Friday, January 30, 2009

Super Bowl Sunday

While the sagging economy is impacting Super Bowl Sunday to some extent
you can probably count on one trend continuing…more people will call out sick Monday than any other single day of the year. This Sunday is a national holiday, even though it’s not on the calendar and does not come with a day off. Super Bowl 43 will feature the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals and while it’s a far cry from last year when the Giants played in the game, it is still a very big deal.

About 60% of Americans are expected to watch the game Sunday and of that group, 62% will do so at home and another 21% will attend a Super Bowl party. Last year’s game between the Giants and Patriots was the second biggest TV event in history behind only the series finale of “MASH” in 1983.

Super Bowl Sunday is the second biggest pig-out day of the year behind only Thanksgiving. 8 million gallons of guacamole will be consumed and washed down with about 13 million gallons of beer. Sales of antacids will be up about 20% the day after the game.

More than 1.5 million large-screen TV’s were purchased last year in the week leading up to the game.

The average 30-second commercial on NBC has been sold for between $2.4-3 million dollars and the network is expected to take in over $200 million.

A survey taken last year of those watching the game revealed that only 32% picked the game itself as the biggest part of the day. 18% said the commercials are what draws them to the TV and it has to be the only event in which people go to the bathroom during the game and remain in their seats during the commercial breaks.

Nearly 20% of office workers will participate in a box pool at work which will leave many rooting for the numbers they have drawn and not the Steelers or Cardinals.

Super Bowl Sunday has become such an obsession that the NFL is looking to extend the season by two weeks so the game can be part of President’s Weekend…that would be crazy.

I want Arizona to win but in the end the Pittsburgh defense may be too tough so I’ll take the Steelers 20-17. You can let me know who you like this Sunday from 7-11am when I host Bob Levy’s “Topic A.”

Thursday, January 29, 2009

The Kurt Warner Story

There is a widely e-mailed story going around about a supermarket stock boy who goes on a date with a cashier who is a bit older then him. At first Brenda turns down Kurtis because she could not afford a babysitter for her two young children. However he offers to pay and she finally accepts but when the babysitter does not show it looks like there will be no date. Kurtis refuses to quit and wants to take the children along but she explains that’s not possible as her son is a paraplegic with Down syndrome. However he won’t give in, convinces her they should all go out where he takes care of the boy like he’s his own. A year later they are married, he adopts the two children and later they add two more and live happily ever after. So what ever happened to the stock boy and check out girl? Well Kurt Warner is getting ready to play in his third Super Bowl this Sunday where his wife Brenda will be rooting him on in Tampa.

Unfortunately while the premise of the story is true most of the details are not. They met at bar one night while he was playing at Northern Iowa in 1994. The next day he wanted to meet the young children she had talked about the night before. Zachary who was then 5 years old was actually a healthy infant at birth. However when he was four months old his father dropped him and he suffered severe brain damage and battled for his life. Through hard work he learned to walk and talk and while legally blind attended school. After a five-year courtship (not one as the fabricated story goes) Kurt and Brenda were married in 1997 and he did adopt Zachary and his younger sister. They have added five more children to their family.

What is true is that both are part of a great story. Kurt did after being cut by the Packers in 1994, stock shelves in a grocery story for $5.50 an hour. It was three years later after stints in the Arena League and NFL Europe that he ended up in St. Louis and went from 3rd string to Super Bowl MVP. Brenda herself had to overcome obstacles after he first husband deserted her. She finished her nursing training while pregnant with her second child and the brain-damaged Zachary. She got by during this time with the help of student loans and food stamps. The year before marrying Kurt both her parents died in a tornado.

Warner of course is the biggest reason why the Arizona Cardinals are in their first-ever Super Bowl this Sunday against Pittsburgh. They are a touchdown underdog but you probably should not bet against him….after all the stock boy is on his way to the Hall of Fame.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Football Field Death

A story that originates in Kentucky is one that you can be sure will be followed by those involved with the sport of football right here at the Jersey Shore. David Jason Stinson, the head coach at Pleasure Ridge High School pled not guilty yesterday to reckless homicide charges in the death of a 15-year old player in late August. Max Gilpin died of complications from heat stroke, three days after collapsing on the practice field. Stinson, who was in his first season as head coach, was released Monday without having to post bond but faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

Gilpin, a 6’2, 220 pound offensive lineman collapsed during the end of practice when players were running sprints called “gassers.” Reports say coaches were pushing the players in the 94-degree heat, denying them water and promising to end practice if at least one player quit the team which did occur later. 15 minutes before Gilpin collapsed a teammate went down and was sent to a nearby tree for shade where he was treated with water and ice packs.

