"Tickets!! I got two tickets for sale..Who wants em?" Kenny Riggins was standing outside Williams auditorium in Pretoria..Mayfield was playing their arch-rival Dopeyville in the finals of the league tournament, and tickets to the championship game were selling at a premium. Kenny Riggins was the man to see if you wanted to find a "hard to get" event ticket..By the time Bob Castle and Shorty Sanders arrived at Williams auditorium to watch the championship game..All the tickets were long gone..The only way the two of them were going to watch one of the biggest games in Mayfield High history..Kenny Riggins..And it was going to cost..
"Riggins how much you want for those tickets" Castle only had 50 bucks on him and was worried that he was going to get priced out real quick..A van load of Mayfield alumni had just pulled in and they did not have tickets either..Riggins was a master at selling tickets, he always knew when to get top dollar..His plan was to start a bidding war with some of the Mayfield and Dopey alumni that were arriving late..If that happened Bob Castle and Shorty Sanders were going to miss one of the biggest games in Mayfield history, and that was not an option.
"Since you and I are friends Castle, I will sell you a pair for 80 bucks." "I only got 50 can I hit you later with the rest?" Castle replied..Riggins was not accustomed to extending credit for his services, he had spotted a group of alumni looking for tickets and would probably have gotten 4x more than the 50 dollars Castle had to offer.."You know how hot these tickets are? but since were friends and I don't want to see you cry..Castle was starting to "tear-up" a little thinking that he was going to miss the game. I will take your 50 and you can pay me the difference later..Castle gave Riggins the 50 and Shorty and him made a v-line for their seats.
The game was a classic..Crisstoffo Artinelli..aka.."The Italian Flash" hit a 30 footer at the buzzer to give Mayfield it's first league title in 20 years.. The best surprise of all, the tickets that Riggins sold us ended up being VIP..I like to refer to them as "Jack Nicholson" seats..At the time Castle wondered why Riggins gave him such a "sweet-heart" deal when it was obvious he could have fetched a lot more for them..Years later Riggins and Castle became excellent friends. Castle and him were reminiscing about the first time they met each other..I asked Riggins "Why did you give me such a sweet deal on those tickets, at the time we weren't really friends?" Riggins just smiled and said "when I saw you were starting to "tear-up" because you thought you were going to miss the game, I said to myself "This guy is pathetic, but he has the passion, so I decided to cut you a break..Besides I still had ten other tickets to sell..I turned a nice profit."...:)
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
The Ping-Pong champ of Mayfield High
Garren Yoder was a man of many skills, not only was he the best 9-ball player in Mayfield..He was also the defending Linn County League Ping-Pong champion..Yoder was recovering from a knee injury and had just recouped enough stamina to play Ping-Pong again..Repeating as Linn County League champ was going to be very difficult for Garren, but he was determined none the less.
"How are you feeling today?" Bob Castle asked Garren .Castle was Yoder's unofficial Ping-Pong trainer/manager..They were both in Pretoria for the league Ping-Pong tournament and Castle was looking to gauge how Yoder would perform.."I feel good..I am going to win a second title..bet on it!!!" Castle had been watching Yoder's odds drop on the board and he was getting a little nervous. The year before Yoder won the tournament with relative ease, but this year he was recovering from his knee injury and had slid on a few extra pounds. "You gonna bring this title home? Are you sure? Because I have some guys from Dopeyville who think you are "washed-up" They want to bet a $100 spot on it." "Take the action" Yoder replied sternly..At that moment, Castle looked at Yoder and realized that he meant business..
The rules are fairly simple with Ping-Pong tournaments. Each game went to 21..The series was a best of 3 games. Whomever won 2 games first won the match..Yoder was on fire the first couple rounds. He easily advanced to the championship, the final match for all the marbles was about to begin and Bob Castle was getting excited.."How you feeling champ? One more game and the title is yours!! Remember I got a $100 spot bet on you winning this thing.." "No worries I am going to win this and you and I are going to spend the $100 on our girlfriend's." Yoder replied
Yoder was dominant in the final match..He won both games handily..I still remember the final point of the match..Garren won the game on a "table caver" shot..A table caver is when someone leaps for the ball and ends up on top of the table, causing the table to collapse.."I got this!!" Yoder was yelling at the ping-pong ball as he was watching it barely make its way over the net..His opponent had hit a lazy but playable return and Garren was "smelling blood." Garren had backed away from the table anticipating a harder return from his opponent..He had to move quickly..This was his chance to end the match and grab his title. "Mayfield Pride" were the last words I heard before Garren leaped across the table and returned the shot past his opponent for the win. The crowd erupted!! Garren Yoder had just repeated as champion and Bob Castle and him were $100 richer..
The victory was "bittersweet" for Garren..As he was hitting the "table caver" to secure his spot in Mayfield lore, the subsequent collapse of the table with Garren on top of it re-injured his knee. He had to be carried up to the victory stand by Bob Castle.."Table caving" at the league tournament was subsequently banned after Garren's incident..If you look in the league Ping-Pong tournament handbook..It is listed as rule #52..Around the Linn County League, it is affectionately called "The Garren Yoder rule."..:)
"How are you feeling today?" Bob Castle asked Garren .Castle was Yoder's unofficial Ping-Pong trainer/manager..They were both in Pretoria for the league Ping-Pong tournament and Castle was looking to gauge how Yoder would perform.."I feel good..I am going to win a second title..bet on it!!!" Castle had been watching Yoder's odds drop on the board and he was getting a little nervous. The year before Yoder won the tournament with relative ease, but this year he was recovering from his knee injury and had slid on a few extra pounds. "You gonna bring this title home? Are you sure? Because I have some guys from Dopeyville who think you are "washed-up" They want to bet a $100 spot on it." "Take the action" Yoder replied sternly..At that moment, Castle looked at Yoder and realized that he meant business..
