Sports Goomba cures "Curse Of Billy Penn"...

August 2007

Strolling down the boardwalk, thinking about thanks. Don’t thank me just yet.

But I will expect some gratitude soon.

That’s because I may have changed the course of Philadelphia sports history. You may recall a few months back, I wrote about "The Curse Of William Penn."

Some enterprising students in our neighboring state put together a documentary.

Stan Hochman of the Philadelphia Daily News brought it some notice. It seems when the founder of Pennsylvania was honored with a statue on the top of the Philly city hall, it was the highest point in the city. And there was a "gentleman’s agreement" that no construction would ever go higher than the top of Mr. Penn’s hat. Somebody decided to break the promise, and in 1984 a building was sent higher than the hat. The last time the Phillies, Eagles, 76ers, or Flyers won a championship was...1983. Thus the theory of the curse, preventing teams from winning – no other city with teams in the four sports has gone longer without a victory parade than Philadelphia. In June, I had Michael Barkann as a guest on my radio show. He is the congenial host of the Comcast Daily News Live show every weekday on the cable sports channel.

Comcast is now polishing off a new mega-building in Philly, it will become the tallest in the city. In fact the tallest between New York and Chicago. So I mentioned to Barkann, he should talk to his bosses, and get a statue of William Penn at the highest point, thus returning him to status, and maybe, just maybe, removing the curse. He said he’d look into it. When I sent an e-mail to him thanking him for being on my show, I CC’d it to the Comcast PR director, and mentioned again, please, honor Mr. Penn.

About a month later, Comcast announced a small likeness of William Penn will be attached to the highest point of their building. In fact, it already has been during construction. So, if the Phillies win the World Series this year, well, you’re welcome!

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished...

Of course, maybe there are times that, no matter what, you just cannot change what is meant to be.

A few weeks ago, traffic was flowing along the Garden State Parkway. A turtle appeared. What is it about turtles who feel they have to cross the road? Why? I know, to get on the other side. A lady saw the turtle, and swerved to avoid squishing the poor creature.

Unfortunately, the lady lost control of her car. She spun off the Parkway, and went flipping down a hill. Her car came to a stop, on the roof. Fortunately, her seat belt did its job, and she escaped with no major injuries. Investigators found the turtle. Squished on the road. Run over by the driver behind the goodhearted lady. Ouch.

Case Of The Vanishing Pool...

And other times, perhaps answers are not to be had. A lady in Paterson reported to police that an item was stolen from her backyard last month. So far, the law and the family are baffled. Only one thing was taken. The pool. Yes, the swimming pool. Okay, it was an inflatable. About 10 feet wide, maybe four or five feet tall. So that part is easy enough to figure. A hot summer night, thieves decided the pool would serve them more nicely in their back yard rather than the homeowners’. Here’s the problem. Her husband got home at 1am, and the pool was there.

She got up at 5am, and it was gone. So in that time, they somehow managed to pilfer the thing. But, there was no water left in the yard! No puddles, no wet grass. Apparently, they took the water along with the pool. That would be one thousand -some gallons.

Any Sherlock Holmes wanna-be who can figure this one out, please let me know.

Fun with e-mail...

And speaking of mysteries, this month’s Fun With E-Mail – Item’s that arrive in my mailbox worth sharing – asks a question that leaves many bewildered nowadays... see the John Wayne image at the top of this page.

Greg Maiuro is host of The Asociated Press’ Award Winning “Sports Goomba’s” radio show. The popular show can be heard on NewsTalk 1400 WOND AM on Fridays from 6PM to 8PM.