
    Unfortunately, when I had this site built for me I knew next to nothing about running a website or how things were going to work out. So, when I add a new link to the menu page above, it only appears on this page, not all the others as well.
   That means, for all the other pages you visit, I have to go to each one of them individually and apply these links.
   That's gonna take a while, so please bear with me as I muddle through. You can always come back to the home page and go from there, but in this day and age of instant gratification I know one extra click has become a pain. You should see me with the TV remote. I love that button that takes you back and forth between two channels.
   Anyway, it will all be taken care of over the next week. More than likely, the spring sports will be added as well just so I don't have to go back and do this again in the spring. 
    As for today's Christmas movie/special gripe, let's focus on Rudolph since he was on last night. Can someone tell me why that doll was on the Island of Misfit toys? I have watched this thing since the 1960's and I never see anything that would qualify her as a misfit. Except for the fact that she is friendly with those other losers. But there has to be something more. There must be!

Dec. 2
Sincere apologies to Dan Seeth
    My apologies go out to Hamilton West swim coach Dan Seeth today, whose ridiculously simple name I managed to butcher in my Trenton Times story today.
   I'd like to say I was just trying to have Fish4Scores get the scoop on his real name, but no. I was just an idiot.
    My apologies Dan, it won't happen again. 
         * * * * *
Be kind to your photographers
    I am happy to say, as we enter our third month of Fish4Scores, that I am getting a lot of positive feedback and compliments from a lot of you.
      And while that is appreciated, please understand that none of this would be possible without the awesome contributions of Dennis Symons Jr., who has been doing quality work on a volunteer basis since we launched and has been a major reason for any early success we're having. Cos believe me, no one is coming to a website that just has a zillion of my words staring them in the face.
    And now Dennis is adding video to his arsenal, which I was never counting on. Awesome!
   So if you see Dennis at a game, go up and tell him he's doing a helluva job. He's usually wearing a Devils cap, which I condone despite being a Flyers fan.
    Better yet, visit his website and buy a few photos of some of your favorite athletes and present them as Christmas presents!
    And, I am happy to say, a new photographer has joined the gang as transplanted Hamiltonian John Blaine has offered up his services as well. Check out John's maiden voyage with the fine swim photos he provided of the Steinert-Hamilton meet.
     And, feel free to visit John's website as his portfolio of Hamilton athletes continues to grow. Not to sound repetitive, but quality photos of kids in action really do make good presents.
    As for my Christmas movie/tv show observation, its's 12:53 a.m. and I haven't done today's nostalgia page yet, so we'll just have to skip that for now. Bah humbug baby!

Dec. 1
72 reasons to root for Saints and Colts
    OK, before I get to the Saints/Colts, I'll make today's daily Christmas movie/TV show nitpick real quick.
    The Christmas tree Charlie Brown picks out is brutal. It only has like three needles, and they all fall off when he puts one ball on. So how come when the gang decorates it at the end, it not only has lights, but is filled with more pine needles than all of Vermont? Good grief!
    OK, on to the NFL.

