July 4, 2003- Rutledge, PA- Bradford Hampsey Morbeck extended his unbeaten skein to five today when he fought off a large field of challengers to win the "Rutledge's Fastest Seven Year Old" Competition at Triangle Park. Things weren't looking good when we first arrived at the "Tri" (nobody really calls it the "Tri") as we saw Brad's personal running nemesis (that other kid) Gabriel in attendance. They finished "neck and neck" in 2002. Bailey ("My Man") Williamson was present as well, and it seemed liked he had certain spring to his step as well.
.
(that other kid named "Gabriel") & BHM enjoy a light moment before the race
You could cut the tension with a butter knife as the participants in the "Rutledge's Fastest Seven Year Old" race were called to the starting line. I remember numerous occasions throughout the past year when Brad has been plagued by the tiniest slivers of self - doubt : "Dad, do you think that I'll EVER lose that Rutledge Race?" It's nice to be confident, but I've warned him that someday the law of averages might catch up with him. Or some new really fast kid might move to town. Regardless.................
ON YOUR MARK........GET SET..............GO!
VICTORY (again)!
BRAD IS IN THE YELLOW SHIRT ON THE LEFT
don't try clicking on any of those buttons on the preview display. If you've got the "where-with-all"
to deal with a Windows Media Video (.wmv) click below:.
The rest of the day consisted of a series of missed opportunities for all of us. "A Failure to EXECUTE," as Howard Cosell used to say. Brad and Bailey got ousted from the balloon toss early and Ben and Gabe failed to place in the 5 year old race although Max Sokoloff came in third. There must have been an improperly manufactured balloon issued to the small boys in the 5 year old "balloon toss" as it couldn't withstand an early drop.
Max managed to hold on to his, however - winning the competition hands down (or hands up!)
AND NOW ON TO THE ADULT COMPETITION............
You might remember that two years ago the Sokoloff and Morbeck Families spent an evening at the Aquatic Swim Club munching on delicious cheese pizzas courtesy of Morton Pizza, due to the egg throwing prowess of their family patriarchs. Last year a combination of overconfidence and poor egg selection doomed the champion egg tossing duo to a grisly early exit. This year we weren't going to let the mistakes of 2002 haunt us. On the sultry evening of July 3, 2003 Bob and I (accompanied by kids) took to the Triangle Right Field area for our first official practice. Trajectories were calculated, different "release points" were experimented with, and perfect catches were made effortlessly. But we might have "left it" all on the practice pitch.........
This one can't be laid at my door:
Roberto "Manos de Piedras" Duran Bob "Manos de Piedras" Sokoloff
recently retired from the ring in happier times (July 4, 2001)
Manos de Piedras" is Spanish for "Hands of Stone". Draw your own conclusions as to what happened in the 2003 egg toss (and the balloon toss!).
STILL HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH? -CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE NEXT PAGE