Zippity Zamboni !!

Breathes there a fan with a soul so dead that never once sat in a rink and thought:

WOULDN'T IT BE A GAS TO DRIVE THE ZAMBONI?

Of course you have.  Admit it.  Everyone wants to take the icer for a spin, maybe slip-sliding around the corners and steaming designs into the surface.

Well, thanks to the good folks at the Gardens Ice House in Laurel, you can learn to do just that.

Yes, one of the premier indoor skating facilities in the state is offering Driver's Ed for aspiring Zamboni-ites.  And the next class is registering now.

Ice House has a fleet of  four to keep their rinks in top shape.  But don't think this means bumper cars or drag racing on ice.  These vehicles cost about $80,000 each, so you won't be joy riding in them.

For the last several years, Ice House has hosted Zamboni driving schools around the holidays. Actually,  Zamboni classes are given frequently, but this time of year makes a lesson a particularly nice gift for those who have everything.

In addition to learning how to operate the Zamboni, students will also be given a history lesson about the innovative machines and the family who built them by hand shortly after World War II using the frames of old army jeeps.

The engineering principles of the ice cutter and melter will be explained, and after you know all the mechanics of the machine, you'll be allowed to take it for a spin.

Proceeds from the class tuition will go towards maintaining the stable of Zambonis and also supporting the Ice House's youth hockey program and elite travel squad.

Opened in 1996, the Gardens Ice House is home to the Potomac Curling Club and the University of Maryland hockey team, among others.   They have three sheets of ice - two NHL size, and one Olympic rink. During the summer, two of the rinks are used for roller hockey while the third is maintained for ice skating.

Ice House has spectator seating, a cafe, and pro shop.  You can rent skates (figure and hockey), and take lessons.  There are also party rooms, a fitness center, and meeting or conference facilities.
All that, and Zamboni Ed, too.

Team Terry on Track

It was inevitable that Terry’s efforts to reel in more of the lucrative youth tournament market would take him around the track. Particularly when the facilities and access in Maryland are so attractive for regional competitions. It was only a matter of time before a major governing body like USA Track and Field came calling, and that’s where Terry and Tweety were this week when soccermania started to swirl.

The site visit took them first to Landover, where the Prince George’s County Sports and Learning Complex is located on 80 acres next to FedEx field. As the name indicates, the facility is all about showcasing scholastic athletes in a four star setting.

While it includes a natatorium and Bermuda grass football/lacrosse fields, the arena and indoor/outdoor competition tracks make it the Holy Grail of youthful harriers. The Prince George’s facility, constructed with public and private sector resources, is managed by the National Capital Park and Planning Commission. It is being considered for the 2013 Masters Indoor Championship.

The arena, with its field house, 200 meter Mondo track, fitness room, gymnastics facility, and aquatics center - all linked by an atrium and overhead observation areas -- is a knockout in the “wow” factor. Add all the onsite parking and nearby interstate access and you can see why Terry was so eager to show it off.

Morgan State is in the hunt to land the 2012 Junior Olympic Championships. The rambling urban campus with its stadium and 400 meter Mondo track (that’s the same surface used in the Olympics) traditionally hosts the Maryland State Track and Field championships in the spring.

As luck would have it, Team Terry has leave for Virginia Beach for the final presentation of the bids to USATF right after we learn about the 2022 World Cup. The good news is the governing body will make their decisions about both events on December 3rd. So hopefully we’ll be celebrating a lot the first week of December.

In any case, we know the visitors were greatly impressed with what Maryland has to offer. It won’t be the last time we are considered for major track and field tournaments.

Deluge in a Drought

Terry was telling me about a major event taking place on the Potomac this past weekend -- the Olympic qualifying USA Canoe/Kayak Slalom National Championships, the country's premier white-water paddling event.

That must be a real trick, said I.  As well known as the Potomac is for its thrilling falls around the Pencil Sharpener, Pummel and the downright scary Mather Gorge, this hasn't exactly been the year for whitewater.  Or any other kind of water for that matter.  The drought this summer has reduced many rapids to sputtering streams.

Not so in Dickerson, said Terry.  Mother Nature gets all sorts of help from energy giant PEPCO, who provide a steady flow of thermal treated waves as part of their turbine system.

You might wonder how on earth a security conscious public utility and whitewater competitors looking for a challenging course could devise such a splendid facility.  The answer is -- the Barcelona Olympics.

Although the Potomac had always been a regular stop on the circuit because of the aforementioned features, the problem was consistency (as we've seen this year)  Weather conditions produced unpredicatable experiences and top level athletes needed a course with a reliable flow.  And there, right along the Potomac and C&O Canal, was the answer.  A byproduct of energy production, just waiting for adaptive reuse.

