Sports & Entertainment
By Pete Thompson
By all accounts, the holiday weekend at the Jersey shore was a rousing SUCCESS. Foot traffic on all the boardwalks was up, business was booming, and the beaches were packed! These are all great things to see after last summer when we were all still in quarantine.
I’d also like to take a minute to acknowledge a personal success of mine, as July 2nd was a significant milestone for me. One year ago on July 2nd, I quietly went under the knife and had a bariatric sleeve gastrectomy. People hear the word “sleeve” and think it’s like Andy Reid and the lap band. That procedure is reversible. Mine, is not.
During the pandemic last June of 2020, I got to an all-time high weight of 368 pounds on my six foot frame, way too heavy.
But as I write this, I was 313 on the scale this morning, and I have consistently been 50 pounds or more less than I was.
Some people may regard the surgery as “cheating,” but it requires a full lifestyle change. 80% of my stomach is no longer there.
So, I can’t eat as much, I fill up faster, and have eliminated all carbonated beverages. Yep, no soda or beer!
I’ve also cut sweets way down and go for sugar free options as much as possible.
And, I’ve been working out with a personal trainer Aaron Bada at his Golf Specific Fitness in Somers Point.
Thank you to Dr. Samir Patel and the entire AtlantiCare bariatric team. Debbie the main nurse and Rebecca, the nutritionist.
I’m extremely happy one year later to feel GREAT, be more active and hopefully be around a lot longer!
Of course, a HUGE thank you to my better half, Susan Miller as she has supported me every step of the way! Finally, if anyone else out there is considering this, or has questions, I’m happy to try and answer them, so reach out.
Now, in sports, since I last wrote, the Phillies started a road trip that will take them to two historic ballparks. They also had two players named to the MLB All-Star Game in Denver, where a Phillies pitcher MIGHT start the game. Also in baseball, a local player should see his dreams come true on Sunday July 11th when they hold the MLB Amateur Draft in Denver. The Sixers big news is that they are losing their “voice” to retirement. The NBA Finals are set, and both teams could be considered “underdogs” in a way. In football, the Eagles are FINALLY making some cosmetic changes to the outside of the Linc that have been a long time coming. Plus, they avoid an HBO jinx, once again. Finally, the Flyers are doing their best to introduce the game of hockey to a younger audience. Think ages 3-to-9!
From entertainment, I finally got around to watching a hit HBO mini-series with a somewhat local flavor. Plus, I’ve caught up on a few movies both streaming and on cable to discuss. As always though, we begin with sports, and my thoughts:
I’ll start with the Phillies once again as when they left Citizens Bank Park on July 4th after a disappointing 11-1 loss to the Padres, things weren’t looking very good. However, a road trip to Chicago and Boston, means stops at two historic parks at Wrigley Field and Fenway Park and things might be looking up.
To start with, just one day after getting blown out at home by the Padres, the Phillies were the ones blowing out the Cubs as they win 13-3 in the first game at Wrigley Field. Andrew McCutchen was a big reason why as he went 3-for-5 with two doubles and raised his OPS (.787) by more than 100 points since June 1. His double in the sixth broke a 2-2 tie and his single in the eighth kept an eventual six-running inning churning.
“Cutch” was one of baseball’s least productive hitters for the first two months of the season, but has since been one of the hottest hitters in the National League. When he’s going strong, the lineup produces at a different pace. Since June 1, McCutchen has 26 hits in 87 at-bats. He entered June hitting just .201.
Now, if the Phillies are sellers at the trade deadline, McCutchen could be one of the players they opt to trade as he’s a free-agent after the season. But his production on nights like Game One at Wrigley could be what keeps them in the division race.
Speaking of which, as I write this, the Phillies have won and the Nationals and Braves have both lost, so the Phillies are in a three-way tie for 2nd place in the division. The Mets are only seven games above .500. Really, it’s anybody’s division still, and one hot tear could vault the Phillies in front. Here’s hoping!
Two Phillies are going to the All-Star Game in Denver as Zack Wheeler is named to the team (no surprise) and J.T. Realmuto is also named as a reserve, which was a bit of a surprise. It’s the first All-Star Game selection for Wheeler, and because Jake DeGrom is scheduled to pitch the Sunday night prior, there’s a chance that Wheeler could START the All-Star Game for the National League. Just six Phillies pitchers – Robin Roberts, Curt Simmons, Steve Carlton, Terry Mullholland, Curt Schilling, and Roy Halladay – have started the All-Star Game with Halladay being the most recent in 2011. The Phillies have not had a starter at any position since Chase Utley in 2014.
As for Realmuto, it’s his third trip in a row to the Midsummer Classic, but a bit of a surprise. He was voted in by the players and managers in a voting process that took place two or three weeks ago. Realmuto is widely regarded by his peers as the best catcher in the league, if not all of baseball, and I’m happy he will be out there in Denver with Wheeler.
One last baseball item, as Somers Point native and Mainland alum Chase Petty will find out which team wants his services when they hold the MLB Amateur Draft in Denver on Sunday July 11th. Many expect Petty to go in the first round, and although he’s given a verbal commitment to the University of Florida for college, getting drafted in the first round would probably change those plans. Petty was also named the Gatorade NJ Player of the Year, to add another accomplishment to his resume. Way to go Chase! You have a lot of people around here pulling for you.
