Walker once again dedicated to a bike ride like no other
All coaches, even the few, the proud, who try to stay organized, understand the hysteria of the season. The mind races constantly, all its shapes and forms seemingly in crossing patterns, sort of like how people move about Times Square.
And then there's Andy Walker: the father, husband, teacher, coach and the guy who has to train for an upcoming 300-mile bike ride.
He challenges the old Army commercial about doing more before 9 a.m. than most people do all day.
Walker, in his first season coaching the softball program at Waterford High, will participate in the 2016 Tour de Force Memorial Bike Ride for the second straight year, joining Waterford pals Joe Mooney, Gregg Swanson and Scott Erricson.
And so Walker, in spite of all his other occupations, will leave — fittingly — Sept. 11 with 250 other riders (mostly police officers from across the country) from the Pentagon to Ground Zero. The Tour de Force was founded in 2002 as a memorial bicycle ride to honor the victims of Sept. 11 and has evolved in to a calling, raising money for families of police officers that have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Walker, Mooney, Swanson and Erricson combined to raise nearly $30,000 during last year's ride from New York to Boston, in honor of their late friend Bill Pontious.
“Actually, I haven't had much time at all to train, although I did get out a few times on April break,” Walker was saying one day last week after a game. “I know what it takes to do the ride now. Maybe I over-trained a little last year.”
Walker, Erricson and Mooney have a little more than 100 days remaining to raise the money they need to exceed last year. They'll all gather
Friday night at Filomenas from 5-8 for a “Cinco de Mayo” fundraiser that promises more than a few laughs for a great cause.
“I grew up with Bill Pontious in Waterford. He liked to say he dropped 18 on St. Bernard when they had (Harold) Pressley. Great guy,” Swanson said. “He was a career cop. He started in Groton and then went to Los Angeles to chase the Bloods and the Crips. He settled in Aurora, Colo., and passed away in his sleep at age 52. He was a big bike rider and raised over $150,000 for the Tour de Force since 2006. When he passed, I asked if I could ride in his honor. Then I asked these guys. Boom. The four musketeers.”
Some of the money they raised last year went to the families of Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, who were killed in the line of duty in Brooklyn on Dec. 20, 2014.
Their memories have endured long after the muscles stopped aching, from all of Walker's selfies, the woman from Texas who didn't like Swanson's salty language, all the potholes, all the new friends and bonds that belie knowing these people for such a short time.
“You wouldn't believe the people who came out,” Walker said. “We got a picture with the New York City Police Chief (Ray Kelly). People from every background, color, clapping along the side of the road. Homeless people came out of the woods. I couldn't believe it. Unreal. After four days of riding, I'm closer with some of those people now than people I've worked with for 25 years.”
And life has gotten even better for Walker, who took over the softball program after his sister, Liz Sutman (and her three state titles) resigned in the offseason.
“I love it,” Walker said. “Having a blast. So glad I got involved with these girls. They've all played different sports at different levels. They compete. They know what it takes to finish a game, even when they're not at their best. I love working with them.”
Walker has kept the staff together, including veteran assistant coach Frank Lotti and former Waterford great Mattie Brett.
“Frank's been around the program forever, a cornerstone,” Walker said. “He's seen so much softball, way more than I have. Mattie, her energy level in practice and at game time is really something.”
Senior pitcher Kazi Walker, Andy's niece who has now played for her aunt and uncle, said, “I love playing for both of them. This year has been great. It has exceeded any expectation I had. I absolutely love playing for him.”
And when the season ends, you'll see Walker about town buzzing around on his bike, preparing for the burn that will hurt so good.
Meantime, show up Friday and give what you can. Hard to think of a nobler cause.
This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.