{"id":25887,"date":"2023-11-27T13:18:54","date_gmt":"2023-11-27T18:18:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=25887"},"modified":"2023-11-27T13:27:33","modified_gmt":"2023-11-27T18:27:33","slug":"episode-920-school-year-1958-1959-one-of-best-years-of-my-lfe-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=25887","title":{"rendered":"EPISODE 920 SCHOOL YEAR 1958-1959 ONE OF BEST YEARS OF MY LFE: PART 1"},"content":{"rendered":"
  EPISODE 920     SCHOOL YEAR 1958-1959    ONE OF BEST YEARS OF MY LFE: PART 1          <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
alan skeoch\u2019Nov25, 2023<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Alan Skeoch and Grant Weber  – Toronto Daily Star @ Oakwood field<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n
OVERWHELMING AND PERHAPS UNDESERVED<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
I never expected to be so warmly greeted by the football community in the fall of 1958 when  returning to Humberside<\/div>\n
for second stab st Grade 13.   What an exhilarating feeling to be welcomed and wanted. Russ Vanstone, Gary Logan and<\/div>\n
others were also welcomed.  But I got the biggest load of glory.   So much so that it is hard to put what happened on paper.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
I am caught on the horns of dilemma.  To write about my awards and honours is to be vain, yet not to write about them<\/div>\n
is to be unappreciative.   <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
So here goes a fast description to show my appreciation of those who\u2019 nominated or voted for me.<\/div>\n
Captain of the 1958 HCI  senior football team, winner of the Wildman Trophy* (see note*), selected forCity of Toronto All star<\/div>\n
football teams by Toronto Daily Star and Toronto Telegram, selected Head Boy for 1958-59 at HCI, elected President of<\/div>\n
the BAA.  <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
 Contrast these awards with the depression I felt in the previous year with my broken hand.  <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
1958-1959 was a grand year for me.  Please excuse my inflated ego for a moment\u2026my 15 minutes of fame.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Now let me flash back to my meeting with Mr. Couke\u2026the suspension.  I Decided to buckle down academically<\/div>\n
To prepare for the Departmental Exams but to go beyond that.  I Bought a scribbler and plotted my free time in half hour intervals<\/div>\n
and began a personal reading plan.  I decided to read as many great authors as I could\u2026Charles Dickens, Jules Veerne, John Steinbeck even<\/div>\n
Dwight Eisenhaur.   The psychiatrist Eric Fromm caught my eye and his book The Sane Society made me think about<\/div>\n
socialism much to the disgust of Russ Vanstone and the amusement of Jim Romaniuk, my two best friends.  Jim had made the cut<\/div>\n
the previous year but remained a close friend until his early death.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
FOOTBALL\u2026always  present<\/div>\n
SPOTTING WITH TED PUCCINI AND VIC HOSZKO\u2026NOT A GOOD IDEA<\/div>\n
(I am not sure if Ted and Vic were my associates\u2026memory says they were)<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cAlan, you have a couple of spares, come with us to spot the Central Tech team.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cSpotting?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cYeah\u2026we\u2019ll see who carries the ball mostly\u2026note their best plays\u2026see if they<\/div>\n
have a double reverse like Burf is secretly planning.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cIs spotting legal?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWho gives a damn\u2026join us\u2026Burf will be pleased\u2026\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cSpying?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Somehow our VP got wind as to what we had done.  Mr.. Couke was a man with high principles.<\/div>\n
Spotting was unfair.  Skipping school to spot was worse.  Vic, Ted and I were not as highly<\/div>\n
principled.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cWould Puccini, Hoszko snd Skeoch report to Mr. Couke,\u201d  came over the PA with the morning announcements<\/div>\n
We gathered there and Mr. Couke saw each of us individually.  Ted and Vic were each suspended <\/div>\n
for the week.  My turn was next.  I was scared to death but not for the reason most would think..<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Mr. Couke looked at me and said  \u201cAlan, I have to treat everyone equally\u2026\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cYes sir  Mr. Couke can I shake your hand?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cAlan, you will be suspended for the week.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cThank you , sir\u2026thank you.\u201d<\/div>\n
(Nothing could be worse than favouritism . If I had got off as a first offense then any respect people had<\/div>\n
for me would be lost.   I wanted to be penalized.  My respect for Mr. Couke lit up like the North Star.)<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Something snapped in my head during that suspension.   Was I going to spend this year fooling around?<\/div>\n
Wasting my time,  Or  was there another path?  Could I make every moment useful.  Be a  better person?<\/div>\n
Where was I going with my life?   I was not sure where but I did know the direction.  University.  If I could make it.<\/div>\n
So I took a few steps in a better direction,<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
First I spoke to Crooky,  <\/div>\n
\u201cMr. Cruikshank would you allow me to write the Grade13 history exam?  Working on my own,  Outside of <\/div>\n
the class.  I know teachers are judged by their success with students.  I will not let you down.”  Crooky<\/div>\n
agreed.  I would self study.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Next I asked Mrs. Charlesworth the same thing.  She agreed well aware my self study plan could be a<\/div>\n
disaster.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Next I bought a  notebook on which I planned a whole year of self study, <\/div>\n
 I broke all my free  time into half hour  blocks and assigned myself s certain task for each half hour.   If I did the<\/div>\n
task then I drew a yellow line through the entry.  I became a spare time bookworm <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n
TOSSING AROUND BIG IDEAS<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\"Paperback<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
BRIGHT IDEA OR A LOAD OF CRAP<\/div>\n
(Russ Vanstone and Alan Skeoch in discussion \u2014 Fall season 1958)<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
“Russ, what do you think of the graduated income tax?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cThink it’s a load of crap.  Why shouldI I pay more tax if I work harder than my neighbour.:\u201d?<\/div>\n
\u201cErich Fromm would  make the rich pay higher taxes than the poor.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cSounds like crap to me, Alan\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cTry this side on for size.  Fromm thinks we should all have the same salary. Exactly the same\u2026let\u2019s say $100 a week would be paid to<\/div>\n
bricklayers, doctors, lawyers, nurses, store clerks, garbage collectors, teachers, ..;everybody.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cSounds goofy\u2026off fthe wall, Alan\u2026wacko.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cFromm figures most of us are unhappy because we are not doing what we enjoy in life.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cCrap!\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cMakes some sense to me.  Most people pick a job because of the money.   What is the wage\u2026.what\u2019s <\/div>\n
in it for me?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNow that makes sense.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cJust suppose money did not matter\u2026.everybody gets the same wage. Then what job would attract you?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cYou are getting more wacko by the minute, Alan\u2026.got a screw loose somewhere in your head.\u201d<\/div>\n
“What would  you really want to do? I know your choice even if you do not.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cKeep me out of this.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNo, Russs , you already told me what you loved doing.  You loved that farm your dad owned out in <\/div>\n
Manitoba\u2026the tractors \u2026the people.\u201d<\/div>\n
“I told you it was flat as piss on a plate\u2026nothing more.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNot true Russ.  You loved that farm. Fromm says if we delete money as a motive for work, we will find jobs that make us happy\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cMy dad would call you a Commie.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cI am nothing.  Give the idea a chance.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cYou mean find a job I love.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cYes.  Russ you are  natural farmer.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cAnd what are you, Alan?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t really know\u2026maybe a teacher..\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cDo you really believe that crap?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cI would make an exception.   Doctors should be paid more.  I don\u2019t want some prick<\/div>\n
with a knife carving me up because he loves doing it?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s get a hamberger and coke.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cFrom a waitress who loves her job?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cRight.   No joke.  There are people who love to cook and serve food.   Right now<\/div>\n
they are at the bottom of the economic pyramid.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cGive her a big tip Alan,\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t do that.  I have no extra money.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cCase closed.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n

