(Place on page 321, after last para.)
Inside her beautiful farmhouse, I glanced at all the memories she had gathered from her previous life. The many photos of her husband and their travels together; pictures of her reletives, both old and new; her carefully arranged and well cared for knick-knacks and cute artifacts she had collected over the years. I smiled because they reminded me of things Mom wouldv'e done.
This is a special lady, I told myself. She had a different life too, one she would never forget and always cherish in her heart. I didn't want her to forget . I only wanted to share her heart and her life, not be a replacement.
Parts of my past I would never forget nor wanted to. Especially memories of my parents. Life goes on and we must go on with it. The loving memories made us who we were.
Yes, it was sad to know that things wouldn't be the same. I would always miss my folks, close reletives like Uncle Henry, Aunt Sue and others. I would always miss Louie and my animal friends who were gone. And Holly would miss the people and pets who once made her life so special too.
They say when one door closes, another always opens. In time new people and pets would brighten our world. We would brighten each others' world. No longer would we be lonely or forever sad. We both agreed our dearly departed loved ones wouldn't want it any other way.
Saturday, February 29, 2020
Friday, February 28, 2020
book- stares
(Place on page 56, after para 8..next to last para)
It seemed I got more stares than other folks in wheelchairs. I looked odd because of my short stature. People who are paralyzed may appear "normal" to the casual starer. And some disabilities could be unseen. I stuck out like a sore thumb. I was way too embarrassed to ever wear shorts, even during a blazing hot summer, so when I wore jeans I liked them to cover my feet as well as my legs. So the stares and comments went from "Why do you have tiny legs?" to "Why don't you have feet?" Adults often thought I was an amputee, perhaps from a car accident. I was far too young to have served in the Vietnam War.
Anyway, I didn't have much of a choice but to deal with the stares. I could relate to guys like "The Elephant Man." The scars of fate one could never hide from.
My legs were useless. So why are they there, only to get stared at? I don't know. It's a question I would often ponder from childhood to old age. Not "why can't I walk?" or "why me and OI?" Instead it was always "why are my useless legs here." like a modern day Scarlett Letter for all to see?
Maybe my legs hung around (pardon the pun) for a reason? The answer would become clearer with time.
It seemed I got more stares than other folks in wheelchairs. I looked odd because of my short stature. People who are paralyzed may appear "normal" to the casual starer. And some disabilities could be unseen. I stuck out like a sore thumb. I was way too embarrassed to ever wear shorts, even during a blazing hot summer, so when I wore jeans I liked them to cover my feet as well as my legs. So the stares and comments went from "Why do you have tiny legs?" to "Why don't you have feet?" Adults often thought I was an amputee, perhaps from a car accident. I was far too young to have served in the Vietnam War.
Anyway, I didn't have much of a choice but to deal with the stares. I could relate to guys like "The Elephant Man." The scars of fate one could never hide from.
My legs were useless. So why are they there, only to get stared at? I don't know. It's a question I would often ponder from childhood to old age. Not "why can't I walk?" or "why me and OI?" Instead it was always "why are my useless legs here." like a modern day Scarlett Letter for all to see?
Maybe my legs hung around (pardon the pun) for a reason? The answer would become clearer with time.
book- school
( Place on page 33, after para 2)
Some Fridays I wished school never ended. I would miss my friends until Monday. I kept busy on weekends with family activities. but no matter how tough school was ( I did have a feeling some teachers cut me some slack when it came to grades and tests, because of my situation), sometimes I couldn't wait to switch on the box at 8:00 Monday morning, just to hear those familar voices again.
They say you can't miss what you never had. I suppose that's true to an extent. But all during my high school years I did miss school activites that I knew, if fate had been kinder, I would be doing.
Some Fridays I wished school never ended. I would miss my friends until Monday. I kept busy on weekends with family activities. but no matter how tough school was ( I did have a feeling some teachers cut me some slack when it came to grades and tests, because of my situation), sometimes I couldn't wait to switch on the box at 8:00 Monday morning, just to hear those familar voices again.
They say you can't miss what you never had. I suppose that's true to an extent. But all during my high school years I did miss school activites that I knew, if fate had been kinder, I would be doing.
book- bowling
(Place on page 11, after para 6)
I looked forward to our Sunday nights at the alleys. Dad would always buy my a box of salty Bachman pretzels and a Coke before the match started. Uncle Frannie would often sit with me at a little table to watch the action. He was the cheerleader of the team, calling out encouragement, often repeating his phrases."Let's go! Let's go!" he would yell above the crashing of pins, bowling balls hitting the wood and the murmur of chatter up and down the alleys.
He had a distinct way of bowling. After he released the ball, he would creeping softly away from the line, like a cat on a hot summer pavement, clenching his fist until he saw his custom black bowling ball crashing into the left pocket, scattering pins everywhere. Bowlers had a lingo all their own, and Uncle Frannie knew the jargon. "Whoa! Whoa! It's going Jersey!" (the ball crossed over the 1 pin); "Get two!" he would instruct a teammate going for a spare: or the famous " "oh, brother!" which could be both good or bad, depending on the result.
Every fall into spring we chased the dream of a championship season, just like our Phillies. Every year we came up short ( just like our Phillies). And after Dad passed on, I never went to the alleys again. It just would'nt be the same without him. Some 40 years later we found three of his bowling balls and a box full of his dusty trophies in the basement. Those relics of days gone by may have gathered dust over time, but my memories of all the exciting moments at the alleys with my father and my uncle would live forever.
I looked forward to our Sunday nights at the alleys. Dad would always buy my a box of salty Bachman pretzels and a Coke before the match started. Uncle Frannie would often sit with me at a little table to watch the action. He was the cheerleader of the team, calling out encouragement, often repeating his phrases."Let's go! Let's go!" he would yell above the crashing of pins, bowling balls hitting the wood and the murmur of chatter up and down the alleys.
He had a distinct way of bowling. After he released the ball, he would creeping softly away from the line, like a cat on a hot summer pavement, clenching his fist until he saw his custom black bowling ball crashing into the left pocket, scattering pins everywhere. Bowlers had a lingo all their own, and Uncle Frannie knew the jargon. "Whoa! Whoa! It's going Jersey!" (the ball crossed over the 1 pin); "Get two!" he would instruct a teammate going for a spare: or the famous " "oh, brother!" which could be both good or bad, depending on the result.
Every fall into spring we chased the dream of a championship season, just like our Phillies. Every year we came up short ( just like our Phillies). And after Dad passed on, I never went to the alleys again. It just would'nt be the same without him. Some 40 years later we found three of his bowling balls and a box full of his dusty trophies in the basement. Those relics of days gone by may have gathered dust over time, but my memories of all the exciting moments at the alleys with my father and my uncle would live forever.
Thursday, February 27, 2020
PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- SIXERS, PHILLIES, FLYERS, EAGLES
The Sixers' free-fall continues as their road records drops to a miserable 9-21 with a shocking loss to the lowly Cavs last night in Cleveland. Worse, center Joel Embiid went out in the first quarter with a "sprained shoulder" and never returned. The team was already without fellow All-Star Ben Simmons, who is out with a back issue.
Instead of guys like Al Hortford and Tobias Harris stepping up to fill the void, players who are getting paid tons of money, the 76ers never recovered and the unimaginable happened- losing to the second worse club in the NBA.
I get it that Jimmy Butler didn't want to return to the team ( I wonder why not?). I don't get why leader and shotter J.J. Reddick was let go. The problem is lame and clueless GM Elton Brand never really replaced Butler and Reddick with players that are even closely compretable. Add a loser head coach in Brett brown and an owner who doesn't really care abpout basketball or winning, and the Sixers have the worst front office in Philly. Easily.
If both Simmons and Embiid are out for extended periods of time, put a fork in the Sixers. They will get murdered on this upcoming West Coast road trip ( where teams like the clippers, Lakers and Kings already are laying in wait, seeking revenge for earlier losses in philadelphia). They will drop in the playoff standings and will lose home court advantage and be forced to play a superior first round playoff team.
One and done in the post season would be a major drop-off. Jobs will be lost.
The Sixers have squandered their money and collection of 1st round draft picks. They have been unwise in trades and free agent signings. they deserve to be in the mess they are in now.
The organization promoted losing for many years. The Process sucked then and sucks now. Now, thanks to bad planning, bad management, and bad luck to injuries, they are losing without really trying.
What you reap, you sow. Couldn't happen to a more worthy organization!
***********************************************************************
The Phillies, on the other hand, continue to win in spring training, building a winning culture. Under the leadership of new skipper Joe girardi, the Phillies are overhauling thier attitudes, stress fundementals, and bringing more common sense to the field, not merely analytics.
They still need help in the rotation and in the bullpen. But I have more faith in the Phillies now than the 76ers. And if the current phillies GM can't get the job done, I trust that Phillies' ownership will replace him after this season, if need be.
**********************************************************************
The Flyers finally have the perfect mix of talented youth and savvy veterans, all under the leadership of their bright, new coach. They have a young goalie to build their franchise around, and real hope for now and the future.
The Flyers are 1000-1 to reach the conference finals, not win the Cup. But I wouldn't put it past them on either. Not the way they are rolling now.
A big back-and-back series with the rival Rangers begans at home Friday night. At least coming away with three points would be nice.
*********************************************************************
The Eagles' brain trust is in Indianapolis for the combines. Hopefully they are lokking for speed. Fast burners at receiver and the secondary are key. Free agency also starts in a few weeks. The Birds have cap space. Now GM Howie Rossman needs to spend the $$$ wisely to not only improve the 2020 version of the Eagles but also to 'retool" for the future.
Instead of guys like Al Hortford and Tobias Harris stepping up to fill the void, players who are getting paid tons of money, the 76ers never recovered and the unimaginable happened- losing to the second worse club in the NBA.
I get it that Jimmy Butler didn't want to return to the team ( I wonder why not?). I don't get why leader and shotter J.J. Reddick was let go. The problem is lame and clueless GM Elton Brand never really replaced Butler and Reddick with players that are even closely compretable. Add a loser head coach in Brett brown and an owner who doesn't really care abpout basketball or winning, and the Sixers have the worst front office in Philly. Easily.
If both Simmons and Embiid are out for extended periods of time, put a fork in the Sixers. They will get murdered on this upcoming West Coast road trip ( where teams like the clippers, Lakers and Kings already are laying in wait, seeking revenge for earlier losses in philadelphia). They will drop in the playoff standings and will lose home court advantage and be forced to play a superior first round playoff team.
One and done in the post season would be a major drop-off. Jobs will be lost.
The Sixers have squandered their money and collection of 1st round draft picks. They have been unwise in trades and free agent signings. they deserve to be in the mess they are in now.
The organization promoted losing for many years. The Process sucked then and sucks now. Now, thanks to bad planning, bad management, and bad luck to injuries, they are losing without really trying.
What you reap, you sow. Couldn't happen to a more worthy organization!
***********************************************************************
The Phillies, on the other hand, continue to win in spring training, building a winning culture. Under the leadership of new skipper Joe girardi, the Phillies are overhauling thier attitudes, stress fundementals, and bringing more common sense to the field, not merely analytics.
They still need help in the rotation and in the bullpen. But I have more faith in the Phillies now than the 76ers. And if the current phillies GM can't get the job done, I trust that Phillies' ownership will replace him after this season, if need be.
**********************************************************************
The Flyers finally have the perfect mix of talented youth and savvy veterans, all under the leadership of their bright, new coach. They have a young goalie to build their franchise around, and real hope for now and the future.
The Flyers are 1000-1 to reach the conference finals, not win the Cup. But I wouldn't put it past them on either. Not the way they are rolling now.
A big back-and-back series with the rival Rangers begans at home Friday night. At least coming away with three points would be nice.
*********************************************************************
The Eagles' brain trust is in Indianapolis for the combines. Hopefully they are lokking for speed. Fast burners at receiver and the secondary are key. Free agency also starts in a few weeks. The Birds have cap space. Now GM Howie Rossman needs to spend the $$$ wisely to not only improve the 2020 version of the Eagles but also to 'retool" for the future.
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
book- downtown
(Place on page 18, after para 1)
Mom was a big believer in getting me outside, especially on sunny, warm days in spring and summer. She didn't want me to become a "shut-in.' So often we would take walks to Reeves Park, where we would have an ice cream cones and bask in the fresh air. For me, just getting outside whenever I could meant so much, especially since I was confined to bed quite often.