It’s believed this is the first time criminal charges have been brought against a high school or college coach for an incident like this one and it does raise many questions. Pushing players in the summer to get them ready for a season has been the norm for decades and despite awareness over heat-related problems there were six deaths in 2008 associated with heat on the high school and college level. There can be no denying more information is available today on the importance of hydration as I can tell you during my high school days we didn’t even know the meaning of the word. You also now have athletic trainers involved in the process, often working with coaches to make sure the proper precautions are taken.

Obviously none of us really knows what took place on that practice field in Louisville last August and that will come out during the trial. The death of a 15-year old is tragic and not to be taken lightly. However the precedent that could be set in this case will also have major ramifications for years to come and you can be sure coaches from all over the country will be watching.

Monday, January 26, 2009

A Football-less Sunday

The last Sunday we did not have a pro football game to watch was August 31st so if you suffered yesterday it’s just a preview of things to come. I was out most of the day and did not get home until late in the afternoon and it was strange to turn on the TV and not find a football game, although A&E did offer a Sylvester Stallone marathon. Of course there is one more game left in the season…that being Super Bowl 43 Sunday night. The Steelers & Cardinals arrive in Tampa today and it certainly is not like last year when there was so much buzz over the game with the Giants playing and of course winning. However there seems to be plenty of Pittsburgh fans in our area as I have seen numerous vehicles and even homes displaying logos and other signs of their allegiance.

If you ever wanted to know how fast one falls from the spotlight just think about President George Bush….for the most part gone and forgotten.

So Joe Torre has a book coming out next week in which he takes a couple of shots at Alex Rodriguez and Brian Cashman. When word of this got out yesterday many Yankee fans were quick to question why Torre would go negative when his stint in the Bronx was so successful. First you need to read the book before you draw any conclusions but let’s be honest...the Yankees pretty much ended the relationship between the two and did not even mention Torre during the closing ceremonies at Yankee Stadium. Of course this so-called controversy will help sell books and maybe that was the intent all along.

Of all the subjects I have talked about in my “Hometown View” the one that has generated the most feedback has to do with kids returning home from college either during the holiday break that just ended or for the summer. I can’t even tell you how many times over the past month people approached me to comment about the changes in their sons and daughters especially when it came to things like staying up at night and sleeping during the day.
Of course they are now back at school so you can take the “out of sight, out of mind attitude” but remember…. they’ll be home in just four months.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Football-less Friday

A couple of random notes heading into the first weekend without pro football since early September.

I still love broadcasting high school sports and one of the reasons why is doing a basketball game from Gepp Gym at Monsignor Donovan High School. It’s no Ritacco Center but always makes me feel nostalgic about the way things used to be as it serves as both a gym and auditorium and we broadcast last nights Donovan-Central game from the stage. There is nothing like that gym packed with fans that are right on top of the court and of course in good times the student section called “The Pit” makes it a nightmare for visiting players. Many years ago we had a basketball team at the radio station and the WOBM “No Stars” would annually play a game against the Donovan faculty and it was comical to have those students rip you each time you did something wrong. It was also great to see former Griffins coach and Athletic Director Steve Gepp at the game. He is truly one of the best people I have met in my years covering sports and he
was a lot of fun to watch on the bench for so many years. By the way the Griffins rolled to an easy win and they are a team to watch as six of their top seven players are underclassmen. Included in that group are a pair of impressive sophomores in guard Sean Grennan and 6’5 center Anthony Duszczak, who scored 18 points and was our player of the game.

January is National Mentoring Month and the theme for that at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County is “expand your universe; mentor a child! Right now there are 75 children, most of them boys on the waiting list for a mentor to come into their life. If you have even thought about getting involved now is the time to find out how you can make a difference. Big Brothers Big Sisters will hold an Open House at their office in Lakewood on 85 Williams Street on Wednesday, January 28th from 3-7pm. You can meet the staff, Board of Directors and “Bigs” and “Littles” to find out more about a program that has changed lives. For information you can call the office at
(732) 905-5349 or visits bbbsoc@optonline.net.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Charitiable Events

More than 100 people attended a special luncheon Wednesday at Woodlake Country Club in Lakewood as the Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce honored Matt Smith along with Ed Sunday and Gateway Toyota.

