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www.piggynation.com

Need a laugh or some humor during the off season? Piggy Nation has offered to share their comic strip with us! Stay tuned for the first one coming soon!

From the Piggy Nation:

Los Angeles Man Takes On Piggy Behavior

Richard Rosser is on a mission to rid the world of piggy behavior. After a man stole a parking space from his mother-in-law, Rosser decided…

No more dogs pooping on neighbors’ lawns!

No more drivers parking in two spaces!

No more yelling on cell phones!

Having worked on children’s programs for Nickelodeon and The Disney Channel, Rosser considered a children’s book the natural outlet for his frustration with piggy behavior. Teaming up with illustrator Shane Sowell (The Simpsons, King of the Hill), the two created Piggy Nation: A Day At Work With Dad, an award winning children’s book that focuses on piggy behavior in an amusing update of the Golden Rule. The main character is a piglet named Sammy who joins his dad on Piggy Patrol. As they search the town for piggies, Sammy learns about rude behavior!

After the book was published, Rosser began performing school assemblies (seen by 7000 students to date). The kids responded so positively that Rosser adapted the story into a full-length musical. With composer Alec Wells (theoutsidejoke.com), the two crafted a show richly layered with Rock, Blues, Rap and Gospel influences. Piggy Nation The Musical premiered at The Pierson Playhouse in Pacific Palisades, California and is available through Steele Spring Theatrical Licensing.

Building on the concept of Piggy Behavior, Rosser and Sowell developed Piggy Nation the comic strip, which runs each Sunday in The Sunday Oklahoman and online at uskidsmags.com which publishes Jack & Jill and Humpty Dumpty.

School assemblies have led to writing workshops, which spawned a chapter book, Piggy Nation: Let’s Go Camping. In addition, Rosser has created educational programs including The Piggy Tales Story Bee which he recently transformed into a storytelling game, Piggy Tales Story Cards.

Contact Piggy Nation for more information about School Assemblies,
Piggy Nation The Musical or Piggy Tales Story Bees

818-404-1642
richard@piggynation.com

On Thursday it was announced that Ray Burris will be the new pitching coach for the Triple A Lehigh Valley Ironpigs.   He spent the 2012 season in a similar role with the Erie SeaWolves , the Double A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers in the Eastern League.  The 62 year old Burris was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1972 and made his big league debut in 1973.  He pitched in the major leagues for 15 seasons and finished his career with 108 wins and 134 losses.  His best years with the Cubs came from 1975 to 1977.  In 1975 he was 15-10 4.12,  in 1976 he again won 15 games while losing 13 with an ERA of 3.11 and in 1977 he was 14-16 4.72.  He started 39 games that year which was third most in the National League behind only Phil Niekro of the Braves and Steve Rogers of the Expos.  The Cubs traded Burris to the Yankees for Dick Tidrow in 1979 and after a short stay with the Yankees he pitched for the Mets, Expos, Athletics, Brewers and Cardinals.   He pitched in the postseason in 1981 for Montreal, losing Game 3 of the NLDS to Larry Christenson and the Phillies by a 6-2 score and then started 2 games vs. the Dodgers in the NLCS going 1-0 0.53 in 2 starts.  He threw a complete game shutout in Game 2, defeating Fernando Valenzuela by a 3-0 score.  In game 5 of the best of 5 series he went 8 innings and allowed just 1 run in a game the Expos eventually lost by a 2-1 score.  In his 15 year big league career he threw 10 shutouts, 4 of them coming during the 1976 season.

I’m sure Ray will be a welcome addition to the 2013 Lehigh Valley Ironpigs coaching staff.   He should have some good young talent to work with.

In other Phillies minor league news, Andy Tracy has been promoted to the position of Minor League Hitting Coordinator.   Sounds like a good opportunity for Andy.  It also means the Phillies will be searching for a new manager for the Williamsport Crosscutters.

Over the past few days I’ve been reading how the Reading Phillies staff is excited to reveal the name that will replace the Phillies in Reading. It really saddens me. Why would a team do this?

It comes back to one thing. Money.

I once heard an old baseball fan say he loved baseball so much to walk away from it. His exact words were, “Minor League Baseball isn’t baseball anymore… it’s a baseball themed pinball machine.”

It couldn’t be more perfectly said. All the music, the lights, the games. Some add fun, most just add distraction for the percentage of folks in attendance who find baseball boring.

