TAKE THREE CHORDS, HIT TO RIGHT

OK, we don't normally do this, but here's a heads-up from our good friend John Spencer, manager/medical marvel from the Bishop's Collar softball team. It just might be the thing for these early-December blues, particularly since the recently broken leg suffered by P&P wine guru Brad Wilson has cancelled this week's walk through the Rhone Valley at the club.

Spence plays guitar, washboard and first base in one of them rock n' roll groups, currently called Nervous Rex. In a previous incarnation, I believe the name was Midwife Crisis or Male Pattern Stupidity or something like that. He told me once, but I wasn't listening then, either.

Anyway, Spence (pictured at left during his touring days with Pink Floyd) and the band are playing this Friday, Dec. 12 at Yeats Pub in Ardmore. The "music" starts at about 10 p.m., and if you're in the mood for Stones covers and a pretty good time out on the Main Line, this just might be your spot.

In other softball news, general manager Chris Brennan announced that the roster will not be subject to industry-related layoffs for the coming season, although he will entertain some voluntary reductions of force and is considering buyout packages that could include a six-pack of Chesterfield Ale and season tickets to all P&P games.

CHAMPAGNE AND BEAUJOLAIS

Pen & Pencil softball stars were in the thick of covering the Phillies' championship parade last Friday, particularly those who hadn't been traveling and writing on deadline for the last month.

Take a look at general manager Chris Brennan, for instance, riding atop the media double-decker bus along with a whole bunch of other people who couldn't tell you how many outs in an inning.

But that's actually a touch churlish. Maybe he was live "blogging" or "Twittering" or something else vital to slowing the demise of Philadelphia Newspapers LLC.

(Remind me to tell you the story of being on deadline in St. Petersburg, having immense trouble sending because the wireless went out in that stinking pit of a stadium, and yelling profanely at my sports editor to leave me alone when he called my name. I turned around after finally getting connected and he was standing there with the publisher. Like oops.)

I did see our teammate Chris Yasiejko throughout the playoff run, doing cityside stories for the Wilmington News-Journal, which he told me consisted of looking for Delaware plates in the parking lot and talking to the people who got out of those cars.

Who else? Well, Marcus, of course. I think I drank with him in Pasadena, which didn't put him in exclusive company. And Steve Falk was on the photo trail. And Kathy Matheson, doing stuff for AP from the freezing, rain-soaked auxiliary press box.

Somehow, Kerry O'Connor was allowed to get close to the trophy, apparently. What they didn't know was he broke off the little flag that says, "Boston Red Sox," and put it in his pocketsie. Thieving hobbit.

OK, down to business. There is a wine-tasting at the P&P this Thursday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m. with the fabulous Brad Wilson. The wines of Beaujolais is the featured flavor. Matched hors d'oeuvres with the wines. $30 bucks a seat. Cheap. Call the club, 215-731-9909, to reserve. I'll be there, signing my new book, "Newspapers: Medium of the Future."

NOW LEADING OFF

For those of you who haven't been paying attention to dead-tree journalism recently, our own Kate Fagan (right) is the new Inquirer beat writer for the Philadelphia 76ers. She's up at training camp with the team in lovely State College, Pa. and is filing video reports.

You can follow along on Philly.com all season. Here's the good news, speaking as a former NBA beat writer. I have studied the Sixers' acquisitions and despite unwarranted optimism, I believe Kate will be available for softball by late April. That's good for all of us.

ALMOST FORGOT

The Center City Softball League's semi-annual tour of sponsorship establishments is tonight, Fri., Sept. 26.
The festivities start at the Cherry Street Pub at about 5 p.m., then move to Bishop's Collar at about 7 p.m. and will finish up at the good, old Pen & Pencil as the evening dwindles and the dwindle evens.
Commissioner Ron Goldwyn promises to get his titanium knees out for all or most of the proceedings. See you there, except me, of course.

PITCH LIKE YOUR HAIR'S ON FIRE

There's not a whole lot I can say about this, although one must wonder what the young lady actually thinks her shirt says. She is, however, the only one in the picture for whom the shirt's message would be accurate. Marcus and DN teammate Sam Donnellon obviously worked hard in Beijing during the Olympics. I pass this along because, well, Marcus is always good for conversation.

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU, KID

While we're celebrating Journalism Week here, we can't forget to link to our own Kerry O'Connor, who is discovering that great writing is one thing but a warm nose is the quickest path to success.

Kerry penned an ode to faithful companion Bogey in the current edition of the Weekly Press (bottom of Page 2). Hey, if it could work for John Grogan, maybe "Bogey & Me," is the ticket for Kerry.

We love Bogey, who apparently loves Kerry enough to tolerate being photographed wearing a ridiculous hat. The occasion for the article was Bogey's 11th birthday (nice round number). That makes Bogey 77 in Pen & Pencil softball years. Still under the age cutoff, and we look forward to having him back next season. And the guy in the Red Sox hat, too. (Hey, maybe Bogey makes him wear it in retaliation.)

WHERE DID ALL THE STUDENTS GO?

George Miller, our favorite left fielder, has his sleeves rolled up and his hands on his hips and he is looking for those darn pupils. This looks like a guy ready to hand out a few demerits.

Where did those darn kids go?

Well, I don't know, but George has some tough words for those who think journalism is dead. He also has some tough words for those who think the stegosaurus is dead, but that's beside the point.

Please read this article, which also quotes our own Daniel Rubin. Didn't freaking call me, of course, but you know how it is.

http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/articles/17593/cover-story