HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1992-06-10, Page 17Strange,
but true
wise man once said
that everything
should be taken in
moderation. Too
much of a good thing can
sometimes prove more of a
hindrance than a help. Take
pregame rituals in sport.
Nearly every athlete follows
some sort of pregame pattern.
There are soccer players who milmmissmillimiliallmlom
insist on putting shinpads, socks and shoes on their left foot
before their right. Hockey players who tape their stick a cer-
tain way before every game. Baseball fielders who make sure
to tag second on their way to play the field. Goaltenders in
any sport who talk to their goalposts.
And then there is the most important unwritten rule in ath-
etics. Never mess with a winning streak. White many are
wt overly supersddous, myself included, this is one golden
ale you never break, no matter how nerve racking it be -
mines.
After winning our first game while helping to coach South
Iuron's junior boys' soccer team, 1 quickly adopted .a pre-
tamc_pattem for our sectMd.101Me based on die on balm,
3on't change the luck.
12 p.m. - come home for lunch. 12:28 - go to same store,
purchase oranges from same bin; go to same cashier. 12:50 -
ake fifteen minute nap, change into 'lucky' shirt, cut oranges,
;et water and go to field.
We went three games in a row without a loss and the ritual
3ecame an easy one to follow. Then came the first -place
showdown with Listowel and you can imagine my panic
when I came down to find my mother had done me a favour
and cut the oranges. I had fits before the game but the boys
played well and we won a nailbiter 3-1. PHEW! Narrow es-
cape, don't let it happen again.
With a record of 5-0 we played St. Mike's in Stratford. For
the first time our game followed that of the seniors and I
broke with tradition by sharing our oranges with a senior
player. We lost the game 1-0, our only blemish on the way to
the title—Sorry Sorry guys.
Maybe it sounds ridiculous but many athletes will tell you
different. A player on a streakhasto respect the streak, be-
cause they don't happen very often. If you believe you're
playing well because you're eating hotdogs or not eating hot-
dogs, because you tape your stick_ a certain way or because
you wear a certain cap, then you are.
In 1986 as a senior at South Huron our soccer team had to
play the Huron -Perth final in Goderich. For good luck I had
always chewed sugarless, peppermint Dentyne; my ever faith-
ful 'blue' gum. Being out ten mirmtes before the bus left, I
sent my then girlfriend in a mad dash to find some. To :my
horror she instead returned-with/ed.
If you asked her today she would probably still argue, like
she did then, that it was a sully superstition. But two facts re-
main; I chewed red gum and we lost the game 5-3.
But while it's wonderful winning, honouring the streak can
sometimes become a real headache.
Gavin Snell hates hotdogs. But following the junior soccer
Panthers'` f first playoff win, a new streak began which became
-painfu ly hard to follow. Prior to the game Snell and Darren
Kints walked uptown for lunch. Snell decided to try a cheese
Losdog.uui-.iwa.�....�1 d-itu td.after winilbaga4.114111C..,..
was compelled to honour the streak and returned with Kints
before every game to force down. another dog.
The duo followed exactly the same procedure again and
again, ordering the same food in the same order, borrowing
the same amount of money from the same people, and even
managed to con certain people into driving -past -them and
waving at exactly the same time as they had prior to the first
win. It was painful, but the boys won the title.
Some will never know the amount of work a player puts
into the game before it even begins. So the next time you see
an athlete talking to his bat, wearing 'a funny cap or making
faces while eating a cheese dog, he hasn't gone squirrely, he's
just honouring the streak.
Strange, but true.
Off tate
head
by
Ray
Lewis
* * * * * * * *
The Western Ontario Junior Baseball league will be hosting
a LA Dodgers tryout clinic from 9 to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
The event is open to all players 16 to 21 years of age and
will be held at the Alvin Willett field in Exeter.
Fleming family set for 24-hour relay
By Ray Lewis
TA - staff
EXETER - Members of the
Fleming family, representing Exet-
er, Mount Carmel and the sur-
rounding area will once again be
taking to the roadway as they par-
ticipate in the fifth annual Labatt's
Blue Light 24 -Hour Relay.
