Dan Gross: 'Harry the K' coming in March

IT'S HARD to find a Phillies fan who didn't love

Harry Kalas

.

Randy Miller is no exception.

The Phillies beat writer for the Bucks County Courier Times and PhillyBurbs.com has authored a book, "Harry the K: The Remarkable Life of Harry Kalas," which will be published March 9 by Running Press.

Miller says that although he loved Harry, he didn't want to write a puff piece. Harry's widow, Eileen, didn't want him to write fluff, either, and talks in the book about Harry's infidelities, the couple's counseling for it, and how she made him quit drinking.

"The toughest part was all the women," said Miller, who didn't want to hurt Harry's first wife, Jasmine, whom he left for Eileen.

Eileen encouraged Miller to speak with Jasmine and also gave the writer Harry's phone book, which enabled him to reach some of his oldest friends. Miller interviewed 170 people for the 335-page book. Mike Schmidt wrote the foreward and Ryan Howard the introduction.

The book also details the stormy relationship between Harry and longtime broadcast partner Chris Wheeler. You may recall Wheeler seemed to be the only member of the Phillies organization who wasn't quoted publicly about Harry's death last year.

"I cared a great deal about Harry," Wheeler says in the book. "We shared a lot of fun times that I'll always remember, and those memories belong to me and nobody can take them away," he told Miller. The hardcover, priced at $24.95, will be available in stores and from online retailers, but it's not a Phillies-authorized product so Miller doesn't expect the book to be sold at Citizens Bank Park or to do any book-signings there next season.

No more Celebrity Boxing?

Damon Feldman swears his next Celebrity Boxing Federation event is his last in Pennsylvania.

Feldman, who has 12 Pack from VH1's "I Love New York" and "I Love Money" taking on former Daily News Sexy Single Joltin' Joey DeMalavez on Feb. 26 at Club Polaris (460 N. 9th), has been having a dispute with the state boxing commission, but will still hold events in Massachusetts and Los Angeles. 12 Pack and Joltin' Joey, a boxing trainer whose clients include Charles Barkley at his Joltin' Jabs (4313 Main) studio in Manayunk, will attend a Thursday night news conference at Finn McCool's (12th & Sansom) to promote the fight and a weigh-in Feb. 25 and post-fight party the next night at the South Philly Bar & Grill (1235 E. Passyunk).

Out and about

* Radio producer and rock historian Denny Somach brought Larry Kane to Atlantic City to catch Yes at the Tropicana over the weekend. The pair taped an interview with Yes drummer Alan White, who played in John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band on "Imagine," "Instant Karma," and other Lennon solo hits. The pair will use the interview as part of their show "Larry Kane's Ticket to Ride," at the Franklin Institute. The Beatles history presentation opens March 5 and runs every Friday and Saturday there for six weeks. Longtime Philly anchorman Kane, who now hosts a show on the Comcast Network, toured with the Beatles in 1964 and 1965 and hasn't shut up about them since, writing "Ticket to Ride," "Lennon Revealed," and a third Beatles book on the way.

* Eagles assistant coach and

former QB Doug Pederson sipped some cocktails while bowling with friends at Pinsetter (7111 Maple) in Pennsauken.

We're told he's a great bowler.

Charitably minded

Smokin' Joe Frazier and Fox 29's Thomas Drayton are expected at singer Doreen Taylor's private party to launch her book and CD, "Coming Home," at Trust (249 Arch) on Feb. 26. Her book and CD are a tribute to the WWII era. She performs standards from the 1940s and poses, somewhat scantily in some pictures, in the style of the pin-up girls of that era. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. For info, specialops.org., or for more on the book/CD, check out doreentaylormusic.com.

* Philadelphia mag presents the 10th Annual Philly Cooks! on Feb. 23 at the Loews hotel (1200 Market). The event, featuring tastings from dozens of local chefs and restaurants, benefits the Ronald McDonald House, a place to stay for families of critically ill children being treatment at local hospitals. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased by calling 800-595-4TIX, or at phillymag.com/phillycooks.

Visit PhillyGossip.com for Dan's latest updates. Have a tip? Call 215-854-5963, or e-mail grossd@phillynews.com.