Dan Gross: Pennywise & Flyers in harmony
'IT'S A REAL HONOR for us to be part of the Flyers quest for the Stanley Cup," says Pennywise guitarist Fletcher Dragge. How is the band affiliated with the Flyers? Its song "Bro Hymn" is played after Flyers goals.
'IT'S A REAL HONOR for us to be part of the Flyers quest for the Stanley Cup," says
Pennywise
guitarist
Fletcher Dragge
. How is the band affiliated with the Flyers? Its song "Bro Hymn" is played after Flyers goals.
"Philly has always been one of our favorite cities to play in, and now we're hearing our song played every time the Broad Street Bullies score a goal? The only way this could get any better is if we could be eating cheesesteaks from Pat's while we are watching the games," Dragge told us last night during a break from recording Pennywise's next album. "The toughest team in the NHL, with the most dedicated fans in hockey, and 'Bro Hymn' on their side, how can they lose? Take no prisoners, and make 'em bleed, the Cup is yours," Dragge told us by e-mail.
The song, which we hope to hear as many times as possible tonight, was first released on the California punk band's 1991 debut album. Before the Flyers adopted it in the 2007-08 season, the Anaheim Ducks used the song. After the Ducks won the Stanley Cup in 2007, Pennywise played at a victory celebration.
Biddle relations
For those, like us and The700Level.com, who were wondering whether Phillies draft pick Jesse Biddle is related to Roots bassist Owen Biddle, the answer is yes, according to Owen's father, Richard, director of the Henry George School of Social Science. "Owen and Jesse are most likely ninth cousins," Richard told us.
Owen said yesterday they are "less related than average" and to Richard's knowledge the two, part of one of Philadelphia's oldest families, have never met.
* Jesse Biddle, 18, a Germantown Friends
School pitcher, has been working since 2008 as an assistant coach for baseball at Bala Cynwyd's Aquatic and Fitness Center. His colleagues there are thrilled with the news. The Jenkintown location of the gym just received a handwritten thank-you from Renee Zellweger, showing her appreciation to the fitness center for letting her and boyfriend Bradley Cooper work out there recently.
Local guy to ABC
Mount Laurel native Rob Nelson begins co-anchoring ABC's "World News Now" with Vinita Nair on July 7. Nelson, a 1996 graduate of Lenape High, is the son of the Philadelphia OIC's president and CEO, Bob Nelson, and a former Daily News intern.
Celeb shoes for charity
Catering to celebrity-memorabilia collectors and foot fetishists alike, the Hero in Heels fashion shoe and celebrity shoe auction takes place from 7 to 11 p.m. tomorrow at Trust (249 Arch). Signed shoes from famous names such as Jennifer Aniston, Taylor Swift, Ali Larter, Jessica Simpson and Scarlett Johansson are up for auction to benefit the Wish Upon a Hero Foundation, which aids women with cancer. Phillies wives Heidi Hamels and Jen Utley have also donated signed shoes.
Tickets are $25 online at heroinheels.org.
Charitably minded
Sammy Bradly is a charitable 13-year-old. Bradly, of Newtown Square, is in remission from AML leukemia, but organized a bone-marrow-donor search for his friend Noxah Palomo, 13, whom he met while both were being treated for leukemia at A.I. duPont Hospital for Children in Delaware. The Hit a Homer, Be a Donor drive is taking place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Flanigan Center on Bishop Hollow Road in Newtown Square.
Comcast SportsNet's Michael Barkann and 610 WIP's Paul Jolovitz are among guests at the carnival-themed event. People ages 18-60 can be tested with a simple cheek-swab, added into the bone-marrow registry and possibly save a life. For info on the event, call Jill Speckman at 610-949-7827.
Pets march on Arch
We'll help judge the Patriotic Pet Parade at 12:30 p.m. Saturday outside the Betsy Ross House (239 Arch). Local owners of pets, dressed in patriotic regalia, are welcome to enter their animals to compete for prizes. The pets can be registered on-site starting at 11:30 a.m. The event is sponsored by the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society and BoneJour (53 N. 3rd).
The parade is part of the Betsy Ross House's three-day Flag Fest '10, which starts Saturday and goes through Monday, Flag Day. It features carnival games, the Fralinger String Band, the Give & Take Jugglers and the Punch & Judy puppet show. For more Flag Festival info, call 215-686-1252 or visit betsyrosshouse.org.
Visit PhillyGossip.com for Dan's latest updates or follow PhillyGossip on Twitter. Have a tip? Call 215-854-5963, or e-mail grossd@phillynews.com. For recent columns, visit go.philly.com/dangross.