JerseyMan Magazine V6 N4

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PUBLISHER

FROM JerseyMan Magazine THE VOLUME 6 • NUMBER 4 ____________________________________________________________________________________ BY KEN DUNEK

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e try to stay non-political here.

Although the ownership of our parent company (New Opportunity Publishing) has strong opinions on the way our country is run, as a business strategy we see no real benefit to espouse those views in print. So we don’t. But regardless of your party affiliation, the two candidates running for President, if elected, will most likely not have a significant impact on your life. Politicians rarely do. But here is what will have an impact: – Being tolerant and understanding of others that don’t look or speak like you do. – Working hard at self-enterprise that will allow you to be your own boss and create financial security for you and your family. – Raising your children to be respectful and honest individuals who have goals. – Trying to be fair in your private and business relationships and realizing that a giving philosophy will bring you long-term returns. A selfish one may bring you short-term profits but they will not last. – Remaining humble in whatever success comes your way. – Believing that we are here on Earth for a reason, and not just passing through as though our existence was some quirky coincidence or chain of events with no real meaning. – Using the perspective of loss in your life to help you better appreciate the blessings you do have, while always continuing to strive for more. If you are able to adopt these philosophies, it probably doesn’t matter if it is President Trump or President Clinton come November 2nd. You have elected yourself Commander-in-Chief of your life. Viva Liberty.

“ Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.” – George Halas Ken Dunek Publisher CONTRIBUTING EDITOR George Brinkerhoff ART DIRECTOR Steve Iannarelli CONTRIBUTING WRITERS George Anastasia, Jan L. Apple, Michael Bradley, George Brinkerhoff, Kerry Brown, Sam Carchidi, Alexandra Dunek, Ashley Dunek, Molly Golubcow, John Hopkins, Robert Kennedy, Sam Kraft, Bill Lyon, Glen Macnow, Anthony Mongeluzo, Daniel R. Morroni, Gervase Peterson, Nina Radcliff, MD, Andrew Ryan, Kurt Smith, Gerry Strauss, Dr. Rubina Tahir DC, T. Jordan Wompierski ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS Alexandra Dunek Allison Farcus EVENTS COORDINATOR Ashley Dunek Editorial 856-813-1153 Advertising 856-912-4007 Printing 856-813-1153 Controller Rose M. Balcavage Sales Associates Ashley Dunek, Jamie Dunek, Terri Dunek, Allison Farcus, Chris Kazmarck, JP Lutz, Tinavalen Nguyen JerseyMan Advisory Board Peter Cordua. . . . . . Cordua, Pastore & Associates Nick DeRose. . . . . . . . . Legacy Treatment Services Joseph Devine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kennedy Health Ted Flocco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ernst & Young Bob Hoey. . . . . . . . . . . Janney Montgomery Scott Jeffrey Jaskol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Jaskol Group Robert Kennedy. . . . . . . . The Kennedy Companies Julie LaVan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LaVan Law Anthony Mongeluzo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCS Toni Pergolin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bancroft Mike Regina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Big Sky Enterprises Paul Tully . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eagle Wealth Strategies JerseyMan Magazine/PhillyMan Magazine, products of the partnership of Joe LaGrossa, Ken Dunek, and Alex Kazmarck, are published by New Opportunity Publishing, LLC, with offices at 7025 Central Highway, Pennsauken, NJ, 08109. Copyright 2016.

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JerseyMan Magazine VOLUME 6 • NUMBER 4

INSIDE

22 RAY DIDINGER:

COVER STORY

THE VOICE OF REASON

BY BILL LYON

28 THE AMAZING KRESKIN 34 HOLLY ROBINSON PEETE

INSPIRED BY HIS BROTHER’S MEMORY, THE EAGLES’ FLETCHER COX IS DRIVEN TO GREATNESS

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38 38 NO PLACE LIKE HOME

PHILLY NATIVE CHRIS ALBRIGHT

42 TAKING FLIGHT

PHILLIP WALKER & THE TEMPLE OWLS

54 FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

NJ WINS SPECIAL OLYMPICS BASEBALL GOLD MEDAL

58 ALEKS MUSIKA

MUSIKA FRÈRE BECOMING MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY

60 BRINGING ITALY TO PHILLY

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GRAN CAFFÉ L’AQUILA

68 HEROIN ADDICTION ON THE RISE

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NFL HOLDOUTS AREN’T WHAT THEY USED TO BE BY GLEN MACNOW

COLUMNS 12 JOTTINGS • 20 GEORGE ANASTASIA’S MOB SCENE • 76 THE CIGAR GUY 79 THE HEALTH REFEREE • 80 GET FIT • 82 THE ENTREPRENEUR COACH 84 WHAT WE WEAR • 87 TECH TIME • 88 DR. NINA • 90 THE ENTHUSIAST 93 THE WINE MAN • 94 SAY GERV? BY GERVASE PETERSON

jerseymanmagazine.com

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JOTTINGS

_____________________________________________________________________________ BY GEORGE BRINKERHOFF

A Huddle of Their Own

The roots of organized women’s tackle football runs through New Jersey

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The Democratic National Convention came to town July 25-28 and we were ready. Sure, the eyes of the world were upon the city of Philadelphia. Sure, all the bureaucrats and dignitaries with all their entourages and security were there. Sure, the protesters were there in full throated form. Sure, all the motorcades clogged up the main highways so the “very important people” were able to get to their appointments on time, while the “little people” were inconvenienced by them. And sure, all the TV crews and the media were there documenting the spectacle. But you know what, when it comes right down to it, the real star of the show was the city itself and people who live here. Yes, you the people of the City of Brotherly Love dealt with every contingency and any indignity. You were here long before these folks ever dropped by and you’ll keep on shining long after they leave. So give yourself a hand, Philly. You, against the backdrop of this fine old city, acquitted yourselves quite well on the national stage. Shine on you crazy diamond!

He’s Got Talent!

Jon Dorenbos, veteran long snapper with the Philadelphia Eagles knows a thing or two about cards. He recently demonstrated his unique skills on Americas Got Talent, and slayed judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Mel B and Heidi Klum with his sleight of hand. As of this writing he got enough votes to advance to the semifinals. It turns out among his other athletic abilities, Dorenbos is a professional magician. He’s juggling both his Eagles training camp responsibilities with his new found TV show competition. Congratulations Jon! How ‘bout you and the Birds make some magic together this year, huh? Check out Jon’s performance at www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent.

NBC.com

s a way of marking history’s first ever woman to be nominated by a major national party for President, (which happened back in July at the Democratic National Convention in Philly in case you were in a coma or under a rock), let’s take a look back at women’s entrance into another full contact sport (with roots in our area) formerly the exclusive arena of men: American football. Back in 1896, two teams of women squared off in Harlem, NY for the first ever recorded women’s full contact football game. The game was staged as something of a lark, however, being the entertainment during a masked ball. According to one source, two teams of five women each were pulled from the crowd and divided up with insignias pinned on them for either Yale or Princeton. The game lasted just a few plays after a tackle in which all ten women “fell in a heap.” It was reported that “there was a wild scramble, and the crowd of men looking on, excited by the struggle, closed with a rush.” The game ended abruptly as the crowd was dispersed by police out of fear that injuries would occur. No one thought to record the winner, but in a way, perhaps, we all won. One of the next serious early efforts by women to play organized football happened right here in New Jersey in 1925 at Upsala College in East Orange. Upsala’s Girls’ Eleven team was formed Scherer was known as the “Red Grange of woman football.” by one Gladys Scherer, and played under the same rules as the men (except for a no hair pulling rule), wore the same rudimentary equipment and were around for several seasons, even advertising for other college teams to play against. Referred to as the “Red Grange of woman football,” Scherer was captain of a team who was said to have “tackled football with the same enthusiasm that they formerly tackled dancing and other sports,” and “now rub their noses in the mud as frequently as they formerly rubbed them in the powder puff.” The pioneering spirit and vision of Gladys Scherer and the rest of these unsung ladies may be little remembered, but their legacy continues through to today. Women athletes have been involved with professional organized football leagues since the 1970’s, and today serious women athletes are competing at the highest levels. The recent rebranding of the Lingerie Football League into the more serious Legends Football League demonstrates that football, like politics, ain’t just for the boys anymore and the playing field is becoming more even.

Take A Hike

Photo by Richard Beck

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SK ANYONE about hiking in South Jersey and they’ll say, “Go to the Pine Barrens!” Sounds good, you think, but the Pine Barrens cover an amazingly immense area, so where should you go? (The Pine Barrens takes up 22% of New Jersey’s land area and is part of the 1.1 million acres that has been established as the Pinelands National Reserve.) THE FRANKLIN PARKER PRESERVE, located in Woodland Township in Burlington County, is a former cranberry farm purchased by the New Jersey Conservation Foundation after its owner wanted it to be protected as a nature preserve. The Preserve is home to endangered species such as bald eagles, bobcats and the Pine Barrens tree frog (pictured). In addition, 29 rare plant species are located within its boundaries. It covers 16 square miles in the middle of the Pine 14

Barrens and has four blazed trails totaling 21 miles. Old sand roads traverse pine forests and cranberry and blueberry fields, and hiking trails go through cedar swamps and along the bogs, lakes and a tributary of the Wading River. There are birdwatching platforms, and a section of the 53.5 mile Batona Trail—which crosses the Pine Barrens from north to south—has been re-routed into the Preserve. Two main entrances with parking areas are your starting points and await your arrival. One is off Route 532 just across from Chatsworth Lake and the other is off Route 563 near Speedwell. For more information go to www.njconservation.org/ franklinparkerpreserve.

The Franklin Parker Preserve encompasses 16 square miles in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens.

“ Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” – Vince Lombardi 15

W H A T

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R E A D

America’s First Motorcycle Company Whether you’re a history buff, a two-wheeled fanatic or you just like seeing gobs of sweet pics featuring awesomely elegant iron horses (227 color & 76 b/w photos!), Indian Motorcycle: America’s First Motorcycle Company is the book for you. Author Darwin Holmstrom explores the modest birth, documents Indian’s amazing early engineering advances, demonstrates their near total domination on the race track and explores the success and popularity of the Scouts and Chiefs. He also bears witness to the mismanagement and missteps of the company which lead to the slow but inevitable march toward oblivion in 1953. He then takes us right through to today and Indian’s epic rebirth as a major motorcycle brand under the guidance of Polaris.

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Of Golf and Ghosts… Bob Sheppard, well-known Philadelphia golf instructor (and author of the brilliantly titled collection of short stories on golf, If They Hadn’t Invented Golf… We Never Would’ve Needed The Damn Whiskey) weaves a mystical golf tale for his sophomore effort. The Dormie House: A Fantastic Golf Odyssey involves a fictionalized diary detailing the quest of an amateur golfer to speak with the ghosts of great golfers of the past. The narrator, recalling his mystical adventures, shares with readers a little of the history of the game as well as his thoughts on what really matters in golf and life.

“ You learn you can do

your best even when its hard, even when you’re tired and maybe hurting a little bit. It feels good to show some courage.” – Joe Namath

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Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice Annual Golf Tournament “A Drive FORE! A Good Cause” – Little Mill CC, Marlton, NJ

Tabula Rasa HealthCare ribbon cutting celebrating the opening of its new corporate headquarters in Moorestown, NJ

Pictured left to right: Sara Baughn, CSO Jacques Turgeon, CFO Brian Adams, CIO Joe Filippoli, CAO Phillip Heath, CSO Brian Litten, President Orsula V. Knowlton, COO Michael Greenhalgh, Moorestown Mayor Phil Garwood, Jason Nyzio, Founder Calvin H. Knowlton, CPO Bob Alesiani & Keith Omlor.

Coach Vermeil’s 24th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament benefitting the Boy Scouts of Chester County

Publisher Ken Dunek and Donna Saglimbeni of Pancoast Funeral Home (Vineland, NJ) won the Dress Loud Award at the Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice Annual Golf Tournament, presented by The Richardson Family Dealerships. Samaritan’s annual golf tournament has two important goals: to raise funds and to raise awareness. Samaritan helps people in our community to live each day fully and with dignity, even as they cope with issues of aging, serious illness and grief.

Eagles head coach Doug Pederson

Robert Hoey, Jr. with the Phillie Phanatic 18

MOB SCENE

_______________________________________________________________________________ BY GEORGE ANASTASIA

Pills, Pagans and Prostitutes

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E SAID WHEN HE WAS A KID he was bullied and mocked because he was an overweight nerd. Maybe that’s why, as an adult, he decided to hang out with the tough guys. Or maybe it was greed. There is no clear or easy explanation for why Dr. William O’Brien III established a business relationship with the Pagans, one of the region’s most notorious biker gangs. But it has cost him his career, his reputation and his medical license, among other things. The 53-year-old osteopath was convicted in June of running a multimillion dollar pill mill for the bikers. The trial offered a look into a dark and seamy corner of the underworld, a world where cash and sex are currency and where violence is used to maintain order. The scheme was built around Pagans, pills and prostitutes. It generated millions of dollars in cash while pouring more than 900,000 doses of highly addictive pain medication onto the streets. Oxycodone, methadone, Percocet and Xanax were the controlled substances of choice that flowed from the thousands of illegal prescriptions written by O’Brien. “This is a case about drugs, money, fraud and greed,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney David Troyer in an opening statement to the jury. Troyer said O’Brien had “abused his license” and used his office “as a supermarket for drug dealers and drug addicts in the Philadelphia area.” The jury, after hearing more than 20 days of testimony, agreed. O’Brien was convicted of conspiracy, drug dealing, money-laundering, bankruptcy fraud and contributing to the death of a patient who died after taking a lethal combination of the pills prescribed by the doctor. O’Brien, according to testimony at the trial, would charge “patients” $200 per visit. He rarely conducted a physical exam. But exams weren’t necessary. The patients were individuals who had been sent to him by the bikers or their associates. They were paid, on average, about $500 for each script they had filled. They would turn the pills over to the Pagans and the drugs would end up on the streets. O’Brien, authorities said, made $1.8 million from the scheme which ran for about three years. Some Pagans were pulling in $10,000 a week. The numbers were staggering. Sometimes, according to court testimony, the doctor would waive the $200 fee in exchange for sex from one of the gentleman’s club dancers who were part of the Pagans’ parade of patients. The sex took place in the doctor’s office. O’Brien, who was once a candidate for Bucks County coroner, is now looking at a minimum of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced in October. Ten co-defendants, including two members of the Pagans, pleaded guilty before the start of the trial. O’Brien, the only holdout, opted to represent himself. He portrayed the case as a David versus Goliath battle 20

and compared the federal investigators and prosecutors to the “bullies” who had picked on him as a boy. Some referred to him as the “fat doctor,” he said.

