JerseyMan Magazine V8N4

ST. JOE’S LEGENDARY COACH

Phil Martelli

Danny Briere

by Dei Lynam

George Anastasia’s

MOB SCENE

Volume 8 • Number 4 – $3.95

Eagles Super Bowl Winning Head Coach

Doug Pederson Exclusive Interview

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PUBLISHER

FROM JerseyMan Magazine THE VOLUME 8 • NUMBER 4 ____________________________________________________________________________________

BY KEN DUNEK

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Ken Dunek Publisher e live in interesting times, historical times, times of change.

EDITOR George Brinkerhoff

The changes are social, political, and economic.

Even though change is uncomfortable, I was always told to embrace it because it is inevitable. Still, the change we are now experiencing is drastic and unprecedented in my lifetime.

Time to take a deep breath as a society and country and go back to the basics.

• Do unto others.

• Treat strangers like family and family like strangers.

• Always leave things a little better than you found them.

• Actions speak louder than words.

• S how compassion and kindness to someone for the sake of doing it, not for trying to get something out of it.

• Don’t trade your integrity for money. The money won’t last but the stain on your reputation will.

•G o about your business with steadfast resolve, and reap the rewards humbly, gratefully, and gracefully, because the rewards will come.

With all of our flaws we are still the greatest country in the history of the world. The United States of America is a place where people risk their lives, and the lives of their families to get to. Because here we have a chance to make our dreams come true.

ART DIRECTOR Steve Iannarelli CONTRIBUTING WRITERS George Anastasia, Jan L. Apple, George Brinkerhoff, Sam Carchidi, Harry Donahue, Alexandra Dunek, Jamie Dunek, Ken Dunek, Mark Eckel, Robert Kennedy, Mike Kern, Sam Kraft, Dei Lynam, Anthony Mongeluzo, Nick Santangelo, Kurt Smith, T. Jordan Wompierski Administrative Assistants Alexandra Dunek Allison Farcus Events Coordinator Ashley Dunek Assistant Events Coordinator Jamie Dunek Editorial 856-813-1153 Advertising 856-912-4007 Printing 856-813-1153 Controller Rose M. Balcavage

We are, and should always be, the land of opportunity.

And, God willing, that will never change.

Sales Associates Ashley Dunek, Jamie Dunek, Terri Dunek, Allison Farcus, Chris Kazmarck, JP Lutz JerseyMan Advisory Board Peter Cordua (Chairman). HBK CPAs & Consultants Nick DeRose. . . . . . . . . Legacy Treatment Services Photo Jamie Dunek

Joseph Devine (Emeritus). . . . . . . Kennedy Health Ted Flocco (Emeritus). . . . . . . . . . . Ernst & Young Bob Hoey. . . . . . . . . . . Janney Montgomery Scott Jeffrey Jaskol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Jaskol Group Robert Kennedy. . . . . . . . The Kennedy Companies Julie LaVan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LaVan Law Anthony Mongeluzo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCS Mike Regina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Big Sky Enterprises Les Vail. . . Gloucester Co. Chamber of Commerce

“You fail all the time. But you aren’t a failure until you start blaming someone else.”

– Bum Phillips JerseyMan Magazine/PhillyMan Magazine, products of the partnership of Ken Dunek, Alex Kazmarck and Anthony Mongeluzo, are published by New Opportunity Publishing, LLC, with offices at 7025 Central Highway, Pennsauken, NJ, 08109. Copyright 2018.

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INSIDE 40 Exclusive Interview

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JerseyMan Magazine VOLUME 8 • NUMBER 4

DANNY BRIERE

by DEI LYNAM

28 PHIL MARTELLI

St. Joseph’s Hawks Legendary Hoops Coach

28

32 MIKE McLAUGHLIN

Penn Women’s Basketball Coach

34 THE GOLF PRO’S GOLF PRO

Leo Fraser of Atlantic City Country Club

38 JOE McPEAK

94WIP Eagles Radio Producer

46 TERRY BRADWAY

NFL Executive Living the Football Life

50 FEDERICO CASTELLUCCIO

Eagles Super Bowl Winning Head Coach

Doug Pederson C O LU M N S

Actor. Director. Painter.

54 MIKE CHALENSKI

Founder of Comprehensive Screening Solutions

58 BEMER BRINGS RELIEF

Breakthrough Medical Technology

1 2 J O T T I N G S • 1 8 F E E L G O O D P H I L LY • 2 0 G E O R G E A N A S TA S I A ’ S M O B S C E N E

24 GET FIT • 26 WHERE WE EAT • 70 THE CIGAR GUY • 72 TECH TI ME • 78 THE WI N E MA N

jerseymanmagazine.com

Cover photograph Philadelphia Eagles

JOTTINGS

______________________________________________________________________________

BY GEORGE BRINKERHOFF

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ere’s a great excuse to do something a little different this fall.

If you follow this trail, you’ll check out some less travelled sections of South Jersey known mainly for their farms, rural roads and quiet setting and also sample some tempting varieties of locally produced wine along the way. What’s not to love? The Two Bridges Wine Trail promotes a group of nine local wineries, all set against a picturesque pastoral setting. The Two Bridges are the Commodore Barry and the Delaware Memorial, and the Wine Trail is a 53 mile trail encompassing Auburn Road Vineyard & Winery, Bellview Winery, Cedarvale Winery, Chestnut Run Farm, Coda Rossa Winery, Heritage Vineyards, Monroeville Vineyard & Winery, Summit City Farms & Winery and Wagonhouse Winery. Each winery is as unique

as are their products, and, depending when you go, each establishment may have activities and entertainment while you’re enjoying the best of each vineyard. Around the area you can also find local restaurants, historical sites and even places to stay for the night. Go to the website and plan your own ‘staycation’ at www.twobridgeswinetrailnj.com.

Cedarvale Winery

Heritage Vineyards

Bellview Winery

Auburn Road Vineyard

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Monroeville Vineyard & Winery

What we read.

Mr. All-Around – The Life of Tom Gola

By David Grzybowski Publication Date: November 2018 • Temple University Press

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ant to read about a remarkable Philadelphian?

Look no further than David Grzybowski’s homage to the amazing life of Philadelphia Big Five basketball icon Tom Gola, Mr. All-Around, scheduled for release in November 2018. Gola was a gifted athlete who, through hard work and determination made himself into an exceptionally talented player, leading La Salle to the NIT championship in 1952 and then to the NCAA championship in 1954. He still holds the NCAA record for most rebounds in a career. As a rookie in 1956, he helped the Philadelphia Warriors win the NBA championship, and was named an NBA AllStar five times before his retirement in 1966. He then returned to coach the La Salle Explorers and developed highly competitive teams.

After basketball, he became a dedicated public servant, both as a Pennsylvania State Representative and Philadelphia City Controller. He even tried running for mayor. And the common denominator throughout all his endeavors was his character. As Grzybowski writes, “Throughout his career, Tom Gola made a significant impression on his teammates and his opponents on the court and in the political arena. It is remarkable to review the statements of those who worked with him and see the same characteristics recur: his integrity, his humility, his loyalty, and his care for others.”

David Grzybowski’s thoroughly researched volume is filled with the kind of richly detailed reporting which deftly pencils in the finer lines of the portrait he presents in Mr. All-Around. And anyone with an interest in Philadelphia basketball will enjoy the anecdotes and the interviews, the people and the places offering unique insights and perspectives about Tom Gola’s accomplishments and full life.

“Success isn’t measured by money, power, or social rank. Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace.”

– Mike Ditka 13

Add something new to your next tailgate party

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EXT TIME YOU GET A HANKERING for local comfort food, how about tucking into a bona fide South Jersey creation (well, via Italy)! Pauline Tarantini was taught how to make panzarottis at the age of 7 by her mother in Brindisi, Italy. What’s a panzarotti, you ask? Well, it’s a deep-fried “pizza-like pastry” that “tastes like a pizza and looks like an apple turnover.” When served, its bubbled, crunchy surface is warm, golden brown and delicious.

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WO BROTHERS FROM NEW JERSEY, Michael and Frank Silva, have developed a game which captures perfectly the essence of sandlot football experiences many of us had as kids, and turned it into a great activity that anyone can play almost anywhere. QB54 is a simple and fun way to play a truncated version of football in a limited space. The game includes two lawn chairs and with net baskets added

The Tarantini Family

Pauline and her family immigrated to the U.S., and the mother of 10, facing financial hardship in 1960, began frying panzarottis by hand in her Camden, NJ home, and her husband, Leopold, began selling them to local businesses for 25 cents apiece. Business was so good they were able to open a store nearby. And demand was growing so much, they developed a machine that reproduced panzarottis exactly as Pauline did, in ever increasing numbers.

It’s a real American success story. Today, though their facilities have grown along with their production, they are still a local South Jersey based company continuing the tradition of making and selling a quality product to many satisfied customers. A 1964 Philadelphia Inquirer headline about the Tarantini family which celebrated their success, summed it up perfectly: “Camden Family in Land of Opportunity: ‘Dream’ Turns into Reality”.

to the seats. Next, attachable goal posts are fixed to the back of the chairs, and, thus, you have a football field, complete with its own handy carrying bag. The rules are as follows: Set the chairs 40 feet apart. The object of game is to throw the football into the basket. Hitting the chair is three points, getting the ball in the basket is six points and you can kick for extra points. The first team to 54 wins!

When not in play, you can pull the flap over the basket and sit yourself down on the chairs with your favorite beverage. The best part is it can be packed up and played anywhere, at the beach, at the park or tailgating.

What’s not to love?! Check out the videos, the complete rules and place your order at playqb54.com. Makes a really cool gift, and, yes, you’re welcome! n

“Perfection is not attainable.

But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.”

To find an Original Tarantini Panzarotti near you, search for the closest retailer on their website at panzarotti.us.

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– Vince Lombardi

Moorestown Breakfast Rotary Club Welcomes New President – Moorestown, NJ Chef Georges Perrier Wine Dinner Caffe Aldo Lamberti – Cherry Hill, NJ

Moorestown Breakfast Rotary Club passed the gavel to the new President Grant Leuliette, and he was welcome by his father, the clubs first President 30 years ago.

In addition to past President Dick Leuliette, they were joined by Founding Members Rick Young, Dr. Jack Ginsburg, Don Petroski, Bill Brown, & Dr. Phil Cooper. Both Leuliette’s met each other with a hug and saying “Good morning, Mr. President to each other”. Pictured: President Grant Leuliette, Founding President Dick Leuliette, Rick Young, Dr. Jack Ginsburg, Don Petroski, Bill Brown, & Dr. Phil Cooper

Petro Cohen Petro Matarazzo Presents “Doctorate Degree” Scholarship – Northfield, NJ Chef Georges Perrier (top) prepared dinner and met with guests at the Chef Georges Perrier Wine Dinner at Caffe Aldo Lamberti in Cherry Hill, NJ. Photos by Ash Habashi.

The Eagles Autism Challenge

The Philadelphia Eagles recently announced that the 2nd annual Eagles Autism Challenge presented by Lincoln Financial Group will take place on Saturday, May 18, 2019. The Eagles Autism Challenge is a one-day bike ride and family-friendly 5K run/walk that begins and ends at Lincoln Financial Field. One hundred percent of participant-raised funds go on to benefit world-class institutions that are conducting cutting-edge autism research in Philadelphia. The inaugural event, held in May 2018, raised in excess of $2.5 million, featured more than 3,300 bikers, runners and walkers, and included 24,700 donors from 20 countries. The event is fully supported by Eagles players, coaches, alumni, team executives, cheerleaders and SWOOP. To sign up or for more information, visit www.eaglesautismchallenge.org.

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For the fifth consecutive year, the law firm of Petro Cohen Petro Matarazzo has partnered with Kids’ Chance of New Jersey (KCNJ) to award a student with financial hardship a “Doctorate Degree” scholarship. The scholarship benefits young adults who have endured financial burdens due to the loss or serious injury of a parent during a workplace accident. The 2018-2019 scholarship recipient is once again South Amboy, NJ resident Scott Kwiatek, who is finishing a Bachelors of Arts degree in Business at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). L to R: Attorney Frank Petro, Scott Kwiatek, Attorney Susan Petro. Photo by EpicShottz.com.

Samaritan’s Annual Golf Tournament Raises More Than $175,000 for Patients and Families – Marlton, NJ

“Drive FORE! A Good Cause,” Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice’s 28th Annual Golf Tournament, recently welcomed 180 golfers to Little Mill Country Club to raise funds and awareness for Samaritan’s not-for-profit services. The tournament, sponsored by The Richardson Family Dealerships, raised more than $175,000 to help Samaritan provide care for community members coping with aging, serious illness, or grief, and to assist patients and their families live each day to the fullest with dignity, comfort, and support.

