Wheel!

I know I skew toward the distance events, but I'm trying more and more to include even sprinters into the mix.  No one could omit a Championship of America Penn Relays Wheel won by the Sprint Medley Relay Quartet of  Aaron Nodolsky, Brady Gehret, Cas Loxsom and Ryan Foster. What's even better is a photo on the victory stand with Coach Groves at his 66th Penn Relays.  Congrats and on to the 4 X 800!

Steve's Shisler's 1985 memories.

Randy Moor'e 1985 memories.

Penn Relays!

Michael Syrnick brings us this great Friday photo of the events at Penn.  Let's hope his boss doesn't find out he wasn't "cough, cough" sick at all!  The 13 lanes (counting the "inside" first four lanes, and the practice straights) look great, don't they?

PSU has had some good showings already, with a 2nd place from Anya Uzoh in the decathlon(over 7,000 pts. for the first time), and a third place from
Brittney Howell in the heptathlon on Wednesday.  Karlee McQuillen won the javelin (158'4") for the second year in a row and Jane Swenson won the shot put (52'6").  Several PSU relay quartets are in the mix for Championship of America Wheels.  Cheesesteaks, jerk chicken, poorly home-made t-shirts, 17th century bathroom facilities and no parking!  Penn Relays is the greatest.  Coach Groves is attending his 66th out of 67th straight Penn Relays. 

Special Rules Adopted for the 10th Annual Golf Tourney

As a special treat this year, Clark Haley has relented to increasing pressure to agree to special rules for this year's tourney.  The 10th Annual Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament will utilize Mulligans (although I will try to get the name changed to "Clintons").  There will be a maximum of 4 per round and are going to require a fee of $25 apiece.

In addition, 12 inch long strings will also be available for $25 apiece with a maximum of 4 per team.  I honestly don't know how this works, but I figure 4 of them tied together are enough to hang the duffer in each foursome!  Apparently they have something to do with putting.  And have I told you lately about the fine putting session I had in the 2008 tourney?  There is video available...

All the recent past Presidents enjoyed golf, first popularized by Dwight Eisenhower. The Bush's are noted to have enjoyed speed golfing.  Clinton was said to enjoy bending the rules a bit.  And who here doesn't think Nixon cheated?

Final Itinerary Set for 2011 Reunion

The final schedule of events for the 10th Annual Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament and Reunion have been set.  Many surprises await, or at least a few!


Friday May 20 (afternoon) Optional Practice Round at Freestone Golf Club north of town.  Steve Balkey has arranged a reduced rate for 9 or 18 holes.  Remember, Allen Iverson says, "Practice makes perfect!"

Friday May 20, (7:00 PM - 10:00 PM) - Meet and Greet at Damon's, conveniently located next to the Official Hotel, The Hampton Inn on College Avenue, (nearest Hotel to the Track)! Wings and finger foods, soft drinks and good cheer provided.  Everyone invited.  Raffles and 50/50's interspersed. Current PSU Athletes are invited with no charge. Meet and talk with all living past and present PSU Head Track Coaches!

Friday May 20, (10:00PM - undetermined) - Teddy Quinn, Director of Fun,  takes the hardiest among us on a tour of State College establishments.  Bail bondsmen have been notified. The group is not responsible for missing eyeglasses and other small catastrophes following this event.

Saturday May 21, (9:00 AM) The Annual Alumni "Run" commences at the Outdoor Track.  Did I mention that its only yards away from the Hotel??  No running is required, but distances can range from 400 M to a 3 or 4 mile loop, again headed by our own Course Marshall, Greg Fredericks.  Coffee and donuts will again be available.  Leftovers will be snarfed up by the PSU team following their workout. This will be the only way to get this year's version of the Penn State Track Alumni Wrist Bands.

Saturday May 21 (11:30 AM -12:30 PM) Lunch at the Hampton Inn provided by the Group and Subway (now the largest fast food joint in the world!).  Golfers and non-golfers alike are invited.

Saturday May 21 (12:00 PM - undetermined) -  The Annual Climb of Mt Nittany, this year hosted by Barbara and Gary Black. Meet at the Hampton Inn lobby.  This will be followed by a trip to the Berkey Creamery.

