05/06/08

RONNIE'S RANTS

Kids, Sports & Politics

Ronnie Ford

Police Athletic League

The Police Athletic League is an organization that keeps young kids in Lawrence busy and out of trouble. We know it as the PAL.

It is run on a shoestring budget by a man named Bill Benjamin. Hundreds of kids have six nights a week of basketball, or a visit to Fenway Park, or maybe a spaghetti dinner put on by The Sons of Italy and my good friend and former classmate, John Mele. All this under the direction of Bill Benjamin. Without this program a lot of youngsters would be out of luck and up to their necks in street trouble, jail or even worse.

There is a need for more kids to participate, but money problems exist. Anyone interested in helping financially can contact Ronnie Ford at 978-686-3365 and I will put you in touch with Bill Benjamin. By the way, if we are successful, let’s give a tip of the cap to Mr. Harold Magoon of the Lawrence-Methuen Coalition for remembering the kids on Prospect Hill. He was instrumental in enabling them to join PAL.

Tech School Sports

What do you think about what is happening at one of my favorite institutions - The Greater Lawrence Technical High School? Their sports program is paramount. The wrestling program ranks right at the top throughout the commonwealth.

For two years in a row, they have won the division 2 state championship! This is unheard of! For a vocational school to win it once was the first time in state history; but they repeated the effort! That’s fifty straight wins, these kids are incredible!

Also, their future looks bright because of the returning lettermen. Coach Tony Sarkis and his brother Coach Deeb, along with Coach Dube, have done a remarkable job with these youngsters.

Tony has been named coach of the year twice throughout the state and within the league. That’s not all.... Coach Tony and Coach Deeb (get this) took over a football program that was down and floundering; and with many of their wrestlers, won twelve games this year -including the division 3 Super Bowl at Gillette stadium in Foxboro.

Guess who was coach of the year statewide and in his conference for football? Yup, Tony Sarkis! The Sarkis brothers’ and the kids’ greatest fans are the faculty and school board. Coach Sarkis demands schoolwork first, checks their grades, stays in touch with their families and is an absolute stickler when it comes to showing respect to all teaches, opposing coaches and players.

I don’t want to forget some of the other programs - the girls and boys basketball teams are also doing well, along with many of the other different teams. If you want to see a real classy school, stop by for one of their great meals at the school restaurant. Check it out for yourself.

State Rep Race in Methuen

It didn’t take long, but guess what? The battle lines are being drawn with the impending joust between The Lady Linda (Campbell) and Crashin Chris DiBella. And enter Joe Leone! I wonder why? And the prize? A seat in the House of Representatives, commonly referred to as the Great and General Court.

Be careful Sir Knight. Watch what you say! Many political observers feel DiBella might have been the champion had he not been branded with the endorsement of an organization that was somewhat unpopular. Certainly DiBella’s quest for the Methuen seat in the House will be formidable. Sit back and relax - this one could be a corker.

I attended a fundraiser at Jackson’s Restaurant. The affair was hosted by that apex of political machinations Mike McLoughlin, former everything.

The party had its usual guest list of Director of, CEO of, Assistant Secretary of, oh yes, and a man named Tim Murray. As sure as God made little green apples, Murray is not known to many people. He is your Lt. Governor. McLoughlin put on a great party; introducing everybody in North America. Hillary, why don’t you wake up and hire Mike? He is one guy you won’t have to fire!

Baddour Brings the Gov.

DiBurro’s in Haverhill was packed with black suits and red-striped ties. Women dressed to kill, perfume and shaving lotion hung like a heavy mist over Steve Baddour’s fund raiser. The Governor himself received all the top contributors. Ronnie sat in his car and read about John Adams until the poor people showed up. And believe me there were plenty of them. The food was great and the walls came close to implosion.

I love the political season. Just to watch the humorous reactions and actions are enough to make you tingle. (Tingle, not tinkle). Although sometimes some people really do tinkle me off! I leave you with this: politicians give an aspirin a headache!

May the good Lord take a liking to you and do something nice for someone today.   Ronnie Ford is a Methuen resident, the former host of the “Hot Line” radio program, a former Methuen police officer and a former member of the Methuen school committee and city council.

You can email Ronnie at Radiotalk@comcast.net


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