Why World of Sports & other sporting fringe items

Apparently, in the late winter of 1981, I was striving to achieve some semblance of being in shape. As anyone who knows me knows I have never been in shape; however I did participate in some five mile runs in that winter/spring culminating in my running in that year's annual Red Rose Run. Here is a press release on my new found athletic prowess written by City Hall's spokesperson (and hockey goaltender) Fred Smedley:

WHY WORLD OF SPORTS
Information Service
CONTACT: Fred Smedley
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

LANCASTER - Lancaster athletic star Theodore P. Knorr, whose scholastic and collegiate careers are legendary among local sports buffs, has announced his intention to return to active competition in the area's tough track circuit.

Knorr's first public appearance will be March 28 (1981) when he will compete in the March of Dimes Five-Mile Run. A special press conference and "coming out" party has been scheduled for that evening in the urban Xanadu occupied by his press agent, Fred Smedley, at 137 Howard Avenue.

Provided Knorr survives the run, and is not nominated as poster child for this year's March of Dimes campaign immediately following his endeavor, the conference will begin at 8:30 p.m. Since liquor will be flowing throughout the conference, and the party itself will get underway immediately thereafter, reporters are urged to arrive on time if they hope to get a few intelligible words from the local legend.

While the March of Dimes run will be Knorr's initial competitive foray into Lancaster's road-racing circuit, he has reportedly set his sights on finishing the grueling Red Rose Five-Mile Run set for June 13.

Knorr, of course, is no stranger to the Red Rose Run. Under his direction the run evolved into the notable event it is. It was Knorr who was able to coax foreign runners to Lancaster. When other countries were denying South African Sydney Maree the chance to compete solely for political reasons, Knorr stated, "He can run in Lancaster." Maree consequently won that race and his career has been on the rise since.

Last year Knorr was involved with the run but was overcome by an acute case of blood poisoning the night before the race and was unable to attend the affair itself.

Knorr's athletic accomplishments at Lancaster Catholic High School in the mid 1960's were minimal enough to capture the hearts and minds of many fans.

In 1965 "Terrible Ted" Knorr occpied the center spot for the Crusader's offensive line and was the scourge of defensive linemen and Catholic High quarterback's alike. The fact that Knorr was entrusted with the most important position in football -- that of beginning each play -- displays the faith his coaches had in him as a human being. The additional fact that Knorr never started and rarely played attests to the total lack of confidence his coaches had in his abilities. Nevertheless, Knorr's spiritual leadership is often singled out as the main motivating force behind Catholic High's impressive 6-2 record that year.

Unfortunately, the spectre that looms behind ll athletes -- common sense -- got the better of Knorr and he withdrew from the sports arena. But he could never extinguish those competitive fires and in 1969 he was coaxed back into sports, this time on the mats. As the varsity wrestling team's student manager, Knorr performed all the behind-the-scenes work that enabled the Crusaders to compile a big 9-3-1 slate.

Realizing he had little chance of topping that accomplishment Knorr again retired from athletic competition, or at least the group participation sports, and embarked on a course that brought him much personal satisfaction.

Earlier this year, however, Knorr became determined to make a second comeback. He immediately joined the City's prestigious 340 Club and worked at regaining the svelte physical form he had lost over the years.

Athletes who have heard of Knorr's proposed re-entry into the sports scene expressed enthusiasm about having the opportunity to once again view Knorr's talents.

Hockey immortal Phil Zangari, contacted at the fashionable dinner club he operates on the City's South side, remarked, "Anytime you can watch a graceful athlete who lost it all make a comeback and again do his thing, it's a beautiful sight."

Zangari, however, said he would be interested to see if age has been kind to Knorr's body, especially his knees. "We're just waiting to see him, " Zangari cautioned.

Professional wrestler Gorilla Monsoon, who once turned down a challenge to meet on the mats with Knorr, noted, "I'm just glad he decided to take up runing. He's an awesome force."

And Maree, who owes much of his success to Knorr, observed, "Well, at least with him out on the course with me I won't have to worry about what my wife is doing."

---30---

Just a footnote, I ran on March 28th and several other times prior to June 13th. On that day I became the first person to run the Red Rose Run after having ran it as race director. Another comment, Fred had a great party that Saturday night but there was a party one week later at the "prestigious" 340 Club that began a meteoric rise of ppularity, chic and hipness at that West King Street abode that - at its culmination - found Fred's former employer, the Intelligencer Journal, officially ranking the 340 Club as the County's 3rd best nightclub behind only the Old Colony and The Village Night Club. Despite the fact that tomorrow at the virtual club is April Fool's Day 1981; that ranking is factual and certified forever in articles in the Intell that will be reproduced here shortly. Stay tuned.

One more coincidental note - on June 7th the 340 Club celebrates its reunion and - wait for it (drum roll) - the City holds its annual Red Rose Run. Will Knorr return to the roadways?!