One of my good bowling buddies passed away last week, and he is well-known in bowling circles here in Schuylkill County. Jim Johnson died last week, after a valiant bout with cancer.
I first met Jimmy in '96 when I ran a tournament at SpareTime (during a blizzard). He was coaching the juniors at SpareTime for the first few years it was open. His daughter, Kim, finished 5th that day. After a few years, I met up with him again in 2004. He always came to the Wednesday night league, and subbed on my team a few times. After we won the league championship last year, our team all voted to chip in and give him our trophy for winning the title.
I treasured any chance I got to talk to him. When Kim told me about when Jimmy was diagnosed, it broke her heart. I regret that I hadn't talked to him since the summer, but he had a way of finding out how I was doing, and he always listened to my show when he was driving around and taking care of his wife, Susie.
Jimmy was just 59. His viewing is tonight, and funeral tomorrow in Tamaqua. I do plan on honoring him the next chance I get with my series of tournaments. He was one of my biggest supporters, on air and on the lanes. Thanx, Jimmy. I'll miss you, but I know your watching me.
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Congratulations to all our area basketball teams on their victories on Saturday...
Buckle Up,
TS
Monday, February 25, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Post #100
What better way to celebrate Post #100 than to keep it in its regular format...
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My health overall is okay. I get re-tested for my allergy shots next month, to see how well they've worked and if I still need them as often in the future. Everything else is fine, as long as I watch what I eat.
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It's the busy season for high school basketball. District titles are awarded this weekend, although the weather tomorrow could mess that up. State playoffs start next week. Good luck to all of our area teams still alive.
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One of my favorite tunes of the 70s is MFSB's "TSOP"... the ladies at the end of the song are the Three Degrees. What are their names? Of course, Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin. (Thank you, Bob Shannon, for that one-liner)
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I took a quick visit to the new Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. WOW! It looks beautiful. If you go in the main entrance, you have slots every way you turn... 2,020 in all. If you just want the racing, use the building entrance on the right side... that takes you upstairs to all the racing and some of the restaurants. Once it gets warmer, I'll be eager to see how everything will look on the track apron (between building and track). I've already scheduled an interview with Publicity Director Fred Lipkin for May.
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Good luck to my GAR Grenadiers... the boys basketball team plays for the District 2 title this weekend... the girls, who are the 16th seed, play in the semifinal tonight against Montrose. If they win, they're in the state playoffs.
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93 days until the unofficial start of summer. I just might take my first daytrip to the shore around that time.
----
Thanks for making this the most-read blog on t102radio.com. Keep listening and I'll keep typing.
Buckle Up,
TS
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My health overall is okay. I get re-tested for my allergy shots next month, to see how well they've worked and if I still need them as often in the future. Everything else is fine, as long as I watch what I eat.
----
It's the busy season for high school basketball. District titles are awarded this weekend, although the weather tomorrow could mess that up. State playoffs start next week. Good luck to all of our area teams still alive.
----
One of my favorite tunes of the 70s is MFSB's "TSOP"... the ladies at the end of the song are the Three Degrees. What are their names? Of course, Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin. (Thank you, Bob Shannon, for that one-liner)
----
I took a quick visit to the new Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. WOW! It looks beautiful. If you go in the main entrance, you have slots every way you turn... 2,020 in all. If you just want the racing, use the building entrance on the right side... that takes you upstairs to all the racing and some of the restaurants. Once it gets warmer, I'll be eager to see how everything will look on the track apron (between building and track). I've already scheduled an interview with Publicity Director Fred Lipkin for May.
----
Good luck to my GAR Grenadiers... the boys basketball team plays for the District 2 title this weekend... the girls, who are the 16th seed, play in the semifinal tonight against Montrose. If they win, they're in the state playoffs.
----
93 days until the unofficial start of summer. I just might take my first daytrip to the shore around that time.
----
Thanks for making this the most-read blog on t102radio.com. Keep listening and I'll keep typing.
Buckle Up,
TS
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
This and that and other things...
I see that the Greater Wildwood Motel Hotel Association is making it easier for you to reserve rooms online for all Wildwood boroughs. www. wildwoodlodging.com
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Fox has the best NASCAR coverage, bar none. Give them the entire year contract for coverage, or at least give them the chase, too.
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It's neat how you can spend time in four states in less than 40 minutes. Start on I-81 in PA, then spend 10 miles in Maryland, then 27 miles in West Virginia, and end up in Virginia. Interested in shopping? Chambersburg Mall at exit 20 in PA, downtown Chambersburg at exit 17 in PA, Valley Mall in Hagerstown and a mile-long strip mall at exit 5 in Maryland, the Martinsburg Mall at exit 12 in WV, then the Apple Blossom Mall at exit 313B in Winchester. Yes, that's how I spent my Saturday.
