Another Delco Guy In South Jersey

Cabrini Alumni Game 2013 Unites the Eras!

Over 20 guys played, nearly 40 attended, children outnumbered the players and everyone had a great time.

Yesterday was a chilly, beautiful day outside and a warm, family kind of day inside the Nerney Field House at the Dixon Center.

First the women's alumni came out for their annual game, joined by current coach Kate Pearson.  The current women's squad then flattened Cairn 61-37 to run their record to 11-0 in the CSAC and 16-3 overall.  Junior Brittany Sandone led all scorers with 18.

Then the men's team took the floor. looking to avenge a loss earlier this season to CSAC rival Keystone. The Cavaliers started slow, but senior Jeremy Knowles powered the offense with a career-high 29 points against a very athletic Giants team.  The 94-79 win places Cabrini atop the CSAC at 16-5 overall and 10-2 in the league.

A healthy 200 or so friends and family stuck around for the climax of the scheduled events yesterday, as the coaches divided up the alumni and the Blue took on the Gray for alumni game bragging rights.  While some former greats like Jim McMahon, Dave Kerchner, Bill Rookstool and others just watched, 22 guys suited up.  I had the pleasure of calling subs and time outs for the Blue team, while Steve Harrow lent his expertise to the Gray squad.

The game opened with a thunderous dunk by Laval Pickney off a beautiful feed from superguard Corey Lemons.  Competitive throughout the first half, the Blue took a sizable lead before age caught up a bit and the pace slowed. Event organizer John Mack scored 2 baskets in the late going to seal a Blue victory, 74-63.  In a playful dispute about playing time that brought back some vivid memories, gray teamer Derrick Grayson defected to the Blue squad mid-way though the second half to grab a steal and layup in his first action for his new team.  Dom Farello noted 'One minute I am guarding him and the next minute you're subbing him in for me!'

The real story yesterday had nothing to do with the score.  Alumni for all three eras of Cabrini basketball were out on the floor together, joking and having fun but also showing some pretty serious competitive fire.  The 'pre-Dzik' period always brings out a few guys and this year was no exception.  Men of the Dzik Era were disappointed the Big Dog was not in the house, they came out to see each other and Coaches Kelly and Keeley, with all-time leading scorer Bill Carr captaining the Blue team. The usual cast of excellence from Tidwell, Hargrove, and Sticks filled out the group of guys rapidly approaching middle age.  Marcus Kahn's crew provided the fresh legs with recent stars Cory Lemons, Kevin Misevicius, Dom Farrello, Greg Zabel and others more than willing to put up a few shots against the old guys.

I'd like to thank the guys on the Blue bench, especially Greg and Cory, who entertained my kids, John and Emma, throughout the game and kept it all pretty clean!  Thanks to Mailsy and Paul, super fans to the core. Finally, thanks to Marcus Kahn and his great staff, Brian Beacham and everyone in athletics and development who helped make this a great day.  I skipped the post-game party, I am sure a fun time was had by all, but I had a few very important things to take care of.

Photos of everything are up at my photo site.  Great job by Patti snapping the shots while I had fun with the boys!

Friday Fantastic Four - Catholic High School Edition

While the Friday Fantastic Four is a day late, I have an excuse. Yesterday, pretty much everyone who went to Catholic school in the Philly area was watching our news feeds to see what the fate was of the high schools that a blue ribbon commission had recommended for closure.

The news broke yesterday afternoon and there was jubilation across the area as parents, students and alumni learned that all of the schools would be spared, though Prendie and Bonner will merge in order to survive. All of the FB posts, pictures of crying girls, biting commentary and emotion got me to thinking about my fore years at St. James in Chester.  And with those thoughts came today's fan four:

What were the four best things about going to Catholic high school?

