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Archive: January, 2008

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Friday, February 1, 2008
"There are moments in the history of every nation when the future lies in the balance," says George Shea, president of the International Federation of Competitive Eating, of Wing Bowl 16 which begins in a few short hours. "This is just such a moment."

The fierce face-off between two-time defending champion Joey Chestnut and five-time champ Bill "El Wingador" Simmons, the local favorite who hopes to snatch the Wing Bowl crown from Chestnut's California head has rendered Shea "overwhelmed."

"My ability to contain the contents of my bowel is compromised. I am wearing a diaper to Wing Bowl," says Shea who adds that Wing Bowl 16 is "a critical turning point in our culture. " "The choices made here will determine the fate of all those who call themselves Americans," says the IFOCE boss whose league grants a provisional sanction to the Wing Bowl, but does not oversee the judging.

Of course, making things more dramatic for Shea, Chestnut, and the 20,000 fans who will fill the Wachovia Center starting at 5 a.m., is the news, which we reported exclusively on Wednesday, that win or lose, today's Wing Bowl, will be Chestnut's last.

In Wing Bowl,  the only real losers are the chicken, but only one man can win. Will it be Chestnut? Wingador? Or could a new heir to the throne emerge from the pack of 28 other hopefuls? We'll know in just a few hours more. Stay tuned...
Posted by Dan Gross @ 12:02 AM  Permalink | Post a comment
Thursday, January 31, 2008
David Maialetti/Daily News

So we've now seen Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey's plan to attack crime, but how will he do as a radio host?

Listeners can find out at 9 p.m. Monday when he debuts "The Chief Charles Ramsey Show," which is currently scheduled to be a monthly program, along with Dom Giordano on The Big Talker 1210 AM WPHT.

Posted by Dan Gross @ 6:50 PM  Permalink | Post a comment
Thursday, January 31, 2008
The Beatoffs, featuring 94 WYSP morning host Kidd Chris and his crew, make their live debut Feb. 8 at Bootleggers (1936 MacDade), in Woodlyn, Delaware County, at the 30th birthday party of show regular Constantine. The group features Chris on guitar, sidekick Thomas singing, Blake from Sales on drums and DJ Egg Nog on bass. The group will also headline the second night of Protect and Serve, the Feb. 8 and 9 benefit concert for the family of slain officer Chuck Cassidy, at the FOP Lodge (1336 Spring Garden). The Feb. 8 headliner is Lauren Hart. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. More info can be found here. Show organizers are Jonathan Mendte, son of CBS 3's Larry Mendte (a frequent Kidd Chris guest); Bill Roam, and Stan Nagle.
Posted by Dan Gross @ 8:53 AM  Permalink | 4 comments
Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Updated with New Information 1/31

Alycia Lane filed a praecipe to issue writ of summons, typically a precursor to a lawsuit, against CBS3 Tuesday in Common Pleas Court. Lane, and her attorney Paul Rosen, have requested to depose CBS3 President Michael Colleran and News Director Susan Schiller. The legal filing also asks for Lane's CBS3 personnel file as well as any documents related to her Jan. 7 termination and any documents that reference her ex-husbands Dino Calandriello, Jay Adkins, as well as Dr. Phil McGraw, on whose show she cried, Prince Albert of Monaco, whom the New York Post's Page Six reported she had flirted with, and of course Rich Eisen, the married NFL Network anchor to whom Lane e-mailed bikini pics of herself, therefore upsetting his wife Suzy Shuster. Any documents pertaining to Shuster are also being sought by Lane.

Lane and attorney Rosen have also asked for any documents or personnel files pertaining to the firing by CBS3 of "any other anchor or reporter of Latina descent, African-American descent or the descent of any other minority group." Could Lane, dubbed the "Latina Bombshell" by the People Paper's Stu Bykofsky in 2003, be playing the race card?

A call to Rosen was not immediately returned, nor were messages left for a CBS3 spokeswoman.

Lane's termination of course was related to a Dec. 16 incident, first reported here, in which Lane was alleged to have assaulted a New York Police Department officer and called her a "f---ing dyke." She faces hearing April 3 in New York. Through her criminal attorney David Smith, Lane has denied these charges.

Though Lane's filing lists her address as the Lanesborough Apartments, at 1601 Locust St., she doesn't live there. Rosen said the address was a mistake and will be corrected. He also said the filing issued to CBS 3 asks for station president Colleran to be deposed Feb. 20 and for News Director Schiller the following day.

"We've seen the filing," said CBS 3 spokeswoman Joanne Calabria. "There is nothing new here. We believe we made our position on this matter clear in our previous statements." The station's Jan. 7 announcement of Lane's firing said that as she had become the news so many times, it would be impossible for her to continue to report the news.