   
There are five games left in the regular season and New Orleans and Indianapolis are still undefeated. How I would LOVE to see them meet in the Super Bowl still perfect.
    And not because it would be a history-making event or it would be a great game. I would just love the fact that all those 1972 Dolphins would be absolutely helpless. Every single year, those guys have to remind us that they are the only undefeated team ever in the NFL by presenting the team that knocks off the last unbeaten, with a case of champagne. They even taped a commercial in hopes of a Giants win before the Super Bowl, so it could air right after New York knocked off the Patriots (could you imagine if the Pats won and found out about that commercial?)
    Don't get me wrong. I loved that '72 team. I rooted for them to go 17-0, Jim Kiick was a Jersey guy. But they have just gotten on my nerves with this constant reminder of what they did (against a pretty weak schedule too, truth be told). So for me, it would be great to know that on Super Sunday, they have to just sit there and stew, knowing that there is nothing they can do but watch one team or another go 19-0, which is even better than 17-0.
    But, if they are as classy as they are annoying (and I remember them being classy as well during their playing days), they will do something as nice, or even better, for the team that finally breaks their record.
   Then again, I'm way ahead of myself as there are five games left. I once heard somewhere that anything can happen. I never quite knew the extent of "anything" but I get the meaning.  
Nov. 30
Is Tiger a bargain hunter?
      As the unbelievable media frenzy began about Tiger Woods fender bender, rumors ran rampant about why Tiger was leaving his driveway at 2 a.m.
    Good friend Judy Larkin thinks she has the answer.
   "He was headed out for Black Friday shopping," Judy said. "You know, guys like him who don't have  lot of mony have to go out and get the bargains." 
   The funny thing is, what if she's right? Tiger does guard his private life closely. . .maybe he doesn't want us to know he's cheap!
   Speaking of Christmas, as I mentioned yesterday I am going to pick out certain questions or criticisms I have concerning my favorite holiday movies.
   Today's flick has to deal with my all-time favorite: It's a Wonderful Life. Aside from "Deadliest Catch" this is also my friend Renee's favorite thing to watch, and I can understand as the two have so much in common.
    Anyway, this movie will be referred to many times between now and the holidays, but today we start with the Christmas Eve scene, where George is in Martini's Bar, and the husband of Zuzu's teacher comes over and belts poor George in the mouth because he called his wife a "stupid, silly" person. 
    After that, the guy begins yelling at George "My wife is home bawling her eyes out because of you!" Well, it's nice that the guy defended his wife's honor, but answer me this. . .if she was in such bad shape, why the heck did he leaver her at home on Christmas Eve and go out drinking?