From left: Golf Committee Co-Chair Cliff Mancine of Dress Loud Contest Sponsor Mancine Optical; Golf Committee Co-Chair Roy Fazio of The Protocall Group; Jim and Shirley Richardson of Presenting Sponsor The Richardson Family Dealerships, Board Chair John Gillespie; President/CEO Mary Ann Boccolini

L to R: Joe Cronin, Bill Emerson, Cate Heaman, Brian Libby

ADVERTISE WITH US contact: ken@jerseymanmagazine.com 17

Feel Good PHILLY

BY JAMIE DUNEK _______________________________________________________________________________

Local stories to live inspired…

Superhero Strength

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CAME ACROSS HIS PAGE after scrolling through a friend’s Instagram feed. “Stumped on a caption” read one post, lightheartedly referring to his amputated arm noticeable in the picture. Courageous, I thought as I continued on. “I think someone already took a bite out of this meal (one arm joke),” read another caption. I LOL’d. The farther down on his timeline I scrolled, the more I learned about the stranger,

and the more I was amazed by his strength. My feelings were affirmed by a recent video; “No days off, chest work,” which accompanied his latest gym session. Alright, who was this guy? That’s when I stumbled upon the motorcycle accident pictures. And the posts dated two years prior that showed the life of a normal 21-year-old. Suddenly, I found myself on my way to coffee, having to meet Ankit Gohil in person. n

Gohil

d Sidekicks,

Superheroes an To All My Fellow

was riding home lost my life. As I t os alm I 16 20 , August 15 through my tinted Two years ago, on e. I looked down m t hi ck tru p -u ly torn off, use, a pick ot almost complete from a friend’s ho fo d an m ar t lef arly see my tibia and fibula visor, and could cle rough my skin, my th ng di ru ot pr d d in half an conscious. I was my femur snappe en. Yet, I remained op d pe rip ea ar abdomen to a medically fractured, and my where I was put in l, ita sp Ho ty rsi entire left side oper Unive helicoptered to Co urs, as they put my ho 12 ted las y er my life. Since y first surg induced coma. M amputated to save s wa m ar ht rig timately, my different times. back together. Ul rk done on me 25 wo d ha e I’v , 16 August 15, 20 my body ng hit, and seeing g for impact, getti in ac br pain, feelr of be Founder Kat Jost (left) and team at a monthly volunteer outing. ng em m eli I’ll always re member the fe re s ay alw l I’l dured y. en da ve at th ha t I ar at ap th rn of All completely to going to make it.

I started not knowing if I’m e of the accident, us ca Be at. ing helpless, and th in e id pr e tak I yo I am, and supports ung Foundation. This has made me who ily m Fa l hi Go J. A. d the The t from just the a non-profit calle and injuries. Apar ies lit bi so sa di , es ss nic illne ilies. Through my children with chro fit the child’s fam ne be d an ver t ne or I n pp th childre work to su children, we also t to and connect wi ou h ac re c to ni le ro ab ch I’ve been ds who have called “disability” symbol, for all ki a is go lo y M . re to befo thought I’d be able E superheroes. ies, that THEY AR lit bi sa di illnesses or an I’ve spent more th ng better each day. tti ge am e I th t to bu e d, recovere have com ere I used to be. I I’m far from fully g to get back to wh in try y physically, but in ap t er no th be in half a year used to be, may I e er wh lity st pa y , I’m wa e to use my disabi realization though constantly tells m He e. m ed ss ble pty!

God has all other aspects. instead of half em the arm half full, at ok lo to d an ty as credibili il

-A.J. Goh

Reach out to Ankit to learn more about ways you can get involved: 18

@KitGohil

theajgohilfamilyfoundation@gmail.com • www.theajgohilfamilyfoundation.org

MOB SCENE

_______________________________________________________________________________

BY GEORGE ANASTASIA

You Can’t Beat the Tapes!

Words of wisdom from mobster “Joey Electric” Servidio: “Eighty percent of witnesses got the wrong person, eighty percent…. So, without any corroborating evidence, you know what I mean, you can beat that, you know. The things that you can’t beat are the tapes, with you saying it. That’s what you did, you know.”

Servidio, a convicted drug dealer and member of the North Jersey branch of the Philadelphia mob, has been around. The 58-year-old wiseguy, who claimed he “made his bones” when he was just 19, was speaking from experience.

Problem was, he was also speaking to an FBI informant who was wearing a body wire and recording the conversation.

For more than a year, beginning in June 2016, Servidio, his drug dealing partners, along with members and associates of the Philadelphia mob, were picked up in a series of conversations recorded by the informant and by an undercover FBI agent posing as a criminal friend of the cooperator.

Servidio and three others, including Philadelphia wiseguy Salvatore “Sammy” Piccolo, have been arrested on drug dealing charges built around those tapes, FBI surveillance and drug buys carried out by the undercover agent and the informant.

The drug ring dealt in heroin, cocaine, meth and marijuana. The drug deals included the sale of little blue pills, manufactured by one of Joey Electric’s partners, that were designed to look like oxycodone tablets. In fact, they consisted of heroin and fentanyl.

Based on the tapes, the case looks like a slam dunk.

Joey Electric said as much.

Witnesses don’t always get it right. And mob informants who take the stand can be challenged. Their motives and credibility are always in question. They can be beat up on cross-examination.

But you can’t cross-examine a tape. That’s the problem defense attorneys will have with the Servidio conversations.

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And there could be more. The bare bones of the investigation are outlined in a 65-page affidavit filed by FBI Agent Mark Hindle after Servidio and the others were arrested earlier this year. The document includes snippets of conversations that were recorded; details dozens of meetings in which drug deals were discussed and carried out, and references to other unnamed mobsters, including a young South Philadelphia mob capo who approved the drug dealing operation.

Neither that capo nor the cooperating witness was identified at the time of the arrests.

But underworld sources say the cooperator is Anthony Persiano, a longtime mover and shaker in South Philadelphia mob circles with a reputation as a con man and hustler. The capo in question, those same sources say, is Domenic Grande, a young up-and-comer in the Philadelphia crime family.

HE DRUG INVESTIGATION appears to be a piece of a bigger probe in which other members and associates of the organization, including Grande, may be charged.

Persiano and his undercover FBI cohort met with and recorded conversations with many of the players in the Philadelphia mob. It’s the same old story for the struggling crime family—a wiseguy wearing a wire. And as this case plays out, the questions many local mobsters are asking themselves are “What did I say to him?” and “Was he wearing a wire when I said it?”

There are, on the tapes, discussions about how the mob operates, about how guys making money on the street have to “kick up” to higher ranking members of the organization and about how no one can get involved in a criminal enterprise without the approval of his capo.

On July 4, 2016, at a meeting in Atlantic City, according to the affidavit, Persiano (identified as confidential source number one in the

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document) discusses his drug dealing plans with Grande (identified only as Individual 2).

“I won’t make a move without checking with you,” the confidential source is quoted as saying.

“Yeah, do what you gotta do,” replies the capo.

On another tape that focuses on mob protocol, the same capo tells Persiano that Servidio has to clear his actions with his capo.

Servidio, according to several sources, is part

Mob informants who take the stand can be challenged.

Their motives and credibility are always in question.

But you can’t cross-examine a tape.

of a crew headed by Joseph “Scoops” Licata, a Newark-based mob leader and veteran of the Philadelphia crime family.

ERVIDIO, who grew up in North Jersey, relocated to Marmora, just outside of Ocean City, where he worked as an electrical contractor. But authorities say he still reports to Licata. Whether Scoops was aware of what Servidio was up to is one question that the investigation has yet to answer. But indications from the tapes and from other sources

S

are that Servidio, who has a prior drug conviction for which he served time, may have gone rogue so that he didn’t have to “kick up” any of his drug income.

In the underworld, money is always the primary object. And making sure it flows up is the primary concern of mob leaders.

“Believe me, whatever I do, it goes up,” the capo, believed to be Grande, said in another conversation recorded by Persiano. “And all this is, is structure. What you do, I do the same. I do it on a weekly basis.”

The Persiano tapes, starring Servidio, are the latest chapter in an electronic history of a crime family under siege. Most of the major cases against the Philadelphia mob over the past 30 years have been built around cooperating witnesses and tapes.

Whether it was mobster George Fresolone recording for the New Jersey State Police (and taping his own mob initiation ceremony) or Big Ron Previte strapping on a wire for the FBI, law enforcement has always had an ear inside the organization. Electronic surveillance also included tapes made for over two years from bugs planted in the Camden law office of the late mob attorney Salvatore Avena and listening devices and wiretaps used to track the conversations of mob boss Ralph Natale (who later became a cooperator).

Servidio’s conversations—and we’ve only gotten to see some of them—figure to enhance that archival history while contributing to yet another round of indictments and possible convictions.

“I’m a criminal,” he said in one conversation recorded on July 26, 2017, according to the FBI affidavit. “Everything I do is criminal…. I need like $250,000-a-year…to break even.”

And dealing drugs, he frankly admitted on another tape, is how he generates that income.

In a sad and tragic conversation recorded in April 2017, Servidio talked about a friend’s son who had died of a drug overdose.

“His wife, when I talked to her, she said, `You’re the only person that ever sold drugs that I love. I despise people because my son OD’d…Joe, please stop what you’re doing.

You hurt people. People like you hurt people.’”

According to the tape, Persiano then asked Servidio, “You think she’s right?”

“Yes.” Servidio said.

“What’s wrong with us?” Persiano asked.

“It’s the most money I can make,” Servidio replied. “I like to spend money.”

If this case every goes to trial, that’s just one of more than a dozen taped conversations a jury will hear.

It’ll be a case built around Joey Electric in his own words.

And he knows going in, you can’t beat the tapes. n 21

DEI LYNAM

_______________________________________________________________________________

Coming Home

Danny Briere scored 124 goals for the Flyers in six seasons with the club.

Danny Briere has not taken to the ice in his No. 48 Flyers sweater in five years, but like so many Flyers alumni, he remains a fan favorite. That is one of the reasons Briere, who was born and raised in Gatineau, Quebec, decided to make Philadelphia home when his hockey career came to an end in 2015.

“The Flyers family is a bond that is really strong, stronger than any other organization in hockey,” Briere said. “I believe it started with Mr. Snider. He created that and wanted that for his players. He told me many times, ‘Once you are a Flyer, you are always a Flyer because that never leaves you.’ That is pretty cool to hear, and Comcast Spectacor now is going in that same di22

‘‘

My heart was telling me to go to Montreal, but my head was telling me to go to Philadelphia. That was one of the best decisions I have made in my life.”

rection. They want to keep that same vibe about the Flyers and their players.”

Ed Snider’s name is synonymous with the Philadelphia Flyers. He passed away in 2016, but he was very much involved as owner of the team when the organization landed Briere as a free agent in the summer of 2007. Briere played six seasons wearing the orange and black, scoring 124 goals while totaling 283 points, and twice being named to the All-Star game during his Flyers stint.

“I was 29 years old when I signed with the Flyers,” Briere said. “I was a late bloomer compared to most of the guys. Guys usually have their best years when they are 25 years old to 26 in hockey. I had my best years between 28 and 33 years old. A lot of guys are physically ready to play professional hockey when they are 19 years

old. But when I was that age, I wasn’t physically developed enough to compete with men yet. I needed a couple of extra years. I was 22 or 23 years old when I finally turned the corner and could match-up physically with the pro players.”

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RIERE’S PERSONAL JOURNEY was not one of instant NHL success. He had to persevere and be patient at the same time. After being drafted in 1996 by Phoenix 24th overall, Briere spent his first four pro seasons shuffling back and forth between the NHL and the Coyotes AHL affiliate. It was frustrating at times, but that experience prepared him well for the job he has currently been asked to do.

Last summer, Comcast Spectacor, owner of the Flyers, purchased the rights to the dormant

Alaska Aces of the ECHL and moved them to Portland, Maine. While the team is an affiliate of the New York Rangers, Flyers President Paul Holmgren is the team’s governor, and Holmgren hired Briere to be his vice president of operations.

“Hockey is still my passion,” Briere said.

“That is what I have done my whole life. That is what I love. The Flyers have given me the opportunity to learn the business side and also to toy around with the building of a team, so it is a lot of fun.”

The Mariners inaugural season begins October 13, 2018. The roster is shaping up with 17 players under contract. And the team will call Cross Insurance Arena its home, a rink renovated two and a half years ago and managed by Spectra.

“I will spend a lot of time up there,” Briere said. “It is mostly a weekend league so I will try to deal with a lot of the work from here, and then I am going to try and catch as many games as I can in Portland.”

This job is a do-everything position. Briere has been shadowing Holmgren learning the business side of hockey the past couple of years.

Now along with Mariners head coach Riley Armstrong, Briere will make hockey decisions too.

He intends to learn as much as possible at the minor league level with hopes of having options

in the future.

“I am just trying to take it all in,” Briere said, knowing a decision to follow the business side versus the hockey side is likely coming. “I love that this job has taken me out of my comfort zone. It is forcing me to learn and listen to people around me. I love that part, but hockey is my passion. I still love the game; I love watching the game, so right now I am enjoying being in the middle of all of it and having to touch all of it.

“Hopefully I won’t have to make that decision one way or the other. Usually, the stars align and you know when it’s time to make a decision. It is similar to me knowing when it was time for me to retire. I have a feeling it is going to be the same with this.”

Looking back on the summer of 2007 when Briere was a highly sought after free agent, his final decision came down to joining his hometown team, the Canadiens, or the Flyers. He had no idea how far reaching that decision would become.

“Obviously my heart was telling me to go to Montreal, but my head was telling me to go to Philadelphia,” Briere shared. “I look back and know that was one of the best decisions I have made in my life, but it was one of the toughest as well. But I don’t regret it at all. I still live here; Philadelphia is my home. n

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GET FIT

For more guidance follow Alexandra, NASM Certified

Personal Trainer on Instagram at @TipsfromAFitChick ______________________________________________________________________________________________

BY ALEXANDRA DUNEK

Stay Strong Get Out! FROM CANCER TO BODYBUILDING, 19 YEAR OLD, HAZEM KHATEEB FROM LANSDALE, PA HAS AN I N S P I R I N G STO RY O F D E T E R M I N AT I O N .

Hazem, who goes by Haz for short, was doing pull-ups at the gym one day when he felt pain in his neck. After a trip to the doctor’s and a biopsy he was soon diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which, somewhat surprisingly, is fairly common in teenagers.

During that time, Haz & his family were living in Damascus, Syria where the treatment is limited. In 2014, Haz and his mother decided to move to Philadelphia where he joined a long line of family members and access to better healthcare opportunities.

