A visit from Bambi

What a great antidote for an otherwise gloomy Tuesday: Our old pal Michael J. Bamberger was in town for a lively visit to the McCann Center.

You remember Bambi: The Ayatollah of Schmoozolah. The Mayor of McCann. Everybody's Best Friend.

And, oh yeah: A great former captain and multiple school record holder. When the "Bro of the Boards" graduated with his classmates, out the door walked the best relay teams I ever had the honor to coach. I knew it, too. Last winter and spring was a vast wasteland of middle-distance running without Bambi and Friends. But that will change, my friends. Stay tuned.

Anyway, when you put all his joking and schmoozing aside, there's no one I would trust more with a relay stick in his hand than Bambi. Don't think for a second that he doesn't miss it, either. As he watched the women's team do intervals in McCann (yes, we were inside on this hideous day), he reminisced about ripping out 53-second, workout-ending quarters on that ancient and slippery 160-meter oval.

He misses it. I miss having him around. No really, I do.

Sure, he annoyed the heck out of me as he held court with the current team members, half of whom he never even ran with. He told stories about stuff I didn't even know he did, which of course didn't go over well with his old coach. He knew it, too. It's all part of the Bambi Charm.

Speaking of which: Why does everyone who has ever worked in McCann love this guy? He's like a Hug Magnet! Man, oh man.

Yeah, it was great having Bambi back for the day. Like all alums, he is welcome anytime.

Love ya, BRO!