With most of the talk recently centered on WVU basketball and the coaching change, I was ready for some positive sports news. On July 4th my wife and I took a ride up to Cleveland. We do that every so often, especially when we get hungry for something we can’t get around here.

We took off about 10:30 in the morning expecting to make it there around 2 pm. I know it sounds stupid but when you’re craving real original Big Boy restaurant food there are two Elias Brothers Big Boys right off 1-480 about 15 miles apart. We made it to the one near Parma on the West Side at 2:15 and it was nearly empty which made it great for us. We both ordered the same thing, Swiss Miss with extra sauce on a white bun. I had their onion rings and she had fries. We felt like two kids in a candy store. It was delicious and just as we remembered in the old days.

After eating we got in the right lane/wrong lane, and had to wait for 45 minutes not knowing that the Sheetz gas line was the one we were in. However, we skipped that stop and continued downtown where we picked up a couple good seats for the Guardians vs Atlanta game. We had about 3.5 hours before game time to kill so we went to the lake and walked around Edgewater Park. We also enjoyed a nice cold Italian Ice while setting on the park bench.

The game ended up being the highlight of the trip with the Guardians taking an early 2-0 lead on a double by Amed Rosario who also homered in the sixth to make it 4-3. The braves scored four time in the fifth to take the lead. Anyhow without getting into all the stats the Guardians won it in the bottom of the 10th. Atlanta has the best record in both leagues and had won 17 of their last 18 games before running into a good looking Cleveland team. By the time we left the stadium to head home on 1-77 the firewoks had started. Downtown Cleveland was lit up and what a sight over the 947 foot tall Key Tower and the big Terminal Tower which at 771 feet is still a landmark after completion in 1927. That’s the good news.

Other good news is all the local coaches are now in place with Tyler Consolidated’s Superintendent of schools Shane Highley reportedly announced as the new girls varsity basketball coach. A lot of ex-mountaineers are taking assistant jobs for WVU basketball which seems to be a good thing, hopefully they can get the head job figured out before the season starts. Ex-WVU running back and Weirton High alumni Quincy Wilson has accepted a job on the coaching staff at Fairmont University.

Best of luck to Conner Baily of Tyler Consolidated who signed to play basketball for Wheeling University. He is a good ball handler and can distribute the basketball well. Wishing him much success.

I see a lot of the ladies out on the Bruce Park tennis court where they have installed a couple pickleball courts on one side. Watching them play the other morning from the car and it looked like they could give the guys a good run for their money. Also at Bruce Park I noticed the basketball court has been busy in the evening hours. Get out there and shoot on the outdoor court, if you can learn to make it outside you’ll find inside shooting is much easier.

Made my annual trip to the Tyler County Speedway this past Saturday for the 36th Annual Earl Hill Memorial. It was a postoned event that was origially scheduled for July 2 but track conditions didn’t allow it. What a great night as it was also Banner Night Art Project for the kids prior to the action. I don’t get to go to the races to often, but when I do I usually wear a mask because of the dust. However it was a great night of fun and something I wish I could do more often. A great track, great fans, great sportsmanship and great drivers and racing. A real good time for all. I am still trying to get the dust off my truck. The car wash didn’t work so hand washing is next.

Good luck to everyone during the next month or so before school starts back up. Get out and enjoy the rest of summer. Labor Day weekend will be upon us soon.