Election Reform

            In another six weeks we will know. Four more years of Obama or four years of Mitt Romney will signify the end of maybe the worst presidential campaigns any of us can remember. Is it my imagination or does it seem like this election has been going on for six years? This election cycle seems longer because with social media and the internet the news cycle has shrunk and each twist and turn lasts only as long as the next “game changing” event takes over the headlines.

           

            A quick review of the Republican race seems like these events happened in our childhood. It was August of 2011 when Michelle Bachman became the presumptive Republican front runner by winning an Iowa Straw Poll vote. That lead lasted until she did some interviews that made Sarah Palin sound like an intellect. The GOP primary process evolved into a Mitt Romney against the anti-Romney flavor of the week which jumped to Rick Perry until his memory failed him in a debate.  Then came Herman “9-9-9” Cain until past womanizing scandals derailed his chances. Newt Gingrich resurfaced for a month but his past eventually sent him back to the lecture tour and he did manage to sell a multitude of books while in the spotlight. Eventually Rick Santorum, who had almost dropped out, emerged as the final not Romney candidate until he ran out of money and energy. Ron Paul might still be running but he was just looking for free air time at the Republican Convention and isn’t really taken seriously. All the while, Romney took all the punches and used his vast financial resources to build an organization that got him to the nomination. And that was all completed by early Spring.  

             

Things could be much worse. We could live in one of the handful of so called “battle ground states” where the endless negative advertisements would make us long for those competing car commercial jingles and Erectile Dysfunction spots. One study says the percentage of negative ads by the parties is in the mid to high 90’s. The last chance for us to find out anything about these two men who will lead the free world is the debates.

The system is screaming for reform and the solution is readily at hand if anyone will listen. Junk the incomprehensible primary and caucus system for a one day Super Primary Day held the Sunday after Labor Day. Every state can participate and the winners become their party’s nominees with plenty of time to state their case when Americans are truly paying attention. Voting rates would certainly exceed the pathetic 20 to 30%. It would never fly because too many lucrative livelihoods would be affected.

Instead the most powerful man in the world is going to be decided by a few thousand people in about six states(you know what they are). It will be a long six weeks.

Summit vs. Cranford High School Football, 9/21/2012

                On the final night of summer, Cranford and Summit played a fall classic at Memorial Field but in the end a thrilling Cougar comeback went for naught as a 42 yard field goal with 26 seconds remaining gave the visitors a 30-27 victory. The loss was the first of the season for Cranford and the 30^th straight regular season triumph for Summit, which handed Cranford its only loss of 2011, a 52-21 beating that became a rallying point for Cranford’s first state football title. The teams could still meet again later this fall as they are now in the same group but Cranford Coach Erik Rosenmeier knows his team has much work to do to repeat as state champions.

“We have to take better care of the ball if we want to get back to where we were last year,” said Rosenmeier after the game.

                Cranford lost three fumbles and an interception and was sloppy in its kicking game, but made numerous spectacular plays and dominated the fourth quarter to come back from a 27-12 deficit to tie the game on quarterback Reggie Green’s 10 yard run with 53 seconds left.  The final drive included Green converting a fourth and six by running for a first down on a great block by Chris Folinusz. Rosenmeier said he considered going for the two point conversion and the lead but opted to let Troy Kettler kick the tying extra point.

                The ensuing kickoff was short and Summit returned it past midfield. A questionable 15 yard face mask penalty against Cranford moved Summit into field goal range. Green had led an eight-play, 84-yard drive, hitting Folinusz on a 44-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 27-18. Folinusz caught a pass over the middle and ran through several tackles for the score and the hauled in Green’s two point conversion pass with one hand to bring Cranford within 27-20, with 5:03 left in the game.

“Chris is an amazing athlete. He can play eight different positions and makes plays like that all the time,” said Rosenmeier.

                Cranford then opted to attempt an onside kick, and it succeeded with Kettler perfectly hitting a ball that bounced high and allowed the Cougars a chance at recovery. Taking possession on the Summit 45, Green led another scoring drive, this one lasting eight plays, including a fourth-and-6 conversion. It ended when Green scored on a 10-yard touchdown run with 53 seconds left in regulation. Troy Kettler's PAT then tied the game.

Green had another spectacular game, gaining 205 yards on 28 carries, rushing for three touchdowns and throwing for another, but Green was not only dissatisfied with the result but his performance.

“I made too many mistakes tonight. We made a lot of plays but we cannot turn the ball over and giving our defense a short field to defend,” said Green, whose most spectacular play an 84 yard touchdown run in the third quarter, followed a kickoff where he almost fumbled into the end zone.

                Although he was not happy with the loss and some aspects of Cranford’s play, Rosenmeier was pleased with the way his team fought back in the fourth quarter.

“We dug a hole for ourselves but the team never quit and we gave ourselves a chance to win,” said Rosenmeier.

                Cranford started slowly in the first quarter and did not make a first down in its initial two possessions. Summit struck first for a 7-0 lead before Green and halfback Jim Dwyer led an 80 yard drive, mostly on the ground, which culminated in a sweep to the right where Green used his prodigious speed to sprint to the end zone from 20 yards out.  A missed extra point left Cranford trailing 7-6 at the half.

