Our Story: One Rhode Island Family
NORTH SMITHFIELD, RI (R.I.W.B.L.) -- It's a story we all share or to which we all can very much relate. By age 10, a child and his friends had already grown up playing Little League Baseball together. The practices, the games, the trips to the ice cream parlor, and the perpetual desire to always want to play, no matter the hour or weather. Baseball practices and games several times per week were never enough.
Like most young boys and girls, they wanted to play as often as possible -- anytime they came over to each other's houses. Anytime, anyplace, and for as long as their parents would allow.
Of course, convincing parents to play ball in the front or back yard is never an easy task! They faced the prospects of smashed lights, broken windows, balls getting caught in the gutters or landing on the streets with oncoming cars, or perhaps the worst outcome for a baseball-loving youth -- losing the only baseballs you own in the woods.
Like most young boys and girls, they wanted to play as often as possible -- anytime they came over to each other's houses. Anytime, anyplace, and for as long as their parents would allow.
Of course, convincing parents to play ball in the front or back yard is never an easy task! They faced the prospects of smashed lights, broken windows, balls getting caught in the gutters or landing on the streets with oncoming cars, or perhaps the worst outcome for a baseball-loving youth -- losing the only baseballs you own in the woods.
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So like many over the generations since the early 1950s, the young child collected a small number of WIFFLE® Ball bats and balls, so that he and his friends could play when they came over to the house.
Soon, the impressionable fans of our great game began to imitate the stances and windups of famous ballplayers of the time like Ken Griffey, Jr., Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken, Jr., Roger Clemens, Hideo Nomo, Pedro Martinez, etc., They started to craft the perfect knuckleball, curveball, or slider. They would regularly compete with one another no matter what the weather patterns forecasted. WIFFLE® Ball, much like playing video games, board games, cards, or with dolls/action figures or going to the movies or the mall, became the new norm. This obviously is not an unusual development by any means. What no one saw coming was just how far this boy was going to take the grand old game within the small town of North Smithfield, and eventually beyond. |
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I grew up a loyal follower and fan of the local sports teams in New England and of the competitors and leagues with which they played. I always strived to know more than just back-of-player-card statistics. I studied the games for how they were played and developed a more refined IQ of the major sports.
I began scoring games at Providence College Men's Basketball home games as a very young child and continue to do so in the same traditional manner today, even with the technological advances that one might argue would render such an activity useless. I still field requests from neighboring patrons on what PC or the opponent is shooting for the game, or what a particular player is shooting for the season at the free throw line, or how many rebounds, assists, steals, turnovers, or blocks a certain player has, or for the more analytical fan, what the opponent's KPI, SOR, or Adjusted FG% happens to be for the season, both in conference play and in overall play. No matter how old I become, it still puts a smile on my face to share the fruits of my labor with inquiring fans. |
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John Zannini, the Big East StatBeast from 1990-2017 and official statistician at PC, became perhaps an unusual, but nonetheless still powerful influence on me. A generation may have separated us, but our connection -- both in the spirit of scoring each of the games and in actual physical proximity (sitting just rows behind him for his entire stint with PC) -- was something tacitly present at the Dunk' for 28 years.
Mr. Zannini joined the Friars around the same time I had begun scoring games, and we shared a penchant for numbers and an unwavering love for the game. He loved and took great pride in being knowledgable about all the major sports, much like I did. One thing both of us understood -- statistics do more than present comparative quantitative information about teams, players, conferences, and leagues. Stats allow us to remember where we were, with whom we were watching, how we felt, and the effects these great memories had on our lives. These are the real impacts of what statistics provide. At PC games, I would at times jokingly critique Mr. Zannini's official scoring, as we scorers like to do. But I never did approach him, perhaps out of fear of introducing myself to an inspiring adult as a young boy, but certainly out of respect to the position and out of reverence for the man I so greatly admired, even if the great StatBeast never knew it. Mr. Zannini was rarely, if ever, heard on the airwaves, but his quiet, do-your-job-the-right-way demeanor resonated with me. Years later, I met Mr. Zannini and his beautiful wife, Lisa, and children, Matthew and Alexandra. I consider it one of the great honors of my life. |
John Zannini (right), Big East StatBeast, pictured with radio partner
John Rooke on March 15, 2017 at the First Four of the 2017 NCAA Tournament. It was Zannini's final NCAA Tournament game and marked the 27th anniversary of his very first game with the Friars: the Opening Round game of the 1990 NCAA Tournament vs. Ohio State. Zannini sat alongside Rooke and Friar legend Joe Hassett ('77) from 1990-2017. He also served with Rooke on New England Patriots radio for 24 seasons. |
John Rooke, longtime radio voice of the Friars and Patriots and another wonderful ambassador for the sports information and broadcasting industries, said of Mr. Zannini:
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He loved the Big East, and he loved the people within the Big East, everyone sharing his passion for loyalty, for competition, for excellence. And I loved him. So did everyone else who ever befriended the Statbeast. John A. Zannini was one of a kind. ... And I’ll so look forward to meeting up with him in the next life, wherever that may be, for the next game on our schedule.
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For over 20 years since the spring of 1996, my family and I have made it our mission to encourage the advocacy of children and families connecting through playing outdoors together, engaging in sound sportsmanship, and giving back to the community.
I, too, look forward one day to meeting up with John Zannini. My goal is that, in some small way, I can offer my best to field a never-ending love for sports and provide others a first-class memorable experience centered around integrity and charity. And that this may positively affect the lives of as many people as possible.
I, too, look forward one day to meeting up with John Zannini. My goal is that, in some small way, I can offer my best to field a never-ending love for sports and provide others a first-class memorable experience centered around integrity and charity. And that this may positively affect the lives of as many people as possible.
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E. Justin Simone
Rhode Island WIFFLE® Ball League, Founder
E. Justin Simone
Rhode Island WIFFLE® Ball League, Founder
