Peter Bubel+ by | Aug 14, 2017 | Blog, PA, Pennsylvania, Peter Bubel, Reading, Sports, Travel
Reading, Pennsylvania (pronounced with a short E, for non-locals) is a destination for cyclists, pretzel lovers, and visitors to the Reading Pagoda. But it’s also a good town for sports fans. The two biggest teams in town are the Fightin’ Phils, a minor league baseball team, and the Reading Royals, a professional hockey team.
Fightin’ Phils
The Fightin’ Phils were established in 1967 in Reading under the team name Reading Phillies. They retained this team name until 2012, at which point they officially adopted the team name Fightin’ Phils.
The Fightin’ Phils hold four league titles (from 1968, 1973, 1995, 2001) and four division titles (from 1995, 2000, 2015, and 2016.) Their current manager is Greg Legg and their general manager is Scott Hunsicker. In 2007, the stadium saw its ten-millionth fan arrive for a game.
The Fightin’ Phils are not represented by one clear mascot. Their logo features either a P with a fist coming out of it or an ostrich with its wings held in fists. However, on the field they are represented by the Fightin’ Phils band, which is comprised of Screwball, a baseball-headed creature that plays the drums, Change-Up the Turtle, who plays the bongos, Blooper the Hound Dog, who formerly played tambourine but has since taken up the guitar, Quack the Duck, the singer, and Bucky the Beaver, who plays the electric bass.
Royals
The Reading Royals began in 1991 in Columbus, Ohio, under the team name Columbus Chill under the leadership of president David Paitson and coach Terry Ruskowski, formerly of the Chicago Black Hawks, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Minnesota North Stars. Before moving out Reading, they paved the way for professional hockey in Columbus, which now hosts the NHL team the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Well-known former players for the Royals include Yataka Fukufuji, ryan Finn, James Reimer, and George Parros. The Royals have held a past rivalry with the former Johnstown Chiefs (currently the Greenville Swamp Rabbits), the Elmira Jackals, and the Trenton Titans. Currently and are currently rivals with the Penguins-affiliated Wheeling Nailers.
The Royals made it into the 2017 playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round. The team was destabilized going into the playoffs, due to the unexpected firing of head coach Courville the day before qualifying.
The Royals are represented by a roaring lion in the team colors of purple, silver, and black.
Peter Bubel+ by | Jun 4, 2017 | PA, Pennsylvania, Peter Bubel, Sports
The baseball franchise the Philadelphia Phillies, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the oldest franchise in all of the American sports. It was formed in the year 1883 by Al Reach, a professional baseball player, who named it The Phillies. Let us look at the franchise’s ups and downs, through the years.
The 1800s
The first game was played on May 1, 1883 at Recreation Park. The inaugural season wasn’t that much of a success as they only won 17 games out of 98. Harry Wright joined the team in 1884, as manager. In his first season, they came in sixth place. In the year 1885, they had their first win with a record of 56-54, with third place. By the year 1889, the Quakers had won four seasons in a row. However, that year was a defeat for them with a 63-64.
1893 was Harry Wright’s last season being manager. The Phillies secured a 72-57 this season. In the year 1898, after two losses in a row, the Phillies came in sixth with a record of 78-71. 1899 was their peak, when they came in third with a record of 94-58; this has been their best season to date.
The 1900s
The Phillies kicked off the start of the 20th century by finishing in third place. 1901 was the first time that they came in second, with an 83-57 record. 1903, following the collapse of a balcony at Philadelphia Park, partners Al Reach and John Rogers sold the team.
In the year 1904, the Phillies had lost 100 games. And in 1924, they had come to be known as one of the worst baseball teams. After 17 years, in the year 1949, the Phillies came in third again with a record of 81-73. In 1960, the manager, Eddie Sawyer quit abruptly.
The 1970s however were a Golden Era for the team. They had the most number of successes. The team won 3 division titles during the decade. In 1980, the team won their first world championship. The 1990s however, were again quite a hard time for them.
