Happy Hanukkah
Vo l . 6 3 N O. 4 8
w w w. s o u t h p h i l l y r ev i ew.c o m
DECEMBER 2, 2010
Chips off the old BLOCS A scholarship organization will provide need-based aid for students attending a Passyunk Square Catholic school. By Joseph Myers r e v i e w s ta f f w r i t e r
T
ara Latanzo has sent her sons, fifthgrader Alex and sixth-grader Johnny, to Annunciation B.V.M., 1148 Wharton St., since preschool. Schooled at the now-closed St. Paul’s, Ninth and Christian streets, and St. Maria Goretti High School, now Ss. Neumann-Goretti High School, 1736 S. 10th St., she had feared an economic setback might necessitate removing her pair of cherubs from the school. “I love being able to send my sons to a school that, No. 1, is molding them spiriHundreds of the Spectrum’s loyal followers gathered in the sports complex Nov. 23 as the wrecking ball took its first swing at the 43-year-old arena.
See SCHOLARSHIP page 11
Sports
S ta f f P h o t o B y G r e g B e z a n i s
Momentous wreckening Fans gathered for the ceremonial start of a sports complex landmark demolition that is expected to span the next few months. By Alvaro Balderas Review Intern
The golden DeFelice
After 42 years at a Passyunk Square school, a renowned teacher and coach is retiring. By Joseph Myers................Page 41
W
ho could forget that memorable rock-the-baby slam dunk Julius “Dr. J” Erving unveiled in the 1983 NBA Finals where he practically took off from the three-point line punctuating the Sixer’s four-game sweep against the Lakers at the Spectrum? Or what about the lore that Bobby Clarke’s Broad Street
Bullies created by dominating the league during the ’74 and ’75 seasons where they won two Stanley Cups, also at “America’s Showplace?” Since the Spectrum’s opening in ’67, countless memories have been lived by millions of Philadelphia sports fans. But Nov. 23, in front of Erving, Clarke and former teammate Bernie Parent, ComcastSpectacor Chairman Ed Snider, Mayor Michael Nutter and Spectrum faithful, those
memories crashed down brick-by-brick with a series of blows from a wrecking ball to the south side of the arena. “It’s a little overcast because it’s a sad day and the memories will be taken away,” Erving, a NBA Hall of Famer, said. “Memories are forever if they’re done the right way, and I think there were a lot of memories that were done the right way at See SPECTRUM page 13