I'm Still Working On the Photos and Stories From the Reunion

I actually have the day off and will eventually get to the photos from this weekend.  That is, after I pay all my late bills, feed the animals, water the plants and take a nap!

So until then, let's put up a list of people that couldn't make it and had a good reason:

1. Steve Shisler and Beth Shisler were at the Big Ten Championships watching their son Alex Shisler score points for the Nittany Lions.  Excuse Accepted.
2. Brian Boyer had business requiring knowledge of Physics in New Mexico.  Excuse Accepted.
3. Steve Balkey had a son graduating from College.  Excuse Accepted.
4. Paul Mundy had a daughter being married. Excuse Accepted.
5. Bill Kvashay and Mark Haywood were coaching at Districts.  Excuses Accepted.
6. Gary Black had business requiring extensive travel. Excuse (reluctantly) Accepted.
7. Darryl Jones had Graduation duties at Gettysburg College. Excuse Accepted.
8. And last, but certainly not least, Phil Passen was in Israel and even supplied proof with a Wrist Band pic at the Dead Sea Scroll Museum! Excuse Accepted.

Rockin the Band!

Some Penn Relays Reception Photos I Stole From Al Gore's Intertubes

I was not able to attend the Penn Relays or the Reception last night as my daughter qualified for the Dallastown Invitational 1600.  So I had to watch her instead in a downpour.  I'm not complaining.  In fact, there wasn't anywhere else I would rather have been.  I'm proud of everything my daughters have achieved, even while being excellent students and even better human beings.  I'm blessed far beyond anything I deserve.  (Daughter the Elder didn't hit another PR, but the deluge had a lot to do with it.) Good luck to the Lions in Saturday's races. Watches and wheels. Watches and wheels.

Photo from Michael Gross.

Phil Passen, Larry Mangan and Ryan Foster.

Yeah, that's Phil Passen again! With Coach Groves in Penn Relays attire.

Gosh Phil, I must have stolen all of these from you! Michael Syrnick and Sam Masters.

I'll buy a drink to the guy that will name everyone here in the comments!

Penn State Track Alumni Golfers Continue To Rule The Sand and Have "Friends" EveryWhere

Here's Kyle Dawson winning the Sea Isle City Beach Run on Saturday.

Kyle Dawson dominating the Island!

And Matt Groves sends us word of Will Nowicki's victory at the River to Sea Relay with his fellow Pascack Valley High School Alumni Team.

And here's Phil Passen bringing his PSU XC tee to the "Friends" apartment in Manhattan.

West Virginia Isn't the Place to Be

From what I can see, Canada is on the list for sure.  In addition to Matt Lincoln and Casimir Loxsom heading to Vancouver for the Harry Jerome Track Classic on Canada Day (Monday July 1), Mac Fleet worked out with Cas yesterday and took this picture:

Cas Loxsom lacing them up. Photo by Mac Fleet.

Maybe Kansas is near the top of the list too.  Here's Tyler McCandless, posing with Coach John Lucas's favorite Olympic athlete, Billy Mills.  Tyler won the Double Road Race in Overland this weekend.  That's a 10K and then a 5K.  Tyler's time of 30:16/14:57 is the new World Best in the event.

Billy Mills with Tyler McCandless.

Or maybe the place to be is Istanbul!  Here's Phil Passen with his wife Priscilla at the bridge between Europe and Asia.  Priscilla is from South America, so that's 4 Continents in one photo, so to speak. Phil's travels often leave ME exhausted!

Phil Passen and his wife Priscilla.

Meanwhile I'm enjoying the 1/2G* (as apposed to 3G or 4G) internet service of beautiful West Virginia.  I started this post yesterday, but it's just getting done now....

*I deem the internet service in WV "C" service, which is 1/2 of "G" or thereabouts.

"MISTER CHRISTIAN!"

The Storm of the Century, Sandy seems to have wiped out lower Manhattan, but group supporter and all-around good guy Phil Passen is safe, having apparently been evacuated from his building next to Battery Park AND the Hotel he fled to in New Jersey.  I hope to get word from him on the aftermath of the storm.  He has been an ardent supporter of our efforts at the blog and my thoughts and prayers are with him often.

Also wiped out is the Atlantic City Boardwalk and the entire town of Ocean City, New Jersey, my vacation spot for the last 20 years.  Not only is it underwater, but there were scores of fires overnight without the ability to fight them.