The 2000s
In 2001, the team gained a new manager, Larry Bowa. In the year 2008, the Phillies won their second World Championship. By 2009, the team was beginning to gain the respect that they had been seeking for years. They were team that everyone wanted to beat in the National League.
In the year 2010, the Phillies had the best baseball record in the franchise. However, in the year 2015, the team went on to set the worst record. In 2016, after so many losses, the team had nowhere to go but ahead. Who would have thought that a 130 years ago, when the team was formed, they’d come so far?
Peter Bubel+ by | May 24, 2017 | PA, Pennsylvania, Peter Bubel, Travel
Pennsylvania, lying in the Mid-Atlantic regions of the west, is the home to the nation’s first zoological garden. The Appalachian Mountains rip through the state. The location’s topography influences the climatic and vegetation variations in the state.
The state experiences two extreme climatic conditions. In the north of the state, especially the mountains like the Poconos, the weather can be cold and harsh during the winter. Then, in the rest of the year, Pennsylvania experiences humid summers and warmer temperatures.
The state is known for its national parks and other recreational activities related to environment and wildlife. A few of the national parks which must be hit by everyone visiting the naturally enriched place include:
Cameron County
The 75-mile picturesque bucktail trail meanders through Cameron County. The beautiful drive along this stunning trail is one where you can stop and admire the multiple side trips throughout the county. It is habitat to a number of wildlife species including Pennsylvania’s elk herd and bald eagles.
It is an ideal location to enjoy a nice combination of geocaching, hunting and a serene trip of fishing.
Bucktail State Park Natural Area
This beautiful natural habitat is also known as Bucktail Canyon because of a number of steep hills that make gorgeous forested walls along the west branch of the Sinnemahoning Creek and Susquehanna River.
The place is renowned for its adventurous sports like canoeing and kayaking.
Clarion County
Quaint miniature towns and a mesmerizing fall festival define Clarion County. The ancient grown forested areas and the trickling streams add to the charm of this location.
An art enthusiast can have the time of his life at the ARCA (Allegheny Riverstone Center for the Arts). It organizes inspiring and enriching art programs at Lincoln Hall and Riverstone Farms. The Red Brick Gallery houses the work of local artisans, paving the way for fresh, budding, and prominent talent to prosper.
The Autumn Leaf Festival includes a number of cultural and recreational activities like Autorama, University Football Game, farmers and crafters day, etc.,
Forest County
The home for the wild where there is absolutely no leash on the wild residents, Forest County lies in the heart of the Allegheny National Forest.One can test their archery skills here and enjoy fishing, camping and hunting.
The Clarion River stretching through the 8,500-acre park dons its entire splendor in winter where the tourists can have a scenic time skating the light ice which is maintained by the park office.You can also enjoy a number of water sports at Forest County including tubing, canoeing and fishing.
Peter Bubel+ by | May 15, 2017 | PA, Pennsylvania, Peter Bubel, Sports
The Philadelphia Phillies recently wrapped up their first series with the Washington Nationals of the 2017 season, ending with a 5-7 record; something more admirable than most may think. The Nationals’ offensive abilities are some of, if not the best in Major League Baseball right now, and for the Phillies to nearly break even with this powerhouse of a team gives the fans a slight sense of hope that they may not be as bad this season as they have been in the past few years.
However, after watching this grueling series between the division rivals, one thing (or person) stands out more than most: Bryce Harper. The young right fielder for the Nationals recorded one too many game-winning hits against the Phillies to keep Philadelphia fans hopeful, and after recently signing a contract to stay with the team throughout the 2018 season, it seems he won’t be going away anytime soon.
Harper’s success against Philadelphia may induce flashbacks for fans old enough to remember the Montreal Expos. Before relocating and becoming the Washington Nationals in 2004, Montreal had one of the most efficient batters the Phillies had ever faced between 1996 and 2003. Of course, I’m speaking of Vladimir Guerrero. The Dominican right fielder made life difficult for Philadelphia’s bullpen in his years with the Expos, as he averaged an unbelievable .371/.465/.739 on-base slugging average when facing Phillies pitchers. Upon the team moving to Washington and Vladimir Guerrero being traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, there was an enormous sigh of relief heard all throughout the City of Brotherly Love, as the Phillies would no longer have to endure a truly dominant batter like Guerrero for some time. Enter Bryce Harper.
