Phillies Opening Day Feature Story

By Christine Fisher
Temple University

PHILADELPHIA – Was the 4-1 score of a beanbag toss game played Sunday outside Citizens Bank Park a coincidence or a foreshadowing of what was to come a few hours later inside the stadium?

The beanbag toss games played between parking spaces, grills, and crowds of people proved to be a staple item in the Phillies tailgating festivities that drew fans Sunday afternoon. As the Phillies prepped for their first game of the season against the Atlanta Braves, hopeful fans prepped themselves for another successful season for the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies.

“We were here around 3:30, and the lot was already pretty full,” Greg Merrill of southern New Jersey said as he and three others the area took a break from barbecuing for a game of beanbag toss.

Merrill and his three friends played in teams of two taking turns tossing beanbags into the slanted boards seen dotting the parking lot. There were official Phillies beanbag toss boards, boards from TailGateToss.com, homemade Phillies boards and more.

One  of Merrill’s friends sunk all four of its beanbags through the beanbag toss board while the other team, chatting excitedly about the prospects of the season, only managed to get one bag through the board.

In this lighthearted tailgating game, the losing team was much less upset than they and other Phillies fans would be later Sunday evening when the Braves beat the Phillies with the same 4-1 score.

“We used to play beer pong,” TJ Emric of southern New Jersey said. “But beanbags don’t get blown in the wind like pingpong balls.”

These experienced tailgaters know that weather can be a factor in beanbag toss just as it can be in baseball.

Neither the many teams of tailgating beanbag toss players nor the Phillies were setback by the weather this Sunday. With sunshine, temperatures in the 60s, and only a light breeze, the forecast was ideal for baseball.

“There’s always hype for a game as big as this,” Brian Koenig, a fan of both beanbag toss and baseball, said. “Being champions and having such nice weather makes it even more exciting.”

Koenig and Merrill, who considered themselves experienced tailgaters, said that last season they learned other lessons about their tailgating games.

“Throwing beanbags is better than throwing metal rings or golf balls when you’ve been drinking,” Koenig joked.

Christine Fisher can be reached at fisher.christine@temple.edu.

Feature Crime Story

By Christine Fisher
Temple University

DUBLIN, Pa.- Baby Jesus will be arriving a few months late for some families. He will also be arriving at the state police barracks with nine twins.

Police are lining up 10 baby Jesus statues at 5 p.m. today and asking the rightful owners to claim their respective infants.

The 10 statues are some of the many baby Jesus statues that disappeared from front lawns in Bucks County during December. The statues recently recovered by police were anonymously dropped off Sunday and Monday in Richland and Milford, Pa.

State police Cpl. Paul Romanic suspects the thief was not a serial baby Jesus kidnapper but likely teens pulling pranks.

Romanic reminds people that the seriousness of this situation should not be overlooked.

“For some people, they’ve been in the family for years, and there’s a real sentimental value attached to them,” Romanic said.
For some of those who have lost baby Jesus statues, hope is never lost.

Neil DiSpirito of Bristol Township, Pa., who decorates his lawn with more than 200 figurines each year, hopes to find one of the four baby Jesus statues he has lost over the past 15 years.

“It’s been a long time since he’s gone missing, but maybe I’ll find him,” DiSpirito said.

Anyone who has lost a Jesus ornament may call Dublin state police barracks at 215-***-***.

Christine Fisher can be reached at fisher.christine@temple.edu.