Thursday, February 8, 2024

Rome 1960

 As a 10 year old, I found a magnificent book in the Bridgewater library called "The Story of the Olympic Games."

And I read that book dozens of times. Yes, had I known that 'Olympics Researcher' was an actual job, I would be NBC working for NBC. 

Many years later, I found the book on Amazon. 

One of my favorite passages involved the 1960 Games in Rome, particularly the 4x400m relay. Oregon's Otis Davis, the open 400m winner, anchored that relay to a world record for his second gold medal. His teammates (I can recite from a 1975 memory) were Berkeley's Jack Yerman, Abilene Christian's Earl Young, and Ohio State's Glenn Davis. 

Around 2009, after I moved to Oregon, I meet Skip, a runner from Cal Berkeley back in the day, and a teammate of Jack Yerman's . I blurted out 'Yerman, Young, and the Davis twins!'

Skip admonished me by saying Glenn and Otis were not related. Yes, I know!!! My tongue was buried in my cheek at the time; sometimes I'm too witty for the rest of the world!



Today, I noticed on Facebook that a friend of a friend is Earl Young, who I immediately recognized as the fourth member of that record setting quartet. 

Being the (not exactly) shy type, I reached out to him and had a lovely exchange. Let me preface the conversation by revealing that his 1960 Olympic teammates Al Cantello, Dave Sime, and Don 'Tarzan' Bragg supposedly stole the Olympic flags from the stadium as the Games closed; that caper is described in the book "Rome 1960" by Davis Maraniss. 

The following is a hodgepodge of conversations that began with an exchange between me and the USATF Rules Chairman, who was following up on a review project. 

Hi Dick, 

I’m in Italy, returning 27 Jan. Will do what I can to provide input. 

One of my goals here was to see the Olympic Stadium. Even more poignant now, given that my alma mater Navy’s longtime head coach Al Cantello died yesterday. He coached my Navy ‘87 classmate Ron Harris to 3rd in the 1996 Olympic Trials 5k behind Bob Kennedy (who I’m sure you know)…..Al also attended the Space Shuttle Columbia launch of Pilot Willie McCool ‘83, who died upon re-entry in 2003. Willie was Navy’s cross country captain his senior year; he had graduated in 1983 and was at the airport to pick up incoming plebe Ron for our Induction Day in July 1983. 

The Navy cross country course now has a memorial to Willie approximately 16 minutes from the finish line; the Columbia disintegrated 16 minutes prior to landing. 

A favorite story was of Al, Don (Tarzan) Bragg, and Dave Sime shimmying up the Rome Olympic flagpole during the 1960 Games and pilfering the Olympic flag!

RIP Al, that crusty old Marine (and javelin WR holder turned distance coach). 

Nick













If i can do anything well, it involves nerding out on Olympic Track and Field!!!







Sunday, October 1, 2023

SHS 40th

There is terror…there is madness…and there is a high school reunion. 



Traveling clothes at the ready. 

Can’t believe I’m smiling….a 4 hour delay because the mechanic can’t isolate a water leak in the galley. 

Finally on the ground; two trains later, the sleepy hamlet of Somerville, NJ. 

And I do as one does; two slices at Central!!!

Now a walkabout to work off the pepperoni. 

Iconic Hotel has been around forever. The folks who run this place must know what they’re doing. 

My old church. 

When I lived here in 1998, neighbor Tom was picking up steam in his design career. Incredible store; i think he did a project with Martha. 

It…..has…..begun…….Felipe set up lunch at Wolfgang’s, and Bob limped in with a busted foot. 

Felipe is in the wine business and brought some samples that the restaurant wouldn’t let us open. Then Shawn, the erstwhile Mayor, who always knows a guy who knows a guy, gets a thumb’s up. 

Good stuff, Felipe. 

My classmates have an interesting idea of finger food. 

I don’t do much beef, but this porterhouse was perfect. And no, this wasn’t all for me!

Oh, but we’re just getting warmed up. 

Motley crew, indeed. Bob, Felipe, Shawn, Kevin. 

What’s a reunion without a football game? 

We received some remnants from the NYC storm, but it wasn’t bad.

Longtime Ville resident (and our resourceful QB) Jeff would walk past my house regularly. Chris was the star twirler, now curing cancer in DC. 

Time to saddle up!



I take on a critical role: bouncer. 

Didn’t get the ten bucks a head I wanted, but Darren did buy me a couple of Blanton’s. Thanks, DB!!

It was hysterical watching the Ubers pull up to the curb! Alaskan Mike left NJ in college and never came back. You want food porn, look at his pix of freshly caught salmon….but I don’t know about the bear cam in his backyard!

Chris is still working on his great tan out in Tucson. 

Mike was a finalist for Best Dressed, most definitely. 

Ft Collins resident Lynn has a busy schedule; i haven’t been able to connect with her out in Colorado yet. Ricky is loving Chicago, and knows of the Purple Pig (great tapas). 


Vickie, Eric, Karlyn, Christine


Jim was our class cut-up, always laughing. Now he’s in charge of all computing services everywhere (or at least at Prudential). I will forever excoriate him for becoming so damned respectable. 


Steve and Wendy. We were sitting outside when a group of kids walks by…they saw the reunion sign and said, “Oh, we went to SHS.”

Really? What year? 

The one wearing the Woodstock shirt said “2012.”

Steve exploded, “we were ALIVE during Woodstock!”

The kids ran to find their mommas. We laughed. 


Chuck, Felipe, Sue. 


Laura M. 

Sue and Deb, BFFs since around birth. 

Annette, Karlyn. 

Did I mention the footwear? Renee and Felipe killing it. 

Laura too.  


And Karlyn. 

Steven brought out some blackmail material….Heather, Mary, Kathy, Felipe, and some guy who was always eating. 

I don’t know what Maura was telling me here, but I gotta enjoy my sulk face. Or maybe Stallone? 

Jamie and Beth. I remember the nasty broken wrist he suffered after jumping a foot above the rim…he didn’t need the reminder. 

Best friend Noel, that knucklehead. 


Early Sunday morning, some miscreant was seen doing lunges down Main Street. But he was wearing the proper school colors, so the cops let him off with a warning. 



A last minute run thru the church where I grew up…

Ah, yes….the handbells 




I realize my man Steve is involved with the musical portion….been 40 years since I’ve seen him!


This is the real Steve…some things never change!

Thanks to the reunion crew for a great time!