Nov. 29
Oh those Christmas movie questions
    
If you're like me -- and most of you are not, because you have lives -- you are a Christmas movie geek who can't get enough of them (See what I mean about having a life).
   And each and every year, I have questions and complaints about these movies that I love so much. Starting today, this blog will begin addressing these matters. It's still a sports website, but hey, it's the holiday season and we must go with the flow. 
   Anyway, my fellow elves, last night I saw the Disney Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey in IMAX and I rather enjoyed it. Wearing those dark glasses and seeing things jump out the screen at you is pretty cool.
    Now granted, I will never ever have another favorite "Christmas Carol" other than the 1950 version starring Alistair Sim. That is the do-all and end-all of any of the movies that have adapted Dickens' classic.
    I do, however, take each one for what it's worth and enjoy various nuances of the other movies. Everyone has a little something different to offer.
    There is one thing that is constant in every single one though. At the end, when Scrooge runs into those fat guys who beg money at the beginning, he always whispers in their ear how much he wants to give them, and always says there are a lot of back payments included.
    Why? Why does he whisper it? I used to think it was because it was a really chintzy offer. But none of the fat guys ever go "Get the hell out of here you cheap jerk!" In every movie they get real excited.
    So what's the big secret?  And how much is it? This drives me nuts. I need to know!
    Now, the other thing about Scrooge is, I think he gets just a little bit of a bad rap. Yes, he gives Cratchit a hard time about wanting all day off on Christmas.
     But he does say that Cratchit is picking his pocket every 25th of December. So hey, the guy does pay him for the holiday. He has every right to say "heck with you Cratchit, no work, no pay!" 
    See. He really was quite misunderstood.
Oct. 31
Happy Halloween!
Well, it's Halloween. Don't come to my house for candy, I won't be here, I'm lucky enough to have Series tix tonight. Unless Phils lose, then I'll be unlucky and sit and weep all night. OK, swear. Same difference.
Unfortunately, that means I will miss Steinert-WWPS (but will be at Hamilton-WWPN), which I think will be a great game.
Speaking of the Halloween season, whatever happened to Mischief Night? Not that I'm complaining, especially being a home owner. But where did it go?
Also, don't we turn the clocks back tonight, or did they change that? It used to be around this time. Sigh. Life is complicated.
Oct. 30
Rosas too good to be true  as they are true blue to teammate
OK, I've neglected my blog duties for a week, but I've been sick, had viewings and funerals to attend and basically just didn't feel like blogging.
But what I saw today deserves mention (and is getting it on other sites, I have seen)
A few weeks ago, I pointed out the class shown by the Hamilton cross country team when they told the Allentown coach what good kids he had.
I'm starting to see that's the norm in cross country.
At today's Mercer County meet, which I covered for about three different media outlets, one of the stories I didn't cover was the West Windsor-Plainsboro North boys.
For those unfamiliar with that team, they have Joe and Jim Rosa, two juniors who are ranked first and fourth in the nation in cross country and just this week appeared in Sports Illustrated's
Faces in The Crowd.
Something like that is enough to spike any high school kid's ego through the roof and make them want to win everything in sight to live up to that billing.
So what do the Rosas do today? With senior teammate Jim Squeri (who is quietly enjoying an outstanding season but gets overshadowed by the twins) coming up behind them, the two brothers stopped, waited, and allowed Squeri to pass them in the chute and become Mercer County champion his senior year.
That is truly one of the greatest displays of class and sportsmanship I've everr seen and I know I'm not alone. I don't know the Rosas parents (heck, I don't even know the Rosa brothers) but boy do they deserve some credit for raising some incredibly class kids.
And imagine what a thrill it must be for them this week. I mean, they were mentioned in Sports Illustrated, I guess that's kind of a big deal. But to follow up with a mention on Fish4Scores? Does it get any better?
Oct. 23
I am the exception
All the talk among Phillie fans is they want to play the Yanks.
Not me.
Ask Steinert freshman boys soccer coach Jim "Jules" Gigio about my thoughts on the hated Yankees.
I've made a lifetime of not watching one Yankee playoff game since 1998, when Tino Martinez was struck out on a 2-2 pitch, had it called ball 3 and hit a grand slam on the next pitch against San Diego. At that moment, I almost hit Jules (of course, he jumped up and grabbed me by the shoulders first. . so it was incited!)
It is then I decided the best way not to get aggravated, is just not watch. And it worked perfectly. Hearing that they won was not as painful as watching it unfold, seeing Jeter with that smirk of his, but hearing that they lost was just as joyful whether I watched or not.
As for the Phillies, I don't care about beating the best, or beating the legends or any of that bull.   I don't even want them to get in the Series. They probably will, but I'm not rooting for it. Everyone says "But what if the Phils are the ones to beat them?" The way I look at it, if they lose, they lose, I don't care who does it. The sooner the better.
Oct. 22
I am Costanza, hear me moan
I had the pleasure of having great seats for the Phils pennant clincher last night, which was tremendous indeed. But it was tapered by the fact I discovered I am truly George Costanza of Seinfeld.
Remember when George had tickets two rows behind the dugout and he complained because he couldn't put his feet on  the dugout? Remember when he and Jerry got a TV deal and a private jet but George complained it wasn't the Ted Danson deal or the Ted Danson jet?
Well, last night, me and my friend Wags had seats right on the railing down the left field line. Awesome seats.
When the game was over, we couldn't wait for the victory lap to come right by us and to have a great vantage point of them toasting the Harry Kalas sign, like they did after winning the division. So we waited, and waited and waited. Neither ever came. No lap, no toast.
And I was bummed and shaking my head in despair.  And then, an epiphany!
Walking out, I'm thinking "Am I crazy? I'm at the game where my team goes to the World Series -- and that sure as hell doesn't happen a lot in Philly --  and it's not enough for me? I should be relishing this!"
It was then I knew I was Costanza, the never satisfied one. So I re-evaluated it all and decided it was indeed a good night.
Still, I can't help thinking that if Ted Danson was in the crowd, they might just have done that victory lap.
Oct. 18
Maynard, Bells enjoy their day
    Congratulations to my good friends Maynard and Bells for their big win yesterday. Both have been Raider fans forever and, despite the fact they now refer to owner Al Davis as Bernie from the movie "Weekend At Bernie's" (have you seen that guy lately?), they got an oasis in this desert of a season with Oakland's win over the Eagles.
     Speaking of pro sports, Sports Illustrated trumpeted a Freeway Series between the Angels and Dodgers. However, we're two wins away from the Jersey Turnpike Series. Or, if we want to be terribly pithy, the tollbooth series.
      After Steinert's win over Lawrence today, the Fish4Scores good luck charm remains intact for township football teams, which are 8-1 since the site launched. We love taking credit for success. Of course, if teams start to lose, we accept no blame. Hey, I never said I was a stand-up guy.