The rules are fairly simple with Ping-Pong tournaments. Each game went to 21..The series was a best of 3 games. Whomever won 2 games first won the match..Yoder was on fire the first couple rounds. He easily advanced to the championship, the final match for all the marbles was about to begin and Bob Castle was getting excited.."How you feeling champ? One more game and the title is yours!! Remember I got a $100 spot bet on you winning this thing.." "No worries I am going to win this and you and I are going to spend the $100 on our girlfriend's." Yoder replied
Yoder was dominant in the final match..He won both games handily..I still remember the final point of the match..Garren won the game on a "table caver" shot..A table caver is when someone leaps for the ball and ends up on top of the table, causing the table to collapse.."I got this!!" Yoder was yelling at the ping-pong ball as he was watching it barely make its way over the net..His opponent had hit a lazy but playable return and Garren was "smelling blood." Garren had backed away from the table anticipating a harder return from his opponent..He had to move quickly..This was his chance to end the match and grab his title. "Mayfield Pride" were the last words I heard before Garren leaped across the table and returned the shot past his opponent for the win. The crowd erupted!! Garren Yoder had just repeated as champion and Bob Castle and him were $100 richer..
The victory was "bittersweet" for Garren..As he was hitting the "table caver" to secure his spot in Mayfield lore, the subsequent collapse of the table with Garren on top of it re-injured his knee. He had to be carried up to the victory stand by Bob Castle.."Table caving" at the league tournament was subsequently banned after Garren's incident..If you look in the league Ping-Pong tournament handbook..It is listed as rule #52..Around the Linn County League, it is affectionately called "The Garren Yoder rule."..:)
Thursday, November 25, 2010
The Queen of Quiz bowl.
WOM is an acronym that stands for - Well Oiled Machine - It was the moniker the senior laden Quiz bowl team at Madison High coined themselves going into their final year of competition. The nickname was well deserved. The quartet consisted of the four brightest minds Madison High had to offer. Bob Castle, Sam Worthington, Curt Cringle and Nathaniel Frader. The WOM, as expected, dominated the regular season of their Quiz bowl schedule. The only thing standing between them and a third straight league championship was their arch rival Dopeyville.
Quiz bowl rules are fairly simple, each match consists of ten questions. Two each in mathematics, history, literature, science and current events. The squad with the most correct answers at the end of the match wins. In the event of a tie at the end of regulation, the orator will ask an eleventh question - The dreaded hodgepodge category - Fortunately for the WOM, their dominance of the area Quiz bowl scene guaranteed they never ventured into the hodgepodge category. Well, that is, until they met Renee Higgins and her Dopeyville mates in the league championship finals.
"Hey Renee, why don't you guys go pick up your second place trophy? They already have your names engraved on it. We all know the WOM is going to win." Renee Higgins was Bob Castle's Quiz bowl crush. She was the smartest girl in the league and captain of the Dopeyville squad. He couldn't help but spout off a little before the championship match was about to begin. Renee wasn't a girl who took flak. So after Castle's quip. She decided to let him have it. "The WOM, you guys have got to the coolest boys in the league...Not! I tell you what Castle. Someone needs to teach you clowns a lesson and I am just the person to do that." You know how they say it's never a good idea to poke a sleeping bear with a stick? Well, Bob Castle and the rest of the WOM were about to learn that lesson the hard way.
Earlier in the post I made light of how the rules of Quiz bowl were structured and in the event of a tie at the end of regulation a hodgepodge question was asked. Well, the WOM had yet to be tested to that limit and Renee was about to give them a lesson they would never forget. "Timeout!" Bob Castle decided to rally the troops before the final question of the match. "Come on guys! This question is for all the marbles. We're the WOM! We never lose! Now break!" After the huddle, Castle and the rest of the WOM retook their seats. He then glanced over at Renee right before the orator asked the hodgepodge question. She was smiling at him.
Bob Castle can still remember the orator's final question like it was yesterday. "The hodgepodge question is women's literature." Right then and there - He knew the WOM's goose was cooked - "For the league championship, which team can tell me first. Who was the author of Sense and Sensibility?" Before anyone on the WOM could blink, Renee buzzed in. "Yes," the orator replied. She then leaned backed in her seat, stretched her neck a bit as to gloat and said, "I believe the correct answer to that question would be Jane Austen." The orator wasted little time in his response, "That is correct, congratulations, Dopeyville is the new league champion."
Castle and rest of the WOM felt like digging a hole in the auditorium floor when the trophies were being handed out. "Second place this year. Come on up guys." The WOM found it difficult to accept anything but the championship trophy, but the orator was having none of it. So they made their way to the stage. "Second place this year goes to the Madison High Bulldogs, congratulations." The WOM begrudgingly accepted their runner-up trophy and then began their solemn walk off stage. Much to his dismay, Castle wasn't going to get off easy from his earlier boast to Renee about how the second place trophy already had Dopeyville's name engraved on it. "Hey Castle," Renee quipped as she and the rest of the Dopeyville squad were passing him on their way to the stage to accept the championship trophy. "It looks like they are going to have to change the engraving on the WOM's trophy."