Both received the 2009 Pinnacle Philanthropic Leadership Awards for their
continued service to the Chamber and the community. Smith, a partner in the consulting engineering firm of O’Donnell, Stanton & Associates and Gateway Toyota were previously honored as Distinguished Citizens and Organizations of the Year, which is part of the criteria for the Pinnacle Award.

Previous honorees who attended yesterday’s luncheon included attorneys Harvey York and Bob Novy, developer Gary Lotano, Nina Anuario of OceanFirst Bank, Toms River Police Chief Mike Mastronardy and Community Medical Center, represented by Rick Palllamary.

Also announced yesterday were details of the 46th Annual Reception and Dinner Gala which will be held on May 14th at Eagle Ridge Golf Club. Retired Superior Court Judge Eugene Serpentelli will be saluted as Distinguished Citizen of the Year while the Presbyterian Church of Toms River has been selected as the “Organization of the Year.”

The Atlantic Club in Manasquan and the Muscular Dystrophy Association will host a benefit on Friday, January 30th with all proceeds going to Augie’s Quest, which is the MDA’s ALS Research Initiative. WinterQuest will feature food, music, dancing, ice carving, silent auctions and more. Also on hand will be the authors and promoter of the children’s book, “A Glove of Their Own” which tells the story of kids who play baseball for the love of the game. What’s so special about the book is that each sale results in donations to help “Play it Forward.” For tickets and more information on WinterQuest you can call (732) 292-4357

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Inauguration Of Barack Obama

Change has come to America and whether you were in Washington DC Tuesday or glued to your TV you witnessed it in its entire splendor. A day that really can’t be summed up in just words saw Barack Obama become the 44th President of our nation with the pomp and circumstance that at times seemed more appropriate for the coronation of a new King.

Regardless of who you voted for in November you have to admit that yesterday was not only historic but a day full of hope at a time when we need it the most. Sure much of the theme is the fact that Obama is the first African-American to serve as our Chief Executive but it’s much more than that. He is youthful and mature, serious but with a smile that radiates and while he may be humbled by the task before him you don’t get the feeling he is afraid to take it head on.

Another indication of the change is the First Family who will now call the White House their home. Michelle Obama was described yesterday as the
“woman who could save the fashion industry” and she clearly will not be in the shadows. Daughters Malia and Sasha will grow up right in front of us which reminds many of the JFK days in Washington. Don’t think despite their young age they don’t have influence because J Crew’s website was jammed when people found out the First Daughters were wearing clothes from their kids line. Many were disappointed when they learned that the clothes were especially designed for the girls and are not available….at least not yet.

Obama’s speech to the nation and world yesterday may not have given us a historic line like “ask not what your country can do for you but rather what you can do for your country” but it did set a tone for what’s about to come in his administration. We can only hope that he is the right person to set a new course because we are heading in the wrong direction. All Americans biggest hope should be that Barack Obama does not just go into the history books because of the color of his skin but rather because of the greatness of his presidency.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Parties & Eagles

You were probably expecting me to do a segment today on the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States and you would be partly correct. I’m going to wait until tomorrow to talk about the historic moment when Obama becomes the first African-American to hold the highest office in the nation. I will certainly watch the ceremonies today which I’m sure will be emotional for many as change truly does comes to America. The only thing I question is the pomp and circumstance surrounding this event at a time when our country and the world is in really bad shape. In all honesty it’s been a four-day event and one can only imagine the price tag the government has to pay in security alone.

Somebody once said you learn a lot about the people you work with at a holiday party. If that’s the case than there are some of us who are very different once the music begins. We had our holiday party over the weekend and I certainly work with some dancing fools. Actually there are those who can really move and those whose movements are not pretty. Then there are those like me who refuse to give anyone ammunition for post-party commentaries or cell phone pictures. Nothing wrong with letting your hair down and I’m glad to report that nobody did anything to be ashamed of or regret when they woke up the next morning.

Philadelphia will have to be content with being home only to the World Series champions as the Eagles have come up short once again in their bid for a Super Bowl title. That’s a good thing because I don’t know if I could have survived the constant ribbing from Philly fans about being the “city of champions.” The Eagles do deserve credit for not quitting in Arizona Sunday and Donovan McNabb was able to rally his team after a terrible first half. But the vaunted Eagles defense let the team down and there will not be an all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl. Here’s hoping the Cardinals prevail which should give hope to fans of all teams because they were the laughing stock of the NFL just a few short years ago.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Cold Random Friday Thoughts

You talk about bad timing. I do a segment yesterday on how we don’t have real winter weather any longer and we get snow showers and brutal low temperatures. Somebody sent me an email wondering if I was in Florida when I wrote the piece. In truth I did do it in advance because I had to take yesterday off as my daughter needed to have her wisdom teeth removed.
However what we are now experiencing will not last long and we should be above freezing by early next week.