1. Being part of something bigger than myself - We had a network, a brotherhood and even today, 17 years after Bevilacqua shut us down, STJ lives on!
2. Uniform skirts - Yes, I went to an all-boys high school, but whenever we could, we would get out early and shoot up to Cardinal O'Hara where the girls were!
3. Knowing every guy in my class - I graduated with 180 other guys.  I can honestly say that I knew every one of them, and probably knew every guy in school by name.  I'm not unusual.  Many of us are still in touch, 25 years later.
4. Having a celibate man teach us about the value of marriage - Phrases like 'allaying concupiscence' sure made us want to run out and get married, Fr. Brugger!

I feel great for everyone who helped save the Philadelphia area Catholic high schools from the chopping block, especially the Bonner and Prendie folks back home in Delco.  Congrats!

20 Years of Mr. Greengenes

 

 

Mr. Greengenes opened its 2012 schedule last night with a full house at PJ Whelihan's in Cherry Hill.  As I watched Bryen and gang plug in and warm up, I was struck that I had been watching these guys (or some incarnation of them) pack bars and clubs since I was in college. They led us bar to bar at the shore like pied pipers in the summers of my young adulthood.  My bachelor party culminated with me singing on stage with the band in West Chester.

Later on, after my marriage broke up, and I was looking for things to do on summer weekends without kids, MRGG brought me back to the Delaware beaches, rocking The Bottle & Cork and reminded me how much fun Sea Isle had been as a kid.

There we were when the Phillies won it all in 2008, at the Bike Race in Manayunk, the Hair o' the Dog, and Thanksgiving Eve. I've seen Harry leave the stage, play acoustic and make a triumphant return.

But last night, early in the first set, I leaned my tired 40 something year old body against the the wall behind the sound board and sipped a soda. The lights blasted through the smoky haze and '99 Red Balloons' gave way to 'Sweet Child of Mine' and 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' and I was taken further back than all that.  To a time when we were just out watching our buddies play in the cigarette smoke of The Old State Tavern, or in a fraternity house basement, or in a high school gym in Garnet Valley.

Back then it was still Bryen leading the show, but Harry was on the keys before Joe, Rob was playing lead guitar, Timmy wasn't behind the kit yet, no one had wireless mics and Chicken had probably helped do the load out. Most of the people at PJ's last night weren't even out of diapers yet back then, 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' wasn't an oldie, Carlo still came out to see the guys play, and my name was the answer to a ZBT initiation quiz.

As the first set wrapped up and my soda was empty and my legs were aching, I decided that my night of nostalgia was over and headed home early.  As I walked across the parking lot, a 20 something young woman called to me from a car where she was putting on eye makeup. 'Is it really packed in there?' she asked.

Yep.  Twenty years later it's still really packed and everyone is still having a good time.

Delco Sunset

I am a sunset guy.  I will pull over on the side of the road to watch the amazing play of pinks and purples across the sky on summer evenings or pull on a coat and watch the golds dance on a cold winter afternoon.  I take a lot of sunset photos, some that look like an inferno is engulfing the earth, some where the sun just disappeared into the desert twilight, some others that certainly show the face of god, a few that illuminated special moments and some where the world seemed near an end.

Yesterday as the sun was setting on the Eagles' season, Dan Walklett said, "You should get your camera."  I am glad he did.  All my life I have enjoyed taking photos, somtimes alone, some times prompted by others, sometimes with someone special at my side. 

I've never seen to that were the same and yet I alwasy have the same thought. "What a great way to end a day."  Regardless of how bad the day way, a good sunset can always make it better.  This time of year it's a little tough with the sun setting before I get out of work, but that just gives me another reason to look forward to the weekend!

Uncle Matt's Birthday Party

It's a beautiful night for a party by the fire. The kids and I are back here in Delco for a family birthday party at 3447.  Uncle Matt is opening his gifts as the kids play on the hammock and the adults warm themselves by the firepit.  Great food and wonderful company make it a night to remember.

A great end to a fun weekend!  I hope you all enjoyed this beautiful weeknd as much as I did.

