I have run into that issue, living in towns Microsoft Word didn’t consider real. If I accepted spell check, I currently reside in Bleeder, Illinois. I’m not sure if that’s better or worse than my previous address in Hangover Park.
“How do you have five points?” I asked. “I thought each basket was worth just one point.” Daniel explained the shots he took while demonstrating counted because “they were educational”. I didn’t remember that rule at the outset, but let it slide.
Daniel whacked his green golf ball. It rolled into the hole and… nothing. It wouldn’t come out. We kicked the side of the course and tried banging around in the hole with our clubs to no avail. Grandpa teed up his ball and got it in one shot. Two balls came out onto the green: one green one and one red one. Neither of them were Grandpa’s. I knocked my ball into the hole and Grandpa’s came out along with a pink ball. Mine was gone.
We don’t like the cold any more than anyone else does. We watch Bears games in the snow… I don’t know why we watch Bears games in the snow. I think alcohol might be involved.
At the top of each hour, the very properly professional (or professionally proper) English voice will intone the headlines of the day. However, it doesn’t matter what they are: assassination, flooding, general upheaval. “It’s the end of the world, you’re listening to BBC World News, but first – the Cricket Report.”
You’d think flag football is the civilized version of the sport. The kids are young, they don’t wear pads. It’s a “learning experience” where kids learn the value of teamwork. It’s run by the YMCA. They don’t even keep score. Well, don’t you believe it.
Russia ceased being the Soviet Union around the same time. Since then, Czechoslovakia has split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Yugoslavia has been subdivided as well. Yet we don’t hear any of them still being referred to by their old names. What made Myanmar (also known as Burma) so special?
Belvidere and Rockford East both have long and storied athletic traditions. Both teams have enjoyed greatness and both teams – like this year – have been in a rebuilding mode. In recent memory, the E-rabs have not posed a serious threat to the Bucs. While Belvidere never trailed in last Friday’s game, the E-rabs had enough surprises up their sleeves to keep the outcome in doubt until the very end.
Flag football kicks off the 2008 season this weekend, weather permitting. I’ve already been out to Daniel’s practices, camcorder at the ready. With a little practice and a little patience, football actually lends itself to being shot by a single camera unlike – say, basketball, where you need at least two cameras (three is better) to reasonably capture all the action. Football games also lend themselves being shot as narrative.
In preparation for my 20 year reunion, I’ve been trying to remember back to high school. I had to swim in the pool at school. The chlorine had a little water mixed in, but it wasn’t diluted enough to allow me to breathe easily. On top of that, I had gym first hour. I think – in theory – the pool was heated, but they didn’t start the heat up until school started. So, it was not warm when we’d have to jump in and do laps. I ended up in the low group of swimmers: group one, otherwise known as the “rocks”.
It’s a long drive to Rockton from Belvidere. Not many made the trek north to see the Bucs opening game. There were plenty of gaps in the visitor stands. Those that braved the… Read More
Football season kicked off once again in northern Illinois last Friday night. I dusted off my press pass from the Boone County Journal and made the trek up to Rockton to watch the… Read More
This year is all about style. They practiced three point stances. The coaches pushed on their shoulders to make sure they were braced correctly (the ones who weren’t fell on their butts).
I’ve been watching the Olympics off and on for the last week or so. I really haven’t planned to watch anything specifically. I just tend to wander into the family room and flip… Read More
Daniel was very concerned about the torch ceremony. “What if it goes out?” he asked. I replied confidently they had a backup torch to relight it. There was an anxious moment when Li Ning first took flight. I hoped they did have a backup torch.
In my life, I have enjoyed both kinds of football. I enjoy watching American football on television. I have followed the ups and downs of the Chicago Bears (as my ulcers will attest). … Read More
Daniel’s last pack meeting was on Saturday. This was the official graduation. Daniel finished the requirements to become a Bear Scout a couple of months ago; we had the Blue and Gold Dinner… Read More
“Dad…” I hear Daniel say in a voice about one octave higher than usual. I know I am being buttered up for something.
