Musings

For The Love Of Sports

BY FRANCINE FULTON

While people often disagree on the hot topics of the day, including politics, religion and who has better coffee, Starbucks or Dunkin’, one thing that binds many people together is our love of sports.

Whether it be professional teams like the Phillies or the Eagles, college favorites like Penn State or local high school and Little League Baseball teams, we love to root for the home team. Even those who are not sports fans seem to jump on the bandwagon when the local team is in contention for a championship or if there is a heartfelt story to be told about a special athlete.

There is no better example of our love of sports than when perfect strangers can carry on a complete conversation about a team. If you spot a person who is wearing a Phillies jersey, for example, you can approach him or her and immediately talk about the team’s offensive skills or the strength of the bullpen. Anyone wearing Eagles attire can easily spark a discussion about the quarterback situation with another person similarly dressed. Yes, a lively sports talk can unite us no matter our ages or backgrounds.

In 2001, when the world was reeling from the terrorist attacks, sports were suspended for a time. I will never forget the first Phillies game that took place after the national tragedy. It felt so good to watch the game and feel some sense of normalcy. People in the stands carried flags, and the playing of the national anthem took on a whole new meaning.

During the same time period at a Flyers game, the team actually stopped play to listen to President Bush as he spoke about the tragedy. It was a poignant moment as the players stood on the ice in full gear looking up at the big screen to watch the president address the nation.

For me, there is nothing like watching a live game. Of course we enjoy the entertainment that goes on between innings in baseball, but it is so interesting to see first-hand how the players shift on the field when different batters come into the box. And, of course, it’s exciting to catch a foul ball or watch a homerun sail over the fence.

The same can be said of live basketball and hockey. Nothing beats the sound of the game - the sneakers squeaking on the court and the smacking of the puck at it travels across the ice.

Of course, I am a Philadelphia sports fan, with a special affinity for the Philadelphia Phillies. My love of the Phillies only grew stronger after the “tarp incident” in 2007. During a game against the Colorado Rockies, the Phillies players left the safety of the bench in the dugout during a thunderstorm to help the grounds crew manage the tarp as it blew in the wind. They forgot for a moment that they were professional athletes and simply responded as kind human beings to an emergency situation, where the tarp could have possibly trapped the workers.

You can view the whole event on YouTube by searching for “Phillies @ Rockies 7-8-07 Tarp Incident!” After you watch the team help out the crew, it just might make you love the Phillies as much as I do.

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Real Estate & Personal Property SATURDAY, MAY 15TH

PERSONAL PROPERTY 8 A.M. REAL ESTATE 12 P.M.

Location: 844 W. Kings Hwy., Coatesville, PA 19320

Directions: From Rt. 10 turn East on W. Kings Hwy (Rt. 340) and follow to sale & from Rt. 82 turn West on W. Kings Hwy (Rt.340) and follow to sale. House across road from Kings Hwy School. Real Estate: Ranch house situated on approx. ½ acre: Living space consists of Living room w/fi replace, dining room and 3 bedrooms all consist of w/wall to wall carpet over hardwood fl ooring; full bath and eat in kitchen w/vinyl fl oor; plaster walls and ceilings throughout home; 2 car garage attached by breezeway w/mud room & laundry; full basement w/half of basement fi nished; stucco fi nish on exterior of home; new shingled roof; onsite well & sewage; 1yr old oil fi red hot water base board heater w/domestic hot water; central a/c unit; 200 amp breaker electric service; also located in basement coal/wood burning stove. -10% down day of sale w/30-day settlement cash or approved check.

-Inspection by appointment only 610-857-3187.

Personal Property: 2006 Suzuki Boulevard C50 w/12,565 miles; 2001 Yamaha TW 200 dual sport w/3,624 miles; JD 180 lawn tractor w/38in deck; 6x10 alum trailer w/wood fl oor & ramp; 14’ Gamer fi sher alum. V bottom boat, Minnkota Troiling motor & trailer; Johnson Sea-horse boat motor; 1991 Arctic Cat 440 liquid cooled snowmobile; 1994 Arctic Cat Wildcat 700 fuel injected snowmobile; Gold yard machines 10.0hp/30” clearing width snow blower; Craftsman 3hp. 20gal. air compressor; Homelite weed eater; Cyclone pull behind spreader & other; Briggs & Stratton Engine Rototiller; lawn roller; ladder tree stand; clay bird thrower; cargo tool box. Guns: S&W 38 special 6 shot revolver; S&W model 586-3 357 mag. Revolver; Walters Pat. model 9 25cal. handgun; Deutsche Werke Aktiengesellchaft & Werk ERFURT ORTGIES patent 7.65 mm hand gun; Address Sam Colt New York City Colts patent cap & ball hand gun; S.P.A Luigi Franchi; 20 ga. semi auto; 30-06 rifl e w/4 power scope; custom 30-06 bull barrel rifl e; Stevens 16ga. double barrel shotgun (engraved To: Capt. A.C. Lopez From: His Men, U.S Arevr Engr. Sch. Murnav Germany July 22nd, 1950); F.K. Tryon rabbit ear black powder shot gun; Ruger mod. 77/22 22cal. bolt action w/banner 3x-8x power scope; Thompson Center Arms 50cal. fl int lock muzzle loader; East Arms Co. model 101.1 16ga. single barrel; W. Richards 12ga. rabbit ear shot gun; Ithaca Deer Slayer mod. 87 feather light 2¾” & 3” 12ga. w/rifl ed barrel & L/X Chales Daily Scope; Remington mod. 700 270 Win. w/Tasco 3x-9x scope; 300 rounds .223 55 grain FMJ; 2 boxes 16ga. shot gun shells; 270 & 223 brass; reloading equip. including dies; 2 older PSE compound bows; Horton Super Max 175 cross bow (needs new limbs); recurve bow’s; fi shing rods & reels; few steel traps; early leather gun case; Lyman elec. Lead pot. Collectibles: Breyer horse collection & others; I.H. Farmall 656 toy tractor w/wagon; few 45 records, cassette tapes, VCR & DVDs; few tootsie toy cars; collection of lighted beer signs & others; some bar glass; Roy Roger plastic guitar; G.I. Joe fi gure; few cap guns; Evil Knievel toy fi gure on motorcycle; Mr. Peanut plastic bank; Sessions mantle clock; key wind wall clock; cast iron frying pan & griddle (FDY Co. Dickson Pa. #11); croquet set. Furniture: Maple wooden table w/retractable leaves & 2 chairs; dining room table w/6 chairs; full size depression bed; queen/full pine head board & Hollywood frame; wood stove w/cook top plates; pot belly stove; 2 dressers; 5-gun cabinet; vintage settee; lath top trunk.

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-Many other items too numerous to mention--Bring lawn chairs--Food available -Announcements day of sale take precedence over previous advertisements -Not Responsible for Accidents-Check www.auctionzip.com #1320 for pictures