Alumni Game 2011 Is In the Books

This past Saturday, my son John and I made the trek back to Delco for the annual Cabrini Basketball Alumni Game and a full day of hoops on the hardwood in the Nerney Fieldhouse at the Dixon Center.

The women's basketball alumni tipped the day off at 11 with a run down memory lane.  While I was not able to attend due to fathering duties at home, I understand the attendance for their first alumni game was soild and there are plans to contiune the tradition next year.

The current version of the women's team kept things rolling along with a 74-45 thrashing of College of Notre Dame.  Freshman Annie Rivituso helped the team to its 10th win with her first career double-double.

The men's team continued its dominance of the CSAC with a 90-76 drubbing of Marywood University.  Senior Dom Farrello had a career game in front of the alumni, pouring in 33 points as the Cavs played every man on the roster and nailed down a top seed in the CSAC tournament next week.

The hospitality room had the usual array of goodies and gave Coach Dzik a place to hold forth.  Coaches Joe Kelly, Mike Keeley, Gabby Hartnett and Bob McTamney also stopped in to grab a few bites to eat in between games.  Superfans Mike Fallon, Paul Engle and Darnell Engle also were in the house (as usual).  The best managers any program ever had, Jim Iacovino, Phyllis Cohen, Kelly Gallagher and Andrea Kelliher also made appearances.

The men's alumni game featured 21 players from the past, some of whom looked like they could have suited up for current Cavs coach Marcus Kahn and some of whom looked as if they needed to mix in a few salads. I can't name everyone, but it's safe to say that guys going as far back as "Sticks" Bennett and as recent as Jim Good and company represented every eara of Cabrnin basketball. Former head coach John Dzik took to the mic and called the game.  I coached called timeouts for the blue team and Mike Keeley took the gray squad.  AD Joe Guinta threw in some great prizes and we were honored by the presence of several members of the current Cavs squad, the coaching staff and Cabrini President Dr. Marie George.

The blue squad sprinted out to a 15 point lead, helped a great deal by Laval Pickney's 0-for the half from the charity stripe.  Ultimately youth won over experience, and my blue team succumbed to the gray team by 15 points.  It was good to see so many guys in the house and really wonderful to see the families and friends come back from over the years.

Cabrini basketball is a family and our family is thankful to have the strong support of the current administration and athletics leadership.  They do a great job making sure we feel welcome and putting on a great event.  As I have said before and continue to believe, Marcus Kahn understands the college and D3 basketball and has done a great job restoring the program over the last three years.  Finally, special thanks to John Mack for all he does for the basketball alumni and everything he did to make Saturday successful!

Photos from the day are up on my Flickr site.  If you have some to share, please post the link in the comments section.  Thanks again to everyone who made my son and I feel so good on Saturday and GO CAVS!

A Legend Passes - Remembering Greg Greenday

I grew up a sports-crazed kid in Delaware County, where my grandfathers taught me all there was to know about the Phillies and Eagles and my dad talked about watching games at The Palestra in the heyday of the Big Five.  It was a heady time to grow up, with every one of our teams in the hunt for the playoffs nearly every year of my childhood. 

Some of the greatest sports voices of a generation were on the air then.  Bill Campbell, Whitey, Harry Kalas and Merrill Reese's rich voices were the narrators of the great sports moments of my childhood, both broadcast live and mimicked from the backyard.

And the newspapers!  I remember days when I had four papers to read, from the urbane Bulletin to the gritty Daily News to the local flavor of the Daily Times.  It was the height of the sports columnist in Philadelphia as well, with names like Frank Dolson, Bill Lyon and Bill Conlin adding color to the players I idolized.

But in Delaware County, one guy was a legend above the rest.  Greg Greenday was a local boy from St. James who lived in Brookhaven. Seemingly every day, he was filling in the detail from a Big Five game or the NFC East or setting the line for the epic high school football battles of my teenage years.

Greenday took me places I could never go, inside the Villanova locker room or to Amen corner at Augusta.  He taught me, by example, that writing was a ticket that could take a kid from Delaware County just about anywhere he wanted to go.

