Sports
Friday, October 31, 2003
The Faces Tell the Story
The faces of Staples supporters reflect their concern as the Wreckers had their toughest battle of the season Friday night against McMahon of Norwalk. Only a last-minute field goal enabled Staples to prevail 17-14 and remain undefeated. WestportNow.com photo
Staples Gets a Fright but Gains a 17-14 Halloween Win Over McMahon
Staples supporters cheer a field goal in the final seconds tonight that helped Staples defeat McMahon of Norwalk 17-14 at Norwalk. The score was tied 7-7 at the half. The Halloween victory improved the Wreckers to 8-0 on the season. WestportNow.com photo
Wednesday, October 29, 2003
Staples Footballers are Winners off the Field Too
Staples football coach Marce Petroccio tells brown bag lunchers today about the commitment his team’s seniors are making with their community service program. Petroccio and the players also passed out some Wrecker souvenirs. WestportNow.com photo
Saturday, October 25, 2003
Struttin’ Their Stuff
The Staples cheerleaders entertain the hometown crowd at halftime today. Staples defeated Westhill of Stamford 22-6. WestportNow.com photo
The View from on High: Staples Defeats Westhill 22-6
These Staples fans had the high view as they saw Staples defeat Westhill of Stamford today 22-6 at home, improving to 7-0 on the season. Staples led 6-0 at halftime. Staples senior Jimmy Hughes did it again, adding two more touchdowns to his record season. WestportNow.com photo
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Westports Sean Mulcahy Wearing Neck Brace, Shoulder Harness
Westports Sean Mulcahy has added a neck brace and shoulder harness to his normal attire, reports todayҒs Hartford Courant, but the UConn starting defensive tackle and team tri-captain is still determined to play his remaining games.
“I’ve only got four games left,” Mulcahy told the newspaper. “I’m not going to wimp out now.”
The 2000 Staples grad has started 34 consecutive games. There was some doubt he’d play against Kent State last week after injuring his neck against North Carolina State Oct. 11.
He played against Kent State, but injured a shoulder and missed most of the second half. He is questionable for Akron on Saturday.
“It’s somewhat frustrating,” Mulcahy said. “I can’t really do the things I want to do because I don’t have as much mobility. With the injuries I can’t play as well as I want to. It kind of limits you. But I have got to be out there. I have to do what I have to do.”
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Wreckers Retain No. 3 Spot in Hartford Courant Rankings
The Staples Wreckers retained the No. 3 spot in the Hartford Courant latest rankings of state high school football teams.
The rankings are based on results, strength of schedule and information from other sources.Ӕ
The Wreckers, 6-0 on the season, next play Westhill-Stamford at home on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Monday, October 20, 2003
Tax Collector Office Visitors Getn Mourning Warning
Visitors to the office of the Westport Tax Collector at Town Hall get fair warning of mourning going on. The sign (inset closeup) reflects certain baseball leanings of an office employee. WestportNow.com photo
Sunday, October 19, 2003
Westports Sean Mulcahy Aggravates Neck Injury. Sits Out 4Q and Overtime
Westports Sean Mulcahy made it into SaturdayҒs UConn close win over Kent State but aggravated a neck injury and had to sit out the fourth quarter and overtime.
The UConn tri-captain had been listed as doubtful earlier in the week, but he told reporters he had no doubt he would play in the game. UConn beat Kent State 34-31 in overtime at Dix Stadium in Kent, Ohio.
Coach Randy Edsall said, WeӒll try to get as much out of him each and every week as we possibly can. He called the injury a ԓconstant stinger, according to the Connecticut Post.
ԓHe usually gets better by Wednesday, Edsall said. ԓBut I think hes going to have that situation, as a defensive linesmen, for the rest of the year.Ҕ
As for Mulcahy, he said, I have to play every week, so itӒs not going to heal properly. Its pretty frustrating.Ҕ
Saturday, October 18, 2003
Staples Supporters Cheer Wreckers’ 38-7 Victory Over Darien
Staples supporters traveled to Norwalk today to cheer on the Wreckers to a 38-7 victory over Darien. Staples improved to 6-0 on the season. The teams played at Brien McMahon because Darien’s field was unavailable. Staples led at halftime 28-7. Senior running back Jimmy Hughes added two more touchdowns to his record-breaking season and also had two interceptions. WestportNow.com photo
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Marshall Mayer Hears About Jeff Maier and it Finally Clicks
Marshall Mayer, 12-year-old son of Westport Board of Finance member Jeff Mayer, had heard his dad from time to time refer to a baseball incident involving another Jeff Mayer (actually spelled Maier).