Oct. 17
Good luck continues
Not much time to blog today but just want to point out that, with wins by Hamilton and Nottingham this weekend,  Hamilton Township varsity football teams are now 7-1 since Fish4Scores.com has been launched. The only loss was when two township teams played each other.
    We all know, of course, that F4S has nothing to do with what's going on at local gridirons. But when you're just starting out in this business, you take what you can get.

Oct. 16
Interesting weekend of football
   Before I talk about the interesting weekend, let me just brag that since Fish4Scores launched, township football teams are 5-1, and the "1" came when two of the teams played each other. Yes, Fish4Scores is taking all the credit for the renewed football success. We are the anti-Sports Illustrated cover jinx!
    OK, enough of such tom foolery.
 
    There are some intriguing matchups with the local football teams this weekend, starting tonight when Hamilton visits Hightstown. The Hornets have the talent to win this one, but a lot depends on how they react to last week's heart-breaking loss to Nottingham. The bet here is, they will be fired up beyond belief.
   Nottingham has a game against Trenton that could go down to the wire despite the Tornadoes winless record. Trenton has lost several heart-breakers and should not be taken lightly. Plus, will Nottingham continue its roll after it's stunning win, or will it suffer a letdown? After watching Mark Newlin & Co. last week, a letdown seems unlikely.
   Finally, Steinert plays and outstanding Lawrence team that is still without running back Keith Sherman. The Spartans are rolling at 2-2 with two straight wins and the revamped Bob Ziegler defense will have its hands full with Cards soph sensation running back Jihad Bryant. Lawrence has won twice in overtime and once by a point, so this should be a tight one.
Oct. 15
Your word of mouth helps!
   Well, today marks the two-week anniversary of our launching, and so far, so good. I haven't been shot, sued or spit at yet. Then again, there is a reason why I don't put my photo with this blog. :)  
   As we enter our third week, one thing we really need is a good word of mouth. So if you've come to this site and liked what you have seen, please spread the word. This is going to take time, but the more people that come here, the more inspired I'll be!
  I need to thank the PA announcers at the Hamilton and Steinert football games last Saturday, who did a great job promoting Fish4Scores during the games. Way to go guys! Hopefully, you can do it for every home game.
  I also need to thank my sponsors for donating their money and interest to this project. Sponsors are critical as I try and get some funding to put back into making this a better site. I'm always looking for more, so don't be shy!
  Extra special thanks to longtime friend and colleague Ken Weingartner, who is showing good faith in my project and offering up quality stories in the mere hopes he might get paid. But his faith and confidence in me helps a lot.
  Photographer Dennis Symons has also been critcal to the operation up to this point. I can't thank him enough for his work,  professionalism and faith in this project.
   But Dennis is limited in his time, and  I am ALWAYS looking for pictures, so if you take photos at games (JV, freshman, varsity) or know of anyone who does so, see if they would like to contribute to the site. If they have their own site, I'll link it in the caption.
   OK, that's enough for now. Go Phils! 