I’ve been a longtime and vocal fan of the Reading Phillies. I could often be heard saying I prefer Reading’s history over our beloved IronPigs.

We could ask why, but we all secretly know the answer. More money. New jerseys, new hats, new pennants, new bumper stickers and new magnets.

Maybe I’m just getting old.

I don’t plan on attending Reading games again. I cherish the memories I had there as a kid and as a teen.

Good luck Reading Phillies and Goodbye.

The arena in Allentown is under construction. It’s really happening and we know that the Phantoms hockey team will be residents. Also likely will be our LV Steelhawks Arena football team. Another possible tenant could be a lacrosse team.

The Sovereign Center in Reading, who lost the Arena Football team Reading Express for the 2013 season, announced today that they will host the inaugural season of the Reading Rockets Lacrosse team.

TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012 AT 07:13PM
Reading, PA

July 31, 2012–The Reading Rockets, a proud member of the Professional Lacrosse League, were honored to be welcomed to the Sovereign Center in Reading by SMG and Sovereign Center staff, local lacrosse supporters and area media outlets.

Team Owner and President Ted Glynn was introduced by SMG Regional Manager Zane Collings and spoke of the mission of the Rockets organization.

“We want to run our team the right way… doing the right things for the right reasons and being an active partner in the Reading area community, said Glynn. “Our commitment to our fans and our local charities will be our calling card,” he added.

Glynn then introduced Vice President and General Manager Andy Makal, who fielded questions and reiterated the team’s commitment to customer service on all fronts. Makal’s first task will be to implement the ticket and corporate partnership programs that will be the lifeblood of the team. Information on ticket prices and corporate partnership packages will be released in short order.

The Professional Lacrosse League (PLL) beginsits inaugural season in September 2012with teams in Trenton, NJ, Charlotte, NC, and Jacksonville, FL. Other expansion teams are also planned.

The team will be holding a press conference to officially announce the team on July, 31, 2012 at 10 am in the Sovereign Center lobby in Reading. The press conference will be followed by a meet and greet.

The Reading Rockets are a professional indoor lacrosse organization in the Professional Lacrosse League (PLL). To learn more about the team, league, schedule or corporate partnership opportunities, contact the staff at (610) 314-7323 or log on to website.

Read more: http://rocketsfans.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=rocketstalk&thread=9#ixzz22RADC0YF

Lacrosse anyone?

It’s no secret the Phillies are crashing and burning this season.

When you look at the roster, the injuries, the performance becoming a fraction of its potential it makes me wonder what’s going on.

Cliff Lee, CLIFF LEE, just got his first win days before the All Star break.

Trade rumors now are starting. “Sell the Team!” one shouts, “It’s never too late to rally!” shouts another.

What could the Phillies change to turn this season around?

They need a spark.

All season long the Phillies have been using their farm system to fill needs. Infielders, Outfielders, Pitchers.. the transactions are tough to keep up with.

I think they need to make one other call up this season.

Sure, we all love Charlie Manuel. Great guy. Great manager. If you’ve ever heard one of his classic stories at the Winter Banquets you know the guy is old school baseball. There’s nothing but love for Charlie.

With that said… tap the right arm and call up Ryne Sandberg. We’ve seen on different levels on how his presence and leadership can get a team moving and winning. The IronPigs hadn’t had a winning season in its brief history until taken over by Sandberg. They are currently in 1st in their division and going strong.

It’s time for a leadership change in Philly. Letting Charlie Manuel go with the grace and respect he deserves will allow this team to face in a direction other than straight down. It’s time, it really is.

Your thoughts?

These folks had a table set-up at Coca-Cola Park last game and I took the opportunity to chat with them. Great bunch of people who took a lot of time and effort to organize this exciting event.

It’s reported on their website that Dallas Green will be in attendance as well and perhaps even some other Phillies alum!

I played at this field 35 years ago and since it has been renovated and will now be renamed “Simmons Field”,  in honor of Curt Simmons and his father, Lawrence, who was instrumental in the original construction of the field.

What a better way to start a Saturday and then follow it up with an IronPigs game later that evening as LHV will take on the Pawtucket RedSox or stay and enjoy the Aardvarks!

Check out the below flyer for further information (click on the flyer to enlarge for better viewing)