He continued his treatment, this time at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, which is one of the oldest full-service hospitals in the United States and leader in pediatric care.

During his time at St. Christopher’s, he underwent 25 rounds of radiation and eight surgeries, one of which included a bone marrow transplant. He says, “Since my diagnosis, I never cried and said, ‘Why me? Why not somebody else?’ Did I cry from pain? Yes of course, but I never cried from being negative. I always stayed positive and kept my head up.”

Haz explains that he didn’t like how he looked after his transplant, especially since he grew up as an athlete. He knew he wanted to do something about it so he turned to bodybuilding. Even though he was still sick and the doctors didn’t agree with weight lifting (saying his bones and joints were too frail) he hit the gym, became stronger and went from 115 lbs. to 180 lbs.

Khateeb underwent 25 rounds of radiation and eight surgeries (above), today he is a competitive powerlifter and body builder (right).

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He went on to compete in powerlifting where he placed first in two different competitions, completing 500 and 600 pound deadlifts. He also did a bodybuilding show this past August. He says he wants to be the one person to teach everyone to be unstoppable and to

“ The way I look at it, I am the luckiest person that I got diagnosed with Hodgkin’s because it taught me a lot.

It taught me to be strong.” reach for your goals. I think his story proves just that.

“The way I look at it, I am the luckiest person that I got diagnosed with it (Hodgkin’s Lymphoma) because it taught me a lot. It taught me to be strong.”

Haz has been in remission since 2016. He is currently attending Montgomery Community College as a bio-chem major. He also works as a personal trainer and is a manager at a local GNC. n

Where We Eat Follow along as we taste and sip our way through Philly’s well-known establishments and hidden gems.

Battle of the Burger(s) Sports fans, football season is upon us. What screams game time more than your green-faced tailgating partner chanting our city’s beloved manifesto, FLY EAGLES FLY? The juicy, cheese-covered, grilled-to-perfection burger he reaches for after a big win. We decided to narrow down where you can find the best burgers this season, straight from the mouths of the pros. Here’s what our favorite Instagram foodies had to say about their best burger picks around the city.

“The juicy Angus burger is cooked exactly how you ask for it to be. The fried green tomato on top with grilled onions is a perfect complement to the basil mayo and cheddar. And the bun!!

Omg the bun! It’s a poppy seeded roll that you just cannot leave behind!” – Stacey, @phillystory P.O.P.E BURGER, $9 The Pub On Passyunk East 1501 Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia • (215)-755-5125 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– “I’d go with Rex 1516’s house special burger. The burger patty itself has a nice sear and temp, but the generous heaps of bacon, textured from the fried onions, and the slight kick from the pimento cheese really make each bite.”

– John, @bellyofthepig HAMBURGER, $14 Rex 1516 1516 South St., Philadelphia • (267) 319-1366 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– “This burger is decadent -- cooked and seasoned perfectly -- 6 oz of FRESH (never frozen) ground black Angus beef, hand-formed and grilled to perfection (medium-rare for me), American cheese, bacon, fried egg, fried potatoes, and ketchup!

Absolutely delicious!” – Marilyn, @phillygrub SUNDAY BRUNCH BURGER, $7.45 Moon Dog Grill Moorestown Mall (NJ) Dining Court • (856) 206-9773 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– “I can’t get enough of the Kraftwork Burger from Kraftwork in Fishtown. The all-beef patty, made from a dry-aged blend is always cooked to perfection and to top it off there is a hefty list of customizable toppings. This means I get a new experience every time I visit! My favorite toppings, by far, are the fried egg and their house-made bacon-red onion marmalade.”

– Geo, @geostable KRAFTWORK BURGER, $13 Kraftwork 541 East Girard Ave., Philadelphia • 215-739-1700

“The Bistro is a well-known corner establishment in the middle of Downtown Haddonfield. They get our vote for the best burger! Our go-to is the LAMB BURGER. A MUST TRY! All-Natural Fresh Ground Pat Lafrieda Lamb Burger, Topped with a Homemade Fig Onion Jam, & Gorgonzola, on an Artisan Roll with Arugula. Served with Truffle Parmesan Fries.”

– Briana, @inbetweenrivers LAMB BURGER, $14.80 The Bistro 57 East Kings Highway, Haddonfield, NJ • 856.354.8702

In Between Rivers IBR is a professional content creating service partnering with local businesses in Philadelphia to grow your social media presence. We produce alluring, high quality, engaging content featuring the things that you are most proud of. www.inbetweenrivers.com • info@inbetweenrivers.com • Follow us @inbetweenrivers 26

Photo St. Joseph’s University

A

BY T. JORDAN WOMPIERSKI

28

lthough his official job title at St. Joseph’s University is Men’s Basketball Head Coach, for all intents and purposes, Phil Martelli is not much different from the 308 academic faculty members employed by the university. Through 23 years at the helm of the Hawks, Martelli has led St. Joe’s to plenty of basketball success, but more importantly, in his eyes, are the life lessons he’s imparted on his players. Despite a school record 430 wins, four Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year designations, and a national coach of the year award, it’s the personal relationships Martelli has developed that mean the most to him.

“It has nothing to do with the wins, or the accolades, or the articles,” Martelli said of his daily motivation. “I like to think that I’m going to touch every person that I meet and every person that I come into contact with. That’s not always the case, but that’s why I do it. I want to have an impact on other people’s lives.”

Martelli, 63, said the special relationships he cultivates with his students are the accomplishments he’s most proud of from his two-plus decades at the helm of the Hawks.

“I’m proudest of the number of players that call to share their life stories with me after St. Joseph’s,” he said, noting that he stays in touch with a significant number of St. Joe’s alumni. “I have been impacted by every player. Every single player has had an impact on me, and for that, I can never re-pay them.”

Phil Martelli Making an Impact

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS are the reason Martelli pursued a career in basketball in the first place. As a youngster growing up in southwest Philadelphia and later in Lansdowne, Pa., the other neighborhood kids his age were into basketball, so Martelli picked up the game as well. During his early days playing in local Catholic Youth Organization basketball leagues, Martelli encountered a number of influential coaches who would shape his future.

“I met three coaches in CYO who made me crazy about the game,” Martelli recalled. “John Steele, Tom Gallagher, and Pete O’Keefe—they made me love this game and appreciate the game and want to follow in their footsteps.”

Martelli was around 12 years old when he started playing basketball, but it didn’t take long for him to establish himself as a talented

and intelligent player. While other kids his age fantasized about playing in the NBA, Martelli just dreamed of becoming a coach.

“Even when I was a young kid, I knew I wanted to coach because of the way they treated all of us,” he said. “It was just very special.”

After a successful college career as a point guard at Widener University, where he set school records for single-season and career assists, Martelli started his coaching career when he landed an assistant coaching job at Cardinal O’Hara High School under former Hawk Bud Gardler. He parlayed that into an assistant coaching position at Widener, where he stayed for one season, and then landed his first head coaching gig at Bishop Kenrick High School.

While he was thrilled to be coaching basketball full-time, Martelli’s ultimate goal was to become an NCAA Division I coach.

“I was hoping to be a Division I head coach, but where that would be, I didn’t know,” he said.

After seven years at Bishop Kenrick, Martelli got his big break. St. Joe’s Head Coach Jim Boyle, who knew Martelli from his time at Widener, offered him a job as a restricted-earnings coach with the Hawks. Martelli turned out to be a great fit, and after 10 years as an assistant coach at St. Joseph’s, he was promoted to head coach in 1995.

“It was overwhelming when I first took over, because you don’t know what you don’t know,” Martelli said. “I just knew that what I

A FAMILY GUY When Martelli isn’t busy coaching, recruiting, or doing charity work, he cherishes the free time he has with his family.

“I love my family,” he said. “In the offseason, it’s kind of simple to me. Is there something I can do with my family? Because I spend a lot of time with other people’s families and other people’s kids.”

Martelli and his wife Judy have three adult children, and they’ve all followed in Martelli’s footsteps to some degree.

Daughter Elizabeth and son Phil Jr. are both St. Joseph’s graduates, with Phil Jr. playing college ball for the Hawks before embarking on his own coaching career. He was recently named an assistant coach at Bryant University. Son Jimmy played at the University of Scranton and spent eight years as an assistant coach at various universities before landing in his current gig as director of basketball operations for Virginia Commonwealth University.

“It’s very humbling,” Martelli said of his kids’ basketball careers. “It’s also very angst-driven, because you know how hard this profession is. You want them to realize that there are challenges, but if they stay true to themselves, they’re going to be very successful.”

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In addition to the St. Joseph’s University Hawks, Philadelphia sports fans have plenty of other Division I basketball teams to follow: La Salle, Temple, the University of Pennsylvania, and Villanova comprise the “Philadelphia Big 5” with St. Joe’s, while Drexel University also fields a D-I team in the city. Martelli appreciates the fact that Philadelphia is home to so many prestigious basketball programs.

“I like the fact that there’s six different schools in Philadelphia,” Martelli said. “I really do appreciate that.”

For as good as the Hawks have been at times during Martelli’s career, the recent spotlight has gone to Villanova, winners of the 2016 and 2018 National Championship.

“I would be less than honest if I didn’t say I was envious, but I think it’s a good envy,” Martelli said. “I really do. It’s a good envy because I want that. I want that for my players and my school and my program.”

While St. Joseph’s and Villanova are considered rivals, Martelli has enjoyed watching Villanova’s recent runs.

“I’m delighted for my friend Jay Wright, and I’m delighted for the many, many, many Villanova faithful who are so proud of their school and so proud of their program,” he said.

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Photo St. Joseph’s University

PHILLY RIVALS

Photo Ashley Dunek

wanted to do was to leave the program better than when I came in. I wanted to be able to give it my all and to see if I could have a positive impact on the school, the community, and on the players that we were able to attract.”

He never could have imagined the success he’d encounter in the role. Twenty-three years and 430 wins later, Martelli is still going strong.

He signed a multi-year extension in 2015 to ensure Philadelphia remains his home.

“Obviously, this is a dream,” said Martelli, who would have pursued a career as a high school teacher if basketball coaching didn’t pan out. “I’ve never had to move. That’s very special, and it continues to be very special.”

––––– THE ONLY THING MORE SPECIAL than coaching in his home city and working with the countless young players he’s encountered over the years would be to bring an NCAA National Championship to St. Joe’s. Such a task would take the perfect combination of coaching and on-court talent, but Martelli stresses that there’s more to a successful team than coaching strategy and athletic ability. When he recruits students to play for the Hawks, Martelli looks for more than just basketball talent.

“It’s a cliché to say you want better people than you want players, but that’s exactly the way I feel,” he said. “We want the right combination of player and people—more people than player. Personality and character is enormous.”

Martelli believes the Hawks have an excellent mix of talent and character on their 201819 team, and even though the experts might not peg St. Joe’s as a contender for the National Championship, Martelli believes they have a chance to win it all—a feat the school has never accomplished, with their most recent deep run coming under Martelli’s direction in 2004, when the Hawks reached the “Elite 8” stage of the NCAA March Madness tournament.

“Why not?” he asked. “If you don’t dream big, then you’re playing it safe. We dream big, and I dream big. The goal here is to make dreams a reality, and obviously we all have a dream of playing late, late into March. That’s why I come to the office every day. It’s why I wake up.”

Regardless of whether or not St. Joseph’s is able to capture that elusive title under Martelli’s regime, Martelli will forever be known as one of the best and most beloved coaches in Philadelphia history.

“I’ve been very, very fortunate to be able to chase my dream of being a Division I head coach in the city where I grew up,” Martelli said. “I love what I do and I’m driven to help others.” n

GIVING BACK Always a man of the people, one of the aspects of his job that Martelli enjoys most is the ability to use his notoriety to give back to the community.

“Whether it’s ‘Coaches vs. Cancer’ or any of the other charity endeavors, I want people to in Philadelphia to feel like they know me, and not just the coach,” he said.

Over the years, Martelli has done what he can to make that a reality, and he’s well-known for his charity work in addition to his coaching. As a result, he receives countless donation requests each year.

“I try to fulfill as many requests as I can,” Martelli said. “And I don’t say this in a self-deprecating way, but I don’t think signing anything really does anything. I’d rather contribute something unique like a lunch or a clinic.”

One organization that was a recent beneficiary of Martelli’s generosity was Sheltered Yoga, a local nonprofit that facilitates mental health and wellness to under-served and at-risk communities through yoga. When Sheltered Yoga was collecting auction prizes for their annual golf outing, they reached out to St. Joseph’s in hopes of getting some tickets or courtside access to an upcoming game. What they got was beyond their expectations. Martelli personally called the organization and offered to donate a basketball clinic session as an auction item. The winner of the auction ended up donating the clinic back to Sheltered Yoga, who selected 10 kids from a Philadelphia housing non-profit called Project H.O.M.E., a well-known organization that provides housing for women and children transitioning from homelessness.

On July 17, the small and energetic group of kids from Project H.O.M.E. headed to Michael Hagan Arena at St. Joe’s for this once-in-a-lifetime basketball experience. Martelli and two of his players ran practice drills with the kids and taught them the fundamentals of basketball. Martelli was sure to stress the importance of schoolwork and furthering their education, and the kids left the clinic wanting to pursue college educations and aspiring to one day play for a “world-famous coach” like Martelli.

“We have a couple of those a month,” Martelli said of the clinic. “It’s a different kind of auction item and a nice way to give back.”

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contact: ken@jerseymanmagazine.com 31

Photo Penn Athletics

Making History

BY MIKE KERN

Going solely by the odometer, getting from Northeast Philadelphia to the University of Pennsylvania isn’t all that far.

But if you’re talking about journeys, it can be a much longer haul.

Welcome to Mike McLaughlin’s world.

