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Posts Tagged ‘The Godfather’

A time before masks. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Call it the never-ending story – whenever I think I’m out, they pull me back in.

Coupeville Sports is largely a one-man operation — though John Fisken and others provide an invaluable service by letting me use their photos — and, as such, it ebbs and flows with my moods.

I’ve been chugging along at it for eight years-plus now, from August 15, 2012 until today.

Though, from time to time, I have fallen off the rails.

Such as when I recently took a six-week sabbatical from late Aug. through the first days of Oct.

I was battered by the darkest timeline we all seem to be enduring, and perplexed by a lack of easily-available sports stories in the age of coronavirus.

So, I went off, and cleared some land at my sister’s.

While yelling a lot at the ungodly amount of dead, but still ferocious, blackberry canes which the former owner of the property allowed to run wild.

I also launched a side gig at https://flatbuttfilmfest.com/, where I post five new 100-word film reviews each morning, cause that sorta, kinda, keeps alive the video store days of my misbegotten youth.

And then, bam, without really meaning to, I returned to Coupeville Sports Oct. 2, and, in the blink of an eye, have published 21 articles in a week.

Since I’ve averaged three stories a day on here since 2012 — this is article #7,919 (not kidding) — that tracks.

Who knows where we go from here.

There are still no actual games until Jan., or at least that’s the plan right now.

COVID will have a lot to say about that, and there are side wrinkles, as the winner of the Governor’s office could change how the state deals with the pandemic, and what is opened or closed.

I also might wake up tomorrow and find out the movie blog is being bought for big bucks by Jeff Bezos, and then I get my indoor/outdoor swimming pool, with waterfall connecting the two sides.

Probably not going to hold my breath on that one…

But, the point is, no promises really. Cause none of us has a freakin’ clue going forward.

The one guarantee – as long as I’m writing Coupeville Sports, I will try and make it the best it can be.

And this is where you, the reader can help.

Do you know a student (of any age) at a Whidbey school (Coupeville, Oak Harbor, or South end) who has artwork or writing they’d like to see published?

Send it to me at davidsvien@hotmail.com and we can make it a reality.

Have a story idea — doesn’t necessarily need to be sports — or want someone to be inducted into the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame?

Let me know.

Lastly, this blog, from article #1 to article #7,919 to article #10,000(?) has always been, and will always be, free to read.

No paywalls, ever.

I understand why many sites have gone that route, but I made my choice in 2012.

If you choose to read for free, good on you.

If you like what I’m doing and want to help, however, the easiest way is to click on the link below.

Should you choose to do that, for $5 or for the full price of that mythical indoor/outdoor pool with waterfall, even better on you!

 

https://paypal.me/DavidSvien?locale.x=en_US

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Camilla Rische

Camilla Rische

There are rumors that, on the day of her birth, Camilla Rische’s first word was “rah” and not “wah.”

For, if a person can be born to be a cheerleader, surely she was.

Through rain or shine, sleet or howling wind, out on the football field or inside a cozy gym, Miss Rische is the very definition of “loud ‘n proud” come to life.

In more ways than one.

She is fiercely loyal to the Wolves, a vibrant, boisterous young woman whose voice rises above the din.

She’s not there on the sideline just to stand around. The girl has work to get done.

But she’s also fiercely loyal to her family, starting with younger brothers Grey Rische and Jared Helmstadter.

The first time I ever spoke to her was when I was talking to her grandmother in the stands before a basketball game.

We were discussing Jared, as I was about to write a story about his amazing journey from being a preemie to becoming a rampaging force of nature on the basketball court.

Camilla, rocking back and forth in her seat, suddenly leaned forward and, in a voice that carried the same weight as Marlon Brando in The Godfather, informed me of the correct spelling of Helmstadter.

“H-e-l-m-s-t-a-gets complicated here-d-t-e-r!”

Long pause, eyebrow cocked…

“So get it right!!”

Long pause, then an explosion of giggles as she sat back in her seat.

That is Camilla.

Full of life, irrepressible, joyous, ready to smack you upside the head, sweet smile intact, if you mess with her family.

She is one-of-a-kind and Wolf Nation has benefited greatly from her presence the past few years.

As she celebrates a birthday today, we want to wish her all the best. May your day shine as brightly as you do, Miss Rische.

And, if you notice, I spelled Helmstadter correctly. So, there’s that, too.

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