Another strolling destination was downtown Phoenixville. Shopping malls didn't exist yet in my area, so the downtown business district was bustling with shoppers all the time. I had my favorite stores and little shops, each with their own uniqueness and memories. First was the big department store at the corner of Main St. and Bridge St. called W.T. Grants.
You could get anything at Grants, be it clothing to houseware. But the thing I fondly remember about grants was the delicious aroma of freshly-made popcorn as soon we entered. The term "fresh popcorn" was everywhere. including on the red and white striped boxes. And it was the best popcorn ever, something to look forward to each trip.
Charles Music Shop was where I bought all my 45s and lps back in the day. It was so much fun to browse the record racks. Charlie always knew the kind of music I liked, and would keep me alert to new releases.
Batts Toy Store had the latest board games in their front window, and already I was making my Christmas list in summer. Seacrests Drug Store had everything, from newspapers, comic books and greeting cards, to packs of baseball cards in the spring, and real root beer floats anytime.Woolworth's ( otherwise known as the "Five and Dime store") was a prominent fixture in town.
Some of these quaint stores were accessible to someone in a wheelchair. Some had a step or two to negotiate.It didn't matter. Mom was always determined to make the best out of any situation. If we were out for the day she made sure I would have fun.
God bless Mom. There is a special bond between a mother and a special needs child. We couldn't be any closer. It was that way from those early days until the end.
Mom was a big believer in getting me outside, especially on sunny, warm days in spring and summer. She didn't want me to become a "shut-in.' So often we would take walks to Reeves Park, where we would have an ice cream cones and bask in the fresh air. For me, just getting outside whenever I could meant so much, especially since I was confined to bed quite often.
Another strolling destination was downtown Phoenixville. Shopping malls didn't exist yet in my area, so the downtown business district was bustling with shoppers all the time. I had my favorite stores and little shops, each with their own uniqueness and memories. First was the big department store at the corner of Main St. and Bridge St. called W.T. Grants.
You could get anything at Grants, be it clothing to houseware. But the thing I fondly remember about grants was the delicious aroma of freshly-made popcorn as soon we entered. The term "fresh popcorn" was everywhere. including on the red and white striped boxes. And it was the best popcorn ever, something to look forward to each trip.
Charles Music Shop was where I bought all my 45s and lps back in the day. It was so much fun to browse the record racks. Charlie always knew the kind of music I liked, and would keep me alert to new releases.
Batts Toy Store had the latest board games in their front window, and already I was making my Christmas list in summer. Seacrests Drug Store had everything, from newspapers, comic books and greeting cards, to packs of baseball cards in the spring, and real root beer floats anytime.Woolworth's ( otherwise known as the "Five and Dime store") was a prominent fixture in town.
Some of these quaint stores were accessible to someone in a wheelchair. Some had a step or two to negotiate.It didn't matter. Mom was always determined to make the best out of any situation. If we were out for the day she made sure I would have fun.
God bless Mom. There is a special bond between a mother and a special needs child. We couldn't be any closer. It was that way from those early days until the end.
MOVIE REVIEW- CALL OF THE WILD
*** out of 4 stars
Disney's The Call of the Wild is in theaters nowIt is very loosely based on the classic Jack London children's book. . I saw the movie Sunday afternoon at King of Prussia. The theater was about half full but the morning show was sold-out. I later found out why: families and seniors. Area senior citizen living centers were busing their folks over by vans to see the film. It should do very well. It came in second this weeknd at the box office, raking in over $ 25 million.
If you can get past the fake dogs and a grizzled Harrison Ford, you'll love this movie. The story centers on Buck, a giant dog who lives with a retired judge and his wife. Buck is overly rambunctious, and in a matter of moments, ruins a family outdoor party. He is stolen from his backyard, taken to cold Alaska ad sold to a dog sled company looking for canines to mush their sleeds.
Buck is actually treated pretty well as he soon becomes pack leader, carrying the mail over the wide tundra. It's hard work. But then unlucky Bucky is bought, after the dog sled mail delivery is closed down because of the new telegraph system ( the story is set around 1849).
The weirdo who buys Buck this time is a crazed lunatic in Alaska looking to seize the Gold Rush. His plan is to get out on the tundra, where no one else goes, and pan for gold.So he enlists poor Buck and his fellow mushers to pull he, his two acquaintences and their belongings across frozen, barren wasteland for a shot at fool's gold.
Only problem is, predictably, this Simon Legree-type ever feeds his dogs. Undernourished pooches don't have the strength to pull the slrigh anymore. Thus enters the welcome sight of Ford, who has bumped into Buck two previous times in the movie. He buys Buck.
Buck has a good life with the old coger, who is a widow. He reflects on his wife, his lost wife and a kid. So, to fight his ongoing depression, Ford decides to take the dog and high-tail it out of town, lookingfor gold.
Meanwhile, the same Simon legree guy tracks Ford and Buck, hoping to find out the exact location of the plentiful gold. There is death involved ( I won't spoil anything). That may be hard on little kids, otherwise the movie should be a spellbinding joy for all ages.
The Alaska scenery is breath-taking. The action sequences aer well-done and kept my interest. Yes, the animals in the film are CGI ( computer graphic images) and most of the time look pretty real. There's no way thye couldv'e gotten real animaks to do stunts in this movie.
Harrison Ford gives a nice, sentimental performance, as do all cast members. The movie is fun, exciting and well made. It held my attention for nearly two hours.
There are funny, slapstick scenes and also tearful, heartwarmig scenes. It's "A Dog's Journey," only with CGI animals. Since it appears to be doing well I wouldn't doubt some sort of sequel down the road,All in all, it was a fun way to spend a Sunday .
Disney's The Call of the Wild is in theaters nowIt is very loosely based on the classic Jack London children's book. . I saw the movie Sunday afternoon at King of Prussia. The theater was about half full but the morning show was sold-out. I later found out why: families and seniors. Area senior citizen living centers were busing their folks over by vans to see the film. It should do very well. It came in second this weeknd at the box office, raking in over $ 25 million.
If you can get past the fake dogs and a grizzled Harrison Ford, you'll love this movie. The story centers on Buck, a giant dog who lives with a retired judge and his wife. Buck is overly rambunctious, and in a matter of moments, ruins a family outdoor party. He is stolen from his backyard, taken to cold Alaska ad sold to a dog sled company looking for canines to mush their sleeds.
Buck is actually treated pretty well as he soon becomes pack leader, carrying the mail over the wide tundra. It's hard work. But then unlucky Bucky is bought, after the dog sled mail delivery is closed down because of the new telegraph system ( the story is set around 1849).
The weirdo who buys Buck this time is a crazed lunatic in Alaska looking to seize the Gold Rush. His plan is to get out on the tundra, where no one else goes, and pan for gold.So he enlists poor Buck and his fellow mushers to pull he, his two acquaintences and their belongings across frozen, barren wasteland for a shot at fool's gold.
Only problem is, predictably, this Simon Legree-type ever feeds his dogs. Undernourished pooches don't have the strength to pull the slrigh anymore. Thus enters the welcome sight of Ford, who has bumped into Buck two previous times in the movie. He buys Buck.
Buck has a good life with the old coger, who is a widow. He reflects on his wife, his lost wife and a kid. So, to fight his ongoing depression, Ford decides to take the dog and high-tail it out of town, lookingfor gold.
Meanwhile, the same Simon legree guy tracks Ford and Buck, hoping to find out the exact location of the plentiful gold. There is death involved ( I won't spoil anything). That may be hard on little kids, otherwise the movie should be a spellbinding joy for all ages.
The Alaska scenery is breath-taking. The action sequences aer well-done and kept my interest. Yes, the animals in the film are CGI ( computer graphic images) and most of the time look pretty real. There's no way thye couldv'e gotten real animaks to do stunts in this movie.
Harrison Ford gives a nice, sentimental performance, as do all cast members. The movie is fun, exciting and well made. It held my attention for nearly two hours.
There are funny, slapstick scenes and also tearful, heartwarmig scenes. It's "A Dog's Journey," only with CGI animals. Since it appears to be doing well I wouldn't doubt some sort of sequel down the road,All in all, it was a fun way to spend a Sunday .
PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES, SIXERS, FLYERS, EAGLES ASTROS
- The Phillies are undefeated so far in early spring training play. Jake Arrieta pitches today vs Minnesota. Arrieta needs to step up and be a solid No. 3 starter in the rotation. This is the final year of his contract and will probably be a free agent after the season. I expect Arrieta to pitch well this year, his contract year.
The Phils clubbed four homers Monday afternoon in their 8-7 win over Baltimore. The team is getting a good, long look at their young kids this spring. Bench jobs are open and there is good competition. Bryce Harper sees his first spring action today.
One of the nice joys of early retirement is being able to watch spring training baseball during the week. The twins, an up-and-coming squad from the American League, will be the foe today in Clearwater.
************************************************************************
The Sixers started strong against the Atlanta Hawks last night at home. Up 21 points at one point, the 76ers finished the half ahead 17 qand looked to cruise. Instead, the 3rd quarter closed with the oung Hawks ahead by one. Joel Embiid went off in the 4th quarter, scoring 19 of his career-high 49 points. Philly won by 17, with Tobias Harris chipping in 25. Harris was questionable to play, but during warm-ups he was a go. The Sixers went to an astounding 27-2 at home.
If only Embiid could play that way every game! Especially on the road. The teams' upcoming west coast road trip will be huge. Teams like the Clippers, Lakers and Kings will be out for revenge.
***************************************************************************
The red-hot Flyers go for their 4th win in a row tonight at home against San Jose. The Flyers haven't beaten the Sharks since 2017. The Orange and Black seek revenge for a 7-1 thrashing they suffered in San Jose earlier this season. This is the Sharks get-away game before returning to the west coast. It's been a disasterous road trip and they may want to check out tonight early. The Flyers must get ahead early.
**************************************************************************
Big day for the Eagles as Coach Doug Pederson and GM Howie Rossman speak from the combines in Indianapolis. Free agency begins soon. Rumors persist that troublemaker receiver Alshon Jefferies will be cut. Will the Birds sign Cowboys wide-out Amari Cooper. Drafy a pair of speedy wide-outs this spring and suddenly the receiving corps looks better.
**********************************************************************
The so-called "new' Phillie P{hanatic doesn't look that much different than the old. Still it's stupid they can't work something out so the Phanatic can stay the same and always be in Philadelphia.The Phanatic is an icon in town and can't be replaced!
***********************************************************************
The cheating houston Ass-tros continue to screw up. Jose Altuve was relentlessly booed during their spring game on MOnday. He was later hit by a pitch, one of many surely to come this summer. Meanwhile, Ass-tro management confiskated any negetive signs from fans at the ballpark. The clueless baseball commissioner sits and does nothing, as if the problem will just fade away. but it won't. Houston's championship will always be tainted, along with their cheating team.
The Phils clubbed four homers Monday afternoon in their 8-7 win over Baltimore. The team is getting a good, long look at their young kids this spring. Bench jobs are open and there is good competition. Bryce Harper sees his first spring action today.
One of the nice joys of early retirement is being able to watch spring training baseball during the week. The twins, an up-and-coming squad from the American League, will be the foe today in Clearwater.
************************************************************************
The Sixers started strong against the Atlanta Hawks last night at home. Up 21 points at one point, the 76ers finished the half ahead 17 qand looked to cruise. Instead, the 3rd quarter closed with the oung Hawks ahead by one. Joel Embiid went off in the 4th quarter, scoring 19 of his career-high 49 points. Philly won by 17, with Tobias Harris chipping in 25. Harris was questionable to play, but during warm-ups he was a go. The Sixers went to an astounding 27-2 at home.
If only Embiid could play that way every game! Especially on the road. The teams' upcoming west coast road trip will be huge. Teams like the Clippers, Lakers and Kings will be out for revenge.
***************************************************************************
The red-hot Flyers go for their 4th win in a row tonight at home against San Jose. The Flyers haven't beaten the Sharks since 2017. The Orange and Black seek revenge for a 7-1 thrashing they suffered in San Jose earlier this season. This is the Sharks get-away game before returning to the west coast. It's been a disasterous road trip and they may want to check out tonight early. The Flyers must get ahead early.
**************************************************************************
Big day for the Eagles as Coach Doug Pederson and GM Howie Rossman speak from the combines in Indianapolis. Free agency begins soon. Rumors persist that troublemaker receiver Alshon Jefferies will be cut. Will the Birds sign Cowboys wide-out Amari Cooper. Drafy a pair of speedy wide-outs this spring and suddenly the receiving corps looks better.
