DECEMBER 29 2007 UPDATE

MY BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Toured New York City with daughter Kathryn – the whole nine yards – Rockefeller Center, FAO Schwartz, lunch at a real NY Italian eatery – praying at St Patrick’s, the first time I’ve been there since Bobby Kennedy’s funeral in 1968 – the skaters – the famous stores all decked out for Christmas.  Rejuvenating!  (photo by RFH)

ULTIMATE COLLEGE SOFTBALL

UCS is down for repairs, Steve Robitaille informed me today, and will be back online as soon as he makes some “fixes.”  Readers of both our sites need to remember that these sites, as ubiquitous as they are, remain essentially one-man operations.

MALT SHOPPE MEMORIES

Filling time before the ball game, the local NBC affiliate aired a Time-Life music special entitled “Malt Shoppe Memories,” the juke box melodies of the late 50’s and early 60’s.  Does indeed bring back memories.  Some artists achieved great fame – Elvis, Bobby Darin, the Beach Boys, Connie Francis, the Supremes.  Many were one-song wonders like Chubby Checkers who put the twist into the Twist. A few were icons during the R&R peak like the Righteous Brothers, the Everly Brothers, Bobby Rydell, Frankie Vallie, Ricky Nelson, the Platters.  Wonder what happened to some of those performers – the Drifters, Dion and the Belmonts, Little Frankie, Shandelles, the Duprees, Mary Wells?

COMMITMENTS

SARA NEVINS 2010 LEFTY PITCHER FROM TEAM FLA VERBALS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA.

Jessie Minch, Oregon NW Glacier Gold committed to play at Chico State, California.

High Intensity announces the commitment of 2008 OF/SS Monica Zeringue to Spring Hill College.

SPY 2008 CALENDAR

A work in progress.  Skimmed through dozens of college and travel ball web sites, and still did not include as much as desired.  So, SPY will update again on Sunday – after spending all day Saturday combing through more material.  Want to include the college conference championships.  Have already included the HS championships.  Keep logging on, and send anything we’ve missed.

IN MEMORIAM

Dave Heeley, a long-time, well-regarded coach in the Phoenix area, who coached the 14U Suncats to a 2^nd place finish at 2004 ASA nationals, passed away Christmas eve.

David Eugene Heeley Sr., 49, passed away December 24, 2007. He was born
Sept. 16, 1958 in Phoenix, AZ to Frank and Mary Heeley. David worked as a
Mechanical Engineer for 30 years. He was an admired coach, a counselor, a
scholar, a brilliantly intelligent man who inspired many young athletes to
attain their goals. Our dearly departed will be missed. He was a dedicated
loving husband to, Rosa, and father to daughters, Mary Elizabeth, Valerie
Rose, Natalie Nicole and Courtney Brianna and his son, David Eugene II. A
visitation will be held Friday, December 28, 2007 from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
with a Rosary at 7:00 PM at Heritage Funeral Chapel 6830 W. Thunderbird Rd.
Peoria, AZ. Mass will be held Saturday, December 29, 2007 at 10:00 AM at St.
Jerome Catholic Church 10815 N. 35th Ave. Phoenix, AZ. Burial will follow at
St. Francis Cemetery.

SHADES OF JANE FONDA

Heard from a friend Wednesday who experienced the downside of Christmas.  She had suffered a miscarriage the week before, but was sustained by the thought that she and her family would join her sisters and brothers and families out West for New Years.  Alas, her mother-in-law came for Christmas, and took ill Christmas eve with stomach pains.  So, the eve was spent at a hospital emergency room, and Christmas Day was spent at the hospital waiting to see if the abdominal blockage would ease – or require surgery.  Now, MiL must be comforted and the New Year’s reunion has been cancelled.  She caught me after I left Johns Hopkins on Wednesday; didn’t want to add my problems to hers so I simply said it was a routine checkup.  I wished her a very Happy New Year.

THE BLASTED PATRIOTS

As Vince Lombardi once said, winning is equal parts skill, brawn, strategy and luck.  Errors cost the Eagles and Ravens their chances to upset the Patriots.  Tonight, two penalties led to Boston TD’s and an interception created a third as the Patriots edged the Giants 38-35 for their 16^th win.  I’ve rooted for Boston U, BC, and of course the Celtics.  Never for the Red Sox.  And, I’ve wanted to see the Patriots lose since Vito Parilli was their quarterback – the same Kentucky Babe who beat Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl in 1951.  Liked him when he was Broadway Joe’s backup, but never in Boston.  Is that a long time to hold a grudge?  Remember cheering for Brady when he q-backed Michigan, but, now, he plays against the Mannings – and is not to be tolerated.  My great-great-great-grandfather was named Peyton Manning.

Add to unsigned seniors

Unsigned 2008

USA Patriots-Florida

Briana Weaver East Lake High School Tarpon Springs, FL

3B/2B ACT-17 GPA 3.6 AVG. 340

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