DODDS  in Dubuque

With the graduation of another class of athletes from DOODS-Europe high schools, it might be fun to list some of the former Europe-based athletes who elected to attend Dubuque University in Iowa, where some 80 DOODS-Europe and Far East grads matriculate each year.

University of Dubuque associate admissions director Bob Broshous provided the following list of DOODS graduates who have performed significantly for recent Spartan athletic teams:

It's no secret the military sports scene in Europe suffers from the strain and drain of deployments. Seasons have been cut and the talent pool has shrunk.

But anyone who thinks all the best talent is downrange these days can take heart from the achievements of the USAFE women's hoops team, which defended its title at the Combined Command Air international basketball tournament which wound up in Tongerlo, Belgium, June 18.

Summer began Monday, and summer means softball in U.S. Forces Europe sports.

Actually, however, it doesn't. Summer in Europe means "slow-pitch," an outgrowth of
summer picnics that has replaced the skill and elegance of softball on the
sports calendar.

Slow-pitch is not softball.

Many years ago, I had the privilege of covering the last fast-pitch European
softball championships and was rewarded with tightly pitched and tightly played
games of skill, which usually ended with 2-1 and 1-0 scores. Hits were hard to
come by, and defensive excellence was the norm. Strategy and intelligent play
usually made the difference.

Well, it's finally happened. After all these years of your having to endure the way I
get to flap my gums in splendid isolation, it's now your turn.

This post opens a new European sports blog in Stars and Stripes, a place where you'll get your say about what's good, bad and indifferent on the European military and high school sports scenes. Don't let that stop you, however, from sounding off on whatever sports topic interests you. This is intended to be an open forum.