**********************************************************************
The so-called "new' Phillie P{hanatic doesn't look that much different than the old. Still it's stupid they can't work something out so the Phanatic can stay the same and always be in Philadelphia.The Phanatic is an icon in town and can't be replaced!
***********************************************************************
The cheating houston Ass-tros continue to screw up. Jose Altuve was relentlessly booed during their spring game on MOnday. He was later hit by a pitch, one of many surely to come this summer. Meanwhile, Ass-tro management confiskated any negetive signs from fans at the ballpark. The clueless baseball commissioner sits and does nothing, as if the problem will just fade away. but it won't. Houston's championship will always be tainted, along with their cheating team.
Monday, February 24, 2020
AMERICAN IDOL- WEEK 2
Week 2 of American Idol was pretty much like the first week. Lots of great voices but no one who wowed me. A few inspirational stories, which was nice. But usually the inspirational stories don't win. They may get to Hollywood but think of past winners such as Carrie Underwood, Maddie last year and Kelly Clarkson. Great stories but Underwood, for example, was simply a country girl who could sing.
There were a few wacky auditions ( not enough for me- the bad ones are the most fun). There were obviously pre-determined set-ups: one girl was on the bubble to make it thru until Katy Perry suggested to "sing for your life." They literally went outside in downtown Savannah, Georgia, gathered a group of "strangers," and she sang. Predictably, she made it.
The "dramatic" ads all week was some sort of catastrohy concerning a fire in the Idol studio, with Perry fainting outside. Turns out it was a gas leak and the studio was evacuated. The firefighters who resonded to the 911 call contained the leak and all was well. Perry didn't really pass out or was ill- she was helped up after over-dramatically acting her part.
That buildt a little interest. But then several firefighters were gathered - still in their gear- to sing "All Night Long" with Lionel Richie. That bit of pre-conceived filler was pretty stupid.
When Idol does a feature story on a contestant, chances are pretty good they will make it to Hollywood. Otherwise, why waste the time? So it was with several performers, and, predictably, all got Golden Tickets.
For me, the best part in the 2-hour show was when a 21-year-old male cheerleader on the Philadelphia cheerleaders squad tried out. It was nice to see the Eagles get a lot of free PR. They bused in the entire cheerleading squad, and the girls looked gorgeous. After Kyle got thru, he presented all three judges with midnight green Eagles' jerseys with # 19 on the back ( why 19?). I'm sure the Birds organization provided the expensive jerseys and travel expenses for all.
So it will be interesting to see how far Kyle gts- without his fellow cheerleaders. I really didn't know there was a male on the squad ( Channel 6 didn't cover the story). I'll have to look for Kyle next fall when football starts up again.
Auditions continue next Sunday night. With the Bachelor still going on, Idol is only once a week for now.
There were a few wacky auditions ( not enough for me- the bad ones are the most fun). There were obviously pre-determined set-ups: one girl was on the bubble to make it thru until Katy Perry suggested to "sing for your life." They literally went outside in downtown Savannah, Georgia, gathered a group of "strangers," and she sang. Predictably, she made it.
The "dramatic" ads all week was some sort of catastrohy concerning a fire in the Idol studio, with Perry fainting outside. Turns out it was a gas leak and the studio was evacuated. The firefighters who resonded to the 911 call contained the leak and all was well. Perry didn't really pass out or was ill- she was helped up after over-dramatically acting her part.
That buildt a little interest. But then several firefighters were gathered - still in their gear- to sing "All Night Long" with Lionel Richie. That bit of pre-conceived filler was pretty stupid.
When Idol does a feature story on a contestant, chances are pretty good they will make it to Hollywood. Otherwise, why waste the time? So it was with several performers, and, predictably, all got Golden Tickets.
For me, the best part in the 2-hour show was when a 21-year-old male cheerleader on the Philadelphia cheerleaders squad tried out. It was nice to see the Eagles get a lot of free PR. They bused in the entire cheerleading squad, and the girls looked gorgeous. After Kyle got thru, he presented all three judges with midnight green Eagles' jerseys with # 19 on the back ( why 19?). I'm sure the Birds organization provided the expensive jerseys and travel expenses for all.
So it will be interesting to see how far Kyle gts- without his fellow cheerleaders. I really didn't know there was a male on the squad ( Channel 6 didn't cover the story). I'll have to look for Kyle next fall when football starts up again.
Auditions continue next Sunday night. With the Bachelor still going on, Idol is only once a week for now.
Sunday, February 23, 2020
REVIEW- MICKY DOLENZ IN CONCERT
I saw former Monkee icon Micky Dolenz at Sellersville Theater Saturday afternoon. incredible show!
Dolenz sounded great, especially for someone who is 74. Lots of energy, humor, fun. His sister Coo is a back-up singer. He is backed by a killer band.
As video of The Monkees played on the big screen behind him, Dolenz rolled thru the group's many hits. He opened with "I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone", easing into "That Was Then, This Is Now," and settled into the breezy 90 minute set.
Tracks like "Me & Magalena" from the recent "Good Times" album, was welcome. Coco did a nice version of Monkee Mike Nesmith's "Different Drum.' sounded as good as Linda Ronstadt ever did.
Later in the set came classics like "Last Train To Clarksville," "Pleasent Valley Sunday" and "Mary, Mary." Nice was a mix of seven Beatles songs- a medley from Sgt. Pepper, and The White Album. "Rocky Raccoon" was right on, while 'Back In The USSR" rocked.
The encore was impressive with "Gimme Some Lovin'", "I'm A Believer," "Twist and Shout," and finally, "Birthday."
Funny stories were sprinkled during the afternoon. The sold-out crowd was on it's feet, dancing during the finale.
Despite having an evening show to do, and just coming off a enery-filled concert, Dolenz still made time to meet fans in the lobby afterwards. He signed autograpghs- for free- ( although there was merchandise for sale, like cds), took pictures and chatted a bit. He's a classy guy.
Dolenz will be doing a spring tour with Mesmith. And a new live album is due to be released in March. So, The Monkees are popular again. And if solo Dolenz comes your way down the road, you need to go and see him.
Micky Dolenz in Concert *** 1/2 ( out of four)
Dolenz sounded great, especially for someone who is 74. Lots of energy, humor, fun. His sister Coo is a back-up singer. He is backed by a killer band.
As video of The Monkees played on the big screen behind him, Dolenz rolled thru the group's many hits. He opened with "I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone", easing into "That Was Then, This Is Now," and settled into the breezy 90 minute set.
Tracks like "Me & Magalena" from the recent "Good Times" album, was welcome. Coco did a nice version of Monkee Mike Nesmith's "Different Drum.' sounded as good as Linda Ronstadt ever did.
Later in the set came classics like "Last Train To Clarksville," "Pleasent Valley Sunday" and "Mary, Mary." Nice was a mix of seven Beatles songs- a medley from Sgt. Pepper, and The White Album. "Rocky Raccoon" was right on, while 'Back In The USSR" rocked.
The encore was impressive with "Gimme Some Lovin'", "I'm A Believer," "Twist and Shout," and finally, "Birthday."
Funny stories were sprinkled during the afternoon. The sold-out crowd was on it's feet, dancing during the finale.
Despite having an evening show to do, and just coming off a enery-filled concert, Dolenz still made time to meet fans in the lobby afterwards. He signed autograpghs- for free- ( although there was merchandise for sale, like cds), took pictures and chatted a bit. He's a classy guy.
Dolenz will be doing a spring tour with Mesmith. And a new live album is due to be released in March. So, The Monkees are popular again. And if solo Dolenz comes your way down the road, you need to go and see him.
Micky Dolenz in Concert *** 1/2 ( out of four)
Saturday, February 22, 2020
PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES, FLYERS, SIXERS, EAGLES
Lots going on in sports..
* The Phillies start Grapeful League play today vs the Tigers. Questions still abound with this squad. Who will fill out the back of the starting rotation? Will the bullpen implode again after the GM Klentek did little to improve the 'pen this off-season. Who plays center field and second base? Will Hoskins rebound/ Will J.T. Realmuto sign a long-term deal?
Tomorrow the team unveils the "new" Phillie Phanatic. Due to legal problms the organization is planning to introduce the made-over Phanatic on Sunday in Clearwater. Will he still be green? Overweight? Be too Gritty-ish? Still look and act lovable and not crazy?
Hopefully the Phanatic doesn't change too much. It is an icon in Philly and it would be a shame if the new Phantic turned out to be as disappointing as the Phillies' blue star caps ( which suck and look too much like the Dallas Cowboys logo).
**************************************************************************
The hot Flyers are fun to watch, a nice mix of veterans and promising youngsters. They have played extremely well at home this season, and they entertain the Winnepeg Jets this afternoon. The Orange and Black will be seeking revenge from a thrashing they took in December in Winnepeg. Their record against the Jets is 7-2 at home in their history. The Jets play the second game of a four-game road trip. A nice Flyers' win would keep their momentum rolling.
****************************************************************************
The inconsistent Sixers play in Milwaukee tonight in a prime-time ABC nationally-televised game. joel Embiid needs to play as well as he did in Thursday's crazy overtime win over brooklyn. He called himself "the greatest player in the world' after the game. Tonight he really does play the greatest in The Greek Freak. An explosive Bucks team, the best in the NBA, will be waiting. Ben Simmons is probable to play. Milwaukee is favored by 8 1/2 points.
*********************************************************************
The Eagles are preparing for free agency. Rumors are that wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey is history and wants out of Philly. The Birds probably won't trade him due to his contract. If they cut him they eat dead money against their salary cap. What to do? Meanwhile rumors swirl as to who will be the back-up quarterback this season behind Carson Wentz. Will Marcus Mariota finally make his way to Philadelphia?
*********************************************************************
Today is the 40th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, the 1980 Americans defeating the mighty Russians. I remember the game vividly and what a fascinating story it was. The call by announcer Al Michaels ("Do you believe in miracles?..Yes!!!") is iconic and will forever remain fanous in history. The USA won the Gold Medal the next day vs Sweden.
********************************************************************
The new NFL PA will be voted on next week. I like the idea of more football- the 17-game schedule, more playoff teams in the mix, and the Super Bowl being played on President's Day weekend.There are problems: the uneven schedule means either one more home game or one more away game for each team. One less pre-season game is needed yet will the increased games wear on the players? More playoff teams mean more franchises in the post-season hunt and less chance of tanking by losing teams. But will more 8-8 mediocre squads still qualify for the playoffs? I'll take more meaningful football anyday, especially 6 games on Wild Card Weekend.
* The Phillies start Grapeful League play today vs the Tigers. Questions still abound with this squad. Who will fill out the back of the starting rotation? Will the bullpen implode again after the GM Klentek did little to improve the 'pen this off-season. Who plays center field and second base? Will Hoskins rebound/ Will J.T. Realmuto sign a long-term deal?
Tomorrow the team unveils the "new" Phillie Phanatic. Due to legal problms the organization is planning to introduce the made-over Phanatic on Sunday in Clearwater. Will he still be green? Overweight? Be too Gritty-ish? Still look and act lovable and not crazy?
Hopefully the Phanatic doesn't change too much. It is an icon in Philly and it would be a shame if the new Phantic turned out to be as disappointing as the Phillies' blue star caps ( which suck and look too much like the Dallas Cowboys logo).
**************************************************************************
The hot Flyers are fun to watch, a nice mix of veterans and promising youngsters. They have played extremely well at home this season, and they entertain the Winnepeg Jets this afternoon. The Orange and Black will be seeking revenge from a thrashing they took in December in Winnepeg. Their record against the Jets is 7-2 at home in their history. The Jets play the second game of a four-game road trip. A nice Flyers' win would keep their momentum rolling.
****************************************************************************
The inconsistent Sixers play in Milwaukee tonight in a prime-time ABC nationally-televised game. joel Embiid needs to play as well as he did in Thursday's crazy overtime win over brooklyn. He called himself "the greatest player in the world' after the game. Tonight he really does play the greatest in The Greek Freak. An explosive Bucks team, the best in the NBA, will be waiting. Ben Simmons is probable to play. Milwaukee is favored by 8 1/2 points.
*********************************************************************
The Eagles are preparing for free agency. Rumors are that wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey is history and wants out of Philly. The Birds probably won't trade him due to his contract. If they cut him they eat dead money against their salary cap. What to do? Meanwhile rumors swirl as to who will be the back-up quarterback this season behind Carson Wentz. Will Marcus Mariota finally make his way to Philadelphia?