Also, if you travel US Route 340 east through Harpers Ferry, WV; after you leave WV, you spend less than a mile in Virginia. After crossing the Potomac River, you're in Maryland.
Interesting.
----
Short shows for most of the week, due to basketball.
Buckle Up,
TS
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Fox has the best NASCAR coverage, bar none. Give them the entire year contract for coverage, or at least give them the chase, too.
----
It's neat how you can spend time in four states in less than 40 minutes. Start on I-81 in PA, then spend 10 miles in Maryland, then 27 miles in West Virginia, and end up in Virginia. Interested in shopping? Chambersburg Mall at exit 20 in PA, downtown Chambersburg at exit 17 in PA, Valley Mall in Hagerstown and a mile-long strip mall at exit 5 in Maryland, the Martinsburg Mall at exit 12 in WV, then the Apple Blossom Mall at exit 313B in Winchester. Yes, that's how I spent my Saturday.
Also, if you travel US Route 340 east through Harpers Ferry, WV; after you leave WV, you spend less than a mile in Virginia. After crossing the Potomac River, you're in Maryland.
Interesting.
----
Short shows for most of the week, due to basketball.
Buckle Up,
TS
Monday, February 11, 2008
Random musings...
I've already apologized to Al Kovy for the guest appearance on his show Saturday night... well, at least my namesake did... I am not related to the Sparks that came from the lightning that struck the T102 tower on Saturday night. Our air signal won't be as strong for the time being, but the webstream is still working just fine.
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I drove I-81 home from New York last night, reaching Schuylkill County around 8:00. I had no idea there was a 68-car pile-up in that area a few hours earlier. In NY, there was a lot of blowing snow and slushy roadways, then a few snow squalls in PA... but nothing like what happened here.
It pains me to say this over and over, but between mile 90 and mile 164, I-81 is a dangerous road during bad weather. I've been caught behind a 30-car pileup at the rock cut near Nuangola, been detoured around crashes on snow-covered bridges, and stuck for lack of any emergency turnoffs. The real problem is that people from outside of the area travel 81 and don't know that it gets really bad during storms.
PennDOT should do for I-80 and I-81 what New Jersey does on their turnpike. Every 4 to 5 miles, you see electronic message boards warning drivers of upcoming hazards, and speed limit signs that can be switched from 65 to 55 or 45 etc. by computer control. Yeah, the portable message signs are a start, but something permanent needs to be done. I don't want to see a repeat of last February where there interstates were totally shut down, leaving motorists stranded.
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Here's a case of bad timing... ventriloquist Jeff Dunham (Achmed "Silence!") is in Shippensburg on March 29th. Impressionist Frank Caliendo (best known for his John Madden) is in Hershey the same night. I wish I could see both on the same day. My friends got me tickets for Dunham.
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It was 90 degrees in Aruba on Saturday... my buddy Matt reminded me of that as I sloshed through the rain Saturday night. It was 100 degrees cooler for him when he woke up this morning back here in PA. I'll get even with him over the summer. ;)
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The crazy season around here begins on Wednesday, with District 11 playoffs for high school basketball. Between Wednesday and Saturday, we're scheduled to carry 10 or so games. Keep listening for more details... as always, schedule is subject to change.
Buckle up,
TS
----
I drove I-81 home from New York last night, reaching Schuylkill County around 8:00. I had no idea there was a 68-car pile-up in that area a few hours earlier. In NY, there was a lot of blowing snow and slushy roadways, then a few snow squalls in PA... but nothing like what happened here.
It pains me to say this over and over, but between mile 90 and mile 164, I-81 is a dangerous road during bad weather. I've been caught behind a 30-car pileup at the rock cut near Nuangola, been detoured around crashes on snow-covered bridges, and stuck for lack of any emergency turnoffs. The real problem is that people from outside of the area travel 81 and don't know that it gets really bad during storms.
PennDOT should do for I-80 and I-81 what New Jersey does on their turnpike. Every 4 to 5 miles, you see electronic message boards warning drivers of upcoming hazards, and speed limit signs that can be switched from 65 to 55 or 45 etc. by computer control. Yeah, the portable message signs are a start, but something permanent needs to be done. I don't want to see a repeat of last February where there interstates were totally shut down, leaving motorists stranded.
