This last weekend was the Westchester Classic, more familiarly known as the Lakeland tournament, its birthplace. Lakeland is just down the road from my old venue, Hendrick Hudson. When I first got involved in the activity, Greg Varley was the Lakeland coach, as well as one of the directors of the Mid-Hudson League, as well as our NFL District Chair, as well as anything else you can think of. And of course, the Westchester Classic AKA Lakeland tournament director. After he retired, his various roles in the region devolved down to others. Anyone who couldn’t keep their head down, including me, was District Chair for a while. Ditto running the MHL. As for Lakeland, it was run by a series of teachers, starting with Colonel K, with whom I spent some great moments back in the day having our brains numbed at the Cringing Latin School during the Harvard tournament. He moved on and others followed as coach. Today, for all practical purposes, Lakeland no longer exists as a team, but the tournament goes on as a last-chance event with a couple of bids in CX and PF, and additional states-qual opportunities in LD and PF. LD and CX are run by Sheryl and Janet. I assist them in the tab room. The tournament is virtual, but the tab room is in-person, and we convene outside of Hartford, Connecticut, about halfway between our respective homes. Joe V and Catholic Charlie and Rick O’Bono join us to run their District and Regional qualifiers. A swell time is had by all.
Not much happened this weekend outside of the usual stuff that happens. But I did learn that there is at least one state in this great country of ours—which is predicated on free speech and liberty for all—not too long ago banned policy debate in high schools. Essentially, they didn’t like students learning about critical theory or identity politics or anything that wasn’t Mom and Apple Pie. The fact that the world is anything but Mom and Apple Pie didn’t seem to be a factor. I do not know all the details, but eventually the ban was lifted, as long as teams don’t debate on Sunday, which is apparently set aside in that particular polity as Official Mom and Apple Pie day. No doubt the Thought Police were watching us closely, making sure we didn’t cross the line. You could feel their hot breath on the back of your neck…
I wonder if they work on Sundays.
Anyhow, driving up there I listened to Andrew Hickey talk about The Beach Boys. He often starts his episodes with disclaimers and content warnings, and in this case it seemed like half the episode was nothing but disclaimers and content warnings. The reason, as you probably know, was the connection of Dennis Wilson to Charles Manson. I won’t go into that, but I did note while listening that Hickey praised the BB’s “Friends” album as one of their best, and I decided to give it a whirl over the weekend. And you know something? He’s right. I’ve certainly listened to it countless times before, but I don’t think I ever actually listened to it; it was just there in the background. But if you pay attention to it, you hear some really good Beach Boys music, and one thing I really like is good Beach Boys music. If you’re interested in all the details, listen to 500 songs: Hickey covers a lot of the BBs over the course of the series. If you just want to hear a Beach Boys album that isn’t early AM hits or “Pet Sounds,” try “Friends.” You won’t regret it.