The 52-year-old Holmesburg guy is about to enter his 10th season as the Quakers’ women’s basketball coach. An extremely successful coach, who spent 14 record-setting years at his alma mater, Division II Holy Family, before that. This, from someone who readily acknowledges that he didn’t know too much about the women’s game prior to that. He was just someone who’d grown up with a basketball almost always in his hands, expecting to somehow do something with his life that involved his favorite sport.

Should we mention that he somehow managed to survive being coached (at the age of 10) by the person writing this story? Which, as hurdles go, could be a deal-breaker.

“I’ve wondered about that myself,” he smiled during a recent interview. “I guess it hasn’t held me back.”

No way. Which makes yours truly rest easier at nights.

The 5’9” McLaughlin was one of the best point guards in Holy Family history, following 32

a disappointing high-school career at Father Judge, where he dealt with injuries. He would spend three years traveling the globe with the Harlem Globetrotters, as a member of the Washington Generals, who still haven’t won a game in forever. But as experiences go, it was all good.

“I could talk for hours about everything I got to do with them,” McLaughlin remembers.

“Here’s a kid from Pennypack Street, and at 23 my first trip is to Russia. I was in awe of the situation. I was nervous. These were people I saw on television, or cartoons. So, it was intimidating. Think of every adjective you can use to describe it, and that was me. I was scared. It was about, ‘Did I deserve to be there?’ All the other players were from major universities. At the time, I might have been the only guy from Division II (actually NAIA back then).

“There was a scout in our region, Al Clocker, who’s still around, and he found me somehow.

I’ve had many conversations with him since.

And I always tell him I can’t thank him enough.

I was in the right spot at the right time.

“I played in about 50 countries, in front of massive audiences. It was OK if we never won.

We had some chances, but then we had to let them go … I was a kid from the neighborhood, living a dream. I was satisfied. I’d felt I’d reached my pinnacle. And then, I thought I’d have to go in another direction.”

He just didn’t know what that might turn out to be. But the assistant coach at his alma mater, Kathy Killian, needed to fill a part-time position on her staff. He took it. And when she ended up resigning a little over a year later, Athletic Director Sandy Michael offered him the job. To his surprise. So, in 1995 he became the program’s third coach. The rest, well, has been nothing but up. That part of it didn’t surprise him.

“I was a competitive athlete,” McLaughlin said. “I thought I could do anything. I didn’t see anything in front of me I could not do. I knew I was going to be heavily involved in the sport. It’s all I did when I was little. Basketball was on my mind 24/7. It motivated me, every day. I just wanted to be the best.”

His winning percentage at Holy Family was .870 (407-61), the highest in the NCAA at any level. Men or women. He was also the fastest in women’s history at any level to reach 400 victories. His teams never won fewer than 25 games. Six times the Tigers won at least 30.

Yet at some point, he realized it was time to challenge himself at a higher level. That’s what

competitive people do.

“In high school, things just didn’t go my way,” he said. “I was resilient. I found a way to get it done. Then there comes a time when you have to change gears. I represented my school for three years with the Generals. Before every game, they announced your name, state and who you played for. That was powerful. I don’t know many people outside of Northeast Philly who’d ever heard of Holy Family. Then I got to represent my school as a coach. I had stability.

I came from stability. That’s important to me.

We had three kids (two daughters). I want to be accountable for everything I do. And you want to be comfortable with your surroundings.”

cLaughlin had other opportunities before Penn—which is Division I but doesn’t grant athletic scholarships—came along. In his first first season, the Quakers only won twice. Their win total would improve in each of the next seven years. He’s gone 155-109, and the last seven have been the Quakers’ best such stretch ever. They’ve won three Ivy League titles and reached the postseason six times.

“At Holy Family, it was new to me,” he explained. “And frankly, some of the girls were only seven or eight years younger than me. It was trial and error. I talked to people. I’m not afraid to ask. I’m a sponge. I think we all share and copy each other pretty good. I think if you think you invented it, you don’t last very long. I can look at other ideas and try to make them my own.

“After about five years (at Holy Family), I think that’s when I realized I could do this, and be effective doing it. You start to open your eyes, as to what it could be. My goals have remained the same: get to the top. I can see how far it’s taken me.”

And now he goes to work every day in the cathedral known as the Palestra. It’s not a privilege to be taken lightly. He appreciates all that goes with that.

“I’m part of history,” McLaughlin gushed.

“What Philly kid didn’t want to be part of the Big Five? Probably everyone who reads this gets that. And I have the keys to the building.

And Penn is one of the best academic universities anywhere. It’s the whole culture. But humility leads the way with me. That’s the only way you get better. Again, you ask yourself if you’re right for this. I didn’t doubt myself. But if you don’t push yourself you’ll never know what could happen. I’m OK with failure. But I never looked back.

“If you do things right, and bring in the right people, anything’s possible. Penn was patient with me. I went from 30 wins at Holy Family my last year to two my first year at Penn.

And when I look back, it was one of my best years of coaching. The players were great, I

M

“ I want to bring in quality kids.

Would I bring in a kid if we weren’t keeping score? I ask myself that.” was excited every day and we were building something. It was just the environment. Now we have banners hanging up and pictures of the girls on the walls in the corridors. We’re just adding to what I hope is a long legacy. But some of my best memories are from the first season. I’m still close with many of them.”

Maybe someday it will be time for him to move on once again. For the time being, he’s doing what he wants, where he wants. And no one has to remind him just how lucky he is.

Still, he’s earned it. Which is maybe the best part of the narrative.

“I get to coach against (Villanova’s legendary) Harry Perretta,” McLaughlin said. “And we talk all the time. He can tell stories. But when we play I want to kick his butt and he wants to kick mine. Then we move on. And then he’ll tell me what I should have done. That’s why I love him. Where else do you get that?

“I’m not a pessimistic guy in any sense. Everything’s great when you’re winning. But what happens when you don’t? At the end of the day, there are ceilings you can hit. I know what I know. And what I do know is the women’s

game is very good. I respect people who say it’s much different from the men’s game. You get that question, could you coach the men? I kind of chuckle. But it doesn’t bother me. It’s coaching people, it’s relationship building, it’s trust.

We’re vulnerable. My assistants all played for me. I’m giving back to them. They sacrificed a lot for me …

“If my record is in the first paragraph of my story, then I’m probably not doing a good enough job. I know that’s obviously a part of it, but I just want them to say it at the end. I’m not naïve. We’re not playing for participation trophies. But that can’t be my legacy.

“I want to bring in quality kids,” he went on.

“Would I bring in a kid if we weren’t keeping score? I ask myself that. I think people might bring in kids who aren’t a fit because they might mean one or two more wins. I might be wrong about a kid in how she’s going to matriculate as a player. But there’s been very few times when I’ve been wrong about the type of kid she was. I can live with that.”

Not too shabby, for a kid from the neighborhood. n

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The Leo Fraser Room at Atlantic City Country Club Photo Atlantic City Country Club

The Golf Pro’s Golf Pro

BY HARRY DONAHUE

LEO FRASER BRIDGED A POTENTIAL SPLIT IN THE PGA 50 YEARS AGO.

E

nter the clubhouse at Atlantic City Country Club, and the sense of golf’s history and personalities is the first thing you notice.

On one side is the John McDermott room, dedicated to the young ACCC head pro who became the first American to win the U.S. Open. Did it twice actually. The first time at age 19 in 1911. Just for good measure he repeated in 1912.

To your right there’s the Leo Fraser Room. It serves as a tribute to the Club’s former owner, a six term President of the Philadelphia Section of the PGA and a former President of the PGA of America, at a time, 50 years ago, when the organization and the Tour stars had reached a potential separation point.

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Back in the late 60’s, the PGA of America was the governing body of professional golf, including the PGA Tour. The PGA handled the Tour’s schedule, sponsors and purses.

Leo Fraser was Secretary of the PGA for three years before his election to two terms as President in 1969.

Around this same time, a group of Tour Pros led by Jack Nicklaus, Gardner Dickinson and Dan Sikes, was looking to break away from the PGA and form their own governing body.

“The Tour players were getting a little upset because they felt they weren’t getting a large

Leo Fraser

enough piece of the pie especially since television kicked in and the purses were growing, largely because of Arnold Palmer, and the PGA was using a lot of the money for the general fund,” Jim Fraser, Leo’s oldest son, recalled.

A bigger issue was the PGA had sole power over the Tour. Even though the Tour had its own policies and executive board, the PGA could veto any decision it made.

Things came to a head when Frank Sinatra wanted to sponsor an event in Palm Springs which was going to be scheduled just a couple of weeks after the long standing Bob Hopesponsored event in Palm Springs.

Hope was skeptical that Palm Springs could support two Tour events that close together.

“Bob Hope was extremely well liked and had a lot of friends in the PGA including my Dad,” Jim said. “So, the PGA vetoed the Sinatra event.

The purse would have been $200,000.”

Words were exchanged publicly. Leo Fraser, as Secretary, came to the defense of the PGA, its 5,800 members, most of them club pros who had been the guardians and the mentors of the game for decades.

Nicklaus, only 28 at the time, but already a seven-time Major winner, wrote a rebuttal in the form of a Sports Illustrated article.

“The verbal attack unleashed on me by Leo Fraser, the secretary of the Professional Golfers Association, was, on the whole, inaccurate.”

Let the acrimony begin.

“Fraser did spell my name correctly,” Jack wrote. “And he signed his own name properly—Leo Fraser. The rest of his cutting statement, though, was a personal assault.”

The Tour had the backing of most of the sponsors. Things were tense.

“How would you like to have an event and not have Jack Nicklaus show up,” Jim Fraser said. But over time, a thaw in the public rhetoric developed and Jim Fraser thinks it stemmed from deep rooted mutual respect.

“Remember these guys [Tour players] all learned from PGA professionals. Even though most of them never worked in a [pro] shop or gave lessons, they still had great affinity for PGA professionals who they understood were the people who grew the game and that’s still true today,” he said. “Deep down I don’t think they wanted to split, they just wanted to have control of their destiny.”

•••

JIM FRASER BELIEVES his Dad understood that. He didn’t want a split either, even if it meant giving up control in order to keep the two sides from going to war.

Eventually, they worked it out. The Tour players got their own division and controlled their own scheduling, sponsorships and purses.

“There are a couple of areas where my Dad deserves a lot of credit,” Jim Fraser said, “One was the hiring of Joe Dey, the Executive Director of the USGA, very staid, blue blazer wearing, neck tie wearing, conservative Executive Director of the USGA. He and my Dad were best friends. He became the czar of the PGA Tour.

“Now I think a lot of [other] people would take credit for that, and possibly other people did influence it, but I know Joe Dey was hired because he used to stay at our house and they were that close of friends.”

Another win for the PGA was something Jim Fraser doesn’t think his Dad gets enough credit for.

“Obviously they [the PGA] kept the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup, which was the biggest win of all,” Fraser said. “In those 35

“ MY DAD’S LIFE WORK WAS UPGRADING THE PGA PROFESSIONAL, THE CLUB PRO.” – JIM FRASER (LEFT) SON OF LEO FRASER then Jose Maria and Langer. The playing field tilted back to square. Arguably it’s morphed into golf’s biggest event.

“My Dad’s life work was upgrading the PGA professional, the club pro. I think that has somewhat diminished in the last 10 to 20 years because of financial considerations.”

••• days the Ryder Cup had become kind of an exhibition because the United States had dominated the competition. As his son, I like to say he foresaw how this event could grow.”

That’s putting it mildly. Within a decade the competition stiffened as Great Britain-Ireland annexed Europe to their team. Enter Seve, and

36

A TESTIMONIAL held in Leo’ s honor in 1969 was compete with messages from the game’s greats. Even one who had sparred with Fraser, sent a telegram: “Sorry I cannot be there for your testimonial dinner. Your contributions to golf are certainly deserving of this honor. Congratulations and my best wishes. Jack Nicklaus.”

When Leo Fraser’s term as PGA President ended, his contributions to the game certainly did not. In 1980, Atlantic City Country Club hosted the first Senior Tour event.

“I was tournament Director,” Jim said, “He [Leo] was tournament dictator.

My sister’s daughter [Bonnie] had developed juvenile diabetes. My sister immediately got into raising money for juvenile diabetes and the idea was to have a tournament. My Dad knew the president of Bally’s, so they struck a deal to have the event.

“Bally’s put up $250,000 and there was a $125,000 purse. [Gardner] Dickinson and [Dan] Sikes wanted my Dad to be the Commissioner of the Senior Tour. He just laughed and in a good-natured way said, ‘If you think I’m going to work for you guys, you’re out of your mind.’”

Dan January won that first event. Took home $20,000. Mike Souchak, a pretty fair player in his day, was runner up, good for $12,000, his biggest check as a professional on any tour.

Leo Fraser’s real passion was to upgrade the PGA professional. He started educational and apprentice programs which are still in place today. His motivation? His father, James, a Scottish immigrant, was the head pro at the Seaview Resort.

Clarence Geist, Seaview’s owner and one of the wealthiest Americans at the time, considered his golf pro part of his executive team.

James passed on that same role perception to his son.

A clear example of Leo’s drive to upgrade the role of golf pros occurred on one of his many invites to Pine Valley from the legendary Club President John Arthur Brown.

Leo arrived for lunch and was told he’d have to eat in the basement where employees ate.

Leo said he wasn’t eating there. So, he drove to the nearby Lucien’s restaurant.

“My Dad loved to tell this story,” Jim said.

“He came back, and John Arthur Brown was screaming at him wondering where he was.

“Dad just said, ‘I’m not going to eat in the basement.’ From then on, pros could eat in the dining room.”