What you do see during bitter cold mornings like this one is people warming their cars up. While that is a good thing after the first minute or two you are only doing it for your comfort as your car only needs a couple of minutes to get the oil going. Also when you go to start your engine there is no real need to pump the gas like we used to do with older vehicles.

A couple of random notes heading into what is a holiday weekend for many:

Southern Regional High School will hold its 19th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony this Sunday from 3-7pm at the Holiday Inn in Manahawkin. This year’s inductees are Rich Beverley, Melissa Boyda, Lori Citarella, Sean Crawford, Dan Hall, Curt Walters and coaches John Bihlmier and Roy Librizzi. Also going into the hall will be the Rams 1997
Wrestling team which won a state sectional championship.

Tom Farrell announced earlier this week that he is stepping down as the head football coach at New Egypt High School after seven seasons. This comes three months after Farrell was appointed principal of the school. He coached the Warriors for seven seasons and in the last two they qualified for the state playoffs. Farrell previously was an assistant coach at Monmouth University and the head coach at Monsignor Donovan where his oldest son plays and now he’ll get to watch him on the weekends.

A small correction in regards to the dinner on February 6th at the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City to honor recently-retired Brick Township High School football coach Warren Wolf. The dinner will start at 5:30 and not 5pm as I reported earlier in the week. Those interested in attending can contact Brick Township High School Principal Dennis Filippone at (732) 262-2500 or Lacey High School football coach Lou Vircillo at (609) 709-5303

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Honoring Warren Wolf

Recently-retired Brick Township High School football coach Warren Wolf will be honored during a special dinner in Atlantic City on Friday, February 6th as part of the Nike Coach of the Year Clinic at the Tropicana Hotel. Wolf stepped down following his 51st season on the sidelines for the Green Dragons and leaves as the winningest coach in New Jersey high school history.

The dinner is a way for the Shore Coaches Foundation to pay a proper tribute to the 81-year old Wolf for the impact he has had on the lives of so many over his long career. While it will take place during the annual clinic which is directed by Lacey’s Lou Vircillo, the dinner is open to the general public and the hope is many from the Brick community will be on hand for what should be a terrific event. College coaches are also expected to attend
and be part of the program to honor Wolf, who announced his retirement a couple of days after the Green Dragons season-ending victory over Brick Memorial.

The dinner will be held from 5-7pm on Friday, February 6th and reservations must be made quickly. For information you can call Brick Township High School Principal Dennis Filippone at (732) 262-2500, ext. 2289 or you can
Contact Coach Vircillo at (609) 709-5303.

On the subject of tributes a reminder that the Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Pinnacle Business Leadership Awards Luncheon next Wednesday, January 21st at Woodlake Country Club in Lakewood. The honorees are Matthew Smith of O’Donnell, Stanton & Associations and Gateway Toyota-Scion of Toms River, who will be represented by Vice President and General Manager Ed Sunday. Both were honored in the past as Distinguished Citizens and Organizations of the Year and continue to be active in the community which is the criteria for the award. For information and reservations to the luncheon you can call the Chamber office at (732) 349-0220.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Moving School Board Election

A New Jersey State Senate committee is expected to vote today on bill S-1861which would move school board elections from April to the November general election and also eliminate the need for the public to approve local school budgets that are below the state cap. While this bill is far from perfect I think it’s a major step in the right direction and I’m in favor of a change that’s been talked about for years.

School Board members are for the most part dedicated individuals who try and make a difference. However since the April turnout is so small it doesn’t take many votes for someone to get elected to a position of power even if they are running for the wrong reasons. With more people voting in November you would think that the quality candidates have a better chance of getting their message across. Those opposed to the move, including the New Jersey Education Association and the New Jersey School Boards Association cite among their reasons the fear that partisan politics will come into play. It might be a fair concern if you are naïve enough to believe that politics doesn’t play into the current system because it does. The NJEA has never been one of my favorite groups…they want to win all the time and compromise is not one of their favorite words.

The other major provision of this bill has to do with the elimination of voting on the school budget and to me this is the biggest reason for it to go into effect. To often the public took out their frustrations over high taxes by voting against budgets even if they were frugal and deserving of support. You don’t vote on where any of your other tax dollars go so why should education have to take the brunt of dissatisfaction? If the proposed budget stays within the state cap then there is no vote….however if it exceeds it then the public will decide its fate each November.

