Bits & Pieces

By Kim J. Harmon

Wow – I never realized what a rush it was to see one of your kids in uniform.

I have always been proud of my kids and really enjoyed watching them play basketball in the Waterbury YMCA youth leagues and swim with the North End Middle School team. Heck, I get all misty-eyed whenever I see my daughter, my oldest, acting in one of her school productions (even if it’s a dramatic or comedic role!)

But I’ll tell you, it was something else seeing my middle son in uniform for the first time for the North End Middle School basketball team. With the Rams going up against their biggest rivals last week, Wallace Middle School (which feeds Crosby High, picked by Sports Illustrated as one of the top 50 schools in the nation), man, I was nervous.

And I wasn’t even the one out there!

Ben played about 10 minutes, scored a point at the foul line, and his team won a 71-70 decision that went down to the final possession and final rush down the floor (Wallace was unable to get a shot off at the buzzer).

What an experience.

For my son – and for me.

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This is your final chance to nominate someone for the Newtown Bee Sportsman of the Year Award. The award goes to someone (be it a player, a coach, a fan, an organizer or a supporter) who has made an impact on Newtown sports in the last year.

Just jot down a brief resume and reasons why you think this person should be honored and either email us at sports@thebee.com or snail mail us at 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown, 06740. The selection will be announced next month.

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There were 17 swimmers from the Woodbridge Aquatic Club who finished in the top 16 of their respective events at the Connecticut State Age Group championships and all were honored at a recent banquet. And it was nice to see Maggie Hemingway, who swam last year for the Newtown High School girls’ team, was one of those honored.

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There was a time (a long time ago!) when I was a pretty good bowler and carried a 169 average, but I’m probably way to rusty to compete in the 2006 Singles Scratch Tournament sponsored by the Danbury Bowling Association.

The tournament will be held Sunday, January 15, at Brookfield Lanes on Federal Road. The tournament – which starts at 1 am (with check in at 12 noon) – is sanctioned by the United States Bowling Congress.

Entry fee is $50 (if entry is received by January 2; walk-in entry fee is $60). First-place prize will be $500.

The field is limited to 80 bowlers.

Now, if I could just find my ball bag and my shoes I’d be in business.

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Come on, we all know there are a lot of people out there who are reckless on the roads or inconsiderate in the parking lots, but why is it that snowstorms and holidays make them even worse? I was out in the storm a couple of weeks ago and, I’ll tell you, there were people pulling off moves I wouldn’t attempt on dry pavement.

Funny thing was, the only accident I saw was an SUV – a vehicle built for rugged, off-road travel – that had slid off the road and into someone’s porch.