The “patients” were paid about $500 for each script they had filled. They would turn the pills over to the Pagans and the drugs would end up on the streets. His defense was that he had no way to know that the medication he was prescribing was not going to be used by the patients, but rather sold on the streets. A half dozen co-conspirators, including his one-time office manager, took the stand to refute that claim. “You are a drug dealer,” said Angela Rongione, who ran O’Brien’s office and who clashed repeatedly with the doctor during a cross-examination that in many ways reinforced the prosecution’s case. “You know what you did. Put it in your brain…you did wrong.” Rongione is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to drug charges. So is Michael “Tomato Pie” Thompson, a Pagan associate who readily

admitted from the witness stand that he coordinated much of the pill mill operation. “Ninety percent of the patients were fake,” he said while being questioned by O’Brien. “You know it and I know it.” Testimony and evidence also indicated just how lucrative the operation was. Thompson said he was “spending like crazy” when the pill mill was running on all cylinders. Asked how much he was making, he replied “about $50,000 a month.” Of course Thompson and several other major players were required to kick up cash to the Pagans, especially Sam Nocille, a leader of the biker gang who has been identified as the mastermind of the operation. Nocille died of a heart attack in prison before the feds dropped the hammer in the pill mill investigation. He was jailed on a lesser offense at the time. But phone tapes from calls he made from prison offered the jury a look at his involvement and what was at stake. In one call, Nocille is heard complaining to his wife that he was not receiving his cut from the operation. He said he had been receiving about $2,000 a week from several mid-level operatives like Thompson and another co-defendant, Peter Marrandino. “All of a sudden he’s changing the whole f---in’ thing,” Nocille said of Marrandino. “It’s not gonna happen....The door was opened for him due to me.” In another call, Nocille said, “I’m gonna split his f---in’ head,” adding that “I ain’t being nice no more. I’m done with these f---in’ guys....Making tons of money because of me. “Even that fat motherf----er Bill in Levittown is gonna get it,” Nocille said in a rant recorded in January 2014. O’Brien had an office in Levittown at the time. ocille never got to act on his threats. He died shortly after making that call. But his displeasure was felt long after he was gone. Marrandino fled South Philadelphia for Florida and Thompson testified that he knew of a plot by the Pagans to kill him, claiming they intended to set him up by kidnapping his daughter. Violence remained on the periphery of the case, although it was not part of the indictment. Thompson said O’Brien once asked him whether Thompson could arrange to have O’Brien’s first wife “beaten or killed.” O’Brien said she had taken everything he owned in their divorce, which included $3,000 a month in alimony payments. Thompson said he ignored O’Brien’s suggestion. Two other co-defendants, however, said they were dispatched by O’Brien to collect a debt owed to him by Anthony Rongione (no relation to Angela, his office manager). Authorities said the debt was $11,000, although O’Brien later contended it was only $2,000. In January 2013 Patrick Treacy, a member of the Pagans, and Joseph Mehl, a Pagan associate, confronted Rongione in front of his South Philadelphia home. But Rongione’s brother and a neighbor, one wielding a baseball bat, came to his aid. Treacy and Mehl beat a hasty retreat. One day later Rongione and a friend were found shot to death. Each took a bullet to the head. No one has been charged in that double homicide, but evidence introduced during the trial indicated that Treacy was questioned about that murder as well as one of Philadelphia’s oldest and most notorious cold cases, the disappearance of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone, after his arrest in the pill mill investigation. Imbo and Petrone were last seen leaving a South Street bar on Feb. 9, 2005. Authorities believe they were murdered, but there has never been an explanation of how and why. Petrone’s Dodge Dakota pickup truck has never been found, leading to speculation that it—and perhaps the couple— ended up at a salvage yard where vehicles are crushed and disposed of. Several defendants in the O’Brien case were involved in the tow truck business and were also associated with the Pagans, lending weight to

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the theory that someone in that circle might have information about the Imbo-Petrone case. Some believe it was more than a coincidence that the FBI agent who questioned Treacy after he was arrested is the agent in charge of the Imbo-Petrone investigation. “I didn’t murder nobody,” the 48-year-old biker said in an interview video that was played by O’Brien for the jury. Treacy turned down an offer to cooperate during that session and is awaiting sentencing in the pill mill case. Authorities allege he was one of the major players in the operation. The jury was told that members of the Pagans received VIP treatment at the Levittown office, entering through a door in the rear of the building and never waiting for an appointment. Treacy got a prescription for 240 oxycodone tablets and 60 Xanax during his first visit. Over the course of the investigation, authorities determined that Treacy had received scripts for at least 49,852 oxycodone pills and 17,070 methadone tablets. With oxycodone pills selling for about $18 wholesale, Treacy’s gross from those pills alone would have been around $900,000. Mehl, a tow trucker operator identified by the feds as a “wreck chaser,” told authorities he brought dancers from the Oasis gentleman’s club to O’Brien as part of the scheme. He also admitted to “guarding” the door of O’Brien’s office on at least two occasions when dancers performed sex acts on O’Brien. A female FBI agent, working undercover and posing as a patient, secretly taped her visits to O’Brien’s office, visits in which he prescribed drugs on a routine basis and without any medical examination. During one of those visits, O’Brien asked for oral sex in exchange for an increase in the dosage of the Xanax he was prescribing. The stronger dose pill was referred to as a “blue.” On the tape, played for the jury, O’Brien suggests “blues for a blow.” Unlike the dancers from the gentleman’s clubs, the agent declined the offer. n

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BILL LYON ___________________________

Ray Didinger: The Voice of Reason

R Photo Len Redkoles/CSN

AY DIDINGER IS A BLEEDER. This is said with the utmost sincerity and respect by someone who has known him for more than 40 years and has shared with him cramped press boxes, sweaty locker rooms, bad food, coast-to-coast red eyes, closet-sized hotel rooms, multi-billion dollar athletes who have no time for you, temperamental computers and insane deadlines…and God help us, we love it….Well, not the deadlines so much. To sit before a typewriter with a blank sheet of paper (remember?) or a computer with an empty screen is to descend into Dante’s Seven Rings of Hell. Writing—whether column, book, screenplay, TV or radio—is to suffer. And bleed. One drop for each word. Ray Didinger is a world class bleeder. But it is worth the agony when the finished product is put before us: Precise. Literate. Incisive. Meticulous. All in all, the work of a craftsman, an artisan, submitted in the manner of someone who is obviously

Didinger

knowledgeable but lets you discover that for yourself, having no interest in promoting himself. ONE LAST READ Scroll back to autumn in Baltimore, 1979. The World Series. PiratesOrioles. Game 7. Riveting drama, Willie Stargell and The Lumber Company. A story for the ages. Ray retreats to his hotel to write his story for the Philadelphia Bulletin. He carefully draws the drapes, shutting out all distractions, and settles in to compose. It is just past midnight. His phone rings. The office. There is concern bordering on panic. Is Ray okay? Has he filed yet? The early deadline is come and gone. Ray checks the time. Wait, that can’t be right. He goes to the window and pulls back the drapes… revealing a bright morning sun. Uh, Ray? Just one last read, he tells them. It will become the title of one of his books, a collection of his work. It is his mantra. One Last Read. It is the plea of a perfectionist, the voice of a writer searching for just the right word, and nothing else will do. It is a labor of love, and like all acts of creation, it hurts. And yet, when it is done there is a certain euphoria, or as Dorothy Parker once said: “I hate writing, but I love having written.” It is a strange, perverse relationship. And it is a tribute to Ray’s self-deprecating sense of humor that he cheerfully identifies himself as the world’s slowest sportswriter. SO JUST WHO IS THIS RAY DIDDY? He is Philly through and through, born September 18th, 1946, and never really interested in going someplace else. Besides, where else can you find so many teams, so many games, so many rabid foaming-at-themouth fans, of whom he wrote: “During the run to Super Bowl XXXIX the Eagles adopted the theme One City One Team One Dream. It was a fine slogan, and it fit the mood perfectly, but it could be applied to the whole history of the franchise. It was a sentiment that Philadelphia— from blue blood to blue collar—felt long before the marketing department put it on a T-shirt. It was part of our civic identity, something that pulled this diverse region together in one heartbeat. “The Eagles are a kind of an heirloom that is handed down from one generation to the next. The Eagles are a family affair, something you plan for, something you share; you watch the game with family and friends, there is an investment of time and emotion that is unique.” In the house where Ray grew up, the family’s devotion was there for all to see. Two weeks vacation each summer were spent in Hershey for Eagles camp. They went every day. Ray graduated from St. James High School (Chester, PA), then from Temple University, then went to the Delaware County Daily Times and then to the Bulletin and then to the Daily News and then to WIP and then to NFL Films and then to Comcast and then one fine day you look up and your entire working career has been spent inside the city limits. “I’ve been blessed,” he said. And about that Ray Diddy nickname. An e-mailer to the Eagles postgame

show said he had a question for “that Ray Diddy guy.” Some nicknames are a perfect fit. Some are not. This one is definitely not…which is why it has caught on. Ray Didinger has the look and manner of a prim and proper English professor and is about as far from hip hop as you get. He has come to live with it. Besides it has become a term of affection and respect. TELL A STORY So in 26 years of writing for the Bulletin and the Daily News he accumulated 18 awards, including the biggie—enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995. There are two titles that you get to carry around all your life: Mister President and Hall of Famer. So there didn’t seem much left for him to do. And then Steve Sabol came calling. Would Ray like to try his hand at a different sort of journalism? Like, say, NFL Films? At first, he declined. He was a neophyte. “He told me, ‘You know the game and you can tell a story. We can teach you the rest, the producing and the directing,’” said Ray. It turned out to be the perfect marriage. In 13 years he won six Emmys. THE VOICE OF REASON In the loud and riotous world of talk radio and everyone-shout-television, Ray is always billed as Hall of Famer, thereby establishing his credentials, and as The Voice of Reason. It is both accolade and burden. When it is his turn at the mike or camera the mindless bellowing ceases. People pay attention because they know they are about to learn something and it will be thoughtful and measured and on razor-sharp point. Because he is always in control and never raises his voice, there was an Eagles Postgame Live that led off with Ray ripping into Chip Kelly and stopped everyone in their tracks. Kelly, who was never the genius he was touted to be, had just finished one of his pet statistics and Ray could hold back no longer: “So you ran 88 plays. How many points did you score? You lost to the Dolphins… the lowly Dolphins. Don’t tell us how many plays you ran.” It is, Ray added, a bogus stat. Word spread like a forest inferno. It was called “a classic Ray rant.” It may have been classic but it was a long, long way from being a rant. His voice rose, but several decibels below ranting. It just seemed to be a rant by comparison, a testament to his composure. TOMMY AND ME Ray had one crusade. It was to get Tommy McDonald, the Eagles splendid wide receiver, and Ray’s boyhood hero, into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He campaigned relentlessly. All those days of summer camp they could be seen, a boy carrying his hero’s helmet. It evoked images of the epic Coca-Cola commercial, Mean Joe Green and the jersey thrown to the little boy. In 1998, three years after Ray had been inducted, Tommy McDonald’s ticket to Canton was punched, and in his first words upon being announced as a Hall of Famer, he turned and pointed to Ray and said: “I want you to be my presenter.” There weren’t many dry eyes. And now, in August, the circle comes full with the debut of a one-act play, Tommy and Me, written by the rookie playwright Ray Didinger. “I had always wondered if I could write a play,” he said. “This one isn’t football oriented. It’s about a boy and his hero.” And, based on the audience reactions during rehearsal, a smash hit in the making. So then, another Eagles season is upon us and as soon as the last play is run and the red light is on, on the set of Eagles Postgame Live the opening question is what does Ray think? The world’s slowest sportswriter? I think not. n 23

GLEN MACNOW _________________________________________

Holdouts Ain’t What They Used to Be

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HEN SAM BRADFORD went into a two-week hissy fit last spring and shunned voluntary workouts, Eagles fans were incensed. I just laughed, sure that like any three-year-old in the midst of a tantrum, Bradford would ultimately calm down and eat his vegetables. And when Fletcher Cox—a full year from free agency—merely hinted about staying away from minicamp in June, many fans panicked.

popularity of football—well, this town would have exploded.” Quick knows about holdouts. In 1989 he boycotted three pre-season games while his agent, Jim Solano, battled Braman for a new deal. Eventually, the Eagles owner leaked details of the negotiations to the newspapers. He termed Quick and Reggie White, who was also holding out, greedy and disloyal. That was Braman’s style. “I tried to ignore all that,” Quick recalls. “I had [Solano] as my buffer and Braman had

Braman

LONG-TERM HOLDOUTS IN THE NORMAN BRAMAN ERA BECAME AN ANNUAL RITE OF SUMMER AS BRAMAN WOULD VACATION IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE AND EAGLES FANS WOULD SIMMER IN ANGER. I yawned. In time, I figured, Cox and Eagles owner Jeff Lurie would agree on a new deal. They soon did, guaranteeing the Pro Bowl defensive end a minimum of $63 million. Holdouts aren’t what they used to be. With the 2016 cap at $155 million per team, there’s enough money to keep everyone in Scotch and cigars. Unhappy players can eventually gain their free agency. Plus, the NFL’s agreement with players sets a hefty fine for absenteeism. Had Cox just taken a three-day hiatus from mandatory camp it would have cost him $76,580. No long weekend at the shore is worth that. My, how times have changed. I’ve been around Philadelphia sports for 30 years, long enough to remember the bad old days. Back then, Eagles players annually grappled with cheapskate owner Norman Braman. Holdouts didn’t end at minicamp—they dragged toward Labor Day. In 1990, All-Pro tight end Keith Jackson sat home in Arkansas in a contract dispute as Buddy Ryan’s Birds lost the first two games of the regular season. When Jackson finally signed, Buddy sent a limousine to meet him at the airport. “Imagine if that had occurred today,” ponders Mike Quick, the terrific receiver who now broadcasts Eagles games with Merrill Reese. “A great player holding out into September? With sports-talk radio and social media and the huge 24

[GM] Harry Gamble as his. I knew that Braman was a tough, stubborn hard-ass. I just stayed in shape by going to Cherokee High (Marlton, NJ) and running the hills with the high school kids.” Eventually, Quick signed a three-year, $3 million deal. He, Al Toon of the Jets and Jerry Rice of the 49ers were the first NFL wide receivers to get $1 million a season. Last year, 95 NFL receivers earned more than that. Not one of them had to hold out a single pre-season game. he Eagles list of long-term holdouts in the Braman era reads like a Pro Bowl roster—Jerry Robinson, Dennis Harrison, Roynell Young, Jerome Brown, Clyde Simmons, Seth Joyner. It became an annual rite of summer as Braman would vacation in the South of France and Eagles fans would simmer in anger. “I hated it,” recalls Joyner, who earned just $77,000 his second year in the league and felt his excellent play warranted more in 1988. “It was before free agency, before players had leverage, so all you could do was hold out. I wanted to be paid the league average for starting linebackers, about $250,000. Braman put me through hell.” Right before his holdout, Joyner had a talk with his coach. “Buddy told me he understood

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what I had to do and was behind me—but that he’d have to say otherwise publicly. Soon enough, he’s hammering me in the media, saying I’m about to lose my job. I’m just laughing my behind off, because I knew he was just doing what he had to do.” Joyner salutes his old teammate, the late Reggie White, for leading the players’ freeagency fight in court. That, plus the phenomenal growth of the NFL, led to riches for all. And the Eagles are a vastly different franchise. Like Joyner and Quick, I remember when the Eagles’ owner personified Scrooge McDuck. Fact: Braman used to charge his players for taking extra sanitary socks from the equipment room. Say what you will about the guy who bought the team from Braman. But Jeff Lurie and GM Howie Roseman see the wisdom of signing talented young players to long-term deals. So Cox is locked up for the next six years. So is offensive tackle Lane Johnson. Tight end Zach Ertz is signed for five. And Bradford is here for another two—allowing enough time to develop rookie QB Carson Wentz. And nobody has to hold out. Hey, the preseason may be a drag, but at least you won’t have to worry about who’s going to show up. n

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Photos amazingkreskin.com

AMAZIN

BY KERRY BROWN

How does he do it?

How does he know what we’re thinking? Is he clairvoyant? Is it all just an elaborate magic trick? There’s no way he can know that! The Amazing Kreskin has baffled audiences with his fascinating ability to read thoughts for nearly all of his 81 years. Now, in a recently released book, he cautions readers about potential political pitfalls, and other issues he foresees for the future. “I knew what I wanted to do when I was only five years old,” Kreskin said. “I was inspired by a comic book called Mandrake the Magician, which was tremendously popular at the time.” One of the earliest comic book superheroes, Mandrake the Magician’s public persona is that of an entertainer, but privately he fights criminals and solves crimes using hypnotic and telepathic abilities. “In grade school, I started doing thought reading experiments with my classmates. My fourth-grade teacher would let me do it during show and tell. I would have a classmate think of a movie, for example, and I was able to tell her the exact name of the movie. By ninth grade I was giving two-hour long performances in school assemblies.” Aside from Mandrake, Kreskin had no mentors or teachers. He says his awareness of this special ability to read people’s thoughts happened gradually. “There is no course of study or system to learn this. It is just a natural part of me,” he said. “Reading thoughts doesn’t spontaneously happen to me all the time. It requires a concerted team effort between the person I am reading and myself. It’s a harmony situation.” Along with a rigorous schedule of live The Amazing Kreskin performances across the U.S. and overseas, continues to perfom Kreskin has been a popular television guest across the U.S. and overseas. through the decades, especially on late night talk shows. When asked what it means to be a mentalist, Kreskin candidly explains that it’s a title he opted to use in his work as an entertainer. “What I do is not a magic act or an illusion show. My work deals with the mind. I want to distinguish myself from psychics, because I’m not a fortune-teller. I read people’s thoughts. That’s the nature of what I do,” he said. “The famous anthropologist Margaret Mead once told me that I should call myself a sensitive, because historically a sensitive person has these unusual gifts. But I would have to spend half my show explaining to the audience what a sensitive is, so I use the term mentalist,” he explained. 29

What I do is not a magic act or an illusion show. My work deals with the mind. I’m not a fortune-teller. I read people’s thoughts.

When Kreskin is reading a person, he receives information in mental images or via a “voice” in his head. “Of course, there is no voice there, it’s just the way my mind is interpreting something I have yet to understand. If the person I’m reading is not concentrating, or doesn’t know the answer to the question they are asking me, I can’t give them an answer, because it is not like I am looking into a crystal ball. For example, I was able to correctly tell a man that he had been

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thinking about his Army serial number earlier that day. When he concentrated on the number, I could read it back to him,” he said. Kreskin has performed around the world. “In Japan, most audience members don’t speak English, but I am able to communicate with images. Words can’t be interpreted unless we speak the language, but one language we all speak is that of mental pictures. An interpreter asked a man participating in my show to draw a picture in his mind of any object,” Kreskin recalled. “I couldn’t make sense of what I was reading. I kept drawing a circle on top of a triangle. Finally, I gave up and showed him the drawing. He smiled, and told the interpreter he was thinking of an ice cream cone. I didn’t understand the Japanese words for ice cream cone, so I was able to pick up on only the shapes. It is interesting how the mind works.” “At my shows, there are no footlights between myself and the audience, because the audience is an extension of what I do,” he said.

