Out of bounds

By JAMES A. McCRAY III

Staff writer

So, listen, or read, I came to a realization over the past week or so while watching the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

I was sitting in the house and it was an early afternoon. I was eating lunch, so I remember what time it was.

I was enjoying the water polo, the gymnastics and so on, but then a particular sport came on my television that led me to my realization. The trampoline competition.

The Olympics had a trampoline competition.

The. Olympics. Had. A. Trampoline. Competition.

That is the precise moment that it hit me: I miss high school sports.

I have had enough of the summer, enough of sitting around watching daytime TV which is really boring and enough of the trampoline competition.

Standing on the sidelines, walking back and forth following the action is 20 times better than sitting in my makeshift office which doubles as my kitchen table and watching the trampoline competition.

It is the trampoline.

I miss the daily interactions with coaches and parents before and after the game.

I miss the parents and fans talking about a story I wrote not knowing (or maybe knowing) that I am sitting right next to them.

If you know me, you know I do not and will not shy away from conversation. All it takes is a simple hi.

I miss the antics of the coaches, and across the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference and Washington Catholic Athletic Conference there are plenty to be had.

I miss North Point Eagles head boys basketball coach Jimmy Ball losing his voice and speaking only above a whisper postgame.

I miss Great Mills Hornets head girls basketball coach Brian Weisner stomping his foot down on the floor, sending shockwaves to China.

I miss Huntingtown Hurricanes head boys basketball coach VaShawne Gross and I exchanging stories and scores from across the SMAC, and sometimes from across the state.

I miss Leonardtown Raiders head girls soccer coach Jennifer Henderson sitting on the bench in her stoic-like state and I miss St. Mary’s Ryken head boys lacrosse coach John Sothoron slamming his hat down with enough force to possibly cause a minor earthquake.

I miss standing on the sidelines because, well, that is what I am paid to do kind of.

I miss interviewing the kids and I even miss kids telling me to interview them before the game even starts.

I miss the joy in an athlete’s eyes after a big win and the emotion and trembling voice of an athlete after a big loss. It shows passion and that they care.

I miss the buzz in the air when two undefeated teams meet and the same buzz in the air when two winless teams meet. Someone is getting his first win and that is fun to cover.

Covering high school sports is exhilarating to me because, as with any sports, I just never know what to expect or what special performances will come about and require my attention.

I miss the goals, the touchdowns, the digs and kills, the pinfalls, the splash of water after a dive, the falling down of runners after crossing the finish line, the birdies, the three-point baskets, the strikeouts and the forehands and backhands.

I, however, do not miss the trampoline competition.

Can you believe that trampoline is an Olympic event?

But despite what I miss and how much I miss it, it all returns tomorrow with the first official day of fall sports practice.

High school sports are back and the summer vacation is officially over.

Welcome back. I missed you, seriously.

Now that summer is over, I think I will go in the backyard and jump on my trampoline some.

jmccray@somdnews.com