Saturday May 21 (1:30 PM - 6:00 PM) The Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament at The Elks Club. Shotgun start, or at least a starter's pistol start.  Your chance at immortality inscribed on the Coach Harry Groves Memorial Cup.  Duffers are welcomed.

Saturday May 21 (7:00 PM - 10:00 PM) The Shisler Shindig (Post Tournament Awards Dinner).  Again at Damon's Grill next to the Hampton Inn.  Presentation of the Tourney awards and Specialty awards with a great Damon's meal.

Evidence of God?

Although God is all around us, finding evidence of His existence is necessarily difficult.  Glimpses are available to those with patience and an open mind to appreciate them. I've been blessed a handful of times to have seen what I consider such evidence. Others are free to argue.

The possible creation of a "God Particle" by the Large Hadron CERN Collider in Switzerland probably isn't really in that sphere of evidence, although it is tantalizingly close.  All Physics eventually becomes metaphysics, as I always say. The chances this was really a "God Particle" are slim, but it will enable quite a few smart men a lot of work for quite some time to find out.

The true evidence of God is more often found in the more mundane life experiences.  This might even include a 1:46.45 800 M Run at the Jesse Owens Meet at Ohio State this weekend. Cas Loxsom's effort is No. 2 on PSU's all-time list.  PSU is 800 U!

Happy 81st Birthday Coach Groves

That's actually one of the coolest birthday cakes ever!  And don't worry about Coach knowing that we all know how old he is.  He never surfs the web, I'm pretty sure. It's the thought that counts.

And speaking of McDonalds, here's a great listing of items sold around the world at McDonalds, but not in the great US of A!

Vote for your favorite on the left sidebar poll.

Practice Makes Perfect

Allen Iverson, the Patron Saint of Practice would certainly advocate a little practice prior to the 10th Annual Coach Harry Groves Golf Outing.  Luckily, Steve Balkey has arranged a reduced rate 9 or 18 Hole package at Freestone Golf Club on Friday May 20.

Steve also brings us news that he will be attempting to bring back Amber, the Drink Cart Girl for another tour of the Elks Club with Coach Groves even though Hooters in State College closed.

Greg Fredericks also brings us word that Coach Lucas will indeed be coming to the Friday Night Reunion.  Greg will be hanging around to visit with all of us on Friday night, and even leading the Alumni "Run" on Saturday morning before heading off for a family function in Virginia.  His replacements as Leader of the Mount Nittany Climb and as Holder of the Golden Putter have already been arranged.  We're all about being organized!  (laughter here.)

Only Four Weeks Remain and Gravity Doesn't Exist

There is very little time left to enter the Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament for 2011.  The 10th annual event promises to be the most diverse one yet, with alums from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 00's, (and hopefully someone from the 90's will pop in!)  28 days remain!

In addition, a string-theorist has determined that gravity doesn't exist.  It is only an illusion.  So all my sagging body parts are in for a reprieve or something soon , I suppose.  But remember, string theory is mostly just a thought experiment by people who can't properly match their socks, remember to comb their hair and are always picked last for dodge-ball.  So don't put all your faith in the illusion of gravity just yet.

Current Champions Returning For a Shot at the Hall of Honor!

Remember, it takes two engravings on the Harry Groves Memorial Cup* to qualify for inclusion in our controversial and elite Hall of Honor.  (That or being an All-American, National Record Holder or Olympian).  That's where the controversy comes in.  I inadvertently missed some All-Americans last year, ruffling some feathers, for which I'm truly sorry and ashamed.  (My entire staff of fact-checkers were sacked unceremoniously following the incident!)

Andrew Jenkins, and Bradd DelMuto are returning for a shot at immortality!  This despite the fact I can't show a photo of their winning foursome because apparently no one took a photo of them last year!  Anyone in possession of one will be richly rewarded, or we'll try to recreate or photoshop one this year.

So instead of a photo for this post, I will repeat a great video of me and Coach putting in the 2008 Tourney.  Draino!



And here's another one of Coach explaining why, for at least a brief instant, he was the greatest track coach in the world! 



*Coach is still very much alive and can still kick your a**.  The "Memorial" Cup was actually an inside joke at the beginning of the tourney, before it went viral!

Waiting For Track Season to Heat Up!