The Washington Nationals saw very little success in their first couple years as a franchise, recording several losing records throughout the mid 2000’s; something not uncommon for brand new franchises to experience. They were in a building process, which seemed to peak after drafting Bryce Harper with their first overall pick in 2010. Harper made an immediate impact on the team’s offensive abilities after being called up from the Nationals’ minor league team in 2012. He received the National League Rookie of the Year award in his first professional season, in which he recorded 144 hits, 22 home runs, and 59 RBI’s.
Before Harper’s admission to the team, the Phillies had little to fear about the Washington Nationals. Now that they are facing a right fielder with an impressive batting average and offensive talent several times a year, the eery similarities between him and Guerrero have created a certain amount of unease throughout the division. With his new contract, Harper will be playing great number of games against Philadelphia in the near future, and at the moment, the Phillies don’t necessarily have a pitching staff capable of shutting him down.
The Phillies have struggled to find a true shut-down pitcher in recent years after losing the likes of Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay. Though most of the team is comprised of younger players, they’ll need to bulk up on the defensive side of the ball if they wish to stay in contention with the Nationals, and effectively limit Bryce Harper’s dominant presence at the plate.
Peter Bubel+ by | May 13, 2017 | Blog, PA, Pennsylvania, Peter Bubel, Restaurants, Travel
Philadelphia is a foodie town. Yes, it’s known primarily for soft pretzels, cheese steaks, and scrapple; however, dig beneath those layers of comfort food and you’ll find numerous locations for a foodie to indulge their taste buds. Here are a few places where they are more than welcome.
Reading Terminal Market — The first stop needs to be at this downtown mecca for foodies. Dozens of merchants offer not only items to pick up and eat on the LOVE square but also counter service. Consider the Dutch Eating Place, known for the delicacies of the Pennsylvania Dutch Amish, Kamal’s Middle Eastern Specialities, and the Down Home Diner for classic comfort food. And a foodie can’t leave the market without several scoops from Bassets Ice Cream which features mixtures from the area’s premier frozen dessert company.
Ting Wong — A few blocks west of Reading Terminal Market is Philadelphia’s Chinatown. A foodie should feel right at home in many of the shops and cafes of this neighborhood; nevertheless, they should consider their main stop at Ting Wong. Not many Chinese restaurants serve traditional breakfasts, but Ting Wong does with Chiang Fun filled with various meats or fried dough. They also vary some standard recipes. For instance, perhaps you’d be interested in fried rice with diced chicken and anchovy.
Fork — A quick walk or SEPTA ride to Old Town brings one to this restaurant that takes traditional recipes and spins them on a, well, fork. Take lasagna as an example. Fork makes their own pasta and fills the middle with cherry grove farm cheese, sweet potatoes, and pickled apples. Or perhaps you want to partake in smoked shrimp carpaccio with watermelon radish and kumquat.
Amada — This Old Town staple is a foodie’s paradise with tapas and a variety of unique plates. For the starters, diners can savor lamb tartar or Datiles Con Almendras — bacon-wrapped Medjool dates and almonds. Diners may also be interested in Sopa De Chirivia which is a parsnip & pear soup with pork belly and quince. Main dishes include Fideos Con Mariscos — calamari linguine & vermicelli with clams, scallops, and Sweet Onion Cream.
Philadelphia is simply not for those who only like mustard on their pretzels or their steak sandwiches ‘wit’ or ‘witout.’ With many of its restaurants and chefs reaching national prestige, the City of Brotherly Love is ready for a new foodie revolution.
Peter Bubel+ by | May 10, 2017 | PA, Pennsylvania, Peter Bubel, Sports
As the 2017 NFL Draft in Philadelphia came to a close, fans all across the country sat down and studied their respective teams’ picks, searching for the good in all of them. While some teams may have made better decisions than others, expectations for those players remained high regardless. Throughout the draft, the Philadelphia Eagles chose the players that they felt best filled the positions that needed the most work. Below is a look at four of the biggest names chosen, and what they can bring to the table in the City of Brotherly Love.