But, according to his father, it didnt really sink in—until Tuesday night.
ғMarshall was watching the Cubs-Marlins game and fell asleep, the elder Mayer told WestportNow today.
ԓThe Cubs were winning when he dozed off and when he woke up, the Marlins had turned it around in the eighth and all the announcers were referring repeatedly to Jeff Maier. He was astounded.
As all baseball fans surely know by now, the eighth inning at Wrigley Field included a fan preventing Cubs left fielder Moses Aliou from catching a foul fly hit by Luis Castillo.
What followed, as AP sports writer Ben Walker put it, ԓwas a sudden collapse that would rival anything in the Cubs puzzling painful past Җ and the emergence of baseballs most infamous fan since Jeffrey Maier.Ҕ
Unlike the 12-year-old Maier in the 1996 ALCS game at Yankee Stadium, this fan did not reach over the wall, according to replays and those in the stands.
In 1996, Maier reached over the right field wall and deflected the Yankee batters fly ball into the stands. The umpires ruled it a home run and it helped the Yankees tie the Orioles in the eighth inning. The Bombers went on to win the game.
ғMarshall now knows the whole Jeff Maier story, Mayer said. ԓHes finally at an age when he can appreciate it and laugh about it.Ҕ
Westports Sean Mulcahy Doubtful? DonҒt Count on It
UConn tackle Sean Mulcahy of Westport is officially listed as doubtful because of a neck injury for Saturdays game at Kent State,
But Mulcahy insisted Tuesday there is no doubt in his mind whether he will play, according to the Middletown Press.
Mulcahy has played in all 41 games during his UConn career, including 33 straight starts.
“ItҒs about to be 34,” Mulcahy, a tri-captain, told the newspaper. “Im not being stopped. IҒm an iron man.”
He was injured in the second half and didnt finish the game in the HuskiesҒ 31-24 loss Saturday at North Carolina State.
Mulcahy was half-joking when he called himself an iron man. But being a jokester and a model of how to improve into a standout player are things that he will leave as his legacy when his playing days at UConn (4-3) are over five games from now, the report said.
“He is a unique individual, a fine individual, because of what hes done since heҒs been here,” UConn coach Randy Edsall said. “Football is important to him, but he also does well academically, and he has a great personality.”
Mulcahy arrived at UConn from Staples High in Westport as a 6-foot-6, 245-pound player with plenty to say, something that rubbed his teammates and Edsall the wrong way at times.
“He came here at 6-6, 245 pounds and is now 6-6, 295,” Edsall told the newspaper. “When he first came here he was arrogant, immature, thought he knew it all. Now, through the maturation process and appreciation, you really see a guy that has gone from a kid to a man. Its a credit to him.”
Mulcahy also has developed into a legitimate pro prospect. Edsall said all 32 NFL teams have inquired about him this fall.
Monday, October 13, 2003
Westporters Make Way to Boston for Latest Red Sox-Yankees Game
Westport may be closer to The Bronx than Boston, but that didn’t stop Westporters from making their way to Fenway Park for the latest game of the Red Sox-Yankee American League Championship Series.
It’s impossible to know just how many, however.
We do know Westporter Michael Bolton was there tonight to sing the national anthem before the fourth game of the series.
And also probably there, but we don’t know for sure, another Westporter—Jeff White. White is an advisor to the Red Sox president and former senior vice president and chief financial officer of Major League Baseball.
Saturday, October 11, 2003
Jimmy Hughes Scores Again for Staples
Jimmy Hughes powers ahead during today’s 35-7 victory over Harding of Bridgeport. The senior running back added two more touchdowns to his record-breaking year. Chip Stephens/StaplesFootball.com photo
Cheering the Wreckers on to Another Victory
The Staples cheerleaders had plenty to cheer about today as the Wreckers rolled over Harding of Bridgeport 35-7 to maintain their undefeated record. The Staples footballers, who improved to 5-0 on the season, led the Presidents 28-7 at the half. Sunny skies and summer-like temperatures helped turn out a good crowd for the second home game of the season. WestportNow.com photo
Note: WestportNow Publisher Gordon F. Joseloff is also First Selectman of Westport