Quiz bowl rules are fairly simple, each match consists of ten questions. Two each in mathematics, history, literature, science and current events. The squad with the most correct answers at the end of the match wins. In the event of a tie at the end of regulation, the orator will ask an eleventh question - The dreaded hodgepodge category - Fortunately for the WOM, their dominance of the area Quiz bowl scene guaranteed they never ventured into the hodgepodge category. Well, that is, until they met Renee Higgins and her Dopeyville mates in the league championship finals.
"Hey Renee, why don't you guys go pick up your second place trophy? They already have your names engraved on it. We all know the WOM is going to win." Renee Higgins was Bob Castle's Quiz bowl crush. She was the smartest girl in the league and captain of the Dopeyville squad. He couldn't help but spout off a little before the championship match was about to begin. Renee wasn't a girl who took flak. So after Castle's quip. She decided to let him have it. "The WOM, you guys have got to the coolest boys in the league...Not! I tell you what Castle. Someone needs to teach you clowns a lesson and I am just the person to do that." You know how they say it's never a good idea to poke a sleeping bear with a stick? Well, Bob Castle and the rest of the WOM were about to learn that lesson the hard way.
Earlier in the post I made light of how the rules of Quiz bowl were structured and in the event of a tie at the end of regulation a hodgepodge question was asked. Well, the WOM had yet to be tested to that limit and Renee was about to give them a lesson they would never forget. "Timeout!" Bob Castle decided to rally the troops before the final question of the match. "Come on guys! This question is for all the marbles. We're the WOM! We never lose! Now break!" After the huddle, Castle and the rest of the WOM retook their seats. He then glanced over at Renee right before the orator asked the hodgepodge question. She was smiling at him.
Bob Castle can still remember the orator's final question like it was yesterday. "The hodgepodge question is women's literature." Right then and there - He knew the WOM's goose was cooked - "For the league championship, which team can tell me first. Who was the author of Sense and Sensibility?" Before anyone on the WOM could blink, Renee buzzed in. "Yes," the orator replied. She then leaned backed in her seat, stretched her neck a bit as to gloat and said, "I believe the correct answer to that question would be Jane Austen." The orator wasted little time in his response, "That is correct, congratulations, Dopeyville is the new league champion."
Castle and rest of the WOM felt like digging a hole in the auditorium floor when the trophies were being handed out. "Second place this year. Come on up guys." The WOM found it difficult to accept anything but the championship trophy, but the orator was having none of it. So they made their way to the stage. "Second place this year goes to the Madison High Bulldogs, congratulations." The WOM begrudgingly accepted their runner-up trophy and then began their solemn walk off stage. Much to his dismay, Castle wasn't going to get off easy from his earlier boast to Renee about how the second place trophy already had Dopeyville's name engraved on it. "Hey Castle," Renee quipped as she and the rest of the Dopeyville squad were passing him on their way to the stage to accept the championship trophy. "It looks like they are going to have to change the engraving on the WOM's trophy."
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The head cat of Mayfield High
Donny Rodel is a Mayfield institution, he was born and raised in Mayfield. Both of his parents worked for the Mayfield High School district, he was the point guard on the state championship basketball team..He bleed Wildcat Black&Gold. Donny holds one of the most distinguished titles in Mayfield lore. "Head Cat" of the infamous Mayfield High "Cat House."
The "Cat House" was a collection of both past and present Mayfield High students. They would attend the games together and show their support for the Mayfield High Wildcats. Donny was the leader of the pack and he was cool..Donny was so dedicated to the Mayfield High spirit that he would often show up in his old letter jacket from high school. The jacket had grown a little snug on Donny, but he still looked good in it. Donny solidified his legend on a cold February night in Dopeyville. It was the last league game and the championship was at stake..Whomever won this game was going to be crowned Linn County League champs..Mayfield was trailing at half-time and then it happened..
"Where's Donny?" Bob Castle asked Bert Cringle. Cringle was the #2 cat in the "Cat House" and he was responsible for making sure Donny was at the game.."Shit, I don't know where he is at..Maybe he stopped off at the tavern and lost track of time." "The second half is about to start and the Cat House needs the head cat..where is he." Castle had grown frantic and was thinking about sending out a search party to find Donny..Some one yelled "Donny" and low and behold the head cat had finally arrived.
I will never forget his entrance. He was dressed in full Wildcat regalia..Donny was sporting his letter jacket, a "Wildcat Pride" t-shirt, black&gold shoes, and a Wildcat stocking cap..The second half was about to tip-off and everyone in the auditorium was staring at the "head cat" as he made his entrance..Donny than stood in front of the "Cat House" and yelled these two words "Mayfield Pride!!" The entire "Cat House" let out a roar and you could feel the energy intensify.. The Mayfield Wildcats and their raucous crowd picked up the intensity in the second half and ended up winning the title. Donny Rodel was elected into the Mayfield High hall of fame a number of years later. Just to show you how much the "Head Cat" means to Mayfield, there is a life size statue of him in the town square...:)
The "Cat House" was a collection of both past and present Mayfield High students. They would attend the games together and show their support for the Mayfield High Wildcats. Donny was the leader of the pack and he was cool..Donny was so dedicated to the Mayfield High spirit that he would often show up in his old letter jacket from high school. The jacket had grown a little snug on Donny, but he still looked good in it. Donny solidified his legend on a cold February night in Dopeyville. It was the last league game and the championship was at stake..Whomever won this game was going to be crowned Linn County League champs..Mayfield was trailing at half-time and then it happened..
"Where's Donny?" Bob Castle asked Bert Cringle. Cringle was the #2 cat in the "Cat House" and he was responsible for making sure Donny was at the game.."Shit, I don't know where he is at..Maybe he stopped off at the tavern and lost track of time." "The second half is about to start and the Cat House needs the head cat..where is he." Castle had grown frantic and was thinking about sending out a search party to find Donny..Some one yelled "Donny" and low and behold the head cat had finally arrived.
