Unfortunately for Philadelphians, this week got off to a rough start after it was announced that legendary broadcaster Harry Kalas suddenly passed away Monday afternoon in D.C. Harry the K , whose smooth, baritone voice was a fixture in living rooms, pick-up trucks and corner bars around the area, was found in the place that brought him decades of happiness -- the broadcast booth. Talk about a way to go ...
I can't think of much more to say that hasn't already been said about him. Borrowing words from countless articles and interviews that have surfaced this past week, the soundtrack to my summers is silenced and the voice of the Phils is gone. I'll never turn on a Phillies' game again without hearing his voice in my head.
I'm lucky to say that I did watch his last broadcast on Easter Sunday and was able to hear his last home run call when Matt Stairs hit one "outta here" in the ninth inning. I actually feel bad because my 7 year-old twin nephews, who recently became obsessed with all things Phillies, were jumping around and screaming with joy after the homer. I told them to cool it, that it wasn't the playoffs and that there's 150+ games to go this season.
Harry wouldn't have liked that to hear that, since he called every game with the same amount of enthusiam and passion, whether we were down by 5 or winning by 10, whether it was April or October. Things like this make you realize what we take for granted, and I vow never to quiet down a home run celebration again.
Along with the endless success hall-of-famer Harry Kalas had as a broadcaster, it's heartwarming to hear the memories those in the Delaware Valley and beyond have about him that occurred off the baseball diamond and outside the booth. Harry was truly a good man who had a real connection with us Philadelphia fans. Lots of sports media criticize us, Harry understood us.
Rest in peace, Harry. I'm sure you'll be looking down, calling the game with Whitey tonight. And I'm sure all of us will hear you in our hearts.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Vote for Philly's own Sister Mary Scullion!
Sister Mary Scullion, R.S.M., is nominated for Time Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential People.
VOTE HERE!
Sister Mary, 55, is co-founder of Project H.O.M.E., a homeless shelter in Philadlephia. According to its web site,
"The mission of the Project H.O.M.E. community is to empower adults, children, and families to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, to alleviate the underlying causes of poverty, and to enable all of us to attain our fullest potential as individuals and as members of the broader society. We strive to create a safe and respectful environment where we support each other in our struggles for self-esteem, recovery, and the confidence to move toward self-actualization.
"We believe that all persons are entitled to decent, affordable housing and access to quality education, employment, and health care. "
Treating all people with respect and kindness was at the forefront of Jesus' mission. Sister Mary is surley living as a servant and disciple of Christ though her dedication to Project H.O.M.E.
Please, make sure to vote!
VOTE HERE!
Sister Mary, 55, is co-founder of Project H.O.M.E., a homeless shelter in Philadlephia. According to its web site,
"The mission of the Project H.O.M.E. community is to empower adults, children, and families to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, to alleviate the underlying causes of poverty, and to enable all of us to attain our fullest potential as individuals and as members of the broader society. We strive to create a safe and respectful environment where we support each other in our struggles for self-esteem, recovery, and the confidence to move toward self-actualization.
"We believe that all persons are entitled to decent, affordable housing and access to quality education, employment, and health care. "
Treating all people with respect and kindness was at the forefront of Jesus' mission. Sister Mary is surley living as a servant and disciple of Christ though her dedication to Project H.O.M.E.
Please, make sure to vote!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Carroll wins two state titles for PCL!
Congratulations to Archbishop Carroll's girls AND boys basketball teams!!! Both the boys and girls won the PIAA Class AAA titles in their respective divisions.
The boys beat Greensburg Salem 75-54 March 20.
The girls beat Lampeter-Strasburg 68-45 March 21.
Being our first year in the PIAA, this is the first time a Philadelphia Catholic League team has won a state title in any sport!
A parade will take place today on the school's campus in Radnor to celebrate this amazing achievement!
The boys beat Greensburg Salem 75-54 March 20.
The girls beat Lampeter-Strasburg 68-45 March 21.
Being our first year in the PIAA, this is the first time a Philadelphia Catholic League team has won a state title in any sport!
A parade will take place today on the school's campus in Radnor to celebrate this amazing achievement!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Three CL teams make it to state finals!
Congratulations to Cardinal O'Hara's girls and Archbishop Carroll's boys and girls basketball teams! They will be playing in the PIAA state finals this weekend in their respective divisions. Good luck!
All games will be played at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center in University Park. Here's the schedule:
AAAA Girls Basketball Championship
Friday, March 20, 6 p.m.
Cardinal O'Hara vs. Mt. Lebanon HS
AAA Girls Basketball Championship
Friday, March 20, 6 p.m.
Archbishop Carroll vs. Lampeter-Strasburg HS
AAA Boys Basketball Championship
Saturday, March 21, 8 p.m.
Archbishop Carroll vs. Greensburg Salem HS
All games will be played at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center in University Park. Here's the schedule:
AAAA Girls Basketball Championship
Friday, March 20, 6 p.m.
Cardinal O'Hara vs. Mt. Lebanon HS
AAA Girls Basketball Championship
Friday, March 20, 6 p.m.
Archbishop Carroll vs. Lampeter-Strasburg HS
AAA Boys Basketball Championship
Saturday, March 21, 8 p.m.
Archbishop Carroll vs. Greensburg Salem HS
Friday, March 13, 2009
PIAA Quarterfinals
A few PCL and local Catholic teams are still in the hunt for a state basketball title. Here's the schedule for this weekend's quartfinals.
Tonight
AAA Boys
Neumann-Goretti vs. Carroll at Ryan, 7 p.m.
Holy Ghost Prep vs. Hampton at Shippensburg University, 7 p.m.