Since 1959, the 900 foot long channel has returned cooling water from the Dickerson Generating Station to the Potomac River, 41 miles upstream from Washington. Water is pumped from the river to cool the power plant's three coal-fired generators, and then emptied into the channel for gravity flow back to the river

This is what the 40-foot-wide concrete channel that returned warm-water discharge from the generators back to the Potomac looked like in 1991.  That's right -- warm water.  The first artificial whitewater slalom in the country is actually a linear Jacuzzi that can be used all year round.

In 1991, an aspiring Olympian sold his idea of converting the chute to two of the power plant managers, and, in support of the 1992 Olympics team, and PEPCO approved the insertion of approximately 75 artificial concrete boulders and two wing dams into the channel.

Today, the course has four 200 foot sections, connected in a straight line, end-to-end, with a 2-foot drop at the end of each section. A final 100-foot section ends in the river, with or without a drop, depending on the river level. Overall slope adds another seven feet of drop, for a total course drop of 15 feet plus zero to four feet into the river at the end.

It is, by any standards, a splendid course.  You can see the results of the competition at Bethesda Center of Excellence, who operate the USA Canoe/Kayak National Training Center.

Gold Medalist Joe Jacobi, a native of Bethesda, trained on the Potomac as a youngster and was one of those who rode the artificial course to the top of the Olympic podium in 1992.   Jacobi now heads USA Canoe/Kayak, the governing body for U.S. racing.

So it is a pretty good guess that the Olympians you'll be seeing in London in 2012 were splashing around the Potomac this weekend.  It's worth noting that Maryland also has another of only three artificial whitewater courses in the country.  Farther (a lot farther) up the Potomac in Garrett County you'll find Adventure Sports Center on a mountaintop near Deep Creek Lake.  This whitewater facility opened in 2007 and is open to the general public as well as the venue for national and international competitions.

Once again, Mother Nature, with a little help from her friends, has provided Maryland with some top quality venues prove we're Here To Play -- on every level.

Terry and a Tale of Two Cities

Happy Labor Day!  Terry and at least one of the Merry Marketeers will celebrate by working, because this Labor Day is a big one for sports in Maryland.

First Terry.  Today is his ultra important face to face with the decision makers of FIFA (arguably a more powerful governing body than most countries in the UN.)  Terry and other representatives from Maryland will be part of the pitch to select the US for the World Cup in 2018 or 2022.  Each of the 18 cities that comprise the US bid will be there for a reception and meeting.

Maryland has two venues in the bid -- M&T Bank Stadium and FedEx Field.  Which brings us to the other things keeping the Merry Marketeers busy on this day of alleged rest.

Our two NFL venues will be filled today, with non-NFL activities.   The Hokies of Virginia Tech will be playing the blue fielders of Boise State, on prime time at FedEx Field.   Because the game is in a high profile location between two preseason favorites for national honors, it is being televised nationally, giving FedEx a day in the sun (actually under the lights) at the same time their merits are being pitched for FIFA.

But that's not all.  Earlier in the day, just a few miles up I-95, M&T Bank Stadium will be rocking with the Maryland-Navy Crab Bowl Classic.  This grudge match between the two D1 programs in the state will take place at 4:00 PM, immediately before the VT-BS, game and will also be nationally televised on ESPN.

So both professional stadiums in Maryland will get a chance to shine on this beautiful September day.  I'll be around Camden Yards to take pictures of all the pagaentry (and tailgating) that goes with the event that both schools consider a home game. 

No matter who emerges victorious in these contests, the true winner is the State of Maryland.

Keep your fingers crossed for Terry as he works the high octane crowd.  Remember, we'll get the decision from FIFA the first week of December.  We're in the final stretch of what has been a long and intense bidding process.  Maryland distinguished itself well in the race to reach 1,000,000 signatures for the petition to bring the games to the US.  We have top-quality facilities and a dynamic demographic that makes our state a desirable location for any event.  Thanks to the efforts of all those who participated in the bid, our assets are well documented, as is our enthusiasm for the sport and the World Cup games.

Now all we can do is wait . . . (and cheer for Terry.)

Closing a Gap, Opening a Window

It's a small segment when you talk about trails, only two miles.  But the $1.3 million link, which began construction this week and is expected to be completed by the end of the year, will connect 24 miles of existing Maryland trails that end near Bladensburg Waterfront Park to 16 miles of planned trails in Washington, D.C.

Along the way, it will give commuters, recreational cyclists, and nature lovers access to the Anacostia River and the $8.5 million wetland rehabilitation project the state completed in 2006, which has been inaccessible to visitors. The new trail, which will run alongside the river, will allow hikers and bikers to enjoy the nearly 22 acres of wetlands and wildlife, which includes nesting bald eagles.

This "missing link" will complete trails that connect neighborhoods, Metro stations, parks, the University of Maryland, several schools, an airport, the Washington Nationals' Stadium and the National Mall at the Tidal Basin.  In other words, there's a lot of bang for the bucks invested by the State of Maryland and the National Capital Parks and Planning Commission for both transportation and recreation purposes. 

