Posts by Ted Menswar Jr.
Mark and I are both graduates of Bishop Bradley High School, he in ‘64, I in ‘61. Before we got up from our seats at the Daniel Webster Highway Dunkin’ Donuts, he looked directly at me and asked “We’re both graduates of Bradley. As alumni of the place, what do you think we all have in common? What did the place instill in us?”
While I realize the demographics here have changed – a lot – I’m still having a difficult time accepting the fact that baseball’s impact, its significance in the Queen City, may be coming to a sad conclusion.
Our local girls varsity high school softball team (Manchester Central-Manchester Memorial) – the ONLY public high school team in the Queen City – needs additional help with its pitching staff.
In past issues, I’ve given you updates on people that were talented athletes whose names were often found on the sports pages of our local newspapers. the Union Leader. However, this week’s Manchester Ink Link edition will be different since I’m not only covering a former very talented player, but also a well-known former coach…Pete Poirier.
About Ed and Lorriane Flanagan, Ted Menswar says “I have always wondered what it must have been like for their parents to raise a son whose athletic star took on its brilliance at a very early age”
Wally began his athletic career at Bakersville, playing hoop (under the guidance of Mr. Walsh) with the likes of George “Winky” Basoukas and Tommy Fisher. He also played baseball there joined by Paul Evans, Bill Lewis, and Nick Macenas. “I think Nick pitched pretty much every game we played because no one else could reach the plate!”
The success at any level is most often the result of good coaching. It is for that purpose we are offering the following that has been compiled from our hundreds of years of officiating and coaching.
A closer look at youth baseball/youth softball in the Queen City – and some tips from the NH Dunk-n-Diamonds, a group of longtime officials and coaches for youth baseball and softball’s present boards of directors, youth baseball and softball coaches, and espcially the parents of kids in youth baseball and softball.
Asked how he wished to be remembered, he answered “I hope I’ve brought a smile to a lot of people’s faces and not pissed too many off. I know I definitely have, but, hopefully, not too many!”
The name Smyrl was already familiar to me…long before the infamous athlete of that name became a student at Memorial High. In fact, his family lived on the same southeast street (Vinton) that I grew up on.
In the 22 years he had served as the field boss of DAV, his clubs had won the league championship seven times; his All-Star teams had won the District I title three times and had been to the Eastern Regionals twice; and his DAV club had been a participant in the Sam Harris Tournament (best LL team in the city) five times, winning it once.
These articles are intended to put a “spotlight” on the individual thereby giving readers greater knowledge of some of the important, but sometimes overlooked, members of our athletic community whose stories might otherwise never be known…like Bob’s.
As to my question, “What was your favorite sports memory?,” his answer didn’t just surprise me, it literally startled me, particularly considering all the sports he played, all the years he played, all the success he enjoyed!
After the first morning session was over, knowing his team needed more players if it was to survive and fully understanding the plight of his coach, “biker” Baroody called his class-mate and buddy, Phil Wakeman, saying… “Hey, Phil. If you aren’t doing anything this afternoon why don’t you come on down to the field.” And, as Phil put it, “I wasn’t, so I did.” He continued… “I told coach Shaughnessy that I had hurt my leg and couldn’t run.” ‘Well, can you stand up?’ he asked. My ‘yes’ answer was followed by his quick response…’Well, then, if you can stand, you can play! You’ll be our goalie!’…and that’s how I ended up as ‘guardian of the net.’”
While he never got to go to high school, Theo did complete his GED with high honors…
What is now this story’s Part 1 was written when its subject, our oldest grandson, my namesake, Theodore John Menswar III, was still with us, still battling a form of cancer called myelodysplastic syndrome.
Don’s time in the pros was brief…by choice. After graduating from Syracuse, he was invited to try out for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League. He drove, by himself, all the way from Manchester to Saskatchewan because he wasn’t sure he’d make the team and didn’t want to bring his family with him and put them through that difficult period.
Describing himself as a freshman at Manchester Central…“I was really skinny and wanted to get bigger legs. I figured the best way to do that would be to go out for the JV football team that fall. It was OK, but people need to remember that JV ball back then wasn’t anything like it is today. We played only maybe three or four games so that wasn’t much time for me to develop physically.
Let me begin by telling you that no question I would ask Don could top the one posed by his editor-in-chief grand-daughter as she was interviewing him for her school newspaper, Central’s “Little Green.”
Where are they now? A look back at Ken Roberge, from his Central Little League days to the present.