Leo Fraser reached the highest of pinnacles in his profession. But along the way he stuck to his principles. A visionary motivated by where he came from, and by where he wanted himself, and others like him, to go. n

SPORTS GUYS 94WIP EAGLES RADIO PRODUCER

Joe McPeak

ON-AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER.

BY MARK ECKEL

McPeak (left) with broadcasters Merrill Reese and Mike Quick

M

ike Quick is in his 22nd year as the Eagles radio color analyst on 94 WIP, which means two things: We are all getting old.

And the one-time All-Pro wide receiver has a ways to go to catch his partners in the booth.

“I’m in year 22 and I’m still the new guy in the booth,’’ Quick, who took over for Stan Walters before the 1989 season, said. “I’m the baby. Even our engineer Lane (Massey) has been around 100 years (actually 25).’’

The Eagles broadcast family is of course led by play-by-play man Merrill Reese, who is in his 42nd year and was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame, Quick, who handles the color, and a guy you might not know, Joe McPeak, the producer in his 33rd year.

“Joe is the one who makes it all go,’’ Quick says. “Joe controls all the traffic. And that’s not easy.’’

“He’s the absolute best producer in the business,’’ says Reese, of McPeak, who he hired as an intern at the station way back in 1984 when McPeak was a senior at LaSalle 38

College and two years later promoted him to the booth. “A lot of it is in the timing, and Joe is excellent at knowing just when to break in with the live reads.’’

REESE, QUICK AND McPEAK HAVE BEEN IN THE BROADCAST BOOTH A COMBINED 97 YEARS. THAT’S SOME STAYING POWER FOR ANY FAMILY. The trio of Reese, Quick and McPeak travel together to away games, have dinner the night before the game usually in the team hotel, have breakfast the morning of the game and then spend hours before and during the

game in the booth.

“I tell Cindy, Merrill’s wife, it’s like I’m married to him,’’ McPeak said. “We travel together, we eat together. And we’ve been doing it for all these years, I know all his quirks. I know what makes him tick. But that’s what also makes the broadcast so successful.’’

Words like chemistry and continuity can be overused in sports. In this case, they’re not. “(Joe) is married to Merrill,’’ Quick says with a laugh. “We’re a family, for sure. And it’s also like a team, a team of misfits. We’re people from such diverse backgrounds. You got Joe who’s an Irish Catholic, Merrill, a Jewish guy, and me, an African American. But we’ve been together for so long that the chemistry is really good. There are so many things that go on during the course of a broadcast, and it’s not just what you hear. And again, that’s where Joe comes into play.’’

For a normal Sunday, 1 o’clock game, McPeak will get to the stadium around 9:30, or so. Reese and the engineers are usually waiting in the booth where the equipment is being put into place. There will also be a package waiting for him which includes all the commercials for that particular broadcast.

“I’ll go over the copy and edit what needs to be edited and then sit down with Merrill and go over all the copy that needs to be read live.

Then we’ll just go over the basics, what time the team is being introduced, are we broadcasting the national anthem, when are we going down to the field for the sideline report.

We just go over every aspect of the broadcast before we go live.’’

URING THE GAME McPeak’s job covers a lot of ground from dealing with his sales department, to working with Massey, the long-time engineer, to keeping in touch with the producer back at the station.

And most importantly, keeping the flow of the game and the steady flow of commercials in sync.

“You don’t want it to seem like there’s a big advertising party going on and, oh yeah there’s a game, too,’’ Quick said. “Joe handles that really, really well.’’

McPeak’s first year was 1986 when Reese was “only’’ in his ninth season doing play-byplay and Walters, the All-Pro left tackle, was taking over color duties from former All-Pro linebacker Bill Bergey.

“It was all new to me,’’ McPeak, whose fulltime job is the director of corporate sales and marketing at LaSalle, said. “I had never even been on a plane before.’’

After 32 years of flying all over the NFL landscape, McPeak still plays air traffic control-

D

ler in the booth. And while only Quick has replaced Walters in that time, the production has changed quite a bit.

“It’s changed dramatically,” McPeak said.

“When I first started, there were only 3 breaks per quarter. You didn’t have the drop-ins and the billboards and the features. Now, the coin toss is sponsored, time outs are sponsored, all kinds of things are sponsored. Sideline reporting is new. We never had any of that. Then we went from AM to FM that was a big change. It’s just much more of a production now.’’

And the toughest part is, as Quick said, controlling and handling the traffic.

“You don’t want to interrupt the flow of the game, or the flow between Merrill and Mike,’’ McPeak said. “But the sponsors want their commercials at a good time, too. I can read Merrill and now I’m able to read Mike as well. I can see the expressions on their face and know when they’re ready to elaborate. I’ll let them finish their thought, then I’ll get them the dropin to read. Again, all that comes with being together for so long.’’

Reese, Quick and McPeak have been in the broadcast booth a combined 97 years. They stay together one more season after this one and it’s an even 100. That’s some staying power for any family.

“Yeah, we’re a little unique,’’ McPeak said.

“In this business you don’t see people staying this long. But the career I have had would not have been possible if it wasn’t for Merrill. He believed that a 22-year-old intern had the potential to be successful in the broadcast field.

I owe a great deal of gratitude to him. I’ve learned a lot from him not only in the broadcast industry but in life in general.’’ n

Stories from the Booth Joe McPeak is in his 33rd year as the producer for the Eagles radio broadcast. He shared some of the lighter and most memorable moments of his years.

The Fog Bowl “We were debating whether to send Stan (Walters) down to the sideline, thinking he might be able to see better from the field. We’re going off a 12-inch monitor and back then the signal wasn’t what it is today. Merrill and Stan kept their composure and called it the best they could. That was worse than a snowstorm. In the snow, it’s hard to see yard lines, but you could see the game. The fog you couldn’t see anything. It was just a crazy day.’’

Walters

The Best of Stan “Stan was a great character. There are so many stories.

“Merrill always wants the window open in the press box. We’re coming back from somewhere and we’re in Green Bay the next week and it’s December. Stan says to Merrill, ‘We’re in Green Bay next week, we’re closing that window.’ And Merrill says ‘Stanley, if the window is closed it’s like doing the game from my living room. I need it open to get a feel for the game. And Stan says ‘You want a feel for the game? Come over here and I’ll slap you around, you’ll get a feel for the game.’

“Later that year, late December, and the window is open. I brought a baseboard heater to the game, plugged it in and it was positioned right behind Stan to keep him warm.

“Another time we’re playing the Cowboys at home, and all the calls in the first half are going to the Cowboys. Stan says on the air, ‘Tex Schram (Dallas’ GM) has the officials in his pocket.’ I turn to the right, and Tex is looking at me and pointing at Stan and has his pockets turned inside out.’’

“Stan was a chain smoker and back then you could smoke in the booth. Stan would smoke his cigarettes. Merrill would have a cigar, or his pipe. We’re in Indianapolis and getting ready to go on the air and we smell something. We’re looking around and there’s a trash can in the back of the booth on fire. Stan threw a cigarette butt he thought was out into the trash and it started a fire.’’

“It’s a preseason game in Atlanta and, during the game, Stan turns to me and says, ‘Joe, get me a Coke.’ I tell him I can’t leave the booth in case something happens. So, he says, ‘Fine, I’ll get it myself.’ He leaves the booth and Merrill is doing the game by himself. Time goes by and finally he comes back during a break and says, ‘Joe next time I ask you to get me a Coke, get me a Coke.’ I look at him and I say ‘Hey, Stan while you were away, they tell me the ratings went up in the last 5 minutes.’ He says, ‘Good, let’s see how high they can go.’ And he left for another five minutes.’’ Merrill says to me, ‘Next time, just make sure he has his Coke.’ We saw Stan last year for his birthday and we still laugh about that.’’

Who sang that?

“We’re in Pittsburgh and we come back from a break early and we’re at the end of the national anthem. Of course, Merrill wants the name of the people performing the national anthem. So, I lean over to Jack (Edelstein, the booth statistician and famous joker) and ask him who performed the national anthem. He writes it down and I hand the piece of paper to Merrill. And he reads on the air ‘The national anthem here at Three Rivers Stadium was just performed by the Pennsylvania Home for the Criminally Insane Glee Club.’ And Merrill doesn’t realize what he said until after he said it.

Ever since then, I read everything before I give it to Merrill.’’

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Eagles Head Coach Doug Pederson

Looking For More “SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE!”

Those who are old enough to remember Gomer Pyle can relate to my sentiments. So here goes my mea culpa.

When the Eagles chose Doug Pederson to be their head coach, I didn’t like the hire.

My thoughts were even though he was Andy Reid’s OC in KC, he didn’t have the depth of experience to bring the Lombardi trophy to a town starving for it.

INTERVIEW BY KEN DUNEK

40

He was the safe choice, I thought. After the Chip Kelly debacle, Jeff Lurie and Howie Roseman wanted a coach they could control.

Pederson was a company man, right? Ready to toe the company line if things went off kilter.

(And, with the Eagles, things ALWAYS went off kilter—until last season).

So, my apologies are forthcoming to Doug, his wife Jeannie, their three sons Drew (23, architectural grad student), Josh (21, redshirt sophomore at LA Monroe), and Joel (16), and the entire Eagles organization for my Doubting Doug attitude.

Shazaam….they sure picked a winner.

DOUG PEDERSON WAS THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR THE JOB. An ex-player who had some “cred’ with the current players, young enough to gauge the temperature in the locker room, but old and experienced enough to have gained football knowledge from his mentor with a courage and “go for it” mentality that this town and team has rarely seen.

The Philly Special pass to Nick Foles was the prime example of a “second guessable” play that most coaches would NEVER have tried. I was crying for him to take the three points and head to the locker room with a nice cushion.

But Pederson knew what I didn’t. That this track meet masquerading as a football game would light up the scoreboard and three points didn’t mean a hill of beans.

We needed touchdowns, and he pulled off what might have been the most daring play in Super Bowl history.

So I hope you enjoy my exchange with this humble, friendly, and down to earth feller.

Like Sergeant Carter was barking out the orders, he has me stepping in line and marching to the tune of “Fly Eagles Fly”.

Gaw-lee! Doug Pederson and the Eagles won the Super Bowl!

Photo Philadelphia Eagles

Photo Philadelphia Eagles

DOUG PEDERSON: Good question. My senior year in high school was 1986. My Dad had taken a job in Monroe (Louisiana) right after graduation and he had heard about the school and contacted them. I think he sent about 10 VHS tapes to the school and they were interested and offered me scholarship. It was good because my family was there and I was happy to be near them.

KD: Did you receive any other D1 scholarship offers?

DP: My only other offer was from the University of Idaho.

KD: We fast forward to 1999. Andy Reid takes the Eagles job and signs you as his starter. But he then drafts Donovan McNabb in the first round. Are you aware he was going to do this and what were your thoughts when he did it?

DP: Andy wanted me as a free agent and he 42

knew he wanted me to come to Philadelphia and get the program started. There was good communication there regarding him drafting a QB in the first round but he wanted me to help teach the player he drafted.

KD: You were an understudy to two pretty good quarterbacks in Dan Marino and Brett Favre. What were you able to learn from those guys that made you a better quarterback and possibly even a better coach?

DP: Both Marino and Favre were somewhat similar in style. Dan was very prepared and cerebral. He made the guys around him better and had an absolute rifle for an arm. Brett was more of a gunslinger. Maybe not quite as much prep as Dan but played with incredible passion and loved the competition. His drive and determination were unbelievable.

KD: Okay, it is now 2016 and the Eagles fire Chip Kelly and are looking for a replacement. Lead me through that process. Who contacted you and did Andy Reid mentor you through the process?

DP: I got a call from Howie Roseman and got

Photo Briana Sposato

KEN DUNEK: Let’s start at the beginning.

How does a kid go from Bellingham, Washington to NE Louisiana University?

‘‘

permission to talk to him from the Chiefs. We were preparing for a playoff game against the Houston Texans and I was really stressed for time. We beat the Texans on Saturday and I interviewed for the Eagles job on Sunday with no time to put together an interview plan since we were going to play the NE Patriots the following week.

It was a four hour interview but I was very comfortable having been in Philly and knowing the people involved. We lost to the Patriots that week and I got a call immediately after the game offering me the job, which of course I accepted.

KD: You get the job and immediately the whispers in the media are regarding your relative lack of experience, the fact that you were the Offensive Coordinator in KC but in reality Andy was calling the plays, etc. How did you handle all that?

Photo courtesy Doug Pederson

I did not let the criticism bother me.

I am pretty good and tuning out the noise and am confident in my ability.”

DP: I did not let the criticism bother me. I am pretty good and tuning out the noise and am confident in my ability. My main focus was this football team and the players understood where I was coming from. I chose not to listen to the naysayers.

KD: In 2016 you win some games and played well in some losses. You come into 2017 and were projected to be a “middle of the pack” team. What were your expectations going in to last season?

DP: My main focus was trying to improve from the year before. I wanted us to be in a position to play in a postseason game. I knew we were better than the previous year and 7-9 was not going to be good enough. We drafted a good young quarterback and Howie was able to nab Alshon Jeffery, Chris Long, Tim Jernigan, and some other good free agents. I wanted to be a better team.

Pederson and his wife Jeannie pose on the red carpet as they arrive at the 2018 ESPYS.

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Photos Philadelphia Eagles

next man up mentality. If you remember we also lost our kicker [Jake Elliott] in the first game. Big V [Halapoulivaati Vaitai] comes in for Jason Peters and Corey Clement picks up for [Darren] Sproles. Depth made it easier for us to make these transitions and our coaches really emphasized getting back up players reps in practice in case something happened.

KD: What did you do with Nelson Agholor last off-season? He struggled so much in 2016 and then had a monster year for you.