“I don’t use equipment or an orchestra. I am zeroing in on the thoughts of the people in the audience. It’s an interaction. It’s exciting to realize my performances have continued for all these years.” Kreskin follows a preparation ritual before performing. “I jog every night for 20 or 30 minutes without earphones on. This helps me tune in and quietly listen to my inner thoughts. I’m an active person, so this works best for me. Immediately before a show, I have to be alone for a good half hour. I think better when I’m walking, so if you saw me in my dressing room you would wonder what was wrong, because I just walk around. I can’t carry onto the stage things that pre-occupy me, so walking is a way of freeing myself.” While memory often fades or gives us glitches as we age, Kreskin says his mentalist ability grows sharper. “Even within the past six months I have done some things that I would not have been able to do two or four years ago,”

A Jersey Man Born George Joseph Kresge in 1935 in Montclair, NJ, Kreskin has always considered the Garden State his home. “I’ve lived here all my life. I may only be here four days a month, but as much as I travel, New Jersey is still my home.” A voracious reader, when Kreskin is at home, he enjoys spending time in his personal library. His 9,000 volume collection, housed in an addition built on to his house, includes at least 1,000 biographies. “I read four books a night, on average,” he said. he said. “It’s an interesting scenario, because in my experience, my way of thinking and my ability to grasp working with people under all conditions has only improved and expanded.”

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omething else that’s still going strong is Kreskin’s legendary signature demonstration he performs at every show. “I call it my check test,” he said. “I gather together a group of strangers from the audience. I give them a check that is my fee for the evening. I am escorted out of the theater while they hide the check anywhere inside the theater. When I come back in, I only ask that they concentrate on where they placed the check. I can’t ask

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questions. If I don’t locate the check, I forfeit the entire fee back to the people who booked me, and the program is for free,” he explained. “You have to admit, that’s a hell of a way to make a living.” In more than 6,000 tries, he has only failed to find his fee nine times. Aside from his fascinating mentalist abilities, reading and writing are two of Kreskin’s passions. He recently released his twentieth book titled, In Real Time. It is described as a cautionary journey of his visions for the future. Though Kreskin makes predictions, he does not claim to have paranormal or clairvoyant powers, and does not consider himself a psychic. “This book describes what I think is going to be happening in years, decades, and centuries to come,” he said. “I’m not a fortune teller, but I know what’s on the minds of people. I feel a strong intuitiveness. “I think people have to realize there is an economic problem in our culture, the most staggering debt in history. I don’t think there is one single person in Congress capable of pulling us out of debt. We need people from outside of politics,” he said. “I’m not saying this because of Trump. I am not advocating for, or promoting any particular person for office. There are photographs of me with Trump, with Hillary Clinton and with Chris Christie because I have done so many performances in Washington, D.C. over the years, but I don’t want to

appear to be endorsing anyone. “I have nothing against politicians, I just wish most of them had been on the Titanic,” he said wryly. “But that’s another story. I feel we need young people without a lot of background in politics,” he added. “Even without experience, I don’t think they could do any more harm than has been done.” Kreskin admonishes that the Founding Fathers did not intend for political representation to be a full-time profession, and that representatives are supposed to serve, then return to their normal work life. He does not believe financial gain should be made through serving in an elected office. “Even George Washington walked away and returned to his farm after serving as president,” he said. He advises young adults to consider postponing college. “For two years, take a job—dig ditches, work in a restaurant. After that, you will get far more out of college,” he said. “College does not prepare you for the real world.” Kreskin has advice for parents, as well. “Parents should warn their kids that photographs of everything they do are available online. You cannot erase your past anymore. There are no secrets left on the face of the earth.” “I do feel a responsibility to alert people about what I see. I am not claiming to be an expert, but I have learned from copious reading, and from working around people. I sense what’s on folks’ minds.” n

PROFILE

PURE PHILLY Holly Robinson Peete is still keeping it real on and off-camera

Photos OWN

BY GERRY STRAUSS Holly Robinson Peete with husband and former Philadelphia Eagle quarterback Rodney Peete

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SOME PEOPLE ARE SIMPLY BORN TO ENTERTAIN. Such was the destiny of Holly Robinson-Peete, one of TV’s most recognizable and enduring faces. From sitcoms to reality TV, she’s made us laugh, cry and tune in to her hit shows for the past 30 years—a hefty accomplishment for a girl who grew up far from the bright lights of Hollywood. While her mother was a modest school teacher for much of her childhood, Holly’s first taste of show business came through her father, Matt Robinson, who was instrumental in the launching of a little children’s show called Sesame Street. Not only did Robinson write and perform on the show (he was the first actor to play Gordon), but he also got Holly a part on the very first episode. “It was a huge deal,” she recalled. “Sesame Street was so revolutionary because we got to see kids of all colors. I couldn’t wait to go on it! My dad created a Muppet named Roosevelt Franklin. He was a little too hip… even for Sesame Street [laughs]. My father was so ahead of his time.” In 1974, Holly got even closer to those bright lights when her family moved to California, where she spent her teens. However, her hunger for performing took her in a different direction: singing, which really took prominence in her life when she decided to move back east for college. “I needed to get back East—stat!” Holly chuckled. “The west coast is nice, but I couldn’t wait to get back closer to home. Things are a bit less ‘real’ in Cali.” Peete decided to attend Sarah Lawrence College, eventually earning a degree in psychology and French. During that time, she studied abroad for a year at the Sorbonne in France. While there, she sang in Paris nightclubs, including a memorable performance with jazz legend Lionel Hampton at the Hotel Meridian Jazz Club. “I wanted to work at the United Nations, but singing was my first love,” she recalled. “I decided to audition for acting gigs to make money to do demos. Somehow, I got 21 Jump Street right away and was in Canada for almost five years shooting it!” “Back then having a TV show was the kiss of death for a singer,” she continued with a sigh. “Now you have to have one to become a singer. Just ask Ariana Grande!” LOOKING BACK, HOLLY IS VERY CONTENT with her career’s ultimate direction… even if she originally envisioned a much different path. “I still have that singing passion, but that ship has long sailed off,” she stated. “It was fun to sing the theme songs to my shows, plus I did get a record deal and recorded a song with Prince! But TV was where my bread was buttered. I like butter.” Holly certainly was not complaining. 21 Jump Street wasn’t just any show about undercover cops masquerading as teenagers. Instead, its unique combination of drama, fun and a cast of heartthrobs pulled huge ratings, effectively launching the careers of Holly, Johnny Depp, and a whole lot more.

“We started the FOX network!” Holly exclaimed. “Those were heady times. Overnight success was something else. I was ready though. My mom prepared me and my feet were solidly on the ground.” After a whirlwind five years on Jump Street, Robinson had become a bona fide star. Her next major show, Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper (starring Mark Curry) gave her a new outlet to ply her skills: comedy filmed in front of a live audience. She embraced the challenge and found herself on yet another hit show for six more years, becoming a staple of family-oriented prime time television. To this day, she says that fans continue to request a reboot or reunion show similar to those produced for comparable sitcoms like Full House and Boy Meets World. “I wish!” she smiled. “I would love to work with Mark and the gang again. Jeff Franklin, who did the Full House reboot, was our creator as well… so you never know. I am down!” HOLLY’S LIFE TOOK YET ANOTHER TURN in 1995 when she married NFL staple (and Philadelphia Eagle) Rodney Peete, a union that brought her hometown back into her life yet again. “What a full circle moment!” gushed Holly, who happens to be one of Hollywood’s most passionate sports fans. “It was the best and the worst of times. Mostly the best, but playing in Philly ain’t for the thin-skinned.” 36

Holly didn’t have a great deal of time thinking about being the wife of a pro athlete in one of the world greatest sports cities. Instead, a large chunk of her time and attention went to motherhood, as she and Rodney had four children. Daughter Ryan Elizabeth Peete and son Rodney Peete, Jr. were born in 1997, son Robinson James Peete came in 2002, and son Roman Peete came in 2005. “Family was always important to me,” Holly said. “But it wasn’t until I became a mom until I really fully got that it is everything.” As she’s spoken about publically on many an occasion, Rodney Peete, Jr., was diagnosed with autism at age three. Since that time, Holly and Rodney’s career commitments have been balanced with charitable efforts, often tied to autism awareness or their own HollyRod Foundation. Last year, Peete and her family embarked on a new televised adventure: reality TV. Partnering up with Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network, the family helped develop and star in For Peete’s Sake, a highly personal look into their everyday lives. Despite the subjective nature of the filming and editing of such a show, Holly was confident that the final product would be an authentic representation of their household. “I didn’t have too many concerns because I knew we were doing a show with integrity,” she explained. “Filming the first season was a one hundred percent positive experience. It took a bit of getting used to but we ended up

“We did [the show] for families that have been given little hope for their children with special needs. They need to see some positivity.” feeling it. We want a season 2…. The reality thirst is real!” Entertainment value was just one reason why Holly was so committed to making this show happen. “We did this for families that have been given little hope for their children with special needs,” she said. “They need to see some positivity… an example of a family pulling together for a special kid. RJ is such a unique voice on TV.” Despite living all over the world, Holly says that she’ll always think of Philly as her home, especially when it comes to food. “There’s so much about what I eat that is pure Philly,” she laughs. “My snobbery about French rolls vs Amoroso Rolls. My pregnancy cravings for only Philly foods that I had to have shipped in on the regular. My desire to eat jelly krimpets until I explode. Philly food is my Philly thing.” n

Photo OWN

From left, Robinson, RJ, Holly, Rodney, Roman, Ryan and Dolores Robinson

Chris Albright joined his hometown Philadelphia Union in 2012.

There’s No Place Like Home Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Washington, D.C. Sydney, Australia. Los Angeles, CA. The game of soccer has taken Juniata Park native CHRIS ALBRIGHT all over the world, but in the end, it led him back to the only place he wants to be: Philadelphia, PA. As the saying goes, all roads lead home, and after a 15-year professional career, Albright has settled into a role as technical director for the Philadelphia Union. BY T. JORDAN WOMPIERSKI

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plenty of heads, none more important than those with U.S. Soccer. “When I was 16 or 17 is when the National Team program identified me,” Albright recalled. “There was a Nike tournament in Phoenixville during Memorial Day weekend of my junior year. I remember playing really well in it and scoring a bunch of goals, and I think that was the tournament that pushed me over the hump as far as getting into the U.S. Under-18 National Team pool.” Albright made the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team right around the same time Major League Soccer began play as a 10-team league in 1996, and he realized he might have a chance at one day playing professionally. “Once you get into the National Team level, you start to understand that maybe those opportunities are out there for you,” Albright said.

Photos courtesy Philadelphia Union/Chris Albright

NOW IN HIS FIFTH YEAR WITH THE UNION (two seasons as a player and three in the front office), a young Albright never dreamed he would play professional soccer, let alone make a long-term living off of it. “To dream of playing professionally, you had to dream of going overseas, and that seemed like such a big leap for an American kid,” said Albright, 37. “It was something I enjoyed and I knew I was good at, but I don’t think I had those aspirations until I got into my later teens.” Born and raised in Juniata Park, Albright started playing soccer at age five and excel led at the sport. When he was 12, his family left Philadelphia and moved across the bridge to Merchantville, NJ, but Albright continued to attend William Penn Charter School, where he was a star forward for the school’s soccer team. His success in high school turned

Albright parlayed his strong play with the U.S. Soccer youth national teams “I think Philadelphia into a college career at the University players are a certain of Virginia. However, he remained involved with U.S. Soccer, even taking a type, and they’re semester off during his sophomore year molded by the city to play in the Under-20 World Championships in Nigeria. that they play in, “I played pretty well in that tournaand there’s a pride ment, and when I came back, I was into that.” vited into camp that summer with the full National Team,” Albright said. “They were playing a friendly against Argentina in Washington, D.C.” Albright made the most of the oppor“Over a couple week stretch, it went from tunity, and not only did he impress the going back to school in the fall to living U.S. National Team with his performance, on your own and playing professionally. It but he also received an offer from Major was a quick transition.” League Soccer. Albright ended up on D.C. United, ap “MLS reached out and said they wanted me to join the league as one of their young pearing in eight games during his rookie players,” Albright said. “It happened reseason in 1999. He further established ally quickly as far as me leaving school. himself as a pro in 2000, playing in 25 I didn’t have any intention to leave until games for D.C. United—starting 21 of them—and scoring three goals. that opportunity presented itself.” Albright had success as a member of the U.S. Men’ National Team However, the highlight of Albright’s 2000 season was playing for the U.S. Men’s National Team at the Olympic ALBRIGHT’S FAMILY had instilled in him the importance of a qualGames in Sydney, Australia. Although it came early in his career, it’s one ity education, so leaving the University of Virginia was not a decision of the accomplishments of which he is most proud. With his family in athe took lightly. However, it was possibly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and the lure of playing professionally was strong. tendance, Albright started all six games for the U.S. during the Olympics, “At the time, it was an offer that was too good to pass up,” Albright said. netting two goals.

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“I don’t ever remember having any “The best experience that I had as a disappointment,” Albright said. “I think I player was playing in the Olympics in was pretty realistic as to my inability to be 2000,” he said. “It was the best finish a consistent goal scorer at the professional by a U.S. men’s team ever. We narrowly level. With that said, if some things had missed a medal, and the guys on the team gone differently, maybe I would’ve been will tell you we probably deserved one.” the goal scorer that I was as a kid, but Albright was on cloud nine after his I just looked at it as another opportunity Olympic experience in Australia, but back and I guess a challenge.” in the states, his MLS career did not go as The move paid dividends for Albright, smoothly. After scoring only one goal for and he had the best year of his MLS career D.C. United in 2001, he was traded to the while playing right back for the Galaxy in L.A. Galaxy. Albright was unable to find 2004. He was even named an MLS Allhis scoring touch on the West Coast, either, Star that season. registering only three goals through his Albright’s reliable play at right back first two seasons in Los Angeles. That led over the next few years led to his selection to a transition from forward to right back as an alternate for the 2006 FIFA World during his third season with the Galaxy. Cup in Germany. He was later named to “I didn’t have the success that I, and the 23-man roster as an injury replaceI think everyone, expected me to have as far as scoring goals in MLS,” Albright ment, and although he didn’t see any explained. “I was kind of moved around, game action, his inclusion on the roster played in the midfield—and I had played was a testament to his ability to adapt to a lot of places as a kid, so it wasn’t that a new position. unique—and then [U.S. National Team “Much like my transition from playing During his third season with the L.A. Galaxy, Albright coach] Bruce Arena brought up the idea of college ball to the pros, my transition from made the switch from forward to right back. me perhaps playing right back, just with playing forward to midfield to right back some of the athletic qualities I had. He said, ‘It might be your best chance to happened very quickly as well,” Albright said. “I think I embraced it.” play in a World Cup someday.’ And so I embraced it. Sigi Schmid, my coach with the L.A. Galaxy, decided to throw me there with the Galaxy as well.” AFTER SIX SEASONS with the Galaxy, Albright signed a new Rather than sulking over a move that some players might have considMLS contract to remain with Los Angeles, but he was traded to the New ered a demotion, Albright was happy to give defense a shot. England Revolution before the 2008 season began. Albright proved to be

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game basis, so I didn’t want to prolong that. There a valuable acquisition for the Revolution, starting a was an opportunity for me to move on into a role career-high 26 games and setting a career high in with the club.” minutes played in 2008. However, injuries derailed In January 2014, the Union named Albright an his 2009 season, and he appeared in only one game. assistant technical director. It was then that Albright started thinking about the “Throughout my career, I sort of narrowed my possibility of closing out his career in his hometown. focus into something that would be front office “There were whispers about Philly getting a franbased,” Albright said. “My role now as a technical chise, and me being from the area and knowing how director is to help manage the budget and our scoutsoccer rich it is, it was always sort of a no-brainer for the league,” Albright said. ing, everything that revolves around the first team It was also a no-brainer for Albright to try to roster.” end his career there. Albright headed back east and As the team’s technical director, Albright works played two seasons for the New York Red Bulls beunder Earnie Stewart, the Union’s sporting director. “Working under Earnie has been a really good fore ultimately landing with the Philadelphia Union experience for me,” Albright said. “Earnie is somein 2012. “By the time they got a franchise, I had a bunch of body that played a lot of games for our National Albright was named assistant technical injuries and my career was sort of on the tail end, so Team, a lot more than I did, and was in the National director for the Union in 2014 I wanted to get my way to Philadelphia to finish my Team program when I first came in, so we knew career out and possibly find a role in the sport or in the club, ideally,” he each other a little bit. He’s been doing this job for a lot longer than I have, said. “The timing just worked out for me.” so it’s been good for me to have his experience as well, and to try to get a Although he only started three games with the Union in 2012, Albright winning product on the field.” thoroughly enjoyed playing in Philadelphia. Even though he isn’t able to contribute on the field anymore, Albright “Our fans are excellent,” he said. “Talen Energy Stadium is one of the is proud to remain involved in Major League Soccer, especially in Philahardest places to play in the league, and I think that’s a tribute to our delphia. fans. The fan experience at our stadium is second to none in this city, “It’s incredible,” he said. “My life would be very different without the and I grew up a fan of the other four sports. No disrespect to them, but game of soccer, and without the game of soccer in Philadelphia. I think I’d put our product and our game experience up against any of theirs.” Philadelphia players are a certain type, and they’re molded by the city that Albright made ten appearances across two seasons with the Union, and they play in, and there’s a pride to that, as we all know as Philadelphians. after being sure to soak in every moment, he retired as a player. To able to give back on the field when I played, and now in a role where “My body was telling me, ‘Enough is enough,’” he said. “I wasn’t we can help produce a winning team for the fans, it’s great. It’s a role I’m playing at a level where I was happy with what I could do on a game-tovery thankful to be in.” n

