Welcome to Mick’s Tavern. I always wanted to own a bar, and this blog is probably the closest I’ll ever get to owning one. My Father owned one when I was a kid, buying the Claussville Hotel out in Claussville and eventually changing the name to the Apple Drive Inn. My late Uncle Joe owned DiGiacomo’s for years, an Allentown West End staple at 19th and Tilghman. I don’t know how successful I would be however, since I would spend most of my time talking to the patrons about my favorite subjects: Beer, Sports, Music and Politics
So I’ll do it here. But why will this blog be different from other Lehigh Valley Blogs? Because I bring a unique perspective to the table from my nearly 20 year career as a Television News Photographer (or “Videographer” as we call it now) mostly in Philadelphia, although the last three years I was able to move back to my hometown area and cover the Lehigh Valley. I wasn’t sure exactly HOW long that would last, but I never thought I’d be told that the network ordered ALL news bureaus around the country to be closed and the staff laid off because the network isn’t making enough money. But my professional experience isn’t all that will make this blog unique: My travels as a single guy to filming locations of my favorite movies, historic rock and roll sites, grave sites of famous and infamous people, and attendance of as many sporting events and venues as possible will add to the flavor.
This combination of circumstances has left me with umpteen stories of my travels and news events I’ve covered: My poor wife has heard every one NUMEROUS times as I’ve relayed them to her, our friends, and sometimes complete strangers if I can get them to listen. So now I have a NEW audience to spin my tales to and give my opinions on current events from someone who has covered them for a living. I have owned Eagle’s season tickets for over 15 years, but have also conducted interviews in the Eagle’s locker room and at training camp as well as did the same with every Philly sports team. As a fan, I’ve been to the Super Bowl, seen the Stanley Cup skated around the Boston Garden ice (yes… I’m also a diehard Boston sports fan… I know, a pretty rare combination, eh?), seen an NBA Championship won in Philly (by the Lakers, of course), and sat through the rain at a World Series game at the Vet in 1980. I met every great living Boxing champion except Muhammad Ali and once had Joe Frazier roll down his window while driving the news van up Broad Street at 4 a.m. and yell to me “HEY, YOUR HEADLIGHTS AREN’T ON!) I stood next to Dale Earnhardt’s car at Pocono as he climbed in before a race, stood on a rooftop next to Paul Newman and watched the start of an Indy car race at Nazareth, and had tickets to the final game of the World Cup in 1994 until France unexpectedly ended up in the Final game and took back all the tickets they had promised to foreign tour groups (the fine print did say “tickets subject to availability”… I did see the Semi-Final game, and then in protest got drunk and went to bed in my hotel room as Paris erupted in celebration of their World Cup victory.)
I’ve covered a Rolling Stones Press Conference and interviewed Jimmy Buffet, but as a music fan I saw the Grateful Dead over 50 times, stood at the intersection in Macon, Georgia where Duane Allman was killed, and slept in the room where Janis Joplin died in LA. I was at Woodstock ’94, saw Sinatra three times, crossed Abbey Road, and found the apartment building Joe Strummer lived in when he wrote “London Calling.” I’ve sat in the chair where John Belushi coughed “blowjob” in Animal House (at the University of Oregon) and sat in the park where Lindsay Crouse asked Paul Newman “what’s the story with that dog” in “Slap Shot”, and walked down the steps of Rocky’s house in Kensington (and yes, Rocky did NOT live in South Philly like most people think… his house, Adrian’s pet store and the gym where he trained are all in Kensington.)
As far as politics, I’ve covered a Presidential Press Conference in Washington, a Press Briefing in the White House Press Room, interviewed Joe Biden myself at the Wilmington Amtrak Station, and personally thanked Senator Arlen Specter for writing a letter to the New York Times defending Philly sports fans. As for local politics, I went to High School with one prominent elected official and for a short time worked for another. My wife is very involved with the local Democratic Party and I have gotten to know the politicians I didn’t interview through her. I might be a Liberal Democrat, but I grew up in an Italian-Catholic family and have very conservative views on some subjects.
So once again, I welcome you to Mick’s Tavern. I welcome your thoughts, responses, and ideas. If you disagree with me, fine. If you can prove me wrong with facts or stats, that’s fine too. But DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT TELL ME I’M WRONG! I am simply stating MY OPINION, and I welcome you to share yours. But it is YOUR opinion, and like they say, everyone’s got one. I will never tell you you’re wrong, curse at you, or call you names. I expect the same from you. As a matter of fact, if you can’t write something my three year old could hear then keep it to yourself. If you don’t like sarcasm, then don’t read this blog, because I’m just full of it. I grew up on the Marx Brothers and thought of being a comedy writer while in college. So pull up a chair, have a cold one, and root, root, root for the home team.
