First Indoor Football Game

Maybe it was the April chill in the air or non-stop talk about the NFL draft, but either way I had an itch for some football. With that in mind I headed over to Lehigh University's Stabler Arena for Lehigh Valley Steel Hawks Indoor Football League game. I used a buy two get two reserved seats coupon from Discover Lehigh Valley's website (www.discoverlehighvalley.com) and took my wife and two girls to our first indoor football game.
I found the style of football to be unique and entertaining. The field is extremely short and makes for high scoring and big play after big play action. Kickoffs are a waste of time as most either hit the rafters or are touchbacks. Both QB's threw for 350+ yards which is pretty impressive considering the field is only 50 yards long. The final score was 79-77 with the Steel Hawks coming a two point conversion away from sending it into overtime.
As for the kids, well they agreed that the Lehigh Valley Steel Hawks put on a great show. Continual promotions, a dance team and excellent facility make the team a real family value in the Lehigh Valley. They have another 4 home games on the schedule so visit http://www.discoverlehighvalley.com/29380/play/attractions/lehigh-valley-steelhawks/ to learn more and to purchase tickets.

Phillies Baseball Network?

Every spring I look forward to the start of baseball season only to be disappointed by Comcast electing to cover Flyers, Sixers games on their flagship sports station CSN Philly instead of Phillies games. The Phils get the boot down or up the channel line up to TCN (The Comcast Network). This would not be a big deal if not for the fact that many television providers don't have this TCN channel.
From a tweet this week, I found those on Verizon Fios and Blue Ridge Cable, plus my RCN do not carry TCN. I am not sure which part makes me more nuts, the fact that after 3 years complaining RCN has done nothing to fix, or that Comcast thinks people want to watch Sixers or Flyers over Phillies games. I imagine it is much more complicated as ownership groups and Flyers/Sixers play in the same building as the Network, so I have shifted my displeasure to the Phillies. It is time for the Phillies Network to be launched. I know I can buy a digital package from MLB.TV and that may be the best option. I have a couple of Internet TV's that I assume will work with PC/Tablet to show game on TV, not sure though. Just seems like we are making this more difficult than necessary. I hate having to cheer for the Sixers and Flyers to lose and miss the playoffs, but unfortunately those at the mercy of Comcast have no other choice.

Occupancy is 9/10 of the Law

As the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy continues, the chaos as it relates to hotel rooms will not quickly go away. The decision to cancel the NY Marathon was 100% correct, just 2 days late. Even when the electricity returns and residents return to their homes, a new influx of FEMA, contractors and insurance adjusters will gobble up hotel rooms just before the big Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and holiday season in NYC. Bands, tour groups and individual guests will all be pushed out of the big city as long term hotel guests occupy rooms. No hotelier in their right mind can force a guest to leave once they have occupied a room and have not broken the law and have means of payment. Get ready for an increase in customer complaints and disappointed travelers as they find their well laid plans messed up by Sandy's aftermath. My suggestion for all those planning to travel into New York City is to call the hotel, speak to a Sr. Manager and get verbal confirmation at least three times that your room will be there when you arrive. If you have booked via an online travel agent plan on some type of hiccup. With 25% less profit in these reservations, the hotel will be less likely to honor the reservation. I also recommend arriving early and before dark. No one wants to make their way around NYC in the dark looking for a hotel room, if theirs is somehow not available when they arrive. Groups that find themselves displaced can look to the Lehigh Valley at www.discoverlehighvalley.com for availability, great rates an only a 90 minute highway commute into the city.

My Family's New Summer Tradition - The Great Allentown Fair

The slogan "The Great Allentown Fair, Don't Leave Summer Without It" has never rung more true than these past two years. With my two daughters now 13 and 10, we have taken advantage of the Grandstand concerts the past two Labor Day weekends to also visit the fair and festival portion of the fair. In 2011 we saw the boy band Big Time Rush, and this year @victoriajustice and Max Schneider. Although neither are household names they both put on a great show last night and better yet my kids had a great time. I actually planned ahead (I seem to do this more often in my 40's than I ever did in my 20's and 30's), and bought my tickets at the box office in March (no fees) and bought ride passes for the kids at an advance price discount. Affordable enough I was even able to buy an extra ticket for my 13 yr. old so she could bring a friend.
Since we planned to spend the day, we got to the fair around 2pm and gave the Allentown Civic Theater $5 for great parking across from the main entrance. Although I have not scene a show at The Civic Theater, this makes me feel good about supporting their efforts. Next the rides. We saw a 24" horse and signs to preview the world's largest horse, on our way to a wide selection of spinning, tossing and musical rides. Glad my youngest can go on all the rides and me and my wife settled in for a day of people watching.
Tried to dunk the clown, 12 pitches and a quick reminder why the IronPigs have not called me up this season. After a light rain shower pushed us into the exhibition hall, we got to enjoy cooking demonstrations by local Sodexho chefs, plus see the blue ribbon vegetables, cakes and traditional fair contests.
After the concert we finished off the night with Fried Oreos and Ice Cream, before heading home and saying so long to Summer. Wonder who will be playing the Great Allentown Fair next year?