*********************************************************************
Today is the 40th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, the 1980 Americans defeating the mighty Russians. I remember the game vividly and what a fascinating story it was. The call by announcer Al Michaels ("Do you believe in miracles?..Yes!!!") is iconic and will forever remain fanous in history. The USA won the Gold Medal the next day vs Sweden.
********************************************************************
The new NFL PA will be voted on next week. I like the idea of more football- the 17-game schedule, more playoff teams in the mix, and the Super Bowl being played on President's Day weekend.There are problems: the uneven schedule means either one more home game or one more away game for each team. One less pre-season game is needed yet will the increased games wear on the players? More playoff teams mean more franchises in the post-season hunt and less chance of tanking by losing teams. But will more 8-8 mediocre squads still qualify for the playoffs? I'll take more meaningful football anyday, especially 6 games on Wild Card Weekend.
Friday, February 21, 2020
book-graduation
(Place on page 116, after para 4)
Guy Buford, the first African-American astronaut, was our guest speaker at graduation. "Reaching for the stars" was the message. Overcoming adversaries and discrimination were topics I could relate to. But so far we only reached the moon. The stars were the next goal . And as I shook hands with Mr. Buford, knowing what he had achieved in life, it gave me even more confidence to succeed.
Guy Buford, the first African-American astronaut, was our guest speaker at graduation. "Reaching for the stars" was the message. Overcoming adversaries and discrimination were topics I could relate to. But so far we only reached the moon. The stars were the next goal . And as I shook hands with Mr. Buford, knowing what he had achieved in life, it gave me even more confidence to succeed.
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
book- favorites
(Place on page 309, after para. 3)
We shared how likes and dislikes, and found we had so much in common. My favorite actors: Tom Hanks and Michael J. Fox. Favorite actress: Meg Ryan. Favorite old-time cartoon character: Snagglepuss. The animal I fear the most: any snake. The comic who could always make me laugh: Robin Williams. Favorite food: spaghetti and chicken. Least favorite food: broccoli and brussel sprouts. Something on my bucket list: seeing the Eagles win the Super Bowl. Weird pecular trait: I don't like my food touching other food on my plate. The one thing I especially suck at doing; gift -wrapping.
Tom Hanks and snakes were shared likes from the above list. And to my delight, Holly claimed to be an excellent gift-wrapper.
On and on it went. I didn't want to jump the gun, as I had so many times in the past, but it was beginning to feel like I may have finally found my soulmate.
We shared how likes and dislikes, and found we had so much in common. My favorite actors: Tom Hanks and Michael J. Fox. Favorite actress: Meg Ryan. Favorite old-time cartoon character: Snagglepuss. The animal I fear the most: any snake. The comic who could always make me laugh: Robin Williams. Favorite food: spaghetti and chicken. Least favorite food: broccoli and brussel sprouts. Something on my bucket list: seeing the Eagles win the Super Bowl. Weird pecular trait: I don't like my food touching other food on my plate. The one thing I especially suck at doing; gift -wrapping.
Tom Hanks and snakes were shared likes from the above list. And to my delight, Holly claimed to be an excellent gift-wrapper.
On and on it went. I didn't want to jump the gun, as I had so many times in the past, but it was beginning to feel like I may have finally found my soulmate.
book- comedy
(Place on page 231, after para 3)
I remember doing a comedy routine at the Manor one year in the late 90s for their Spring Talent Show. Big mistake! Here was part of my "lame" jokes:
" My girlfriend broke up with me last week and stole my wheelchair. Guess who went crawling back to her?"
Lots of groans.
"She was so mean to me..always pushing me around. I finally had to stand-up for myself but I couldn't!"
More boos.
" I always wanted to look like Christopher Reeve but this is ridiculous!"
The crowd of residents turned hostile and started throwing tomatos at me ( just kidding).
Like I said, it can't be easy being a stand-up comic in a wheelchair!
I remember doing a comedy routine at the Manor one year in the late 90s for their Spring Talent Show. Big mistake! Here was part of my "lame" jokes:
" My girlfriend broke up with me last week and stole my wheelchair. Guess who went crawling back to her?"
Lots of groans.
"She was so mean to me..always pushing me around. I finally had to stand-up for myself but I couldn't!"
More boos.
" I always wanted to look like Christopher Reeve but this is ridiculous!"
The crowd of residents turned hostile and started throwing tomatos at me ( just kidding).
Like I said, it can't be easy being a stand-up comic in a wheelchair!
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
book- godfather
(Place on page 107 after para. 5, which starts with "Before I found..")
In the 80s I was honored to be a godfather for the very first time.. My older brother Pat and his wife Linda had a son named Adam, and they asked me to be godfather.I left all jokes about Marlon Brando outside the church as I attended the baptism with Mom. Adam went on to be a star athlete in high school and college, later becoming a very successful sports broadcasting celebrity in New York City. I am very proud of him!
I remember how joyous my own godfather was, and how much I looked forward to his visits. Uncle Frank lived in North Jersey where many of Mom's reletives of Slovak descent resided. Uncle Frank made the trip from Jersey to visit a few times a year. He always had a big smile on his face, always tan, with slicked-back gray hair, and a hearty laugh. Other than his warm personality, I most remember Uncle Frank for several reasons.
Everytime he was ready to leave for his return journey up the Jersey turnpike, he gave me a big hug and we shook hands. Inside his palm was a folded twenty dollar bill, which he slipped into my hand and smiled. For a kid, twenty bucks was a big deal, and although I loved my godfather for non-monetary reasons, I also looked forward to the cash.
Mom would make a big spaghetti dinner when she knew Uncle Frank was visiting for the day. Or perhaps it would be a meal of real ethnic food such as pierogi or halushki. Even a dozen donuts was okay. As long as Uncle Frank had a pot of freshly-brewed coffee nearby, as the family sat around the kitchen table and played catch-up, he was happy.
One Easter I was in a body cast, confined to my bed. Uncle Frank sent the largest chocolate Easter Egg I ever saw. It had to be at least ten pounds, filled with jelly beans, marshmellow chicks and chocolate goodies. Uncle Frank never failed to remember birthdays, send get-well greetings, or call me when he couldn't travel. Christmas was always made special when he dropped by over the holidays, stocked with presents for everyone.
When he died from a sudden heart attack, we attended the funeral in Passaic. We arrived at the viewing early, and the aroma of carnations still fills my senses when my memory reminds me of Uncle Frank laying so peacefully. And when his casket passed by in church, I reached out and touched the smooth wood, whispering "Thank you, Uncle Frank" for always making me happy.
In the 80s I was honored to be a godfather for the very first time.. My older brother Pat and his wife Linda had a son named Adam, and they asked me to be godfather.I left all jokes about Marlon Brando outside the church as I attended the baptism with Mom. Adam went on to be a star athlete in high school and college, later becoming a very successful sports broadcasting celebrity in New York City. I am very proud of him!
I remember how joyous my own godfather was, and how much I looked forward to his visits. Uncle Frank lived in North Jersey where many of Mom's reletives of Slovak descent resided. Uncle Frank made the trip from Jersey to visit a few times a year. He always had a big smile on his face, always tan, with slicked-back gray hair, and a hearty laugh. Other than his warm personality, I most remember Uncle Frank for several reasons.
Everytime he was ready to leave for his return journey up the Jersey turnpike, he gave me a big hug and we shook hands. Inside his palm was a folded twenty dollar bill, which he slipped into my hand and smiled. For a kid, twenty bucks was a big deal, and although I loved my godfather for non-monetary reasons, I also looked forward to the cash.
Mom would make a big spaghetti dinner when she knew Uncle Frank was visiting for the day. Or perhaps it would be a meal of real ethnic food such as pierogi or halushki. Even a dozen donuts was okay. As long as Uncle Frank had a pot of freshly-brewed coffee nearby, as the family sat around the kitchen table and played catch-up, he was happy.
One Easter I was in a body cast, confined to my bed. Uncle Frank sent the largest chocolate Easter Egg I ever saw. It had to be at least ten pounds, filled with jelly beans, marshmellow chicks and chocolate goodies. Uncle Frank never failed to remember birthdays, send get-well greetings, or call me when he couldn't travel. Christmas was always made special when he dropped by over the holidays, stocked with presents for everyone.
When he died from a sudden heart attack, we attended the funeral in Passaic. We arrived at the viewing early, and the aroma of carnations still fills my senses when my memory reminds me of Uncle Frank laying so peacefully. And when his casket passed by in church, I reached out and touched the smooth wood, whispering "Thank you, Uncle Frank" for always making me happy.
PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES, BASEBALL, SIXERS
- The Phillies are now in full spring training, with all players in camp. Jean Segura spoke yesterday about his loafing last season, particularly about the incident leading to Andrew McCuthen blowing out his knee and missing most of the season. Segura failed to run out a ground ball, Mccuthen got caught in a run-down and twisted his knee, tearing his ACL.
Segura has lost 14 pounds over the winter, claiming he has given up "drinking whiskey."
New manager Joe Girardi addressed his full squad, and the first topic he fcused on was hustling. Obviously he has heard of the lackadaisical attitude of some of his players. His message must have gotten through, as Segura says he will "play wherever" the phillies want him to play. Third base would be great, as Scott Kingery's best position is second base. The plan should be Segura holds down third until rookie prospect Alec Bohm is ready, maybe mid-summer, but then what happens to Segura? Hopefully GM Klentek can trade him at the July trade deadline.
Supposedly, Jake Arrieta 'looks good" in Florida. I'll believe it when I see it. I hope it's true. The aging and disappointing Arrieta would look good as a solid # 3 pitcher in the rotation behind Nola and Wheeler.
****************************************************************************
- The fallout continues from the Houston Ass-tros cheating scandal. To make matters worse, other than the smug players speaking in florida, and the clueless owner making a jackass out of himself, the weak baseball commissioner still refuses to strip the "stros of their World Series title. Not only should their championship be taken away, they should give back the trophy and the key players involved should be suspended.
Astrong message needs to be send to avoid future cheating and to preserve the integrity of the game. That may not happen since a strong gesture needs to come from a weak commissioner, whose legacy will be as tanished as the Houston championship.
****************************************************************************
The Sixers crank it up again starting on Thursday. Will the tension between Joel Embiid and the fans continue/ Will the 76ers get it together and make a playoff run? Will Coach Brett Brown lose his job at the end of the season? Will either Embiid or ben Simmons, both All-Stars, be traded this summer?
Segura has lost 14 pounds over the winter, claiming he has given up "drinking whiskey."
New manager Joe Girardi addressed his full squad, and the first topic he fcused on was hustling. Obviously he has heard of the lackadaisical attitude of some of his players. His message must have gotten through, as Segura says he will "play wherever" the phillies want him to play. Third base would be great, as Scott Kingery's best position is second base. The plan should be Segura holds down third until rookie prospect Alec Bohm is ready, maybe mid-summer, but then what happens to Segura? Hopefully GM Klentek can trade him at the July trade deadline.
Supposedly, Jake Arrieta 'looks good" in Florida. I'll believe it when I see it. I hope it's true. The aging and disappointing Arrieta would look good as a solid # 3 pitcher in the rotation behind Nola and Wheeler.
****************************************************************************
- The fallout continues from the Houston Ass-tros cheating scandal. To make matters worse, other than the smug players speaking in florida, and the clueless owner making a jackass out of himself, the weak baseball commissioner still refuses to strip the "stros of their World Series title. Not only should their championship be taken away, they should give back the trophy and the key players involved should be suspended.
Astrong message needs to be send to avoid future cheating and to preserve the integrity of the game. That may not happen since a strong gesture needs to come from a weak commissioner, whose legacy will be as tanished as the Houston championship.
****************************************************************************
The Sixers crank it up again starting on Thursday. Will the tension between Joel Embiid and the fans continue/ Will the 76ers get it together and make a playoff run? Will Coach Brett Brown lose his job at the end of the season? Will either Embiid or ben Simmons, both All-Stars, be traded this summer?
Monday, February 17, 2020
AMERICAN IDOL- WEEK 1
American Idol is back for it's 3rd season on ABC. Same judges return: Laty Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Ryan Seacrest returns as the host. The premiere was a 2- hour show on Sunday night, Idol's normal time slot from now until mid-May.
The audition shows are some of my favorites. It's fun discovering new talent. To gear up for the new season I found Carrie Underwood's first audition back in 2008 when she won AI. Amazing to watch it now, Carrie as a naive country girl from Oklahoma, traveling to the big city of St. Louis for her audition. Then going to Hollywood was also a big deal, as she had never beem on a plane. Now she is a country music superstar, drawing massive crowds all over the world.