DP: No question he struggled in 2016 and lost his confidence a bit. When I benched him that season I told him it might help him to look at the game from a different perspective on the bench. That might have helped because he came back last year very eager and more ready than ever and had a great season for us.

KD: You wind up losing arguably your best four or five players to injury. Is there any point where the coaching staff throws up their hands and says maybe it is just not our year? How were you able to fight

44

through such adversity?

DP: There was never panic. We knew we had depth and and quality back up guys and I know it sounds clichĂŠ but it was the classic

KD: You roll through the season and make it to the Super Bowl. What is it like to take the field in the ultimate game and face a modern day Vince Lombardi in the Patriots Bill Belichick? Is it surreal or were you confident you had the better team and could compete?

DP: Knowing you were up against possibly the greatest coach and quarterback [Tom Brady] in pro football history is a bit surreal. I can remember taking the field and almost wanting to

‘‘

It was really a thing of beauty to

watch. Guys were making plays all over the field. We decided to take the training wheels off and let everybody play.”

pinch myself. But I had a quiet calm about me.

I knew the team was focused and there was no panic. It was a credit to those guys who want out there and made plays clawing and scratching the entire game.

KD: How about Nick Foles in that game?

Were you surprised at all that he could raise his game in the playoffs and Super Bowl. It was such a big stage and he came out slinging darts right from the beginning.

DP: I was very confident Nick could play well.

He went into the Super Bowl at an all-time

high in confidence. It was really a thing of beauty to watch. Guys were making plays all over the field. We decided to take the training wheels off and let everybody play. They get paid a ton of money to go out and make plays and that is exactly what they did.

KD: Talk to me about the championship parade experience and what that meant to you.

DP: The crowd was amazing. Starting at the stadium up through Broad Street and to the Art Museum. The faces of fans young and old that have waited their whole lives for this moment.

I am just so proud and happy we could win it for the city.

KD: I have to ask you about the White House decision to withdraw their invitation to the team to visit and be recognized.

DP: I was disappointed. I felt we earned the right to go there and be recognized. I am being honest in saying I was interested in going and want the opportunity to go if we win it all again.

KD: The old adage it that is it is tough to win one and even tougher to repeat. What are your expectations for this season and will anything less than a championship be a disappointment?

DP: Our goal is to win the Super Bowl. We have a competitive team and we are healthy now getting our injured players back on the field. I will not go as far as to say that the season will be a failure if we don’t repeat, but I am really looking forward to the challenge and I promise you we will be ready to go. n

45

For NFL Executive Terry Bradway, It’s About the People, Not the Glory

T

BY NICK SANTANGELO

TOM BRADY’S PASS BOUNCED OFF SEVERAL PLAYERS AND HIT THE GROUND. AND WITH THAT, IT HAD FINALLY HAPPENED.

SOMEBODY BEAT TOM BRADY AND THE PATRIOTS. n AMONG GIANTS

From 1992 until 2001 Terry Bradway has been in an AFC East front office, where his teams have been in the unenviable position of playing Brady’s Patriots twice a year. Bradway’s former team, the New York Jets, won the AFC East in 2002. His current team, the Miami Dolphins, won it in 2008 when Brady missed nearly the entire season and Bradway was still with the Jets. Every other year since 2001, the Patriots have won the division, advancing to eight Super Bowls and winning five of them.

How do you compete with that? It seems a near-hopeless endeavor. But while Bradway says wins and losses aren’t everything, he’s now long been tasked with helping build a team that’s capable of toppling the NFL’s most powerful dynasty. By the time you read this, he’ll be in the midst of witnessing whether or not the team he’s helped assemble in his 18th 46

AFC East season can be just the third to get the job done. And hey, if this isn’t the year, there has to be some comfort in knowing 2017’s MVP Tom Brady will eventually decline and retire. Won’t he?

“I used to hate him, and now I just respect him,” says Bradway of Brady. “It’s amazing what they’ve been able to do. At some point in time it’s got to change, I guess. But it hasn’t changed yet. And you look at us, you look at Buffalo, you look at the Jets, and I think there are three teams moving in the right direction, but how far they can go remains to be seen.”

Unless one retires long before the other (unlikely), there will always be questions as to who was more integral to the Patriots’ success: Brady or Head Coach Bill Belichick. For Bradway’s part, he has “the utmost respect” for Belichick, whom he worked with for six years during his first NFL stop as a scout for the New York Giants, where the pair were twice

crowned Super Bowl champions. The second time was an upset victory with backup quarterback Jeff Hostetler under center. It’s a story that sounds all too familiar to Eagles fans in 2018.

n FORGOTTEN PHILADELPHIA CHAMPIONSHIPS A native of Absecon, N.J., Bradway grew up an Eagles fan himself. However, it was another, now largely forgotten Philadelphia football team that gave him his first start working in a front office in 1982. Bradway had previously spent some time as an assistant coach at the collegiate level but had transitioned into being a high school teacher when the money got tight.

In some alternate universe, he’s preparing to retire as a high school athletic director right now. In this one, however, he took a couple last shots. One with the Eagles turned up nothing. Another with the now-defunct USFL’s Philadelphia Stars appeared to also be a dead end when the team offered the job to someone with NFL experience. Just a few days later, however, the Stars’ first choice backed out.

Bradway was now in.

He joined a front office with Bill Kuharich

(Left) Terry Bradway, Steve Wilmot and Bill Kuharich prior to a Stars game in 1983 (Right) With son Tom before a 2015 Temple game vs. UMass certainly seemed capable enough of getting it done. They went 13-3 twice and made it to the 1993 AFC Championship Game with Joe Montana at quarterback, but they lost and watched the Bills advance to the Super Bowl.

and Rod Graves. The former would go on to work for the Saints, Chiefs and Browns. The latter for the Bears, Cardinals, Jets and the NFL. Though Bradway says they were all learning on the job, it was a group that was going places. Before making the leap to the NFL teams, they managed to assemble Stars rosters that won two of the USFL’s three championships before the league went belly up. When it did, the Stars’ third-string quarterback helped Bradway land his gig with the Giants, where the quarterback’s dad was the

personnel director. And while those two Super Bowls followed, Bradway’s now gone 28 years in search of a third.

“For me, a young scout, it was a great place to start and learn,” he says of his time with the Giants. “Maybe we could have won a little bit more, but it’s so funny because my first nine years in pro football I win four championships, and I think this stuff’s easy, and I haven’t won one since.”

A few of the Chiefs teams Bradway helped build as a scout after leaving the Giants in 1992

n REMEMBERING WHAT REALLY MATTERS By 2000, Bradway felt like he was ready to lead an NFL front office. He interviewed to be the Steelers’ director of football operations but lost out to Kevin Colbert, who’s still in the job today, now with a pair of Lombardi trophies to his name. Bradway had “no expectations as to what would happen next,” but the Jets general manager job opened a year later. The process through which he was hired and introduced feels almost anarchic compared to the corpora-

47

Bradway (l) with Mike Tannenbaum during Jets training camp

tized way NFL teams operate today.

“I’ll never forget, I went in on the 11th of January of 2001, and I was interviewed, and we had a press conference the same day, which is really kind of crazy,” recalls Bradway.

“That stuff doesn’t happen nowadays.”

Bradway eventually stepped down from the general manager role in 2006, but he stayed on in the Jets front office in other capacities until the team let him go in 2015. Being the Jets general manager wasn’t easy. Really, it isn’t for anyone who runs an NFL front office, especially one in a major market with championshipstarved fans.

For proof, look no further than Eagles de facto General Manager Howie Roseman. Today he’s known as “Howie Hero” to many fans.

But before this past season, he was lambasted as a numbers geek who wasn’t a “football guy,” someone who surely would never be the architect of a team that could win it all. Just as fans and the media spent years taking jabs at

48

Roseman before the Eagles’ Super Bowl run, so it was for Bradway in New York. He’s saved all the headlines: “Bullets over Bradway,” “Bradway’s a Flop” and many others. If he’s bitter toward the fans or the organization that sent him packing after nearly a decade and a half, though, he doesn’t show it.

“I have nothing but great respect for the Jets organization and [team co-owner] Woody Johnson,” says Bradway. “The day they let me go, about four days later in the mail, I got a framed jersey with my name on the back with ‘14’ for 14 years and a nice plaque thanking me for all this. It’s a tough business, but I feel

lucky for what I’ve been able to do.”

He’s perhaps lucky for the relationships he’s been able to build, too. Mike Tannenbaum, who replaced Bradway as Jets general manager in 2006 and is now the executive vice president of football operations with the Dolphins, hired Bradway to work for Miami a few months after he was let go by the Jets. Like the Jets, the Dolphins are still chasing the Patriots. Bradway feels like they “have a chance to be pretty good” this year with quarterback Ryan Tannehill finally healthy after missing all of last season with a torn ACL. The wins and losses to come, though, are less important to Bradway than who he wins and loses with.

“It’s a great game [with] great people, and the relationships you build over the years are as important, really, as the games themselves.

I told my kids that when they were playing— later on, nobody’s going to remember all these scores, but you’ll remember the people you were with, and that’s really it for me.” n

PROFILE

From Italy to New Jersey to The Sopranos and beyond…

Federico

Castelluccio Actor.

Director.

Painter.

BY SAM CARCHIDI

F

ederico Castelluccio’s rhythmic name may not sound familiar to you, and you might not be aware of his sensational painting ability.

But if you watched the award-winning TV show The Sopranos, there’s a good chance you were captivated by his work.

Castelluccio, who was born in Italy but raised in New Jersey, played the role of Furio, the pony-tailed hit man who became the object of Carmela Soprano’s affection. Carmela was the wife of fictional New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano.

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French Capriccio Landscape by Federico Castelluccio. The original painting is at the Chetkin Gallery in Red Bank, NJ

Castelluccio with his parents in his childhood home in 1988.

Castelluccio portrayed Furio Giunta on The Sopranos

Castelluccio (r) with fellow Sopranos stars James Gandolfini (l) and Vincent Pastore on their way to the SAG Awards in 2001.

Playing Furio was “the role of a lifetime,” said Castelluccio, 54, who moved from Naples, Italy, to Paterson, N.J., when he was three and now lives in Morris County. He has a gallery, Chetkin, in Red Bank, N.J., that features his paintings.

In The Sopranos, Castelluccio was hired to re-establish order among Soprano’s chaotic “business” dealings. He traveled from Italy to New Jersey to teach Soprano’s workers a few things.

Italy and New Jersey were also central to Castelluccio in real life.

Since he came to America at such a young age, Castelluccio did not have an Italian accent—and had to learn one for his role as

Furio. He leaned on his family members to perfect his accent, and also traveled to North Jersey for some help.

“I went back to my old neighborhood in Paterson,” he said. “Went to some of the old Italian cafes and had a coffee….and just listened to some very specific words they said, and I used them in my character. I went back to listen to the people from Naples because that’s where the Soprano family was from in Italy. Being that I was actually born in Naples and my father spoke with that accent, I knew what to listen for.

I had a tape recorder with me and I listened to the words and the Italian vowels. When you’re trying to say a word in English with an Italian accent, you have to think of the Italian vowels.

We have a, e, i, o and u. In Italian, it’s ah, eh, e, o, ew, so you have to switch everything in your brain with the Italian vowels.”

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

CASTELLUCCIO GREW UP on 21st Avenue in Paterson, a “very Italian section, where you could get around without speaking any English. Just go to the fruit store or the meat store and everyone spoke Italian,” he said. “There were a lot of Italian social clubs, maybe 12 or 15 of them lining that entire street. And I always wondered how in the world are these places staying in business just selling cappuccino and espresso? But as you get older, you realize they’re playing Baccarat 51

“ I came into this world, I believe, as a painter, and I’ve been living my life as a painter.”

Duke and Duchess of North Caldwell by Federico Castelluccio. Private collection Toronto, Canada. and there’s illegal gambling in the back room, the ‘members only’ room.”

As a youngster, “I spoke Italian in the home.

The first time I ever spoke English was in kindergarten,” Castelluccio said. He came home from kindergarten and started to speak the English words he had just learned. “And my

52

mother goes, ‘In the house, you speak Italian.

Outside, you speak anything you want.’”

Long before he became an actor, Castelluccio made his mark as a fine-art painter. He attended the prestigious School of Visual Arts in New York City on a scholarship, and his work has appeared in museums around the nation,

and in private collections in the United States, South America and Europe.

“I get satisfaction from all the arts,” he said in a recent interview. “It’s just that one particular art is very close to me, very personal, which is painting. I came into this world, I believe, as a painter, and I’ve been living my life as a painter, but then I added these other things like acting and directing. Directing, to me, seems closer to painting because it’s a visual medium. Knowing the field of acting and how to work with actors and how to talk with actors, it is another tool that helped me ease into directing. I never intended to direct, to be honest with you.”

For 15 years, he went back and forth between acting roles and painting professionally. That was before The Sopranos stint turned him into a famous actor who also paints. And now directs.

“It definitely opened doors,” he said of his

three-year stint on The Sopranos, which started in the show’s second season. The Sopranos ran from 1999 to 2007 on HBO, and some critics call it the best show in television history.

Most of the actors on The Sopranos “were knocking around for a long time, including myself,” Castelluccio said. “I came from theater. I was doing Shakespeare festivals, regional theater. Anything that you can grab as an actor, you just take it. From doing theater, I got an agent, and then they start sending me out and I was doing soap operas on television and some independent films and some bigger films. And eventually, like 12 years down the road, you get something like The Sopranos. And it’s a career-maker. It put everybody on the map.”

He paused.

“It usually takes 10 or 12 years to become an overnight success,” he cracked before breaking into a loud laugh.

Since The Sopranos, he has gotten guest-starring roles on several TV shows, and hopes to be a regular in a future series. His post-Soprano film credits include A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints; El Cantante, which starred Mark Anthony and Jennifer Lopez; and Capers. He has also appeared in numerous short movies.

