Julius J.E. Thompson, click
here to update your pages on AuthorsDen.
Blogs by Julius J.E. Thompson
Philadelphia Bulletin Memories! 9/6/2016 4:11:19 PM
Philadelphia Seventies Sports Scene During the seventies in Philadelphia the arrival of Labor Day was the start of the scholastic sports year in Philly schools. The fall chill was creeping into the air and the sound of football players hitting the sleds was heard all over the Delaware Valley. Now in 2016 in Georgia, schools are competing in ninety-plus weather at Friday night games.
The summer was ending, in Philly, with the last of the Sonny Hill League basketball tournament games finishing at Temple’s McGonigle Hall. Usually, the boys from below Market Street were carrying home the championship trophy.
Football previews were ordered at The Philadelphia Bulletin. I had to call every coach in Philly and the surrounding suburbs to get the list of football prospects and what they expected to accomplish that year. We had a special football guide to publish that was anticipated from Conestoga High in Chester County to Thomas Edison High in North Philly.
In the Public League Frankford, Abraham Lincoln, Central, Northeast were the dominant powers. I knew I would be heading up to Frankford to see if the Pioneers were going to garner another Public League championship. At most games I heard the Frankford High fight song so many times I still can remember a verse: “Fight on for Frankford…onward Frankford High…Rah, Rah…Fight on for Frankford…victory every time…” One game we heard that fight song so many times that Ted Silary, Hockey Puck and me started singing along on the sidelines. That was weird.
In the Catholic League, the teams were competitive with the Philly City teams like Father Judge, LaSalle, Cardinal Dougherty, North Catholic vying to eliminate teams from the suburbs. Great players flourished in the city like Lawrence (Buffalo) Reid at Dougherty and many others.
How many of you played football as well as basketball? Any memories.