Like I said this bill is not perfect and the November date does cause some hardship because the school year is already underway. However that’s not reason enough and in time everyone will learn to work around that. Plus the state is expected to save about $5 million by merging the two election dates and that money can be better put to other use. Even if S-1861 gets through committee today it’s still got a couple of hurdles before it could be signed by Governor Corzine and it would not go into effect until 2010. It’s a change whose time has come.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Monday Musings

A little of this and a little of that on a Monday morning:

First the Phillies took down the Mets on their way to the World Series and now Eagle fans are hoping to follow the same script after knocking the Giants out of the NFL Playoffs. Philly clearly earned the win yesterday with Donovan McNabb outplaying a very ineffective Eli Manning and Andy Reid outcoaching Tom Coughlin. Now if the Eagles can win in Arizona and the Steelers can beat Baltimore you will have an all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl.

Speaking of Super Bowls. Today is the 40th anniversary of what was the worst loss I ever suffered as a sports fan. Just a couple of weeks shy of my 13th birthday it was on January 12th, 1969 that the New York Jets stunned the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. I was an 8th grader at Central Regional and had bet just about everyone, including teachers a buck or two that the Colts would crush the Jets. I still have nightmares over that game.

If you watched the Golden Globe awards last night you saw that “Slumdog Millionaire” won for best motion picture and might now be the favorite for the Academy Awards. My wife and I saw the movie over the weekend and loved it. It’s about a young boy growing up in the slums of India and going on to win their version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” Great performances by an unknown cast and a terrific film.

I did not watch the Golden Globes because I could not miss the season premiere of “24” starring Kiefer Sutherland which actually continues tonight. The two hours flew by and like this show always does it leaves me waiting for the next episode. Sure a lot of the characters from the past are gone as Jack Bauer finds himself in another jam but it’s still a very compelling TV show.

We are broadcasting a high school basketball game each week on our Shore Sports Network, including 1160 WOBM AM. While Thursday is our main basketball night tonight we’ll broadcast the Toms River East at Toms River South game which tips off at 6:30. The complete schedule is available at shoresportsnetwork.com

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Whose Territory Is It Anyway?

(This Hometown View originally aired on Friday, January 9, 2009)

As much as any other county in the state Ocean County is probably divided when it comes to rooting interests for Sunday’s NFL Playoff game between the Eagles and Giants. Generally speaking it always seemed like most of those who lived in the northern part of the county were New York fans while those in the south were more likely to follow teams from Philly. Whether or not there is a dividing line is debatable, some will tell you Lacey Road but there really is no definitive geographical point which separates the allegiances of residents.

Steve Chernoski is the Director of a soon to be released movie titled New Jersey: the Movie in which the theme is the dividing line between north and south. How you might determine that can be as simple as who calls a certain sandwich a “sub” or a “hoagie” to whether your loyalties rest with the Giants or Eagles. For most of the state you can probably tell this by walking into a sports store and seeing what team is featured when it comes to clothing but it’s not that simple in Ocean County.

Sometimes it just comes down to winning. Take the Modell’s in Toms River. I would assume most Toms River residents are fans of the Giants, Jets, Yankees and Mets but the store was loaded with Phillies merchandise before and after the World Series and it sold very quickly. However in years the Phillies were not very good it might have been difficult to find a jersey of your favorite player.

Chernoski guesses that towns like Toms River, Brick, Lakewood, Manchester, Berkeley and Lacey are all or mostly Giant territories. Jackson, Barnegat and Stafford might be pretty even but leaning towards “Big Blue.” I think once you get into the Barnegat area a lot depends on how long you have lived there. Long time residents are likely to be Philadelphia fans but of course over the last 20-30 years many from North Jersey have relocated to southern Ocean County and still cheer for teams like the Giants. Head further south to Little Egg & Tuckerton you are clearly in Eagles and Philly country.

