June 8, 1994 Ð Schilling Obsessively Keeping Diary
Teammates of Phillies pitcher Curt Schilling are reporting that the 27-year-old righthander has been obsessively keeping a diaryÑscribbling nightly entries Òas if his life depended on it,Ó according to third baseman Dave Hollins. ÒHe started a couple weeks ago, and itÕs been really strange,Ó Hollins said yesterday. ÒAfter a game now, heÕll run straight back to his locker to write about what just happenedÑlike heÕs a thirteen-year-old girl or something.Ó
Outfielder Pete Incaviglia agreed that SchillingÕs dedication to his baseball-themed diary was odd. ÒI peeked over his shoulder the other night, and he was writing all this stuff about Ôkeeping his curveball down,ÕÓ he scoffed. ÒHe turns around and goes, ÔHey Pete, wanna read it?Õ I was like, ÔUm, sorry, Curt, got better things to do.ÕÓ Reliever Larry Andersen was similarly dismissive of SchillingÕs writings. ÒI donÕt know why heÕs so dedicated to that thing, unless heÕs gonna get it into the paper or maybe a magazine,Ó he frowned. ÒBut even then, why would anybody want to read what some dumb pitcher has to say?Ó
Schilling, however, insisted that his habitual diary-keeping was a worthwhile pursuit. ÒThe other guys might make fun of it, but I really donÕt care,Ó he said, cradling a worn black-and-white notebook under one arm. ÒItÕs just something I like to do; it helps me clear my mind a little bit.Ó When asked if he would ever want his daily log to be read by a widespread audience, he became excited. ÒYeah, sure, as long as thereÕs some way to publish it,Ó he smiled. ÒMaybe it could be turned into a book! Then, just think, up there on the shelfÑHemingway... Steinbeck... Schilling.Ó
February 29, 1989 Ð N.W.A. Performs Philly-centric Rap
N.W.A., the hardcore rap group from Compton, California, made a surprise appearance at City Hall yesterday, performing a blistering rendition of the controversial, Philadelphia-themed song ÒLeadership, Inc.Ó [see video below]. ÒMan, we just wanted to show some love for the east coast, you know what IÕm sayinÕ?Ó a baldheaded, mustachioed Eazy-E said afterwards, adjusting his red-and-blue striped tie. ÒWe wanted to come out here and show Ôem how N.W.A. do its muthafuckinÕ thang.Ó
According to the grey-suit-and-sunglasses-wearing MC Ren, the song, which uses harsh beats and obtuse street slang to enumerate the many changes that the city has recently undergone, Òshows muthafuckas whatÕs really goinÕ on out there in these streets. I got that line, ÔThere been a lotta shenanigans since Õ59/ Small-time hoodlums with big-time greed/ Judges bought off for chicken feed.Õ ItÕs the same shit from Philly to South Central, man.Ó Producer Dr. Dre agreed. ÒI wanted to make the beats as rough as I could, Ôcause that reflects what weÕre going through,Ó he said, adjusting his purple leather fez. ÒI think this might be my flyest shit yet.Ó
Nelson G. Harris, the president of Tasty Baking Co., said that he was honored to introduce the artists behind such hit albums as N.W.A. and the Posse and Straight Outta Compton. ÒPeople might be surprised, but I just love the rap music, I really do. So when Dre called me to see if IÕd be interested in putting this together, I jumped at the chance. And IÕm glad I didÑthe jammy was dope!Ó The white-haired Ice Cube, brushing a piece of lint from his long black dress, agreed. ÒItÕs cool that Philly know whatÕs up and let us do ÔLeadership Inc.Õ ÔCause, see, now yÕall bitches know that real gangsta shit!Ó
Outfielder Pete Incaviglia agreed that SchillingÕs dedication to his baseball-themed diary was odd. ÒI peeked over his shoulder the other night, and he was writing all this stuff about Ôkeeping his curveball down,ÕÓ he scoffed. ÒHe turns around and goes, ÔHey Pete, wanna read it?Õ I was like, ÔUm, sorry, Curt, got better things to do.ÕÓ Reliever Larry Andersen was similarly dismissive of SchillingÕs writings. ÒI donÕt know why heÕs so dedicated to that thing, unless heÕs gonna get it into the paper or maybe a magazine,Ó he frowned. ÒBut even then, why would anybody want to read what some dumb pitcher has to say?Ó