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Photo Temple University

Taking F TEMPLE OWLS QUARTERBACK PHILLIP WALKER

W light BY MICHAEL BRADLEY

WHEN PHILLIP WALKER WAS A FRESHMAN at Elizabeth High School (Elizabeth, NJ), his team won one game. Even though he was the starting QB, it was kind of hard to pin the rotten record on him. The upperclassmen are largely responsible for any team’s overall success. The Minutemen improved to 5-5 the next season, and when Walker was a junior and completing 63.5% of his passes, Elizabeth went 9-3 and reached the playoffs. The improvement had continued, and Walker was a big part of it. So, when the 2015 Temple season dawned, Walker had absolutely no doubt what was going to happen. Even though the Owls had gone 2-10 and 6-6 in his first two seasons as the team’s quarterback and were set to face a schedule that included visits from Notre Dame and Penn State, not to mention contests against 2014 bowl participants Memphis, UCF and Cincinnati, Walker wasn’t only confident. He was convinced. “I knew when I joined this program that this would happen,” Walker says. “The same thing happened when I was in high school. Every year was a stepping stone.” Only the most sheltered Philadelphia-area sports fan doesn’t know that the 2015 Owls had one of the most exciting college football seasons in these parts since Penn was playing a national schedule the first half of the 20th century before crowds so big they had to put temporary stands in front of Weightman Hall. Temple won 10 regular-season games for the first time in school history and hit double figures on only the second occasion ever. (The ’79 team needed a Garden State Bowl victory to reach 10.) The Owls dominated PSU, 27-10, and on one of the most electric football evenings in recent city history, nearly dropped Notre Dame in front of a delirious crowd at the Linc. Temple won the AAC East Division and played in the Boca Raton Bowl. For the first time in a long while—even when Al Golden was hoisting the program out of the ash heap and taking it to a bowl game—the Owls 43

Photo Ben Solomon/American Athletic Conference

were a topic of conversation in Philadelphia. The week of the Notre Dame game, Temple head coach Matt Rhule was ubiquitous, appearing on every possible news outlet and sharing the stage as ESPN brought its GameDay pre-game program, self-promotional showcase and crazy sign menagerie

It took a little while after last season ended before Walker realized that the Owls were ready to do what was necessary to sustain. Because Temple lost the AAC title game to Houston and then fell to Toledo in the bowl game, there was a small downturn in momentum on the field. The Owls had finished the regular season 10-2, but they stumbled at the end. Walker worried whether that would carry over, or if the players would realize what they had accomplished prior to the final games and thirst for the same kind of feeling in 2016. In fact, according to Walker, throughout the winter and spring, his fellow Owls and he went about their preparations with purpose and relative enthusiasm, but it wasn’t until the summer session – Phillip Walker of school started, and everybody came together— including incoming freshmen—that Walker was able to see exactly what the team had and how good the senior class could be. Having turned 2-10 into 10-4, that group understood as the weather warmed what would be possible when the temperatures started to dip again. “We know what it feels like to be 2-10,” Walker says. “We don’t want to go back to 2-10. We probably haven’t had a day when we don’t think of 2-10. It moves us forward.”

“ We know what it feels like to be 2-10. We don’t want to go back to 2-10. It moves us forward.” to Independence Hall. For a few weeks, it was actually all right to bring up Temple football as a topic on sports talk radio. In the past, a caller wouldn’t even make it into the queue, much less onto the air, if he wanted to make a point about the Owls. “It was just another bit of progress,” Walker says. “You’ve got to build, step-by-step, and crawl before you walk.” During the most recent off-season, Walker let the folks on North Broad Street know that he wanted to go by his full given name, rather than the P.J. moniker that someone bestowed upon him when he arrived on campus. Just as the program had taken strides during his time in it, so too had he moved forward, wanting no longer to be known as Phillip Jr. Rather, he would be his own man, ready to be even more of a leader for a team that faces an interesting challenge: continuing a level of success that few believed it could reach in the first place. “The biggest thing with him is that he exemplifies everything we want our student-athletes to be,” Rhule says. “He does a great job in school, is tremendous in the community and is humble. His biggest impact day-today is how he handles himself. He’s a team-first guy.” 44

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here were many things to remember about Temple’s near miss against the Fighting Irish last October. There was Austin Jones’ 36yard field goal with 4:45 left that put the Owls ahead, 20-17. Two first-half red-zone interceptions thwarted ND drives and kept the game close. Jahad Thomas’ 82 yards rushing and 13th TD of the season were huge. And Walker kept getting up after being knocked down and didn’t lose faith in his receivers, even after a couple key drops—one of which would have been a TD. But the one play some would imagine would stick with Walker was the interception he threw on the Owls’ final drive, when they were trying to

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– Owls Head Coach Matt Rhule was up from his sophomore performance, but the best college QBs sit at 65%, with some getting close to 70%. That’s a big jump for Walker, and how much he is able to improve that number will determine whether he becomes one of the best in the nation at his position. “Increasing my completion percentage is a work in progress,” Walker says. “It’s a matter of doing all the small things well. We have a great running game and very good receivers. I have to be smart with the football, and I can’t force throws like I did last year. I have to tuck the ball and maybe run a little more.” Rhule says that he prefers to have Walker “run downhill,” after the pocket breaks down, rather than to design plays for him. He lauds Walker for his ability to get in and out of plays at the line, something that is vital in pro-style attacks. As Walker gets more responsibility for the offense and works to improve his completion rate, he embraces his role as a senior leader and hopes to continue the Owls’ progress—just as he did when he was a high school player. And that senior season at Elizabeth High, after the Minutemen went 9-3 in 2011? “We went undefeated and won the state championship,” Walker says. It’s time to see if the pattern repeats itself, with Walker’s playing a big role in that endeavor. n

Photo Joe Labolito/Temple University

“(Walker) exemplifies everything we want our student-athletes to be.”

erase the 24-20 Irish advantage and remain perfect on the season. KeiVarae Russell broke on a pass and snared it, securing the victory for Notre Dame. But Walker was hardly laid low by the pick, and he certainly hasn’t carried the disappointment with him. “I saw what I saw, and the defender made a great play,” he says. “I don’t want that with me when I get into that situation again. I don’t want to think about what I didn’t do before.” Walker has accomplished much already as the Owls’ QB. He is already the school’s all-time leader in total offense, TD passes and completions and could take over the top spots in passing yards and attempts by the second or third game of the ’16 season. Walker’s on the watch list for the Maxwell Award, given to the nation’s best player, and the Davey O’Brien Award, bestowed upon its top QB. He has a chance to become the first quarterback to lead the program to multiple bowl games but still hasn’t had a chance to demonstrate all of his talents. Unlike many college programs, which operate spread offensive attacks designed to limit their quarterbacks’ reads and stress the defense with sideline-to-sideline personnel deployments, Temple runs a more conventional pro-style attack that over the past few years has focused heavily on the run. Walker did average 30.9 pass attempts last season, up considerably from his freshman and sophomore campaigns, but the Owls had a stout defense in 2015, so Rhule was happy to work toward a balanced attack. Temple ran more than it passed each of the past three seasons, something that might change this year. “We’re going to be younger on defense, so P.J. might have to be more explosive,” says Rhule, who hasn’t yet become comfortable with Walker’s preferred appellation. “With a senior quarterback like him, you let him go.” If Walker is going to be more dynamic and productive, he’ll have to improve his completion percentage, which was a modest 56.8% in 2015. That

Photo Philadelphia Eagles

BY SAM CARCHIDI Photo courtesy Fletcher Cox

DRIVING FORCE INSPIRED BY HIS BROTHER’S MEMORY, FLETCHER COX IS DRIVEN TO GREATNESS

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Fletcher Cox (L) and his brother Shaddrick

Photo Philadelphia Eagles

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AS A YOUNGSTER GROWING UP

Cox led the Eagles with 24 tackles for a loss or no gain last season.

Fletcher with his mom, Malissa

Photo courtesy Fletcher Cox

in tiny Yazoo City, Miss., Fletcher Cox loved fast cars. Still does, in fact. Cox’s older brother, Shaddrick, got him hooked at a young age, frequently taking him to Junkyard No. 1 Speedway to enjoy the car races. Shaddrick later became an expert auto mechanic. Fletcher became an All-Pro defensive lineman with the Eagles. But while football is at the forefront and has made him one of the highest-paid players in NFL history, Fletcher Cox never forgot the bond he and his brother formed over race cars, never lost the “rush” he received at the track. “On Sundays, I’d go down to the drag strip,” Cox, 25, said recently, referring to his teenage years, “and I’d get more and more interested in what made the cars go so fast. My brother got me into it, and once you’re in it, you never come out.” As time went on, Fletcher and his brother rebuilt race cars together. The Cox Racing fleet was formed, and their now-you-see-them, nowyou-don’t cars—including a twin turbocharged Ford Mustang that became the fastest stock suspension car in the world, reaching 212 mph— have been successful in numerous events. “That’s kind of my fun time,” Cox said. “We race in some of the biggest events around. I love it.” Sadly, the person who triggered Cox’s interest, Shaddrick, died Jan. 5, 2015 of a heart attack at age 34. He had also been battling diabetes. “It was shock when it happened,” Cox said, “but he’s in a better place right now and he’s watching over us.” Fletcher Cox uses his brother’s memory to push him on the football field—and at the racetrack. “He gives me a lot of inspiration because he was always there for me,” Cox said. “When I was a kid, he was supportive and always supported any type of decision I made. Good or bad. If it was bad, he’d say, ‘You have to learn from it and move on from it.’ So, basically, he was a guy who was always there.”

was a terrible loss for me and for all of us. He can never be replaced. Ever. He was just one of those type of kids who helped make things better for everybody.” Nearly four years ago, Shaddrick told ESPN that working on cars was also in his brother’s blood, and “I know when he retires, he’ll own a shop somewhere and be showing his son the same things I showed him, and they’ll be building a car together.”

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“I feel Fletcher’s head is in the right place and he’s going to do all the right things. He’s just a good kid.” – Malissa Cox

Shaddrick was the oldest of Fletcher’s three siblings—he also has a twin sister, Fantansa, and an older sister, Nakeaia, 32—and they were raised by a single mom. Shaddrick “was like a father figure to me,” Cox said. “He dropped out of school to help take care of [us].” “The two of them had a relationship that any brothers would love to have,” said Fletcher’s mom, Malissa. Malissa Cox says Shaddrick was her “manchild. He was my oldest child and if any of my kids had a need for something, he was there. It

OR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS,

car racing will take a back seat. Fletcher Cox’s attention will be on the sport that has him in the spotlight. After recording a career-high 9.5 sacks for the Eagles last season, Cox signed a six-year contract extension worth (gulp) $103 million in June, with $63 million guaranteed. It was the highest guaranteed contract for a non-quarterback in NFL history. Not bad for a self-described “country boy from Mississippi” who last season made his first Pro Bowl appearance of his four-year career. It seemed fitting that Cox was at his shop, “tinkering with one of my race cars,” when his agent called and told him about the lucrative extension. “Mind-blowing,” Cox said about the deal. With the contract out of the way, the 6-foot-4, 300-pound Cox said he can concentrate on helping the Eagles improve on last year’s disappointing 7-9 season. “All that stuff is behind me and I can really focus on football,” he said. “That’s the most important thing—being able to go out and play ball now.” Malissa Cox says her son’s gargantuan contract won’t alter her son’s personality. “His first contract was not a bad one for a rookie being drafted No. 12,” she said. “And 49

“My goal is to be one of the leaders on this team, to step up and do it.”

Photo Philadelphia Eagles

Fletcher has still been the same Fletcher from Day One, so I truly don’t believe a larger contract over the next [six] years is going to change who he is. He firmly believes in being humble and to remember he didn’t always have it like this.” Cox, who led the Eagles with 24 tackles for a loss or no gain last season, is looking forward to playing for new coach Doug Pederson. “The goal for this team is to just stick together and be great teammates for each other,” he said. “My goal is to be one of the leaders on this team, to step up and do it.” Cox, who is from the same Mississippi town that produced Hall-of-Fame defensive back Willie Brown, said he wants to be “more vocal on and off the field.” When he starred at Mississippi State, Cox excelled in a 4-3 defense. He played defensive tackle in that alignment during his rookie season with the Eagles, but the team switched to a 3-4 the last three years, moving Cox to end. This year, under new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, the Eagles plan to go back to a 4-3, and Cox will return to tackle.

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“I’m looking forward to it,” he said, mindful the new system will allow him to better showcase his explosiveness and power. EWIND THE CLOCK. Back to when Cox, known as “Bug Eye” in Yazoo City, Mississippi, was into fishing, hunting, and fast cars. When football entered the picture, his protective mom would not allow him to play when he was about to start eighth grade. Too dangerous, she told him. “He was probably around 110 pounds, and I was just afraid he was going to get hurt,” she said. Cox brought a permission slip home. “He kept saying, ‘When you gonna sign it? When you gonna sign it, Mom?’” she recalled. In time, she relented to the pressure applied by her son and his coach. The rest, as they say, is history. “The more he played, the better he got,” said Malissa Cox, who works at a Nissan dealership in Mississippi. “He became more focused on being the best he could be, so quite naturally, I’m very proud of him.”

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Cox promptly bought his mom a new car and new house and donated cleats to the football team at his old high school. Cox grew rapidly and starred at Yazoo City High and then at Mississippi State, where he was an all-Southeastern Conference selection. In 2012, the Eagles made a deal with Seattle and moved up three draft spots to select Cox with the 12th overall pick. He promptly bought his mom a new car and new house and donated cleats to the football team at his old high school. The trade with the Seahawks—the Eagles swapped their first-rounder (15th overall) and dealt fourth- and sixth-round picks—worked. Today, Cox is viewed as the Birds’ top player. “I feel Fletcher’s head is in the right place and he’s going to do all the right things,” Malissa Cox said. “He does a phenomenal job on the field and off the field. He’s just a good kid.” Cox, like baseball star Mike Trout and Millville, NJ, has never forgotten his roots. And Yazoo City has never forgotten him. The defensive star returns to Mississippi every off-season, and he was grand marshal of this year’s Fourth of July parade in Yazoo. Maybe he will someday join another parade—one for a Super Bowl win—before his Eagles career ends. Wherever his career takes him, Cox said, his journey will always have the memory of his brother in his mind. n 52

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SPORTS GUYS

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FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

ON JUNE 19, 2014, Arm & Hammer Park in Trenton, NJ saw baseball history. Two teams of ballplayers, representing New Jersey and Rhode Island, battled for the first ever gold medal in Special Olympics baseball in the organization’s 45-year existence.

BY KURT SMITH Yes, baseball. Not softball, which has been part of the Special Olympics for some time. Baseball. The American pastime. Faster pitches, smaller balls, nine players a side, nine innings. Watching the game, one could easily forget that the players have disabilities that make their lives more challenging than most. What stood out more in Trenton was what so many of us have in common‌a great love for a simple game, a game that for a century and a half remains the greatest celebration of beautiful summer weather.

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he New Jersey Special Olympics baseball squad may be full of talented ballplayers, but they still need to be taught the finer points of the game, as seen in a recent practice game on a Lawrenceville high school field. The practice is typical guys playing ball. They spend the sunny Saturday morning jeering each other good-naturedly. One player claims the coach is being mean and is sarcas-

Photos courtesy Tony Vlahovic

And of course, it’s about pitching and defense. The difference in the game may have been a spectacular play by New Jersey first baseman Hunter Norman, on a high throw from third baseman John Delisa. Norman somehow came down with the ball after leaping high in the air, nipping the runner by a step and causing both players to tumble to the ground on the play. Out at first. Had it happened in a World Series, it would have been an automatic highlight reel for years. “He saved my bacon,” Delisa says of the catch. To the delight of the partisan state capital crowd, Team New Jersey won the gold, defeating Team Rhode Island 6-2. After the game, both teams were presented with their medals by Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno. The event was even deemed momentous enough to inspire an exhibit in Cooperstown. Yes, that Cooperstown.

