My wife is a native of Columbus, Ohio, and a lifelong Ohio State fan.
So whenever we’re out and Sherri spots someone wearing Ohio State garb, she’ll say aloud, "O-H …"
Invariably, the fellow Buckeye responds, "… I-O!"
But when Sherri did the call-and-response with one fellow Ohioan recently, his companion didn’t share in the conviviality of the sporting exchange during the thrall of bowl season, which ends Monday night.
"Oh, geez," she muttered.
Must’ve been a Michigan fan.
• Oh, no! Gene Page is one year shy of the Big 8-0!
• A salute to the Manatee County’s Marine Rescue Division, recipients of the 2017 Beach Patrol of the Year Award from the Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs Association. They’re the best of the best out of 38 ocean rescue agencies across the state.
Led by director Robert Smith, chief Joe Westerman and lieutenants Collin Schmidt and Karl Payne, our intrepid lifeguards/emergency medical technicians are David Snyder, Marshall Greene, Jack Bratcher, David Julius, Karen Burkett and Lianna Sandberg; lifeguard/paramedics Jay Millard and Eric Logan; and lifeguards Chelsea Hart, Johnny Cromwell, Cole Ross, Morgan Bakulski and A.J. Nelson.
• Steve Duerst popped the question to Michelle Grantham and she said yes.
• Father Timothy Harris, associate pastor at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, is 51.
• Big Ed Edwards is coming back to B’town.
Beginning Monday the radio veteran, who spent the past seven years with WRXB 1590 AM in St. Petersburg, will return to the air at 1490 WWPR AM and online at 1490wwpr.com weekdays from 9-11 a.m.
He’ll be joined by another radio veteran, Grant Hudson, who retired here after a successful career with CKLW in Windsor, Ontario.
Edwards will focus on our community, which he is familiar with since he originally worked at the station in the 1990s.
"We want to be topical, informative, humorous and entertaining," Edwards said. "We’ll mix in some music and sports, but it’s going to be all local with guests and the like. We used to do ‘Meet the Mayor’ and ‘Crime Beat’ with the Sheriff, and fun live shows. We want do it again."
Edwards can be reached at bigeddy12@comcast.net.
• Brad Scarbrough is 39. Again.
• So is Melissa Koehlinger.
• That wily ol’ stork is on the horizon for Ellie and Zac Fuesser, who are expecting a boy in March.
• Uh, oh! Norm Luppino is one year shy of the Big 6-0!
• Once upon a time Faust DeLazzer was the hardnosed head football coach at Lakewood Ranch High. So he knew better than to whine about the tough rehab he was being put through following knee replacement surgery in November.
The physical therapist? His daughter, Maria DeLazzer Scafario, the clinic manager at Coastal Orthopedics Sports Medicine in Lakewood Ranch.
"Maria really put him through the wringer," said his wife, Candy. "He jokes that it’s payback."
• Speaking of knee replacement surgery, coach Paul Maechtle undergoes the knife Monday. Good luck to the retired Southeast Hall of Famer.
• That’s 44 years of wedded bliss for Joe and Susan Miller.
• And 37 for Charlie and Leslie Wells.
• And 36 for Jayne and Jay Romine.
• Dave and Mary Suchy celebrated New Years in Australia with son Mike, who’s playing winter ball with the Sydney Blue Sox.
• Larry Kramer is 75 years young.
• Don’t forget Pirates spring training national anthem auditions 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at LECOM Park, 1611 Ninth St. W., Bradenton. For details, call 941-747-3011, visit bradentonmarauders.com
Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com. Or call 941-962-5944. Twitter: @vinmannix.