I’m luckier than many Philly fans. I was around for the 1960 Eagles NFL crown (although I was only seven and don’t remember it). I loved the tremendous 1967 championship Philadelphia Sixers team with Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, Chet Walker, Luke Jackson, Wali Jones and Billy Cunningham coming off the bench. I was a fan of the Broad Street Bullies when they won in 1974 and 1975. I drove to Veterans Stadium to join the party in 1980 when the Phillies beat the Royals, and I jumped with joy right along with Maurice Cheeks when the Sixers beat L.A. in 1983.
The last time the Phillies won was tinged with sadness for me. My father, Harry Hoffman, a long time sportswriter for the Atlantic City Press, died in Chicago of a heart attack on Sept. 20, 1980, while covering the Phils during their stretch drive. My tears the night Tug McGraw leaped for joy were half joy, half grief.
Last night surrounded by family, and with my Mom, saying, “How’d you like that Harry,” my joy was just that, pure joy.

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The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle drive begins Friday, Nov. 21. Seen annually at many shopping centers and supermarkets during the holiday season, the Red Kettle drive helps provide hot meals, warm clothing and toys for underprivileged children through donations. It also provides for certain services and programs such as soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, emergency disaster services, senior and youth programs and emergency assistance for prescriptions and housing. During these tough economic times, this could be one of the most crucial years ever for the Salvation Army to garner monetary donations.
The Salvation Army is also looking for volunteers to donate their time. Volunteers are needed for four-hour shifts throughout the state. Please volunteer and ring a bell to help those less fortunate. Individuals, school groups, churches, service organizations and clubs are all welcome. Call Judith Anderson at Salvation Army NJ Divisional Headquarters at 908-851-8236.

On Monday, Oct. 27, the City Council of Atlantic City as expected voted 5-4 to postpone the total casino smoking ban it originally hoped to implement on Oct. 15. Smokers will be allowed to light up on casino floors again as of Nov. 16.
The ban will be postponed at least one year. On Nov. 16 the casinos will resume limiting smoking to 25 percent of their gaming floors. The latest move by Council was made because a total smoking ban was feared to cause even more of a negative impact and lost revenue in troubled economic times. Council hopes that by the time the 100 percent ban does go into effect in late 2009, Pennsylvania and other states will also have eliminated smoking, thereby leveling the playing field for sought-after gaming revenue.
An Oct. 30 online editorial on Casino Gambling Web implies that the turbulence over the A.C. smoking issue is part of casino owners and executives grasping to regain the stranglehold on the East Coast gambling market, but that it will never happen. Changing times and increased competition will force A.C. to “share the wealth” with other cities and states that opt to legalize gambling, according to the article.

With all the excitement about the Phillies, let’s not forget the new Brand of 76ers basketball that begins tonight. The Sixers open the season against the Toronto Raptors an hour early, at 6pm, to allow fans to watch the game at the arena and get home in time to see the Phillies finish off the Rays tonight. As a big hoops junkie, I’m usually deeply into the Sixers by now, but the Phillies have divided my loyalties, at least for one more night. And we do hope it only one more night.

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According to the Associated Press, “due to the worsening economy” both sides in the Trump Marina sale have “agreed to reduce the purchase price for the casino-hotel to $270 million, down from the $316 million they set as the price back in May.”
That’s a savings of $46 million in case you don’t like to do math.
The AP article also notes that if the deal isn’t done before the end of May, Trump Entertainment Resorts, which owns Trump Marina in Atlantic City, can “scrap the whole deal.”

Preparations are underway at Harrah’s for tomorrow’s attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record for carving a ton of pumpkins — literally, a ton — under four hours.
Earlier today, AC Weekly publisher Lew Steiner, along with Karen Martin of the ACCVA and radio host and columnist Pinky Kravitz served as neutral observers at the official pumpkin weigh-in at Harrah’s. Steiner is pictured here with a Harrah’s Resort’s Chef Christopher Kurtz and Vicki Tilton, Harrah’s Resort’s director of marketing.
Total pumpkins weighed? 110.
Total weight? 2,461.2 pounds.
The pumpkin-carving bonanza is set to begin Wednesday at noon with Haverton, Pa.’s Stephen Clarke expected to break the record before 4pm.
Clarke already holds three records listed in the Guinness Book of World Records: fastest time to carve a single face in a pumpkin (24.03 seconds), fastest time to carve one ton of pumpkins (4 hours 17 minutes 26 seconds) and most pumpkins carved in one hour (42).