The event will take place June 13
and 14, beginning Saturday at 10
a.m. and running until 10 a.m. Sun-
day at Harris Park in London,
Each team must walk, jog or run
around the 2.5 kilometre circuit in
relay fashion.
Four years ago, team captain Jim
Fleming coaxed his relatives into
entering the event which has since
become a family tradition. The
Flemings hold the distinction of -be-
ing the only family team entered in
the event, as most participating are
corporate squads.
Exeter
Express
get back
on track
TILSONBURG - The Exeter Ex-
press were bounced from their
tournament in Tilsonburg over the
weekend, but managed to grab a
pair of wins in their Great Lakes
Senior Baseball. League.
In Tilsonburg Sunday, the Ex-
press dropped an 8-2 decision to a
very strong Wheatley squad, the
two .time defending Senior 'D'
champions.
Both Exeter runs came in the
fourth inning when Brian Rivard
reached base on a fielders' choice
and then came home on a Darcy
Martin double. Rob Dickey fol-
lowed with a single to score Mar-
tin.
The single knock -out tournament
saw—the—Express"saw-the-Expregeface Readsle in
their opener, a team from' the 'AA'
league. After giving up seven runs
in the third inning, Exeter got roll-
ing in the fourth racking up six of
their own and held on for a 9-8
win.
Right-hander Dave Anthill came
on to relieve Paul Elston in the fifth
inning retiring the side in order
over the next two. Rexdale man-
aged to put runners in scoring posi-
tion in the seventh with two out,
but stranded them both.
In regular league play Tuesday
cveling, the Express avenged an
earlier 13-3 loss to Listowel by
beating them 7-4. Five Exeter
pitchers figured in the game.
Last Saturday, the Express trav-
elled to London where they
knocked off the host Kings in a
rainy affair by a score of 6-3.
p111111111111111111111111111111111111101IIIIIIIII11111111111a mll11111111111111111111111tl111111IIIIIIl111111111111I111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
capon
CCLCBMRCOPIER
Last year, over 2,500 team mem-
bers took part in the event raising
some 5370,000 for the three teach-
.,y►g hospitals in London. The mon-
ey raised is used to purchase such
equipment as an obstetrics fetal
heart rate monitor, microscopes for
neurosurgery and dialysis equip-
ment.
"It's an important charity and one
which everyone in the community
will benefit from," states Fleming.
"If you want to see our poster child
just look in the mirror, because
pretty well everyone has needed
one of those hospitals at one time
or another."
Bach team will run approximate-
ly 100 laps, with a lap recorder
passed between the runners for the
full time period.
Anyone interested in contributing
can do so by contacting the Hensall
Post Office, Clarke Self -Serve
Shell Station or Greg and Jean
Fleming. Anyone interested in run-
ning in the event is welcome to
come to Harris Park, where they
would be gladly inserted into the
rotation.
Mark Hell of Hensall Public School breaks the tape ahead of the field in the 1979 Boys 80m
at the annual elementary school track meet held at South Huron O.H.S. Thursday. Full details
of the meet on page 191.
INSTANT COLOUR COPIES
2" plank flat deck (6'10- x 16'), 15" used tires, steel rails w/pockets,
jack, safety chains, lights, 7000 b capacity, tandem axle
Enlarge family or team photos
to81/2x11
or even 11 x 17 instantly
with outstanding results
Ideal for business.p.'esentation materials ,
even colour transparencies
5 ton single axle
fiZitilia RUM 6 -bolt 15"
rims, new implement tires, 6'6"
x 10' deck, jack, H.D. design
One only
4 ton single axle
Hydrauljc pump, 5' x 7'
deck w/6" sides, jack, 6 -bolt
15" rims with used car tires.
Two only
$1,695
Call now while choke loots
5 ton single axle
Hydraulic pygnp, 6 -bon 15"
rims, new implement tires,
6'6" x 10' deck, tailgate.
One only
424 Main Street Exeter 235133.
1111110!1
FARM EQUIPMENT - EXETER, ONTARIO
Sales, Service & Rentals since 1932
(519) FAX (519)
2•35-23aar1-800-265-2121 M.279