I will never forget his entrance. He was dressed in full Wildcat regalia..Donny was sporting his letter jacket, a "Wildcat Pride" t-shirt, black&gold shoes, and a Wildcat stocking cap..The second half was about to tip-off and everyone in the auditorium was staring at the "head cat" as he made his entrance..Donny than stood in front of the "Cat House" and yelled these two words "Mayfield Pride!!" The entire "Cat House" let out a roar and you could feel the energy intensify.. The Mayfield Wildcats and their raucous crowd picked up the intensity in the second half and ended up winning the title. Donny Rodel was elected into the Mayfield High hall of fame a number of years later. Just to show you how much the "Head Cat" means to Mayfield, there is a life size statue of him in the town square...:)
Monday, November 15, 2010
The Galaga champ of Mayfield
Grouby's aka..the pool hall..Was a place that catered to everyone, you had jocks, motor-heads, geeks, and every other mix that Mayfield High had to offer..It was a safe haven for kids and Mr. Grouby made sure that everyone could enjoy his place without being hassled. Mayfield had a special kid, who I believe should have been the town mascot, his name was Jack Motts, and he could play Galaga like their was no tomorrow.
What made Jack so unique? Jack was born with Down Syndrome, but he never let that get in his way. He was the most happy, go-lucky, person that I ever met. Looking back, I never really felt sorry for him because he always seemed so happy. Nothing satisfied Jack more than playing Galaga.
"High score again..Me good" Jack said. Jack had just broken his previous record in Galaga and was gloating the best he knew how. "Me play money you" Jack said to Bob Castle. Castle was the second best Galaga player in Mayfield and he was getting tired of being beat by Jack all the time. "I will play you for a Fanta" Castle replied to Jack. This was the first time Jack had made a wager and Castle thought it might shake him a little bit. Boy was he wrong.
Jack played that single Galaga game for nearly 3 hours, he ended up< flipping the machine-(whenever some one scores a million points the counter automatically resets to zero)..Jack was the only guy in Mayfield who could pull off this feat. It was a very impressive performance by Mr. Motts. "You pay me Fanta, Buddy." Jack called everyone Buddy and he was looking to collect on his wager. "We again play money" Jack replied. "I think I have had enough. I gotta leave." Castle replied. At that moment, Castle realized that his dreams of being the Galaga champ of Mayfield were not too be.
Years later I saw Jack. He had been sent to live in a special care facility in a neighboring town. I was playing in a soft-ball tournament and he was on a day pass from the facility. He came up behind me and poked me in the back, when I turned around he said "Hi Buddy." One of my favorite songs of all-time is Pinball Wizard by the Who. The reason I like that song so much? It reminds me of Jack Motts.. :)
What made Jack so unique? Jack was born with Down Syndrome, but he never let that get in his way. He was the most happy, go-lucky, person that I ever met. Looking back, I never really felt sorry for him because he always seemed so happy. Nothing satisfied Jack more than playing Galaga.
"High score again..Me good" Jack said. Jack had just broken his previous record in Galaga and was gloating the best he knew how. "Me play money you" Jack said to Bob Castle. Castle was the second best Galaga player in Mayfield and he was getting tired of being beat by Jack all the time. "I will play you for a Fanta" Castle replied to Jack. This was the first time Jack had made a wager and Castle thought it might shake him a little bit. Boy was he wrong.
Jack played that single Galaga game for nearly 3 hours, he ended up< flipping the machine-(whenever some one scores a million points the counter automatically resets to zero)..Jack was the only guy in Mayfield who could pull off this feat. It was a very impressive performance by Mr. Motts. "You pay me Fanta, Buddy." Jack called everyone Buddy and he was looking to collect on his wager. "We again play money" Jack replied. "I think I have had enough. I gotta leave." Castle replied. At that moment, Castle realized that his dreams of being the Galaga champ of Mayfield were not too be.
Years later I saw Jack. He had been sent to live in a special care facility in a neighboring town. I was playing in a soft-ball tournament and he was on a day pass from the facility. He came up behind me and poked me in the back, when I turned around he said "Hi Buddy." One of my favorite songs of all-time is Pinball Wizard by the Who. The reason I like that song so much? It reminds me of Jack Motts.. :)
Saturday, November 13, 2010
The last State Title..
Mayfield Pride was everywhere!! The scene was Walker stadium in nearby Pretoria..Pretoria was hosting the state title game that year, and the Mayfield Wildcats were painting the town Black&Gold. The Wildcats had won a "heart-stopper" a week earlier and now it was time too "finish it." The Wildcats were pretty "banged-up" by the time they got to the state championship, it didn't matter this was Mayfield's year and nothing was going to get in the way of a championship..
"It has been a long year! We have been tested! Look at me! There is no way the Wildcat's are going to lose this bleeping game." Coach Frost was giving his last pep talk before kick-off and the Wildcat's were listening. "Now get in here" Frost yelled.."This is our time..we have come close too many times..We are going to take that state title trophy home..Anyone got anything to say before we break?" Coach Frost quipped.."Coach we are going to FIND!! a way to win, now BREAK!!!!" G.L. Tanner yelled..
Mayfield High had a bunch of good football players and GL Tanner was at the top of the list. G.L. rushed for nearly 1500 yards in the "bruising" LCL (Linn County League) and was a unanimous first team selection. G.L. Tanner was powerful and elusive when he had a football in his hands, if Mayfield was going to win this game?G.L. and his powerful linemen were going to have to play like they did all year.
