Happy birthday Weave; and a look back at Saturday's special celebration

FROM KEITH GROLLER

First of all, happy birthday to everybody's buddy -- Andy "Weave" Weaver. No. 27.

May he have 270 more because this world needs him around to keep us informed, and inspired.

Looking back on Saturday, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the Lehigh County Hall of Fame ceremony at the Fairgrounds' Agri-Plex and talking to local sports legends like Marty Nothstein, Ed McCaffrey, Michelle Marciniak, Andre Reed and Chuck Bednarik.

Larry Seiple was represented by a family member.

It was unfortunate that none of the Whitehall contingent -- Dan Koppen, Matt Millen and Curt Simmons -- could make it. All had different reasons. Simmons just lost his wife last week. Here's hoping Curt can make it back home on June 2 for his special day at Egypt Memorial Park.

I also want to note that sports personalities Billy Packer and Rich Lerner were also inducted, but in the communications category. Packer, who is still involved in the world of college basketball and obviously very busy at this time of year, was not in attendance.

Lerner, a fixture on The Golf Channel, was superb in his presentation and let everyone know that he hasn't forgotten where he came from. As someone who spent a lot of time on the chip 'n putt course at Dorneyville as a teenager, a facilty Lerner's family ran, I especially enjoyed his references to that place and noting that it is now the location of a Carrabbas, Wendy's and a Dunkin Donuts.

It was also nice to talk, if ever so briefly, with Christine Taylor. She's a movie star, as is her husband, Mr. Stiller, and yet I get the impression that she never forgot where she came from or the people and places that shaped her life. She spoke very well about St. Thomas More and Central Catholic during her presentation. I also enjoyed seeing her meet up again with her old CCHS classmate, Marciniak.

We talk all the time about how diverse Lehigh County can be -- you know from the sleepy little towns of New Tripoli and Germansville to the often rough and tough streets of Allentown.

Well, if you wanted diversity, how about Carson Kressley, Chuck Bednarik and Christine Taylor all sitting side-by-side on the stage together? What a scene. I would have loved to hear what they had to say to each other during their long stay on the stage. And it was long.

Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham and his staff did a great job putting this whole thing together. You can't give them enough credit for wanting to spotlight the county's birthday in a significant, glorious way.

But maybe, in retrospect, the 24 honorees could have been split into two separate 12-person ceremonies, maybe one devoted entirely to sports.

It was a special day, a special gathering and I was thrilled to be a part of it, even though I was sorry to have to miss the Parkland and Pocono Mountain West playoff games at Freedom. It's a shame everything March 11 2012 download 230had to fall on the same day.

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/