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MY MOM
 These are just some random thought on my Mom. If any of these connect with you in any way, well, then Happy Mother's Day! It's only the single most important day of the year.
My Mom wouldn't take a nickel if she saw it on the floor of Amoroso's Butcher Shop OR ANYWHERE ELSE. Honest, honest, honest she is. Pay your parking tickets, your taxes, your bills. Live right, live straight...
However, she loved to have fun. I used to dig hearing her stories of her hanging out with the Big Bands (famous ones too, like the Dorseys and Louis Prima) on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. She said there were dances somewhere seven nights a week and she never missed one. Geez, would I love to see footage of that, huh?
Me and my boys once got evicted from our Wildwood summer rental BEFORE July 4th and I remember my Mother coming down the shore and treating me to dinner at Juniors and telling me, "well it was worth it, wasn't it? Would you rather sit around all quiet all summer long or raise some hell?" On those rare nights when I was still living with her at 7025 Elmwood that I would come home early, she would yell at me, "what are you doing home? It's Saturday night!" She knew you were only 17 once...
She made awesome fried chicken, spaghetti & meatballs, meatloaf, Kool-Aid, Jell-O and fudge...
She had me reading books... HEAVY DUTY books, like CATCHER IN THE RYE & LORD OF THE FLIES & ANIMAL FARM by the fifth grade. If she ever caught me lying on the floor watching some dumb TV show, she would yell "Grab a book and read, will you?! Why are you watching such a dumb show?" She just loved to read... read and do crossword puzzles. She was a champ at that. Many moons ago I bought her a subscription to a crosswords puzzle club where they sent you the toughest ones from around the world and she would breeze right though those also. She loved words and was furious when the Archdiocese dropped Latin from its mandatory classes. She believed Latin was the basis of all language.
NO ONE ever beat her at Jeopardy...
One of the greatest gifts I ever got her was the huge Random House dictionary. She would actually read it. Who reads a dictionary? My Mom did... not bad for a girl with just a high school education. Then again, it was a WEST CATHOLIC High education. I broke her heart when I dropped out of college, and for that I will never forgive myself. I wish she could have been there when my daughter Keely graduated from college yesterday. She would have cheered and cried!
She loved water pistols and we used to battle with them all the time. She used to take me and a couple of my friends down to Wildwood every summer for a couple of days. We used to stay at the Poplar which was a boarding house with no air conditioning, no TV and a bathroom down the hall that you shared with everyone else on your floor. To me it was the Borgata!
I remember lying on the beach with her once and there was a couple making out on the blanket and I couldn't stop watching them. My Mom yelled out to them (in a joking fashion), "get a room!" She smoked these tiny Chesterfields, but quit when she was about fifty and I was always very proud of her for that.
Whenever she would baby sit my daughters, she would teach them something, like how to tie their shoes. Is that cool?
I took my Mom to see many concerts over the years. Donna Summer, the Rolling Stones, Genesis. Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight & the Pips. She loved music. I once got her tickets where she actually sat on the stage with Pavarotti at the Academy of music and you would have thought she died and went to heaven!
When "Sergeant Pepper" came out, we would sit and read the words to it together. SHE'S LEAVING HOME made her cry. Nothing worse than seeing your mother cry, is there?
We loved going to movies together. Not just kiddie ones either. Classics like MIDNIGHT COWBOY and THE GODFATHER.
This is going to sound like a lie but I swear to you, SHE NEVER COMPLAINED. About anything at all. She didn't like me complaining about anything either. Now I'm not saying that Tony Soprano's Mother reminds me of my Mother in any way (My Mother was extremely thoughtful and caring), BUT whenever she said "poor, poor you" to Tony, that always reminded me of my Mother. She never liked you getting down on yourself. Well, I could go on and on, so let's end it here.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM, YOU'RE THE GREATEST!!!!!!
FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL!
  How about a signed, personalized copy of THE GREAT PHILADELPHIA BOOK OF SPORTS LIST? Just send $15.95 (and that price includes postage) to the address below. And I've gotten Glen to sign all these books also.
Or a signed, personalized copy of the legendary LAST CALL, my book about my Dad. Just send $13.95 (and that price includes postage) to the address below.
OR GET BOTH BOOKS FOR $27 (AND THAT INCLUDES POSTAGE!) P.O. Box 35 Mullica Hill NJ 08062 Or click here to buy thru Pay Pal
UPCOMING GIGS!
COFFEE.COMEDY!
