With the Superbowl behind us and the winter olypmics still taking center stage, there’s just a few comments that must be made. First off, the halftime show of the big game didn’t amount to a pint of beans as far as I’m concerned. However, I wouldn’t care who performed, it would not please everyone. This year I just left the room and not for any reason other than I don’t like that kind of so called music.

I don’t know if I’ve ever really cared who performed because I sit down to watch the ball game and haltime has always meant a break for me. The other thing is everyone commenting on their party foods. I like food just as well as the next person, but what I have never been able to figure out is how “Wings” got so popular. We decided to have wings this year to go along with chips, soft drinks (LoL), and several other, including a variety of sweets and a huge veggie tray.

We purchased 50 wings, and I would not be afraid to bet my soul that there wasn’t one pound of meat on them, including the sauce. For sure they made a mess and twice they fall apart and landed on the floor. I will say my dog had a feast. Give me shrimp, veggies, dip, chips, and chocolate cake and I’m good. Back in my younger days I would have needed a six pack of Carling Black Label! And before you say anything about my beer choice remember I’m from Cleveland!

I received a call last week from an old friend and ex-Paden City great athlete, Garry Lyle. Normally I won’t answer when the I.D. says Florida or I don’t recognize the number, but this time I did, and I’m glad I did. Garry and I spent about 45 minutes on the phone. He’s a true down to earth person who knows all about sports. If any of you remember he played professionally with the Chicago Bears back in the late 60’s and 70’s. He was an all-pro defensive back. Look him up on google.

Garry’s brother Arcelius (Ace) was a great high school basketball player for Paden City and led the Cat’s to their first ever state championship under the guideance of Coach Hen Healy in 1960. Ace passed last year from Covid-related illness and Garry wanted to let me and the community know they are having a memorial for him on June 16 in Kingston, Pa. More details will follow as Garry relates them to me. He is hoping some of his brothers ex-classmates will be able to attend. Garry said all are welcome.

A couple years back Garry and his brother David visited Paden City prior to the start of football season to speak with the team with a kind of pep talk to motivate them. It was Coach Zach Heasleys first season with the Cats. He reminded me last week that his brother David has been back to Wildcat country three times since then to watch the Cats in action.

I related a story to Garry about another brother of his Richard (Tug Boat), we were playing little league baseball in the far corner of the high school football field back then around 1964. Richard was a big kid for his age and he came up to bat with no one on and the score tied. He layed into one that went over the center fielders head and landed in the middle of the football field where the sprinkler was on. The center fielder set down and cried because he didn’t want to get wet, and Richard made it around the bases for the winning run. Garry agreed that if he had gone after the ball there was no way Richard would have made it.

I spoke to Steve Billeter of Paden City also last week when running into him in St. Marys, Steve was a good athlete for the Wildcats as was his son Brad. Brad’s son Will was a walk on quarterback for the Mountaineers a few years ago and an outstanding high school quarterback for St. Marys. Steve told me Will just got a nice job with Bass Pro Shops in their corporate offices. Congratulations to Will!

While I’m thinking about it I remember going into Steve’s dad’s barber shop on Main Street in Paden City as a youngster for a hair cut. Seems like everyone got the same cut and a rub down with butch hair wax. Steve told me the other day he’s 72 years old an never paid for a haircut. He said he tried doing it himself, but messed it up and now Pam does it for him. He thinks he never paid, but I remember Jerry making him shovel the driveway and mow the lawn. He paid in lots of ways. And I’ll bet you Pam has made the old boy pay a few times as well!

Something to think on this week, Paden City’s Girls got their first win of the season last week, congratulations to them and coach Josh Fulks. Magnolia boys are playing excellent basketball and might be a tough matchup for the coming sectionals. Senior guard Trevor Williamson and sophomore guard Hayden Pyles are both scorers and stand about 6’3″. Williamson recently went over 1,000 points for his career.

Speaking of good basketball, the Silver Knights are a nice team and have one of the states best players in Caleb Strode who has rattled the net all season and recently set a school single game scoring record at Tyler Consolidated with a 47 point outburst against Doddridge County. He followed that up with three straight 20 plus games. Plus he hit for his 1, 000 point last week. Watch out for the Knights as well as sectional play begins.

One more thing to mention, Paden City girls came in fifth place among 38 teams in the girls state wrestling championships held at the Elite Center in Parkersburg. Quite an accomplishment.

Several local wrestlers made it through the regionals and will be heading to Huntington next week for the state wrestling championships. Good luck to all.