The Larry Kane Report

Just returned from a business trip to Boston, where everyone I work with  knows that I’m from Phillie’s country. I’m happy to report that most everyone in the Red Sox nation is hoping and praying that the Phillies send the Yankees back to obscurity. Now, I know. It’s supposed to be an American league town but Yankee hatred is something else in New England. It’s far more intense than Eagle’s fan distaste for the Giants, or the Cowboys. It must be in the drinking water or the DNA.

S0, anyway, New Englanders are into the Phillies, at least for the next week and a half. And that’s okay with me. What’s also okay is outright fan appreciation for the talents of Charlie Manuel.

Memories are short.

A few years ago the self-sainted scribes, also known as rabble-rousing print journalists were portraying Manuel Labor as a failure. He showed them, didn’t he? Even a well known radio talker was belittling the Phil’s manager for his use of the English language. Since when did good grammar win a World Series?

And that’s why the people of this town are so tough and so great. They want the best, will settle for nothing else, but they love hard work and determination. And that’s why the people love Manuel and his team and the hard, gritty, talented stars like Werth and Rollins and Howard and most of all, the catcher, Ruiz. Now there’s a guy with eagle eye and the determination of a fighter. Isn’t that what’s it all about here?

Show me! And if you can’t show me,  work your behind off to try and show me!

As far as the Yankees: they have the big house and the corporate thing, but they could go choking, if you know what I mean. Maybe. Maybe not.

Ok. Enough. Next time, I promise, I’ll write about Iran, Iraq, City Hall,  Chris Christie and Jon Corzine and Chris Daggett.

Just got carried away. Because? Because the Joy of Phillies is overwhelming.

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They have got to be kidding in Washington – attempting to separate the war against Al Qaeda from the war against the Taliban? In my job, you try to get as much information as possible before reporting perspective. In recent days, everyone that I have talked to with knowledge in the anti-terror field says that the two terror groups are so tied together that it would be impossible to battle one and ignore the other.

This analysis comes after numerous “source reports” that the Obama Pentagon is thinking about throwing all its weight against Al Qaeda, If that is true, most of the experts say the two organizations are one in the same. Remember: The Taliban is a feared group of murderers, who desecrated religious sights and terrorized its population.

TWO WEEKS NOTICE –

In case you’ve forgotten, Election Day is a few weeks away, and although there has been bluster and bravado and a lack of political decorum in the New Jersey Governor’s race, there are some elections that should not be overlooked. The contest for judges comes to mind. Don’t complain about bad sentencing or outrageous criminal justices if you don’t take the five minutes to find out who’s running, and then, take the time to actually vote on November 3rd. You’ve been given two weeks notice.

TABLE GAMES —

Pennsylvania is about to launch the mechanisms that will bring table games to casinos in the state. It’s a good thing for garnering state revenues. It is also another challenge for Atlantic City. My suggestions to Atlantic City: After 31 years, it’s about time that Atlantic City started seriously thinking about making the city the Las Vegas of the east – NOT JUST GAMBLING. The Pennsylvania casinos will draw more and more customers away. So it is up to Atlantic City to provide an atmosphere that is attractive to all ages. Atlantic City needs entertainment for families, a cleanup of the streets surrounding the casinos, and a more joyous environment. In the meantime, table games and the expansion of casino gambling will be a boon for Pa.

A final note. I know this sounds like a broken record, but why isn’t the federal government either getting into the online gambling business, or legalizing online sports betting to collect billions in taxes? Why are we giving it away to bookies and private operators? Talk about cutting the deficit!

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Joe Banner, Eagles President, has been a mystery man for many years – quiet, appearing to be unassuming, and very rarely willing to sit down and talk. That changed this week when I interviewed him for a half hour for my Comcast Network show Sunday night at 9:30.

Banner was relaxed and quite emotional . As you probably know by now, Banner said that he is sure head coach Andy Reid will receive a contract extension next year. Uncharacteristically, he said he would feel “hollow” if the Eagles didn’t win a Super Bowl during his own career in Philadelphia. The interview is a rare window into his mind. Banner is well known as the management face of the Eagles, but his style has been hidden by a veil of privacy. I think you’ll get a different look at Joe Banner this time around.