To basketball now, as not long after I wrote last week’s column, news broke that Marc Zumoff was stepping down as the TV play by play voice of the Philadelphia 76ers. After 27 seasons, the 65-year-old is hanging up his headset while he’s still at the top of his game. Billy Schweim and I just had Zumoff on “The Locker Room” on 97.3 ESPN a few weeks back, and he was generous with his time and stories. “Zoo” as he’s known to all, is a Temple alum, like me, and a “mensch”. He and his wife Debbie have moved to Margate, and this past season he called all Sixers games (home & away) from the Wells Fargo Center, just an hour away. In his retirement, he says he wants to read more, particularly about soccer and politics. He wants to cook more. He wants to take up the flute, which he hasn’t played since eighth grade, and Spanish, which he hasn’t spoken since ninth grade. He wants to travel with Debbie. “Zoo”….I wish you all the best sir. As you have texted me before, I will repeat the words back to you…you sir…are a MENSCH!
Meanwhile, after an NBA season with lots of unexpected outcomes and results, the Suns and Bucks are the final two teams competing for the championship. Phoenix is looking for its first title (third Finals appearance), while Milwaukee is seeking its second championship and first since 1971.
This is also a unique matchup as no player on either team has won a championship. This is the first NBA Finals to feature zero players with a championship since 1977 between the Trail Blazers and 76ers. My pick? I’ll take Phoenix in six.
I only have a few football items as I’ll start with the fact that the Eagles are finally taking the image of Carson Wentz down off the side of Lincoln Financial Field. Wentz was traded to Indianapolis in February, but you wouldn’t know that if you drive by the stadium on a regular basis. An Eagles spokesperson says “new artwork to reflect the new team is in production and will be put up for display in mid-to-late July” right before training camp. Um, as far as I’m concerned, they should’ve pulled that darn Wentz image down the day after they traded the guy!
The producers of the HBO series “Hard Knocks” have announced that the Dallas Cowboys will be featured on the program this summer. It’s the 3rd time that Dallas has been on. The Eagles avoided getting selected because they have a first-year head coach in Nick Sirianni, as well as their 2019 playoff appearance. The Birds have NEVER appeared on “Hard Knocks”. The show is great, but appearing on it has sort of become like appearing on the cover of the EA Sports “Madden NFL” game. It’s more of a curse than a blessing!
Lastly, on football, at the local level, can you help out the local 10u South Jersey Vikings Travel Football team? After winning two championships at Met Life Stadium in in late June, Vikings coach Joe Handle got a call from Ohio inviting his team to come back and play at the Prospects Gridiron Classic Series National Kickoff sponsored by Sports Illustrated. That’s going to be held July 23rd through July 25th at the National Hall of Fame Compound in Canton, Ohio. As exciting as the year has been, it has also been expensive for the parents, coaches & kids. So, they’re asking for YOUR help. The group has started a GoFundMe page to help sponsor the team and offset some of the costs. If you’d like to help, visit their website at www.southjerseyvikings.com
For years, the Flyers ran a “Hooked on Hockey” program, but the Flyers Alumni have taken that a step further this summer as they’ve launched a new “Learn to Play” initiative. How to you teach hockey in the summer you might ask? Well, it’s ball-hockey and over the last six weeks, a total of 400 children (100 at each location) participated in the Flyers’ new “Learn to Play” ball-hockey program at rinks around South Jersey. This was the first year for the Flyers-sponsored ball-hockey program, which started back on May 15th. Most NHL teams sponsor some sort of youth ice hockey, but this is believed to be the first ball-hockey campaign. The Flyers provide sticks, balls, and jerseys at a nominal fee, and they had at least one of their former players — Bob Kelly, Brad Marsh, Riley Cote, or Todd Fedoruk — assisting players during the program. The idea is to get the kids into hockey and into the Flyers. I like it!
As always, I’ll close with a few items from entertainment as I’ll start with the fact that I finally got to watch “Mare of Easttown” on HBO. Kate Winslet was amazing as a Delco detective investigating a murder case. A lot was made about the “Philly accent” that the English actress used, but the compelling storyline was what stuck with me on this one. No wonder social media was blowing up with posts about this. If you get time, I highly recommend you watch it.
Now to the movies that I’ve caught up on, starting with “Tomorrow War” on Amazon Prime. Chris Pratt stars as a family man who is drafted to fight in a future war where the fate of humanity relies on his ability to confront the past. Eh, it’s okay…if you’re looking for something to watch, it doesn’t stink, but I wouldn’t drive you toward it.
I also stumbled across “Dark Shadows” on HBO, the 2012 film by Tim Burton starring Johnny Depp and based on the gothic television soap opera of the same name. Hey, the combo of Burton and Depp is always a winner for me, so I enjoyed it. The film featured the final appearance of original TV series actor Jonathan Frid, who died shortly before its release. It was the 200th film appearance of actor Christopher Lee, and his fifth and final appearance in a Burton film. This one was worth my time.
But the real WINNER (for me) was watching “Finding Neverland” from 2004, also starring Depp. The film is about playwright J. M. Barrie and his relationship with a family who inspired him to create Peter Pan. The film earned seven nominations at the 77th Academy Awards, and was definitely a great watch. I’m a sucker for anything Peter Pan (I even liked Steven Spielberg’s “Hook” in 1991). Kate Winslet is in this as well, and the real scene stealer was young Freddy Highmore, who so impressed Depp with his work as Peter that Depp told Tim Burton to cast him as Charlie in the remake of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” in 2005. If you’re like me and you like “Peter Pan”, check out “Finding Neverland”, you won’t be disappointed!
Pete has been the local “sports guy” at the Jersey Shore since 2004. After a decade with TV 40, he joined 97.3 ESPN radio to talk Eagles, Phillies, Sixers & Flyers with Mike Gill on “The SportsBash” each day from 2-6 p.m.
Pete is proud to be a “voice” for the annual ShopRite LPGA Classic each June, and does emcee work for groups like the National Football Foundation, The Old Grad Awards, and The 200 Club of Atlantic County. You can hear Pete each Tuesday on 97.3 ESPN at 5:30p, and if you see him out & about in the community, he requests that you please say “Hi”. Send comments to PBrooksT@aol.com