Brian Boyer's trip through Roswell NM gives me another opportunity to discuss my only UFO experience.  His photo of the UFO Museum with included wrist band demonstrates his inventiveness with the Visual Arts, another of his vast talents including golf! (Brian's name is engraved on the Harry Groves Memorial Cup despite only ever golfing with us once!)

My UFO experience was shared with about a dozen or so sky-gazers at a restaurant on the Pennsylvania/New York border in the early 1990's. The glowing yellow ball high in the atmosphere never moved or changed but was not the Sun or Moon as dour skeptics often point out. It lasted for long after I lost interest.  The occurrence even made the pages of the New York Times the next day and has never been explained, hence an Unidentified Flying Object.  High altitude nuclear testing supposedly ended in the 1960's, so I have no idea what I saw. Anyone else out there have any X-Files experiences?

Maybe I'll have some interesting track news to comment on soon instead!

Steve Black (PSU is 800 U!) Appears in 3 More Crime Dramas

Steve Black continues his busy acting career on Discovery's Investigation Channel's various series.

1. He appears as the Lead Investigator Gerald Clark in the series "FBI-Criminal Pursuit" on the bizarre case of the pizza delivery collar bomb robbery in Erie in 2003.  The show can be seen in May/June at 10 PM.
2. Steve also plays Chris McGowan on the Series "Wicked Attraction".
3. He also plays a gravedigger in an educational video on "The Execution of Nathan Hale" which we will bring you right here on this blog in June.
4. In the past Steve has appeared in many TV series and miniseries, including the epic "John Adams" where he even made the front page of USA Today next to Paul Giamotti.

And don't anyone forget my very own entry into the world of Hollywood (sort of!) as an Associate Producer of the remake of Plan 9 From Outer Space, Ed Wood's worst movie ever made.

Just Ice Bags Ticked Off Coach, What to Think of This?

You never wanted Coach Groves to see you with an ice bag on any part of your anatomy, particularly the type of injury I sustained performing lunges in my Fencing Phys Ed class!*  The invectives and sustained negative banter were too much to take.  But what would Coach Groves have to say about Team Nike's (Oregon Training Project or whatever they are calling it today!) Cryosauna?

*The illustration shows what used to be called a groin pull, now known as a high ankle sprain in medical circles.

What's Your Excuse (Part 4, 5, and 6)?

Ed Whitlock, the 80 year-old Canadian (eh!), shattered the Marathon World Record in Rotterdam with his 3:25:40.  That was my goal pace when I last ran a marathon in 1997, at less than half his age.  (I missed it, too.)  I'll dedicate my next donut and Tim Horton's coffee to him.

And 2 Penn State Track Alumni Golfers continued their amateur exploits in remarkable style recently.  Mark Hawkins who will golf with us for the first time this year, won a Pittsburgh 5 K (50-59 y.o.) in 17:54. (!)  He finished 16th overall.

Manhattan-resident Phil Passen traveled to his native Philadelphia, where he flexed his Master's wings in a 5K, finishing first in his age group and 3rd overall! It almost makes we want to start getting serious again.  Almost.

Soon both will be wearing their new Penn State Track Alumni Singlets in races, courtesy of Dennis Pollow and the rest of the exuberant recent graduates' inclusion of us "old-timers" in their group.  Mine will probably be strictly for show, although maybe I'll unveil it at the upcoming Alumni "Run" during the Reunion Weekend. Rusty boots, for sure.

Clutter Up Your Browser With Our New Toolbar!

Never be too far away from Penn State Track and Field Alumni Golf with our very own Alexa Toolbar.  Installation is simple and fast.  You will only be one click away from our glorious site.  You can also search for anything on our site from anywhere on the internet.  Our Facebook fan site is also only one little click away.  The front door to our Group's Store is also at your fingertips.  You probably can click and enter our store from your iPad or iPhone and buy a nice case for your iPad or iPhone.  Convenience and function all from our new toolbar.  Get yours today!

  PSU Track Alumni Golf Toolbar for Firefox and Internet Explorer.

"The Check is in the Mail!"

Keeper of the Cup Harry Smith and Chief Financial Officer Gary Black are on the lookout for the entry fees for the 10th Annual Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament and Reunion.