I remember that game like it was yesterday, The weather was terrible and whomever could run the ball most effectively was going to win..Mayfield's opponent that year was Linnood.. The game was knotted 0-0 midway through the fourth quarter when GL Tanner and the PIGS (PIGS aka..the Mayfield High offensive line) took over. The Mayfield defense was rock solid that year..They had shut-down Linwood all day long and knew that sooner or later someone would "make a play on offense".
"Come on offense, get that ball in the end zone one-time and the title is ours" Coach Frost was watching his Mayfield Wildcats put on a clinic in the fourth quarter, all the rigors of a long season was coming down to this last drive. The Mayfield strategy for winning this battle was simple..Run..Run..Run.."One more first down" GL told himself as the Mayfield marched into the red zone.."One more time" GL would say as he was following the blocks of his PIGS.."State title how bad do you want this" GL was trying to pump-up his team mates and it was working..I still remember the exact play that sealed a state title for the Wildcats
GL broke off tackle from the 4 yard line. He ran straight into Linwood's linebacker and wrestled free..GL was at the two yard line when another guy hit him, as he was staggering forward he leaped over a third defender and "out-stretched" the football into the end zone. It was Mayfield's day and nothing was going to get in the way. One of my favorite photo's? The pool hall in Mayfield sports a "blown-up" and framed picture of GL stretching across the goal line and sealing the title for the Wildcats..Great picture.. :)
Go Bulldogs..Woof..Woof..Woof...
"It has been a long year! We have been tested! Look at me! There is no way the Wildcat's are going to lose this bleeping game." Coach Frost was giving his last pep talk before kick-off and the Wildcat's were listening. "Now get in here" Frost yelled.."This is our time..we have come close too many times..We are going to take that state title trophy home..Anyone got anything to say before we break?" Coach Frost quipped.."Coach we are going to FIND!! a way to win, now BREAK!!!!" G.L. Tanner yelled..
Mayfield High had a bunch of good football players and GL Tanner was at the top of the list. G.L. rushed for nearly 1500 yards in the "bruising" LCL (Linn County League) and was a unanimous first team selection. G.L. Tanner was powerful and elusive when he had a football in his hands, if Mayfield was going to win this game?G.L. and his powerful linemen were going to have to play like they did all year.
I remember that game like it was yesterday, The weather was terrible and whomever could run the ball most effectively was going to win..Mayfield's opponent that year was Linnood.. The game was knotted 0-0 midway through the fourth quarter when GL Tanner and the PIGS (PIGS aka..the Mayfield High offensive line) took over. The Mayfield defense was rock solid that year..They had shut-down Linwood all day long and knew that sooner or later someone would "make a play on offense".
"Come on offense, get that ball in the end zone one-time and the title is ours" Coach Frost was watching his Mayfield Wildcats put on a clinic in the fourth quarter, all the rigors of a long season was coming down to this last drive. The Mayfield strategy for winning this battle was simple..Run..Run..Run.."One more first down" GL told himself as the Mayfield marched into the red zone.."One more time" GL would say as he was following the blocks of his PIGS.."State title how bad do you want this" GL was trying to pump-up his team mates and it was working..I still remember the exact play that sealed a state title for the Wildcats
GL broke off tackle from the 4 yard line. He ran straight into Linwood's linebacker and wrestled free..GL was at the two yard line when another guy hit him, as he was staggering forward he leaped over a third defender and "out-stretched" the football into the end zone. It was Mayfield's day and nothing was going to get in the way. One of my favorite photo's? The pool hall in Mayfield sports a "blown-up" and framed picture of GL stretching across the goal line and sealing the title for the Wildcats..Great picture.. :)
Go Bulldogs..Woof..Woof..Woof...
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Slow Death & the "money ball."
Every town has one, a place that means more to the community than anything..A place where kids can be kids..Where they can forget about all their problems and just have fun..Mayfield had that place and it was called "Grouby's". Grouby's was named after the late Donald Grouby. Mr. Grouby worked hard his whole life and when he decided to retire, he built a "pool hall" for kids..Little did Mr. Grouby realize that it would turn into the "gaming" mecca of Mayfield High..
"When are you going to learn Yoder? I can whip your ass anytime!" Joe Liker yelled. Liker and Garren Yoder had just played a 9-ball set and Liker won 3-0. "Where is my money" Liker yelled. Yoder handed over a crisp $20 dollar bill to Liker and told him that he had to leave.."What's the matter Yoder don't you have any balls, let's go again or are you scared?" Liker replied..Joe Liker was not the brightest guy in Mayfield, but he was fearless, often too his detriment. "I tell you what Liker, if your so good, why don't we play again for $100 dollars." Yoder quipped.."Let me see the money" Liker replied..Yoder flashed a crisp $100 dollar bill in Liker's face.."Loser's rack." was Liker's response.
Some one yelled "Yoder & Liker are playing for a $100 bucks" and the next thing you know everyone was watching.. The object of 9-ball is to work your way through the first 8 balls and then make the 9-ball (9-ball is the money shot). I can still remember it to this day, Yoder & Liker were tied 2 games a piece, and Yoder was taking a difficult bank shot on the 9-ball for the win..You could hear a pin drop as Yoder took the last shot.."Crack" Yoder hit a solid but soft shot off the far rail and it was heading for it's destination..He had hit the shot very softly in order to control the cue ball..I thought he had no chance, but the 9-ball just kept creeping&creeping toward the intended pocket.
