a ChaNCE TO BE a FaN aGaiN

Most of my recent vacation was spent in Tennessee, taking in the majesty of the Smoky Mountains (and sighting a black bear), visiting my wife’s family and engaging in some serious miniature golf.

On the way back, there was a weekend venture to Michigan, again visiting the place where my better half was born and raised and spent her entire life before we met, for a reminder of my own younger self.

Once again we found ourselves in Detroit cheering on the Tigers as they tried to avoid a sweep by the San Diego Padres, and in a single Sunday afternoon all the reminders of why I love sports came flooding back.

You see, most of the time when I go to any sporting event, it’s in the guise of a reporter, perhaps pacing the sidelines, maybe courtside, or up in a press box, but always in an official capacity.

That means following many different behavioral guidelines, including the whole “no cheering” part. Even if you know well the stories of these teams and athletes, after a while it’s easier to follow that mantra.

However, something big gets lost along the way –namely, the simple thrill and emotion of putting fairness aside and rooting for the home team, exclaiming the great plays, lamenting the setbacks, above all hoping that your side has a better number on the scoreboard at game’s

Do end. Well, this day brought all those feelings back, those that can only be experienced in the stands – in this case, the upper deck of Comerica Park, high above home plate.

Not at first, though. With time to spare before the first pitch, we toured around the entire concourse, greeted at the main entrance by a statue of legendary announcer Ernie Harwell, with displays on Tigers history and unique mementos – jerseys, bats, ticket stubs.

Head out to center field, and the walkway has more statues of Tigers legends –Ty Cobb sliding, Charlie Gehringer at second base, Al Kaline, and the rest. There’s a respect of history without it getting too pretentious.

Going around, you also notice the unique smells, like sausages on a grill, and the constant patter of vendors, along with people, nearly all of them wearing some kind of Tigers outfit, so naturally you go into the team store and buy some more – a sun hat for my wife, a cap for me with the orange Old English D.

A few minutes before game time, and I was hungry, so of course there was a hot dog.

Alas, I had to forgo a proper beer since I was driving home, but still, tasty. Then it’s time to play ball, with kids prominently featured as one of them reads out the starting lineup with the professional cadence of a man three times his age.

I have been wrong about handicaps for over 10 years. I accepted the results of a study of over 8,000 golfers back when, that determined only 20% of golfers in the US even had a handicap. Chris Hart from National Partners said recently, “the number is closer to to 90%. I am not shocked, but I am surprised. It hasn’t changed the way I think about golf nor how I play the game but it does support my goal to try to get more non-handicap golfers to obtain an official USGA handicap.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club (R&A) now set a standard for a golfer’s handicap as, “an average of their best 8 rounds of golf out of the last 20”. That’s why a golfers handicap is based on “potential”, not an “average”. Also, the USGA’s Handicap Research Team says, “Not only will golfers play to their handicap or better only one out of every 4 rounds but they will also, on average, score 3 strokes higher than their course handicap”.

“A golf handicap is a numerical measure of a golfers ‘potential’ that is used to enable players of varying abilities to compete against one another. Better players are those with the lowest handicap”, says Anonymous. For golfers who do have an official handicap, did you know… but once you cross lines slandering and harassing you are now part of the problem not solution. ChaRLES aND JESSiCa SOuLiER parentS in the nSCSd

* Only 1% of golfers have a handicap of 3 or below.

* Only 9% of golfers have a handicap between 4-6.

* Only 18% have a handicap between 8-11.

* About 27% have a handicap between 12-16.

* About 18% have a handicap between 17-20.

Oh yeah, the rhythm of the game. With the pitchers and hitters’ clocks, it really flows, makes you pay much more attention, always a good thing –and the Tigers help by turning three double plays to maintain an early lead.

Ah, but in the bottom of the third I agreed to get my wife some food. Naturally in that half-inning the Tigers score twice, ultimately the difference in the game, but that’s part of the experience, too.