“When I went out to Hollywood after The Sopranos, everyone knew me. They all knew

my work, which was a fantastic thing,” said Castelluccio, who bravely ad-libbed a few lines in Italian during his Sopranos audition.

“I would walk into a casting-director’s office, and they’d be like, ‘Pleased to meet you, Federico.’ And then the second thing they’d say to me was, ‘Wait a minute, you don’t have an accent!’ I’d say, that’s why I’m out here—to tell you I don’t have an Italian accent.”

In other words, he didn’t want to be typecast as Furio.

Castelluccio has directed a half-dozen short movies, some commercials, and a feature film, The Brooklyn Banker, which can be seen on Amazon Prime and has Paul Sorvino among its cast members.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

PAINTING still is one of his passions. He has painted portraits of some famous people, including the late George Burns, a comedian, actor, singer and writer who was one of the few entertainers who was highly successful in vaudeville, radio, television and film. In the early 1980s, Castelluccio, then a senior in high school, was just 18 and an illustrator at the Paterson News, a since defunct daily newspaper, when he painted Burns.

“It was a work-study program where you

would get credits (for working), so in my last period of the day, I would go there and do any pen-and-ink illustrations they needed,” Castelluccio said. “One day, a reporter comes in and she was raving that she was going to interview George Burns.”

Castelluccio told her he could make her story better by doing a painting of Burns.

“Wouldn’t it be great idea to have a young artist doing a portrait of a veteran artist and we presented it to him?” Castelluccio said. “She looked at me like, ‘Who are you and what is your name?’ And she turned around and just left.”

But the reporter, Rodi Alexander, eventually conceded it was a good idea. She told Castelluccio he had one week to do the painting and that it would be presented to him at the Plaza Hotel.

Castelluccio bought a book on Burns’ life and read it in one day before painting a montage of the comedian/actor and the important events in his fabled career.

The young painter never received a penny for the painting, which Burns adored.

“My payment was having a famous actor own one of my paintings,” he said.

And now the New Jersey-raised Castelluccio is famous—though not to the level of Burns— in his own right. n

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Screen Pass Former Eagle Mike Chalenski is the Founder and CEO of Comprehensive Screening Solutions, an employee screening company.

BY KURT SMITH

T

hink of the last time that you visited a company website, especially a business-to-business one, where you were unable to find the owner’s picture and life story.

Displaying the founder’s welcoming visage and rags-to-riches story on a company website has been standard practice for as long as websites have existed.

But even though his face is friendly enough, and his success story is an impressive one, Former Eagle Mike Chalenski doesn’t consider his biography as important as other key things, like, say, results.

Chalenski is the founder and CEO of Comprehensive Screening Solutions, Inc., a

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Gibbsboro, NJ-based firm dedicated to full service employee screening. Employers can give the ball to CSS for background checks, drug screening, administrative scheduling, anything they need to make educated hiring decisions.

Since its founding in 1999, CSS Inc. is now contracted with 2,300 businesses, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Their growth is in double digits nearly every year these days.

They’ve been delivering the goods well enough to be ranked third nationwide in HRO Today Magazine’s “Baker’s Dozen” for Employee Screening in 2017, up a notch from fourth in 2016. It’s a worthy achievement, Chalenski believes, because HRO’s surveys are based entirely on customer feedback.

It’s a testament to his leadership skills, certainly. Yet Chalenski seems reluctant to take credit publicly. You currently won’t find his face or even his name on the CSS website.

It’s almost as if he doesn’t want to be seen as a former football player cashing in on his regional fame, but in truth, it’s simply because he views CSS as a team effort.

“They always say there’s no I in team, it’s a cliché,” he says. “But one of things I really try to promote here with the culture is the teamwork aspect.

“The staff here is tremendous. I kind of reinvested in the company in 2012, 2013. I always equate it to building a foundation.

If you don’t build that strong foundation, by the time you get to the 13th floor it just crumbles. So, I really looked to get talent and

everything on board then, because if I don’t get those reports like this (snaps fingers), I’ll be out of business.”

Chalenski understands the importance of hiring the right people. There’s no exact science to it, of course. But his company is a valuable resource to help businesses at least avoid hiring the wrong ones.

“There are staggering statistics on how many people, I wouldn’t say lie, but…’embellish’ is a great word…on their resumes,” he points out. “You want to make sure that an employer knows who that person is, and a little bit about what their past is. Companies in general want to see people succeed, but if they don’t have the skill level, the talent, and/or a lot of external issues…the cost of a bad hire is devastating.”

Y

OU

MIGHT

REMEMBER

Mike Chalenski. He played three seasons as a defensive tackle with the Eagles, before spending three years in New York (Jets), Miami and Detroit, where knee injuries caught up to him. Chalenski defied a lot of doubters to make the NFL via free agency, and was successful for a few seasons. But as the injuries mounted, he knew he needed to plan for life after football.

“I was going to invest in an idea that is com-

“

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINNING AND LOSING IS GETTING UP ONE MORE TIME. YOU GOTTA HAVE THAT DRIVE AND THAT WILL, TO WANT TO BECOME THE BEST.” pletely different from what I’m doing now,” he reflects. “But one of the parts of this was drug testing. I started talking to people that were in this ‘testing’ space. The background checking was there, some companies did it, some didn’t.

They always wanted this one, combined technology piece that would give them the drug testing, the background, everything all in one.”

It seems obvious now, but combining drug screening with background checks and offering a full suite of screening services to employers has turned out to be a pretty savvy idea.

But Chalenski credits the company’s growth more to vastly improved technology and the ability to rapidly collect information. That, and a country sobered by what could happen in its own backyard after September 11, 2001.

“9/11 changed the way people do business.

That was a monumental transition. We got attacked right here by people who were in the

U.S. It could be me and you, sitting right here. I think that really propelled a lot of the industry to know who you’re hiring, because nobody wants to hire somebody and have them be a disruption at the least, or things worse than that which I really don’t want to mention.”

Employee screening has, in fact, become a competitive arena. To differentiate itself enough to make an HRO Baker’s Dozen list, Chalenski says, requires more than consistent high-level performance.

“We have to turn these reports around and they’ve got to be 100% accurate, and they’ve got to be turned around quick. Employers don’t want to wait. Then you separate that with customer support. Anything we can do to alleviate some of the tedious tasks, to allow them to focus on the company direction. Especially in the HR space. They’re looking to hire people; their hair is pretty much on fire a lot of times.

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“We also have a business process outsourcing unit in here; for a fee, we’ll manage all your busy work, we’ll talk to all your candidates.

We’ll set them up with fingerprinting depending on what industry they’re in.

“The customers love it, because it’s really saving them a lot of time.”

S

PEAKING OF HIRING the right people, Chalenski considers his former teammate on the Eagles, first round pick Mike Mamula, a good hire. In case you were wondering what Mamula is up to these days, he’s now overseeing business development at CSS, Inc. “I was out a couple years by the time he got into this,” Chalenski says. “He was like, yeah, I want to invest in a company. OK, great, I had probably three people at the time. Of course, you want money, but I also didn’t want to have someone get into something like I did in the beginning, where I really didn’t know what I was doing.

“I said, I want you to come here and work for a couple of months. Because money’s great, but I need somebody else to work. He came on, he worked a couple of months, and he said he wanted to invest in the business.

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“I give Mike a lot of credit, because, especially him, first round pick, you’re not making that money when you get into the business world. You gotta work for it, and he did. He showed up every day and tried to get better at whatever it is, and now he’s good at business development.

“Mike still has a pretty good name around this area, so he’ll meet people, we have VPs of sales and everything that he’ll work in tandem with. He’ll play golf…I say if I come back reincarnated I want to do that, relationship building…we have people that want to go to a game or something, they’ll go with Mike.

Clients like that.”

So, is a professional football background helpful in running an employee background screening business? Maybe not directly, but Chalenski will tell you that being a pro athlete has helped him succeed on a different level.

“I think it gives you a different perspective, because there’s a lot of parallels between sports and business. In sports, you’re gonna get your teeth kicked in a million times. I tell my kids this, the difference between winning and losing is getting up one more time. You gotta have that drive and that will, to want to become the best. Because I’ll tell you what, it’s not easy. I’m almost trying to compare what

was harder, making it to the NFL or starting a business! (laughs) “You’re gonna get your teeth kicked in, you’re gonna get stepped on, you’re gonna financially go backwards. It’s a fact. And it’s gonna take you a couple of years to gain traction, to see if it was viable.

“I’m glad at this point that I did it. And you know, I met a lot of good people along the way.

In sports too, that exposes you to these people that are successful in business. The people that wanted your autograph while you were playing, now you’re the one going to someone who’s been successful and saying, “Can I get five minutes with you, just to talk?”

If the character building of sports helps, it probably doesn’t hurt an athlete turned business owner to have spent a few years playing in a proudly rabid sports town. Like nowhere else, Philly fans demand that drive and will in their athletes.

“Probably the most passionate fans are here in Philadelphia. They’ll tell you that you stink while you’re playing, they’ll tell you exactly what’s on their mind…and they also love you to death. Even after you were playing, whether you were good, bad or indifferent, they still embrace you.”

“Would you want it any other way?” n

BEMER Offers Relief and Breakthrough Medical Technology

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hen Brian Propp, former Philadelphia Flyers Left Winger, suffered a massive stroke over two and a half years ago, recovery was clearly a challenge.

“I couldn’t talk for three months,” remembered Propp, 59, of Cinnaminson. The stroke left him with aphasia, loss of the use of his right fingers and limited use of his right arm and shoulder. He underwent intensive occupational, physical and speech therapy. He had to relearn just about everything including writing with his left hand (as he was naturally right-handed). Today—although he still has some confusion with names and math—Propp lives a vibrant, active life and possesses a high level of energy. He skates twice a week and is involved in charitable endeavors and some consulting through his son, Jackson Propp. He attributes much of his amazing recovery to the medical technology of a product known as BEMER (bio electro-magnetic energy regulation).

Propp lies down on the BEMER mat for

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BY JAN L. APPLE eight minutes in the morning and eight minutes in the evening—the prescribed regimen that must take place in 12-hour intervals. The mats are hooked up to a BEMER device; Brian Propp there are two models of machines/ devices currently being sold to people (BEMER also manufactures a veterinary unit for horses, cattle, dogs, cats and other animals).

Propp also utilizes the mat overnight while sleeping. He discovered the device two years ago, gradually beginning at level three and working his way up to level seven. “After six weeks, I started to feel much better,” said Propp, who at times employs some of the attachments such as a pad, spot and light for more focused treatment. “The energy that it’s given me has really helped.” In fact, Propp

finds he no longer needs to nap, has better balance and is less confused when speaking to people. “It has helped me think more clearly,” he said.

he BEMER has proven to be life-changing not only for former professional athletes, including football players Will Shields, Ivory Sully and Ovie Mughelli, but for people around the globe suffering from a variety of ailments, injuries and medical conditions. It’s also popular as a preventive anti-aging therapy. The product has an array of applications in the privacy of one’s home as well as clinical, medical and research settings. Many of its endorsers had been searching for alternatives to conventional therapies and medication, which had proven ineffective.

Predominantly geared toward athletes and baby boomers, the product is marketed across the nation through a network of independent distributors who work directly with BEMER USA, LLC, located in Carlsbad, California.

George Veronis of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is a Regional Director, East Coast. The 57-yearold, who in his college days was ranked number one in Division I tennis at West Virginia University, knows firsthand the transformative nature of BEMER. “It changed my life,” said the career marketing and sales professional who survived a medical trauma four years ago. Veronis—reportedly in very good shape at the time—suddenly experienced numbness down his left arm. After consulting two cardiologists, both believed there was only a one percent chance of heart disease. Veronis insisted on a cardiac catheterization, which revealed a 90 percent blockage, affecting three arteries. He underwent open-heart surgery. “I had eight bypasses,” explained Veronis. Six

T

From left: George Veronis, Elizabeth Veronis, Harrison Hahn (Sarah’s fiance), Sarah Veronis, Christine Veronis, Alex Veronis

months later, two of the bypasses failed.

It was then that Veronis discovered the BEMER technology, an FDA-approved product with five worldwide patents. He purchased a machine and has never looked back. “There’s no modality in the world that can increase blood flow and oxygen to this extent,” said Veronis who was so impassioned over its healing effect, he started selling the product three years ago on a full-time basis. His wife, Christine, 56, and their son, Alex, 28, are also distributors. (The couple has two other children: Sarah and Elizabeth). BEMER is sold solely through word of mouth, notes Veronis; there’s no advertising, which underscores the power of the product.

“It is a unique therapy that helps to regulate flow of energy to your body,” stated Christine, who uses BEMER daily as a preventive antiaging measure. I know it’s setting me up for a healthier outcome.” It’s so much a part of her life, that she likens the twice-daily routine to that of brushing her teeth. Although the technology will not cure any disease, she elaborates, “BEMER improves circulation and ultimately will help support your body’s natural ability to heal itself.

“BEMER uses a unique patented signal configuration to deliver a very specific frequency over a very specific timeline that your body responds to.” She compares it to listening to a song that is pleasing; the brain’s involuntary response might be tapping one’s foot or humming the tune.

“Today, more than one million people worldwide are using BEMER technology daily

to boost blood flow, improve mental sharpness and enable their bodies to recover more quickly,” said George Veronis. The product is fast gaining popularity among former professional athletes. The National Football League

(NFL) Alumni recently partnered with BEMER USA as a way to stay committed to providing members with the best possible benefits for post NFL careers.

