Sportsman I Envy

If you have ever been a spectator at a Steeplechase race over the last 30 years, it is very likely you have seen at least one horse in one of the races that was trained by Jonathan Sheppard. Mr. Sheppard has the distinction of having won over 1000 Steeplechase races as Trainer and over 2400 Flat races.
Sheppard came to the States in the early 60's. His Father was a racing Official in Sheppard's native England. In the interest of fairness, British rules prohibit Family members of Racing Officials to train for outside Clients.So across the Pond he came. He trained his first winner in 1966 at My Lady's Manor in Maryland and since then has trained 4 Breeder's Cup Grand National Steeplechase winners. Sheppard also holds the record for the most ever Colonial Cup Winners at 11
Sheppard has also had great success at flat track racing. He teamed up with Main Line Legend George Strawbridge. They saw their Horse win the Breeder's Cup Filly/Mare Turf in 2008.
This Hall of Fame trainer is a quiet and charming gentleman. I had the pleasure of meeting him briefly at Radnor. He just looks like a man who can train horses and deserves to outside doing so. I envy this man and his abilities and his unique professional skill. In another life I would love to be a Steeplechase trainer.
As for all you Men's fashion wonks out there in the Blog-world...this guys sets the standard for tasteful country and sporting attire.

Sporting Report

It is Opening Day here in Philadelphia and spirits and confidence are extremely high for our Phillies.We have what could likely be the best pitching staff ever assembled.Yes we have injuries to Chase Utley and Lidge and Polanco...so there are some question marks. Nevertheless, opposing players will have a hard time in the batter's box this season.
On another sporting note, my Welterweight takes to the ring this evening for a 6 round tilt against Mike Demby. About 20 of the guys will be attending...including D.M. (who writes the splendid blog Brohammas) Bro is a transplanted Utah guy living here in Philly. I was supposed to meet him and Tintin of Trad fame a few months ago when they planned a meeting but work got in the way. I am looking forward to meeting him tonite. I hope he wears flame retardant clothes!
Lastly, my son scored 2 goals in the opening game of his Middle School's Lacrosse season. The photo above is not him...but it is nearly excatly how the shot looked on the second goal in form and action. He actually came damn close to a Hat-trick but could not find the handle in the crease on the 3rd. My head almost exploded with pride as I attended the game and was standing on the sidelines.
Here's hoping JMW's Kentucky team does well this weekend in NCAA action...she writes " A Place to Dwell" and I am very fond of her Blog and her perspective.

Pivotal Moments

There were long discussions around the Sportman's home last evening. My Daughter is in the enviable yet stress-laden position of having to choose which College to attend next year. She has been accepted at some excellent schools and is having a hard time making the selection. As her Father, I endeavour to offer useful advice. I hope I am being helpful and providing meaningful guidance based on my experience and knowledge.
For many high school seniors this is one of the first really important and difficult choices they make in the transition from kid to adult. Liz is certainly cognizant of the gravity of the choice and is trying to approach the decision intelligently.
All of this led me to think back on some pivotal events in my own life.
Two of these events are pictured here. The first is the day I met U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Brennan. This photo was taken in his Chambers on a day we visited him and attended Court and saw Lawrence Tribe argue the Pennzoil v. Texaco case. One of my best friends from Lehigh is Brennan's Great-Nephew and that is how the visit was arranged. Meeting this brilliant Jurist cemented my desire to attend Law School and pursue a career as a Lawyer.
The second photo is the moment I was instructed to "kiss the bride" at my wedding. My wife and I had been dating since high school, but in this captured moment, it was now official. Marrying this wonderful lady was one of the best things to have happened in my life.
Pivotal moments and events that shape and dictate our futures; we often see them coming and recognize them as they happen.Sometimes we do not. My daughter is experiencing a pivotal event presently and I fervently wish the result for her is as postive as as these moments were for me.

