Darren Rovell asks Is this the Best Sports Promotion Ever? Quoting the press release:

The entire hometown of Philadelphia Soul star wide receiver Chris Jackson has been invited by the team to attend its Divisional Playoff game at the Wachovia Center on Saturday, July 5 as part of Chris Jackson Day. The Borough of Morrisville has a population of 10,096 and team President Ron Jaworski is offering everyone to pick up free tickets at a community celebration this Tuesday afternoon, July 1, at Williamson Park.

Due to TV contract stipulations, the Soul is being forced to hold the game the day after the Fourth of July on Saturday, July 5th. (Fireworks are legal in PA, so Independence Day is like a weekend long m-80 event, people at least need Saturday to take inventory).

Also, due to the nonchalant and apathetic nature of most Arena league fans, Soul management is hedging their bets that some of the 8,000 season ticket holders might not want to go, and they’ll have ample room in 16,000 capacity Wachovia Center for the Morrisville population.

A new edition to the Soul this year, Jackson’s numbers mirror Arena ball scoring culture – the game tallies resembles the NBA… All-Star Game. In 16 games this year, he has 140 receptions for 1,700+ yards and 49 TDs, contributing 294 points to the teams nearly 1,000 this season.

Wild stuff. But again, the people in PA take Fourth of July weekend pretty seriously.

Plus that’s the last day for Bucks County residents to catch An Evening with Ben Franklin at the Free Quaker Meeting House, and Boyz II Men is playing Penn Landing the same night. (I perused PhillyFunGuide.com)

I imagine that it’s a big Sesame Place day too.

What is sick to think about is that if Bon Jovi made this same offer to Asbury Park residents for his PNC Bank spandex revival they’d probably have to call in the riot police


AFL’s Philadelphia Soul: Offering The Best Sports Promotion Ever?

Why am i having trouble finding sideline pics of Donald Sutherland from last night’s game? Turns out the guy sleeping next to the Lakers’ chief rabblerouser Jack Nicholson in the front row is actually Lou Adler.

Lou Who? He produced records for Sam Cooke, The Mamas & the Papas and Carole King among others. He also directed Up in Smoke. And apparently him and Nicholson are best pals.

Well, if they’re such great friends, how come Strother Martin snubbed Jack as Tommy Chong’s dad (Arnold Stoner) in UIS?

Now this guy? Smart money says he was sired by Adler (or Drew Carey). Could be any one of Lou’s four youngest sons – Manny, Pablo, Oscar, Ike.

Not especially likely that was Cisco Adler next to Nicholson last night.

So what do we have to look forward to for the game six sideline in Boston on Tuesday? Mistaking somebody from the Scalabrine brood for Michael Rappaport seems realistic.

Here are some game five thoughts from somebody who knows better.