I cannot say that I am a fan of the Green Bay Packers. I grew up in Chicago and I am a Bears fan. I grew up in the 70′s. We had Walter… Read More
Belvidere had to wait a day before starting their regional playoff run last Thursday night. The small stands were full at Marengo Community High School, but the crowd was quiet for most of… Read More
It was a short game and far from home, but for the small band of fans who made the trek out to the suburbs got to see the Bucs battle it out and… Read More
The Bucs led the Harlem Huskies for less than three minutes in the game. However, two of those minutes happened to be the last two of the game as the Bucs battled their… Read More
It’s rare to see free throws be the difference in a game between Belvidere and Boylan, but last Friday night, the Titans took on the scrappy Bucs team at Wood Gym and barely… Read More
After the Bucs battled Boylan at Boylan High School the weekend before, it could be assumed the game against the Hononegah Indians would be hard fought and a close game. After they beat… Read More
The Bucs scored first after Brandon Fowler made a pass in to George Waddell for two points. Boylan was blocked inside on the other end, but pulled out to a 10 – 2… Read More
The stands were filled with purple and gold last Friday night as the Bucs hosted the Wauconda Bulldogs in the first 5A playoff game. At first, it was hard to tell which side… Read More
Looking at these two teams on paper before the game, one would not have thought the outcome would be so lopsided. Belvidere knew they were in for a tough time with Boylan. Two… Read More
The Bucs returned to Swanson Stadium briefly last Friday to take on the Rockford East E-rabs. The Bucs biggest challenge turned out to be avoiding a look ahead to the Boylan game as… Read More
It was Homecoming at Belvidere, but the weather made it feel like the playoffs. A stiff breeze made a cool night feel downright cold at Funderburg Stadium. However, both teams came out hot… Read More
Over the years, Swanson Stadium has been a “home away from home” for Belvidere. Home to the Guilford Vikings and the Rockford East E-rabs, the Bucs hadn’t lost a game there since the… Read More
There was a tension in the air at Funderburg Stadium Friday night, dark like the surrounding clouds and threatening as the rain. With a new coach and half the school body attending a… Read More
There was a good crowd on hand to watch Belvidere’s final home game of the season last Friday night. Despite the snow, there was a long line at the ticket window and game… Read More
The last time the Bucs played Guilford, the game was essentially over by the end of the first quarter. Outscored 26 – 6, the Bucs were never able to recover. Last Friday, the… Read More
It wasn’t easy, but the Bucs beat East in overtime in Belvidere last Thursday night, 67 – 62. The Bucs swept the E-rabs for the season before talking on a non-conference opponent last… Read More
Cut to a few weeks ago. The final minutes of the New Orleans game are winding down. I’m in the family room with Daniel, watching the game and Meka’s behind me in the kitchen.
“So, what kind of TV are you getting?” she asked. I had no idea what she was talking about at first. Honestly, I had been joking about the HDTV. Of course, I didn’t mention that out loud.
Maybe the Super Bowl was on everyone’s mind last Friday night. Sloppy ball handling and poor shooting marred both teams’ performance on the court at Harlem High School. However, the Bucs were able… Read More
The Bucs hosted the J-Hawks last Friday night. Winless in NIC-9 play, the J-Hawks played the Bucs pretty close, staying within two points most of the game. However, Jack Adams scored eight of… Read More
The Bucs started the weekend, traveling to Freeport last Friday night to take on the Pretzels. The Bucs scored first, but that was the only lead they would have all night. Freeport went… Read More
The Bucs had a pair of long trips last Friday and Saturday as they traveled to Rockton on Friday night to take on the third place Indians and then trekked into the Chicago… Read More
The Bucs Boys Basketball team was back in action last Friday night. The stands were filled on the home side of Wood Gym. Across the court, the Vikings visitors were half empty. Unfortunately,… Read More
To get to the gymnasium at Rockford East, one must walk down a paneled hall, covered in pictures of league leading players and championship teams from all manner of sports. This year’s E-rabs… Read More
After Mother Nature cancelled last week’s home opener, the Bucs were able to finally play their first home game of the season Saturday night. First, they had to travel to Auburn Friday. While… Read More
There had been talk of rain earlier, but by nightfall last Friday, the skies were clear, the wind had died down and the time was right for football. Under the lights of the… Read More
It was a cold and cloudy Senior Night last Friday at Funderburg Stadium, but there was a full stadium on hand to watch the action. The Bucs and Vikings were tied for second… Read More
It was all purple and gold on the field at Funderburg Stadium last Friday. While that’s to be expected when Hononegah comes to town, the Indians were probably hoping that some of that… Read More
It was a cold night in Mount Prospect Saturday, but that didn’t stop an army of loyal Bucs fans from making the trip into the Chicago suburbs. The visiting bleachers were filled to… Read More
The Bucs returned home last Friday night to better weather, a larger crowd of fans and a much better opponent. Freeport has been overwhelmed in their season opener by Boylan, but they came to Belvidere to play.
The Bucs started their 2006 football season last Friday night where they left off last season, with a decisive win against the Jefferson J-Hawks. The only part of the game in doubt was… Read More
Senior Night at Belvidere High School a few Friday nights ago seemed like it should have been the swan song for the graduating Bucs; full of the pomp and circumstance and tradition to… Read More
Senior Night at Belvidere High School Friday night started with tributes to the players graduating this year, the cheerleaders and all of the people who supported them throughout the season. However, the best… Read More