Judo Team

The Main Line Y.M.C.A. Judo Team in 1974. The team was organized and coached by Howie. He had won a spot on the 1968 U.S. Olympic Judo team. However, a severe knee injury just before the trip to Mexico City crushed his Olympic prospects. Howie brought that level of Olympic discipline and dedication to teaching a bunch of kids the Martial Sport founded by Dr.Jigaro Kano in Japan in 1882.
We had regular practices and fervent competition and participation. The work-outs were tough but fun. We all learned life lessons about discipline, combat sports and team spirit. The team competed in local and regional matches and many of us had significant success. I managed to win a Gold Medal in the regional Junior Olympics and a Bronze in the East Coast Regionals. I still have those medals and I am proud of the fierce work and competition they represent. I reached Purple Belt at 13. Sadly, the call of after school jobs, girls and school sports, coupled with the increased level of dedication required to try for a Brown Belt and move to the Junior High division, put an end to my career.Equally sad is how Judo was overshadowed by Kung Fu and the like with the advent of various movies and TV shows glorifying the more agressive forms of Martial Arts.
But man, check out the Afro's on some of my buddies!

A Violet Eyed Beauty

I just saw the news that Elizabeth Taylor has passed away. Suffice it to say she was stunning on screen and led a tumultuous personal life.
From a Sportsman's perspective, I always loved the role she played in 'National Velvet." The story of a determined girl and a fine timber jumping Thoroughbred horse; an intrepid girl who loves her horse and sets out to win the Grand National Steeplechase.
From a different perspective, her beauty and charm took one's breath away in "A Place in the Sun." Likewise, her Maggie opposite Paul Newman in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" was a character of depth and sensuality.
She is gone but her film legacy lives.

The Fighting Chair

Late 1930's, somewhere off the coast of Central New Jersey, perhaps 30 miles out.The man on the right is my maternal Grandfather, about whom I have posted before...pictures of old time Football and Baseball. The man on the right is his brother...my Great Uncle.
His name was Wilson and they called him Wils. He graduated from Lehigh in 1933, 52 years before me. He was a Chi Phi brother. (Based on this "legacy" I received a pre-bid during Rush...but turned it down for a variety of reasons.)
After college he worked in Manhattan as a coal broker for Bethlehem Steel. The the War intervened and he ended up spending the war years in the Army in Langely, Virginia. He was supposedly in supply and logistics, but based on some things he said over the years at Thanksgiving or Christmas pre-dinner cocktails,when he was lubricated with a Maker's Mark Manhattan, I suspect there was more going on. Perhaps he had some minor intelligence role based on where he was stationed.He certainly was far too smart and talented to merely arrange shipments of Spam and socks.
He enjoyed a long life and made rural Connecticut his home.
Wils and my Grandfather loved to fish and would book a charter to chase Tuna off the Jersey coast. I love the tone of this old photo,the leather jacket and the neckties the wooden rods and the massive Penn Reel above Wils's right hand, the overhang of the upper deck and the wooden framing, the padded fighting chair and the focus of the fisherman off the stern. According to my Grandfather, his younger brother Wils hauled in a fairly massive Tuna that afternoon.
Uncle Wils once bought a fine field grade Belgian Browning 20 ga. back in the early 50's that I still have and sometimes use to hunt Rails and Quail. He was a Sportsman and a Gentleman and a Lehigh man and liked nothing more than to be in a fighting chair trying to haul in a big one.

Muscle Car Weather

The recent weather has stirred thoughts of Spring.With thoughts of Spring comes the urge to unleash the growling beast which has rested dormant in the garage since the leaves began to drop and the weather turned cold. Said beast is pictured above. I posted about my 1969 Olds 442 some time ago. Then I came across a better photo in my desk at the office, this time the American muscle shown with top down.
I have lusted after this particular, year, make and model since 10th grade.In that year I began to work at a local gas station after school and on weekends. One of the mechanics at the station had a 69 442 and I simply fell in love.I liked Mustangs and Vettes, but something about the 69 442 captured me. Being 15 and having no money, I had to settle for admiration from afar and the occassional ride in the mechanics car.

Fast forward to 1998 and a listing offering a 1969 Olds 442 convertible for sale in Norristown, PA. Now I possessed the means and the garage space. The sale was consumated and I have been enjoying this car ever since. When the weather turns the cover is removed, washing and waxing is completed, oil is changed and fluids are checked. A drive around the back roads of the Main Line on a soft, sunny Spring day is a type and form of therapy not often found.