Rant #3,966: We Are the Champions (Part 2)

I hope that everyone had a great Father's Day, but my attention in this column is directed at what happened on Saturday.

The day I had been waiting for finally came, where my son and his teammates received their first-place trophies from the Nassau County Police Activities League Special Needs Unit as the top bowling team in its Saturday morning league during the 2025-2026 season.

They managed to win the crown by a scant margin--just two and a half points--but they won, and they won it for the second time in four years.

More about the NCPAL SNU ...

It is unlike any group I know of that is geared to those with physical, mental or emotional handicaps.

It not only centers its aim on sports, but it also has many other programs, including those for computers, yoga ...

You name it, and they have it, and males and females can compete, often together, and have lots of fun.

Like other teenagers and young adults, these people need things to occupy their time, to keep them out of trouble and active, and the NCPAL SNU does just that ...

And it helps the participants make friends, be social, and gives them something to look forward to each and every week of the year. 

It has been a real godsend to my son, who has made friends and has something to do when he is not working.

As for the bowling program, my son has been in it for probably about 14 years or so, or maybe even more, and not only has it proven to be s place where he can socialize and have fun, but it is a place where he has become a pretty good bowler.

This year, he once again led his team in average, with a 143.23 average , which placed him ninth in the league in average.

He tied for the league lead in games bowled--64--with four other bowlers, and his 9,167 total wood--pins--placed him sixth in the league in that category.

His high game this season was 198, the second best on the team, and his high series--343--topped his team.

He had three turkeys--three strikes in a row--which was, I think, the third most on his team.

Yes, he had a very good season, his team had a very good season, and I was just happy that I was able to see him during the last week of the season--a week where players just bowl for fun, prior to the awards ceremony--and during this last game, he bowled a 163.

My son also plays basketball on Friday nights, and that league continues into late July, while the bowling will begin again in September, and at the same time, basketball will rev up for the fall.

So another season has ended, and my son said he had fun, and really, that is the most important thing, and all that counts.

I think the parents of the bowlers are more into the wins and losses, but I do think my son and his teammates--and all bowlers in the league--have something of the competitive spirit in them ...

Maybe not at the parents' level, but it is there.

I know my son is proud of his accomplishments, and my wife and I are tickled pink with what he has done.

As a league bowler, my team won one championship ...

And now my son has two, so he has beaten his old man, and hopefully, will continue to beat me on the lanes.

And yes, at the lanes on Saturday, I wore my Knicks championship T-shirt, and I did mention that my son's team is this league's "Knicks," so to speak.

What a great season, and now, my son--and my wife and I--have a couple of months to rest--

And prepare for the 2026-2027 season in the fall.

I know that I, personally, can't wait!