Oct. 14
  
I saw a a great display of class yesterday and it was refreshing.
   After Hamilton's tri-meet with Ewing and Trenton, which also included Allentown running against Trenton, Redbirds coach Doug Hunt huddled with his scorekeeper to go over some times. Suddenly he heard a voice "Excuse me sir, are you the Allentown coach?"
    It was the Hornets Isaac Jones. When informed he had the right man, Jones said "We just want to say your team has amazing sportsmanship. They were supportive to us during the whole race and we don't see that a lot." 
    Hunt laughed and quipped "Oh good. . .I thought you were going to tell me something bad happened."
   Later on, I said to Hunt "That was pretty impressive huh?" He couldn't agree more, saying "Oh yeah. They showed a lot of sportsmanship themselves with that."
   Good job Hornets. Keep the class, baby!  
Oct. 12
    After Nottingham's stunning football win Saturday I thought it would be a long time until I saw such a shocking comeback again.
     So of course, on Sunday I watch the Angels down two runs and down to their last strike score three runs to win it and I know it will be forever until I see a comeback like that.
   Until 45 minutes ago, when the Phils were down two runs and down to their last strike, and won.
   I'm throu
gh predicting that I won't see anymore great comebacks, but I'll tell ya one thing. I'm covering a cross country meet Tuesday. Unless a runner ends up winning after trailing by a mile with a mile-and-a-quarter left to go, I probably won't be impressed.
Oct. 10
I've been told I have to blog more. I did this project to be my own boss, but I discover now I have many bosses telling me to blog.
First off, bad news for Steinert athletic director Rich Giallella. He is wasting money on electricity with his field hockey scoreboard. While at the game Friday, I heard no less than five people come up and ask us the score, none of them even coming up with the thought that there very well could be a scoreboard there to look at.
Secondly, as a Phillies fan, it's nice to see the respect my team gets by WTBS. Two afternoon games when everyone's at work, a Saturday night game when everyone's out partying and a Sunday night game when everyone's in bed. Championship has its priveleges. . .but not here.
I haven't heard it discussed yet, but I'm hoping the Harry Kalas factor comes into play in Colorado. Lest we forget, that is where Harry called his final game before passing away. Could that give the Phils a rallying cry? Probably not, but I guess that's the kind of stuff you have to write on these blogs.  
Finally, a good friend of mine says Deadliest Catch is one of the best shows on TV. So. . .everyone watch it, even if I don't.
OCT. 3
   
So, what are the rules? Am I supposed to blog like, every day? If so, this is it for today. Too much other stuff to do. 
   Hey, this is easier than I thought.
    Actually, all three township football teams in action, as well as Shore Coaches Invitational in cross country. I'll be at Hamilton-WWPS, hope to have other scores posted tonight.
   OK, done.

  OCT. 2
  
Well, here we are, finally launched and ready to roll.
    Welcome to Fish4Scores.com, the newest website, in fact, the first website, dedicated completely to the sports scene in Hamilton Township. In New Jersey. In Mercer County, not the one near Atllantic City.
    My name is Rich Fisher and I will be your webmaster, which in itself, is a very scary thought. But I always wanted to say that, so that's outta the way.  
    This is the first blog I have ever written and when I re-read it, it will be the first blog I ever read. If that's not bad enough, this is my first foray ever into the world of websites, so I can guarantee that you will see some strange things over the next few weeks as I work out the bugs.
   But the main thing here is to promote the athletes of Hamilton Township, whether they are in high school, or just starting out in rec sports. I ENCOURAGE ALL YOUTH LEAGUE TEAMS to contact me by e-mail so we can start getting your scores in the paper. This includes soccer, football, whatever.
   Unlike newspapers, we've got the space! So let's get the kids names in there.
   I have a million people to thank for helping get me started, but I'll leave that for now as you have read enough. I will say, however, I am looking for sponsors to fill in my sponsor boxes, with the cost going right back into making this a better website. Please e-mail if interested.
   That's it for now. I just re-read this. Now I know why I don't read blogs. Are they all this bad
?