Derek Barnett, DE Tennessee
Speculations were at an all time high before the draft, with many Eagles fans projecting the front office to take the best available wide receiver with the 14th overall pick. The two receivers most teams had their eyes on were Corey Davis and Mike Williams, who were both drafted before the Eagles even had a chance. Now, with a number of talented cornerbacks still available, fans expected the team to take any of those players, which is why Derek Barnett was an unexpected, but smart decision by the Eagles front office.
Barnett recorded 33 sacks in his three-year career at the University of Tennessee, breaking hall-of-famer Reggie White’s school record. In his three seasons in Knoxville, he recorded 10 sacks his first year, 10 the next, and 13 in his final year, displaying great consistency. Barnett was overlooked by many teams, seeing as Myles Garrett already had most of the league’s attention. However, compared side by side, Barnett’s numbers are as good, if not better than Garrett’s.
The Eagles’ decision to draft him with their first pick was a smart one, as he has the potential to become an impact player in just his first year. Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz has already been working closely with Barnett to develop his position within the team’s already formidable defensive line.
Sidney Jones, CB Washington
Philadelphia was lucky to grab Jones in the second round with the 43rd overall pick, seeing as he was one of the last few remaining cornerbacks that possessed a good amount of skill. What undoubtedly lowered his stock this past draft is the torn achilles Jones suffered during University of Washington’s pro day. However, the Eagles are confident that he as a player possesses a great amount of skill, and will be able to successfully overcome this injury.
Assuming Jones fully recovers, he is another defensive player that could possibly make a huge impact on the team’s less-than-impressive secondary as soon as he starts. The Eagles have had trouble with their pass defense in recent years, though they are beginning to make improvements. Pairing Jones alongside the recently signed Patrick Robinson and second-year player Jalen Mills could add a much needed punch to the team’s secondary, though there are still holes that need to be filled.
Rasul Douglas, CB West Virginia
Some might argue that college star running back Donnel Pumphrey is a slightly bigger name than Rasul Douglas, but in terms of the Eagles’ positional needs, Douglas fills his respective role much more. Taking Pumphrey was a good decision by the Philadelphia front office, as he lit up his division at San Diego State. However, his size has many fans concerned. Though we have yet to see what he can do at a professional level, his future with the team could be more impactful than most think. Douglas on the other hand, appears to be a hard-hitting ballhawk that has all the capabilities needed to start this upcoming season.
In his last season at West Virginia University, Rasul Douglas finished tied for first in most interceptions with a total of 8. Now taking part in the Eagles’ rookie camps, he has shown fellow players and coaches that he is willing to do whatever it takes to do his part. Douglas brings an enormous amount of effort and dedication to Philadelphia; something that can truly go a long way. If both he and Jones live up to their potential and become an intimidating tandem in the backfield, fans may begin to see a resemblance to the days of Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown.
Douglas will be joined by fellow WVU wide receiver Shelton Gibson in Philadelphia, which could prove extremely valuable, as they have trained together in the past. Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood, taken out of WVU in the 2016 draft, is yet another Mountaineer that could aid in the young players’ developments.
Mack Hollins, WR North Carolina
A name that surprisingly did not receive much attention before the draft, Mack Hollins is a tall, powerful receiver, standing at 6’4” and weighing in at 221 pounds. Perhaps it was the lack of snaps Hollins played at UNC, but there is no denying that his size and speed displayed in college is impressive. Hollins was a consistent deep threat for the Tar Heels, as well as a remarkable special teams player, both of which are areas that the Eagles could improve on.
With his skillset, Mack Hollins could become the red zone receiver Philadelphia so desperately needed this past season. Though he may lack experience, he has been turning heads with his performance at the Eagles’ rookie camps. If he lives up to the hype, Hollins could be Carson Wentz’s answer to the deep ball. Combine him with the recently signed Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith, and the Eagles’ pass offense has the potential to be one of the most dangerous in the league in the 2017-2018 season.