Since Bladensburg, like Baltimore, was the site of a major battle in the War of 1812 (big difference --- the home team lost and the White House got torched) we guess they will also be players in the upcoming Bicentennial celebration the State is planning.

While this particular link was at the very top of Governor O'Malley's "To Do" list, there are other trail projects quietly moving along various stages of development.  If you want to see just how far these plans have progressed, there is a wonderful interactive map created by the Maryland Department of Transportation, compiled from information from the counties, municipalities, and other state agencies like DNR and DBED.  Click on the tab "Trails in Maryland" at this website:

As cycling and running become more a part of the Maryland sports scene, we point to these projects as examples of the facilities for training as well as competitions, and our commitment to sustainability.  These linear parks enhance quality of life as they bridge communities and provide safe alternative transportation.

Tarzan in the Tree Tops

When last we visited Lake Needwood Park in Rockville, it was for the whimsical and chaotic Run A Muck, a 5K slog through the mud and slime.

Now it seems the truly adventurous are taking to the trees in a test of athletic ability, strength and agility. 

Go Ape, a concept developed in the UK, has now swung into Rockville.  It is a giant obstacle course built in the trees using ladders, walkways, bridges and tunnels made of wood, rope and super-strong wire.

Go Ape partnered with the Montgomery County to offer this outdoor recreational facility on park property.  It has been open only since May 8th and has already captured the imagination of groups and families who regard the challenge as a team building (and bonding) experience.

In addition to the zip lines through the canopy, thrill seekers also climb rope ladders and sweep from tree to tree like Cheetah.

The entire course takes two or three hours to complete (and yes, they do require swingers to take a 45 minute safety course prior to heading aloft.)

Those who have taken the challenge describe it as exhilarating.  (Of course, these are some of the same folks who think it's a gas to slop through a swamp in a funny costume.)  But it's getting great reviews even from mainstream outdoors enthusiasts.

While not for the faint-hearted or acrophopic, frolicking through the treetops sounds like a real hoot.  Another good reason (along with climbing the Carderock cliffs or shooting the Great Falls rapids) for the adrenalin rushed to visit Montgomery County.  Grab your banana and GO.

The Scenic Skies of Sugarloaf

This must be Maryland's month for transcontinental competition.  Last Friday, the Race Across America cyclists pedaled into Annapolis after a journey that began in Oceanside, California.

This Friday, a fleet of different vehicles will alight in Frederick after a multi-staged, 2,500 race that begins tomorrow in Fort Myers, Florida.  The Women’s Air Race Classic, which began in 1929, was made famous by Amelia Earhart.  This year, the race course brings her sisters in the celestial sorority to Maryland.

More than 50 teams (pilot and navigator) will be flying instrument-free, using their skills and finesse to manueuver among clouds and windstreams in an effort to clock the best times in the handicapped race.

In all, the race covers eleven states, with eight stops in four days.  It is a celebration of the role women have played in aviation history, and is an opportunity for all involved in general aviation to be a part of the fun.  This year’s race falls in the centennial of licensed women pilots and includes pilots ranging from college students to grandmothers.  Some of the pioneers, like the World War II WASPs, will be a part of the festivities.

The Frederick Terminus of the Air Race Classic is organized by the Sugarloaf Chapter of "The Ninety-Nines," a women pilots association.  It offers the opportunity for competitors and spectators to celebrate in style with the post-race “Meltdown Party,” in casual 1929-style.

On Saturday, there will be a special screening of “Breaking Through the Clouds: The First Women’s National Air Derby,” a documentary about the first race.

There are a full weekend of activities, including the awards ceremony at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center.   In all, it's the opportunity to meet a spirits group of competitors, learn more about this history of aviation, and enjoy a visit to Frederick.

Game On!!! in Frederick, too

Terry reminded us yesterday that the Frederick Indoor Sports Complex was having their own family fun event this Saturday, centered by the big screen broadcast of the USA-England World Cup match.

This impressive facility was part of Team Terry's visit to Capital Region Maryland a few weeks ago, where he learned that several hundred of their faithful are expected to drop in for the festivities.

The Frederick region has a dynamic youth sports network (hockey is also big there, as is swimming) and they are building the facilities to support it. Terry said the Indoor Sports Complex is a major hub of this year round activity.

So if you're in Capital Region Maryland and want a day of family fun with fellow soccer-philes, check out the Indoor Sports Complex.  Directions available by clicking the link above.

REMEMBER TO SIGN THAT ONLINE PETITION TO BRING THE WORLD CUP HERE !!!

Team Terry on Tour – The Treasures of Frederick County

Perhaps you entered Frederick County to check out Civil War battle sites, but you will quickly find an abundance of sports culture. Frederick has everything to offer from outdoor BMX skate parks to indoor hockey and ice skating, and plenty of soccer and baseball in between.

