Another Wildcat Reunion at the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Banquet

During the years that I worked at Villanova University in the athletic department (1980-1984 while an undergrad, 1984-1995 as an employee) one of my best friends was the great Wildcat track and field coach, "Uncle Marty" Stern. In the years since I left the Main Line in May 1995, I don't get to see many of my fellow Wildcats as often as I would like, so it was a thrill to sit next to "Uncle Marty" last night at the 105th Annual Philadelphia Sports Writers Association awards banquet. In this photo, my friend "Uncle Marty" is at left while yours truly is at right, at the dinner last night.

A few generations of Villanova Sports Information talent + 1

Last night (January 26, 2009) was the 105th Annual Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Awards Banquet, and once again I was happy to see so many old friends and colleagues in attendance. Here's a group of former College Sports Information Directors -- former Fairfield University SID and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference assistant commissioner Jay Williams (at left), former Villanova University SID Ted Wolff (2nd from left), yours truly, former Villanova University SID Jim DeLorenzo in the center, and the godfather, former Villanova SID and former Philadelphia Eagles General Manager Jim Murray (at right with the Eagles hat) -- at the dinner last night.

Happy 92nd Birthday Ernest Borgnine!

Incredible, but true, Ernest Borgnine turned 92 the other day...He's another actor who's been in everything...McHale's Navy...The Wild Bunch...From Here to Eternity...The Black Hole...Poseidon Adventure...Bad Day at Black Rock...The Badlanders...The other night Turner Classic Movies ran an interview with Ernest Borgnine, and I actually came away enjoying all the different stories he told, including fond memories of some of my favorite actors, including Alan Ladd (who nobody ever seems to mention anymore) and Gary Cooper. Happy Birthday Mr. Borgnine!

The Prisoner

More on Patrick McGoohan & The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh

I mentioned earlier my early childhood first encounter with the late Patrick McGoohan in Walt Disney's The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh. It's fondly remembered by a number of people of a certain age -- mostly male -- and had long been very, very difficult if impossible to see. Disney, in the Michael Eisner era, for the most part shunned their catalog of 196os and 1970s live action features and TV shows, and only very briefly did they release the feature film "International" version of The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh on videotape. That videotape has been a hot commodity on eBay since the marketplace went live in the late 199os, and only this past November did the good folks at Disney finally release it on DVD. Since I've only been waiting for a copy of those shows for about 40 years (!), I bought it immediately, and had in my DVD player by Thanksgiving. One of the special features of that DVD is, apparently, the last ever interview Patrick McGoohan ever gave, with his memories of the making of that film. It's evident in the interview that he is pleased that so many people remember Dr. Syn or The Scarecrow so much -- and I'm wondering if it is taped in his home, and if so, did he really have a huge movie poster of The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh in his home. In any event, the DVD has not only the "International" movie version of the film, but the three episodes of "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" in all their splendor. It is in the DVD player tonight, as we remember the late Patrick McGoohan. The soldiers of the king still fear his name.

Patrick McGoohan, Dr. Syn, The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh

Memories of a youth mis-spent in front of the boob tube!

Ricardo Montalban

What a sad day for a TV and movie buff like me. Looks like the upcoming Academy Awards "in remembrance reel" just got a lot longer today. Not only Patrick McGoohan, but now Ricardo Montalban. Earlier today I was watching Turner Classic Movies re-run of MGM: When The Lion Roared, and there was Ricardo Montalban reminiscing about his days as a star at MGM. They interviewed him, and also Van Johnson. Wow. What a life -- he passed away today at the age of 88. Most people of my age remember him for two things, Fantasy Island, and one of my favorite movies of all time (believe it or not) Star Trek The Wrath of Khan. I also remember laughing at his being the only actor playing it straight in The Naked Gun. The kindly circus owner Armando who takes in baby Milo in Escape from the Planet of the Apes, only to be murdered for raising Caesar (formerly Milo) in Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. Seeing him turn up as a Native American warrior in some Western, then as an Asian character in a Hawaii Five-O rerun, and also playing the bad guy to Frank Langella in a shot-for-shot made-for-TV remake of the Tyrone Power Zorro movie. The punchline to a classic Bill Murray-Saturday Night Live bit about who is more Macho, Ricardo Montalban or Fernando Lamas. Ricardo Montalban was a talented and good man, and again, he will be missed.

