No matter how you look at it, it has been a good year for District XI. Chairman Bob Hartman and his committee have managed 24 sports for 54 schools, but they have done that in the past. This year, however, they managed many of those sports by adding two more classifications to the mix. Where the maximum number of classifications before this year was four, they were forced to manage six this season. That is a 33% gain in games and champions in those sports that were affected. There were more playoffs, meaning more schools and more champions.
Last year at this time, when it seemed like it would be a nightmare for everyone to adjust, the District XI planned for the contingencies well in advance. Therefore, for the most part (despite weather being a troubling factor), all was accomplished rather seamlessly. One can argue the merits of adding more classes, but it would be hard to argue that District XI was not up to the challenge.
Another major accomplishment of the committee was the use of the PPL Center for the AAAAAA boys’ basketball semifinals. With 7000+ fans in the stands, four outstanding teams, and some of the greatest Lehigh Valley high school players to play in the same place on the same night, it may very well have been the single most legendary night of District XI basketball. Again, praise goes to Bob Hartman and his staff.
Instead of resting on their laurels after what had to be a trying year logistically, this past week it was unveiled that a District XI Hall of Fame will be organized “as a means of recognizing, preserving, and promoting the heritage of interscholastic sports in District XI”. Those eligible for admittance will consist of athletes, contest officials, coaches, and contributors.
If you have been around District XI athletics for as long as, or even longer, than I have, you can imagine the monumental task of paring down the list of entrants to a manageable number each year. The McDonald’s Lehigh Valley Hall of Fame has nearly 100 members and the VIA Lehigh Valley Basketball Hall of Fame is nearing the 200-member total. That is just in two sports – basketball and football! Now, consider the outstanding high school athletes who have passed through the Lehigh Valley in the past 30+ years in 21 other sports. To use a pet phrase of mine – “Oh my!!!”
And, to their credit, this is not something that District XI needed to do. They have placed this challenge upon themselves and, for that, they are to be commended. And, if history is any proof of their ability to meet the challenge, it will get accomplished.
So when accolades are being tossed around at the end of this school term, all lists should include the work and accomplishments of District XI. It bears repeating – District XI has had a very good year.
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- “Familiarity breeds contempt” goes the adage. It is no more evident than in the NHL and NBA finals. As any fan can see, play the same people day in and day out and things get particularly nasty and “chippy”. Each additional match or game becomes that much more emotional.
- I’m sure at the time the New England Patriots were not very pleased to be trailing the Atlanta Falcons 28-3 in the third quarter of the most recent Super Bowl. But because of that deficit their Super Bowl championship rings contain 283 diamonds, the biggest Super Bowl ring ever made. This almost makes a team want to fall behind!
- How much would you pay for a new pair of sneakers? Up to $150? More? This past Sunday morning, the sneakers Michael Jordan wore in the 1984 gold-medal win over Spain sold for $190,373! Another pair of Jordan sneakers had previously sold for $104,765.
- As I write this, Liberty and Whitehall are still alive in the PIAA state baseball playoffs. Each needs to win this Monday to get to the title game at Penn State which will be played on Thursday and Friday. Go Canes! Go Zephs!
- This week on RCN-TV, we will start our Blue Mountain League baseball coverage. The Game of the Week will be on Tuesday nights at 9:30. This week’s game features the two-time defending champion Limeport Bulls taking on the Hellertown Royals. The McDonald’s All-Star Football Classic will be on Thursday, June 15, at 10:00.