When the ball stopped at the cusp of the pocket, everyone in the crowd let out a big "sigh' of disappointment..They thought he had missed. Yoder then yelled "Slow Death, Slow Death" at the top of his lungs and "some how", "some way", the 9-ball found a little bit of extra energy and fell into the pocket." Liker threw the $100 on the table and Yoder snatched it..After that moment, Garren Yoder made it a habit of yelling "Slow Death" every time he would sink the "money-ball." :)
"When are you going to learn Yoder? I can whip your ass anytime!" Joe Liker yelled. Liker and Garren Yoder had just played a 9-ball set and Liker won 3-0. "Where is my money" Liker yelled. Yoder handed over a crisp $20 dollar bill to Liker and told him that he had to leave.."What's the matter Yoder don't you have any balls, let's go again or are you scared?" Liker replied..Joe Liker was not the brightest guy in Mayfield, but he was fearless, often too his detriment. "I tell you what Liker, if your so good, why don't we play again for $100 dollars." Yoder quipped.."Let me see the money" Liker replied..Yoder flashed a crisp $100 dollar bill in Liker's face.."Loser's rack." was Liker's response.
Some one yelled "Yoder & Liker are playing for a $100 bucks" and the next thing you know everyone was watching.. The object of 9-ball is to work your way through the first 8 balls and then make the 9-ball (9-ball is the money shot). I can still remember it to this day, Yoder & Liker were tied 2 games a piece, and Yoder was taking a difficult bank shot on the 9-ball for the win..You could hear a pin drop as Yoder took the last shot.."Crack" Yoder hit a solid but soft shot off the far rail and it was heading for it's destination..He had hit the shot very softly in order to control the cue ball..I thought he had no chance, but the 9-ball just kept creeping&creeping toward the intended pocket.
When the ball stopped at the cusp of the pocket, everyone in the crowd let out a big "sigh' of disappointment..They thought he had missed. Yoder then yelled "Slow Death, Slow Death" at the top of his lungs and "some how", "some way", the 9-ball found a little bit of extra energy and fell into the pocket." Liker threw the $100 on the table and Yoder snatched it..After that moment, Garren Yoder made it a habit of yelling "Slow Death" every time he would sink the "money-ball." :)
Monday, November 8, 2010
Shorty Sanders and his million dollar tongue: Part 2
"Shorty what the hell are you doing? How come you were not at school today?" Bob Castle quipped..Castle and Shorty had a couple of classes together at Mayfield High.."I was busy, if you know what I mean?" Shorty replied. It turns out Shorty had a new girlfriend and he was trying to keep it a secret from all his buddies..Castle had wondered what the deal was, Shorty had been acting very strange the last few weeks and Castle could tell something was amiss.
"Shorty what the hell is going on? You have been acting really strange lately..What gives?" Shorty looked-up then looked around, he wanted to make sure that know one else could hear his response.."Castle, I have a new girl friend and I am trying to keep it "hush-hush." She is a dancer at the Butterfly Gentlemen's Club." "Bullshit Shorty!!, your lying..No way in hell you could score a dancer." Castle quipped.."I am going to see her tonight." The Butter Cup was a Gentlemen's Club located about twenty miles from Mayfield, some of the women who worked there were nice..some were not.."I will pick you up at 8, it is time you met my new girlfriend" Shorty told Castle.
"Which one is she?" Castle asked Shorty upon arrival at the ButterCup. "Right over there" Shorty then pointed to a 6'0 voluptuous blonde with legs that reached the ceiling..I thought it kind of weird that Shorty who was only 5'ft tall would hook-up with a 6'0 blonde..It was a very unlikely pairing.."How did you meet her Shorty?" I asked.."She heard about my million dollar tongue from one of her friends, and she became curious." Shorty replied. "What is her name?" Castle quipped.."Paradise" Shorty replied. Shorty had always been a big fan of "exotic" dancers and he was loving every bit of his fling with Paradise
"Paradise is not her real name, that is her stage name.. Do you know what her real name is?" Castle yelled at Shorty as he was heading to the VIP room with his new girlfriend..Shorty looked back and said "Paradise, smaradise, who gives a shit? She is just another admirer of the million dollar tongue. I am telling you Castle, one of these days I am going to get a million dollar insurance policy on my tongue..It is by far and away my best feature." The door to the VIP room closed and I didn't see Shorty the rest of the night. :)
"Shorty what the hell is going on? You have been acting really strange lately..What gives?" Shorty looked-up then looked around, he wanted to make sure that know one else could hear his response.."Castle, I have a new girl friend and I am trying to keep it "hush-hush." She is a dancer at the Butterfly Gentlemen's Club." "Bullshit Shorty!!, your lying..No way in hell you could score a dancer." Castle quipped.."I am going to see her tonight." The Butter Cup was a Gentlemen's Club located about twenty miles from Mayfield, some of the women who worked there were nice..some were not.."I will pick you up at 8, it is time you met my new girlfriend" Shorty told Castle.
