More thoughts from June 1976

The year of 1976 was a great one for me. It was the year of the Bicenntennial which made living in Philly more exciting than usual. From a sports perspective, that spring was awesome as the Phils raced out to a 50 -20 start and a nine game lead in the Eastern Division. Of course it was also the year I graduated high school. The graduation ceremony took place on the evening of June 4, the same night as Game 5 of the Finals between the Celtics and the Suns who were led by rookie center Alvan Adams and Paul Westphal. Who can ever forget Gar Heard and the shot heard round the world. The only other shot that was as exciting and as crucial, was the shot Laettner hit against Kentucky in the '92 tourney.

As for gifts, my friend Pete Bruno received a 1976 sky blue and white Chevy Blazer. After the graduation ceremony a bunch of us climbed in and Big Pete took it off road and made a bee line for the track and football practice field which were located down a large, steep, ravine - like hill. Pete hit that hill at full speed and the Blazer literally took to the air. Then he sped around the quarter mile track, blaring his horn the whole way with the rest of us yelling and laughing. After the victory lap, Pete sped back toward the hill and we began the steep ascent. I thought I was either going to fall out the back or we were going to tip over, but we made it and then we headed out to various parties.

Another highlight was heading to the shore the next day for Senior Week. It's 30 years later, and I still look back on that week and smile. I look forward to my 30th reunion next year. Recently, Paul, Carolyn, and I went to a general reunion at our parish grade school. It was hilarious seeing people who I had not seen in 33 years. What a blast.

Brucie, I remember that second Foreman - Frazier fight. The commercials were hilarious with both guys donning colonial wigs and garb. I also remember Smokin' Joe's shaved head. You know that Stallone got the idea for the setting of the fight in Rocky from this fight. Particularly the scene where Apollo Creed enters the ring as George Washington.

Does anyone remember that Ali defended his title a few weeks later ? He fought Jean Pierre Coopman, the Lion of Flanders. The lion turned out to be a mouse and the fight was a joke. That same year Ali fought a Japanese wrestler, Antonio Inoki. This guy laid on his back the whole fight and repeatedly kicked Ali in the legs causing a blood clot which required hospitalization. It was a sorry exhibition.