Next week's Super Bowl brought back memories of an Eagles' championship a long time ago. Monday, December 26, 1960, was a cool 9 degree Celsius day, but perfect weather for sitting on the steps of a West Philly row house, listening to the broadcast of the NFL Championship game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the … Continue reading It’s time for the Eagles to fly
Philadelphia
Why I can’t trust Donald Trump
I knew it was time to chill out when I got into an argument at the TAB – the local betting agency – over Donald Trump. All I said was I hope I have better luck with my bets on the races than my vote against Donald Trump. Out of the blue, a bloke I … Continue reading Why I can’t trust Donald Trump
All I want for Christmas is for Donald to disappear
In the streets of Philadelphia where I grew up, if you didn’t get picked to play in a half-court basketball game, you might say: “I’m taking my ball and going home.” Of course, it would have to be your ball, and it would not make you very popular. Well, Donald Trump decided he was taking … Continue reading All I want for Christmas is for Donald to disappear
Muhammad Ali: “Who’s he?” asked the Harlem schoolkids
(AP photo above of Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston) Muhammad Ali was a hero of mine, even though I grew up in a white Philadelphia neighbourhood bordering on a black one where you were called a “n....er lover,” if you sympathised with African Americans. Racism was rife in Philly. My crime was … Continue reading Muhammad Ali: “Who’s he?” asked the Harlem schoolkids
Primarily a New York State of Mind
New York may be the city that never sleeps, but it sure is the city (and the state) that likes to vote. The presidential primaries came to New York yesterday, and the results may just be a turning point in the campaign. As expected, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton won big, and they acted like … Continue reading Primarily a New York State of Mind
From the City of Flowers to the City of Light: You can’t break our spirits
“You can break our hearts, but you can’t break our spirits, I think that’s what Sydney showed on that day.” That was the New South Wales Premier, Mike Baird, speaking today on the first anniversary of the Lindt Café Siege when the Iranian refugee and gunman, Man Horan Monis, held 18 people hostage for 17 … Continue reading From the City of Flowers to the City of Light: You can’t break our spirits
Food for a Journey: Poems and prayers and memories of a renaissance man
I have written many book reviews over the decades, but this one means a lot to me. It’s about a book of poetry by my cousin – a friend, a former priest, an editor of an acclaimed Jesuit magazine, America, an appellate attorney in the Criminal Division of the US Department of Justice fighting for … Continue reading Food for a Journey: Poems and prayers and memories of a renaissance man
Are you okay, Buddy? It’s not a crime to say you need help
Depressed. Feeling down. In the dumps. Bitten by the Black Dog. Beyond Blue. All the phrases and words above have been associated with depression. I have been thinking about depression for some time, as my brother Jack committed suicide 24 years ago in September 1991, and I have been asking why ever since. I know … Continue reading Are you okay, Buddy? It’s not a crime to say you need help
Mama told Jason there’d be Days like this
When you have a surname like Day, you can be king for a day, a hero for a day, but when you’re Jason after winning a major golf tournament, you have just had your Greatest Day. This is a rags to riches story, a sporting fairy tale that comes along once or twice in a … Continue reading Mama told Jason there’d be Days like this
We are all Australian, but it’s time we sang with one voice
"We are one, but we are many, and from all the lands on Earth we come, we share a dream and sing with one voice – I am, you are, we are Australian." That song, written by Bruce Woodley and Dobe Newton, will be sung many times as we head into this Australia Day weekend. … Continue reading We are all Australian, but it’s time we sang with one voice