The first venue we visited on our trip was the Frederick Indoor Sports Center. The FISC had a lot of potential under its previous ownership, but it has really taken a huge leap in the past year with new owners Jay Jeffrey and Tony Checchia. Jay and Tony were long time players at the FISC and dreamed of the ultimate indoor sports complex.

Currently they house Soccer, Lacrosse, and Flag football teams, as well as recreational play on their two full sized turf fields but they are hoping to expand their facility towards dodge ball, field hockey, kickball, and competitive running in the near future. We even got wind of the quirky; although very athletic LFL (Lingerie Football League) using the facility for their team training camp.

After upgrading the two turfs Jay and Tony added a sports lounge. You no longer have to wait in a stinky locker room for your teams turn at the pitch; you can have a full meal with a sideline view! The lounge will get a lot of action come June, as they are hosting viewing parties for all of the games in the World Cup!

Just a stones throw away from the FISC we landed ourselves at Skate Frederick, an indoor ice arena. As with many of us, Frederick was not able to avoid Mother Nature and her evil snow storms this past winter and Skate Frederick fell victim to her as well. After clearing one of their sheets of ice for a bit of spring cleaning they noticed a pipe burst under the ice.

Although they are down one rink it didn’t look to be slowing them down whatsoever, as one of the few facilities in the region that is open 365 days a year, patrons just learned to share the ice a little. The second sheet is on track to be laid within the next month, and the facility will be back up to its former glory in no time.

From there we made our way into the City of Frederick, where we met up with Roelkey Myers, the Director of Frederick City Parks and Rec. It is so apparent the role that history plays in the town of Frederick when we entered the Frederick Sports Hall of Fame; there are pictures and autographed sports equipment dating back to the 1800’s.

We then made our way to McCurdy field, a beautiful stadium used by the Babe Ruth Little League.

The next stop was very exciting because neither Marketeer had been to a full scale skate park before. The Hillstreet Skate Park is a very large venue with multiple bowls, rails, banks and ledges, each at various degrees of difficulty. The scariest being the clover shaped bowl with a straight 13 foot drop down.


You can’t talk sports in Frederick without going to see a Frederick Keys baseball game in Harry Grove Stadium! Thanks to Dave Ziedelis, the General Manager for the Keys, we had the best seat in the house. It turned out to be a perfect day for baseball. Unfortunately the Keys were not blessed with the same luck. They had a bit of a rough start, and although they rallied in the fourth to come back from a 6-0 start the Nationals took the win. It seemed like a recurring theme with the Nat’s and O’s last week.

Our last stop on the tour was the Athletic Department at Mount St. Mary’s University. With the grotto of the Gods starring down the hill at them it is no wonder that the Athletic Department has had so much success. It doesn’t hurt to have top notch facilities.

The first being the Olympic sized training pool. In the same building there is the beautiful Knott Arena, where the stands are as pretty as the court; everything is touched in a warm, inviting hardwood. Going out the back side of the Knott Athletic Complex is the most beautiful view. To paint a picture for you, we were standing atop a set of stairs staring down a single lane road that looks like its driving off into the sunset. On either side of the road are baseball and softball fields. Slightly off to the left is a competition sized track and field facility. Due to the flat, wide open plane the throwing and jumping events are susceptible to winds. So in an effort to prevent delays they added an extra running lane so they could change directions with the wind.

The most notable field is the Waldron Family Field which houses the Mounts Men’s and Woman’s Soccer and Lacrosse teams. The field glows it is so perfectly green and the stands are pretty enough to rival any pro stadium. It is no wonder that Assistant Athletic Director Mike Hardisky travels over an hour to work everyday. It must be worth it to arrive at such a thriving and absolutely breathtaking sports complex.

Spinning Statewide

Historical fact:   the first bicycle arrived in Leonardtown on a steamship in 1879.  The folks in Patuxent Velo have been celebrating this historic occasion for 13 years with a professional level race through the streets of historic downtown Leonardtown. 

This year's edition of the Leonardtown Criterium will take place on Sunday, May 16th. There will be nine different races held throughout the day, including one kids race. Spectators are invited to come out and cheer from the sidelines along the Leonardtown Square as the cyclists race by.

One week later is the annual Bike Jam in Patterson Park, a favorite of pedal pushers everywhere.  Like the Leonardtown Crit, it involves professional cyclists competing for cash prizes, as well as a community festival and celebration of bicycling as a fitness regimen, recreational endeavor, and transportation alternative.  Patterson Park, in east Baltimore, is a midtown oasis just above Canton. 

Patterson Park and Canton are also competition grounds for the hilarious counter culture bicycle competition known as the Kinetic Sculpture Race, which takes place this Saturday.