They keep us entertained with silly and meaningful things in between the halfinnings, all leading up to the ninth when Detroit is up 3-1 – and it starts to rain.

Fans both run up the stands to get dry and cheer the closer as he gets the first two outs, only to have a walk and error prolong the inning – and the tension – until a flyout allows everyone to exhale, leave happy and seek dry ground.

Again, there’s a buzz as we walk out, the people moving along but not in a hurry. And I reflect upon how these few hours recharged my passion, just in time to return to the desk and start writing again.

It’s a long drive home to Central New York, so to fill the time I turn the SiriusXM Radio to a station playing nothing but Tony Bennett in tribute to the great singer’s life. It was already a joyful day. Hearing Tony’s joyful, energetic voice only made it better.

Phil Blackwell is sports editor at Eagle News. He can be reached at pblackwell@ eaglenewsonline.com.

In response

To the editor: Fact check! In response to Mike Hart’s post regarding the Veteran’s Day car show at the town hall, I absolutely did not do any campaigning at the event. As a matter of fact, I’ve never openly campaigned at any public event weather it be the Senior’s meeting at the VFW, Mattydale Market, etc. My husband didn’t put any signs up and wasn’t going to until he saw another candidate’s signs first so he assumed it was ok. My husband John and I stayed for the entire event except for 1 1/2 hours where we took our friend, who is a Veteran that came down from Oswego County to attend the event out to lunch. I never once told anyone I was running for town supervisor. We met a lot of great people (car owners), veterans and others. I also approached Mike Hart and congratulated him on the event!

Prior to the event, John spoke to a lot of veteran friends we know including Allen Oakes, Lt. General Michael Basla, who actually had a street named after him in the town of Salina, who didn’t know about the event. We started to spread the word then to get as many veterans to the event to honor them and raise money.

We’ve always appreciated and honor all the veterans and active military for their service and sacrifice. Our centers have always waived the registration fees for veterans & active military families, we participate in NCCRA, the military tuition assistance program for military families (which some centers don’t because the process can be cumbersome) and we used to participate in a military program that used to use child care centers to offer child care slots free of charge to military families visiting the area for any reason and were in need of child care services.

My husband, John, used to give up his first-class seat to any military soldier in uniform when he used to travel. We’ve always had tremendous respect for all veterans and active-duty military.

One thing I did learn that day was what the Honor Flight program really was. I had heard about it about through my cousin’s Facebook page on their last flight. The veteran at the booth took time to explain the whole program to me, and I looked through the photo book. What an amazing program.

I was so moved that I volunteered for the event in any way I can help.

So please, the next time you read something, please feel free to fact check the facts with me at anytime. I will be adding a link soon titled “Fact Check” that you can check where I will post true facts on my webpage at Stellaforsalina.com

Have a happy and safe summer!! STELLa PENiZOTTO Candidate for toWn of SaLina

SuperviSor

* About 12% between 21-24.

* Around 8% between 25-29.

* Only 5% at 30 and above.

Assuming your handicap is accurate… how many times do you shoot to your handicap?

* If your handicap is 5 or less…36%

* If your handicap is 6-12…32%.

* If your handicap is 13-20…29%.

* If your handicap is 21-28…26%.

* If your handicap is 29 and above…19%.

How do these statistics stack up to your handicap, or for that matter, other golfers at your club or the league you play in?

Question: What do you do if someone with a handicap of 14 shoots a score that is 8 strokes below their handicap in a tournament?

Answer: You “Google” USGA

“Exceptional Tournament Score Probability” chart and find out the probably of doing this is 1,138 to 1.

Analysis: Assuming the average golfer plays around 20 rounds a year, it would take over 56 years of golf to do it once. If the same golfer shoots a score that is 5 shots below his 14 handicap, the probably is still 174 to 1…about once every 9 years.

Descriptive Term for golfer:

SANDBAGGER ACTION PLAN: CALL THE POLICE.

Crossword