It’s Monday, August 14, and my first day back to work after a 9-night cruise to Bermuda, San Juan, St. Thomas, and a private island. My wife and I like to get away right after basketball season ends and right before football season begins. All the weekends in between are pretty much taken up with sports.
If you cruise, you know that sports and national TV are not high priorities on the ship. There is a really nice flat-screen TV in the rooms, but most channels are commercials for the cruise company in the form of desired excursions, specialty restaurants, daily schedules, enticing spa treatments, and shopping tips. Actual programming pretty much consists of keeping the children occupied with DreamWorks TV and programming for almost every nationality on the ship. I did find a soccer game from time to time, but not much else.
It is even difficult to keep up with the news. CNN is on the dial and is about the only source for up-to-date information available.
So this is literally a vacation not only from the workplace, but a true vacation from sports. And my wife is not unhappy about that. Filling the gap is beach time, great entertainment, big buffets and excellent dining. For some reason, she finds this more appealing than baseball, golf, and preseason football.
We did experience a bit of reality “TV”, when one morning we were awakened by a Coast Guard helicopter right outside our balcony. They were there to airlift a passenger who had fallen and seriously injured themselves. The ship had diverted off course in order to get the passenger to the hospital. The helicopter lowered a man and a basket and eventually raised the patient to the chopper and got him to a hospital. It was both sad and exciting.
Returning home meant reading nine days of the Express-Times and the Morning Call to catch up on, you guessed it, all the news and, especially, all the sports that I missed. What I immediately realized is that high school and college football is right around the corner.
The break was certainly a nice one. I, too, like good food and good entertainment, but when the song asks, “Are you ready for some football”, my answer is a resounding “Yes”.
I hope you are, too!!
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- I was shocked like most Eagles’ fans that Jordan Matthews was traded to the Buffalo Bills. The Bills, I’m sure, were even more shocked when, during his first practice, he cracked his sternum. His availability is week-to-week.
- Did you like the trade for Matthews, who was the Eagles’ most reliable wide receiver? With the addition of cornerback Ronal Darby, the Eagles now have four young CBs (all under the age of 24), but they traded away Carson Wentz’s favorite target. Newly acquired receivers Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith are both on one-year contracts. The verdict on this trade is yet to come.
- Bryce Harper was having an MVP season and could be a free agent next season. Saturday he slipped on the first base bag and injured his left knee. The injury looked extremely serious, but the Nationals are hopeful he will return this season and not need surgery. In most sports like basketball, slippery areas get wiped off for safety reasons. Baseball bases should get the same treatment. And with this injury to a superstar, the bases will be a topic of discussion, for sure.
- Lafayette football media day is this week. The Leopards open their season amid the head coaching debut of John Garrett at Monmouth, September 2, at 3:00pm. Monmouth beat Lehigh last year, so this will be a true test for the Leopards. They will entertain Sacred Heart on September 9, and the RCN team will be there to bring you all the action.
- The EPC South football division should be especially entertaining this season with outstanding running backs in the spotlight. Do you like Emmaus, Parkland, Beca, or a sleeper to win it all? Stay tuned.