----
Here's a case of bad timing... ventriloquist Jeff Dunham (Achmed "Silence!") is in Shippensburg on March 29th. Impressionist Frank Caliendo (best known for his John Madden) is in Hershey the same night. I wish I could see both on the same day. My friends got me tickets for Dunham.
----
It was 90 degrees in Aruba on Saturday... my buddy Matt reminded me of that as I sloshed through the rain Saturday night. It was 100 degrees cooler for him when he woke up this morning back here in PA. I'll get even with him over the summer. ;)
----
The crazy season around here begins on Wednesday, with District 11 playoffs for high school basketball. Between Wednesday and Saturday, we're scheduled to carry 10 or so games. Keep listening for more details... as always, schedule is subject to change.
Buckle up,
TS
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Whoa, was I wrong... and another retirement of an idol.
I listened to the Super Bowl on the radio for the first half, then saw it on TV in the second half.
By the time David Tyree made that circus catch to keep the drive alive, I didn't care that I lost to my lone SB42 bet. My friends who were watching the game (and rooting for the Giants) got rowdier after that catch.
There's a good reason that 97.5 million people watched it, and as many as 140 million watched the last half hour... it was compelling.
----
Those of you who were left hanging by Heritage Ford's closing... Sands Ford is honoring some of their incentives. Check with Sands' service department for more. They don't open as early, but they have Saturday morning hours.
----
One of the people responsible for me getting interested in this business is hanging up his headphones later this year. If you spent any time in or around Washington DC between 1985 and now, you've probably heard of the Don & Mike Show. Don is Don Geronimo (real name Michael Sorce). He started out when he was in his teens, and made it to the big time in the late 70s. He's worked in NYC, LA, Chicago, and DC. I first heard him in 1987 on the old Power 105 WAVA in DC, with partner Mike O'Meara. They've been #1 in mornings on WAVA, then #1 in afternoons on WJFK-FM since 1991. I met Don and Mike in 1990 at a Blockbuster Video in Laurel, MD and got their autographs. They're funny, controversial, and no topic is taboo. They share their personal lives daily. Go to donandmikewebsite.com to listen for yourself. They also appreciate the radio greats of the past, too.
They're not perfect, either. Don's been in trouble for drugs a few times, and have had past family issues. But nothing compared to what happened in July, 2005. Don's wife, Freda, was killed in a car crash in Ocean City, MD. Freda was a significant part of the show. The entire DC area felt the loss when she passed away. After about a month away from the show to get his and his son's life back together, he spent an hour on air, by himself, just talking about their relationship... which was often played out on air.
If you've ever experience the loss of a spouse who you relied on for a lot of things, then you can empathize with his situation. The interview Don did with WUSA-TV is here... http://www.wusa9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=48837
Don's last show will be May 30th. Mike and their ensemble will continue to show.
Yes, I don't agree with everything they talk about, and can't relate to their situations a lot of times... but, the show is funny. That's why I listened.
Don, thanks for making radio fun to listen to when you're on it.
Buckle up,
TS
By the time David Tyree made that circus catch to keep the drive alive, I didn't care that I lost to my lone SB42 bet. My friends who were watching the game (and rooting for the Giants) got rowdier after that catch.
There's a good reason that 97.5 million people watched it, and as many as 140 million watched the last half hour... it was compelling.
----
Those of you who were left hanging by Heritage Ford's closing... Sands Ford is honoring some of their incentives. Check with Sands' service department for more. They don't open as early, but they have Saturday morning hours.
----
One of the people responsible for me getting interested in this business is hanging up his headphones later this year. If you spent any time in or around Washington DC between 1985 and now, you've probably heard of the Don & Mike Show. Don is Don Geronimo (real name Michael Sorce). He started out when he was in his teens, and made it to the big time in the late 70s. He's worked in NYC, LA, Chicago, and DC. I first heard him in 1987 on the old Power 105 WAVA in DC, with partner Mike O'Meara. They've been #1 in mornings on WAVA, then #1 in afternoons on WJFK-FM since 1991. I met Don and Mike in 1990 at a Blockbuster Video in Laurel, MD and got their autographs. They're funny, controversial, and no topic is taboo. They share their personal lives daily. Go to donandmikewebsite.com to listen for yourself. They also appreciate the radio greats of the past, too.
They're not perfect, either. Don's been in trouble for drugs a few times, and have had past family issues. But nothing compared to what happened in July, 2005. Don's wife, Freda, was killed in a car crash in Ocean City, MD. Freda was a significant part of the show. The entire DC area felt the loss when she passed away. After about a month away from the show to get his and his son's life back together, he spent an hour on air, by himself, just talking about their relationship... which was often played out on air.