Another high profile loss was the HMS Bounty, the ship built for the filming of the classic Mutiny on the Bounty. The Captain of the ship has been lost at sea and a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian, the instigator of the mutiny, was rescued from the sea many hours after the sinking, but failed to be revived.  The first 2 photos are from Shawn Whalen, a prolific masters runner in New England and friend of Martha (White) Collins, a great Friend of the Group and namesake of my daughter.  The last photo is from the Coast Guard.

Choices

There are 3 different indoor meets this weekend for the Nittany Lions.  There's nothing quite like choices in life.

It's been nearly 4 years since I started the blog to bring awareness to the Annual Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament and Reunion.  Things have changed some over that time, but the goals are still the same.  I've made hundreds of acquaintances and dozens of friends in that time, and only 3 enemies.  I consider that somewhat of a miracle, and always look to doing even better in the future.  Thanks for your viewership, anonymous comments or just general lurking!

Today's contest  is to name both of the cars good friend Phil Passen got to choose from on his recent foray to Dubai.  He's looking sharp with either one!

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.

Phil "The Gladiator" Passen Checks In

Phil Passen sends us this great addition to our collection of Blue Wrist Bands Around the World.  Quite a good one, I may add.

I have renamed him "The Gladiator" now that I know he's taking weekly 10 mile runs in Van Cortlandt Park!

The City That Never Sleeps!

The Chinatown Outreach Program was an astounding success. Attendees spanned the PSU years of 1973 to well into the 1990's! Pictured is  Phil Passen '92 (also entered in the contest), Herder of Cats Dave Baskwill '81, Nick K. '85, and Roaming Corespondent Rob Whiteside '83. Not pictured is Barb Black '80.

Many topics were discussed including Sharon Stone, golf, running, and how much State College has changed. Attendance at next year's reunion was stressed, but no force was used. Several members of the party were introduced to Kung Pao Chicken, the world's finest food, along with dishes ranging from tofu to duck, beef, tripe, pork and fish. Tsing Tao Beer topped off the festivities well.

Following dinner, those on the Family Plan departed via the Subway, while those on the Deluxe Plan sauntered off for bars unknown. Plans were made for future endevours along the same lines. It turns out the group sauntered to Fanelli's in Soho, tended by a Larry Holmes victim back in the day.

Addendum: An Outreach to Suburban Philadelphia is up next. Plans are in the incubation phase, so stay tuned. Kung Pao and PSU Track are a Splendid Combination.

*Photo by Anne Baskwill

Largesse From the Big Apple: And Viruses Run Amok

Phil Passen sends his greeting from The Big Apple. He can't make it this year, but I have him on the hook for next year. He may not realize just how bad our golfers really are! He has generously endowed our bank account with a substantial contribution and has been rewarded with t-shirts, bracelets and refrigerator magnets. Commodities must be lucrative even in a recession!

Dave Rihtarchik also expresses his regrets at not making the long drive from Volunteer Country. His dog, Topper graces the cover of our Dog Album, because he is the All-American dog, a beagle.

And Paula Froke can't make it because of work also. So our AP journalist will just have to make up a story or plagiarize something from our blog like the NYT usually does!*

Also, I was off-line for a little while there because of a bad H1N1 Computer Virus. Nasty little bugger made it through Norton 360. Took professional help to get rid of it.

*Maureen Dowd is also unavailable. Paula will be given any necessary items for production of a real story.

Velveteen Playboy Challenges The Links

Velveteen Playboy lead singer and vertical motion expert (that's high jumper for us vertically challenged distance guys!) Paul Souza has signed up for his first Harry Groves Golf Tournament. Maybe he will stimulate other lazy, shiftless field events performers to partake in the festivities and help deforest The Elks Club greenery. (Just kidding guys, you can still break me in half I'm sure.)

 I have encountered Mark Heckel (featured in a previous "Where Are They Now" segment). Heather (Carmichael) Richardson checked in from sunny New Zealand. Jake Bartholomy, James Carney, Bob Radzwich, Artie Gilkes and Phillip Passen touched base with me. I'll continue to work on them all. It's for Coach, after all.

*Political opinions or commentary are really quite worthless at this point. And still frowned on by blog hierarchy.