First, and most importantly, we express our deepest sympathy to the
Silicato family and DeMesse family for the loss of their sons recently.
No words can ever be enough when tragedies occur, but hopefully they can
begin to ease the pain and allow for recovery to begin.
It always feels awkward trying to deal with lighter issues when
serious ones arise. Although I did not know either of the two boys or
their families, reading about such sad things alters my perspective on
what I do every time they occur.
There are actual sports notes down below. I thought first it might be
time to lighten things up a bit, so check this out.
While going through a dictionary recently, I was paying attention to
the origin of words. Particularly places from where words were created.
I would say that "create" is the proper term to use to
describe the coining of a new word or phrase. You certainly can’t cook
up a word or sew one, or manufacture one in a machine, so to"create"
seems to be the way.
I fancy myself a creative kind of guy. So I thought it was time to
create a word of my own with hopes that someday my word will end up in
Webster’s Dictionary with the Etymology stating: Delaware Sports,
2002.
After all, rappers make up words and ESPN sportscasters make them up all
time too, so why can’t I?
I decided that my word should have a variety of uses while at the
same time being catchy and hopefully cool as well.
My word should also be sports related of course, but could possible make
a transition into everyday corporate use at some future point in time.
My word would also be something that I would be proud to shout out on my
own show and even in a street ball game when the time was right.
Are you ready for the new word?
Ok, here it is- Bommalooga.
What is initially funny about Bommalooga is that I use a word
processing program to type this mess and with the spell-check function
turned on, the word lights up in bright red. But, all is good since I
can simply add it to the program’s dictionary and it is officially a
word and the red disappears.
So mark down March 28, 2002 as the official date of creation of the
word Bommalooga with the origin of creation Delaware Sports.
Now what will Bommalooga mean you ask? Great question. I have worked
on this all day while driving around and have a few meanings, ways to
use it in a few sentences, and also a spin-off word already.
Bommalooga is to generally be used as an expression of excitement
after a great athletic play or feat. It is to be used to signify that
one has just done something so cool that old words just do not do
justice to the feat performed any longer.
There are also different ways to pronounce Bommalooga that will
suggest slightly different meanings.
For instance, you are rushing down the field cradling a lacrosse ball
in a tie game with mere seconds remaining in regulation. After scooting
around four potentially violent defenders, your 85 mph shot whizzes by
the stunned enemy goal keeper’s left shoulder for the game winning
goal. You instinctively thrust your stick skyward and scream
BOMMALOOOOOOOGA as your teammates lift you onto their shoulders as their
new hero. In this instance, the dictionary entry would read:
Main Entry: bomm.a.loo.ga
Pronunciation: bomm-a-loooooooooo-ga
Function: slang
Etymology: Delaware Sports
Date: 2002
1 : "We freaking rule and I am a total beast!"
In example number two, the studly sports reporter from Delaware
Sports, the TV show, is interviewing you shortly after the game. The
reporter asks you how you feel after such an exhilarating experience and
you reply simply, "bommalooga", while nodding your head humbly
and mildly pumping your clenched fist. There is no need to say anything
else at this point; the interview is over because you have just said it
all.
In this instance, the dictionary entry would read:
Main Entry: bomm.a.loo.ga
Pronunciation: bomm-a-loo-ga
Function: slang
Etymology: Delaware Sports
Date: 2002
1 : "Well Marshal, the coach told us during the time out that we
had to run our North Carolina play and that meant that I had to step up
big and come through for our team. Fortunately, our guys set all their
picks in the right places and made perfect passes to spring me free.
After that, with just my God given skills and a bit of luck we scored
just in time. We will celebrate briefly later on and then start to get
ready for our next opponent who we can never overlook.
Bommalooga can also be three things simultaneously on one single
play. In our next example, you are batting in the bottom of the ninth
trailing by three runs with the bases loaded, two outs, while battling
the leagues top relief pitcher and his 99 mph fastball with a full
count. As the tightly stitched leather sphere comes whizzing down the
middle of your hot zone, you scream BOMMALOOOOOGA as you mightily crack
a 450 ft bommalooga clearing the bases and winning the game. The
frenzied crowd spills onto the field and toward homeplate to await your
arrival as they chant BOMMALOOOOOOOOOGA the entire way.
You know what to say in the subsequent interview.
In this instance, the dictionary entries would read:
Main Entry: bomm.a.loo.ga
Pronunciation: bomm-a-loooooo-ga
Function: slang
Etymology: Delaware Sports
Date: 2002
1: Ooof
Main Entry: bomm.a.loo.ga
Pronunciation: bomm-a-loo-ga
Function: noun
Etymology: Delaware Sports
Date: 2002
1: Home Run
Main Entry: bomm.a.loo.ga
Pronunciation: bomm-a-loo-ga
Function: slang
Etymology: Delaware Sports
Date: 2002
1: "We are the Champions, my friend, and we’ll keep on fighting
to the end…ba da dum…we are the champions, weeeeeeeee are the
Champions, no time for losers, cuz we are the Champions…da da da dum…of
the World!"