Patrick McGoohan

Growing up as a child born in 1962, the late '60s and early 1970s were a television wonderland for someone like me with an active imagination and a love for the fantastic. Probably the first time I ever saw the late Patrick McGoohan (who passed away today at the age of 80) was on The Wonderful World of Disney in a late 1960's rebroadcast of The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh. I also remember my parents letting me watch The Prisoner on CBS when it first came to the U.S. at that time. The Prisoner was a perfect TV show for a youngster like me -- lots of bright colors, crazy situations, and a strong lead. I had nightmares about "The Rovers" for years, and it was years before I got to see The Prisoner again -- probably in the late 1970s on PBS, then later on A&E before that network went completely to hell. I remember videotaping episodes of The Prisoner to watch when I first moved out on my own after college. I also remember desperately trying to catch The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh in reruns in the late 1980s. It was the source of a major fight between me and my sister on Thanksgiving, when I set our only VCR to record and she reset it to record something on MTV! McGoohan over the years provided much entertainment to me and my family -- including my wife, with whom I watched The Prisoner on DVD with one snowy Saturday not long after we got engaged. I also looked forward to the Columbo reruns with McGoohan featured -- he did four, and was the only actor to appear with Peter Falk on the show in four distinct episodes (my other favorite Columbo guest-stars, the late Jack Cassidy and the immortal William Shatner (and you know how much I love my Shatner!) did two each, but all three were supposedly Peter Falk' s favorite foils). Thomasina, Braveheart, Ice Station Zebra, Escape from Alcatraz, The Phantom -- many happy memories of the man who was not a number but a free man. I will certainly miss Patrick McGoohan.

World Champion Phillies to be Honored at Philadelphia Sports Writers Association 105th Annual Dinner

The Philadelphia Sports Writers Association will salute the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies and much, much more at their 105th annual awards dinner on Jan. 26. This storied banquet, the oldest sports dinner of its kind in the country, never fails to provide local sports fans with plenty of entertaining moments. (I've been a member of the PSWA since 1990, and proud to be associated with this fine group of professionals.)

The dinner this year, at the Crowne Plaza on Route 70 in Cherry Hill, will be an especially up-beat affair as we honor the Phillies for their dream season with the Team of the Year award. Manager Charlie Manuel will accept the Team of the Year hardware for the second straight season.

A “perfect” addition to the dais is Phil’s closer Brad Lidge, who held every lead he was given all season to earn our annual Outstanding Pro Athlete Award.

Also, the Phillies will be displaying their World Series trophy for the fans to view; for a fee, you can even have your photo snapped with the distinctive trophy. Other highlights include:

*Sheldon Brown, hard-hitting cornerback of the Eagles, will receive the Good Guy award
*Former Flyers great Bernie Parent is our Living Legend
*Adam Taliaferro, out of Eastern Regional H.S. in Voorhees and Penn State, who made an inspirational recovery from a devastating spinal injury suffered in a game, is honored as Humanitarian of the Year
*Record-setting receiver Mike Washington, from West Chester University, will receive the Outstanding Amateur award
*Steve Sabol, the man behind NFL Films, will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. *The dais will include Temple University basketball star Dionte Christmas; Ryan Kulik, of Marlton, N.J., a star pitcher for Rowan University who was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals; and other college and professional athletes as well as Sports comedian Joe Conklin.

Click here for the most up-to-date information about the dinner, or to purchase tickets ($75 each). Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner starts at 6:30 p.m., and prior to the banquet, there will be a silent of auction of sports memorabilia, and book-signings by Philadelphia Sports Writers Association members.

I've gone to this annual dinner regularly since the mid-1980s, and it is always a blast!

Save J.C. Romero -- Sign the Petition to Lift his Suspension

Some local Phillies fans have started an online petition to get J. C. Romero's suspension reversed...You can check it out by clicking here...I think they shouldn't suspend Romero, but should suspend GNC...I guess we'll never see GNC sponsorship of any MLB events or the new MLB Network!

Jim's Top Movies of 2008

As is a DeLorenzo's Dugout tradition dating back to the mid-199os, here are my top movies of 2008.

1. Flawless (starring Michael Caine & Demi Moore -- no one but me and my wife saw it)
2. Iron Man
3. Quantum of Solace
4. Frost/Nixon
5. Red Belt
6. Ghost Town (with Ricky Gervais & Greg Kinnear -- again, no one but me and my wife saw it)
7. Burn After Reading (the latest from the Coen Bros. -- I know, no one but me...)
8. The Incredible Hulk (so much better than the Ang Lee version, and a big surprise that I did enjoy it)
9. The Dark Knight (although I still don't see what the big fuss was about Heath Ledger's performance)
10. The Grand (a funny poker movie we caught up with on cable but missed in theatres).

Runners-up are a few that I caught on cable or DVD but not in the theatre...Justice League: The New Frontier; Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project. Possibly the worst of the movies we actually went to the movie theatre to see this year, but not bad, was The Other Boleyn Girl. The one movie I really wanted to see but haven't yet, The Bank Job. And I still haven't watched Step-Brothers or Semi-Pro yet, but God knows, I will! Trailers and/or previews I hated the most: a tie, between The Spirit and Star Trek. I already hate the new Star Trek, just because of the stupid scenes with a child who loudly proclaims his name is "JAMES TIBERIUS KIRK." I know, I know, it's supposed to create new fans. But this old fan is really, really put off. So there.