AAAA Girls
O'Hara vs. Lower Merion at Spring Ford High School, 7:30 p.m.
Tomorrow
AAA Girls
Carroll vs. Mount St. Joe's at Villanova, 5 p.m.
Tonight
AAA Boys
Neumann-Goretti vs. Carroll at Ryan, 7 p.m.
Holy Ghost Prep vs. Hampton at Shippensburg University, 7 p.m.
AAAA Girls
O'Hara vs. Lower Merion at Spring Ford High School, 7:30 p.m.
Tomorrow
AAA Girls
Carroll vs. Mount St. Joe's at Villanova, 5 p.m.
Friday, March 6, 2009
High School March Madness
It's time for the PIAA basketball tourney! Round one for both girls' and boys' teams starts this weekend. We had two of our PCL football teams make it to the state championship in their respective divisions this past December, and things are looking good for our basketball teams as well! Below is info for round one featuring all PCL and local Catholic squads. Find out more about upcoming games on the PIAA web site.
Saturday, March 7
Boys AA
West Catholic vs. Salisbury @ Bonner, 2:30
Saint Pius X vs. Dunmore @ Wissahickon HS, 1:00
North Catholic vs. Penns Valley @ Gateway HS (Monroeville) 1:30
Friday, March 6
Boys AAA
Neumann-Goretti vs. Steelton-Highspire @ Southern, 8:00
Archbishop Carroll vs. Phoenixville @ Norristown HS, 7:30
Holy Ghost Prep vs. Wyomissing @ Gov. Mifflin, 8:00
Saturday, March 7
Boys AAAA
Roman Catholic vs. Central Bucks South @ Ryan, 2:30
Friday, March 6
Girls AA
Kennedy-Kenrick vs. Notre Dame (Allentown) @ Bonner, 6:30
St. Pius X vs. Mid Valley @ Spring Ford HS, 6:00
Saturday, March 7
Girls AAA
Arhcbishop Carroll vs. West York @ Bonner, 1:00
Mount St. Joseph vs. Archbishop Wood @ Norristown HS, 1:00
Villa Maria vs. Lampeter-Strasburg @ Garden Spot HS (New Holland) 2:30
Friday, March 6
Girls AAAA
Cardinal O'Hara vs. Council Rock North @ Bonner, 8:00
Archbishop Ryan vs. Downingtown West @ Norristown HS, 6:00
Saturday, March 7
Boys AA
West Catholic vs. Salisbury @ Bonner, 2:30
Saint Pius X vs. Dunmore @ Wissahickon HS, 1:00
North Catholic vs. Penns Valley @ Gateway HS (Monroeville) 1:30
Friday, March 6
Boys AAA
Neumann-Goretti vs. Steelton-Highspire @ Southern, 8:00
Archbishop Carroll vs. Phoenixville @ Norristown HS, 7:30
Holy Ghost Prep vs. Wyomissing @ Gov. Mifflin, 8:00
Saturday, March 7
Boys AAAA
Roman Catholic vs. Central Bucks South @ Ryan, 2:30
Friday, March 6
Girls AA
Kennedy-Kenrick vs. Notre Dame (Allentown) @ Bonner, 6:30
St. Pius X vs. Mid Valley @ Spring Ford HS, 6:00
Saturday, March 7
Girls AAA
Arhcbishop Carroll vs. West York @ Bonner, 1:00
Mount St. Joseph vs. Archbishop Wood @ Norristown HS, 1:00
Villa Maria vs. Lampeter-Strasburg @ Garden Spot HS (New Holland) 2:30
Friday, March 6
Girls AAAA
Cardinal O'Hara vs. Council Rock North @ Bonner, 8:00
Archbishop Ryan vs. Downingtown West @ Norristown HS, 6:00
Friday, February 27, 2009
Cheers to you
As a former cheerleader, I'm happy to say there's lots going on in the Archdiocese regarding cheerleading.
Congrats go out to Father Judge's cheerleaders who took second place at the 2009 UCA High School Nationals which took place a couple weeks ago in Florida. They competed in the super varsity division, as did Archbishop Ryan. Cardinal O'Hara also competed in the competition in the large varsity division.
Check out their routines HERE. Performances are listed by squad in alphabetical order.
The All-Catholic Cheerleading Competition will be held March 8 at noon at Archbishop Carroll. High school squads from throughout the Archdiocese will compete.
Lastly, I'd like to mention Cardinal Dougherty's cheerleaders. On Feb. 26, before departing for the All-Star Cheer & Dance Competition held in Walt Disney World, the team of 22 wore special shirts they created in support of the Philadelphia Police Department. And, in honor of the recent tragedy of fallen Philadelphia Police Officer John Pawlowski, the young women are dedicating this special competition to those police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. What a nice gesture. Good luck girls!
Congrats go out to Father Judge's cheerleaders who took second place at the 2009 UCA High School Nationals which took place a couple weeks ago in Florida. They competed in the super varsity division, as did Archbishop Ryan. Cardinal O'Hara also competed in the competition in the large varsity division.
Check out their routines HERE. Performances are listed by squad in alphabetical order.
The All-Catholic Cheerleading Competition will be held March 8 at noon at Archbishop Carroll. High school squads from throughout the Archdiocese will compete.
Lastly, I'd like to mention Cardinal Dougherty's cheerleaders. On Feb. 26, before departing for the All-Star Cheer & Dance Competition held in Walt Disney World, the team of 22 wore special shirts they created in support of the Philadelphia Police Department. And, in honor of the recent tragedy of fallen Philadelphia Police Officer John Pawlowski, the young women are dedicating this special competition to those police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. What a nice gesture. Good luck girls!
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