Better in Mentor

Their Chamber of Commerce got it right - it was truly magnificent in Mentor for our 'Cats Friday night. After what looked like the beginnings of another tough Mentor-Ignatius battle, the boys settled in and took it to Coach Trivisonno and his Cardinals. Their home winning streak is over. Bookended by two thumpings from the Wildcats. It appears from the quotes in the paper that Coach Trivisonno has a ManCrush on Mark Myers after his performance. Heck - I do, too. (Don't worry, Mark - that's a secret between me, you and several hundred TailCatters).

As for the TailCat roadshow - hmm, how to characterize this one... Well, after an inspirational flag raising...



the effort was, I'd hafta say, "uneven."

For instance:

Pat Ryan apparently thought we were playing Erie Prep - he was in Conneaut before he realized he overshot Mentor.

Joe Carrozzoni was looking just a weeeeee bit panicked at 6:00 when he still didn't have any tickets for the game. Joe - not even frosh dads do that.

Jim Hoppy Hopkins - in a preview of things to come (see Ambrose and Martin below) - couldn't keep his grill lit (Jim, I hear there's medication for that now) and kept sticking his face in the grill to see if it was on. Maybe that's why each time you asked he'd tell you the kick off was moved up - from 7:30, to 7:00, to 6:00. He shut his grill down at 4:50 so he wouldn't miss the game...

Tim Ryan stopped by the TailCat on his way to the beach, I think. Showed up in sandals, his speedo and a muscle T -team colors, mind you - but still. For a night game. With temps forecast in the 50's. Then he borrowed a jacket from a Mentor fan to stay warm during the game. Can you spell "no pride"?

Dave McVey - geezuz, Dave, this hurts to say this - was overheard discussing BOOK CLUB with a few moms-who-shall-remain-nameless-but-have-already-been-called-out-about-such-unacceptable-TailCat-behavior. You have to be stronger than that, Dave.

The team of Ambrose and Martin (shades of Lewis and Martin?!) talked up a big turkey fry for this one. Brought the fryers, the turkeys, flavorings, propane tanks, fire extinguishers, temperature gauges -the works. Just no propane. And no oil. And they volunteered to organize the St X fish fry. There's a Mickey D's near the JCU campus, folks.

In a shameless attempt to deflect attention from his grassroots effort to start a "TailKnit", Frank Ross suggested there are others of like mind in our midst. No names but he hinted that a certain someone who - when not shooting perps is shooting pictures, whose initials are KG, whose last name begins with "G" and ends with "E" and it's not Genesee - is also fond of needle and thread. I refuse to believe it. I didn't bite on J Edgar Hoover in a skirt, either.

Now if you think we were challenged going to Mentor - we're crossing state lines this week, people. And we have a special contest this week. Tim Myers has offered to bring the Mobile ManCave to Buffalo if there are enough people who would be going early enough to enjoy it and justify the effort. Early, as in Tuesday. No, seriously - respond by email if you are NOT taking the bus and would be up there by, say, 4ish. Each vote emailed to me (straycatdowd@gmail.com) in favor moves the ManCave a little closer to Buffalo! No pressure here - if it's not feasible will make it a low-tech effort. Just let me know.

This week's theme: SUB. Subway. Submarine. Substitute for a better idea... We'll keep it simple and portable. Whatever you can handle that will travel 2 1/2 hrs.

GO CATS!!!