So, finding thenext Carrie Underwood is what makes Idol fun. But so are the losers, those either totally outragious because they seek attention and a shot to be on national television, or those who are just plain ol' lousy singers. For me, Idol doesn't show enough of the bad contestants during the early audition try-outs.
As usual, there was a good share of inspirational stories on last night's sow. my favorite was the Garabeman. The guy can sing. He has a little daughter. To pay the bills, he works on the trash truck. Guys like that I want to see do well.
At this stage of the competition names are fuzzy until we get to know the contenders better. The Garbage Man arrived at AI wearing old clothes with a baseball cap turned backwards. He had never sang in front of a crowd before, so, in a planned stunt, Seacrest took him out of the studio, across the street outside a restaurant in sunny Savannah, Georgia, where he sang for a gathering flock of people.
Missing last night was the inspirational tale of someone with a physical limitation, bucking the odds to sing for fame and money. There was a cute 16-year-old, fresh-faced girl ( as there always seems to be); a smug, arrogant young guy with riveting blue eyes, reminding one of a young Elvis, who got a talking to by Lionel; and a young guy originally from Nepal, now residing in Kansas.
A local guy made it to Hollywood. He lives outside of Philadelphia, way way of Great Britain. his family moved to the states when he was 11. Other than his boyish good looks, what gives this local contestant a chance is his British accent. He stands out in the competition because of the accent. He should go deep into the Idol competition.
I'm not a big fan of this current crop of judges. They are too nice. I miss Simon cowell and his honesty. The closest anyone came to Simon last night was Lionel, who bluntly informed the Elvis look-a-like that He didn't like the kids' voice or attitude. With these judges it's all about teaching.
Bryan still plays the country bumpkin at times. And Perry still tries too hard to be wacky and funny. Richie plays the "adult" in the room, the leader who tries to keep sanity and peace on Idol. There are still too many corny, sappy items, like the whole crew of judges praying together with a contestant, and a pre-arranged video hook-up with a the host of The Bachelor with a female contestant who is obsessed with the show.
Still, I'm looking forward to the new season of idol. Apparently voting by America will occur sooner this time around. So far, I haven't seen any contestant who knocked my socks off, a sure winner. I'm sure there will be the usual flair for the dramatic but also the unexpected and unpredictable twists and turns of any Idol season. Should be fun and I would blog on my comments the morning after each show...
The audition shows are some of my favorites. It's fun discovering new talent. To gear up for the new season I found Carrie Underwood's first audition back in 2008 when she won AI. Amazing to watch it now, Carrie as a naive country girl from Oklahoma, traveling to the big city of St. Louis for her audition. Then going to Hollywood was also a big deal, as she had never beem on a plane. Now she is a country music superstar, drawing massive crowds all over the world.
So, finding thenext Carrie Underwood is what makes Idol fun. But so are the losers, those either totally outragious because they seek attention and a shot to be on national television, or those who are just plain ol' lousy singers. For me, Idol doesn't show enough of the bad contestants during the early audition try-outs.
As usual, there was a good share of inspirational stories on last night's sow. my favorite was the Garabeman. The guy can sing. He has a little daughter. To pay the bills, he works on the trash truck. Guys like that I want to see do well.
At this stage of the competition names are fuzzy until we get to know the contenders better. The Garbage Man arrived at AI wearing old clothes with a baseball cap turned backwards. He had never sang in front of a crowd before, so, in a planned stunt, Seacrest took him out of the studio, across the street outside a restaurant in sunny Savannah, Georgia, where he sang for a gathering flock of people.
Missing last night was the inspirational tale of someone with a physical limitation, bucking the odds to sing for fame and money. There was a cute 16-year-old, fresh-faced girl ( as there always seems to be); a smug, arrogant young guy with riveting blue eyes, reminding one of a young Elvis, who got a talking to by Lionel; and a young guy originally from Nepal, now residing in Kansas.
A local guy made it to Hollywood. He lives outside of Philadelphia, way way of Great Britain. his family moved to the states when he was 11. Other than his boyish good looks, what gives this local contestant a chance is his British accent. He stands out in the competition because of the accent. He should go deep into the Idol competition.
I'm not a big fan of this current crop of judges. They are too nice. I miss Simon cowell and his honesty. The closest anyone came to Simon last night was Lionel, who bluntly informed the Elvis look-a-like that He didn't like the kids' voice or attitude. With these judges it's all about teaching.
Bryan still plays the country bumpkin at times. And Perry still tries too hard to be wacky and funny. Richie plays the "adult" in the room, the leader who tries to keep sanity and peace on Idol. There are still too many corny, sappy items, like the whole crew of judges praying together with a contestant, and a pre-arranged video hook-up with a the host of The Bachelor with a female contestant who is obsessed with the show.
Still, I'm looking forward to the new season of idol. Apparently voting by America will occur sooner this time around. So far, I haven't seen any contestant who knocked my socks off, a sure winner. I'm sure there will be the usual flair for the dramatic but also the unexpected and unpredictable twists and turns of any Idol season. Should be fun and I would blog on my comments the morning after each show...
Thursday, February 13, 2020
book- high school.
(Place on page 32, before last paragrapgh).
I knew some members of both the football and basketball teams from my daily interactions on the box. Since I loved sports we had a common link before class as the students filed in the classroom. I did attend a few high school football games on Saturday afternoons in the fall. I vividly remember sitting outside of one of the end zones, in the shadow of a goal post, intensely watching my fellow Phantom players. I felt a part of the school when I sang "The Purple and the White,' our school song, with the crowd before the football game. I knowit was a Homeocming game, but missed the bonfire the night before.
My parents never "fought.' They had "discussions' from time to time, but they never screamed at each other. I do recall one argument over the high school football games. My father generally worked on Saturdays because he had to. It was time-and-half on Saturdays, good money when my folks were struggling to make ends meet. Especially during my senior year in high school, Mom suggested to my father that he should take me to the home Phoenixville games. She knew how much I liked football, but more than that, how fleeting this precious time was before my high school days were over, and she wanted me to be as involved with school life as possible.
It's not that Dad didn't feel the same way. He did. He felt as bad as Mom that I couldn't actually attend school, and that I missed out on much of the "normal" school activities. He tried to reason that he needed to work every Saturday. He was right. But so was she. I wished I could've climbed into my wheelchair and pushed all the way to Washington Field myself. I didn't want to be in the middle but I was.
When Dad refused to take off a particular Saturday during my senior year, Mom said fine, she would take me to the game. Back then, Mom didn't understand a lick of football. But she sacrificed her Saturday afternoon to make me happy- and to prove a point to my father.
Since Dad needed the car to go back and forth to his tire plant in Oaks, Pa., Mom pushed my chair to Washington Field. It was a sunny, bright and cool day in the middle of October. I know it had to be October because the leaves were brilliant and vibrant reds, oranges and golds as we strolled the tree-lined streets, bravely dealing with the frequent cracks in the sidewalks and obticles like high curbs at every corner.
I also know it had to be October because we were in the midst of the hay fever season. Along with being left-handed and having dimples, I also inherited my father's hay fever every fall. Around August 20th, right around Little League World Series time, until the first frost, I sneezed my head off. It was no different on this cool and breezy afternoon. I loaded up on tissue before we left the house, yet by the time we reached the high school grounds my used tissue was in crumpled and tattered strands. Sometimes I would sneeze a good ten times in a row ( I counted) without even breaking a sweat.
And so there we were, Mom and I, sitting outside the end zone, Mom in a lawn chair I had carried during the trip. Mom was so good to me. She pretended that she was interested in the action, even asking me certain questions about the play, but I knew she would rather be home baking, cleaning the house while the windows were open on such a pretty day, or maybe even attend a Bingo matinee somewhere local. Instead she was beside me, smiling. She did love the marching band and cheerleaders.
I remember the long shadows at the end of the afternoon, as we made our way back home, a good mile from the field. Dad just got home when we arrived. I'm sure he felt guilty because he proudly proclaimed that he came up with a comprimise: if he couldn't take the entire day off on home game Saturdays, he anounced that he would only work half of a day, or go in even earlier than 7:00 a.m., and still make it home to take me to future games. Peace reigned from then on.
Perhaps the best basketball player ever to play for Phoenixville was a kid named Danny who was in my graduating class. Danny was not only all-league, he was honorable mention all-state in Pennsylvania. He helped to lead the Phantom cagers to a championship season that winter. His name and photos were in our local newspaper every few days. Danny came from a very well-known family in town. He was a local celebrity. And Danny had it all: looks ( shaggy, Pete Maravich style long hair, deep blue eyes and a winning smile) and talent. In fact, Villanova, one of the area Big 5 schools outside of Philadelphia, recruited him, a high honor for a suburban kid.
I knew Danny from my Algebra class. He would always stop by the box to say hi. He seemed like a nice kid. He was everything I wished I could be. I finally met him at graduation. To me, even though I said hi to Danny all the time, I was still thrilled to meet him face-to-face. Maybe I would see him on TV some day, playing for Villanova, his basketball greatness reaching even greater heights.
The summer between high school and college should be a time to reflect, enjoy and look forward to the future. I'm sure that was the case with Danny. Around midnight in late July, as a fun Saturday night eased into a quiet Sunday morning, Danny was walking home from a local fair. He was with his girlfriend but didn't have his car. It didn't matter- it was beautiful, warm summer weather and his girlfriend's house wasn't far from the fairgrounds on the outskirts of town.
The speeding car came out of the darkness from behind, too close to the side of the road where the young couple were walking. There were few street lights in this part of town. The car side-swiped Danny, just missing his girlfriend. Danny was pronounced dead at the scene. He was only eighteen-years-old.
The next morning church bells rang and news of Danny's death overnight spread around town, especially in the churches. Monday afternoon the newspaper headlines confirmed the talk around town: " Local Star Athlete Killed."
His tragic death hit me hard. I remember how sad I was, how Danny had so much promise and life, so much to look forward to. It didn't seem fair. The thought even crossed my mind that here I was, sick most of my life, and yet a healthy guy like Danny had to die. Why?
Mom offered to take me to the viewing but I declined. I wanted to remember him as he was- the forever young star athlete and all-around good kid. Mom went to the viewing and funeral, saying the line to view Danny went all the way down the street and around the block, and remained that way for several hours.
Perhaps that was one of the first times I actually asked God, "why me?" Not "why me" as to "why do I have brittle bones and can't walk" but "why am I still here when others more worthy to live are taken away?" I didn't know the answer back in 1975, and I still don't really know. Like Mom said, it's God's will, and we shouldn't question it, only accept it.
I knew some members of both the football and basketball teams from my daily interactions on the box. Since I loved sports we had a common link before class as the students filed in the classroom. I did attend a few high school football games on Saturday afternoons in the fall. I vividly remember sitting outside of one of the end zones, in the shadow of a goal post, intensely watching my fellow Phantom players. I felt a part of the school when I sang "The Purple and the White,' our school song, with the crowd before the football game. I knowit was a Homeocming game, but missed the bonfire the night before.
My parents never "fought.' They had "discussions' from time to time, but they never screamed at each other. I do recall one argument over the high school football games. My father generally worked on Saturdays because he had to. It was time-and-half on Saturdays, good money when my folks were struggling to make ends meet. Especially during my senior year in high school, Mom suggested to my father that he should take me to the home Phoenixville games. She knew how much I liked football, but more than that, how fleeting this precious time was before my high school days were over, and she wanted me to be as involved with school life as possible.
It's not that Dad didn't feel the same way. He did. He felt as bad as Mom that I couldn't actually attend school, and that I missed out on much of the "normal" school activities. He tried to reason that he needed to work every Saturday. He was right. But so was she. I wished I could've climbed into my wheelchair and pushed all the way to Washington Field myself. I didn't want to be in the middle but I was.
When Dad refused to take off a particular Saturday during my senior year, Mom said fine, she would take me to the game. Back then, Mom didn't understand a lick of football. But she sacrificed her Saturday afternoon to make me happy- and to prove a point to my father.
Since Dad needed the car to go back and forth to his tire plant in Oaks, Pa., Mom pushed my chair to Washington Field. It was a sunny, bright and cool day in the middle of October. I know it had to be October because the leaves were brilliant and vibrant reds, oranges and golds as we strolled the tree-lined streets, bravely dealing with the frequent cracks in the sidewalks and obticles like high curbs at every corner.