The New Jersey Special Olympics baseball team are featured in an exhibit at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, celebrating the first ever gold medal winning team in Special Olympics baseball.

tically offered a hug. Another is the object of mock chanting of his name after grounding into an easy double play. The coach jokes with them too, repeating the old one about trading players for equipment and giving his catcher grief over his beard, saying it will have to be shaved before the Seattle World Games two years from now.

That coach is Tony Vlahovic, a high school baseball coach and former professional ballplayer himself. Vlahovic loves baseball and loves to be around people who love baseball, and teaching the game seems to come naturally to him. On this field, Vlahovic works harder than usual. He mentors individuals in almost every situation and repeatedly asks players the num-

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The Breakfast of Champions Norman

During the 2014 Special Olympics, Team New Jersey baseball player Hunter Norman was honored among great ballplayers like Lou Gehrig, Bob Feller and Cal Ripken Jr. among many others on the famous Wheaties box. At the age of 15, Norman, a Levittown native who had been playing ball since he was five, had his mid-windup photo added to a specialedition Wheaties box that was sold in ShopRite stores throughout the area. ShopRite was a Founding Partner of the 2014 USA Games in Mercer County. Norman’s mother Debbie said in the press release that “baseball is Hunter’s life. He will watch as many games as he possibly can and imitates everything the pros do so he can become a better player.” According to Norman’s father, Debbie bought 15 boxes to send to family members.

ber of outs and other questions to keep their minds in the game. But Vlahovic says coaching disabled athletes and high school kids is more the same than it is different. “You have to know your athletes, what motivates them, what their strengths are, what their weaknesses are, where they’re at mentally,” he says. “What I do is really break the fundamentals down. It’s a lot of repetitions. Not only verbal, because verbal gets lost with a lot of the athletes. It’s more physical, putting your hands with them and going through a motion. It’s more of a hands-on approach.” The additional challenge is not knowing each player’s specific disability. “It’s basically mental disabilities, things like autism. It could be anywhere from a learning disability to less function mentally. Verbal or hearing loss, communication issues, attention span, anger issues. We have a real mix. “Special Olympics does not tell me what they are. They just say okay, here’s your athletes, and it’s my job to get to know them.”

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he scrimmage looks like a bunch of fellows in the neighborhood…some of them above average players…brought out some equipment to play a pickup game. Which, essentially, is what it is. Their handicaps aren’t obvious, even with Vlahovic’s methodical chattering. If they weren’t wearing Special Olympics gear, you wouldn’t know the difference. Except that they didn’t get a chance to play elsewhere. “Most of these athletes were labeled as Special Ed kids or the more derogatory, ‘retarded’. We never use the R-word,” Vlahovic says. “They have shared stories of their school years that bring tears to my eyes. A few shared stories of being publicly

Vlahovic

“

Photos courtesy Tony Vlahovic

My goal is to show the rest of the country that these athletes can play. They’re very capable.” 56

humiliated; some just want to forget these experiences. Even athletes that were accepted on teams were never put into a game. “I grew up with a couple of kids in my neighborhood, and I was always very protective of them. I’ve always gravitated to them and was nice to them. They appreciated that and I saw that they were wonderful people.” Thanks largely to Vlahovic’s efforts, for the first time, the players who weren’t considered for the high school team can now not only compete, but have seen their names and larger -than-life photos on a huge scoreboard in a professional baseball venue. Vlahovic calls it an “amazing journey.” It’s a journey that Coach is keeping alive, even though it hasn’t been easy. Despite the success of the Trenton event, the team was not invited to the 2015 Games in Los Angeles. They will be part of the World Games in Seattle in 2018, however, and Vlahovic keeps moving to promote Special Olympics baseball and make the sport nationwide. “My goal, besides helping these guys, is to show the rest of the country that these athletes can play. They’re very capable of it. It takes time, but we have a platform for them to build on. I’ve broken it down, almost step-by-step, here’s how you can progress. “I’m hoping to get MLB involved in some way. I’ve sent the commissioner of baseball a proposal. Hopefully at some point we can create some sort of partnership with them. That would really help project Special Olympics baseball across the country.” Vlahovic may be a classic example of making lemonade out of life’s toughest lemons, but that doesn’t mean it was easy for him to weather tough breaks in his own life. After a couple of years as a promising young pitcher in the Red Sox system, Vlahovic was on his way to a friend’s wedding when, in the blink of an eye, his dreams of taking the mound to battle the Yankees at Fenway Park were crushed forever by a drunk driver. “I was hit from behind. My left leg, my push leg, was destroyed. It went through the dashboard of the car and snapped. “I got out of the car and my foot was facing straight up towards the sky. It didn’t hurt at that point. A couple hours later, it hurt a great deal. “But more than anything, my heart was broken, because I knew my career was over. I was in rehab for a year and a half, learned how to walk again; it was very humbling. I went from being a professional athlete to being a regular person again. “I went back and finished my master’s, but my heart and soul were not into school and life. It took a while to get over that. One of the most difficult times of my life. “Things didn’t work out the way I had planned. Someone else had a bigger plan for me.”

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s every baseball fan knows, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, is the pinnacle, a scrapbook of only the greatest memories, showcasing the history of a sport so difficult that even its greatest practitioners are humbled by being so honored. The odds are pretty long that even an uninjured Vlahovic would have made it to the Hall as a player, but he and his players are honored there now. The coach and his team are featured in an exhibit celebrating the first ever gold medal winning team in Special Olympics baseball. The team was invited to the ceremony in January of 2015. There is a touching video of the players singing “Take Me Out to The Ball Game” in front of a snow-covered Doubleday Field. Vlahovic calls it one of his proudest moments in this endeavor, but it’s only inspired him to take Special Olympics baseball to another level. His athletes’ love for a game that they were once shut out from playing continues to drive him. “It does take a lot of time, a lot of effort, a lot of energy. But these guys, I would do anything for them. They give back. They really do. I wanted to give something back, and I could see how much they love the game. They renewed a passion for the game that I’d lost. “If it goes across the country, someday when my days are just about over, I hope to be saying I was part of that.” n

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WHO? WHAT? WEAR. I imagine that every small town kid has big dreams of moving to a busy city with bright lights and hitting it big. I also imagine that most never get to turn that dream into a reality.

BY ASHLEY DUNEK

Aleks Musika wearing Musika Frère

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Photo Aleks Musika/Musika Frère

But there’s always an exception.

@musikafrere Photos courtesy Aleks Musika/Musika Frère

America’s favorite and best dressed funny man, Kevin Hart, wearing Musika Frère at the 2016 Golden Globes

ALEKS MUSIKA, from Lansdale, PA was one of those kids. After a college career playing basketball for West Chester University, Musika packed up and set off to Miami to pursue a career in fashion. He started off working for Tom Ford (not a bad start) and developed a heavy social media following due to his fashion-forward blogs and posts (his dashing good looks certainly didn’t hurt). At the time, Instagram was a new outlet and there were few men using it in the way Musika was. He was getting reposts and comments by the hundreds. Vanity Fair even reached out to Musika after seeing his eye-catching style and asked him to be featured in their International Best Dressed list. His career with Tom Ford prohibited him from accepting the recognition and essentially ignited his drive to go off on his own to pursue his passion. He soon met Davidson Petit-Frère, who shared the same vision for style and menswear and had a strong social media presence. They quickly made the decision to join forces and move to New York, the city that never sleeps, as Musika Frère, in the fall of 2014. Of all the industries to pour your heart and soul into, the men’s fashion industry might be one of the toughest to succeed in. With worldwide brands like Brooks Brothers, Tom Ford and Ralph Lauren, the competition is stiff to say the least. As a newbie in the fashion industry, you have high hopes of seeing celebs and pro-athletes draped in your custom designs, snapping pictures on the red carpet, contributing their fashion statement to their ingenious designer. As a beginner, you learn fast that this is not

Super Bowl champ Joe Flacco wearing Musika Frère

Musika with Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors

es you as “metrosexual,” gentlemen. The world of men’s fashion has taken a sophisticated yet contemporary twist, and the frontrunners in the game are reaping the benefits. usika Frère got their first big client in Marcin Gortat, a 6’11” center for the Washington Wizards of the NBA. Their impressive fan base, along with the personal attention they provide their clients, ignited a huge following and interest from not only A-listers, but also business professionals who were willing to spend the buck to have an impeccable product catered to their fit. Musika Frère prides itself on being not just a fitting brand, but rather a lifestyle brand. It has expanded its products beyond suits and included outerwear, leather jackets and eyewear. There is even talk about a fragrance line in the near future. The company’s goals are high and the vision for their brand is endless. As I was watching the 73rd Golden Globe Awards from my couch, I noticed my favorite funny man Kevin Hart looking as dapper as ever. I watched and listened as he tried to pronounce the designer he was donning that evening; it only took me a moment to realize he was attempting to say Musika Frère. Listen, a flub from Kevin Hart at the Golden Globes is just about as good as a Super Bowl commercial. Musika Frère was officially on the map. In just over two years of being in business, and with household names like Kevin Hart, Joe Flacco, Stephen Curry and Jay-Z as customers, it’s safe to say that Musika Frère isn’t going anywhere but up. n

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Owners Davidson Petit-Frère and Aleks Musika with rap mogul Jay-Z

the case. Today’s market is saturated with young entrepreneurs attempting to leave their mark on the fashion world (to be exact, over 19,000 in the U.S. alone consider themselves fashion designers). Just getting a “like” on Instagram from a celeb is a feat in itself. But fashion is evolving, and the men’s fashion industry has never played a bigger role. Global menswear sales have skyrocketed seventy percent since 1998, and U.S. menswear sales have spiked sixteen percent since then. The persona of the “man” has changed over the last decade and along with it the rules of what’s the norm. Wearing fitted capris no longer categoriz-

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W H E R E

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Bringing Italy to Philly Gran Caffé L’Aquila

BY JAN L. APPLE

At Italian Gelato Championship in the city of Rimini, Italy. From left: Michele Morelli, Riccardo Longo, Stefano Biasini

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Library dining room

The main square of L’Aquila, site of the original Gran Caffe before the earthquake of 2009.

AS A BOY, RICCARDO LONGO would often help his grandfather in the family business—wine vineyards, south of Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Tasting the vintage became second nature. At age five, his family emigrated from Rome for better economic opportunities. Settling in South Philly—like many Italian immigrants—his father, Mario Longo, worked hard and became a successful restaurateur. Suffice it to say, Longo has been immersed throughout his life in the intricacies of Italian gastronomy. Yet the route to Center City’s Gran Caffé L’ Aquila which opened in January 2015, was a circuitous one. As a founding partner and cuisine and wine director, Longo is sharing his passions with Philadelphia in a most unique and extraordinary endeavor. Amidst the bustle of activity in this Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, customers entering the café are transported to a far

away place: the region of Abruzzo in Central Italy. And that’s precisely what Longo and his partners—Chef Stefano Biasini, Italian gelato champion and Michele Morelli, worldrenowned artisanal coffee roaster—intended when they dreamed up what they call their “project of destiny” in 2012. “It was a lot of work and sacrifice,” said Longo, 44, of Center City. “We made it a reality.”

Photos courtesy Riccardo Longo

Carbonara, based on Longo’s aunt’s recipe, is the most popular dish on the menu.

Customers entering the café are transported to a far away place the region of Abruzzo in Central Italy. Inside this two-level restaurant, customers not only savor cuisine, wine and beer reflective of 52 cities and 20 regions of Italy, they also learn history and culture. “People realize that this is an experience,” said Longo. “It’s more than a restaurant. They are walking into a live, living version of Italy on Chestnut Street.” The intense aroma of coffee beans fills the room on the ground level in a casual café and bar setting; wait staff (many are native Italians) often greet customers with a “ciao,” or “buon

giorno,” followed by a two-minute briefing of the eatery’s history; a display of 24 mouthwatering flavors of gelato stare out from behind a display case; another shelf offers up cornettos—sweet and savory breakfast pastries; another case features paninis; next to that—rows of beverages, chocolates, specialty items—imported directly from Italy. On the second floor, in a bit more formal setting, customers indulge in lunch—for business or pleasure—and dinner. It’s also a popular spot

for private events, board meetings and corporate luncheons. “The special event area can seat up to 40 guests,” said Longo. “They can see Stefano making gelato.” Inside a glass-enclosed room, he makes his gelato from scratch, with all natural ingredients. His repertoire includes 150 flavors. His equipment, underscores Longo, was shipped in from his homeland. Longo explains that their establishment is actually a re-creation of the historic café in Italy that bore the same name and was destroyed by earthquake in 2009. In fact, Abruzzo’s entire capital city of L’Aquila—located in the center of Italy—was either destroyed or severely damaged. Longo saw the ruins in 2011 when he traveled throughout the country with the mission of gathering information to write a book to educate people about true Italian cuisine. While visiting, he met Biasini and Morelli, an encounter that would prove life altering. The owners of the original café, they had an outpost set up where they served their specialties: coffee and gelato. “I was shocked,” recalled Longo. “It was the best gelato and coffee I ever had in my life. “Stefano and Michele were celebrities in Italy. Stefano won international gelato competitions. Michele was one of the premier micro coffee roasters. He was selected by the government to represent Italy at the 2010 G8 Summit. He made cappuccino and espresso for Obama and all heads of state. “In every region in Italy, there’s a famous café,” continued Longo. “In Abruzzo, this was the landmark café. In 2007, it won Best Café in all of Italy.” A friendship flourished among the men, and Longo invited them to visit him in Philadelphia. They traveled here the following year. he shared vision for a rebirth of the café began with the realization that to be authentic they would need to have everything designed and built in Italy. Walk through this café and one cannot help but notice the handcrafted artistry. “We hired one of Italy’s premier architects,” said Longo. “Everything— the tiles on the floor, walls, light fixtures, furniture, the two bars—was designed and built in

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Photo Jan L. Apple

Coffee Culture

“In Italy, espresso is referred to as the ounce of bliss in the morning,” said Riccardo Longo, a founding partner and cuisine and wine director at Gran Caffé L’Aquila. “The Italian government believes that having an espresso or cappuccino every morning is the right of every citizen. For that reason, espresso and cappuccino are price-controlled by the government.” That love and passion for coffee is an integral theme at the Rittenhouse Square café. No matter which blend a customer selects, there are three distinctive strengths to choose from. Roaster Michele Morelli had the highest coffee rating in all of Italy, notes Longo, adding that coffee beans are actually derived from the pits of cherries. “We fly to Trieste, Italy every year where we blend beans from South America, Africa and India into recipes,” said Longo. Coffee is like wine; it changes depending upon climate conditions.” For this reason, recipes also change each year. Italy. It took over a year to complete. Then the construction was sent over [by ship] in 18 containers and installed here.” Longo points to the Carrera marble atop one of the bars that was flown in from Tuscany as well as the raised step, a signature feature not found in American designs. The upstairs encompasses a spacious dining area with the feel of a modern Italian library. There’s a Romeo and Juliet balcony with a highly sought after table reminiscent of Verona, an Italian terrazza (terrace) with terracotta tile tables, outdoor furniture and a skylight. The Gran Caffé is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with extensive menu options. Each week, Longo features a 62

specialty menu with distinctive “old world” cuisine and wine from a different city of Italy. They received Philadelphia Magazine’s Best of Philly 2015 for gelato and the 2016 and 2015 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. “What this means,” noted Longo, “is that Wine Spectator recognizes our wine list [with over 200 varieties] as one of the best in the world.” He likens his pairings to tours, where customers taste Frascati from the hills of Rome, Chianti from Tuscany and more. “The most popular dish on the menu is the carbonara,” confided Longo. “It is my aunt’s recipe.” The entree is comprised of pasta, Italian bacon, egg and black pepper. Many of the menu items are recipes Longo acquired through his travels: from nonnas (grandmothers), chefs and family members. Longo’s brother, Gigio, is the café’s operations manager; brother Roberto, an attorney, serves as their in-house counsel. The father of three daughters, 16, 13 and 10, Longo shares that he originally pursued a career in finance. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from NYU and an MBA from Boston University. “I worked in the field of international banking. I was good at it,” he said, “but it was boring. I realized my passion was in Italian gastronomy and wine.” The restaurant’s heart-shaped logo with the green, white and red colors of the Italian

The restaurant’s heart-shaped logo can be found atop the froth in every cup of latte and cappuccino served.

flag within it reflects the partners’ passion for Italy and the diversity of its cities. The heartshaped logo can also be found atop the froth (as latte art) in every cup of latte and cappuccino served. Longo emphasizes that all of their pastas are homemade; prosciutto, cheeses and specialty items are flown in weekly from Italy; and their

Gelato Delivery Available

rant business in Italy,” he said. “He branched out and opened businesses here. I grew up in restaurants in Philadelphia.”