“I am thrilled about this partnership with BEMER because I know the transformative results will greatly benefit our members,” said Elvis Gooden, CEO of NFL Alumni. The group is comprised of former NFL players, coaches, staffers, cheerleaders, spouses and others. It offers medical, financial and social programs to bolster healthier, productive and more connected lives.

According to a recent press release by NFI Alumni: “The BEMER technology is currently being used by thousands of elite athletes and former athletes of all levels. It’s also being used in thousands of hospitals and clinics in tandem with other traditional medical services.”

Veronis is proud to report that a joint collaboration agreement was recently signed with NASA to pursue applications in space.

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ow exactly does the technology work?

The BEMER device, he says, uses an electronic signal that improves blood flow in the smallest vessels of the body. This results in better oxygen supply to cells; improved cardiac function, concentration, sleep management, physical fitness and endurance; elimination of toxins; muscle stimulation; stress reduction and relaxation.

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The product has been the subject of a number of scientific and medical studies published in pubmed.gov. The endorsements throughout the United States and the world, notes Veronis, speak volumes about the technology.

Peter Gleim founded BEMER International AG in 1998. Headquartered in Europe in Triesen, Liechtenstein, it operates in 42 countries.

BEMER—at the cutting edge in breakthrough

medical technology—promotes research and develops treatment processes in microcirculation.

BEMER USA has been in existence for 10 years and is a subsidiary of BEMER International, AG. Although there was skepticism in the early days when the device was first introduced two decades ago, particularly among medical professionals, the first to find relief included people with chronic pain, poor circulation and an array of other ailments. Conventional treatments had proven unsuccessful.

The company aspires to improve quality of life through its high tech products. The Veronis family is one of many prime examples.

After George Veronis’ surgery, his doctor explained that his body needed to find a new way to map its blood flow. BEMER answered that call.

“The frequency of the BEMER is very low, soothing and effective,” said Christine.

Through her work as a distributor with her husband and son, she has observed an organic reaction across the country; people are experiencing dramatic results.

“When something positive happens to you, you can’t help but share it with people you care about,” she said. n Learn more at: https://united-states.bemergroup.com/en-US.

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MAN & WOMAN OF THE YEAR HONOREES JerseyMan and PhillyMan Magazines are proud to recognize those in our area who demonstrate the rare combination of business excellence and dedication to community service. These Man & Woman of the Year candidates will be honored at our 4th annual Unmasking the Legacy event, held on November 8, 2018, where a portion of ticket proceeds will go to the winner’s designated charities.

For ticket information go to www.jerseymanmagazine.com or search 4th Annual Unmasking the Legacy on Eventbrite

Mac Nagaswami is the Co-Founder and CEO of Carvertise - a media company that specializes in car advertising. Since founding the business as a student at the University of Delaware in 2014, Mac has grown Carvertise to become a multi-million dollar with 150% year-over-year revenue growth. With a driver network of over 300,000 registered drivers across the USA Carvertise has launched 100’s of advertising campaigns across the country for brand partners such as Crayola, Sprint, Empire Today and Buffalo Wild Wings. Carvertise was named DIW’s Startup of the Year and has been covered by major press outlets including Forbes and Inc Magazine.

Mac Nagaswami is the recent recipient of Delaware SBA’s 2016 Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award as well as the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Minority Business Leader Rising Star Award. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Directors for TeenSHARP. In his free time, Mac actively volunteers with pro-entrepreneurship initiatives such as the Delaware Youth Leadership Network (DYLN) and University of Delaware’s Horn Program in Entrepreneurship. Mac is an alum of Sanford School and graduated cum laude from the University of Delaware with a Bachelors of Science in Finance.

Mac is supporting TeenSHARP for JerseyMan/PhillyMan’s 4th annual Unmasking the Legacy event.

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Amy Rudley is a Partner with the Cooper Levenson, P.A. firm focusing her law practice on Employment Litigation, handbook preparation and day-to-day employment decisions. Amy conducts employment seminars, trainings, and performs workplace investigations.

Amy serves as a volunteer Councilwoman to the Borough of Pitman.

After noticing Senior Citizens in town as an underserved population, Amy established an Outreach Committee focused specifically on Senior Citizens. Amy continues to serve on this committee and also serves as a Board Member to the Pitman Education Foundation, which has provided over $200,000 in grants to the teachers of Pitman’s Public Schools. Amy volunteers for New Jersey’s Courts, performing free mediation for litigants in the Atlantic County Special Civil Division. Amy also volunteers for the Scholarship Committee of the Metropolitan Business and Citizen Association.

Amy was previously honored as 2015 Top 20 Under 40 by SJ Biz Magazine, as well as a 2015 Top 40 Under 40

by AC Weekly and the Greater Atlantic City Jaycees. Amy has been named as a New Jersey Rising Star Super Lawyer each year from 2013 to present, in the area of Employment Law. Amy and her husband, Dan, have two daughters, Kendall and Erin. Dan is a Board Member with the Claddagh Fund, whose mission is to provide financial support for causes impacting the most vulnerable populations in our communities, including Children, Veterans and individuals suffering from alcohol and drug addiction.

Amy is supporting the Claddagh Fund Philly for JerseyMan/PhillyMan’s 4th Annual Unmasking the Legacy Event.

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THE CIGAR GUY _____________________________________________

BY SAM KRAFT

Sponsored by The

Smoking Dog

FQ Proper Cigar by FQ Cigars

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Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro • Binder: Honduras • Fillers: Connecticut Broadleaf and Honduran tobacco

nitially, I had no intention of reviewing the FQ Proper. It was a cigar that was gifted to me at the 2018 International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) trade show. Like many of the samples I received at the convention, the Proper was accompanied by a hurried description of the brand and blend before I was rushed away to another booth. The cigar was then exiled to the bottom of my complimentary tote bag. Fast forward more than a month later, I was looking through my humidor in search of a “quick smoke,” when I spotted the Proper. I had never heard of FQ Cigars and I decided that it was just another boutique brand. I planned to sample the cigar and only hoped that it would not leave my palate worse than when I started.

As soon as I lit that cigar, I knew that it wasn’t a smoke I could passively enjoy. The first puff was a spicy heaven and already had me thoughtfully engaged. After I burnt past the closed foot, the spice disappeared. The cigar became slightly bitter but smooth. At a point, it reminded me of my favorite coffee, a Papua New Guinea bean. The aroma was like sweet earth mixed with burnt chocolate. Already, this cigar was more compelling than the average smoke. As I smoked through the cigar, I noticed notes of leather and barley. There was also a very enjoyable amount of salt left on the palate. The burn was even, and the smoke was generous. Toward the

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end of the second third, more wood flavors emerged. The initial spice from lighting the closed foot never returned, which kept the cigar medium-bodied. It was the filler and the wrapper that kept the cigar full-flavored.

With a little research, I discovered that the Proper was released in late 2017 and was hand selected by the founder, Matt Hunt. He only made around 1000 cigars of each size. Matt’s goal is to keep the distribution small for now, so that he can control the quality of the cigar.

I was very impressed by the Proper. Often times, low expectations can cause an experience to stand out.

Either way, I was quietly blown away by this cigar’s rich and complex flavors. It reminded me of the Alma Fuerte, by Plasencia Cigars, one of the most exciting sticks in my humidor.

Hopefully, I can find a few more of the FQ Proper cigars to purchase.

I would enjoy smoking it in the late morning with my favorite cup of coffee.

Surprises can be a blessing, and I look forward to any other FQ cigars I happen across, be it their initial Phenom blends, more Propers or any future blends Matt creates. n

@PCS_AnthonyM

TECH TIME

_______________________________________________________________________________

BY ANTHONY MONGELUZO

Losing Weight is in Your Headset Revolutionary Weight Loss “Careable” Technology Uses Neuroscience to Lower Body Fat

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F YOU’RE SERIOUS ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT, all you have to do is wear the Modius Headset daily for about 45 minutes to shed pounds, according to its manufacturer, Neurovalens, a neurotechnology company.

The premise is simple. The Modius Headset uses low-power electrical pulses “to stimulate the vestibular nerve, which runs from just behind the ear,” according to Neurovalens. This stimulates the brain into believing

the body is more active and results in a trigger that tells the brain and hypothalamus to reduce fat storage. Neurovalens describes the device as safe and noninvasive.

“There have been tens of thousands of hours of research on cranial stimulation,” said Neurovalens CEO and co-founder Dr. Jason McKeown. “Our results have been very positive, and now is the time to share the product with the rest of the world. Used for just 45 minutes per day for a few months, you will lose body fat. Used in conjunction with a healthy diet and regular exercise, the average user should notice a significant difference in body fat percentage.”

The Modius Headset is part of the new “careable” technology. Until recently, most wearable devices would record what your body is doing.

This device makes an impact on your body.

Does the device work? “With only a few hundred Modius devices in the hands of consumers around the world, we’re seeing consumers lose between 12 and 15 pounds in an average of weeks,” said McKeown. “We see Modius as the first generation of ‘careable’ technology. We’re in the early foothills of a neuroscience-led revolution in global healing and proud to be leading such a massive push in this direction.”

Neurovalens is headquartered in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and San Diego, California.

The FDA and the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency consider the Modius Headset a general wellness device, which doesn’t require a prescription, according to Neurovalens. It urges potential customers to check with their doctor or health care professional before trying the device.

“ We’re in the early foothills of a neuroscience-led revolution in global healing and proud to be leading such a massive push in this direction.”

Neurovalens describes the Modius Headset as a “safe, noninvasive device that has the potential to help millions of people reach their goals of a leaner, healthy body.”

For videos on the science and the doctors behind the Modius Headset, visit www.modiushealth.com/product/modius.

The Modius Headset costs $499 and offers a 90-day money-back guarantee. It is available at www.modiushealth.com. Additional information is available at their FAQ page at www. modiushealth.com/faqs. n As always, let me know your thoughts. I would love to hear your feedback, or if you would like to make a suggestion for a future article, reach out to me at Anthony@helpmepcs.com or on Twitter @PCS_AnthonyM. 72

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THE WINE MAN _______________________________________________________________________________

BY ROBERT KENNEDY

What Makes a Winemaker Great?

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AVE YOU EVER QUESTIONED what makes a winemaker great, and not just a good one? We all know the vast influences of the terrior on grape growing. We know how impactful soil and weather conditions are on the fruit that’s grown, harvested, and the effect terrior has on the vines that produce such luscious wonders. Additionally, we recognize that appellations, varietals, and vintages are important concerning the development of the grape, and thus the wine, regardless of the “Worlds” in which they are raised. And, yes, Mother Nature certainly has its DNA all over this magnificent fruit, including the vines from whence they are plucked, and the natural juices that flow from its origin to that which ultimately streams from bottle to stemware.

That said, it’s what great vintners do with the fruit, and the choices they make in harvesting, producing, and releasing these wines, that can really make the difference between wines that go from good to great.

Author Jim Collins wrote a bestselling business book, Good to Great.

Great leadership was a common theme throughout the Collins’ book. It’s no different here. Without an outstanding winemaker, and a boundless support cast, wines, at best, will only be good.

So, how does a winemaker go from good to great? It’s the winemakers’ technique that can win awards and gold medals at wine tasting events. Techniques on winemaking have changed drastically for the better since 1985, especially when it comes to the aging process. Most wineries today mass market their wines to be drunk upon release. These are

It’s the winemaker who cares enough to pick the best fruit for aging that produces the top wines.

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wineries that produce wines that either don’t age well, or spoil within five to six years. These winemakers are good, but not great. It’s the maker who cares enough to pick the best fruit for aging that produces the top wines. The basic characteristics of flavor, acidity, pH balance and maturity all have their roots in the vineyard. However, once harvested, the process begins, and the winemaker masters go to work.

Winemakers begin the process with their choice of yeast, as it adds flavors to wine, and allows the juice to metabolize. Most wineries use manufactured yeast. However, the best winemakers choose natural yeast, or regionally grown natural yeast, which gives wine its complexity—a much needed ingredient in producing outstanding wines.

Next the process includes what is known in the “wine world” as Punchdowns and Pumpovers. This reintegrates the grape seeds and skins into the fermentation process, which allows the proper levels of phenolic extraction to be accomplished. Proper temperature during fermentation is extremely important. With increased temperature, volatile aromas are burned off, causing less floral and fruit flavors to be retained by the wine, particularly in red wines. To combat extreme temperatures, the great winemakers will utilize large, whole clusters of grapes throughout fermentation, which will keep temperatures down.

Aging is a very important component to great winemaking. How grapes are aged, in what vessels, and for what periods of time is an art.

This is where, I believe, a winemaker goes from good to great. It’s his or her vision here that produces the best end result. Filtering, tasting, bottling and corking wines are one of the last items the winemaker goes through. Thoughtful care is given to what types of corks and bottles to choose. Labels are a work of art, and part of the overall vision of the winemaker.

NY SHORT AND INCOMPLETE LIST of some widely recognized and well-respected winemakers must include Robert Foley from Switchback Ridge and Robert Foley Vineyards; Helen Turley from B.R. Cohn, Bryant Family and Colgin Cellars; Heidi Barrett, known for the unbelievable Screaming Eagle; Paul Hobbs; and Paul Draper, winemaker at Ridge Vineyards, known for his fifth place finish at the Judgment of Paris with Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon, to name a few.

So, the top grapes are grown in the most preeminent places of the wine world, and under the most ideal of growing terrior conditions. This much we know. However, only the finest winemakers can transform them into the pinnacle wines of the world, with their exceptional finesse and utmost care, technical wizardry and long-term vision completing this wonderful process from farm to mouth.

If you want the finest wines from around the world, it’s first worth getting to know who these very accomplished men and women are, who are often referred to as the “winemaking kings” of the world. By doing so, there’s a very high probability you’ll have an incredible wine experience like no other. n

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