So what fans will be happy when they wake up Monday morning? Let’s hope it’s those who call a sandwich a sub….not a hoagie.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

14 Pains Worth Enduring

One of my favorite magazines is Men’s Health even tough I’m often frustrated that it seems to be aimed at men who are in great shape,
very successful with plenty of money, are savvy when it comes to technology and travel quite a bit. However despite this I look forward to perusing each issue and this month’s “Guys List” caught my attention. The list is 14 pains worth enduring as it tells us that while we all get hurt we are made stronger by the process and the new year should include some new scars. I’ve edited these a bit

1. Going all in, and losing. This of course is a gambling term when
playing Texas Hold’Em and I would imagine if you have ever
experienced the feeling it’s not a good one.
2. Splurging on a $1000 suit. A pain not in my immediate plans.
3. Watching The Notebook. It stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams and I have seen it and don’t recall a lot of pain. The
article says you will impress women by remembering the plotline.
4. Buying a SaladShooter. I must not watch enough late-nite TV.
5. Fumbling through a bad date. Since I have not been on a date in
more than 27 years the sting and pain of the bad ones has actually
gone away.
6. Eating ramen noodles. I hope this pain is never realized.
7. Dating a high-maintenance bombshell. What’s the difference
between that and marriage?
8. Running for president or campaigning for any long-shot score
whether it is personal or professional. Been there…done that.
9. Drinking green beer. Never have, never will. Well, never say never.
10. Taking all-you-can-eat wing night literally. Isn’t that why they make Pepto-Bismol?
11. Undergoing a colonoscopy. No excuse not too…may save your life.
12. Visiting Disney World. Once was enough.
13. Lying to your mother. If you have not done so before you have
had a boring life. When you come home at 9AM and tell her you were asleep at Bob’s house it’s a lie and she knows it.
14. Training poorly, then competing anyway. They talk about the pain of being passed in the race by a 52-year old man. That’s my age and while I have not passed anyone in a while I think I should pass when my subscription expires.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Keeping Your New Years Resolution

We are a week into 2009 and I’m wondering how many of you have already broken one or more of your New Year’s Resolutions. Most of us could pretty much guess what was on the list of the most popular resolutions because it’s probably been pretty much the same for the last few years.
In no certain order here they are:

· Lose weight
· Quit smoking
· Start exercising
· Get out of debt
· Quit drinking
· Get out of a bad relationship and find true love
· Advance your career and make more money
· Go back to school or take a class to improve yourself
· Spend more time with family and friends
· Get into philanthropy and community involvement

Of all of these the two that would have to top the list would be losing weight and start exercising. Fitness equipment sales skyrocket during the holiday season but usually by the end of the month treadmills, exercise bicycles and rowing machines have pretty much become high-priced clothes hangers. The other component of this is the incredible number of people who sign up at a local gym, often for a year or more. They make exercise a regular part of their routine for a few weeks or maybe even months but over time they find reasons to skip and before too long all they have to show for their gym membership is a key tag never used.

As for losing weight….well that’s a billion dollar industry that depends on
us who vow to drop pounds right around the start of a new year. Many do but a friend of mine in the restaurant business told me that after the first two weeks of January business picks up as people give up.

So what was on your list for 2009 and how long will you stick with it? Only time will tell.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

First Tuesday Of The Year

I was among the couple of hundred people who attended a private party (complete with red carpet) Monday night to celebrate the grand opening of the newest Boston’s The Gourmet Pizza. The restaurant and sports bar sits on the site previously occupied by Mugsy’s Restaurant at the corner of Hooper Avenue and Fischer Boulevard in Toms River. Boston’s has both a restaurant area and sports bar, complete with flat screen TV’s…there’s even a TV in the bathroom. The ownership group opened their first Boston’s on Route 66 in Neptune more than a year ago and officially they open to the public today in Toms River. Boston’s provided food for the hospitality room at the WOBM Christmas Classic which was enjoyed by all.

With the holidays over we now enter what seems like the longest stretch of winter, one that could be made to feel a bit shorter if the Giants can repeat their post-season success of last year. The Super Bowl is on February 1st and if the Giants can reach the big game in Tampa it will be the kind of positive diversion we need from all the negative things going on around us.
For those Eagle fans looking for equal time….find it somewhere else. However if Philly does knock off “Big Blue” on Sunday it will then give me a team to root against for the remainder of the playoffs. Yeah I know…this sounds just like the Phillies and Mets in September which if I remember did not work out very well for my team.

Another milestone for Brick Township High School hockey coach Bob Auriemma. Last night’s 9-0 victory over Toms River East came in his
1000th game behind the Green Dragon’s bench. In his 43rd season, Auriemma’s record is an amazing 611-310-79 and he shows no signs of letting up and after seeing him last month it does not appear he’s aged. Auriemma has had plenty of thrills coaching hockey at Brick and this year’s team includes three of his grandsons…Matt Dornacker, Mike Auriemma and Patrick Kearns.