Posted by Dan Gross @ 1:29 PM  Permalink | File Under: Breaking News | 33 comments
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Northeast native Blake Bashoff, who graduated from George Washington High in 1999, will be seen on three episodes of "Lost" this season. The 26-year-old plays Karl, one of "The Others," on the ABC hit, which premieres tmorrow.  Bashoff also recently made his Broadway debut in "Spring Awakening," in which he still stars.
Posted by Dan Gross @ 8:56 AM  Permalink | 3 comments
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Win or lose, Joey Chestnut says Friday's Wing Bowl will be his last. The two-time champion told us exclusively Monday of his plans to retire from Wing Bowl as a competitor, but the 24-year-old says he hopes to return next year to cheer on someone else. "It's the biggest competitive eating party around," Chestnut says. "Maybe I'll be in someone's entourage," Chestnut tells us.

The San Jose State civil engineering major says his rigorous competitive eating schedule interferes with his studies. He also blames the sport and constantly being away from home for the recent breakup with his girlfriend of two years.

Chestnut isn't sure whether he will defend his Mustard Yellow Belt July 4 at Coney Island, N.Y., in Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog contest. Last year he defeated Japan's Takeru Kobayashi, bringing the title back to the United States.

"I don't know what my place in competitive eating is after this Wing Bowl. I really just want to have fun with it. Last year there was quite a bit of pressure. Wing Bowl, Nathan's and the big ones require months of training," he says. "A lot of work goes into it." Chestnut says he still thinks the sport is fun and plans to continue to at least compete in smaller contests.

Chestnut has a little entourage of family and friends and says he's confident that his performance will shine though he's "not expecting fans or judges to be on my side."

Chestnut gets to town tomorrow morning, but says he probably won't eat anything between last night and the 6 a.m. Friday contest. How does he survive? "I drink lots of liquid protein supplements," he tells us.

Posted by Dan Gross @ 8:38 AM  Permalink | File Under: We Told You First | 4 comments
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Six months after stripping him of his column, the Inqwaster on Friday fired Stephen A. Smith, citing job abandonment, we’re told. Inqwaster editor Bill Marimow had no comment when reached moments ago. In August, Marimow axed Smith’s column and asked him to stay with the paper as a sports reporter. Instead, Smith, an ESPN NBA analyst, took an unpaid leave for several weeks, and was at one point scheduled to return but has repeatedly failed to do so, we’re told. Smith also hosts ESPN Radio out of New York along with former 610 WIP yakker Mike Missanelli.

As we reported several months back, Smith has hired a team of lawyers to deal with the Inqwaster in a legal dispute related to his loss of the column. Smith’s counsel did not immediately return calls or e-mails today.

Bill Ross, local representative of the Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia Local 10, has confirmed Smith's firing and says the union "will file a grievance and continue to defend him on our end as we also continue to cooperate with his private counsel.” Efforts to reach Smith, who is now blogging  were unsuccessful.
Posted by Dan Gross @ 5:37 PM  Permalink | File Under: Breaking News | 13 comments
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Dillinger Escape Plan, the prog-metal band featuring Fishtown's Liam Wilson, (on the right in this photo) will perform on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" on Feb. 6. The Upper Darby raised musician, 28, has twice been a contender for PETA's "Sexiest Vegetarian" award.
Posted by Dan Gross @ 4:39 PM  Permalink | File Under: On the Tube | Post a comment
Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Local 98 leader John Dougherty is collecting signatures to challenge state Sen. Vince Fumo for his 1st District seat, Daily Examiner reports. The electricians union chief has flirted with the idea of challenging his nemesis before, and according to Daily Examiner, he will "consider a calculated roundhouse swipe at a wobbly Fumo and his 30-year senatorial stronghold — possibly keeping Fumo from running just to win the primary, then backing out and handpicking his successor." While activist Anne Dicker's candidacy has prompted Fumo, who's facing federal corruption charges, to dispatch teens in "Free Mumia" shirts to go around collecting signatures for her, according to a story in the new Philadelphia magazine, we're sure Doc's candidacy would inspire far more entertaining shenanigans. From both sides.

A source in Dougherty's camp this morning confirmed to us that Doc has circulated nominating petitions this past weekend, but says no final decision has been made at this point.
Posted by Dan Gross @ 9:04 AM  Permalink | 4 comments
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Eagles running back Tony Hunt was uninjured when his gray Mercedes was hit by another car at 5th & South about 2 a.m. Saturday. An eyewitness says a woman in a dark Volkswagen Jetta hit a barricade in the street, then reversed into Hunt's car. Hunt was courteous and helpful to police. The driver, who reportedly shouted obscenities at cops, was arrested on a summary offense of disorderly conduct.
Posted by Dan Gross @ 8:44 AM  Permalink | Post a comment
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