I also know it had to be October because we were in the midst of the hay fever season. Along with being left-handed and having dimples, I also inherited my father's hay fever every fall. Around August 20th, right around Little League World Series time, until the first frost, I sneezed my head off. It was no different on this cool and breezy afternoon. I loaded up on tissue before we left the house, yet by the time we reached the high school grounds my used tissue was in crumpled and tattered strands. Sometimes I would sneeze a good ten times in a row ( I counted) without even breaking a sweat.
And so there we were, Mom and I, sitting outside the end zone, Mom in a lawn chair I had carried during the trip. Mom was so good to me. She pretended that she was interested in the action, even asking me certain questions about the play, but I knew she would rather be home baking, cleaning the house while the windows were open on such a pretty day, or maybe even attend a Bingo matinee somewhere local. Instead she was beside me, smiling. She did love the marching band and cheerleaders.
I remember the long shadows at the end of the afternoon, as we made our way back home, a good mile from the field. Dad just got home when we arrived. I'm sure he felt guilty because he proudly proclaimed that he came up with a comprimise: if he couldn't take the entire day off on home game Saturdays, he anounced that he would only work half of a day, or go in even earlier than 7:00 a.m., and still make it home to take me to future games. Peace reigned from then on.
Perhaps the best basketball player ever to play for Phoenixville was a kid named Danny who was in my graduating class. Danny was not only all-league, he was honorable mention all-state in Pennsylvania. He helped to lead the Phantom cagers to a championship season that winter. His name and photos were in our local newspaper every few days. Danny came from a very well-known family in town. He was a local celebrity. And Danny had it all: looks ( shaggy, Pete Maravich style long hair, deep blue eyes and a winning smile) and talent. In fact, Villanova, one of the area Big 5 schools outside of Philadelphia, recruited him, a high honor for a suburban kid.
I knew Danny from my Algebra class. He would always stop by the box to say hi. He seemed like a nice kid. He was everything I wished I could be. I finally met him at graduation. To me, even though I said hi to Danny all the time, I was still thrilled to meet him face-to-face. Maybe I would see him on TV some day, playing for Villanova, his basketball greatness reaching even greater heights.
The summer between high school and college should be a time to reflect, enjoy and look forward to the future. I'm sure that was the case with Danny. Around midnight in late July, as a fun Saturday night eased into a quiet Sunday morning, Danny was walking home from a local fair. He was with his girlfriend but didn't have his car. It didn't matter- it was beautiful, warm summer weather and his girlfriend's house wasn't far from the fairgrounds on the outskirts of town.
The speeding car came out of the darkness from behind, too close to the side of the road where the young couple were walking. There were few street lights in this part of town. The car side-swiped Danny, just missing his girlfriend. Danny was pronounced dead at the scene. He was only eighteen-years-old.
The next morning church bells rang and news of Danny's death overnight spread around town, especially in the churches. Monday afternoon the newspaper headlines confirmed the talk around town: " Local Star Athlete Killed."
His tragic death hit me hard. I remember how sad I was, how Danny had so much promise and life, so much to look forward to. It didn't seem fair. The thought even crossed my mind that here I was, sick most of my life, and yet a healthy guy like Danny had to die. Why?
Mom offered to take me to the viewing but I declined. I wanted to remember him as he was- the forever young star athlete and all-around good kid. Mom went to the viewing and funeral, saying the line to view Danny went all the way down the street and around the block, and remained that way for several hours.
Perhaps that was one of the first times I actually asked God, "why me?" Not "why me" as to "why do I have brittle bones and can't walk" but "why am I still here when others more worthy to live are taken away?" I didn't know the answer back in 1975, and I still don't really know. Like Mom said, it's God's will, and we shouldn't question it, only accept it.
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
OSCARS REVIEW
I thought the Oscars show on Sunday was terrible. This is two years in a row without a host and they really need one. The show seemed disorganized. People started singing and i didn't know who it was. No introduction. No reference on the screen. The top 5 nominated songs were sung in a scattershot way.
I really hated the production, from the stupid opening dance number, to the lame gags by so-called movie "stars' like the annoying Will Fareel. the duo of Steve Martin and chris Rock were mildly funny in an early bit, but even they have been way funnier.
The In Memorium tribute was touching, as some girl with grren hair sang 'yesterday." Only thet screwed that up too by omitting luke Perry from the rollcall. Unforgivable.
As always the program ran too long. Who cares about the awards for costumes or lighting or whatever. Only the nominees and the winnerr eally care. Even the celebrities in the audience looked bored.
Speaking of the crowd, some lectured about politics and Trump, but luckily Meryl Streep didn't speak. It's a shame, after a brillaint acting career. that one of the things now associated with Streep is her annoying apeeches at awards shows.
I thoguht it also was stupid when the crowd gave a standing ovation to Enimin, for his profanity-laced rap song. Typical Hollywood.
Speaking of which, the South Korean film, Parasite won four Oscars, including Best Director, Screenplay, Foreign Film and Best Picture. I didn't see it so I can't comment on it's worthiness. However, I think foreign films should not be including in Best Movie categories. It was the first time in 92 years that a non- English speaking movie won for Best Picture.
It was nice that the Korean director/screenwriter of Parasite credited his fellow directors, including a weeping Martin Scorese. But I did get tired of so many Koreans up on stage all night, especially the director who can't speak English.
We certainly had derserving movies here at home,e specially the acclaimed 1917 and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Just my opinion.
The main awards went pretty much as expected. Brad Pitt won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Once Upon.... I was okay with either he or Tom Hanks winning that category. The beautiful Laura Dern won Best Supporting Actress for Marriage Story. Best Actor went to the favortie, the weird Jonquin Phoenix. Best Actress was Renee Zellwinger, for her portrayal of legend Judy Garland.
No surprises, other than Parasite winning big.
I really hated the production, from the stupid opening dance number, to the lame gags by so-called movie "stars' like the annoying Will Fareel. the duo of Steve Martin and chris Rock were mildly funny in an early bit, but even they have been way funnier.
The In Memorium tribute was touching, as some girl with grren hair sang 'yesterday." Only thet screwed that up too by omitting luke Perry from the rollcall. Unforgivable.
As always the program ran too long. Who cares about the awards for costumes or lighting or whatever. Only the nominees and the winnerr eally care. Even the celebrities in the audience looked bored.
Speaking of the crowd, some lectured about politics and Trump, but luckily Meryl Streep didn't speak. It's a shame, after a brillaint acting career. that one of the things now associated with Streep is her annoying apeeches at awards shows.
I thoguht it also was stupid when the crowd gave a standing ovation to Enimin, for his profanity-laced rap song. Typical Hollywood.
Speaking of which, the South Korean film, Parasite won four Oscars, including Best Director, Screenplay, Foreign Film and Best Picture. I didn't see it so I can't comment on it's worthiness. However, I think foreign films should not be including in Best Movie categories. It was the first time in 92 years that a non- English speaking movie won for Best Picture.
It was nice that the Korean director/screenwriter of Parasite credited his fellow directors, including a weeping Martin Scorese. But I did get tired of so many Koreans up on stage all night, especially the director who can't speak English.
We certainly had derserving movies here at home,e specially the acclaimed 1917 and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Just my opinion.
The main awards went pretty much as expected. Brad Pitt won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Once Upon.... I was okay with either he or Tom Hanks winning that category. The beautiful Laura Dern won Best Supporting Actress for Marriage Story. Best Actor went to the favortie, the weird Jonquin Phoenix. Best Actress was Renee Zellwinger, for her portrayal of legend Judy Garland.
No surprises, other than Parasite winning big.
PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES, BASEBALL, SIXERS, NFL NEWS
- The Phillies start spring training today in Clearwater, Fla. Pitchers and catchers report this morning. It should be a fascinating spring. It's Bryce Harper's 2nd year of his 13-year contract. I'm looking for him to have a monster year. Harper is entering his prime and he seems comfortable in Philly.
Another interesting story is catcher J.T. Realmuto. The Phillies need to sign him to a contract extension and not let him become a free agent after this season.
Young prospects Spencer Howard and Alec Bohm will be in camp, hoping to open some eyes and win jobs. Most likely both will start the year in Lehigh Valley but eventually see Philadelphia sometime this summer.
Will the front office make a major trade before camp breaks/ The team needs another starter, preferrably a left-hander. The bullpen is also lacking. I can see the 'pen being an early problem and GM Matt Klentek doing nothing to improve it, waiting until the July trade deadline.
Will Scott Kingery play 2nd base or 3rd base? Will Adam Heasley or Roman Quinn man center field? Will the phillies trade for Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant?
New manager Joe Girardi has his first press conference this morning. Having Girardi as manager should add at least five more wins this season. Will the team be better fundementally? Will they play more small ball- bunting, hit-and-running and stealing more? How will Girardi handle players not hustling/
What will happen to Odulbel Herrera? Will he ever play for the Phillies again?
It should be a great spring!
******************************************************************
Major League Baseball is talking about adding more playoff teams, starting in 2022. Theyw ant to go from the current 10 teams making the playoffs to 14 clubs- almost half the teams in Baseball. Chances are there will be sub .500 teams getting inot the post season. It's certain to delute the game and make the long regular season be even more irrelevant.
On the other hand, Baseball hopes it will stir interest in pennent races even more. Of course, this is all for money and TV. The weirest proposal is for the two division winners and the first wild card team in each league to pick their playoff opponent. The two teams with the best overall records in each league will get first round byes. Baseball hopes to make the "selection" show a big deal on prime time the Sunday night of the end of the regular season.
Baseball is yielding to the younger fans, the geeky fantasy players, to draw more attention to the game. By doing so, Baseball is drifting further from the original game i knew as a kid. No divisional or wild card rounds. The best teams in the National and American leagues simply met in the World Series. The WS was a big deal back then. Now it almost seems anti-clamatic.
************************************************************************
Big basketball game tonight in South Philly, as the powerful Los Angeles Clippers invade town to face the 76ers. The Sixers are 24-2 at home this season, Despite the on-going turmoil with the beleaguered coach and center Joel Embiid, it should be a great game.
Embiid mocked the fans for theirr ecent booing, by moutihng 'shut the f*** up!" near the end of a victory against the Bulls Sunday night. Embiid is an immature guy. The fans loved him early on, despite his moodiness and his many injurires. Maybe Embiid is trying to talk his way outta town? Jimmy buter would love for Embiid to join him in Miami.
Embiid could be the best center in the NBA, and one of the greatest players in the league, if he would just work harder and focus on his game. Hopefully he gives max effort tonight, as all eyes will be on the Sixers.
I've got the Sixers minus 1/2 point. The clippers ar eplaying their 3rd game in 4 nights. They have a game in Boston on thursday night before the All-Star contest this weekend. The Sixers are brilliant on thei home court. The fans could either be with them tonight, cheering on a massive win, or really let Embiid have it with even more boos if he and the team get behind. Worse, if they dog it on the floor, the fans will ( and should0 jeer the hell out of the team.
I find it tough to cheer for this organization. During their tanking years, the franchise actively encouraged losing, yet continued to charger their "loyal" fans full ticket prices and parking.
As it turns out, the Process didn't work. If the Sixers had hit on most of their many high draft picks over the years, the club would've been solid for the future. Instead they are scuffling to hold onto the 6th slot in the Eastern Conference.
*************************************************************
Word is that the nFL is looking into extending their "Flex" policy to Monday night Football as well in the second half of the schedule. Flexing means to switch the previously scheduled Sunday night game for a better match-up, but only during the 2nd half of the year.
It messes up the fans, who may have to readjust to different kick-off times, and scramble to rearrange vacations, etc. Again, it's all for money and TV.
Also word is that, for the 4th straight season, the Eagles are hiking up ticket prices. Fans will pay because they are addicted the Eagles football, but that doesn't make it right.
Another interesting story is catcher J.T. Realmuto. The Phillies need to sign him to a contract extension and not let him become a free agent after this season.
Young prospects Spencer Howard and Alec Bohm will be in camp, hoping to open some eyes and win jobs. Most likely both will start the year in Lehigh Valley but eventually see Philadelphia sometime this summer.
Will the front office make a major trade before camp breaks/ The team needs another starter, preferrably a left-hander. The bullpen is also lacking. I can see the 'pen being an early problem and GM Matt Klentek doing nothing to improve it, waiting until the July trade deadline.
Will Scott Kingery play 2nd base or 3rd base? Will Adam Heasley or Roman Quinn man center field? Will the phillies trade for Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant?
