The Swish

A lotta times when my dad got home from work, he’d grab a basketball and say, “Let’s shoot some hoops.” We used Voit balls from S&H Green Stamps. Back then, the leather Voit balls were handmade in Los Angeles. Before we headed inside for dinner, Pops would say, “Gotta end it with a swish.” The old man could shoot and he’d usually hit the bucket before I did. Nothin’ but net, baby.

Speaking of sinking a swish, this has to be one of the best. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, better known as Mrs. Fitz, is a third-grade teacher at the Holy Trinity School in D.C. She made a deal with her third-graders that she’d give the class a hot chocolate party if she hit a full-court jump shot on the school’s outdoor court. Ya gotta watch this video. Talk about lifting the spirits in wacko times.

On a sad note, Rudi Sherff died on Monday at 73. Rudi was an old friend and the longtime owner of Springfield’s iconic Student Prince/Fort Restaurant. Helluva storyteller and genuine character with a lot of style and taste. I always said the Fort was the Fenway Park of restaurants around here. Classic. Here’s a tip of the Alpine hat to ya, Rudi. And if I run into a Spaten Lager this weekend, I’ll hoist a stein to ya, pal.

Here’s a billboard we did for the Fort that Rudi loved.

Happy New Year and keep your dukes up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol_yvHK3P3U&list=PLyq112-nMJNP2V6IhUuDnfdy95XxrUsh4