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FISH TALES
(Also known as
Rich Fisher's blog)
May 7, 2012
Thanks go out to
Mollie, Ms. Quinn,
Alu, Nancy Mac
and other great

F4S contributors 
    May 7: Just want to start out by thanking Steinert senior Mollie Coyne and GALARE teacher Tracy Quinn for having me in as a guest speaker on Friday. It was a tremendous experience with a great group of kids.
    Mollie extended the invitation, Ms. Quinn made it happen and it turned out to be a great morning.
    Being a guest speaker is always a crap shoot. You go in and talk for a little bit and hope you spark an interest that will lead to some questions. If there are little or  no questions, it can get pretty embarrassing because I don’t have a heck of a lot to say after five minutes. . . on anything!  
    But the GALARE gang took care of that by asking some thought-provoking, intelligent and inspiring questions. They made me think of things I haven’t thought of in years and also made me think of things I take for granted all the time and never give much thought to. It also gave me a chance to experience a nice give-and-take relationship with the students other than a quick interview after the game.
    It’s kind of cool to see what kind of things young adults think about in this day and age, and I have to commend this group for being attentive and, not to sound like a britsh woman at Sunday morning tea, quite delightful!
    And I have to give props to Cat Castaldo, whose dad John put her up to a prank question that she didn’t even understand, but asked it anyway and had me laughing like crazy. Good job Cat! But don’t let your dad drag you down to our level too many more times!
    And Sydney, thanks for overlooking my Yankee dislike. Glad we could come to terms!
        * * *
    Congratulations also go out to Quinn and Robyn Korchick Lucchesi, both standout hoop players from the township, for their upcoming induction into the Mercer County CYO Hall of Fame. Both are quite deserving and are products of Joe O’Gorman’s knowledge of the game.
    Also, happy birthday to Tracy one day late, and happy anniversary to Robyn, who’s celebrating her 18th year with husband Frank today. All good stuff!
        * * *
    More thanks go out to Phil Alu and Nancy McManimon.
    When this site started over two years ago, I billed it as a “community sports” website, with the accent on the community. I have a few guys helping out but for the most part I’m still on my own and need help from the members of the community and the coaches of each team.
    I have certainly been getting that, as the influx of youth sports results has been better than ever this spring, as has the reporting of results from the high school coaches.
    But on Friday Phil took it to a new level. I couldn’t make it to the Hamilton-PDS game due to some other issues I needed to deal with. I really wanted to get there because so many township kids played on PDS.
    So Phil agreed to text me updates each inning, which he did a fabulous job of. And Nancy provided several pictures of the game, although that’s not news because she has done that often in the past.
    Now, skeptics will say this was only done because both their kids had big games. But they offered to do so before the game even started, no matter what the end result.
    It worked out great and I just want to thank them both. . .and thank everyone else for all the contributions you have been making this spring and, of course, in the winter, fall and summer.
        * * *     
    It’s hard to believe Marshall Harden isn’t in the Steinert lineup. Few programs can lose a guy like that and do what the Spartans are doing.
    Speaking of Steinert baseball. . . .how tasty is that 7 p.m. match-up against Robbinsville. Rarely do you get last year’s finalists meeting so early in the tournament. Steinert owes the Ravens some payback from last year, but Robbinsville is on fire.
    Should be awesome.                 * * *
    Here’s a little unfortunate news to report.
       Just call it “Bad Ending II”
       Steinert grad Angela “Pit Crew” Marinos’ had her outstanding collegiate softball career come to a gruesome end on Sunday.
       With Mercer County Community College playing Morris in the Region XIX Tournament Sunday, Marinos swung at a high and inside pitch on a hit-and-run play. She fouled the ball directly into her mouth, and blood exploded everywhere.
       Marinos was rushed to the hospital. There was no fracture but twor front teeth were pushed back, and it took over 25 stitches to seal all the wounds.
     This marks the second dark ending to a career for the popular Marinos. (To quote HGSA legend Tara Lavin “Who doesn’t like Ange?”). Her career at Steinert ended due to a broken ankle.
    Get well soon Ange. There are engines to overhaul!
        * * *
      Fish4Scores “Phase 2” is on the horizon.
     After making sure this was a site that was going to last and gain interest, I now want to take it to the next level and begin selling banner advertising to local businesses. The process will probably take a month or so to get started, but if you are a business owner out there looking to promote your venture and support local athletes all at once, please give it consideration.  
       If you are a sponsor and want to upgrade to a banner ad, you will obviously have a lower rate since you’ve already paid into it.
       More details will be forthcoming, but just putting it out there.
              * * *
    There is another exciting promotion for Fish4Scores in the works, but things haven’t been finalized yet so let’s wait until they are before we talk about it. But in getting it started, it will involve fun help from the community.  
             * * *
         My dislike of the Yankees is no secret to anyone who reads this blog, but here’s hoping Mariano Rivera can make a successful return next year.
      There is no way anyone in the world can not like this guy. He is humble, modest, keeps a lower than low profile and just happens to be the greatest player at his position that ever lived playing for a franchise that is nearly impossible to stay low profile with.   
      A guy like Mariano deserves to go out on his terms. He deserves to have a farewell tour around the league and let everyone cheer him. He probably doesn’t want that, but he deserves it.
      In my mind, he is the absolute key to this Yankee dynasty in the era of the closer.
    Get well and get back Mariano. You deserve it!                * * *
     My Flyers are down 3-1. My Sixers are up 3-1.
    I predicted Flyers-Devils would go seven games with four of them going overtime. I didn’t predict the winner, just the length. Well, change that from my prediction to my prayer.
    As for the Sixers, I thought they would hang with the Bulls after Derrick Rose went out, but didn’t think they would win. But Chicago is getting killed with other injuries too, so what the hell, might as well take advantage of it!
           * * *
    Mike “The Meatball Master” Papero continues to show his versatility, as he ran the clock flawlessly during Hamilton West’s girls county lacrosse game with Robbinsville Saturday. The Master also announces at hoop games, coaches football and coaches golf.
    Where there is time for meatballs, I will never know.