If you've ever experience the loss of a spouse who you relied on for a lot of things, then you can empathize with his situation. The interview Don did with WUSA-TV is here... http://www.wusa9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=48837
Don's last show will be May 30th. Mike and their ensemble will continue to show.
Yes, I don't agree with everything they talk about, and can't relate to their situations a lot of times... but, the show is funny. That's why I listened.
Don, thanks for making radio fun to listen to when you're on it.
Buckle up,
TS
Friday, February 1, 2008
Not so normal Super Bowl prediction...
Before Kickoff:
Someone will mention Spygate 15 times. (Why is Arlen Specter so concerned about the Spygate tapes? Why isn't he more worried about lowering our taxes?)
Jimmy Johnson's hair will stay straight.
Someone will show up to their interview with Ryan Seacrest drunk.
Patriots will win the toss.
First Quarter:
Giants will score first... Lawrence Tynes from 36 yards. NY 3 NE 0
Brady will throw a 40-yard TD to Dante Stallworth... NY 3 NE 7
Eli Manning throws an interception right into Junior Seau's hands.
Laurence Moroney dives for a 1-yard score... NY 3 NE 14
Advertisers start to sweat, for threat of a blowout.
Second Quarter:
Giants get another field goal. NY 6 NE 14
Both teams exchange punts.
Tom Brady starts limping considerably... moves out to receiver slot. Randy Moss takes direct snap, throws to Mike Vrabel for touchdown... NY 6 NE 21
Giants return kickoff for touchdown... NY 13 NE 21
Patriots get last-second field goal from Steven Gostkowski... NY 13 NE 24 at the half.
Third Quarter:
Giants drive to the goal line, but fumble. Brady throws a screen to Wes Welker who turns it into a 97-yard TD. NY 13 NE 31
Giants go on a 10-minute drive, and Brandon Jacobs scores. NY 20 NE 31
Both teams exchange punts twice.
Patriots' Kevin Faulk scores on a 4-yard TD pass... NY 20 NE 38
Giants returns ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the 10.
Fourth Quarter:
Eli finds Amani Toomer for a score, but the extra point gets blocked... NY 26 NE 38
Brady finds Moss wide open for a 64-yard TD... NY 26 NE 45
Giants put one last-gasp drive together, but get intercepted with 3:00 left, and NE runs out the clock.
My prediction... New England Patriots 45, New York Giants 26
Randy Moss will be MVP.
Bill Belichick will get a Gatorade bath.
I will win two slices of pizza from Pat Murphy.
Wherever you watch the game, please buckle up.
TS
Someone will mention Spygate 15 times. (Why is Arlen Specter so concerned about the Spygate tapes? Why isn't he more worried about lowering our taxes?)
Jimmy Johnson's hair will stay straight.
Someone will show up to their interview with Ryan Seacrest drunk.
Patriots will win the toss.
First Quarter:
Giants will score first... Lawrence Tynes from 36 yards. NY 3 NE 0
Brady will throw a 40-yard TD to Dante Stallworth... NY 3 NE 7
Eli Manning throws an interception right into Junior Seau's hands.
Laurence Moroney dives for a 1-yard score... NY 3 NE 14
Advertisers start to sweat, for threat of a blowout.
Second Quarter:
Giants get another field goal. NY 6 NE 14
Both teams exchange punts.
Tom Brady starts limping considerably... moves out to receiver slot. Randy Moss takes direct snap, throws to Mike Vrabel for touchdown... NY 6 NE 21
Giants return kickoff for touchdown... NY 13 NE 21
Patriots get last-second field goal from Steven Gostkowski... NY 13 NE 24 at the half.
Third Quarter:
Giants drive to the goal line, but fumble. Brady throws a screen to Wes Welker who turns it into a 97-yard TD. NY 13 NE 31
Giants go on a 10-minute drive, and Brandon Jacobs scores. NY 20 NE 31
Both teams exchange punts twice.
Patriots' Kevin Faulk scores on a 4-yard TD pass... NY 20 NE 38
Giants returns ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the 10.
Fourth Quarter:
Eli finds Amani Toomer for a score, but the extra point gets blocked... NY 26 NE 38
Brady finds Moss wide open for a 64-yard TD... NY 26 NE 45
Giants put one last-gasp drive together, but get intercepted with 3:00 left, and NE runs out the clock.
My prediction... New England Patriots 45, New York Giants 26
Randy Moss will be MVP.
Bill Belichick will get a Gatorade bath.
I will win two slices of pizza from Pat Murphy.
Wherever you watch the game, please buckle up.
TS
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