Krause: Haines’ passion, concern enriched Marblehead High School sports

A couple of things to go over today as we start zeroing in on the July 31 trading deadline ?When William Haines was in school, he had a cousin with the same name, and teachers were always getting them confused. But their middle names were different.So, teachers began referring to the cousins by their middle initials, and one of the Williams’ was “S.” S turned into S-O, in much the same manner as some people might call me Steve-o; and it eventually evolved into Esso. And now you know the rest of the story.By whatever name, Esso Haines was a wonderful, wonderful guy. I never saw him referee a football game (though he told me later that he was one of the officials in the celebrated 1970 Swampscott-St. John’s Prep football game at Blocksidge Field), but it doesn’t matter. I remember him more from the years I’d sit with him in the Hopkins Field press box (with his ever-present sidekick, F. Carlton Siegel) and the good times that were had up there during Marblehead football games.He was such a welcoming presence that you really looked forward to covering Marblehead games during that era just so you could catch up with Esso and Carl, share a few laughs, get into a few arguments (the man did like to argue the way all of us do when it comes to sports). Any afternoon I ever spent over there was a memorable one, and he was one of the biggest reasons for that.That he has died, after a battle with cancer, is very sad indeed. But what’s sadder is that there are fewer and fewer people from my generation on down who have the same love of school sports that he, and others like him, had. It’s men like Esso Haines, who do so much to make sure this wonderful tradition perpetuates itself, who deserve the bulk of the credit for keeping school sports alive.As a person, Esso will be missed greatly. But taken collectively, people with Esso’s concern and passion for school sports in general will, I’m afraid, never be replaced.Robert Kraft, perhaps goaded by columnists and commentators (including ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap Sunday), finally broke his silence on the Aaron Hernandez issue.But he didn’t make himself look any better.First, this whole business of being “duped.” Really?He says the Patriots don’t hire detectives to follow players around. Maybe not. But if anything they do, or have done, sends up red flags, that’s a different story. For the amount of money we’re talking about here, I should think that’s a matter of common sense.A question to ponder: If you’re a Babe Ruth all-star, and you’ve missed the majority of your first game in the tournament to play for another organization, how obligated is your coach to play you if you’ve strolled into the game in the seventh inning?I’d say not at all.Finally, I remember a few years back going to the ceremony where the newly-refurbished track at the Saugus Middle School was rededicated in memory of the late Bill MacNeil, who coached track at the high school for many years. I couldn’t think of anyone in my experiences of covering Saugus sports who deserved the recognition more.Perhaps Stackpole Field in Saugus was named for someone too.So why the consternation over there over naming the high school auditorium after Nancy Lemoine?Once in a great while, someone special comes along who touches people in a truly unique way. Acknowledging it doesn’t diminish the accomplishments and contributions of other teachers and advisers. It only states the obvious ? that Nancy’s gifts, and her consistent dedication, allowed her to give purpose to the lives of a lot of Saugus High kids ? and in an age where it’s harder and harder for kids to find, and be comfortable with, their own identities.Why is there any quibbling about this at all? Nancy died of cancer this past April. Her mourners were/are many, and her impact far-reaching.This should be a no-brainer. Why it isn’t, I cannot fathom.Steve Krause can be reached at [email protected].