New manager Joe Girardi has his first press conference this morning. Having Girardi as manager should add at least five more wins this season. Will the team be better fundementally? Will they play more small ball- bunting, hit-and-running and stealing more? How will Girardi handle players not hustling/
What will happen to Odulbel Herrera? Will he ever play for the Phillies again?
It should be a great spring!
******************************************************************
Major League Baseball is talking about adding more playoff teams, starting in 2022. Theyw ant to go from the current 10 teams making the playoffs to 14 clubs- almost half the teams in Baseball. Chances are there will be sub .500 teams getting inot the post season. It's certain to delute the game and make the long regular season be even more irrelevant.
On the other hand, Baseball hopes it will stir interest in pennent races even more. Of course, this is all for money and TV. The weirest proposal is for the two division winners and the first wild card team in each league to pick their playoff opponent. The two teams with the best overall records in each league will get first round byes. Baseball hopes to make the "selection" show a big deal on prime time the Sunday night of the end of the regular season.
Baseball is yielding to the younger fans, the geeky fantasy players, to draw more attention to the game. By doing so, Baseball is drifting further from the original game i knew as a kid. No divisional or wild card rounds. The best teams in the National and American leagues simply met in the World Series. The WS was a big deal back then. Now it almost seems anti-clamatic.
************************************************************************
Big basketball game tonight in South Philly, as the powerful Los Angeles Clippers invade town to face the 76ers. The Sixers are 24-2 at home this season, Despite the on-going turmoil with the beleaguered coach and center Joel Embiid, it should be a great game.
Embiid mocked the fans for theirr ecent booing, by moutihng 'shut the f*** up!" near the end of a victory against the Bulls Sunday night. Embiid is an immature guy. The fans loved him early on, despite his moodiness and his many injurires. Maybe Embiid is trying to talk his way outta town? Jimmy buter would love for Embiid to join him in Miami.
Embiid could be the best center in the NBA, and one of the greatest players in the league, if he would just work harder and focus on his game. Hopefully he gives max effort tonight, as all eyes will be on the Sixers.
I've got the Sixers minus 1/2 point. The clippers ar eplaying their 3rd game in 4 nights. They have a game in Boston on thursday night before the All-Star contest this weekend. The Sixers are brilliant on thei home court. The fans could either be with them tonight, cheering on a massive win, or really let Embiid have it with even more boos if he and the team get behind. Worse, if they dog it on the floor, the fans will ( and should0 jeer the hell out of the team.
I find it tough to cheer for this organization. During their tanking years, the franchise actively encouraged losing, yet continued to charger their "loyal" fans full ticket prices and parking.
As it turns out, the Process didn't work. If the Sixers had hit on most of their many high draft picks over the years, the club would've been solid for the future. Instead they are scuffling to hold onto the 6th slot in the Eastern Conference.
*************************************************************
Word is that the nFL is looking into extending their "Flex" policy to Monday night Football as well in the second half of the schedule. Flexing means to switch the previously scheduled Sunday night game for a better match-up, but only during the 2nd half of the year.
It messes up the fans, who may have to readjust to different kick-off times, and scramble to rearrange vacations, etc. Again, it's all for money and TV.
Also word is that, for the 4th straight season, the Eagles are hiking up ticket prices. Fans will pay because they are addicted the Eagles football, but that doesn't make it right.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES, SIXERS, NFL NEWS
Last night I had the pleasure of meeting ex-Phillies pitcher Dickie Noles. He attended our local Baseball discussion group. He's a great guy and hung around and talked Baseball for over 2 1/2 hours. He still works for the Phillies.Here are some of his more interesting insights, both on the past and present Phillies:* Rhys Hoskins will rebound this season. Dickie claims he "already has turned the corner" during the off-season and is on rack to have a monster year. "It was all mental," he said. "This launch angle stuff.. they coached him to swing at high fastballs, which got him out of whack."* Loved Charley Manual; hated Ryne Sandberg as a manager and Gabe Kapler. Noles said the main reason Snadberg failed was because he was a "terrible" communicator. Kapler failed for many reasons, but most importantly he had no discipline. Guys were able to do whatever they wanted. They had too much time in the clubhouse to be on their cell phones or play video games, instead of focusing on baseball."Things will be different" with Joe Girardi. He loves Girardi, who was his catcher with the Cubs. Already Girardi has said that every player must be on the field and take batting practice all together, which wasn't Kapler's rule.He loves Charley because Charley dealt with each player as an individual. He knew which buttons to push and when, and was a master at psychology with players. But the "best" overall manager he ever played for was Dallas Green.* Scott Kingery should play second base. "Jean Segura is dictating" that he must play second. Instead, Noles feels they should trade Segura.* Roman Quinn is the best athlete on the team and should play every day in center field. But he can't stay healthy. Otherwise, according to Noles, Quinn could be one of the best players, if not center fielders, in the entire game. He's got tremendous speed, has upper deck power, and plays great defense. He is "all muscle," according to Noles.* Adam Heasley will turn out to be a good 4th outfielder, at best. "He's a Greg Gross-type hitter," Noles said. Nice kid, good defense.. but sounds like another Matt Klentek 1st round mistake.* Zach Wheeler is okay, but "If I was running the show, " says Noles, "I wouldv'e signed Madison Baumgarner and Cole Hamels." They are older guys but Noles claims both have a lot left in the tank. Especially Baumgarner. claims he would've taken tons of "pressure' off Aaron Nola as a # 1 starter. Baumgarner likes to hunt and fish, as does Nola, and would've'e been a great tutor for Nola. "Nola is a Greg Maddux type pitcher, only with better stuff."Hamels would've'e fit in nicely as a # 3 starter in the rotation. He wanted to come back to Philly.* Of the young pitchers, Noles feels Zach Eflin break out , "maybe not this year, but next." He likes Vince Valasquez' stuff, but it's "in his head." Same with Nick Pivetta, who he called a "head case." "Pivetta has the pure best stuff on the staff, even better than Nola. Nola is just much smarter and can deal with pressure better.* 60's and 70's baseball were the best eras. The umpires would joke around and were friendlier. Now the umps don't say anything. Guys are bigger and stronger now but don't work as hard. Players like Mickey Mantle were not as huge body-wise but were tremendously strong."Johnny Bench , for some unknown reason, never liked Noles. He and George Brett made up a long time ago over Noles knocking him down in the 1980 World Series, perhaps turning the series around. But Royals manager Jim Frey never forgave Noles for "taking away my ring."* Noles got the reputation for being a "dirty pitcher" nad a "head hunter" both he cliamed weren't true. "I was just wild," he said."Steve Carlton could throw 100 miles an hour, if he wanted to. "He had the best slider and curveball I ever saw," Noles said. Plus that fastball which would "jump" at the end. Tom Seaver and Roger Clemens had fastballs that "jumped" as well.* Tug McGraw was the teammate he most admired. McGraw did a lot of unknown things for kids with cancer, building wheelchair ramps, with his own money, or flying sick, dying kids to Disney World, without much fanfare. "He was just a really good guy. Of all the guys I knew, he never once said a bad or negative thing about anyone." And he was a lot of fun to hang with, and was a motivator in the bullpen."Pete Rose was actually "underrated" as a player. "He hit the ball harder than anyone,"Noles said. He is "still" obsessed with gambling issues. "We all knew he did it (gambled). Everyone looked the other way.. He would have guys run down near the dugout and Pete would speak in codes such as 'I really like the A's today'" And the guy would then place his bet.Noles does not think that Rose ever bet against himself or his team, to lose. "He had, and still has, too much of an ego to do that."* He likes the Phillies' chances this season, but admits the Braves are better, and the Mets are "about even" with the Phils. He didn't mention the Nats.* He doesn't think the World Series titles should be stripped from the Astros and Red Sox." They are suffering, and will suffer forever with a tainted championship. He said "more will come out' about the Red Sox.* He agrees that Lenny Dykstra is "nuts."* Noles is an EPA with the Phillies now. He has become licensed to deal with mental health, suicide, abuse and other personal issues, dealing with players, their families and some former players.* Of all the new hirings, even above Girardi, he thinks the new pitching coach, Bryan Price, will turn the staff around. Noles says it is "very" important for the bullpen guys to know their roles, something Gabe Kapler didn't do. Things will be "much different" without old pitching coach Chris Young.The Phillies open spring training next week.
***************************************************************************
The Sixers are in disarray. Locker room disagreements between players; The coach seems helpless and is waiting to get fired; and the GM seems over his head in his job, with too many power forwards and not enough shooters on the roster.
The club is 0-3 on their current road trip, which they finish up tonight in Milwaukee against the conference leading Bucks. Milwaukee is a 8 1/2 point favorite. It seems like a big number but the Bucks are really good at home while the 76ers have struggled on the road, going 9-18 so far.
I'm taking the Bucks in a small play tonight.
**************************************************************************
The Kansas City Chiefs had their championship parade yesterday to an underwhelming crowd. But it is the Midwest, where crowds are smaller and the fans are much more laid-back.
Rarely does a team repeat, let alone get back to the Super Bowl. KC can, merely because of Patrick Mahomes. The trend is stronger for the loser of the Super Bowl, namely San Francisco, not to get back to the big game, or even to make the playoffs next season. The NFC West could be a challenge, with the Rams likely to rebound and the Seahawks getting stronger.
Meanwhile, no team has repeated in NFC East since the 2003-04 Eagles. The Birds will try to snap that streak. Look out for Dallas with new coach Mike McCarthy. Both the Redskins and giants are still rebuilding, so it's likely to be an Eagles-Cowboys match-up again this fall.
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
book- back
(Place at end of page 351)
Well, I did see the spine guy. He took x-rays and we talked. It turns out I may be around a lot longer than expected. Yes, the scoliosis is progressing and will continue to slowly progress ( maybe a degree a year), but it should not limit my lung capacity to the point of threatening my life.
The bottom line is there is nothing they can do to combat the creeping scoliosis. Surgery won't work because of my age and the OI. Surgery and a brace could actually make things worse. What if I sleep in a certain position? Doesn't matter. There is nothing that can stop my upper body from rotating to the left even more? The answer was still no.
Pain management and monitoring lung issues are now my focus. Keeping my bones from getting even weaker, either by modern methods such as injections or reclast infusion treatments, will be the goal now.
In a way I was relieved with the final verdict. As I wrote before, I've had my share of operations and rehab. Quality of life is key now. Adapting my wheelchairs to make life more comfortable is a possibility. Otherwise I need to accept my fate and move on with life.
As my friend Timmy said so long ago "I'm happy to be alive."
Well, I did see the spine guy. He took x-rays and we talked. It turns out I may be around a lot longer than expected. Yes, the scoliosis is progressing and will continue to slowly progress ( maybe a degree a year), but it should not limit my lung capacity to the point of threatening my life.
The bottom line is there is nothing they can do to combat the creeping scoliosis. Surgery won't work because of my age and the OI. Surgery and a brace could actually make things worse. What if I sleep in a certain position? Doesn't matter. There is nothing that can stop my upper body from rotating to the left even more? The answer was still no.
Pain management and monitoring lung issues are now my focus. Keeping my bones from getting even weaker, either by modern methods such as injections or reclast infusion treatments, will be the goal now.
In a way I was relieved with the final verdict. As I wrote before, I've had my share of operations and rehab. Quality of life is key now. Adapting my wheelchairs to make life more comfortable is a possibility. Otherwise I need to accept my fate and move on with life.
As my friend Timmy said so long ago "I'm happy to be alive."
Monday, February 3, 2020
PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- SIXERS, SUPER BOWL
- The Sixers played like dogs in Boston Saturday night. I picked the Celtics to win since they were home and had revenge in their minds after losing three straight to Philly earlier in the season. The 76ers missed their chance to sweep the Celts for the first time in 19 years. Instead, the Sixers showed little effort, shooting tons of 3's when they are not a good outside shooting team. Does that make sense?
Clearly this squad needs a new direction. Joel Embiid plays great one night, is very motivated, then slips back into lackluster mode. Either Head Coach Brett Brown must go after the season or GM Elton Brand needs to make a big trade for a shooter, or both. They aren't getting better, they are getting worse.
The Sixers are now a disappointing 9-16 on the road this season. They are far from championship contenders.
I expect them to lose again tonight in Miami where the Heat are 22-3. At least two of the players were at the Super Bowl last night ( Embiid and Ben Simmons). I expect most of them were partying in South Beach last night. Do you think the effort will be there tonight against a hungry Jimmy Butler and crew?