Beginning at the Visionary Art Museum, the wacky array of contestants parade down Boston Street before testing their amphibious capabilities at the boat launch in Canton.  If they don't sink (lifeguards in kayaks on duty) they progress to Patterson Park for an endurance test through the mud.  The vehicle deemed most mediocre wins the competition.

(While the merits of this triathlon as a legitimate sports challenge may be questionable, it is a favorite in both the artistic and cycling communities.  Until you've seen a bicycle-powered vehicle drive off a ramp into Baltimore harbor, you haven't experienced Charm City culture.)

Of course in June, the ultra-endurance Race Across America finishes in Annapolis.   245 cycling enthusiasts will begin pedaling in a six- to nine-day bicycle race that starts in California. Over the course of their journey, they will ride 3,000 miles through 14 states.  There are even some locals competing, which you can read about in our media section.

As long as we're talking bicycles, I have to give a shout out again to Spokes, the Frederick based magazine that covers all things bicycle in the mid Atlantic region.  Spokes is behind the nascent Tour de Frederick, which will take place August 13-15. 

Spokes is a great source of calendar events about local competitions of all stripes, as it the website BikeRide.

So you can see how much enthusiasm there is in Maryland for cyclists and their contests.  So it is a good time to harness all these sources and regions to put together a mega media event that would involve the entire state (and its diverse geography) in a week-long challenge.  That's why Team Terry is holding a meeting on June 3 at 10 am at the Sheraton Annapolis on Jennifer Road for Medalist Sports to make a preliminary presentation to cycling enthusiasts, county leaders, and tourism officials about staging a Tour de Maryland.

Give Terry a buzz at (410) 767-3373 if you'd like to come.  Medalist Sports has staged premiere events all over the world.  They're the best in the business and we'd love to have them do something here.  So put June 3rd on your calendar and pedal on over.

Cheer, cheer . . .

. . . . for another great event coming to Maryland!  Yesterday afternoon, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame (favorite team of an unnamed member of Team Terry) announced they would be playing a home game against the University of Maryland at FedEx in November 2011.

That's right, no Golden Dome but still plenty of Notre Dame amenities, which translates into major television coverage (that means national broadcast,) huge ticket sales, and plenty of alumni tailgates and private parties.

The operative word here is "home" because the Terps don't have to give up any dates at Byrd to accommodate this crowd pleaser.  As part of the outreach to their international constituency (you find Notre Dame fans in every parish) Notre Dame is scheduling an occasional "home" game in places other than South Bend to minister the faithful.  Think of it as a pilgrimage, or crusade of sorts.  Like missionaries to the far flung flock.

(I've seen this phenomenon at M&T, so I know of which I speak.  Even a few Mids were moving their lips to the famous fight song.  After countless viewings of Knute Rockne-All American and Rudy, I can relate.)

However you look at this, it means big bucks for Maryland, as this will be a tourist attraction as well as national sporting event.  FedEx holds more than 90,000 and it will certainly be a sell-out.

So congratulations to FedEx, the Terps, and the Irish for putting together this deal that is certain to be a hot ticket next year.  And remember, you can also see the Terps battle Navy at M&T on Labor Day this year.  Consider that a home game for all concerned.

Curling on Cue

I grew up in Laurel and worked summers as a lifeguard at Gunpowder Golf Club.  I hadn't been there in many, many years, so it came as quite a surprise when I learned (via Sports Marketing) that the complex, now part of Fairland Recreational Park, includes the Gardens Ice House.  The Ice House is a skating center, home of the University of Maryland's ice hockey team, several youth hockey leagues and a number of aspiring figure skaters and ice dancers.

The Gardens Ice House is also the home of the National Capital Curling Center, where the Potomac Curling Club competes and trains.

This weekend, the Potomac Curling Club is hosting an open house, where they will teach visitors the art of curling.   Anyone watching the Winter Olympics (and isn't that all of us?) is mystified by curling -- a quirky sport that requires the strategy and gamesmanship of chess with the cutthroat ruthlessness of shuffleboard and hand-eye coordination of bowling or horseshoes.

As if those talents didn't rule out my participation, it also takes place on a sheet of ice, which I've experienced enough walking to work these past few days.  I don't do ice, unless there is a spritzer involved.

Therefore, Tweety is covering the Curling Club, and hopefully will take a shot with a stone or at least wield a broom (which looks too much like housekeeping to interest me.)

Terry and I were watching some Olympic curling competitions yesterday and wondered if the curlers (is that what they're called?) were allowed to grease their marbles to make it glide better, or if the sweepers could somehow paste their bristles to create grooves on the ice to steer the stones.  We weren't sure if this would constitute cheating or not.  We're hoping Tweety can enlighten us on curling ethics when she returns.

So don't suffer from curling envy.  You don't have to venture to Vancouver to appreciate the sport.  You can try it yourself.  Check out the Potomac Curling Club to learn more about this game of strategy and fellowship that is sweeping the nation.  And wait for Tweety's report to learn more about the curling enthusiasts.