The favorite cliche of all Penn State Track and Field Alumni Golfers is "The check is in the mail."  But now is the time to make that a reality.  Make Harry's (Smith) life a little simpler by mailing the fees* addressed and made out to him at:

Harry Smith, Keeper of the Cup

7793 Hudson Park Drive

Hudson, Ohio 44236.

* All fees go directly to the reunion weekend expenses and PSU Track and Field Scholarships.  No leftover funds are used for any other purpose.  Clark Haley and Harry Smith should be commended for their steadfast support of PSU Track's rich history.  Anyone not able to attend is still encouraged to donate to the cause via any method including the donate button on the right sidebar.  I will personally make sure credit is properly given.

Fermi Tevatron Outdoes Hadron Collider?

" I'm a god, not The God. I don't think."  -Bill Murray in Grounhog Day.

The Fermi Tevatron may have discovered a new Quantum particle recently.  Not quite the God Particle, but something quite similar and remarkable.  I'm hoping Ron Moore can update us on the significance.

And Here's some additional insight which points out that all this may be nothing, BUT just in case many Physicists will convene with a large percentage of them wearing mismatched socks, uncombed hair and forgetting to eat breakfast!  (Just kidding Ron.)

Here's another great summary of what's going on in the Nuclear Accelerator World.

The Molecular Octopus Outdoes Schroedinger's Cat

When we last spread our Physics Wings with the thought experiment of Schroedinger's Cat, we didn't realize that Physicists hadn't caused enough headaches with it.  So they recently have taken it a step further with a larger molecule shaped something like an octopus.  The octopus above is a rather small, but deadly type known as a blue ring octopus. 

Lock Haven Team In the News

When we last visited our friends at Lock Haven, we noted they had rabid fans, to say the least.  They have since made the national news by running a relay from Lock Haven to the Pennsylvania Capital Building to protest the proposed changes in education reimbursements in the  budget next year.

It is worth noting that decreasing reimbursements to PSU are onerous also, at a school which already has one of the lowest state subsidies in the nation.  The problems are real, with no good solutions available.  I'm not advocating either side, but merely pointing out that times are tough, and yet sports participation remains one of life's better learning opportunities. I hope no one got hurt running the 100 mile relay to Harrisburg!

Outdoor Season Begins With a Record; And Raffle Item Announced!

This is a horrible cell phone picture of a blanket I had made from the great Lion Shrine Photo on the left sidebar I titled "First Light".  The blanket turned out beautifully and should be a nice addition to anyone's home.  My wife has inexplicably donated it to the cause to be auctioned off on Friday night at the Reunion Evening before the 10th Annual Coach Harry Groves Golf Tourney.

And the Outdoor Track Season has begun!  With a bang, may I add?  On the top of the list was the School Record in the 4 X 400 M Relay from the quartet of Aaron Nodolsky, Casimir Loxsom, Brady Gehret and Lionel Williams.  Their 3:07.19 bettered the old mark by more than a second.  Hanif Johnson also bettered his PR in style, winning the triple jump with a combined leap of 51 feet 8 and 1/2 inches!  Wow!

NCAA Final Four Madness

I once played in a donkey basketball game, and even scored four points.  Or maybe the donkey got the credit, I can't remember.  Nowadays, since nothing is happening around the world of any importance, PETA has denounced the fund raising activity.  I suppose one must pick their fights carefully, and nobody does it better than PETA.

With one round to go in the NCAA Bracket Pool, Spot Moskowitz seems entrenched in 20th place, not bad for quadruped with bad breath.  There are several PSU Track Alumni Golfers ahead of him, somehow again including Brian Boyer!  Ken Cooper's next to last update!

UConn all but solidifies what the results will be.  Only 5 people can still score points and one of them is in first.  Congrats to David Strandberg who will take home the win.  Dave is a former colleague of mine from Life Time and a March Madness junkie.  Third will come down to tiebreaker.  All other places are dependent on whether UConn wins or loses Monday.  So, there is still some Madness left. 

1.       Nice work to Katya Dimitrova, Todd Kletter’s fiancé, who has had an impressive rookie showing.

2.       Harry Smith’s son Holden is at Bowling Green and tied with Ryan Caldwell, who is 9 or 10?  And killing his dad, R.B.

