Bits & Pieces

By Kim J. Harmon

 

I’m sitting here at my computer, tapping away on the keys, and thinking about Bob Pattison and his 4-3 wrestling decision over Ben Haddon of Brookfield last week and also thinking about Penn State football coach Joe Paterno and his visit to Newtown last week and wondering which – to me – was more exciting.

Hmmmmn.

Yeah, I guess I’d have to go with Bobbo and that great win over Haddon last Wednesday.

Hey, there is no doubt that having Paterno stop by Newtown High School is one of the most notable things to happen in the annals of the school’s sports program and I admit I had a couple of goose bumps listening to a man who coached four undefeated teams and two national championship teams in more than 30 years of college football.

But Bobbo’s win was more immediate – more thrilling.

And I’m still marveling over it.

If you weren’t there, Bobbo – a guy who can really wear an opponent down – and Haddon struggled through two scoreless periods. A couple of times Bobbo nearly got position on Haddon, but was thwarted.

After each wrestler earned a point with an escape, Bobbo was taken down with 12 seconds left in the third and final period.

It seemed as if Bobbo was going to suffer his first loss in the South-West Conference.

Now, this first-year wrestler has never been one to just rail at an opponent, but there was no time and nothing else for Bobbo to do while facing a two-point deficit. On defense, he quickly ripped himself out of Haddon’s grip to earn one point and then – as if he were back on the football field – Bobbo raced across the mat, went in waist high, grabbed Haddon, and slammed the Brookfield wrestler to the floor for the two-point takedown and the win.

It was the most amazing turnaround I have seen and it really got the fans excited because the gym simply exploded. Even though the Nighthawks were unable to grab a win from arch-rival Brookfield, Bobbo gave his teammates and the fans something to remember.

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If there was such a thing, then Kyle Lyddy would get the 2004-05 Why Me? Award.

Here is a guy who has been biding his time ever since he was a little kid, shooting hoops during timeouts of his older sister’s basketball games. He works his way up, earns a spot on the Newtown High School basketball team, improves his game and – after getting spotty minutes as a junior – finally gets his chance to shine on the court.

Through the first four games of the 2004-05 season, Lyddy wasn’t just a uniform filler on a team that lost a lot of scoring. He was an impact player, the second-leading scorer behind Marcus Tracy, and he was making a difference.

Then he gets hurt.

A shoulder injury has forced the senior co-captain to miss the last five games, but he expects to be back in the lineup shortly. Judging by some of the entries in the Nighthawk Nation guest book, Lyddy has a lot of fans out there and the sooner he can get back on the floor the better.

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Ralph A. McIntosh Jr. of Newtown has been named to the board of the Housatonic Valley Sports Organizing Committee (HV Sports).

Mr McIntosh is president of Del-Tron Precision Inc. (1990-2005) and was the company’s vice president from 1978-1990. Del-Tron Precision Inc. is a 28-year-old, family owned, manufacturing firm based in Bethel.

From 1971-1978 McIntosh worked as a land surveyor for Sid Rapp Jr., Land Surveying.

Mr McIntosh has certainly been active in the local sports community, having served on various sporting event committees. He was co-chairman for six years for The Danbury Hospital Cancer Golf Tournament, former chairman of the Richter Park Pro Am Golf Tournament and the past race director of the 98Q City Center 10K Road Race.

Mr McIntosh also sits on the boards of The Savings Bank of Danbury, the Danbury War Memorial and is the president of the board for Danbury Chamber of Commerce.

McIntosh resides in Newtown with his wife Donna.

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Keglers, listen up!

The Danbury Bowling Association will hosts its 44th annual city tournament over the first two weekends in February. The tournament - slated for Fridays and Saturdays, February 5-6 and 12-13 - is open to anyone.

Handicap will be 100% of a 220 average with no maximum. Fees are $125 for a five-person team, $50 for the doubles event and $25 for singles event. Entry forms are available at Brookfield Lanes and Lore Lanes.

Walk-ins are welcome.

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Any and all teams (current or new) interested in playing in the Newtown Sunday Softball League for 2005 must contact Jim Dudeck at (203) 270-7877 or e-mail him at jdudek1846@sbcglobal.net.

Sure, there’s a lot of snow on the ground but a meeting will be held soon to discuss new rules, bats, and schedule for the 2005 season.