Nice Ice!

Terry likes to remind Tweety and Blogue, the Sports Marketeers, that attracting mega events to Maryland begins with hosting successful regional tournaments. That’s how you establish a good track record in the community and reputation within the industry.

When the office of Sports Marketing was established a little over a year ago, its mission was to identify and bring events and activities to Maryland, help existing ones grow, and eventually develop new ones. It is the second part of that mission that took Team Terry to Cabin John Ice Rink in Montgomery County to learn more about the 2010 South Atlantic Regionals, taking place this October 9-13.

The name is a bit of a misnomer. The regional event is part of a longer qualifying circuit. More than 700 top skaters from all along the East Coast (from southern Pennsylvania to Florida) will skate in the 2010 South Atlantic Regionals, and compete for a spot at the U.S. Championships which leads to a place in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

The Washington Figure Skating Club and the host Cabin John Ice rink are eager to show support and enthusiasm for these aspiring Olympians during their visit here. We’d like to see more competitions on Maryland ice.

With our temperate climate, Maryland doesn't immediately come to mind when you think of ice activities. But there are a number of facilities -- indoor and out -- which accommodate figure skaters, hockey teams, and curlers.

(That’s right – the athletes who slide and sweep granite stones are known as “curlers.” We have them -- and their bonspiels -- here in Maryland.)

When the Capitals left Largo for their new pond in DC, they also left their practice facility in Piney Orchard. Their departure opened the ice for recreational, prep and college hockey teams as well as figure skating classes. Multi-use facilities in Frederick and Laurel also accommodate team and individual sports. A beautiful new facility on the banks of the Severn was completed a few years ago for the Midshipmen of the Naval Academy. Their annual Crab Pot Tournament is now held at McMullen Hall every February.

So Maryland is poised for more action on the ice, whether it be triple axels or hat tricks. We just need to show we have the support to make these events a success. Stay tuned for more on the upcoming competition in Cabin John.

Remembering two sports legends in Montgomery County

Sometimes learning new things opens a nostalgic link with your past. If you're lucky, it brings memories to savor. When the subject is sports, you can almost count on it.

I wasn’t aware of a Summer Collegiate baseball league until my trip to Charles County, where the Cal Ripken Sr. All-Star Game was taking place later that week. Later, I learned about one of the teams, the Maryland Redbirds, because they play on the newest facility in the Ripken complex, a regulation size field modeled after the old Yankee Stadium. Three "I didn't know thats" from one trip to a soccer match. But it gets better.

I cyberstalked the Redbirds to the league championship, where they lost to the powerhouse Big Train from Montgomery County. Big Train? Could that moniker be homage to Walter Johnson, the Washington Senators pitcher whose fastball blazed past batters like a southbound freight?

Johnson, the Babe Ruth contemporary whose Hall of Fame career made Washington a respectable team in those days, has a Montgomery County High School named for him. But did his nickname inspire a college team?

I was tracking the Big Train when derailed yet again. Yes, the team is named for the legendary pitcher. But what’s really neat is where they play. Shirley Povich Field. I was stunned. A ballfield named for Shirley Povich! How cool is that?

I grew up reading the Washington Post, and even as a kid loved the lyrical prose and keen observations of Shirley Povich. He (that’s right – he) was the Post sports editor and his regular column, This Morning, was my first read for many years. (As long as I’m waxing nostalgic, have to mention Bob Addie, another award winning Post columnist known for his rollicking humor and devotion to the Senators. To me, Addie was as entertaining as Povich evocative.)

Shirley Povich covered sports for the Post for as long as many could remember. His career spanned at least 75 years. Although he retired sometime in the 70's, he still contributed to the Post until his death at 92. (As I recall, a column ran the day after he died.)

He was a modest man who seemed to downplay the accolades he received during his amazing career. How appropriate to have a team named for a Washington sports giant play on a field named for a gifted writer who covered him in the hometown paper.

Shirley Povich Field is more than a tribute -- it’s a superb Maryland facility made possible by a private foundation working with Montgomery County Parks and Recreation and the National Capital Park and Planning Commission. The beautiful 1,500 seat park, completed in 1998, is a part of the Cabin John sports complex in Rockville.

In addition to Big Train, another team calls Povich Field home. Since 2000, Georgetown University has played there. It seems Shirley attended law school at Georgetown before realizing his true calling. So a lot of bases (forgive the pun) are covered in this living memorial to a remarkable Marylander.

Team Terry is visiting Cabin John for a look at the complex tomorrow. I know they’ll be impressed with Povich as a top rate facility. But I think they’d appreciate it more if they’d ever read anything by the man it honors. I'll always remember Shirley Povich for making me realize, very early in life, the power of the written word.

