The American Cancer Society Bikeathon - Why I Ride

Two weeks in a row, two colleagues of mine lost parents to cancer, both in their early sixties. I hate watching people I care about suffer the loss of loved ones to this disease. Through my lifetime, I have seen too many friends, relatives, colleagues suffer and die, too young, from cancer.

It's a horrible thing to watch someone go through this - the initial diagnosis, the aggressive treatments, cautious optimism, remissions sometimes, wishful thinking, desperate attempts to extend the patient's life, then the realization that, in spite of everything, they are now in an end-of-life situation, a life ending too soon. Seeing the anguish on a person's face as they are telling me their story kills me, being unable to do or say anything to help. 

The good news is, a cancer diagnosis is not necessarily the death sentence it used to be, but we have a long way to go. 

For this reason, every year I get on my bicycle and ride 66 miles 90 degree heat in the Philadelphia Bike-a-thon to help raise money for the American Cancer Society. I have upped my goal from $1,000 last year to $1,500 this year. I have a way to go, but I know I can count on my friends and family to help me fight this disease so no family has to go through the anguish of losing their mothers, fathers, and other loved ones to cancer.  

The ride is Sunday, July 8, 2012. If you'd like to help out, you can click on THIS LINK to get to my fundraising page.

Thank you to all who have contributed so far.

Disgruntled Eagles fan declares "Christmas in Distress"

(Update: the final sentence of this post refers to a lost Vinny Testaverde ornament. In what can only be described as a Christmas Miracle, a new Vinny ornament arrived in my mail Monday night, 12/12, the work of a mysterious benefactor).

I've been accused of being a Scrooge, and a Grinch, but I like Christmas. Really, I do. I like the lights on our house and our tree. I especially like my ornaments, in particular, my Jets and Eagles ornaments.

Eight Christmases ago I ordered an Eagles ornament from Danbury Mint, and every year (springtime, I think) I get the new year's ornament. Then I put it away and wait until December, when I enjoy adorning my tree with my ornaments.


However, this year has been different. The Eagles have been terrible. As in they suck, they suck really bad, and each game they find new ways to suck. If they suck so bad, how can I be enthusiastic about putting their ornaments on my tree?

Yes, I know you should be loyal to your team through thick and thin, and I am. But I cannot simply do my usual ornament thing without making a statement.

The Solution:
As we all know, the American flag flown upside down is a sign of distress. And distress is what I would call the Eagle's situation this year (as of this writing they are ahead of the Miami Dolphins, but I don't care. I'm not watching it). So I have decided to display my Eagles ornaments on the tree, upside down, as a sign of protest against a team in distress.










Maybe next year will be different. And maybe next year I will find my lost Vinny Testaverde ornament :(

Hockey Dad For A Night

It was not a good night for the Flyers last night, who couldn't seem to find the net and got thrashed by the Atlanta Thrashers (whoever that is) 1-0. It was a better night for my son's amateur hockey team Legacy, who played a scrimmage after the Flyers/Thrashers game at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, home of the Flyers and the 76ers.

These guys have come a long way from ten years or so ago when they used to play street hockey as teenagers on an abandoned tennis court, with hay bales as boundaries. Now they're playing on the Flyers' ice, outscoring them 7-0. Final score: Red team 5, White team 2.

These guys played three 17 minute periods with a one minute break between periods. Pretty good if you ask me. But I'm biased.





Here's my boy, #27, Dan Pickens in the video:

What Are Your Baseball Predictions for This Year?

OK, it's mid-February, and that can only mean one thing.

For us long-suffering fans, still nursing our hangovers from Jets and Eagles playoff losses, and the Giants' flameout (depending on what part of NJ you live in), the only real cure is knowing that the Boys of Summer have reported to Spring Training and opening day of our National Pastime is just over a month away.

So, what are your predictions for the 2011 season?

No, I'm not asking who will win the World Series; everyone knows that will be the Fightin' Phils. What I'm asking is, what Phan misbehavior can we look forward to this year?

The 2010 season is a tough act to follow, with Vomit Guy (a/k/a "Pukemon"), Taser Kid, and Copy-cat Would-be Taser Guy (who never got tasered) leading the pack.

But, Pick's Place has high hopes for this season, so here are some predictions:

1.) On opening day, former catcher Darren Daulton attempts to deliver the game ball through out-of-the-body astral travel from his home in Florida, but arrives without the ball, which was lost in transit. Angry fans storm the field but fail to reach the virtual Dauton before he beams himself back to Florida.

2.) On the first Dollar Dog Day,  the game is delayed by rain. Former PA Governor Ed Rendell, scheduled to throw out the first pitch, calls the Phillies "a bunch of wussies" for rain-delaying the game. Once the tarp is removed and Fast Eddie takes to the mound, angry fans pelt him with dollar dogs.

3.) On "Cliff Lee Appreciation Day". the Phillies unwisely hand out Cliff Lee bobble-heads to fans on the way into the stadium. By the 7th inning, as Lee is being pounded by the Atlanta Braves, angry fans plaster the outfield with bobble-heads. The outfielders are forced to wear helmets.

4.) On a positive note, the Phillies give Christina Aguilera a second chance to get the National Anthem right.

What are YOUR predictions for this season?

The 2009 Garry Maddox BBQ Challenge

Saturday, August 8, is the second Big Event of the summer for me. Now that the American Cancer Society Bike-a-thon is over, I can now focus on the Garry Maddox BBQ Challenge, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

THANK YOU to everyone who donated to my Bike-a-thon ride. The event was a huge fundraising success, and there is still time to donate if you're interested.

The Garry Maddox BBQ Challenge, since 2001, is an annual event, sponsored by Phillie's centerfielder Garry Maddox. All proceeds benefit the Youth Golf & Academics Program (YGAP), an academic enrichment program founded by Garry Maddox to support children in grades K-8 who reside in troubled city neighborhoods (see website).

Last year, I competed for the first time, and did not win, probably because I was a rank amateur in the sport of competitive BBQ. This year I am still a rank amateur but just a bit less rank, thanks to lessons learned in last year's competition and in my experience as a judge at a BBQ event at the Keansburg, NJ Fire Company this past May. Thank you, Bill E., for that privilege!

I will be entering in all four categories:

• Chicken
• Ribs
• Chef's Choice
• Garry's Rib Challenge (the Big Prize: World Series tickets)

I'll be there from 6:30am to get set up and get my fires started.

If you're in the area, please stop by and say hello, and wish me luck!

American Cancer Society Bikeathon - This Sunday

This Sunday, July 12th, I will be riding in the American Cancer Society Bikeathon.

The Bikeathon is a 64.6 bicycle mile ride from the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia, PA to Buena, NJ. This will be my fifth year riding. Over 4,000 riders participate in the event, raising over $1 million for this worthy cause, supported by donations from generous people like you. The goal this year is $2 million.

I will be Twittering throughout the event Sunday, mobile uploading photos to my Facebook page and iReport, so stay tuned.

If you wish to make a donation, please go to the following link to my personal page:

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/jeffpickens

Thanks!