In our next instance, you have been struggling a little in your state
championship tennis match and are being counseled by your coach in an
effort to regain control of the lead against your archrival. Your coach
has decided that it is now time to give the ultimate tidbit of advice to
his/her star athlete. The advice would be so utterly profound that the
tide of the match would rise to new levels and ultimately garner Coach
of the Year honors for your mentor as a result. The brilliant Parcelsian
speech would be simply, "put a little bommalooga in it."
That was all it would take. Your eyes widen and your teeth grind
together as you feel a surge of energy stream through your muscles. Your
eight straight 100-mph aces blast off the weakened racket of your enemy
eliciting cheers of BOMMALOOGA from the crowd as you cruise to victory
yet again.
You know what to say in the subsequent interview.
In this instance, the dictionary entries would read:
Main Entry: bomm.a.loo.ga
Pronunciation: bomm-a-loo-ga
Function: noun
Etymology: Delaware Sports
Date: 2002
1: A devastating amount of will, effort, strength, intestinal fortitude,
and killer instinct.
In our final instance…for now….you are sitting pool side during
your first weekend off since the end of school/work/jail term, happily
sipping the beverage of your preference with golden rays of sun lightly
tanning your skin. All of sudden the goddesslike/godlike person of your
dreams walks by seductively glancing in your direction. You mutter to
your self at first, "bommalooga", and then raise your
glass/can/bottle in the direction of the goddess/god with the look of
love in his/her eye. You say "bommalooga" and the deal closes.
You no longer are sitting alone.
In this instance, the dictionary entries would read:
Main Entry: bomm.a.loo.ga
Pronunciation: bomm-a-loo-ga
Function: interjection
Etymology: Delaware Sports
Date: 2002
1: Holy moly what a hottie! I gots to get me some of that.
Main Entry: bomm.a.loo.ga
Pronunciation: bomm-a-loo-ga
Function: interjection
Etymology: Delaware Sports
Date: 2002
1: What’s up? Want to kick it here with a few chillies? I’m rich,
good looking, and just hit a game-winning bommalooga.
The one spin-off of bommalooga is "Jammalooga" and is of
course a dunk in basketball. Credit Delaware Sports 2002 for that one as
well. It will be perfectly acceptable and proper to exclaim "bommaloooooooga"
while performing a "Jammalooga".
Please feel free to begin using the words "bommalooga" and
"jammalooga" with gusto. There is just one rule though, don’t
overuse it. We don’t want these new words dying out before they reach
the West Coast.
Now let’s move on.
Following are some notable performances from the first week of the
Spring 2002 High School season. This is not meant to be an all-inclusive
list, just some notes that were jotted down on a daily basis.
Boys Lacrosse
Phil Miller led Newark with 6 goals and Luke Crossan contributed 2
goals and 6 assists in a 17-1 win over McKean in the Jackets first game
of the year.
The Sals of Salesianum shutout the Mount Pleasant Green Knights by a
21-0 score on 4 goals by Chris Harrison. Drew Smith added 4 goals and 6
assists. Ian Treshiam scored 2 goals and picked up 7 assists.
5 goals by Wil Spilecki and three by Noah Snyder Mackel paced the
Force of Charter to a 13-0 win over Delcastle. Shutouts aren’t a
common occurrence in this sport yet there have already been a handful of
them.
Cape Henlopen hosted McLean Virginia on Wednesday and treated them
rudely with a 14-0 win. Joe Vavala scored four times for the Vikings. It
was Vavala’s two late goals – one with one second in regulation –
and one in overtime that rescued Cape from a possible
first-game-of-the-year loss against Archmere.
4 goals and 3 assists by Mark Mueller paced the Concord Raiders to a
12-4 win over McKean
Chris Sherman scored four times for St. Marks as the Spartans dropped
A.I. duPont 11-4 in a mild upset. Jeff Mangat added three during the
Spartans opening game.
4 goals by Mike Ritchie and 1 assist along with 2 goals by Tim
Ritchie paced the Concord Raiders to a 10-7 win over the Middletown
Cavaliers. Ben Zussman recorded 8 saves in the nets for the Raiders.
Nathan Haas led the Cavaliers in defeat with 5 goals.