Another steller soccer showdown

Terry called this one in as he headed home from FedEx after the DC United-Real Madrid match. He was one of 72,368 who braved heat and humidity (the dreaded double H were in the mid-nineties today) to see the local MLS side take on the Greatest Team Money Can Buy. (Real Madrid recently stunned the soccer world by applying New York Yankee methods to roster development. Several of their $375 million acquistions were unveiled today.)

The high ticket talent eventually prevailed 3-0, but United kept them contained for a good portion of the game, thrilling the hometown fans.

Terry remarked that once again, enthusiasm and attendance showed how supportive Maryland and the Metropolitan region are for soccer. United's fan clubs demonstrated the spirit the franchise is known for with singing, flag waving and drum beating. It was an impressive display for the US bid executives who returned to the region for the FedEx match after attending the friendly two weeks ago at M&T.

We won't know for a few weeks if Maryland makes the cut for consideration in the US bid to host the World Cup, but there is no doubt a strong base of support exists in our state.

Strolling through Seneca

I was in junior high (that’s what they called it back then) when President Kennedy challenged his White House staff to show their “vigah” by hiking 50 miles in a day. The route of choice was the C&O Canal, a preservation cause embraced by Supreme Court Justice and conservationist William O. Douglas.

I don’t remember how many of those New Frontiersman actually hot-footed up the Canal in the spring of 1963, but I do remember a lot of Americans embraced physical fitness at the urging of their energetic Chief Executive. I was determined to hike the C&O canal myself with a group from my hometown, but was talked out of it by my parents who prevailed with a “wait until next year.”

Sadly, there was no next year for President Kennedy. The 50 mile hike does have an interesting legacy in Maryland, though. Every November, there is a 50 mile ultra-marathon, covering parts of the C&O Canal and Appalachian Trail. Hannah Byron’s husband participates almost every year in the JFK Memorial, considered one of the elite ultra-marathon challenges in the country.

However, I never made it to the C&O canal (frat parties at Shepherd don’t count) until last weekend. Instead of 50 miles (we have to make some concessions to age, after all) I settled for 10K. And in the absence of the New Frontier, I went with the Annapolis Amblers, an amiable group of Volksmarchers who were probably in junior high when I was.

This particular volksmarch, organized by the Freestate Happy Wanderers, took us to Seneca. The Wanders charted 5K, 10K and 15K courses. My fellow amblers opted for the 10K, so we set out from Seneca Park to Riley’s Lock. It was a beautiful day, so the trail and park (which included a boat launch on Seneca Creek) were alive with activity. Motorboats, kayaks, canoes and jetskies were on the creek leading to the Potomac. As we reached the lock, we encountered fishermen who cast from the rocks and the aqueduct. Evidently, the mouth of Seneca Creek is a good place to fish since there were boaters with lines as well. Angus Phillips occasionally writes about fishing on the Potomac in the Post, so I’ll have to check this out.

The beauty of volksmarching is the comradery (we assembled as a group and pretty much stayed together in little clusters) and the interest in the route. This particular one incorporated a lot of history (our Civil War buff was delighted to learn JEB Stuart ran his cavalry through Riley’s Lock, burned some barges and drained the canal in 1863) and natural beauty. The canal was full along this particular part of the trail, and we saw turtles floating in the marshes. The Potomac was visible on the other side of the towpath, and we could see fishermen stationed on the rocks not far from the bank. As a part of the National Park Service, the canal is preserved and protected (thanks, Justice Douglas) and, from what I observed after 5K, very well appreciated. Like the Torrey Brown, the towpath has a crushed stone surface that accommodates joggers, cyclists, equestrians, and strollers (we passed them all between the two locks.) Also like the Torrey Brown, it appeals to families and teams in training. We saw quite a few of them as well.

The second part of our hike took us into the woods. The Seneca Creek watershed we followed is part of a “greenbelt” made up of federal, state, county and WSSC properties. A large turnaround pond (the mules didn’t have a reverse) took us off the canal and into the woods. We passed an old processing plant where the stone for the Smithsonian castle was quarried more than 100 years ago. Some of the dark red stones are still in the woods. Before tackling the rugged part of the trail, we stopped at Poole’s General Store. It’s hard to believe that in Montgomery County, just outside Potomac, there’s a 1901 country store that sells hardware, groceries, bedding plants and animal food. It even has a hitching post for customers who ride horses to the market. (Yes, they do. I saw other evidence of their visits.)

From there, it was over the creek (the Seneca seems to be everywhere) and into the state forest. This provided the real adventure (and exercise) of the day. No nice, level, stone surface here. Instead a narrow footpath up and down steep slopes took us through an old growth forest. My cell still had bars, but otherwise, it was a scene straight out of “Last of the Mohicans”. Can’t believe there’s anything that remote in Montgomery County. Thanks to DNR and WSSC, the protected watershed is likely to stay that way.

