A Weekend of Racing Boats and Football

A few random thoughts and notes following what was for the most part a miserable late-May weekend which pretty much sums up the entire month. The forecast looks a bit better for this week but I doubt they’ll be many getting a jump start on their summer tans over Memorial Day weekend.

Congrats to Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Stephen Reid and town officials for bringing powerboat racing back with Sunday’s Offshore Grand Prix. While the weather was certainly not ideal it appears many locals and visitors alike headed to the beach and boardwalk area to watch the three dozen boats race in the ocean.

Of course in the 70s and 80s the old Benihana Grand Prix was one of the marquee summer events at the Jersey Shore and I actually broadcast the race a couple of times on the radio.

Saturday I was in Seaside Heights for the Pros vs. Heroes Flag Football Game on the beach just north of Casino Pier. I helped announce the game which matched members of the Toms River Police Department against a group of mostly former pro football players. The pros used a late interception to clinch the victory on the wet sand but the real winner was the Toms River Police Foundation which benefitted from the money raised through sponsorships and sales.

Kudos to game organizer Jillian Messina and Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little for their hard work and community outreach.

By the way the captain of the Pro Elite squad was none other than MMA fighter and former UFC champion Frankie “The Answer” Edgar of Toms River. It was a busy weekend for Edgar, who took part Friday night in the Relay for Life event at Brick Township High School that featured a fitness expo conducted by Todd Durkin and contestants from the NBC competition show “Strong.”

Edgar told me Durkin had him pumped up as he prepares for his July 9th featherweight (145 lb.) title fight with Jose Aldo as part of UFC 200 in Las Vegas. Edgar who was an outstanding wrestler at Toms River East and Clarion University, is very generous when it comes to donating his time to charitable causes.