High school and college football have come to a close. It was certainly an exciting season with the highlights easy to recall: the outstanding individual running backs at the high school level – Shane Simpson, Saquon Barkley, Michael McDaniel, Harry Hall and others. The quarterbacks were outstanding – to name a few, Travis Edmond, Doug Erney, Julian Spigner, and, of course, Devante Cross. Conner Sullivan, Shane Simpson (again), and Jarey Elder were some of the notable receivers. Parkland, Easton, Bethlehem Catholic, Southern Lehigh, Northwestern, and Saucon Valley all had chasmpionship seasons.
And then there was Yankee Stadium and the 150th meeting of college football’s most-played rivalry, Lafayette vs. Lehigh. The atmosphere, the history, the tradition, and the location made this day one of the best ever and I will never forget the individual efforts of Ross Scheuerman and Zach Zwiezig. Ross ran for over 300 yards and Zach managed a game he had not played in for over a year and a half. They and their teammates led Lafayette to their second straight win over their archrivals. Is it any wonder I enjoy going to work?
The end of football always signals the arrival of the one night a year that is always memorable. It is the night that I co-host the Dream Come True Telethon. We at RCN TV will produce and air the Telethon for the 29th year. I have not hosted all of them, but I have been around for most. The Dream Come True organization, in case you did not know, was founded in 1984 by Kostas Kalogeropoulous, a local businessman. The goal of the organization is simple – fulfill the dreams of children who are seriously, chronically, and terminally ill and reside in the greater Lehigh Valley area. Children are referred by family, friends, clergy, doctors, social workers, etc., and the dreams usually fall into three categories – trips, contact with celebrities, and special gifts (computers, shopping sprees, for example).
Scott Barr will be co-hosting again this year. We have spent this night together for many, many years and I would not want to work with anyone else. He handles the auction area and, boy, is he terrific! If you watch Home Shopping Network or any of the other television all-day shopping channels, just watch Scott do his thing during the three-hour night. He is as good as, if not better, than the professionals.
The TELETHON will take place live on Monday, December 8, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. RCN customers in the Lehigh Valley (Channel 4, 1004 in HD), Delaware County (Channel 8, 608 in HD), and Washington, DC (Channel 8) areas can watch live on RCN TV. A popular component of the telethon each year is the auction. This year, we are introducing a new, on-line auction. The bidding starts Monday, November 24, and ends Monday, December 8, at 8:00PM.
CLICK HERE to bid on incredible auction items donated by your favorite networks!
Great auction items include:
- Go Pro Hero 3: HERO3+ Silver from AMC Networks
- Philadelphia Flyers-Autographed Claude Giroux Jersey from NHL Network
- Jambox Speaker System from AMC Networks
- Wolfgang Puck Cookware from HSN
- Sony Bloggie Video Camera from Reelz
- Tumi Travel Bag from AMC Networks
- “Deadliest Catch” Fleece Jacket from Discovery Networks
and much more!
As you can see from the list above, there is always a variety of unique items donated by local businesses as well as our friends from the cable TV networks. If you want something really unique and not found in any store, tune us in and bid on the items. You’ll make Scott’s night and, more importantly, some child’s dream.
Ann Savkova, our excellent parade announcer, will do many of the interviews with the children who have had their dreams fulfilled. She is a pleasure to have as part of the team.
And, there will be plenty of entertainment.
The important facts are:
The Date: Monday, December 8
The Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM
The Purpose: To fulfill as many hopes, dreams and fantasies for seriously, chronically,
and terminally ill children as possible
The Phone Number to Make a Donation: 1-800-749-8099
All proceeds from the online and on-air auctions go directly to Dream Come True.
Thank you, in advance, for your consideration and support! Your donation will help make a child’s dream come true!
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- Do you think it’s easy to be a Philadelphia sports’ fan in the winter? As I write this, the Flyers and the 76ers have played 39 games combined. The Eagles have played 12. The Eagles have 9 wins and the other two have 8 wins total!!
- I think I saw the two worst non-calls by officials in recent memory this past weekend and both played a major role in the victimized team losing the game. In the Parkland-St. Joe’s Prep matchup, late in the fourth quarter, St. Joe’s was facing a fourth and one on its 37-yard line trailing by three. The St. Joe’s tailback went in motion long before the snap – no call. A five yard penalty either forces them to punt or go for a fourth and six. Instead, they got the first down and then scored on the very next play and won the game 34-30.
- In the Easton – Phillipsburg game, postponed from Thanksgiving Day, a Phillipsburg player called for a fair catch in the first half in his own territory, caught the ball; everyone stopped; he did not hear a whistle from the officials; and ran to the Easton 19-yard line. Phillipsburg scored quickly and won 19-15. If the right call is made, who knows what the outcome would have been? Two very easy calls, seen by everyone who watched, except the official who should have made the call.
- I cannot remember an NFL team as bad as the Oakland Raiders are this year. They are 1-11 and just lost to the last-place St. Louis Rams 52-0. Their only win came over Andy Reid’s Kansas City Chiefs. How do they feel?
- High school basketball begins on Tuesday, December 9, when Easton travels to Freedom. Easton vs. Parkland kicks off the wrestling season on December 10. And Lafayette College basketball is off and running already. Enjoy the winter with the RCN-TV team!
(Last week – 10-5) (123-66-1 overall – 65%)
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