Phil Miller's 4 goals 2 goals and 3 assists by Luke Crossan paced the
Newark Yellowjackets to a 8-3 win over Hodgson. Brad Jones recorded 14
saves in the nets for the Jackets
Baseball
The Spartans of St. Marks defeated Dover and North East High out of
Maryland on back-to-back no-hitters by Kyle Muller and Mark Romanczuk.
Romanczuk’s opening day perfect game was thrown in front of 21
radar-gun-toting scouts. The senior Spartan struck out 17 in the
process. Muller whiffed 10 in his effort with only an infield error
between him and a perfect game of his own.
Cape Henlopen’s Andy Chunn pitched a no-hitter against Woodbridge
as the Vikings opened up their baseball season with a 13-0 win over
Woodbridge.
Softball
The Vikings of St. Elizabeths defeated Catholic Conference rival
Archmere by a 8-2 score. Tracy Nepi went 3 for 4 with four rbi's and Jen
Hunt went 2 for 4 with a home run, a triple and four rbi.
Jen Hunt drove in four runs for St. Elizabeth in an 8-2 win over
Archmere. She homered and tripled in her four plate appearances.
Corrine Cowen tossed a no-hitter for Ursuline in a 17-0 romp over
Wilmington Christian. Megan Davis went 4-4 in the game.
Chrystal Layton from Polytech fanned 13 Golden Knights in a loss to
Sussex Central. Remember her name because she is the real deal.
Of course, the shocker of the softball season happened on the very
first day when Caravel fell to Indian River 7-4. The Indians followed up
that victory with a 32-0 win over Dover. Brandy Ash and Lindsey
Warrington combined for a no-hitter in the same game. The Indians scored
22 runs in the first two innings of the five-inning game.
Girls Lacrosse
4 goals 2 assists by Bryce Jones 3 goals by Sarah Brown and Becky
layman paced the Brandywine Bulldogs to a 12-6 win over the Newark
Yellowjackets. Jen Houser recorded 4 saves in the nets for the Bulldogs.
Concord on 4 goals by Lexie Axsom and by Ashley Judge 3 goals by Marny
Hearn defeated the Christiana Vikings by a 20-7 score. Rachel Dicker
recorded 5 saves in the nets for the Raiders.
4 goals by Stacy Gentilucci paced the St. Marks Spartans to a 14-3
win over Christiana.
4 goals by Marny Hearn and Ashley Judge paced the Concord Raiders to a
15-6 win over the Caesar Rodney Riders. Rachel Dicker recorded 8 saves
for the Raiders in the win. Alexis Court paced the Riders in defeat with
3 goals and Niki Suto recorded 21 saves.
Judge and Lexie Axsom scored four apiece in a 20-7 Raider romp over
Christiana as Concord improved to 2-0.
4 goals by Sarah Brown 2 goals 2 assists by Kristin Burch and 2 goals by
Bryce Jones and Becky Layman paced the Brandywine Bulldogs to a 11-4 win
over Ursuline. Larissa Broglie led the Raiders in defeat with 2 goals.
Bryce Jones scored four times against Newark in the Bulldogs win against
Newark.
Alexis Courtney scored 7 goals for Caesar Rodney as the Riders
trounced Dover 29-5. Glenn, Senci, and Sharp added five goals each.
Girls Soccer
3 goals by Brianna Filingeri and 1 goal each by Lindsay Swinger and
Stephanie Baird paced the Newark Yellowjackets to a 5-0 win over Mt.
Pleasant in a Flight A conference contest. Amanda Popejoy recorded 3
saves in the nets for the Jackets in the win.
Freshman Jackie Reifschneider scored her first two career high school
goals in A.I. duPont’s opening day win against Christiana. The Tigers
won 4-0.
Cape Henlopen scored 17 goals in their first two games. Erin Williams
scored four in the Vikings 12-0 win over Milford.
Boys Track
Louis Broyles won three events – long jump, triple jump, and high
jump – as Newark pulled off a mild upset of Salesianum. The Jacket
sprinting teams proved to be a solid match for the Sals distance teams.
Gabe Gigliotti won the shot and disc for the Sals.
Girls Track
Mandy Stille stays hot for McKean opening up the Highlanders dual
meet season against Delcastle with a 20-point performance. She won the
100 hurdles, long jump, high jump, and triple jump. Cetera Bunche won
three individual events – 100, 200, 400 – along with a relay team to
account for 20 more points.
The Glasgow Dragons beat the Highlanders 73-64 in dual meet action.
Stille picked up another three wins, but it was Kamilah Salaam winning
four, including the 100 hurdles that helped propel the Dragons to
victory.
Following is a release regarding two Delawareans faring well for the
St. Josephs University softball team.
Ask yourself this though- why aren't they playing for the University of
Delaware?
DANA
TRAVIS AND CARA DELDEO HONORED AS A-10 PITCHER AND ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Ramblings
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