Basketball and Music

Chuck's In London playing at PorchFest Black Rock 2023

Another summer of coaching Ludlowe JV summer league basketball came to an end on Friday night. 

We made it to the championship game, before falling to Stratford. 

The details of the game aren't relevant. It's summer league. 

It's a great group of kids who play really hard. Lots of talented athletes too.

I was beating myself up for some of my coaching moves (and non-moves) but the wins and loses don't really matter. I'm just extremely competitive and always want to win. 

It's about the kids getting to play together and hopefully they are getting better for tryouts and the season. 

Fall league is up next. 

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Went over to Black Rock's PorchFest this afternoon. Per their Facebook page, PorchFests are the next big thing in summer festivals. Across the country, fun-loving communities are hosting PorchFests, grassroots music festivals in which residents hosts performers on their front porches for a fun-filled afternoon of music. 

We (me and my parents) went in large part because I knew that my friend (and fellow Ludlowe baseball coach) Tommy Howell and his band, Chucks in London, were playing. 

I wanted to go support Tommy and it was great to hear him play. It was also great to see so many people I know who were there to watch. Some who I haven't seen in years, and others I've seen recently. From guys my own age, and around my age, to parents of Ludlowe and Warde students, to others I know from many different parts of life. 

It's no surprise that I'm not a huge music person but it was a fun community event and even made me feel like I had somewhat of a life (outside of sports) for an hour or so. 

Maybe I need to get out from either my house or Ludlowe//Warde and other high school/youth sports more often. Not to say I don't have fun with Ludlowe/Warde and youth sports, but there can be more of a balance and not make my entire life work as much. 

I always say I know too many people and today was a good example of that. It was good to do something that wasn't sports related too. 

Baseball, Radio and Work

The original look of the offices when I started. Many changes since then. 

The Yankees are bad. 

There is no other way to put it. 

Seven losses in a row and three games under .500. As I type this, they are down 5-2 to the RedSox in the seventh inning so, barring a comeback, those numbers get worse. Ok, now they tied the game on an Anthony Volpe home-run. 

And now they are losing again in the ninth as Clay Homes gives up a run in the ninth inning of a tie game. 

And now they have lost. 

Make it eight in a row and four under .500. 

There are games where they don't pitch, games where they don't hit, games where they make mistakes, both physical and mental. Then there are games where multiple issues happen. Just not a good baseball team. 

I think there needs to be changes in the offseason. Management changes are likely needed because that is the only way you get a change in philosophy for the organization. 

We will see how the rest of the season plays out and then see what the off-season brings. 

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Happy National Radio Day! I enjoy dabbling in the little radio I do, both on and off the air. I really enjoy listening to the radio I do, whether that be sports talk, games, or other items. 

A lot of that is with Rob Adams. Whether it's joining him on air, hanging with him as he calls games, or listening to him call games. I enjoy it all. It's also listening to him on his sports talk show, Doubleheader, and occasionally coming on with him. 

Beyond that, it's listening to WFAN, both talk shows, and games. 

There's the occasional other broadcasts I will listen to as well, often to listen to the broadcasters more than the actual game. 

So many people want video, but there is something great about radio broadcasts, whether that be terrestrial or online radio. 

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I'm way late on this and I've already wrote multiple times about it, but congratulations to Trumbull Babe Ruth 14U on an amazing run to the Babe Ruth World Series quarterfinals. 

It's a tremendous group of players, coaches and families. That's led by Mike Buswell, who is not only the 14U coach, but also is the managing director of Trumbull Travel Baseball, which covers, Trumbull Little League, Trumbull Babe Ruth and Trumbull American Legion. Trumbull Travel is truly something special. 

I am excited to see what these kids do going forward, especially in high school, both on and off the field. 

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On this date in 2018 was my first day working in the Athletic Departments at Ludlowe and Warde. It's been a wild ride. Many great moments, other not so great moments. Some changes. Often chaos. 

I guess that means technically year six begins. It's been crazy already. 

Excited for the high school sports year. I'm excited about all the improvements that have been made/are being made to the facilities this summer. It's what the student-athletes deserve. 

Good luck to all the athletes, coaches and teams as another year begins. 

Murcer/Munson Game

I've written about this a couple of times over the last few years, and obviously nothing has changed. However, as a Bobby Murcer fan, always a day I try to recognize. I also realize you can find this information other places on the internet, like I have over the years. 

August 6, 1979 is known around the Yankees and the baseball world as either "The Bobby Murcer game" or "The Thurman Munson Game." 

The Yankees defeated the Orioles 5-4. That score doesn't tell the story at all. 

This was after the Yankees' team attended the funeral for their captain, Thurman Munson, earlier in the day. Munson was tragically killed in a plane crash on August 2. 

Bobby Murcer was a eulogist, along with Lou Pinella, at Munson's funeral. 

A famous excerpt from Murcer's eulogy was "Thurman Munson wore the pinstripes as number 15, but in living, loving, and legend, history will forever remember my friend as number one." (2:25 of clip)

In the game on August 6, Murcer drove in all five runs, with a three-run home run in the seventh inning and a walk-off two-run single in the ninth. 

Side note: I like Howard Cosell for certain reasons but he says way too much here. Let it breath. 

Yankees Manager Billy Martin had told Murcer to take the game off, but Murcer told Martin he felt like he had to play. Sometimes, that's what people need. Murcer didn't just play. He honored his friend and teammate so well. 

Bobby had some special moments over his career, but this may have been the most special, as it was about more than baseball. 

The bat that Murcer used that game, he never used it again. He gave it to Diana Munson. 

This is a date that will live in Yankees' history forever, and as a Murcer fan, a date I always think about.