Ray Didinger and I have some things in common.
No, no one is suggesting my name be added to the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton. But you can find Ray's there, honored for his 25 years of distinguished coverage of pro football.
But before he went to Canton, before his work on WIP, before his work for Comcast and his appearances on the Eagles Post-Game show, before his stellar work at NFL Films, and before his long newspaper career at the Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Bulletin, Ray worked at another newspaper.
That would be the Delaware County Daily Times.
Ironically, when he first joined the newspaper, the St. James High grad was doing news, and only covering sports on the side.
Ray and I have a couple of other things in common as well.
We're both lifelong, die-hard Eagles fans.
So you can imagine it was quite an honor for me when Ray asked me if I would act as the host for the chat he does every night after his play, "Tommy and Me," at the Media Theatre.
The play is the story of Ray's unique lifetime relationship with Eagles' great wide receiver Tommy McDonald, from being a star-struck kid meeting his favorite player at training camp in Hershey, Pa., to his push as a veteran journalist to get Tommy elected to the NFL Hall of Fame.
But the truth is the show is about much more than that.
It's about all of us, Philly fans.
It's about our passion, the way we live and die with these teams.
Adding to the treat was the fact that I got the opportunity to co-host with another Eagles all-timer, linebacker and now NFL commentator Seth Joyner.
It was my honor.
By the way, I highly recommend the show. Even if you're not a sports fan. The story behind 'Tommy and Me' is universal.
It's about all of us.
Thanks for the memories, Ray.
And thanks for a great night.
Comments