So she's coming. She's rowing, and she'll also be commissioned this weekend, on the banks of the Schuylkill. It turns out that once you are commissioned, you are allowed to perform a commissioning. That's what will happen: Three of Young's friends will get in a car Friday after the commissioning ceremony in West Lafayette, Ind., planning to make it to Philly in time for one of them to commission Young on Saturday.
"The three gentlemen coming to the race are my best friends," Young said. "One will have [been] just commissioned the day before with the rest of the graduates: His name is Joe Park. One other is Ian Soderling, who has another semester of school left then also will commission into the U.S. Army. Alexander Dehr used to be in the ROTC program with us but was medically disqualified; we still consider him one of 'the guys.' "
Young lived the first few years of her life in Brookhaven, Delaware County. Her father is a minister and pastor of a church in Blue Bell. So she'll have local support and long-distance support and a weekend on the river that she'll never forget.
If you think Villanova to the Big East isn't likely
Consider this: We're told that a future Big East football television package is a bit more valuable with Villanova in it than any of the other obvious current options, schools such as Central Florida or Houston. (Not sure if Villanova vs. Temple was included in the projections.)
Stating the obvious
Delonte West may be off-kilter, but even playoff teams are better with the former St. Joseph's guard. There's a reason teams live with his off-kilterness. . . . Jay Wright bringing Billy Lange back to Villanova's staff is a big plus.
Things I don't like to admit
I've never watched a Manny Pacquiao fight other than highlights. . . . I find myself pulling for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. (I'm neutral on Chris Bosh.) This probably will last only until they win a title. . . . I once turned down a personal invitation from Phil Mickelson to play golf, just the two of us. (He was a teenager, and I was an idiot worried about a newspaper deadline.) . . . I still root for Tiger Woods. (Except against Phil.)
Contact staff writer Mike Jensen at 215-854-4489 or mjensen@phillynews.com.