 April 28, 2012

Township athletes

should be making

us proud during

period of adversity

            Apr. 28: As much as everyone in the area likes Jimmy Hines, I’m afraid I  overstayed his welcome at the top of this blog. No less than three people this week said “Hey, isn’t about time for a new blog, I’m a little sick of Jimmy Hines.”
            Well, OK, a month might be a little too much, so here we go on to the land of the Hines-less.

            * * *

            We all know what’s going on in Hamilton Township these days and it is not casting us in a very good light around the area.

            But we can’t help what our leaders do, we can only do what we do.

            That’s why this township should be proud of some of the young athletes at Hamilton West High School this week.

            In case you missed the stories posted on Fish4Scores earlier this week (and still on the home page), a group of Hornet football players helped out at the Miracle League by playing baseball with individuals with disabilities, and Hamilton West softball catcher Brianna Castellano has gotten her teammates and Nottingham’s softball team to “Play for Pink” Monday night during their game at HGSA.

            Granted, these aren’t the only high school kids from the township that do nice things. It happens at all three schools.

            But during a week of total upheaval in our township, the timing of these athletes could not be better to make us feel good about ourselves. Isn’t it nice to know that there are some young kids among us who aren’t just thinking about themselves, but are looking out for others?

            Show them how much you appreciate it.

            Prove to them you’re proud of what they have done during this bleak week.

            Come to the HGSA complex Monday night and donate to breast cancer. And watch a good softball game while you are there.

            * * *        

            Megan Cibree is about as much of a lacrosse expert as you can get when it comes to the sport in Hamilton Township.

            The Steinert senior has played in the Spartans program since she was a freshman and Steinert was a club team. Her boyfriend plays on the Steinert boys’ team.

            If she’s not playing lacrosse with the girls, she’s watching it with the boys.

            So who better to ask if the sport is catching on in Hamilton.