3.       Look out for Hank Oppenheimer who is making a late run with UConn

4.       Let’s go Butler UnderBulldogs.

5.       Average of Semis continues trend as lowest in the history of this pool.  Only 5 people with UConn.  Crazy.

Current			Total
Place	Move	Name	Points
1	1	Strandberg, David	85
2	5	Dimitrova, Katya	77
3	6	Smith, Holden	76
4	7	Caldwell, Ryan	76
5	(4)	McCandless, Tyler	72
6	(3)	Obama, Barack	65
7	(3)	Cooper, Kevin	64
8	55	Oppenheimer, Hank	64
9	(4)	Gross, Michael	63
10	(4)	Boyer, Brian	61
11	(3)	Walter, Anne	60
12	(2)	Anderson, Mark	60
13	(1)	Lincoln, Matt	59
14	(1)	Pruitt, Christopher	59
15	(1)	Hamer, Bob	59
16	(1)	Hamer, Allison	59
17	(1)	Kunetz, Dan	58
18	(1)	Cole, Jason	58
19	(1)	Wintersteen, Kyle	58
20	(1)	Moskowitz, Spot	58
21	(1)	Licari, Danielle	57
22	(1)	Berseth, Kyle	57
23	(1)	Gough, Rob	57
24	(1)	Noballs, Uhaff	57
25	(1)	Jones, Darryl	56
26	(1)	Matechak, Kelly	56
27	(1)	Mangan, Larry 2	56
28	(1)	Verhoeven, Nick	55
29	(1)	Carney, James	55
30	(1)	Angelo, Peter	55
31	(1)	Munro, Scott	55
32	(1)	Bisko, Matthew	55
33	(1)	Wimmer, Mark	55
34	(1)	Mangan, Larry	54
35	(1)	Riter, Christie	54
36	(1)	Clelland, Jim	54
37	(1)	Weaver, JudyLynn	54
38	(1)	Chadwick, Walt	54
39	(1)	Cooper, Ken	54
40	(1)	Wood, Kyle	53
41	(1)	Bisko, Tom	53
42	(1)	Novak, Jay	53
43	(1)	Whittaker, Bill	52
44	(1)	Cooper, Kyle	52
45	(1)	Stewart, Zeb	52
46	(1)	Cooper, Kyle 2	52
47	(1)	Rupe, Mark	52
48	(1)	Cooper, Kevin 2	52
49	(1)	Tate, Andy	51
50	(1)	Morse, Karen	51
51	(1)	Kletter, Todd	51
52	(1)	Bisko, Tommy	51
53	(1)	O'Reilly, Aidan	51
54	(1)	Lee, Luis	50
55	(1)	Radzwich, Maddi	50
56	(1)	Ancharski, Frank	50
57	(1)	Dogg, Snoop	50
58	(1)	Cannon, Marshall	49
59	(1)	Murphy, Patrick	49
60	(1)	Ross, Tom	49
61	(1)	Konzal, Sean	49
62	(1)	Smith, Harry	48
63	(1)	Roth, Andy	48
64	0	Heitzmann, Colin	48
65	0	Crash, Mike	48
66	0	Walter, Doug	47
67	0	Clinton, Joe	47
68	0	Gifford, Bob	47
69	0	Morse, Willie	47
70	0	Morse, Hallie	47
71	0	Smyth, Steph	47
72	0	Brescia, Gina	47
73	0	Bodine, Jethro	47
74	0	Sabel, Douglas	47
75	0	Hall, Ricardo	46
76	0	Adkins, Jeff	46
77	0	Morse, Mike	45
78	0	Bettis, Lena	45
79	0	Dubya, G	45
80	0	Riter, Tony	45
81	0	Vitale, Dick	45
82	0	Hoover,Douglas	44
83	0	Hutz, Matt	44
84	0	Jackson,Jayson	44
85	0	Illustrated, Sports	44
86	0	Whittaker, Marty	43
87	0	McCarthy, Dennis	42
88	0	Oliver, Precious	42
89	0	Will, Sean	42
90	0	Radzwich, Bob	42
91	0	Caldwell, R.B.	41
92	0	McCann, Ian	37