It doesn't get any easier for Philly. On Thursday they travel to Milwaukee to take on the 41-7 Bucks. Not a good way to go into the All-Star break.
The team looks disorganized. their defense is too inconsistent. They can't make 3-pointers. Their bench is giving them little production. Otherwise, the 76ers are just fine.
********************************************************************************
My thoughts on Super Bowl 54..
- I'm glad Andy Reid finally won a championship. He solidified his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With a young QB like the dynamic Patrick Mahomes, chances are the chiefs will get back to the Super Bowl in the not-too-distant future. With the Patriots in decline their only real competition may be the Baltimore Ravens.
- The 49ers had the game in the palm of their hand. Up 20-10 with only six minutes to go, the Niners needed a few first downs while running the ball to seal the win. Instead, they threw the ball and incurred several key penalties which gave the ball back to the chiefs. To their credit, Mahomes, who up until the 4th quarter had a shaky game, woke up late and led Kansas City to score 21 points in the final stanza.
The biggest play was a huge 41-yard bomb to speedy Tyreek Hill, after the San Francisco secondary frustrated Mahomes all game. No excuse for the breakdown late for the San Fran defense. The Cheifs' high-octane offense can be slowed, but cannot be stopped, as they proved last night in Miami.
- I had the Under in the game and cased in. Just barely. The under was 54 and the game ended at 51. Any additional score and I would've tied or lost my bet. At 20-10 the bet looked safe- until gunslinger Mahomes started firing away.
- I'm happy for the long-suffering KC fans. They had to wait 50 years before claiming their second Super Bowl victory. Arrowhead stadium is always full and noisy. Those fans are pretty much like Eagles fans. They travel well and withstand bitter cold in the winter to support their football team. Chief fans should have plenty of winning seasons ahead to look forward to.
- Seeing all the legendary football greats on the field before the game was awesome. It was especially great to see the icon Jim Brown looking good.
- The halftime show, featuring Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, offering lots of energy and skin. The dancing was tremendous, although i still couldn't name one of their songs. It played well to the Latino crowd watching. It will go down as one of the best Super bowl halftime shows.
- The commercial were just okay. My favorites were the Cheetos ad featuring Hammer ("Can't Touch This"), and the great Bill Murray in an up-to-date segment from the iconic movie Groundhog Day. Most ads were pretty dumb, many featuring robots and fast car chases and lots of action.
- The Eagles opened with the 6th shortest odds to win the Super Bowl next season. At 17-1, they are tied with the Cowboys. The Chiefs are favorites again, with the Ravens second and the Niners third.
- The Fox braodcasting crew did a good job calling the game. No real disputes or awful referee calls, although it looked like SF got screwed on a few potential penalties that weren't called.
- SF Head Coach Kyle Shanhan played it a little too conservative for my liking most of the game. For instance, with 3 time-outs and a little over a minute remaining in the first half, SF elected to run the clock out, rather than at lease get into position for a field goal. As Doug Pederson proved two years ago with "The Philly Special," to win a Super Bowl you have to be creative and aggressive,not reserved and conservative.
Shanahan was the offensive coordinator for the Falcons when they blew a 28-3 lead against New England several years ago in the Super Bowl. So he does have a track record for choking when the chips are down.
- It will take a while to adjust to no football every Sunday. I'm not into the XFL which Fox is promoting. Both hockey and basketball have yet to reach their playoffs. March Madness is still a month away. And Baseball season is just around the corner, as spring training starts next week.
Clearly this squad needs a new direction. Joel Embiid plays great one night, is very motivated, then slips back into lackluster mode. Either Head Coach Brett Brown must go after the season or GM Elton Brand needs to make a big trade for a shooter, or both. They aren't getting better, they are getting worse.
The Sixers are now a disappointing 9-16 on the road this season. They are far from championship contenders.
I expect them to lose again tonight in Miami where the Heat are 22-3. At least two of the players were at the Super Bowl last night ( Embiid and Ben Simmons). I expect most of them were partying in South Beach last night. Do you think the effort will be there tonight against a hungry Jimmy Butler and crew?
It doesn't get any easier for Philly. On Thursday they travel to Milwaukee to take on the 41-7 Bucks. Not a good way to go into the All-Star break.
The team looks disorganized. their defense is too inconsistent. They can't make 3-pointers. Their bench is giving them little production. Otherwise, the 76ers are just fine.
********************************************************************************
My thoughts on Super Bowl 54..
- I'm glad Andy Reid finally won a championship. He solidified his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With a young QB like the dynamic Patrick Mahomes, chances are the chiefs will get back to the Super Bowl in the not-too-distant future. With the Patriots in decline their only real competition may be the Baltimore Ravens.
- The 49ers had the game in the palm of their hand. Up 20-10 with only six minutes to go, the Niners needed a few first downs while running the ball to seal the win. Instead, they threw the ball and incurred several key penalties which gave the ball back to the chiefs. To their credit, Mahomes, who up until the 4th quarter had a shaky game, woke up late and led Kansas City to score 21 points in the final stanza.
The biggest play was a huge 41-yard bomb to speedy Tyreek Hill, after the San Francisco secondary frustrated Mahomes all game. No excuse for the breakdown late for the San Fran defense. The Cheifs' high-octane offense can be slowed, but cannot be stopped, as they proved last night in Miami.
- I had the Under in the game and cased in. Just barely. The under was 54 and the game ended at 51. Any additional score and I would've tied or lost my bet. At 20-10 the bet looked safe- until gunslinger Mahomes started firing away.
- I'm happy for the long-suffering KC fans. They had to wait 50 years before claiming their second Super Bowl victory. Arrowhead stadium is always full and noisy. Those fans are pretty much like Eagles fans. They travel well and withstand bitter cold in the winter to support their football team. Chief fans should have plenty of winning seasons ahead to look forward to.
- Seeing all the legendary football greats on the field before the game was awesome. It was especially great to see the icon Jim Brown looking good.
- The halftime show, featuring Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, offering lots of energy and skin. The dancing was tremendous, although i still couldn't name one of their songs. It played well to the Latino crowd watching. It will go down as one of the best Super bowl halftime shows.
- The commercial were just okay. My favorites were the Cheetos ad featuring Hammer ("Can't Touch This"), and the great Bill Murray in an up-to-date segment from the iconic movie Groundhog Day. Most ads were pretty dumb, many featuring robots and fast car chases and lots of action.
- The Eagles opened with the 6th shortest odds to win the Super Bowl next season. At 17-1, they are tied with the Cowboys. The Chiefs are favorites again, with the Ravens second and the Niners third.
- The Fox braodcasting crew did a good job calling the game. No real disputes or awful referee calls, although it looked like SF got screwed on a few potential penalties that weren't called.
- SF Head Coach Kyle Shanhan played it a little too conservative for my liking most of the game. For instance, with 3 time-outs and a little over a minute remaining in the first half, SF elected to run the clock out, rather than at lease get into position for a field goal. As Doug Pederson proved two years ago with "The Philly Special," to win a Super Bowl you have to be creative and aggressive,not reserved and conservative.
Shanahan was the offensive coordinator for the Falcons when they blew a 28-3 lead against New England several years ago in the Super Bowl. So he does have a track record for choking when the chips are down.
- It will take a while to adjust to no football every Sunday. I'm not into the XFL which Fox is promoting. Both hockey and basketball have yet to reach their playoffs. March Madness is still a month away. And Baseball season is just around the corner, as spring training starts next week.
Sunday, February 2, 2020
FEBRUARY 2
Today, Sunday, Febraury 2, is a special day. It's Super Bowl Sunday, Groundhog Day and Palindrome Day.
First, it's Super Bowl Sunday again. Super Bowl 54 will have Kansas City vs San Francisco. The game will be played in Miami, Fla. Both teams finished the NFL regular season at 13-3. The Chiefs are favored by 1 1/2 points. That line hasn't moved since it was set two weeks ago. The over/under line sits at 54.
Will KC coach Andy Reid finally win his first Super Bowl? It should be a classic game featuring the Chiefs' explosive offense vs the 49ers' rock-solid defense. As always, turnovers will be key.
It's KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes' first Super Bowl game. How will he fare against the staunch Niner defensive line and star secondary? Will the Niners run the ball, eat up the clock and keep the ball away from Mahomes?
It should be a really close game. KC may be a team of destiny. But SF has been consistently good all season. Just think, the 49ers were 4-12 last year! Give them credit for drafting wisely, making key free agent signings, and slowly building to a potential championship team!
I'm saying 48ers 23 Chiefs 20. But I really like the under, which is 54.
************************************************************************
The groundhog saw his shadow this morning! For only the 18th time in 121 years that it's a call of early spring. Punxsutawney Phil was plucked out of his burrow this morning, as snow showers fell on the furry rodent, and made the joyful call. Get out your flip-flops and Easter outfits!
By the way, PETA ( who I usually support), are suddenly protesting the alleged "abuse" of Phil every February 2, asking for Phil's retirement. Never mind that the groundhog ( or woodchuck) is a tourist boon to the little town in western Pennsylvania). PETA wants a "robot groundhog,' one that will "more accurately predict the weather."
Just what we need- more computerized, artificial things in our society! To hell with tradition!
Long live Phil!
************************************************************************
Today is also Palindrome Day. 02/02/2020. The same forward and backward. Hasn't happened in 900 years! Won't happen again in 100 years!
Enjoy this rare day for what it's worth.
First, it's Super Bowl Sunday again. Super Bowl 54 will have Kansas City vs San Francisco. The game will be played in Miami, Fla. Both teams finished the NFL regular season at 13-3. The Chiefs are favored by 1 1/2 points. That line hasn't moved since it was set two weeks ago. The over/under line sits at 54.
Will KC coach Andy Reid finally win his first Super Bowl? It should be a classic game featuring the Chiefs' explosive offense vs the 49ers' rock-solid defense. As always, turnovers will be key.
It's KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes' first Super Bowl game. How will he fare against the staunch Niner defensive line and star secondary? Will the Niners run the ball, eat up the clock and keep the ball away from Mahomes?
It should be a really close game. KC may be a team of destiny. But SF has been consistently good all season. Just think, the 49ers were 4-12 last year! Give them credit for drafting wisely, making key free agent signings, and slowly building to a potential championship team!
I'm saying 48ers 23 Chiefs 20. But I really like the under, which is 54.
************************************************************************
The groundhog saw his shadow this morning! For only the 18th time in 121 years that it's a call of early spring. Punxsutawney Phil was plucked out of his burrow this morning, as snow showers fell on the furry rodent, and made the joyful call. Get out your flip-flops and Easter outfits!
By the way, PETA ( who I usually support), are suddenly protesting the alleged "abuse" of Phil every February 2, asking for Phil's retirement. Never mind that the groundhog ( or woodchuck) is a tourist boon to the little town in western Pennsylvania). PETA wants a "robot groundhog,' one that will "more accurately predict the weather."
Just what we need- more computerized, artificial things in our society! To hell with tradition!
Long live Phil!
************************************************************************
Today is also Palindrome Day. 02/02/2020. The same forward and backward. Hasn't happened in 900 years! Won't happen again in 100 years!
Enjoy this rare day for what it's worth.
Saturday, February 1, 2020
book- wedding toast
(Place on page 226- new para after para 1)
The other key piece of advice I got was "Don't try too hard to be funny." Don't be a robot. Use humor. Say something clever and original, just don't try to be funny. I got it. I always had a good sense of humor, (some would call my humor "dry") , but it wasn't wise to try a stupid joke which could potentially be embarrassing for years.
It was true- how may comics in wheelchairs are out there? Not many. I imagined it would be tough to know if an uncomfortable audience was laughing with you or at you. Not an easy thing to do " stand-up" while sitting down!
The other key piece of advice I got was "Don't try too hard to be funny." Don't be a robot. Use humor. Say something clever and original, just don't try to be funny. I got it. I always had a good sense of humor, (some would call my humor "dry") , but it wasn't wise to try a stupid joke which could potentially be embarrassing for years.
It was true- how may comics in wheelchairs are out there? Not many. I imagined it would be tough to know if an uncomfortable audience was laughing with you or at you. Not an easy thing to do " stand-up" while sitting down!
book- Christmas
(Place on page 7, paragraph 4, line 4 after "big bows.')
I wished I could stay in the warmth and security of the ambulance blankets, dreading what was to come. I knew it had to be but that didn't make any easier to accept.
I wished I could stay in the warmth and security of the ambulance blankets, dreading what was to come. I knew it had to be but that didn't make any easier to accept.
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