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Center City Philadelphia residents can now have the café’s award-winning gelato as well as most of the menu items delivered to their door. For details, visit www.grancaffelaquila.com menu is like no other he has ever seen. “Italian cuisine in the United States is completely misrepresented,” he explained. “In Italy, you won’t find chicken parmigiano, spaghetti and meatballs or hoagies.” Such dishes, he says, were adapted to fit American tastes. Longo should know. “My father was in the hotel and restau-

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lthough Philadelphia became home to Longo, his parents and brothers, the family spent every summer in Italy. Much of that time was spent at his grandfather’s wine vineyard, where they also made olive oil from olive trees. “In Italy, as kids, we start drinking wine mixed with soda,” he said. “By the time we are teenagers, we drink it with dinner. It’s part of our culinary culture.” Through what Longo describes as a “gift of travel,” he became intrigued with the diversity of cities. “Italy is actually a very young country,” he said. “The Republic of Italy was established in 1861.” Prior to this, there were city-states. Immigrants from different regions stayed together as they migrated to the United States, he explains. For example, many from Sicily settled in New York. In some cases, Italians from different regions still speak in dialects so disparate that it is difficult to understand one another. “About 70 percent of Italian immigrants that settled in South Philly in the early 1900s are Abruzzese,” said Longo, meaning they were from Abruzzo, the region of the original Gran Café. Today, he adds, Philadelphia’s diverse

Gran Caffé L’Aquila RESERVATIONS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED 1716 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia 215-568-5600 www.grancaffelaquila.com Riccardo Longo’s Upcoming Specialty Menus August 15 – 21, Positano, Campania August 22 – 28 Sienna, Tuscany

population includes native Italians, those with Italian heritage and a significant number who have visited the country and feel a strong affinity. Many of the café’s employees are from Italy. “A lot of Italians come in to watch soccer tournaments, do karaoke, partake in wine tastings,” he said. Longo describes the café as a destiny of sorts where he can espouse his deep-rooted connection to Italy with Philadelphia—a city he has grown to love. That’s why they also house a non-profit Italian Cultural and Language School. Classes are held on Saturdays. Multimedia presentations teach about regional history and culture; lessons are paired with food and wine. “People know they are in a special place,” said Longo. “We are an Italian cultural destination.” n

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HEROIN.

FROM ITS LATIN ROOTS, THE WORD COMES FROM “HERO”— AS IN A SENSE OF AGGRANDIZED SELF-ESTEEM. IRONIC. WHETHER YOU ARE A JOHN DOE LYING IN A CAMDEN COUNTY MORGUE OR FAMOUS LIKE JOHN BELUSHI OR PHILLIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN, THERE IS NOTHING GRAND OR HEROIC ABOUT OVERDOSING ON HEROIN.

S BY MOLLY GOLUBCOW 68

adly, heroin addiction is on the rise in the United States, and unfortunately New Jersey is not an exception. Since 2010, heroin overdose deaths in New Jersey have doubled according to State Department of Criminal Justice data. To make matters worse, the per-capita rate of heroin-related deaths is more than triple the national rate reported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The report concludes that heroin “now eclipses homicide, suicide, car accidents, and AIDS as a cause of death in the state.” In Camden and Atlantic counties, more people die from heroin annually than the

flu and pneumonia combined. Grim. Miserable. Wasted. Only a few words that come to mind when you read these statistics. But, you have to ask yourself, “Why is this epidemic happening?” To answer the question, you have to know the players that intimately touch heroin and addiction—junkies nursing their skin popped wounds, law enforcement officers continually rounding up dealers and users, and rehab counselors shepherding junkies through a grimy swamp. Not a pretty picture, but we need to take a look. So, fasten your seat belts because it’s a bumpy ride.

User, Junkie, Addict

I’ve seen the needle And the damage done A little part of it in everyone But every junkie’s Like a settin’ sun.

– Neil Young, “Needle and the Damage Done” On the street, users call it “H,” “horse” and “smack.” They inject, smoke or snort heroin to feel a range of euphoric physical and psychological effects that become the primary purpose of their lives. What is the face of a typical heroin user? It may not be what you think. According to recent statistics from the CDC, there is a dramatic increase in “…women, white people, adults aged 18 to 25, and people in higher income brackets—historically at low risk for heroin usage.” Because heroin has seeped from innercity back alleys to the white suburbs,

today where users can share ideas from purchasing to injecting to kicking the habit. One blog features “Pipster,” a heroin user who blogs about his addiction, “Why do I do this? The simple answer is that I feel nothing else I have ever experienced compares in the slightest, nothing in my life seems worth stopping for, there is no light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s just too hard to stop.”

Law Enforcement “I’ve never had a problem with drugs. I’ve had problems with the police.” – Keith Richards, Rolling Stones It takes a village, and law enforcement is no exception. There are lots of illegal drugs on the market to the tune of $61 billion for heroin alone (according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime). That’s a tempting and lucrative career (albeit short due to gang murders, overdoses and incarceration) for poor, hopeless and most times

can be easily found—if you want it. What makes New Jersey unique (in a worse sense) is its proximity to ports in North Jersey and Philadelphia—making it easier for locals to get drugs faster and in a more potent form since it’s not yet cut and highly pure (i.e., very addicting). According to New Jersey State Police Captain Juan Colon, Bureau Chief, Information & Intelligence Support Bureau, the pursuit is “challenging.” However, with the creation of law enforcement task forces such as the Drug Monitoring Initiative (DMI), marrying law enforcement and health entities together that share drug information, Captain Colon and other people involved in drug investigation and arrests feel more optimistic when faced with the idea that they were fighting a losing battle. “Years ago, yes, but now,” Colon said, “through DMI we increase understanding of the drug situation to enhance demand reduction and to reduce community drug harms. This is accomplished through

IN MANY CASES, HEROIN ABUSE IS TIGHTLY TIED TO PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE — ALMOST 50% OF HEROIN ADDICTS FIRST WERE HOOKED ON PRESCRIPTION PAINKILLERS. there is more attention now on heroin as a “health problem.” How did this happen? In many cases, heroin abuse is tightly tied to prescription drug abuse—almost 50% of heroin addicts first were hooked on prescription painkillers. And, to put that into perspective, in 2010 the CDC reported that one in 20 Americans used enough prescription painkillers prescribed by doctors in one month “…to medicate every American around the clock for an entire month.” So, for those who have doctors and prescription cards, a “pusher” is not needed and may even be covered by a copay. And, in many cases, friends and family who also easily get drugs from their doctors share their meds and therefore contribute to a loved one’s addiction. To make matters worse, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that, overwhelmingly, prescription-drug misusers are not even pain patients (i.e., recreational users). Another sign that heroin has become “main stream” is the Internet. Heroin information, like any other topic, is easily found online these days. Forums and blogs exist

ruthless people. According to New Jersey State Police Captain Frederick P. Fife, Police Bureau Chief - Violent & Organized Crime North Bureau, “The quantities of these raw heroin seizures are somewhat shocking and indicative of the blood thirsty drug cartels that prey on New Jerseyans.” An example of NJ law enforcement agencies working together to take down major heroin dealers resulted in a bust made in February of this year. New Jersey State Police detectives, along with members from the New York and New Jersey Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force Groups, arrested dealers and seized 91.5 kilograms of heroin with a wholesale value of over seven million dollars. lthough this was a major coup, more junk arrives every day and law enforcement remains on high alert. Captain Fife explains, “Troopers will aggressively pursue those who peddle misery to our citizens who are often most vulnerable.” Whether you are in New Glarus, Wisconsin or Newark, New Jersey, heroin

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training, outreach, enforcement and intelligence for law enforcement, healthcare practitioners and the general public. In addition to the DMI, the New Jersey State Attorney General’s Office created the Heroin and Opiates Task Force to develop a law enforcement strategy including legislative initiatives, training for first responders (including administering Narcan, an antidote to opiate overdoses), public outreach and a centralized intelligence capability to collect, analyze and share heroin related information. The task force has been so successful that 13 other states have replicated the idea, including Vermont, Pennsylvania and Utah. Although getting users and dealers off the street is important, necessary and a reality, merely incarcerating a person—specifically users, but not dealers—may not be the only or perfect solution to heroin addiction. Captain Fife casts a broader net by explaining, “We are not naive to the fact that enforcement alone can solve opiate and opioid abuse, addiction and death. As an organiza tion, the State Police realizes that a holistic

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approach is necessary with a value on education, prevention and rehabilitation.”

Rehab “Drug addiction is a disease. It can happen to anyone, from any station in life. And it can be treated. ….Treatment is the path to saving lives, and for as long as I am governor, treatment will be mandatory in our system and I will not yield.” – Gov. Chris Christie State of the State address (2015) Sadly, Amy Winehouse’s lyrics, “They tried to make me go to rehab, but I said ‘No, no, no,’” speak volumes about addiction and recovery. Regardless of the drug, a user has to be ready to seek help, and want to work like hell to kick the habit—mind, body and soul. According to Harold Williams, Director of Clinical Services at the Lakeside Recovery Center in Sicklerville, South Jersey provides more outpatient services for people with drug addictions than other locations in the state, which is a plus for those seeking treatment. Williams explains, “Halfway houses may be too expensive, but many clients seek outpatient services. A lot of people with

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heroin and other addictions have access to government programs within South Jersey through county funding.” Lakeside Recovery Center treats adult men and women. Lately they have seen an increase in heroin and opiates use. Demographically speaking, their clients are men and women between the ages of 18 and 25, using intravenously as opposed to snorting it, and showing more signs of denial compared to those over 30 years old. Ironically, treatment and recovery can be more difficult for this population because many people under 25 still live at home. Williams describes the challenge: “Many of the males and females in this group are not going to college, have temporary or no jobs at all and their motivation to change is a lot more difficult because they are not experiencing the same type of consequences of someone living on their own with no responsibilities like rent, groceries and other expenses that older adults face.” According to a current survey conducted by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, one in 10 adults in the US was at one time in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction – emphasis on was as opposed to is or have

not tried. Yes, that is a grim statistic, but it also shows that some people are willing to break bad habits. Not easy, but addiction is a treatable disease. The National Institute on Drug Abuse views addiction like any other chronic disease that can be “managed successfully,” but with the knowledge that relapsing to drug abuse is not only possible, but likely. Lakeside Recovery sees similar results. Breaking heroin addiction is tough with horrendous withdrawal symptoms and increased factors for HIV and other diseases. According to Williams, “At Lakeside, many people find a way to stay sober after multiple attempts - 80 percent relapse from our facility but because they come back and don’t get it the first time, the second and third time get better. If you relapse the first year and return to treatment, the percentage of the success rate greatly improves.” Though sometimes treatable and still other times fatal, having an addiction to heroin is always insidious, dangerous and tragic. Nevertheless, with the right mix of societal tools available in New Jersey, there’s still real help and hope for breaking that addiction for a chance to live a better life. n

CELEBRATING OUR MAN & WOMAN OF THE YEAR HONOREES

Man & Woman of the Month JerseyMan/PhillyMan Magazine wants to recognize one man and woman in our region every issue for their extraordinary achievements in community service. At the end of the year, each of the ten nominees (5 men, 5 women) will be recognized at a dinner in their honor.

Karen Hepp Karen Hepp joined the FOX 29 News in November, 2010. She now wakes up early with the Good Day Philadelphia #Weekend gang Saturday and Sundays at 8am, and stays up late for the 6 and 10 o’clock news. Prior to joining FOX 29, she worked at WNYW-TV in New York City, anchoring Good Day Wakeup. She had joined Fox 5 in January 2005 as the weekend anchor. She previously worked for NBC-owned-and- operated stations for 8 years including: WNBC in New York; WCAU in Philadelphia; and WVIT in Connecticut. Her career began in Binghamton, New York and Rochester, New York. In addition to her professional achievements Karen is on the board of Lifecycle Women’s Care, a member of Art Goes to School, and volunteers for Career Wardrobe and “The Dolan Fund.” Karen is a graduate of New York University and is from the Philadelphia area. She lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband and 3 young sons: Macklin - named for Jeremy Maclin, the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver; Quinn, named for former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn: and Kellen, named for Kellen Winslow. So obviously Karen and her husband love sports… especially in Philly. She also enjoys running, hiking, and sitting on the sidelines of soccer fields.

Philip Jaurigue Mr. Philip Jaurigue began his career in private industry supporting Navy shipbuilding and aircraft programs. He founded Sabre Systems, Inc., in 1989, and has served as President since its inception. Mr. Jaurigue provides strategic business leadership to drive the direction, stability and growth of Sabre. Under his guidance and leadership, Sabre has grown into a highly successful technology and engineering services company. Mr. Jaurigue is a frequently scheduled speaker at The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, and is also a regular co-host on the Executive Leaders Radio program in both Washington, DC, and Philadelphia. Mr. Jaurigue is the current chairman of the Strengthening the Mid-Atlantic Region for Tomorrow (SMART) organization, which supports research and development as well as technology-based opportunities in the Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania region. Mr. Jaurigue is on the advisory board of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), and also serves on the board of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. He is also on the foundation board of directors of The Free Library of Philadelphia and on the Dean’s Council of the Fox School of Business of Temple University. He is a former board member of Cancer Support Community of Philadelphia, a support organization for those living with cancer and their families. He previously served as president of the Entrepreneurs Forum of Greater Philadelphia and the Philadelphia 100 Alumni Association. Under Mr. Jaurigue’s leadership, Sabre was recognized for its longstanding history of growth and was inducted into the Philadelphia 100® Hall of Fame as its inaugural member. His commitment to exhibiting the entrepreneurial spirit earned him the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® Award for IT Solutions. In recognition of his accomplishments and service, the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League invited Mr. Jaurigue to its ownership group. Mr. Jaurigue is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Temple University in Computer Information Sciences.

2nd Annual A Masquerade-Themed Celebration Event Wednesday, November 2nd, 2016 • 6-10pm Ballroom at the Ben 834 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19107

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PROMOTION

DONATING A LIFE INSURANCE POLICY TO CHARITY

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number of charities now ask their donors to consider donating life insurance policies rather than (or in addition to) cash in order to make substantially larger gifts than would otherwise be possible. The advantage to donors is that they can make a sizable gift with relatively little up-front cash (or even no cash, if an existing policy is donated). The fact that a charity may have to wait many years before receiving a payoff from the gift is typically not a problem, because charities normally earmark such gifts for their endowment or long-term building funds. Of course, good reasons may exist for keeping the policy in force (such as to provide liquidity for a taxable estate or to meet the continuing needs of a surviving spouse or disabled child). Still, for individuals with both excess life insurance and a charitable intent, the donation of a life insurance policy may make sense. If handled correctly, a life insurance policy donation can net the donor a charitable deduction for the value of the policy. A charitable deduction is also available for any cash contributed in future years to continue paying the premiums on a policy that was not fully paid up at the time it was donated. However, if handled incorrectly, no deduction is allowed. For this reason, we encourage you to contact us if you are considering donating a life insurance policy. We can help ensure that you receive the expected income or transfer tax deduction and that the contribution works as planned.

Cordua, Pastore & Associates is an accounting firm providing services to smalland medium-sized businesses. At Cordua, Pastore & Associates, clients experience a service-minded staff whose goal is to customize their relationship with clients in order for clients to reach their goals.

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Peter J. Cordua Again Named Corporate Chair For The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night Walk Urges Local Businesses Take the First Step – We Walk to Save Lives

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he New Jersey Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has announced Peter J. Cordua, Managing Member at Cordua Pastore & Associates, LLC, as Corporate Walk Chair of its 2016 Light The ® Night Walk, LLS’s annual fundraising event held each fall to find cures and provide access to treatments for blood cancer patients. Peter manages Cordua Pastore & Associates, LLC and stays active in a multitude of community projects. He has been involved with LLS for 13 years as a board member dedicating his time towards a variety of events and campaigns. Peter holds the LLS mission near to his heart with his own personal connection.