Sadly, last weekend Greg Greenday's journey ended after 61 years.

When I was working at Widener and coaching at Cabrini, I got to know Greg as more of a person than a mythic figure.  I found that the beautifully written game stories and columns came not just from immense talent, but also from a caring person with a diligent research ethic and vast memory that is so rare in journalism today.

Greg was one of the best questioners I ever saw work.  He would pause after an answer, make his notes, think for a moment, carefully considering how to approach the next point.  Greg was able to ask gently probing questions after losses that gave readers (and young coaches) insights into the game that would have been missed by most. He also brought great humor to an interview, laughing and joking, comfortable among men being boys. 

We were always happy when we saw him at the table for a game. We knew we would get a great story the next day, sure.  But we also knew he would have something positive to say, along with a funny inside story for us from somewhere he had been that week.  He had a perfect sense of the moment, always able to put you at ease or to let you go when you had nothing more to say.

There were a lot of great things written about Greg Greenday this week.  One thing that I think did not come through clearly enough is what a great writer he was.  He wrote with elegance and poetry, with a style that let you know he loved every minute of what he was doing.  But there was no self importance to the work.  He had a reverence for the games and the people he covered and he did every thing possible to let you know that.  He could cover the Eagles, sure, who couldn't?  But Greg made BOWLING interesting enough for me to read his weekly column in the 80s.

When he left the Daily Times a few years ago, I tried to explain to Greg how important his writing had been to me as a young person.  I stammered something about him making me want to be a writer.  He brushed it off, saying that it was nothing, he was just having fun doing his job. 

I am sure there were dozens of other kids like me, Greg.  Thanks for writing sports like no one else did.

Birds On The Big Screen!

While the image on the screen in this photo is not a good omen, we're here at 3447 with a 20 foot big screen TV for Eagles-Cowboys on Monday Night Football. I've got the Birds 24-17 tonight with BWest scoring late in the 4th to break the tie. Go Birds!!!

2008 DFFL Draft Party Review

The boys were back in town last night as Hesse hosted the Second Annual Delco Fantasy Football League Draft party in the luxurious basement of his estate in Aston.  I'm not kidding about the luxurious part.  If I had a basement with a bar, pool table, big screen TV, touch screen computer, wireless access, and comfortable seating, no one would ever see me.

Some notes from last night:

Shane outdid himself with the pork, confirming our decision that we should let him stay in the league despite the taking kickers in back to back rounds problem last year.  The pork was tender and pulled into perfectly-sized chunks, with just the right amount of smoky flavor and spicy bite.  I had 2 sandwiches.  Shane's better half Maria, who thankfully does not share his Chicago Bears disease, improved on her meatballs of last year with an excellent offering in tangy tomato sauce.  I had one of these in between the pork. 

The dessert course of brownies and pound cake with berries and vanilla vodka whipped cream was a bit high brow for this group, but it was needed around the 10th round due to my brother Matt's lengthy deliberations on his picks. 

Mark got us some cases of Sammy Oktoberfest, Yeungling and Yeungling Light.  I like my beer a bit warmer than average, but 90 degrees is a bit outrageous there Mark.  Thankfully, Hesse had thought ahead and there were frosty mugs that brought the beer temp down to 80.  Despite Shane's 7th round scare, the beer did last the whole evening.  Some kind of loaves and fishes thing apparently.

I think it's so sweet that Hesse and his beloved have named their tiny little yapper poodle "Shane."  It's so sweet and appropriate.

Much props to the guys who were using looseleaf notebooks and paper draft guide magazines.  Gotta love the old school!

Apparently Walklett's draft guide magazine was missing the QB section.  Jason Campbell as a starter?  Really??? 

Pete's cats make an awful sound when they get near his computer.  Cats are hereby banned from future drafts.