Penn State and NCAA - Putting Football First Sends a Bad Message

As I continue to follow the Penn State crisis, now in its 8th month, I am disappointed in the decisions that all the parties involved continue to make. The NCAA has never been a popular organization when it comes to managing the process of keeping student athletes students first athletes second. The sanctions placed on Penn State in regards to the football program sure struck me as self serving to the NCAA and did little to scare the day lights out of college presidents or board of trustees. Yes $60 million is a sizable fine and should go a long way to helping abused children in the future, but suspending the NCAA rules on jumping programs and allowing players to put football first again over education and the school puts us back to square one. Division I football programs are running higher education. It's hard to put yourself in the student athlete's shoes, but since the death penalty was not imposed what are the compelling reasons to leave? This nonsense about a bowl ban or ineligible for a national championship holds no water with me. No one can predict the future and to say jumping to another university because they may play for a national championship or a bowl in some south of the Mason Dixon line city this January is just selfish. The NCAA did Penn State and its student athletes a big favor by allowing football to be played this season. The least the student athletes could do is recognize that football is an extracurricular activity while they are getting an education. I would like to hear more talk about job preparation while at college and less talk about going Pro.

NFL Fantasy Owners – Visit to Eagles Training Camp

NFL Fantasy Owners – Visit to Eagles Training Camp

This past Friday I took my annual visit to Lehigh Universityto check out Philadelphia Eagle’s training camp. This year I brought along myuncle Hank and his life-long friend Roy. Both are owners in our fantasyfootball league. I tied in the trip to camp and lunch at P.J. Whelihan’s asreward for help with a furniture move. The food and atmosphere at P.J.’s was as good as advertised. Cold beer,juicy burgers and more TV’s than you can count, helped bide our time till the afternoonsession of camp.  The Eagles haveswitched practice programs this summer to include shorts and pads in the 8:00AMsession and full pads and contact in the heat of the day, beginning at 2:35PM.I assume this will help with those late summer games that are played in theafternoon and not 8AM.

As we arrived at the Goodman Campus of Lehigh, both Hank andRoy could not believe the amount of people who took the pilgrimage to see theirbeloved Eagles stretch and play catch. With close to 5000 in attendance on thisFriday, it is clear that Training Camp has become a big part of the Eaglesbrand.  A giant tent of merchandise forkids, women and of course men's clothing greets you as you enter the practicefield.  This is the prime opportunity forthe Eagles to generate sales from this event. Admission to training camp isfree and the Eagles charge a nominal fee to enter the KidsZone, a fun NFLexperience type setting where kids can run, jump, kick and throw like a Pro.

Excellent seating is available with grandstands surrounding thetraining complex.  We caught specialteams on a satellite field before heading over to the main field.  Sitting across from the East grandstandoffered us excellent seats as we viewed 7 on 7 passing drills and full squadpassing plays. This lasted about 90 minutes and by 4:30 we had had our sunquota for the day. The facility has zero shade, so bring the sunscreen anddress light. I have made the mistake in the past of sneaking out before work orafter lunch in slacks. This is not advised.  I highly recommend getting your fantasy teamowners together for a trip to the LehighValley.  Great golf, brew pubs,grandprix style cart racing, a full-servicecasino and a freemusic festival make for a great vacation. Campruns till August 14^th.

Philadelphia 76ers Have A Plan

Sports fans and radio hosts, have you ever bought a business? Run a business? Time to take a step back and enjoy the Sixers run of 2012 and plan for 2013, 2014 and beyond. The new ownership group undoubtedly wrote a 10 year pro forma and I am sure are more than pleased that the team reached the elite 8 in year 1. They are ahead of schedule. That is uncommon for any business these days. All this talk about they can't win it all without a star player is probably true and they most likely have that budgeted for year 3 or 4. I know it makes good sports talk radio to complain about every move the GM's make or don't make in Philadelphia, but when it comes to the Sixers, I think they have a plan.