This year, the walk will be held on Oct. 22, 2016 at Washington Lake Park in Sewell, NJ.

www.corduapastore.com http://pages.lightthenight.org/nj/SouthNJ16/ corduapastoreandassociates

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THE CIGAR GUY _____________________________________________ BY SAM KRAFT

Sponsored by The

Smoking Dog

Anejo XO Balmoral Cigars

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Size: Gran Toro Blend: Brazilian, Dominican

almoral Cigars is said to be the last independent cigar company in the Netherlands. I wasn’t aware of this before reviewing this cigar, but historically the Netherlands were once a popular country for premium cigar distribution. When I think of Dutch Masters, however, I don’t usually associate them with fine tobacco products. Netherland exports have not been extraordinary of late. It turns out there is at least one exception to that rule, and that comes in the form of the Anejo XO. Just this cigar’s smell alone is so rich and unique, it reminds me of fall potpourri. I can smell hints of sweet spice and cedar. When taking the

first puff, I taste leather in addition to everything in the initial fragrance. The first half introduces all kinds of interesting notes to the palate. I detect plum, pepper, molasses and jasmine, to name a few. The second half of this smoke gets both stronger and smoother, simultaneously. Towards the end of the cigar I even notice caramel and nutmeg flavors. The Anejo XO certainly has many flavor notes that are not very common in most cigars. That being said, this is definitely on my list of top ten favorite smokes. After sampling so many different cigars, I find that it’s the unique and the complex ones that really grab my attention. This cigar is priced in the mid level range at $13 to $16 a stick. If you are looking to smoke something different, I highly recommend this Dutch masterpiece. n

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THE HEALTH

REFEREE

______________________________________________________________________________________________ BY DR. RUBINA TAHIR, DC

5 Health Benefits Of COLD Cryotherapy Philadelphia’s newest place to “chill” out

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RE YOU READY to toss away your ice pack and get into a cryosauna? This cooling treatment is performed in a walk-in chamber that uses hyper-cold temperatures as low as -240 Fahrenheit. Orange Cryo Wellness is the first Philadelphia Business to offer both whole body cryotherapy and cryofacials in one location! Owner Robin Gupta states, “I wanted to bring to Philadelphia what the stars and elite athletes have had access to for maintaining their youthfulness, treating injuries and fighting inflammation.” Are you ready to cool off? Here are five health benefits of cryotherapy: 1. REDUCES INFLAMMATION The exposure to the extreme temperatures triggers the release of anti-inflammatory molecules and endorphins. To prep for treatment you are given a robe to change into, and can keep your undergarments on. You cover your hands and feet with special protective socks and gloves. Once standing in the machine, the door closes and you are raised so that your head and neck are out of the cryosauna. The sauna is cooled with liquid nitrogen vapors and the treatment lasts only three minutes! With traditional icing protocols, let’s say for a knee injury, an ice pack would be applied for 10-15 minutes with a break in between multiple applications. Just one cryotherapy session can rapidly increase the speed at which the inflammation decreases, alleviating pain quickly. “Research shows that cryotherapy can provide relief from conditions such as low back pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune diseases and fibromyalgia,” says Gupta.

2. WEIGHT LOSS There is evidence to support that cryotherapy can also speed up weight loss. The theory is that your body goes into survival mode when exposed to the brutal cold; this boosts your metabolic rate and burns about 500-600 calories in the process.

3. RECOVERY When you can prevent delayed onset muscle soreness, and quickly alleviate other aches and pains, you can train harder and more often with less downtime. Professional athletes have been using cryotherapy to get back in the game more quickly after injury. Now that cryotherapy is more accessible to the general public, it can be used to aid in recovery from strenuous work-

5. ANTI-AGING Collagen is a protein that gives the skin its strength and structure. Collagen production declines with age, and is reduced by exposure to ultraviolet light and other environmental factors. Cryofacials stimulate collagen production, providing an effective anti-aging strategy. Facials take 6-8 minutes and the benefits include tighter pores, reduced sagging and firmer skin. The best part according to Gupta: “The facials are non-invasive compared to other treatment options that are available.”

IS IT SAFE? YES! Whole-body cryotherapy was originally developed in Japan in 1978 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, and the benefits have been studied and refined in Europe since that time. Problems have only arisen if a client steps into the machine with wet clothing, especially wet socks, as water will freeze immediately at these temperatures. Towards the end of the session, you may get a “pins and needles” sensation, which disappears immediately after the treatment.

RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT RATINGS OF MUSCLE PAIN AND TIREDNESS WERE REDUCED AFTER JUST THE FIRST WHOLE BODY CRYOTHERAPY SESSION. outs, long distance running, overuse syndromes, prolonged postures and even a day of golfing. Researchers found that ratings of muscle pain and tiredness were reduced after just the first whole-body cryotherapy session.

4. IMPROVE PERFORMANCE “I feel rejuvenated when I start my day in the cryosauna” says Gupta. There is evidence that cooling the body can help athletes play with a greater level of intensity. Repeated cryostimulation improves position sense and simple reaction time. Twenty sessions of whole-body cryotherapy may efficiently enhance neuromuscular performance with an ability to sustain the effects for at least three days. “Each session lasts only three minutes, thus it’s easy to incorporate the therapy into a hectic schedule,” says Gupta.

The following conditions are contraindications to whole-body cryotherapy: Pregnancy, severe hypertension (BP>160/100), acute or recent myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, arrhythmia, symptomatic cardiovascular disease, cardiac pacemaker, peripheral arterial occlusive disease and severe anemia. Always consult with a healthcare practitioner if you are unsure.

COST For your first full-body cryotherapy session the cost is just $19! After that you can choose a package or pay per visit: $60 for full-body and $30 for facials. Gupta believes in the importance of a healthy lifestyle. With the demands of the day he believes that cryotherapy is a perfect solution. It’s easy to take three minutes out of your day to make time for health. For more information on cryotherapy visit: orangecryo.com n References:

1. R ehabilitation (Stuttg). 2000 Apr;39(2):93-100. 2. PLoS One. 2011;6(7):e22748. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022748. Epub 2011 Jul 28 3. J Phys Ther Sci. 2016 May;28(5):1552-5. doi: 10.1589/jpts.28.1552. Epub 2016 May 31.

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GET FIT

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ BY ALEXANDRA DUNEK

Get Out! Ready...Set…PRO!

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OU DON’T HAVE TO BE a NFL player to train like one. With the football season upon us, I decided to link up with athlete trainer Rashad Campbell of StayCool Training to see what it’s like to train like a pro. A few of Campbell’s clients include his brother Ibraheim Campbell, starting safety for the Cleveland Browns, and Xavier King, a defensive back/wide receiver for Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia. The training helps improve their conditioning, defensive back skills, speed, agility and helps develop football IQ.

RUNNING HILLS This drill increases speed, endurance and aids in shin-splint relief. RESISTANCE MULTI-DIRECTIONAL BUNGEE This exaggerated running form increases speed and endurance. Rashad Campbell

But athlete training isn’t just for athletes. Brian Altemus is a print and runway model who works with Campbell to improve his overall fitness and muscle definition. Devised in 2011 and launched in 2012, StayCool identifies with four passions: training, outreach, apparel and entertainment. Their mission is to “redefine cool and improve client performance.” Along with athlete training, they offer 45-minute full-body bootcamps that include dynamic warm-ups, upper body, lower body, core, TEAM finisher, cool down and stretch, all done at the Art Museum “Rocky” steps in Philadelphia. Their Sports Specific Training (athlete training) is done by appointment only. The examples below target lower core and overall leg muscles as well as increases speed, endurance and agility to make you into a better functioning athlete. 80

made a number of off-season acquisitions.” Interested in training like an athlete? Follow StayCool on Instagram at @staycooltraining or browse their website at www.staycooltraining. com to reserve your training spot! n

AGILITY LADDER Balance and control are crucial for successfully completing the agility ladder movement. What makes athlete training different than other training styles is that it is designed to help athletes develop a specific set of skills for a specific sport. The programs can be modified to become more challenging and often replicate the gamep-day environment. Campbell states, “I love working with athletes and dedicated individuals, and like Nike says, ‘If you have a body, you’re an athlete,’ so when people embrace their athleticism it makes training a lot more fun, dynamic and competitive.” Campbell also mentions he’s excited for the Philadelphia Eagles 2016 season opener against the Cleveland Browns on September 11th. “My brother and client Ibraheim Campbell starts at safety for the Cleveland Browns and this will be a homecoming for him. I’m also looking forward to the game because both teams have

Alexandra Dunek

For more guidance follow Alexandra @TipsFromAFitChick on Instagram!

THE

Entrepreneur Coach by John Hopkins

inspireme@inspiritgrowth.com

Employee Engagement Why This is so Essential for Ownership, the Team and the Business

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HAT IS “EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT”? Important to know, it is not an event. It is not a set of perks. It is not a one-time thing. It is an all-the-time thing. It is a vibe, a tone, a state of company mind, and it is easily evidenced as being in place…or not. Equally important, it is a two-way street, a mutuality between ownership and the team. Does employee engagement help define company culture? Certainly. And the number one culture advocate in the organization is the leader. Employee engagement is observable. The evidence of its existence is measurable. AN ENGAGED EMPLOYEE IS A HAPPY… AND PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYEE.

A principle role of leadership is to assemble teams of talent. What separates average managers from strong leaders is communicating a clear vision about the direction of the organization, recognizing the unique skill sets across the team to act on that vision, and providing the right tools and environment that embrace differences and foster optimal performance for the whole. Leaders cultivate a productive work environment based on natural abilities, self-initiative and focus. Understanding and embracing predictable strengths and differences of each team member and engaging these qualities is both art and science. The art of leadership is learned over time. The science of human behavior is available immediately. Refining the art of leadership focuses on the What, Who and Why. Knowing the science of human behavior streamlines the How and When.

KNOW WHAT’S PREDICTABLE. ENGAGE THE DO-ABLE. Managers run into trouble when the team is not clear of what the “win” looks like and the players individually and collectively don’t know their roles in helping to get there. Teams experience friction when employees are asked to do work that is inherently in opposition to their natural abilities. Imagine asking a very tall, solidly built first baseman to step in and play shortstop. While talented at first base, he 82

would likely struggle at shortstop because of the greater range of field that needs to be covered and the speed necessary to do so. Playing the right position for the highest level of performance takes practice to be sure, but it starts with ensuring the employees are playing in positions of natural ability. Consider the impact of expecting a customer support employee to sell to the customer. Consider expecting a great client service manager that nurtures existing relationships to hunt for new prospects. Looks like similar competencies, but very different skillsets are required for optimal performance.

LEADERS EMPOWER. TEAMS PERFORM. Business owners and managers tell us they recognize the shifting sands of the workplace; the blend and environmental differences of baby boomers, Gen X’ers and millennials; and the speed in which everything needs to be done to service customers well. They have a common refrain: do we have the right people in the right roles for where the business is going? Yet we are told they don’t have the right system in place to ensure this, nor do they have the time or skills to put it in place. They tell us they want to implement a linked system for goalsetting, performance evaluations, 360-degree feedback and leadership development. Understandably, they lament that they don’t recruit well, position descriptions are lacking and they

AN ENGAGED EMPLOYEE: • IS CLEAR ABOUT COMPANY GOALS • WILL GO THE EXTRA MILE • TAKES PRIDE IN HIGH-QUALITY WORK • ENSURES MEANINGFUL OUTCOMES • IS A GROWTH CONTRIBUTOR • HAS HIGH SELF-AWARENESS

don’t hold employees accountable for position description results. What if rather than a series of independent efforts in search of optimal employee engagement, you could take these loose pearls and with one string build a necklace? Business owners and managers need a better way to meet the ever-changing way to engage their teams; a system to approach talent recruitment, unleash untapped potential and identify who can play up and who can be just as effective when they cannot.

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT BREAKTHROUGHS With the help of today’s technology, science and knowledge transfer business owners can “Require – Hire – Inspire” better than ever before. In a series of brief insight-gaining steps, employees can now predict life-long natural abilities, self-coach to higher awareness, ignite actions for better business results, align their position descriptions, benefit from customized coaching guides, set clear goals and be inspired by “internal coaches” rather than evaluated by managers. Employees are a business owner’s most valuable asset. It’s time to prioritize and inspire employee engagement breakthroughs that drive more profitable revenues…in fact, it is the greatest driver of them all. Invest differently to engage wisely. It is simpler than you think. n Want to learn more? Contact margaux@inspiritgrowth.com

WHAT WE WEAR

_______________________________________________________________________________ BY DANIEL R. MORRONI

Summer Ensembles

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ANY MEN USE WARMER WEATHER as an excuse to relax their dress standards. Set yourself above the pack by choosing summer-appropriate clothing that’s comfortable in the heat yet maintains your style. Here are a few options to consider as you create your summer ensemble.

• Summer suit basics: Light-colored fabrics will deflect more of the sun’s heat and light. Lightweight fabrics, including seersucker, high-quality tropical-weight wool, or linen, allow greater air movement than densely woven fabrics. Consider unlined (or partially lined) coats and jackets for summer use. Minimizing the thickness of your coat allows you to keep your cool without losing your style. • Summer shoes: Lightweight suedes, slip-ons, boat shoes, or even canvas shoes can be great options for elegance during warmer weather. Avoid wearing athletic shoes unless you’re performing athletic exercises. • Summer socks: Your socks protect your feet from chafing and reduce odors, so don’t skip them. If you prefer the sockless look, choose no-show socks instead. You’ll get the comfort and protection of socks—invisibly. • Summer shirts: Keep your summer shirts lightweight and breezy. Linen is a perennially good choice for summer wear. Cotton can be summer-shirt appropriate if a loose weave is used, such as in poplin, end-to-end weaves, or madras. • Overall ensembles: Instead of choosing one fabric for everything, vary the textures between shirt, suit, and tie to ensure your summer ensembles maintain the visual appeal of your attire for cooler weather.

“Life is measured by deeds, not days.” – Pietro Metastasio

ASK DAN Question: Which are better, plastic or metal collar stays? Answer: Collar stays are inserted into the points of your collar to strengthen the fabric. Over time, even if you remove the plastic stays before they go through the rigors of being laundered, they may bend enough that they no longer have the stiffness necessary to maintain the collar’s strong V shape. Metal stays are less flexible than plastic ones, so do not bend as easily. If you’re trying out metal stays, consider magnetic ones. They’re a great option for collars that don’t have stay pockets (such as polo shirts) and occasions when you want to precisely control the collar presentation. n 84

It’s not JUST Investments…

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TECH TIME

______________________________

BY ANTHONY MONGELUZO

Home & Office Automation:

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N RECENT MONTHS, we have heard a great deal about various technological advancements. The hottest item has been the self-driving car (though it still might be a while before we all have one). Tesla and Google are leading the way in that industry. I’d like to share with you another industry leader, where you hopefully spend more time than in your car: It’s your home. One of the things that I always wanted since I was a child (think The Jetsons) was an automated home. Imagine being able to watch whatever TV show you want anywhere in your home, or being able to pull up your computer on any screen or play a game in any room. Now, my wife, Shelly, has some differ-

The Next Big Thing!

ent ideas. She would like to do all those techy things from her smartphone: for example, set the thermostat, look at the cameras outside of the house, be alerted when someone is coming up the driveway or control all of the lighting. This is where Control4 comes into play. The system allows both me and Shelly to accomplish all the tasks above and so much more. When hosting parties or just relaxing at home, it makes life so much better. When new homes are built, most now include technology like this as an option and I would suggest you ask for it if the builder doesn’t offer it. If you don’t have a newer home, though, don’t fret. You can run a few cables and—presto—have your house became a smart home very quickly. Business owners who are looking to take

their conference rooms more high-tech can also go this route. It gives your clients a great experience and the technology is so simple that it’s easy to train the staff on how to use it. When dealing with this type of technology, always make sure to use an authorized reseller. I have been very impressed with Profound Sound & Video and been working with them for a while. Even though I am a tech geek, they always find a way to teach me a little more about this technology. Just as self-driving cars are the way of the future, so are smart homes. Even if you aren’t ready just yet, I would recommend doing some research and seeing what is out there. The future is coming fast! n @PCS_AnthonyM

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DR. NINA

_______________________________________________________________________________ BY NINA RADCLIFF, MD

Silence the snoring

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o you snore? Does your bed buddy snore? Does snoring lead you to “divorce at night”? Unlike high blood pressure or high blood sugars, snoring is unique in that it causes problems not just to the person with the issue, but to both partners. And it is prevalent enough that it has even earned the term “second-hand snoring.”

In a 2013 study out of Ryerson University in Toronto, researchers found that between 30 to 40 percent of couples sleep in separate rooms. And the U.S. National Association of Home Builders states that more than half of upscale homes are planned with two master bedrooms. Besides sleeping alone, snoring can also adversely affect our health. Good sleep is vital. Not only does it improve our mood, the ability to concentrate and help us to be our best the following day, it is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Chronic sleep deprivation has been shown to contribute to a number of chronic illnesses and leading killers—heart and lung disease, stroke, depression, anxiety, and Alzheimer’s dementia. Fortunately, there is a lot that can be done to turn down the noise, improve our relationships and maintain our best health.

means that our breathing has stopped temporarily due to complete breathing obstruction and there is no movement of air. This causes us to wake up repeatedly throughout the night in order to recover oxygen. It is also accompanied by a loud snort or gasping sound. Over time, the repeated sleep interference and drops in oxygen levels can result in a number of ill effects on our health. WHAT ARE SOME ILL-EFFECTS THAT CAN OCCUR FROM OSA?