Sunday night, May 25th, Memorial Day Weekend, 9 PM. Yes, I’m returning to one of my favorite summer clubs. It's real small and the shows there are always pretty wild. Sea Isle City, right across the street from Braca's. Maybe you'll catch me earlier in the day pounding them down at the Carousel. Or challenge me to bodysurfing on the beach on 35th Street! Call 609 263 JAVA to make reservations or e-mail me.
 TRIVIA APPEARANCES!
I'll be at PJ Whelihans in Maple Shade NJ this Tuesday night for the Phils (and Flyers!) game. It's our fourth big year! Trivia & cool prizes!
I'll be at Chickie & Pete's in South Philly from 5:00 -7:00 PM this Wednesday night for the pre-Phils/Braves dinner crowd. Trivia & Prizes!
Trivia and cool prizes! And... I'll have copies of THE GREAT BOOK OF PHILADELPHIA SPORTS LIST and the book about my Dad, LAST CALL, with me...
THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION... good for a case of Hank's delicious soda (their black cherry & vanilla creme will knock your socks off!), what actor played a young Jack Nicholson AND a young Burt Lancaster? First one to email me the correct answer and a comment from the main page (gotta have both) wins.
IT'S ALMOST FINISHED!!!
The search for the greatest 24 rock songs ever is almost completed and I need your help. Take a look at these songs listed below and then vote for three of them. I'm gonna have final say, but your input would be greatly appreciated.
Remember how I picked these. They had to be a song that if you were doing 60 and the song came on the radio, the next thing you know, you would be doing 80. And they had to be songs that kicked ass from beginning to end. So a song like Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" or Zep's "Stairway" were eliminated. Although I considered many awesome soul, funk, and hip-hop tunes, in the end, I went with straight rock. Those songs will be for a future list.
In the end, as always, I mostly chose the cuts I have played the most in my lifetime. Songs that no matter how many times I've heard them, I would NOT push the button when they would come on the radio, they're that great. If the song was less that five years old (Foo Fighters "The Pretender," The Killers "Read My Mind," for example), they didn't make the cut because they hadn't had the chance to stand the test of time yet. Here they are! Vote for three.
- ALICE COOPER... UNDER MY WHEELS
- THE BEATLES... I SAW HER STANDING THERE, BIRTHDAY, YOU CAN'T DO THAT
- CAPTAIN BEEFHEART… NOWADAYS A WOMAN'S GOTTA HIT A MAN
- CHUCK BERRY… NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO
- CRACKER… MOVIE STAR
- CREAM… CROSSROADS
- THE DOORS... NOT TO TOUCH THE EARTH
- ELVIS COSTELLO... NO ACTION, LIPSTICK VOGUE, RADIO RADIO, WHAT'S SO FUNNY ABOUT PEACE, LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING
- FOO FIGHTERS... ALL MY LIFE
- FREE… ALL RIGHT NOW
- JERRY LEE LEWIS... WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN' GOIN' ON, NUMBER ONE LOVING MAN
- THE KINKS… ALL DAY & ALL OF THE NIGHT, TILL THE END OF THE DAY, YOU REALLY GOT ME
- LED ZEPPELIN… COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN, ROCK AND ROLL
- LIMP BIZKIT... BREAK STUFF
- LITTLE RICHARD… RIP IT UP
- MOUNTAIN… MISSISSIPPI QUEEN
- THE MOVE… DO YA
- THE NAZZ… UNDER THE ICE
- NINE INCH NAILS… CLOSER
- NIRVANA… SERVE THE SERVANTS
- PLASTIC BERTRAND… CA PLANE POUR MOI
- PRETENDERS… TATTOOED LOVE BOYS
- RANCID… TIME BOMB
- RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS... AROUND THE WORLD
- THE ROLLING STONES... JUMPING JACK FLASH (both the studio and YA-YA version), SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL, SHATTERED, the YA-YA version of STREET FIGHTING MAN, LIVE WITH ME, GIMME SHELTER
- SEX PISTOLS… GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
- SMASHING PUMPKINS… ZERO
- STONE TEMPLE PILOTS… SEX TYPE THING
- VELVET UNDERGROUND… ROCK AND ROLL
- WHITE ZOMBIE… MORE HUMAN THAN HUMAN
- THE WHO… MY GENERATION, THE REAL ME
- ZZ TOP... TUSH
IT'S OFFICIAL!
12 songs are in. So you may now vote amongst those remaining songs listed above.
(Ipod Alphabetical order)
- AC/DC... YOU SHOOK ME ALL NIGHT LONG. I love that the opening guitar intro that has nothing to do with the rest of the song. Yet when a cover band starts into it the club will go nuts because they know the song that well. The first song ever sang by Brian Johnson after the death of Bon Scott. Pretty good start, eh? He wrote those down and dirty sexy lyrics also. Did you hear my recent interview with him?
- BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN... BORN TO RUN... The only song Bruce never messes with live. The house lights come up and he does it EXACTLY like the record (except for the E-Street Band holding that note forever before Bruce shouts "1-2-3-4!). Majestic Phil Spector Wall of Sound, inspiring lyrics, Keith Richards once said a great single should capture you by the opening ten seconds and boy, this one sure does. Other that JUNGLELAND, no Bruce song completely captures every magical aspect of what he and the bad stand for. 1-2-3-4!
- THE CLASH… JANIE JONES
- ELVIS COSTELLO... PUMP IT UP
- THE DOORS... ROADHOUSE BLUES
- JIMI HENDRIX... FIRE
- JERRY LEE LEWIS... NUMBER ONE LOVING MAN
- THE KINKS… YOU REALLY GOT ME
- PEARL JAM… DO THE EVOLUTION... I didn't even like NO CODE, the previous Pearl Jam CD, so it wasn't like I was even looking for this song when it came out. Well, this one really blew me away. So much so, I carried the CD with me everywhere I went for a week and played it for anyone who would listen. An absolute incredible Eddie Vedder vocal, how does that man still have a voice? Great, dark lyrics and an even more disturbing Todd McFarlane video. That's Stone Gossard playing bass, by the way, not Jeff Ament, and it really stands out.
- THE ROLLING STONES... SATISFACTION
- STEVIE RAY VAUGHN… THE HOUSE IS A ROCKIN'... This exhilarating rocker was played frequently during time outs at the Center when the Sixers were making the championship run during the Croce/Iverson era. The joint would go nuts. If this tune doesn't get your adrenaline motorizing, then check your pulse. Check out this story. I'm laying around down the shore on August 27th, 1990, when I get a call from my main man Spins Nitely asking me if SRV has died. "They just played three straight songs of his on the radio, but they ain't saying anything." I call a cool jock named Steve Raymond at WZXL in Wildwood who's a friend of mine and I have the hotline number. "Is SRV dead?" I ask him. Steve replies, "Is that official?" I look at the phone and realize that if I say yes, he would have gone on the air with that and what if he wasn't dead? Unfortunately, he was and I miss him so much. So much spirit and passion.
- THE WHO… BABA O' RILEY
Click here to send in your votes!
CLICK HERE FOR THE ENTIRE LIST
 PRODUCER JOSH WINTERS BABE  SEARCH UPDATE
Well, here he is, my hopeless producer Josh Winters. As you've been hearing on my show, the poor schlub has no luck with the ladies. So he went down to Club Risque on the Delaware hoping he could get some tips (I said "tips") from some of the sexy dancers down there.
Here’s Josh with the Exotic “Cat”. Click here to see more photos of Josh and the beautiful babes from Club Risque... and what they had to say about Josh."
RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 05/07
 I thought I heard Ryan Howard bring up the media when he was talking about his slow start. (Slow?!) PLEASE don't go there, Mr. Howard, PLEASE!
I don't know if Andre Miller got even one vote for NBA MVP and that's not right... Speaking of the NBA, I'm a big fan, but they have to cut the amount of timeouts
Never saw JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG till this week. Spencer Tracy, what a unique actor and star he was...
What did I do before Youtube? What a great site...
Anyone have the cover of OTIS BLUE by Otis Redding?
I'm looking for someone who knows his way around Ebay. Write me if you do...
Scarlett Johansson engaged? SAY IT AIN'T SO!
RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 05/06
 There was a time period in this country when we all started realizing that we were all being too "politically correct." Afraid to say this or laugh at that. It was necessary for us to realize that it's OK to poke at or challenge things without having to worry over any repercussions. But now I think it's gone too far in the other direction. I heard a woman be completely shouted down and treated like an idiot simply because she was wondering if we should start looking at horse racing and wonder if it's right for the horse or not. She was made to look like some "overzealous politically correct animal loving nut." Look, I don't know a damn thing about horse racing, but I still think you have to wonder what the hell is going on, don't you? I love these people who say ridiculous things "this horse has a amazing heart" or "this horse just loves to run." How the hell does anyone really, truly, know that? Maybe the horse just wants to lay around the barn, eat oats, and watch horse porno. Believe me, I'm not saying ban it or anything close to that, but we do have to take a closer look, don't we?
RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 05/05
Why isn't this Marvin Harrison story bigger? Who needs 25 guns? Who needs a custom made Belgian gun that shoots 50 caliber (or whatever they call it) bullets? What the hell is going on in this world? With all the senseless murder in this world, who in the hell would want to collect guns? What am I missing? People keep e-mailing me that it's drug pushers and serial killers who use guns in the wrong way, but who would want to be even remotely related to that? I'm proud of my music collection, why would you be proud of collecting guns? Music represents joy and sex and love and dance and all the good things in the world. What do guns represent?
 Has anyone ever had acupuncture? I am at my wit's end with my back pain and acupuncture is the one thing I have never tried...
Chris Paul should have been the NBA MVP. (Not that I really give a rat's ass)... Speaking of awards, I had a caller last night call and ask why Flyer's coach John Stevens wasn't nominated for NHL Coach of the Year. I gave the best explanation I could, then said I really didn't care about that award so much. So I asked the caller who won the NHL Coach of the Year award LAST year, and the caller had no idea. I didn't either, which is kind of the point. I thought the caller was going on and on over nothing, really. So what did he close his call with? "Did I think that Stevens would be nominated NEXT year." YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP!
Anyone have a photo of a kid with a doctor? . . . . . .
RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 05/04
 Well... so much for the Flyers winning in 6. Unbelievable game! Watched it at Harrah's in Chester on a giant screen where I was MCing this wonderful affair for Community Interactions. Sure is gonna be fun in this city the next couple weeks...
Another police officer shot dead. So tragic. I dream of a Twilight Zone episode where some an alien comes to earth and makes all the weapons and the people who choose to make them weapons disappear from the planet. 99% of us just wanna go through our day with family, food, TV, music, books, you know, fun stuff. We don't ask for much. But you would have to an idiot not to realize that a gun sure makes it much easier for some lunatic to go on a demented rampage. It's a lot harder to kill someone with a knife than a gun. that's for sure. Damn, I probably don't even know what I'm talking about, I'm just upset. My heart goes out to Mayor Nutter who I believe is a kind and decent man who gets it, but the task at hand is just so huge. HELP HIM!
Watched THE DOORS late into the wee hours last night and for years I've argued with listeners who have said it's an awful, pretentious movie. Guess what! It is! But Kilmer's performance and the music is so terrific, that I always looked the other way...
Writing a book where I'm gonna need plenty of authentic pictures. B&W, faded color, I don't care. Anyone have a photo of a little kid playing a guitar?
RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 05/03
Do you know with all the real sports that took place over the last week, that I didn't mention the Kentucky Derby once? I like the Derby when it goes off and you're at a bar or a party and you're in a money pool, but to talk about it is like talking about the NFL draft or the popularity of Jay Leno...
Did anyone see the Rev. Wright/Conan O'Brien bit this week? Hilarious!
I predicted all winter that Pat Burrell was going to have a great (contract) year, but THIS!?
Thanks to everyone who came out to my show at the Italian-American Club in Kenneth Square last night. I had a blast.
Anyone have an old picture of a nun? Write me if you do...
The latest Carlin HBO special is really good. He's older than dirt, has an eye blinking problem, but the mind is still there in all it's anger...
I live and die with the Sixers, but those last ten quarters against the Pistons showed you how far they are still away. By the way, their attendance problem can be solve really easy. LOWER THE PRICES!
LOST blows...
MR. HOCKEY has the Flyers over the Canadians in six...
Channel surfing yesterday and up pops Action News and across the bottom of the screen it said in big, bold letters, LITO SHEPPERD SPEAKS, like he's Anwar Sadat. The ridiculous, overblown, coverage of the Eagles in this town is pathetic.
RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 05/02
What a time in Pittsburgh! The most sensational new ballpark in America. And I'll even take it over a couple of the old ones. The Bridge, the river, the skyline, it's overwhelming! Plus the park is surrounded by about thirty sensational bars and restaurants, including Finnegan's Wake (owned by Mike Driscoll who  owns the Wake at 3rd & Spring Garden in Philly), which is where we hung most of the time. Thanks to Mike and the fantastic Sarah who took care of us all. Thanks to Sterling Limo who got us all out there in comfort and record time. We stayed at the beautiful Westin Hotel and not only were the Phils staying there, so were the NY Rangers, so it was an exciting weekend. Believe me, there will be another trip to Pittsburgh and you won't want to miss this one. There’s gonna be more Big Daddy Cool Trips to other cities to be announced soon.
Pulling out of Pittsburgh on the Sterling Bus with the Kennedy Brothers who received the Top Drunk Award for the weekend. They accepted the award together. (Somehow, Jim snuck in the photo also) More cool photo's of this trip to come!
BIG DADDY’S GREAT PASSOVER ADVENTURE CLICK HERE!
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