Long before Judd Apatow came on the scene, New Jersey filmmaker Kevin Smith invented his own version of raunchy romantic comedy with Clerks and Chasing Amy. Smith has returned to that genre with his latest effort that is summed up nicely in the title: Zack and Miri Make A Porno, opening this Friday. Zack and Miri (Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks) are best friends and roommates who have a unique idea to solve their desperate financial woes. They are going to make an X-rated movie. The film made its debut at the Toronto Film Festival, where Kevin Smith talked about his career.

What is it about Seth Rogen that made you want to work with him?
It doesn’t hurt that Seth is from Canada. I’ve found that the funniest people are either from Canada or Jewish. With Seth, you get both. He was the natural choice for this movie. The movie had been swimming around in my head since ’96. It wasn’t until I saw him in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, that I said, ‘This dude is fantastic. He should be a movie star.’ So I started writing it with him in mind. [I was going] to make him super famous, Affleck II, and he’ll owe me forever. Then when I finished the script and tried to get it to Seth, it was two weeks before Knocked Up opened and I was seeing him in billboards all over town. Oh, I’ve missed my window … this dude’s famous now. Thankfully, he loved the script enough to do the movie, and he was a fan of my stuff. I sent him an E-mail and five minutes later, he E-mails me back and says, ‘When I first came down to the States, an agent asked me what I wanted to do and I said, ‘I want to work with Kevin Smith.’ That hasn’t changed.

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With Halloween coming up, if felt like the perfect time to compile a list of my favorite scary movies. I’m an old school fan who prefers suspense to shock, and the bravery of ordinary people in supernatural situations. And, as you’ll notice from the list, I’m a sucker for a good haunted house tale.
However, I’m a moviejunkie so I haven’t eliminated slasher movies entirely. I’ve updated the list over the years, although the movies that terrified me as a kid are still listed, since they helped shape my film critic soul. Here is my list of movies that would make for a terrific fight night marathon. They are in no particular order.

The Haunting (1963) Don’t let that horrible remake a few years back, keep you from checking out one of the best—and best acted haunted house movies of all time, starring Claire Bloom and Julie Harris.
Halloween (1978) John Carpenter’s revival of the slasher horror film still makes me jump.
The Changling (1980) George C. Scott stars in this under-the-radar haunted house flick.
The Ring (2002) The best of the horror film adaptations from Japan that makes you think of TV in a whole new light.
The Innocents (1961) Deborah Kerr is a nanny who suspects her children are being stalked by ghosts.
The Legend of Hell House (1973) The Innocents’ child star, Pamela Franklin, still has ghost problems a decade later.
The Others (2001) Nicole Kidman in the film that successfully plays tribute to The Innocents.
Carrie (1976) Even when you know the big scare is coming, it still gets you doesn’t it?
The Omen (1976) Again, don’t let the horrible remake keep you from checking out the original, which scared me more that The Exoricst.
28 Days Later (2002) The most terrifying bloody zombie movie ever!
Ghost Story (1981) Four elderly men have a secret they’ve kept buried that is about to be unleashed. With Fred Astaire.
Poltergeist (1982) Ordinary parents face extraordinary and terrifying circumstances.

As expected, the Atlantic City council gave into the demands of the economy and repealed the total smoking ban that had been in effect for the past two weeks. Many casino employees aren’t happy, but the butts are back. The casinos are still 75% smoke free. Here is the news report.

The Lil’ Wayne concert with special guest Birdman scheduled for Boardwalk Hall on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 8pm has been canceled due to upcoming tour scheduling conflicts. No make up date will be scheduled. Tickets will be refunded from their point of purchase. The Boardwalk Hall Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 11-5 and Saturday 10-2. Call Ticketmaster at 800-736-1420 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.