            “Oh yeah, definitely,” she said during a recent boys game that was very well attended. “You really see it at the boys’ games. I’m not sure if it’s catching on with the girls as much, because there really is more action in the boys’ games.

            “But we’re still getting better crowds. People are really starting to get into it more.”

            It helps that the Steinert boys and Hamilton girls have been winning a few games this year, which always helps pump up interest.

            Granted, they are playing weaker schedules than the best teams in Mercer. But New Egypt coach Jay Corby, a township resident who has done an outstanding job out there in Plumstead, says that’s the way to go.

            “If you’re trying to build a program, you have to have some success first,” Corby said. “You have to go out and win a few games, and get the kids some confidence. Then other kids in school see that the team is winning and maybe they want to come out.

            “Once all that starts happening, then you can try and get a tougher schedule. But for now, let them enjoy some wins.”

            * * *

            Whoever knew this township was such a rugby factory?

            Believe it or not, no less than four former high school athletes are playing club rugby at their respective colleges. Steinert’s Garrett Braddock is at Syracuse, Nottingham’s Mike Elberson is playing at Ursinus, Steinert’s Jonathan Pulley plays at Albright, and Hamilton West’s Amanda Rossi just went to the collegiate club championship game with Pittsburgh before the Panthers fell in the finals in chilly Ohio.

            When somebody finds out where this feeder system is, please let me know.

            * * *

            You may have noticed that I am trying to run game by game results of various sports.

            You may also have noticed that they are like, really crooked. They kind of swerve their way downward.

            You may not care. Or, you may wonder why.

            My answer is, I do not know why. They are straight when I type them in and proof them and all that. Then when the site publishes, they are crooked.

            One of life’s little mysteries I suppose.

            * * *

            I’m not a huge hockey fan. I used to be, back in the day of the Broad Street Bullies winning Stanley Cups, but there’s just too many teams to try and keep track of the regular season.

            BUT. . . I don’t know if any sport’s playoffs are more exciting than the Stanley Cup playoffs.

            The NFL playoffs and NCAA tournament are gut-grinding because they are one-and-done. But as far as best-of-seven series, the emotions of these hockey playoff games are incredible. It seems like so many of them are one goal games, down to the wire with a goalie out.
           I think one of the big differences in hockey and the NBA is that with hockey, barring a penalty, the game plays out in a rhythm with few stoppages down the stretch. In basketball, foul shots and timeouts in the final few minutes pretty much stall things. In hockey, you never get the chance to catch your breath, which is what makes it so cool.

            I don’t even care about some of the teams in these playoffs and I’m all edge-of-my-seaty at crunch time. It’s good stuff. And it’s gonna be pretty wild around here in the next few weeks with Flyers-Devils.

            Let’s go Flyers!  

            * * *     

            Speaking of playoffs, I am a Sixers fan, but it kills me to see Derrick Rose out for the rest of the playoffs.

            Part of what makes any post-season game great is watching the stars go head to head and see who rises to the top. For the Bulls to lose their best player, that just cheats everybody. Will the Heat feel good about beating a Rose-less Bulls?

             Actually, with that crew, who knows?

            * * *

            I guess there’s something wrong with me, but I just can’t get into the NFL draft. I don’t know why. Maybe I’ve just seen too many hyped guys fall flat, so watching all this stuff and all these interviews and everything just doesn’t do much for me because you really never know what’s going to happen.

            I can understand people doing it. It’s a great haven for hard core football fans. I’m a big fan, but I’m more a fan of just watching the games. I’m not a fantasy guy, I don’t play pools, I just love to watch it.

            What does make me laugh, are the people who sit there and watch the 86,000th pick with the same intensity as the top 10. “Ohhh, how can they take that guy when that receiver at Saskatchewan College is still available. That kid’s a sleeper!”
          * * * *
      Congratulations to College of New Jersey coach Sharon Pfluger for becoming the first Division III women's lacrosse coach to win 400 games. Sharon is not from Hamilton, but she's a friend, a great person and a great coach and I'm happy for her.