"Getting Strong Now..."

At the end of the month Rocky will take on Mason "The Line" Dixon. Rocky born and raised in Philadelphia it is up in the air if he is considered part of the Philly sports championship drought or not.

We all know that Rocky beat Apollo Creed and won the heavy weight championship in the 1970's, and also beat Clubber Lang in the 1982.

But here is where it gets blurry. Rocky did technically beat Drago in 1985 which would be after the 1983 cutoff for the Philly drought. However due to the fact that it was not approved by the boxer commission and played over in Russia many people don't count that as a true championship for the city of Philly. Granted, Rocky did manage to bring down communism and made one of the most memorable speeches since Martin Luther King Jr., but lets face it was not acknowledged by the very boxing commission that gave him his very belts earlier in his carrier turned their back on this one.

Yeah the people of Philly and America for that matter felt good about Rocky beating Drago because it was the height of the cold war, and after the death Apollo Creed in the ring with Drago it made it feel almost like there was casualties in that war. Rocky's victory over Drago made us all feel about our country and last face it when all those Russians started chanting Rocky, it was clear that he had done more in one night than Reagan had done in 8 years to end the coldwar.

However, I have to side with a rule is a rule, and say that although it was big moment in American History it doesn't truly count as a championship thus keeping our streak going back to 1983. The curse of William Penn was extremely unkind to Rocky.

Years later he strung a rising boxer star, and even stood ringside to Tommy "Machine" Gunn. At this point it is unclear what really went down, but we know from public records that Rocky had fallen on hard times the man who won our hearts when from living in a huge mansion with a robot to living in the ghetto part of Philly on the border of being homeless after losing all his money in a bad business decision on by his longtime friend and financial advisor. At any rate many people saw Tommy Gunn as Rocky's chance at redemption, but before things could come to fold Rocky and Tommy had a falling out. The strained relationship came to blows, literally on the streets outside a Philly bar. Tommy and Rocky never made it to the championship.

So, this December with Rocky (despite the people on 610 mocking him for his age) will go toe to toe with Mason "The Line" Dixon, who was only 8 when Rocky first fought Apollo Creed. But I heard he was in crazy shape and training like man hell bent on a mission. Against all odds yet again, the city desperate for championship is counting on him big time. Some people think its only team sports that count to end the streak. What does everyone else feel? If Rocky wins this fight, in your hearts and mind has the streak been ended? Can the man who when from rags to riches to rags again and once owned a robot lift the curse once and for all?

"Cold Cuts"

So, Friday I attended the funeral of my Uncle John who passed away earlier this week. He has had been sick for about a year or so. In fact his health in general was on the decline for several years.

A remember as a kid I always remembered him as a chain smoker, and its undeniable that although he lived a reatlivley long life that smoking greatly lowered his quality of life the last 10 years of his life. Really, I think those are options for the smokers, an early grave or nothing but medical problems later in life. But, even still I have many friends who refuse to quit smoking despite every fact in the world about smoking basically states they are a dumbass to suck down cancer sticks.

It's strange sometimes an older relative, you only know him as when you were a kid on. Nothing really about their pass, before they were the person you knew as their uncle. Since my mother married later, most my cousins are older so he was pretty much always a father of adult kids since I could remember.

At the funeral today, I learned more about him than I ever knew. Hell, no one had ever told me he had fought in the Korean War. He was an amateur cartoonist, and over through his work the building of the Casinos in Atlantic City in the early 80's.

If any good came from it, it was a chance to see family I hadn't seen in ages. Including family from Ohio.

Afterwards, we went to a luncheon at the church. Which was nice. They had deli sandwitches and soup out for everyone. It was quite a long day (literally the funeral and the initial service were an hour away from each other) and it gave everyone a chance to talk some more before all parting ways.

I remember the picture of him when he was about 19 or so at the funeral. I just couldn't believe it was him. So, young and so full of hope. His whole life ahead of him. I never saw him that way until I saw that picture.

But not matter what you do in life, what choices you make, what paths you take one day it will be your turn. People will be sitting around eating cold cuts talking about your life. At that point you stay alive on earth only in memories.

"Strings of War"

This is a point of interest for two reasons. First it's pretty interesting story. Secondly, I along with a few other went to High School with this guy. He is currently of in Iraq

Sorry its a FOXNEWS link. Please don't burn my house down. I know some of you will refuse to go on this page, since its FOXNEWS, but I am sure you could goggle it and find another verision of the story.

"Hangover Helpers"

I think I am going to start my own business and its pretty simple.

How many times have you planed to do a lot with your Sunday? You know run errands. Clean your place. Buy food.

But how many times did you bite yourself in the ass Saturday night by getting really drunk the night before? That way you either have a lack of sleep or you simply are too hung over to do any of the tasks you needed to get done?

That's where my business comes in. I just hang out at bars and hand out my card to drunks or at last card. They call me, and pay me to do simply things like, pick up food, blockbuster videos, etc.