OSA may be dubbed the “not-so-quiet” culprit of a number of chronic and dangerous health conditions. Studies have shown that it can increase our risk for stroke, heart disease, acid reflux, car accidents and other injuries, mental health issues and weight gain. In other words, we cannot ignore the warning sounds. Additionally, chronic sleep deprivation can lower testosterone levels in men. During deep

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SNORING TO IMPROVE OUR SLEEP, RELATIONSHIPS AND HEALTH: WHY ALL THAT NOISE?

A partial obstruction of our breathing passages can cause our respiratory structures to vibrate when we breathe. The vibration results in the harsh sound that we call snoring. To get a better understanding of this, try to create a snoring sound so we can feel the vibration. I ask my patients to even place their palm or index and middle finger over their neck to palpate—the fancy medical term for using our hands to examine the body—the vibration.

WHAT CAN CAUSE A PARTIAL OBSTRUCTION?

• When we are overweight, extra fatty tissue accumulates not just on our waist and hips, but also along our breathing passages. • Drinking, smoking and certain medications can cause our airway muscles to relax, making them more likely to vibrate when breathing. • With age cometh wisdom, narrowing of our throats, and decreased airway muscle tone. • Nasal deviation and sinus problems can narrow our breathing passages. 88

• Sleeping flat on our backs can cause our tongue or other fleshy structures to relax and block our airways. • And some of us are just built with long uvulas (the funny looking dangly thing), large tongues or narrow throats.

sleep stages (e.g., rapid eye movement or REM sleep), the male body produces testosterone. Therefore, not getting the proper amount of regular, restorative sleep can contribute to decreased testosterone levels. WHAT CAN I DO IF I SNORE?

IS SNORING THE SAME AS OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA (OSA)?

No. When we snore, we are breathing, but the noise we hear is due to a partial (not total) obstruction; there is movement of air. OSA

Losing weight, quitting smoking, and avoiding heavy meals and alcohol at night are some lifestyle changes that can literally put a stop to the noise. For some, sleeping on our sides, performing throat strengthening exercises, or

“clearing” our nasal passages by humidifying the room or using nasal sprays may do the trick. WHEN SHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR?

When lifestyle changes do not work, we experience daytime drowsiness, or we gasp or choke while sleeping. Our doctors will take a complete history and perform a physical exam. Based on the findings, he or she may order radiology imaging or a sleep study to determine the cause and best treatment. Treatment options may include, but are not limited to: • A CPAP (pronounced see-pap) machine. This device blows pressurized air into a mask that covers our mouth and nose in order to keep our airway open while sleeping • Dental appliances to prevent our lower jaw or tongue from blocking airflow • Surgery to remove tissue or correct abnormalities in order to increase the size of our airway There is a saying: “Laugh and the world laughs with you. Snore and you sleep alone.” Although snoring may send us or our partners running, the problem can often be solved by coming together. I was once told “Teamwork divides the task but multiplies the success.” Dealing with the problem head-on will reap rewards to both our relationships and health. So let’s breathe easier and not wait to exhale. n

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THE ENTHUSIAST ______________________________________________________________________________________________ BY ANDREW RYAN

Blink and you’ll miss them

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that matter. Because this is just the icing on the cake of one of the longest running rock ‘n’ roll dramas of all time.

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link-182 has, for the better part of the last decade, always been mired in disharmony. Blink-182 rose to prominence around 1999 with their brat-punk masterpiece Enema of the State (never has an album title more perfectly captured a band’s entire ethos). They were the kind of band that made rock ‘n’ roll feel fun again. They made d--k jokes between every song at every gig and backed up their back-of-the-classroom antics with proper punk melodies so catchy and infectious they had even the most uptight among us humming the verse to “What’s My Age Again?” They were as effortlessly cool and funny as everyone’s favorite class clown, so much so it always felt as if they weren’t telling d--k jokes because they

were in a band, they were in a band because they told d--k jokes. Were they juvenile? Yes. Did their music change the world? No. Would the world and rock ‘n’ roll be pretty much the same if they never came along? You betcha. But that was almost the entire point: if you want introspection and meaning go talk to Noel Gallagher, because Blink-182 will be over here doing keg stands and making your girlfriend laugh. Have fun being sad. That’s not to say they didn’t have a certain depth to them. “Adam’s Song” tackles the subject of suicide in the form of a heartbreakingly innocent note (the simplicity of the line “give all my things/to all my friends” still manages to hit a soft spot in me after all these years). In fact Blink-182 often danced with more heavy topics than their major chord progressions would let on—it was a part of their self-deprecating charm, and frankly one of Delonge’s Illustration by Dan Dinsmore

’VE WRITTEN BEFORE about the sophomore slump, Kanye West, music piracy, sonic misogyny, the decline of the record store and Kanye West, but rarely have I ever had the pleasure to type a sentence as delightful and absurd as it is truthful, such as the following: Tom Delonge left his band Blink-182 to search for alien life. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Delonge claims to be working with 10 people at the “highest levels of the Department of Defense and NASA and the military,” which not only calls into question Delonge’s motivation for writing “Aliens Exist” but the motivation of said government officials of the highest level working with the dude who wrote “Family Reunion” (look up the lyrics and then delete your browser history before your kids see). And maybe above all else this finally reveals to the public the saint-like patience of former bandmates Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker for writing a sixth album with this man in 2011. Now I could just sit back and write jokes about this all day, but the fact that Delonge a) believes in aliens (sure, why not), b) believes they have already visited our planet (that’s a bit of a stretch, but keep going) and c) is currently working with government officials to uncover the truth (now you’ve completely lost me) is not particularly surprising. Nor is the fact Blink-182 have continued in his absence for

great talents as a songwriter. But, as class clowns are wont to do, eventually they grow up—some more quickly than others. Their next album, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket only cemented their place in pop culture as a fun and talented but predictable act, one that would only last as long as it would take for people to stop quoting the movie American Pie. It was around this time that Delonge began feeling claustrophobic. Wanting to push

album Give The Drummer Some. (It kind of sucked, but can we talk about how weird it is for a drummer to release a solo album?) The whole saga of bad decisions and hurt feelings ended in 2015 after Hoppus and Barker finally got sick of Delonge’s inability to commit to touring or writing new music and fired him/ let him resign (I’m not sure anyone, including Delonge, knows which is true), replacing him with Alkaline Trio singer Matt Skiba. If you

RARELY HAVE I EVER HAD THE PLEASURE TO TYPE A SENTENCE AS DELIGHTFUL AND ABSURD AS IT IS TRUTHFUL, SUCH AS THE FOLLOWING: TOM DELONGE LEFT HIS BAND BLINK-182 TO SEARCH FOR ALIEN LIFE. his musical boundaries, he pulled a move so underhanded and Machiavellian it’s a wonder he didn’t end up on Wall Street: he formed a new band called Box Car Racer with drummer Travis Barker, leaving bassist Mark Hoppus in the dust. The band sounded almost exactly like Blink-182, except without any of the existential fun their former bass player provided so naturally. They kind of sucked. nsurprisingly, this was the beginning of the end. After regrouping to record their eponymous album in 2003, only to break up again in 2005, Delonge formed the ethereal rock band (ahem, pardon me Mr. Delonge, multimedia art project as you prefer to call it) Angels & Airwaves, calling it at the time “the greatest rock ‘n’ roll revolution” of his generation. By which it seems he meant release a crappy sci-fi movie, print some hats and sound like a Californian U2 on downers. They kind of sucked. Meanwhile, Hoppus got the idea from somewhere that he should form a new band with drummer Travis Barker. Under the name +44 (not only is that the worst band name ever in rock ‘n’ roll, it’s based on the international dialing code for the UK where they began discussing the project, making it the worst story behind the worst band name of all time), Hoppus and Barker tried to recapture an effortlessness and straightforward hook-first approach to songwriting that by that point was being faded out of the genre. They just ended up sounding like Blink-182, only without any of the heaviness and credibility Delonge somehow injected into every record. They kind of sucked. And the turmoil goes on and on and on. We haven’t even touched on Travis Barker’s solo

haven’t heard of Matt Skiba—which, no, I’m pretty confident you haven’t—he’s a perfectly capable singer/guitarist from a comparable band who looks and even sounds a little bit like Delonge. In 2016 the new lineup released California and earned themselves their first number one album in over a decade. But despite the accolades and the lukewarm critical reception, there’s no denying that a certain something is

missing. Sure, all the songs are decent, the vocals sound right, the guitars are in tune, but it just doesn’t feel like the band I grew up with anymore. There are no more d--k jokes or big, goofy smiles. There’s no more fun. Their number one album kind of sucks. I don’t think Blink-182 can ever really recapture what they once had, and I believe that’s true in almost all walks of life. Trainspotting fans may remember it as Sick Boy’s grand, unifying theory of the universe: at one point you’ve got it, then you lose it. People grow up and grow apart, senses of humor change, life and family (or aliens) get in the way of things that were once one’s entire world. Maybe Delonge knew this on some level. Maybe that’s what he’s spent the better part of his adult life running away from. Because there simply is no Blink-182 anymore and there never will be again. And in the end, maybe it’s better to look towards the stars and towards the future rather than remain mired in recapturing a past long gone, even if nobody decides to come along for the ride. Do I believe that Delonge lied when he said he left the band to search for alien life? I’m not saying that (although I’m thinking it really loudly), but he’s got just about as good a chance of finding E.T. as Blink-182 has at convincing me everything will be alright without him. n

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THE WINE

MAN

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BY ROBERT KENNEDY

Generation Wine

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hat do we know about the “millennial” generation? Well, actually a lot, since they’ve been probed, studied, hated and praised like no other generation before them. Let’s start with the obvious: This group, also known as “Gen Y,” makes up 79 million people who were born between 1980 and the latter 1990’s. That is, they range in age from 21 to 38. (The perfect drinking age, of course!) They are ethnically diverse, inspired by others and love a good deal. We also know that most of the earlier born millennial children were “hard-wired” at birth. That is, they’ve been plugged into technology the likes of which our baby boomer generation will never know. And they love self-expression. What we may not know, and may surprise us, is their deep love of wine. That’s right; it’s worth repeating: These millennials love their fermented grape juice. Oh, I would have sworn it was their love of craft beer, and at times keg parties, which drew them to imbibe, right? But no, it’s actually that wonderfully enriched fruit juice so often thought of as connected to an older generation. After all, don’t most wineries target that stuffy baby boomer generation, who is willing to shell out for a good bottle of vino? Let’s understand some additional facts about this “millennial” group and how really connected they are to wine, keeping in mind that the last age of this assemblage became legally eligible to drink in 2015: Of all the wine consumed in that year, 42% was drunk by the millennials. Certainly almost more than the baby boomers (30%) and the Gen Xers (20%) combined. To put this amount in greater perspective, according to the Wine Market Counsel, millennials consumed 159.6 million cases of wine in 2015. That is an annual average of two cases per year, or 3.1 glasses per person, per sitting, considered “high frequency” drinkers. And this very special group just doesn’t purchase the $7.81 average bottle of wine. Nope. They go for the $20 bottle. Wow! Moreover, this group somewhat shied away from California wines, and took to the eclectic wines of Malbec, Moscato, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc from areas in the world including

Of all the wine consumed in 2015, 42% was drunk by millennials. Greece, Portugal and South Africa. To further breakdown the imbibing habits of this interesting group, women accounted for 57% of the 42% of the wines consumed in 2015 by all millennials, driving this industry’s growth to new heights. Unsurprisingly, there has been an explosion of Prosecco (sparkling wine) that is a favorite among women of this age group. The saying goes, “Wine, women and…” So, can it be said unequivocally that the millennials are more sophisticated, drawn by a better palate, a better education and ahead of any other generation when it comes to the very nectar that has been linked and marketed to their elders? Perhaps. nderstanding the habits of millennials will help answer this question, and part of the answer lies in social media, which is where, as we all know, this generation mostly resides. Technology is faster than the speed of light and sound, and it’s extremely important

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to these Gen Y’s that they research and educate themselves through these mediums. They are online, on Facebook, on Twitter and they communicate much more frequently than their predecessors. It’s very important to know what others think, and they get this validation through social media. More reports and recommendations about wine are on these sites than ever before, and this group is searching them out like no other. You don’t think wine industry marketers recognize this, and target this very important audience? Lead, follow or get out of the way! The millennials see life through the social media lens, and they love it. Their self-expression is truly shown through it, and their lives are expressed through a greater form of sophistication which is very hard to argue with. As a result of knowing this generation’s pulse, it shouldn’t surprise us that these millennials have put down the craft brew bottles and have elected to pick up the bottles which house this very special nectar of the gods. n 93

SAY GERV?

Got a question for Gerv?

Send your questions to: _______________________________________________________________________________

BY GERVASE PETERSON

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ay Gerv? My sister is going through a divorce, and it’s ugly because kids are involved. How can I help her understand that using the kids is wrong without her turning against me? – Peter, Manayunk, PA Peter, break ups are tough and angry breaks are even worse. When it comes down to it, it really doesn’t matter what your sister or brotherin-law did. What matters is making sure the kids are given love and support to help them through this tough time. Let your sister know that though her relationship didn’t work out, she’s getting divorced so she has to move on. The kids still love her, but they also love their dad too. If she paints him as a bad guy, that could backfire because kids are smart. They know more of what’s going on around them then we give them credit for. She doesn’t want them resenting her down the road for her actions. If Dad is a jerk she doesn’t have to tell them that, they’ll see it for themselves. Your job, Peter, is to make sure you are there for them. Be the best uncle possible, because while Mom and Dad may be fighting, having you there to get them away from it and to let them know everything will be all right will be more powerful than you think. You will be the best uncle ever and that, Peter, is something you can’t put a price tag on. Yeah for Uncle Peter! _________________________________________ Say Gerv? My wife says our son has to go to college, but I don’t think so if that’s not what he wants. What should we do? – Mario, Elkins Park, PA Mario, if your son wants to go to college, great. If he doesn’t, it’s not the end of the world. Maybe the answer is a community college, then transferring in two years. Trade schools are great if he knows that’s the career he wants to follow. I took a year off after high school to “find myself” and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. A year later I was still lost. That’s when my mom forged my name on paperwork and enrolled me in Lincoln Tech where I graduated with a degree in Electronic Technology, and went on to work for IBM. (Yes, my mom was crazy like that.) College wasn’t for me at that time in my life, but I still learned skills which led to a great career. It does seem like every job wants you to have a degree no matter what the 94

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position is, so college has become more important than ever. But what’s the point in sending him to college just to see him fail out? Mario, you and the wife need talk to your son and find out what he wants to do and help him come up with a plan. No matter what, let him know that education is crucial and that going to school somewhere to learn something is a must. Also, let him know that a degree automatically earns you at least $10,000 more than without one. That’s always a good selling point. _________________________________________ Say Gerv? My husband is a backseat driver whenever I’m behind the wheel. How can I get him to keep his comments and over-thetop reactions to himself? – Amy, Vineland, NJ

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you like and leave all the driving to him. I wonder how long that will last. _________________________________________ Say Gerv? After 15 years of marriage my wife has stopped doing the things I love. How can I get her to go back to the old her? – Thomas, Cherry Hill, NJ Thomas, I think we’ve all been there if we’ve been in a long term relationship with someone. It starts out all hot and steamy. The thrill of the chase keeps us captivated. Then we finally get what we’ve been dreaming of and slowly we stop putting in the same effort. Now if your wife has stopped doing things because she physically can’t anymore that’s understandable. But if she’s stopped because she doesn’t feel like it or is too busy then I’m calling b.s.! You al-

Backseat drivers are the worst. So, ban them from your car. Nobody’s got time for that mess.

Amy, I agree backseat drivers are the worst. I used to date a girl who constantly would step hard on the floor like she had a brake pedal and reach for the roof whenever a car two lights ahead of me would step on the brakes. When someone would change a lane without signaling, she would start screaming at me like it was my fault. So you know what I did? That’s right, I banned her from my car. If she was driving then we could ride together; if not, she had to drive herself. Was she mad about it? Of course. Did I have peace of mind whenever I drove? Absolutely! Nobody’s got time for that mess. So let your husband know he can do all the driving if he wants to. Now you can relax, read a book, play Pokemon Go or do whatever

ways make time for the things you care about. You always go out of your way for the people you care about. If you like holding hands, date nights or watching a movie at home, your wife should be willing to do those things for the simple fact that she loves you. But the same goes for you, Thomas. Don’t leave wifey hanging, and be an all-take-and-no-give kind of guy. Make sure you reciprocate and do the things she loves you to do. Next thing you know it’ll be like high school all over again. And I’m sure you remember how much fun that was. n Gervase Peterson is a cast member from the reality series “Survivor.” Gerv is an actor and entrepreneur and keeps busy fulfilling personal appearance requests and speaking engagements all across the country.