Congrats to everyone in Arizona for discovering the existence of the internet in round 5 so that Matt didn't have to use his precious iPhone minutes to keep Pete in the loop.  Then we got to listen to Matt and Goot bitch at each other about getting out of the spreadsheet.

Apparently we now know how Matt got though high school.  Anyone catch the late round cheat sheet written on a tiny piece of notebook that apparently went seven deep on the WR chart for him?

We need bigger stickers next year.  Old people like me Claffey can't see that far.

Chris from Regulators has all but obliterated Shane's 2007 drafting mysteries in my mind with his 'double pick' strategy.  First, the 'Double Jones pick' in round 3/4 and then the 'if you can't pick one good TE, why not pick 2 average ones' in round 11/12 left me and some others scratching our heads.  See ya in Week one there, bud!  Care for a side bet?

The best team name goes to Mark hands down this year with "Barely Legal Teens."  The FBI will be by to check your computer later today.

By a unanimous vote I just took, Matt will be required to wear a Dallas Cowboys jersey at all future leage gatherings, as he took both Tony Homo and Nick Fuck.  

And the night was made complete by Maria's appearance and insightful draft analysis. 

Photos are up here!

Thanks to everyone for a great time.

A Whole Different Delco Guy in Hot Water

  Bob and Larry 
  Originally uploaded by Irish Philadelphia Photo Essays

Fellow Delco Guy Larry Mendte, anchor on CBS3's evening newscasts and husband of Channel 29 anchor (and super hottie) Dawn Stensland, is in hot water with the FBI.

Philly.com is reporting that the FBI is investigating Mendte for possibly reading former co-worker Alycia Lane's private email.  On Thursday, FBI agents seized Mendte's personal computer at his home.  His lawyer confirmed it.  You might remember Alycia Lane from her own e-mail scandal where she sent racy pictures to sportscaster Rich Eisen, whose wife found them.  Oh.  and that incident with the NYC cop.

This looks bad.  First, the feds do A LOT of homework before they make a move.  They're darn sure they have Mendte here.  Secon, he's a journalist and they took his personal computer.  That's a pretty touchy area and I've got to think that the judge issuing the search warrant gave this some careful review.

Why do I care beyond the obvious prurient interest?  Mendte grew up in Lansdowne, Delaware County and went to nearby Monsignor Bonner High School. He's always seemed like a good guy to me.  I can't imagine why a guy like him would get involved in a mess like this.  He's off the air at CBS3 right now, but his bio is still up on the website.  So was Alycia Lane's for a week or so before she got her walking papers.

Willie Free Hits It Big

I caught it on the news last week and regular reader Jimmy Delco noted it as well, but alas I have not gotten around to this story until today.

And it's a big one for a small school in Delaware County.

Two of the area's wealthiest couples combined to give $45 million to Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades in Middletown, PA on Tuesday..The Lenfests (Suburban Cable money) and the Rowans (Inductotherm money here in Moorestown, NJ) made the gifts to the unique 120-year old school.  Rowan made the original $5 million gift as a challenge gift.  The school approached the Lenfests to meet the challenge and THEY turned around and challenged the Rowans to up the gift.  Ya gotta love it when rich people get competitive.

Williamson provides free education to young men to learn trades.  Preference for admission is given to guys from the Philly area who couldn't go to college otherwise.  The 120 year old school effectively doubles its endowment with these gifts, ensuring  that the school's mission will continue for generations. 

It's in an enviable position in higher education.  They've got the funds to do what they want, a distinctive niche of enrollment opportunity and the attention of the philanthropic community  at a crucial time.  With the economic crunch hitting higher education, as well as demographic pressures beginning to restrict enrollments, gifts like this can be transformational, giving institutions not only the opportunity to continue a current mission, but to develop important new programs, build classrooms, labs and shops for the future and catch up on deferred maintenance.

I've known a number of Williamson men.  They tend to be incredible people.  The school does an amazing job taking guys wilh what would be otherwise challenging futures and leading them to lives that matter.   It couldn't have happened to a better school.