The question has come up. More than once.

 

To be honest, when asked, I did not know the answer. With the information now firmly in hand, I know the answer to the root portion of the question, I can answer the question in the multiple forms it came in.

 

The first time I heard the question, it was phrased like this: “Is Mike Robey involved with Bridgeport sports again?”

 

The answer to that question, which has come a few times, is yes.

 

Most of the time, the question came in this form: “Is Mike Robey coaching again?”

 

The answer to that, well, I will get there in just a second. And I will first explain why people are asking and have been asking for several weeks now.

 

Robey, who coached for more than three and a half decades and retired as the Bridgeport High School boys’ basketball coach in 2019, has been spotted back amongst the student-athletes in a formal setting. The setting has been the dugout of the Indians girls’ softball team.

 

Back to the question then. Is Mike Robey coaching?

 

The answer is no.

 

“I’m the team scorekeeper,” said Robey. “I get to watch the game up close and be a fan from the dugout.”

 

Robey’s decision to become a piece of the BHS softball program has nothing to do with a desire to get back into coaching. It has nothing to do with being a former high school baseball player who tried living out any remaining hopes of glory playing softball and falling in love with the sport.

 

Actually, the appearance of Robey at all the games this year is simpler than having a child involved or testing whether he would like to officially return to the sports world. His return is about friendship. And the friendship in question is with BHS softball Coach Chelsea Holcomb.

 

“I’ve taught gym class (at Washington Irving Middle School) with Chelsea for about 10 years, and she needed a scorekeeper,” said Robey. “She wanted to know if I would be willing to help out. We’ve always worked well together so I told her of course I would help.”

 

Although he has been away from anything resembling coaching for roughly four years now and is – again – not a coach in this situation, Robey admitted he was curious to see how it would feel being around young athletes again.

 

“As I’ve gotten to know the team, I’ve found out I really enjoy it. I really enjoy being in that dugout cheering those kids on,” said Robey. “I think it helps that they’re good kids, too.”

 

There is something else he enjoys in his scorekeeper mode.

 

“I’m not the one making the decisions or having to deal with parents or umpires. I just deal with the book,” Robey laughed. “I know my place, and my place is not inserting opinion or strategy. Chelsea has that covered. At the same time, I’m enjoying this more than I expected.”

 

With one question answered, that leads to another. Does getting his feet at least wet near the coaching pool, would he ever consider diving back in?

 

“They say never say never, but the odds would be slim. Actually, the odds would be slim enough to be sickly,” said Robey again. “I’m still teaching, but I don’t see a return to the coaching ranks. I’m just going to enjoy this.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo, by Ben Queen Photography, shows Mike Robey during his final season at BHS giving a little bit of grief to the officials, while in the third photo he is all smiles going over the book with the home plate umpire. In the second photo, Robey makes some changes to the girls softball scorebook, and below talks lineup changes with his friend, teaching colleague, and BHS girls softball Coach Chelsea Holcomb. Cover photo is also a file photo by Ben Queen Photography.