By Kim J. Harmon

It seems that I’m not the only one in a FOUL mood because of this darn weather (this is a family newspaper, so pick a stronger word for darn if you would like). Me, it’s just the fact that I was without heat and hot water for eight days because of a million year old boiler that finally got called to the great scrap heap in the sky. For players and coaches at Newtown High School, having to practice indoors every day because of the snow and rain has jangled some nerves. If the sun doesn’t come out (and STAY out) soon, there may be a revolution . . . when the Newtown High School softball team went down to Wilton on Saturday for a scrimmage, it was the first time the girls had been outside all spring and even then it was RAINING. Someone want to pony up a few million dollars for an indoor practice facility? . . . two new coaches join the stables this spring and three others shift gears. Kathy and Russ Davey – a few months removed from the field hockey program – take over for the girls’ tennis team while former boys’ tennis coach Jen Huettner moves on to assist Jim Casagrande on the golf team. Brian Mecina is the new boys’ lacrosse coach and Marty Margulies is the new boys’ tennis coach. A cast a fine people, of that there can be no doubt . . . believe it or not, no matter what it looks like outside, in just eight weeks we’ll all be sweating (and I mean that literally) out conference and state tournament action . . . speaking of that, the new South-West Conferences formed for lacrosse features a 10-game conference schedule for the girls and an eight-game conference schedule for the boys . . . I can’t be sure, but I think I heard a young player – during the Junior Girls All-Star game at Newtown High School on Sunday – say on an inbounds play, “Don’t pass it to me.” Even if she did say it, I can’t hardly blame her. It can get pretty rough in one of those scrums – with 10 girls all scrambling around for a loose ball or something. Now that’s tough work . . . there is a reason why they play these tournaments and the teams in the Girls Senior League figured that out this past week. The third-place Purple Splash and fifth-place Blazin’ Booties were heading to the championship (on Wednesday, after press time) after beating the first- and second-place teams, respectively, in the semi-finals. Pat McCullough, who oversees the league, said, “It’s pretty amazing who came out of all this, but it should make for an interesting game.” Getting two underdogs together is always interesting . . . there is a rumor going around that Richard Williams has been fixing tennis matches between his daughters, Venus and Serena – so when Venus pulls out of a match against Serena at the Ericsson Open the crowd boos and Richard claims it was all racially motivated. This is a person who just DOESN’T get it . . . is anyone worried that the New York Yankees are 9-17-1 this spring? Didn’t think so . . . why would Michael Heisley, owner of the NBA’s Vancouver Grizzlies, which could lost some $40 million this year, want to move to Memphis, which would be the smallest market in the league? . . . you know, with all these baseball guys – like Nomar Garciaparra and Derek Jeter and Ken Griffey Jr getting hurt, it just STAGGERS the mind that Nolan Ryan was able to throw 100-mile-and-hour fastballs for 27 seasons . . . I used to be worried about the Boston Red Sox – a little – but if Garciaparra is going to be gone for a few months with a wrist injury that should have been taken care of months ago, I guess I can now start counting the days until the New York Yankees clinch the pennant . . . speaking of baseball, I’m looking through Play Ball!, a collection of all the Shoe comic strips about baseball and one of my favorites is right here – Skyler is on the mound talking to his catcher and he says, “The count’s 3 and 2. Looks like its time for the ol’ money pitch,” and the catcher replies, “Are you crazy? The last time you threw your money pitch it cost us six bucks for that window pane in deep left!” . . . I usually don’t watch the Academy Awards but I can barely stomach all the obsequious and phony acceptance speeches, but I was glad that Gladiator won Best Picture. As much of a sourpuss as Russell Crowe sure appears to be, it was a GREAT movie (although my wife didn’t like it so much, what with all the people getting chopped up and what not) . . . the whole time I’m writing this column, I’ve been wondering, “Why the heck are my feet so cold?” I’m sure it’s too soon for malaria . . . I_look outside as I’m ready to send this baby to the press room and I notice it’s SUNNY_out, for crying out loud. I_thought the sun was just a myth. Maybe it is - because rain is heading our way this weekend . . .