So I’ll do it here. But why will this blog be different from other Lehigh Valley Blogs? Because I bring a unique perspective to the table from my nearly 20 year career as a Television News Photographer (or “Videographer” as we call it now) mostly in Philadelphia, although the last three years I was able to move back to my hometown area and cover the Lehigh Valley. I wasn’t sure exactly HOW long that would last, but I never thought I’d be told that the network ordered ALL news bureaus around the country to be closed and the staff laid off because the network isn’t making enough money. But my professional experience isn’t all that will make this blog unique: My travels as a single guy to filming locations of my favorite movies, historic rock and roll sites, grave sites of famous and infamous people, and attendance of as many sporting events and venues as possible will add to the flavor.
This combination of circumstances has left me with umpteen stories of my travels and news events I’ve covered: My poor wife has heard every one NUMEROUS times as I’ve relayed them to her, our friends, and sometimes complete strangers if I can get them to listen. So now I have a NEW audience to spin my tales to and give my opinions on current events from someone who has covered them for a living. I have owned Eagle’s season tickets for over 15 years, but have also conducted interviews in the Eagle’s locker room and at training camp as well as did the same with every Philly sports team. As a fan, I’ve been to the Super Bowl, seen the Stanley Cup skated around the Boston Garden ice (yes… I’m also a diehard Boston sports fan… I know, a pretty rare combination, eh?), seen an NBA Championship won in Philly (by the Lakers, of course), and sat through the rain at a World Series game at the Vet in 1980. I met every great living Boxing champion except Muhammad Ali and once had Joe Frazier roll down his window while driving the news van up Broad Street at 4 a.m. and yell to me “HEY, YOUR HEADLIGHTS AREN’T ON!) I stood next to Dale Earnhardt’s car at Pocono as he climbed in before a race, stood on a rooftop next to Paul Newman and watched the start of an Indy car race at Nazareth, and had tickets to the final game of the World Cup in 1994 until France unexpectedly ended up in the Final game and took back all the tickets they had promised to foreign tour groups (the fine print did say “tickets subject to availability”… I did see the Semi-Final game, and then in protest got drunk and went to bed in my hotel room as Paris erupted in celebration of their World Cup victory.)
I’ve covered a Rolling Stones Press Conference and interviewed Jimmy Buffet, but as a music fan I saw the Grateful Dead over 50 times, stood at the intersection in Macon, Georgia where Duane Allman was killed, and slept in the room where Janis Joplin died in LA. I was at Woodstock ’94, saw Sinatra three times, crossed Abbey Road, and found the apartment building Joe Strummer lived in when he wrote “London Calling.” I’ve sat in the chair where John Belushi coughed “blowjob” in Animal House (at the University of Oregon) and sat in the park where Lindsay Crouse asked Paul Newman “what’s the story with that dog” in “Slap Shot”, and walked down the steps of Rocky’s house in Kensington (and yes, Rocky did NOT live in South Philly like most people think… his house, Adrian’s pet store and the gym where he trained are all in Kensington.)
As far as politics, I’ve covered a Presidential Press Conference in Washington, a Press Briefing in the White House Press Room, interviewed Joe Biden myself at the Wilmington Amtrak Station, and personally thanked Senator Arlen Specter for writing a letter to the New York Times defending Philly sports fans. As for local politics, I went to High School with one prominent elected official and for a short time worked for another. My wife is very involved with the local Democratic Party and I have gotten to know the politicians I didn’t interview through her. I might be a Liberal Democrat, but I grew up in an Italian-Catholic family and have very conservative views on some subjects.
So once again, I welcome you to Mick’s Tavern. I welcome your thoughts, responses, and ideas. If you disagree with me, fine. If you can prove me wrong with facts or stats, that’s fine too. But DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT TELL ME I’M WRONG! I am simply stating MY OPINION, and I welcome you to share yours. But it is YOUR opinion, and like they say, everyone’s got one. I will never tell you you’re wrong, curse at you, or call you names. I expect the same from you. As a matter of fact, if you can’t write something my three year old could hear then keep it to yourself. If you don’t like sarcasm, then don’t read this blog, because I’m just full of it. I grew up on the Marx Brothers and thought of being a comedy writer while in college. So pull up a chair, have a cold one, and root, root, root for the home team.
I Love your idea !! have fun !! Don't forget to tip your waiters and waitresses !!!!
ReplyDeleteTry the Pizza rolls- They ROCK!
ReplyDeleteCan I get my own stool like Norm?
ReplyDeleteYes you may have your own stool... you can even have your own parking space too!
ReplyDelete