                Summit scored first in the second half for a 14-6 lead before Green ran 84 yards to cut the lead to two. Cranford missed the two point conversion to tie the game before Summit took advantage of turnovers to enter the final period with a 27-12 lead. Overshadowed in the Cranford comeback and tough loss was the standout defensive play of linebacker Nick Diaz, who had 18 tackles, including four for losses and linebacker Joe DaSilva who had 11 tackles.

                After the game a drained Rosenmeier reflected on bouncing back from a tough loss to an opponent that the Cougars have yet to solve.

“There was a lot to like about this game. We had a number of outstanding performances on both sides of the ball and the comeback was something we can build on for the rest of the year.”

                Reminded that the Cougars went on their state tournament run after the loss to Summit last year, Rosenmeier smiled and noted how he hoped that history could repeat itself.

Tom Fitzgerald

                Put a net in front of Cranford senior Tom Fitzgerald and good things usually happen. Whether it is the larger 8 yard wide by 8 foot high soccer goal, the 6 foot by 6 foot lacrosse goal or the miniscule 4 feet high and 6 feet wide hockey goal, Fitzgerald uses his feet, lacrosse stick and hockey stick to excel and is on track to finish his remarkable career with 12 varsity letters as well as a slew of memorable individual and team accomplishments.

                As is typical with three sport athletes, Fitzgerald’s favorite sport is the one that’s currently in season. Autumn obviously means soccer where the blonde 6 foot senior has been one of the mainstays for first year coach Greg Campbell.  Fitzgerald scored a goal in each of Cranford’s opening two wins but like the rest of the team has been blanked the past two games, both losses.  Campbell considers Fitzgerald one of his key players.

“We rely on Tom to set the tone for both possession and physicality in the central midfield.  Tom has great ball-handling skills and is improving quickly on his field vision and decision making, which opens up runs for his teammates as well as opportunities for shots from the top of the 18,” said Campbell.

                Fitzgerald experienced his greatest success to date during his freshman soccer season. Although he didn’t start, he saw a sizable amount of playing time and showed his potential battling the talented and experienced upperclassmen who paced Cranford to a 22-1-2 season and the school’s only county title. Although he wasn’t on the field for the 1-0 victory over Westfield, the victory still ranks as his most memorable moment from soccer.

“The feeling of victory was great my freshman year and that senior class really set the bar high for future CHS varsity squads,” said Fitzgerald, the youngest of four talented siblings.

                His sister Amy played Division I soccer at St. Joseph’s of Philadelphia, his sister Jenny was a multi -sport star and his brother Vince Jr. was also a talented Cranford athlete. His parents Vince and Julie were also athletes and have lived in Cranford for 30 years.  Having older athletic siblings helped Tom quickly progress and also was instrumental in being noticed at a young age by Head Lacrosse Coach Al Reinoso.

“I first heard about Tom being a gifted lacrosse player when he was a youth athlete about six or seven years ago.  One of our top players at that time dated his sister and used to play around with young Tommy and helped him become a dominant player even back then.  My players would watch his games and told me about his abilities back then,” said Reinoso, who plugged Fitzgerald into the lineup the first day of practice.

Fitzgerald made his talents known early and on Senior Night he scored three goals, including  the game winning overtime goal against arch-rival Johnson.

“It was huge because my my older brother was a senior, and it was great to have such a big part in the win,” recalled Fitzgerald.

“He is a very talented athlete and has what coaches call a nose for the goal in that he really knows how to finish off a scoring play, as well as generate and create a scoring play.   We will look to him to take charge on the field and for senior leadership this upcoming season,” added Reinoso.

                As a sophomore, Fitzgerald helped lead the Cougars to their only appearance in the county lacrosse finals, which provided him with one of his most indelible memories, a 4-3 semifinal upset against Westfield. Fitzgerald scored a goal in the game, but it was the team aspect that he will most remember.

“The overall feeling of getting that victory against our biggest rival made our whole team feel that we were on top of the world,” said Fitzgerald.

                Another victory over Westfield in the Cron Tournament was Fitzgerald’s greatest hockey memory. In a 6-5 overtime victory, Fitzgerald scored two goals and assisted on the winner.

“He is so fast and strong, and has such great hands that opponents have a difficult time matching up with him, therefore he is able to score a lot of goals in hockey.  If he can get to the net, he has a strong shot and the natural ability to shoot to score, rather than just shoot the puck on net.  Opposing goalies do not like it when he can get an open look at the net since his shot is not only hard, it is very accurate,” said Hockey Coach Rich Hurley, who first noticed Fitzgerald as a nine year old.

““He was always a standout on the hockey rink due to his skating ability and excellent hands.  He is a very athletic kid who is capable of excelling in a multitude of sports,” said Hurley.

“Tom has matured greatly since his freshman year.  I am very hopeful that this season he will be able to provide us with very mature, senior leadership.  It is impossible to win without good leadership.  This season will be Tom's opportunity to show his maturity and lead a large group of younger players,” added Hurley.

                Although his three sports encompass numerous divergent athletic skills, Fitzgerald can revel in the similarities and the differences.

“I love all my sports because they take a lot skill and finesse but at the same time they take speed and power. Soccer is the most finesse of the three but in hockey there is nothing like flying down the ice on a rush and in lacrosse, the fastest sport on foot, you always have to be reacting and thinking on your feet. I love competing no matter what and I hate losing way more than I love winning.”