BUDGET BATTLES -

I will offer you one guarantee. The 100 day budget fiasco that just ended in Pennsylvania will not be repeated next year. Lawmakers will not dare hold up the budget with another wave of sheer incompetency. The reason? It’s called the agony of defeat. The entire Pa. House is up for election, and Governor Rendell will be in his final year of office. Another budget collapse like the gridlock that just ended, and the face of the legislature will be changed and dramatically.

MEEHAN–

Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate for Congress in the district mostly including Delaware County, has raised 2 million dollars for that race in a very short time. The former U.S. Attorney is trying to gain the seat back for the Republicans. This fund raising prowess is no small feat. Meehan will most likely face off against State Representative Bryan Lentz.

The SUPERBOWL OF POLITICS -

I can’t wait for this one. Mike Castle, Mr. Politics in Delaware, has announced to run for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by VP Joe Biden. But wait! Beau Biden, Joe’s son, and the Attorney General of the state, and just back from duty in Iraq, may run against him. The prospect of a battle between Congressman Mike Castle and the young Joe Biden is very exciting. There’s also another prospect — that Democrat Biden would run for Castle’s seat in Congress. But chances are the national Democratic Party will pull out all the stops to keep that Senate seat in Democratic hands.

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When word reached all of us that Jim Nettleton had died today at the age of 69, memories of another era flashed through my mind. When I arrived in Philadelphia in 1966, Jim was one of the young deejays who started the Famous 56 radio revolution at WFIL Radio. In fact, when I arrived in the studios on that September day to begin my work in the news department , Jim was one of the first people I met.

By now , you know the legend: one of the famous Boss Jocks, a New York broadcaster, a manager on several fronts, but what you may not know is the awesome versatility of this amazing man. He did so many commercials, so many narrations in this town and across the country, that it would take months to find them all. He was a great broadcaster who made the listener always feel at home.

But what you also don’t know about him is the kind of man he was : gentle. inspiring and always reaching out to everyone. They called him Gentlemen Jim because he was just that. Jim never displayed the ego that is so famous among broadcasters. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to help someone out.

As a broadcaster in the field of hosting contemporary music, there was no equal in his era. As a man, there was no finer example of caring and concern for others.

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While  both sides of the great divide are bashing and praising President Obama on the Olympic defeat in Copenhagen, few have spotlighted the sigh of relief in Chicago, where a good portion of the community was squarely against the Olympics. Would you want the Olympics in Philadelphia? I would. I think any world event that spotlights on a city, a region and its attributes, offers wonderful opportunities for income and glory. But I do understand people who would want the urban challenges of crime and job loss to be conquered ahead of Olympic bids. No, I am not rationalizing Chicago’s loss. But I am mystified about the choice of Rio. Yes, the first Latin country to host, but also one of the word’s most dangerous cities, a city that hardly has the same  hard-line capacity to keep the peace like the Chinese did last year.

GOLDEN OCTOBER–

The negative nabobs in some sectors of journalism have been silenced over the city of losers tag that have inflicted on us for years. We are world baseball champions, we have the most liveable community in the nation (with some real challenges) and we are in the midst of what I call a GOLDEN OCTOBER. Think of it: The Phillies are on their way again to the big playoff show. The Flyers are starting up with a new glow. The Eagles have surprised the doubters. The Sixers? Well hope springs eternal as they start their quest in four weeks.  Golden October! Does it get any more exciting? No. but then again, we’ve always been winners because we are people of grit and determination. Tough fans? Yes. Losers? Never. Unless you listen to play-by-play man Joe Buck. He’s from St. Louis.

MONTCO MADNESS

You think there are budget problems in Philadelphia? Latest word is that Montgomery County could suffer a 20 percent budget decrease next year! WILL IT AFFECT Y YOU? YES!

Public safety and prison officials warned this past week that large cuts would, among other things, set criminals loose from prisons, impact the courts, and provide possible chaos if there was a meltdown at the Limerick Nuclear Power plant. Are the county officials just fear-mongering for more money. Our Montco sources tell us that these scenarios are real. This also puts tremendous pressure on Commissioner Joe Hoeffel who will be running for Governor.

Keep a close eye on this one. When one of the richest counties in the nation is in trouble, it is time to wonder whether a recovery is really underway.

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