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Meanwhile other things happened\u2026<\/div>\n

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FOOTBALL EVENTS<\/div>\n

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Here are  several events associated with football that year.  <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cJARRING” JACK OSMOND<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Jarring Jack Osmond brought his violin case to the Red Feather night game at Exhibition <\/div>\n
stadium.  Violin case?   Jarring jack was not in the orchestra.   Why the violin casy would he bring a violin to an alll city footballl game?<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cJack, why the violin case?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWant a beer, Alan?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t drink beer, jack.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cTough luck.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Jack had a six pack of Mosons Export beer tucked neatly in the violin case.<\/div>\n
He was nabbed quickly and then suspended from Humberside C..I. for a<\/div>\n
few days.   To us he became a kind of folk hero.   A gregarious chap who meant<\/div>\n
no great harm to anyone;  Took his suspension in his stride.  a folk hero.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
WRONG WAY CUSH<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
About the same time Wrong Way Cush became famous and got the nick name<\/div>\n
of \u201cWrong Way\u201d because he intercepted a pass from the enemy quarterback<\/div>\n
and proceeded to run with the ball for a possible touchdown,   Only trouble was that<\/div>\n
he ran the wrong way.   He was about to score a touchdown against his own team\u2026<\/div>\n
our team.   As he ran by our team bench we were all lined along the<\/div>\n
field white chalk line margin yelling \u201cWrong Way! WRONG WAY CUSH!<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cHey there Cush,\u2026why did you run the wrong way?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cI got confused\u2026.got turned around,,,,did not ex[pect  to catch the ball really<\/div>\n
but once caught I knew I had to do something.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cSome of our guys weere trying to knock you down\u2026didn\u2019t you notice?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cYes I noticed.  Wondered why they would want to knock me down\u2026I was on<\/div>\n
their team.  I thought they were confused.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cHow come you stopped?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cPassing our bench someone called me an \u2018asshole’ while the rest of<\/div>\n
you were yelling \u201cWrong Way Cush.\u201d<\/div>\n
and that was how Wrong Way Cush got his name.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
GRANT WEBER\u2019S STOMACH\u2026BONG!<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
(fond memory of Caroline Laughlin, Nov 22, 2023)<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cGrant Weber\u2019s stomach sounded like a big bass drum\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cStomach?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cHe blocked a kick with his stomach.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cHow would you know?\u2019<\/div>\n
\u201cHeard the drum sound way across the field where the fans stood,\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cThat was more than 50 years ago\u2026are you sure?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cYes\u2026some fans wondered why Grant would do that.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cI wondered as well\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
END PART 1   SCHOOL YEAR 1958-1959<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
NEXT EPISODE: PART 2<\/div>\n
Romance, yearbook fiasco, coagulation, HERMES error In school assembly, Alaska, MARJORIE<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  EPISODE 920     SCHOOL YEAR 1958-1959    ONE OF BEST YEARS OF MY LFE: PART 1           alan skeoch\u2019Nov25, 2023 Alan Skeoch and Grant Weber  – Toronto Daily Star @ Oakwood field OVERWHELMING AND PERHAPS UNDESERVED I never expected to be so warmly greeted by the football community in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25887"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25887\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}