‘Tis the season, sports fans. Road trips galore. Jensen and the Williamsport Millionaires keep me busy. My son is now a junior. He is what you would call a role player. Jensen made history last week. He became the first Spencer to ever step on the floor in the second quarter. I spent most of my career on the sidelines. Jensen continues to improve and does what he can. His time will come. The kid has 2 threes. Shooter in the corner. How do you know Coach? You have never seen him.
Allen Taylor and his guys definitely travel. We were in Hazelton on Friday. Shamokin this past Monday. Last night we were in Crestwood. Port plays at Central York on Saturday. Tons of miles. Lots of gas. I reached out to Blaise about an NIL deal. How about a van for December? I always head to the games solo. I leave right from work. Listen to music and remember the good times. I spend a lot of time in the Jeep. Last week was no different. I have already been to most of these venues. I will occasionally spot some old friends in the stands during the pregame warmups. I tend to sit in the first row and around the fifty-yard line. That is my spot. I have relationships with most of the opposing coaches and the officials. Remember. I was in the business for 25 years.
I will sometimes sit with my good friend Ron Bowling. Ron has followed the Williamsport Millionaires for more than 40 years. He is a SUPER FAN. Bowling even had a streak of 730 consecutive games. My man is a staple. Several news outlets have captured his story throughout the years. Ron is old school. He keeps stats by hand in a trusty notebook. We call him our beloved “Stat Man.”
Ron is a book of knowledge. He remembers every team and every player. Bowling was present during WAHS’s first state title in 1984. He was back in 1999. Ron was around during my days. We went to the state championship in 1995. Bowling printed off every box score that I was a part of. He gave them to me at a game last winter. Darn. Physical evidence. I could no longer fib and tell Jensen and his mates that I averaged 10 points per game. Ron had me down for 2.7.
“I have followed the Millionaires all over,” Ron told WNEP NEWS last February. “I’ve been to Upstate New York several times. Florida and South Carolina. I was at all three State Championships. Lots of teams. Lots of faces. I enjoy getting to know the guys. I’ve been fortunate enough to stay healthy. Fortunate that my family didn’t mind me making all of these trips. It keeps me young. I am still getting to as many games as I can. God willing.”
I enjoy hanging out with Ron. He and I talk about everything. Bowling is a quiet fan. He will cheer, but he never gets out of hand. Ron doesn’t yell or question the coaches. He is somewhat nice to the officials. I tend to get a little obnoxious. Perhaps that is why Ron insists that I have some of his Jolly Ranchers. I think he is getting close to 1,000 games. I don’t know for sure. But I will have to ask him. He is the best. What a great dude. Lots of stories. Ron Bowling, the super fan. Cheers.