"Which one is she?" Castle asked Shorty upon arrival at the ButterCup. "Right over there" Shorty then pointed to a 6'0 voluptuous blonde with legs that reached the ceiling..I thought it kind of weird that Shorty who was only 5'ft tall would hook-up with a 6'0 blonde..It was a very unlikely pairing.."How did you meet her Shorty?" I asked.."She heard about my million dollar tongue from one of her friends, and she became curious." Shorty replied. "What is her name?" Castle quipped.."Paradise" Shorty replied. Shorty had always been a big fan of "exotic" dancers and he was loving every bit of his fling with Paradise
"Paradise is not her real name, that is her stage name.. Do you know what her real name is?" Castle yelled at Shorty as he was heading to the VIP room with his new girlfriend..Shorty looked back and said "Paradise, smaradise, who gives a shit? She is just another admirer of the million dollar tongue. I am telling you Castle, one of these days I am going to get a million dollar insurance policy on my tongue..It is by far and away my best feature." The door to the VIP room closed and I didn't see Shorty the rest of the night. :)
Fonz #1 moves "across the pond"
"Ron is what I am hearing true? Are you really leaving Mayfield?" Bob Castle could not believe what he had heard. Nussell was moving to Europe and things were about to change. Castle could not imagine a Mayfield without Ron Nussell. Ron Nussell was a living legend in Mayfield, i'm not just talking about all of his female admirer's..He was a good guy and Castle had learned a lot from him, he was sorta sad to see thing's change.."It is time to spread my wings, I am going to explore Europe for a little while, I have always wanted to do that..might as well do it while I am young." Nussell replied
I gave Nussell a ride to the airport and I can still remember the exact words he said too me as he was exiting my car.."Don't worry buddy..I am just going to "cool my heels" in Europe for a little while..We will meet up again..Besides I hear Europe has plenty of different sites." Castle could tell that Nussell was happy, so he had to let him go.."Nussell" Castle yelled as he was walking into the terminal, "if you are leaving, who is going to the next Fonz of Mayfield High?" Nussell just turned around and shrugged?
I gave Nussell a ride to the airport and I can still remember the exact words he said too me as he was exiting my car.."Don't worry buddy..I am just going to "cool my heels" in Europe for a little while..We will meet up again..Besides I hear Europe has plenty of different sites." Castle could tell that Nussell was happy, so he had to let him go.."Nussell" Castle yelled as he was walking into the terminal, "if you are leaving, who is going to the next Fonz of Mayfield High?" Nussell just turned around and shrugged?
Friday, November 5, 2010
The Right amount of whiskey...
"Heah Castle, I gotta let you in on one of my secrets" Jaworski blurted. Steve Jaworsky was a living legend in Mayfield, and whenever he had a tip for his buddies? They listened.."What's that Jaworsky?" Castle replied "No women will ever admit this, they love to go home with a guy who has a little whiskey on his breath."
Jaworsky went on to add "The trick is to have just enough whiskey in your system, not to much, when a guy has to much whiskey in his system? That's the last thing a women wants to see! You have to learn how to ration your intake." "Ration my intake, what do you mean?" Castle replied. "Remember a lot of action with the women happens late at night! By closing time most guys are way to drunk, no chicks are going to want to be with that guy....They want to attend the after party with a guy who is still functioning." Jaws stated. Castle stopped and thought about that for a moment. Jaws was telling him that most women basically like a guy who drinks whiskey but not to much whiskey. He was then stating most of his competition would fall by the waist side because they were to drunk and turning off the women.
Castle was starting to realize that he was getting some information that might benefit him in the future..Remember it was Steve Jaworsky & he was the E.F. Hutton of Mayfield High, ."How many women have you tested this theory on Jaworsky?" Castle was curious and wanted to make sure that he wasn't being fed a line of bullshit. "Come on Jaws don't be shy give me a number?" Jaws wasn't much into bragging, unlike a number of his Mayfield buddies, Jaws kept his mouth shut..He just smiled and said.."More than you can count on all your fingers and toes."
Jaworsky went on to add "The trick is to have just enough whiskey in your system, not to much, when a guy has to much whiskey in his system? That's the last thing a women wants to see! You have to learn how to ration your intake." "Ration my intake, what do you mean?" Castle replied. "Remember a lot of action with the women happens late at night! By closing time most guys are way to drunk, no chicks are going to want to be with that guy....They want to attend the after party with a guy who is still functioning." Jaws stated. Castle stopped and thought about that for a moment. Jaws was telling him that most women basically like a guy who drinks whiskey but not to much whiskey. He was then stating most of his competition would fall by the waist side because they were to drunk and turning off the women.
Castle was starting to realize that he was getting some information that might benefit him in the future..Remember it was Steve Jaworsky & he was the E.F. Hutton of Mayfield High, ."How many women have you tested this theory on Jaworsky?" Castle was curious and wanted to make sure that he wasn't being fed a line of bullshit. "Come on Jaws don't be shy give me a number?" Jaws wasn't much into bragging, unlike a number of his Mayfield buddies, Jaws kept his mouth shut..He just smiled and said.."More than you can count on all your fingers and toes."
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Shorty Sanders and his million dollar tongue
When I say "Shorty", I am not talking about a girlfriend (One of my buddies calls his girlfriend "his Shorty"- urban slang for a women). I am referring too my buddy from Mayfield. Tracey..aka..Shorty..Sanders. Shorty Sanders was a guy I graduated from high school with.
Shorty Sanders stood about 5 ft/100lbs. He was the smallest guy at Mayfield High. Shorty loved to "run his mouth" all day long about any bullshit he could think of, often times angering a number of people in the process. For all the times that Shorty was going to get his ass-kicked..He some how figured a way to "talk his way out of it". One of the things that a lot of people never realized about Shorty? What made Shorty so intriguing? It was the prowess that he had on women. I had taken many a showers with Shorty in gym class (you know what I mean) and quite frankly he looked very unimpressive. It couldn't be that, I decided to ask Shorty what his secret was.
