“Breaker 19, Breaker 19. This is the Rubber Duck”. We’ve got us a birthday. Grasshopper No. 3 celebrated his “one-half century” milestone last year so tomorrow we just add “one”. Happy Birthday No.3. I remember it well.
I need to make a quick trip down memory lane. In the 1960’s, WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee carried a weekly Sunday noon show called “Bowling with the Champs”. Grandpa George and I would watch regularly. There was also a professional tour that broadcast on Saturday afternoons. A major tournament was “The Masters”. It is now 50 years later. There is still a “Masters” and this week it is taking place in Green Bay. The tournament starts with well over 100 bowlers and ends with the top 5 competing for the $50,000 prize. Why do I mention this? The two top pro-bowlers in the 50’s were Don Carter and Dick Weber. The top qualifier this week in Green Bay this week is Peter Weber, the son of Dick. It takes me back.
Grasshopper No.4 has been coaching youth football for “umtyump” years. One of the kids that he saw develop on his teams was Noah Stengel who played quarterback. Noah went on to play quarterback for Sheboygan North High School. On Wednesday, Noah committed to play for the UW-Madison as a “walk-on enrollee”. The only change is that UW intends to use Noah as a wide receiver. Grasshopper No.4 has got to feel pretty good because I’m sure in some small way he knows he contributed to the development of a talented young man.
Continuing the football theme, Grandson Mitchell played for Middleton High School football team as the No.2 tight end last year. He played behind Mitchell Herl who was the No.1 tight end. Herl will also be a “walk-on” to the UW-Madison football team next Fall. Herl is 6ft.4in. tall and weighs 230 pounds. He was fun to watch and caught a lot of passes for touchdowns. Now Grandson Mitchell gets to move up to No.1 as he enters his senior year at Middleton. By the way “our Mitchell” is 6ft.2in. and growing.
Life just keeps moving. Sometimes it even repeats itself. Have a good weekend.
Love,
Dad