When we finally returned (amazingly, the Amblers reunited as a group coming into the home stretch) everyone stopped to get “stamped” by the organizing committee. This is part of the culture of volksmarching. Time is not a factor. Getting marked at various pit stops is. Volksmarchers have something like passports, chronicling where they went and how far they hiked.

Another tradition is swapping stories after the hike. A deli in Cabin John was a particular favorite of this group. (After a cholesterol-free “Clara Barton” wrap, I understand why.) Everyone shared their experiences and thoughts, discussed upcoming adventures and compared bumps and bruises.

(There is always someone armed with band-aids, Tylenol and NeoSporum. Likewise, there is always someone who needs them. Remarkably, it wasn’t me this week.)

It was a wonderful experience all around. Volksmarching is an excellent way to incorporate a regular fitness regimen and a congenial support group into a healthy lifestyle. It’s also a means to discover the beauty and history of the C&O Canal, 10K at a time. Thanks for the inspiration, President Kennedy. Sorry it took so long to get there.

Polo in Poolesville

It may be the “Sport of Kings,” but other than Prince Charles, I don’t know anyone who plays. Or how, for that matter. So the prospect of learning more about the sport of polo and seeing an international competition in my home state was entirely too intriguing to miss. That’s why, the week before the equine event most associated with Maryland, I journeyed to Poolesville (Montgomery County) to catch a few chukkers and find out why it is so popular here.

The event was the annual America’s Cup of Polo, held May 8-9 for the first time at the Capitol Polo Club. The Range Rover-sponsored tournament matched a US team against a contingent of Australian all-stars, but participants in the various exhibitions were from all over the world. So were the spectators, many from embassies and international corporate sponsors.

The America's Polo Cup is a philanthropic event, benefiting Journey for the Cure Foundation, and supporting science grants and cancer research. Because modern polo has its origins in the cavalry of the British Commonwealth, international competitions traditionally have a strong military presence.

(Polo was also part of the US army training regimen. George Patton swung a mean mallot and kept a string of ponies when he was stationed at Camp Meade in 1919.)

The US Polo Cup always includes a salute to the military, an impressive part of the festivities. What it doesn't include are coolers or infield volleyball games. This new addition to Maryland equestrian competition is distinctly different from the one running at Pimlico next week.

The first eye opener of the day was the venue. The Capitol Polo Club is located near Poolesville, a little northwest of the Washington Beltway. The park is nearly 600 acres of fields and wooded terrain, part of an equestrian conservation trust. (More on EPIC later) The multi-purpose facilities include three full size polo fields, an outdoor arena, indoor arena and impressive grandstand and clubhouse.

With floating flags and billowing tents, it looked like the tournament grounds at Camelot. Alas, unlike Camelot, rain was permitted to fall and the mud factor was rather intense. Another good reason to have the military around. The ever-resourceful Coast Guard dispatched their chopper. The hovering Zamboni smoothed the playing surface, blew out the bogs, and demonstrated rescue at sea maneuvers prior to the main event. Semper Paratis, indeed.

Despite soggy conditions, the exhibition matches (round robin chukkers among US teams) and the tournament were played before an enthusiastic crowd, where the US defeat the Aussies 4-2. The Beautiful People (and hopefully the handy Coast Guard) will be back next year when the US takes on India. (I don't remember reading this in Rudyard Kipling, but evidently India was a real polo powerhouse during the Empire days.) However, you don't need to wait until next year to capture the flavor of this elegant event.

Media coverage:
MAY 16, 8:00 PM - Prime Time half hour special

Check it online:
http://www.americaspolocup.com/theevent.php

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Facts about Polo:
Polo was once an Olympic sport, last played in the 1936 Berlin games.

Sorry, southpaws, Polo is a right-handed sport. You can swing on the left side of the horse, but the mallot must be held in the right hand. No switch-hitting.

What’s a chukker? A segment of a polo match. There are three chukkers, consisting of seven minutes, in a match.

Where to See it in Maryland:
Polo is played throughout the year. Capitol Polo Club hosts three seasons of polo. In the Spring and Fall they play arena polo, and late spring/summer they play the full grass grounds Beginning in June, the club practices on the grass on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Every Sunday they host a match at 3:00pm, which is open and the public is encouraged to attend

Why Maryland?
Large military presence, international community, and agricultural/equestrian heritage. Polo requires large tracks of flat terrain, and these elements exist in the Washington metropolitan area.. (Polo is also popular in Northern Virginia, and is played on the National Mall in DC.)

Can I Play?
If you’re willing to take lessons. Polo isn’t exactly a pick-up sport and most of us never get any closer than a Ralph Lauren logo, but Maryland has more than one training program. Capitol Polo Club has a beginners program. Check it out at: http://www.capitolpolo.com/
More advanced training is available at Red Eagle Ranch at: http://www.redeagleranch.com/

NEXT WEEK: Grinding with Gatorade