"What's your secret Shorty, how do you manage not getting your ass-kicked all the time? and in the mean time, all these women keep calling you and driving by your house? You got the smallest unit at Mayfield High." Shorty just smirked and said " I may have a small unit, but I have a million dollar tongue, it keeps me out of trouble with the dudes and popular with the women. One of these days, I am going to get a million dollar insurance policy on my tongue.. It's my best feature!" Shorty stated emphatically. :)
Shorty Sanders stood about 5 ft/100lbs. He was the smallest guy at Mayfield High. Shorty loved to "run his mouth" all day long about any bullshit he could think of, often times angering a number of people in the process. For all the times that Shorty was going to get his ass-kicked..He some how figured a way to "talk his way out of it". One of the things that a lot of people never realized about Shorty? What made Shorty so intriguing? It was the prowess that he had on women. I had taken many a showers with Shorty in gym class (you know what I mean) and quite frankly he looked very unimpressive. It couldn't be that, I decided to ask Shorty what his secret was.
"What's your secret Shorty, how do you manage not getting your ass-kicked all the time? and in the mean time, all these women keep calling you and driving by your house? You got the smallest unit at Mayfield High." Shorty just smirked and said " I may have a small unit, but I have a million dollar tongue, it keeps me out of trouble with the dudes and popular with the women. One of these days, I am going to get a million dollar insurance policy on my tongue.. It's my best feature!" Shorty stated emphatically. :)
Monday, November 1, 2010
The "loaf" at Home Coming..
"Keep pushing..it's almost there..almost..got it.. there she go's..now get in!"
The above sentence is not referring to anything dirty. Bob Castle had just bought his first car. She was a 1960 Ford Falcon station wagon that he paid $100 dollars for. The starter had to be replaced and in order to get the car out of the junk-yard lot, he had to recruit a couple of his friends to give him a "push-start'.
"This car looks like a loaf of bread" his friend said. He was referring to the fact that it was painted with light brown house paint that gave it a distinctive "loaf of bread" look. "The loaf, I have a name for my baby" Castle thought to himself. Castle has always been a very superstitious person and believed that naming his car would bring him good luck. In a way the "loaf" was the first girlfriend that Bob Castle ever had. This was Bob Castle's first car and he was going to have some fun with it.
"I have an idea why don't we paint everyone's name on the loaf for Home Coming" Castle stated to the Mayfield High Football team. "I don't mind maybe it will bring us good luck against Dopey?" Dopeyville was located 10 miles north of Mayfield and the rivalry between the two dated back 70 years. Mayfield High was struggling a bit that season and Dopey was a solid playoff team, Mayfield was going to need all the help it could get. "Let's do it" some one yelled, and the next thing you know the loaf was being painted Mayfield High black..Castle bought a couple cans of gold spray paint (The Mayfield High colors were Black&Gold). Everyone was given a chance to write their names on the loaf..
It was game time and the mighty Dopeyville Chicken Hawks were entering the field. The loaf was parked at the entrance of the stadium. It was intentionally parked there to let everyone know that the Mayfield High Wildcats were a "team" to be reckoned with. Before the game Castle believed the loaf's presence would some how will the Wildcat's to victory. Castle had lost his virginity in the loaf a week earlier and he was convinced that his good luck would rub off on the rest of team..
Final score: Dopeyville Chicken Hawks 42 Mayfield High Wildcats 0. In the end the loaf wasn't the talisman that Castle had hoped it would be. The Mayfield Wildcats were having a down year and there wasn't anything the loaf could do to prevent it. The loaf lasted for about a year and a half before the engine blew out on it..Too this day, Bob Castle still considers the loaf one of the best "$4$" values he ever purchased.
The above sentence is not referring to anything dirty. Bob Castle had just bought his first car. She was a 1960 Ford Falcon station wagon that he paid $100 dollars for. The starter had to be replaced and in order to get the car out of the junk-yard lot, he had to recruit a couple of his friends to give him a "push-start'.
"This car looks like a loaf of bread" his friend said. He was referring to the fact that it was painted with light brown house paint that gave it a distinctive "loaf of bread" look. "The loaf, I have a name for my baby" Castle thought to himself. Castle has always been a very superstitious person and believed that naming his car would bring him good luck. In a way the "loaf" was the first girlfriend that Bob Castle ever had. This was Bob Castle's first car and he was going to have some fun with it.
"I have an idea why don't we paint everyone's name on the loaf for Home Coming" Castle stated to the Mayfield High Football team. "I don't mind maybe it will bring us good luck against Dopey?" Dopeyville was located 10 miles north of Mayfield and the rivalry between the two dated back 70 years. Mayfield High was struggling a bit that season and Dopey was a solid playoff team, Mayfield was going to need all the help it could get. "Let's do it" some one yelled, and the next thing you know the loaf was being painted Mayfield High black..Castle bought a couple cans of gold spray paint (The Mayfield High colors were Black&Gold). Everyone was given a chance to write their names on the loaf..
It was game time and the mighty Dopeyville Chicken Hawks were entering the field. The loaf was parked at the entrance of the stadium. It was intentionally parked there to let everyone know that the Mayfield High Wildcats were a "team" to be reckoned with. Before the game Castle believed the loaf's presence would some how will the Wildcat's to victory. Castle had lost his virginity in the loaf a week earlier and he was convinced that his good luck would rub off on the rest of team..
Final score: Dopeyville Chicken Hawks 42 Mayfield High Wildcats 0. In the end the loaf wasn't the talisman that Castle had hoped it would be. The Mayfield Wildcats were having a down year and there wasn't anything the loaf could do to prevent it. The loaf lasted for about a year and a half before the engine blew out on it..Too this day, Bob Castle still considers the loaf one of the best "$4$" values he ever purchased.
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