Bury Me In My Jersey: A Memoir of My Father, Football, and Philly

Tom McAllister

Villard Books, 2010

I used to consider myself a pretty big Eagles fan.  Knowledgeable, passionate, and long-suffering, like so many others who call Philadelphia home.  But after reading Tom McAllister’s Bury Me In My Jersey, I feel like a bandwagoner who needs to be reinitiated.  In his first book, a memoir, McAllister pours fanaticism onto the page like a blitzing Eagles defense.  While detailing the often painful history of the franchise, he also comes to terms with his own pain, interweaving his story of self-discovery with the evolution of the team.  Coping with the loss of his father, who first taught him to love the Eagles, McAllister struggles to make sense of his obsession and how it shaped his identity. 

Bury Me In My Jersey is an honest, thoughtful book that tackles issues of manhood, grief, isolation, and love within the unique context of sports fandom.  While McAllister’s experiences are particular to Philadelphia and the Eagles, the challenges faced and lessons learned reach beyond provincial allegiances.  Anyone who knows the zeal of a true fan or has felt the loss of a loved one can relate to this story. 

As most people who follow the NFL might know, Philadelphia Eagles fans have a certain reputation throughout the country.  And while there is no mention of Santa Claus in Bury Me In My Jersey, there are plenty of scenarios that lend credence to the allegations that Eagles fans can be a rather unruly bunch.  But McAllister writes with such wit and self-awareness that even accounts of some of his more questionable behavior serve as points of insight and enlightenment.  One can’t become a man without making the mistakes of a boy, right? 

One of my favorite aspects of McAllister’s writing is his frequent use of footnotes.  They act as a sort of aside that allows for a deeper glimpse into the author’s thought process, often providing a chuckle along with their extra information.  Funny moments abound in Bury Me In My Jersey, and are helped along with some creative descriptions, my favorite a reference to former Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi as “date rapist smug.”  McAllister crafts some really great sentences, which can either make you laugh out loud, start to tear up, or just nod your head in appreciation as you reread them. 

I’ve read a lot of memoirs, and even studied them as a literature student, but this is the first time I have actually known the author personally.  I was a classmate of McAllister’s for eight years, we are still friends, and there are even a couple oblique references to me in the book.  This fact did allow me to appreciate some of the stories and references in a more personal way, but as a student of the genre, it intrigued me even further to analyze how McAllister recounted certain events with which I was familiar.  It was fun to think about what I would have included, left out, or emphasized if I had been writing about the same event.  The experience reiterated my love of memoir for its inherent subjectivity, and I felt like I was learning about Tom from a completely different angle.

Bury Me In My Jersey is an impressive example of modern memoir, especially for the distinct perspective achieved through the lens of Eagles fandom.  It’s a must-read for any Philadelphia fan, but is absolutely rewarding on many other levels.  The struggle to overcome grief, to learn how to be a man, and to own one’s identity is a journey that transcends football, and can teach each of us something about our own life story. 

Tom McAllister will be reading portions of Bury Me In My Jersey, as well as signing copies, this Wednesday, November 10, on campus at La Salle University.  The event, sponsored by the English Department, will start at 6:00 p.m. in the atrium of the Holroyd building.  

Several factors limit my choices when it comes to finding an apartment in Philly.  First and foremost is budget.  I'm in the enviable position of looking for a job and an apartment at the same time.  So while I'm able to put a deposit on a place today, I want to make sure I can stay there for more than two months. 

Right now, I'm looking for a one bedroom in the $800-900 range.  I've committed to getting a place on my own, because even though I've had good roommate experiences in the past, I feel it's time to live by myself.  This automatically makes an apartment more expensive, and most likely smaller. 

This price range eliminates some neighborhoods in Philly right off the bat, because even though real estate here is not as pricey as New York or Chicago, it's still a major city with many desirable neighborhoods.  So, based on prior knowledge, friends' advice, and some research, I limited my search mostly to the following areas - Fairmount / Art Museum, Graduate Hospital, Northern Liberties, and Passyunk Square.

The next factor is demand.  I'm not the only one who realizes these are cool neighborhoods with good bars, restaurants, shops and necessities like pharmacies and supermarkets.  So many of the apartments closest to the hot strip or whatever are not going to be opening up anytime soon.  This has resulted in the "fringing" trend, as I'm naming it right now, of people renovating apartments that are just at the edge of these cool neighborhoods and advertising how close they are to all the cool stuff, when in fact it's a tiny box of a place eight blocks from anything good. 

That brings me to another fun factor of apartment hunting - Craigslist.  Unless you're looking to buy a condo or live in a high-rise, you don't tend to go through real estate or management companies.  That leaves me dredging through the same shitty listings every day on Craigslist, trying to find that one shining gem that indicates a good space in a good location with a sane landlord.  This can be frustrating, but I can't hate too much on CL considering how useful it's been to me. 

Compromise is key when choosing an apartment, because with my limitations, I'm not going to be living like royalty anytime soon.  I've seen enough bad apartments to know a good one when I see it, and I'm ready to make a commitment quickly if that's what it takes.  But I have two lists when I look at an apartment, my wish list and my dealbreaker list. 

My wish list includes things like a roof deck or patio, central air, and heat included.  My dealbreakers include no laundry in building, old appliances, and not enough space.  I've seen apartments that have a lot of space, but look like a squatter's been living there.  I've also seen apartments that are in a great location, but are basically a bedroom and a kitchen.  It's tough to find that balance. 

So, I'll keep diligently getting out there and looking at places, and I hope to move into an apartment in Philly sooner than later.  I'm ready to find my new home.

I'd love it if you share any tips on apartment hunting in general, resources in Philadelphia, or lessons learned the hard way in the comments below!

An Evening with CAKE provided a fairly thorough retrospective of the band's impressive catalogue, and concertgoers were treated to two sets of John McCrea's semi-spoken, quirky lyrics and Vince DiFiore's well-punctuated trumpet riffs.  And of course, plenty of vibraslap.

John McCrea of CAKEThe concert kicked off just before 8:00 p.m., as the band took the stage in front of a large silkscreen image of a whitecapped mountain, to the tune of some epic synth-rock.  The show started strong, with "Comfort Eagle," "Frank Sinatra," and "Wheels," which nicely touched on three different albums.  After the customary greetings and fibbing that Philadelphia was the first city McCrea's ever called "excellent," the energy came way down with their Willie Nelson cover "Sad Songs and Waltzes."

Thankfully, crowd favorite "Stickshifts and Safetybelts" brought the tempo back up, and I learned that the song apparently is actually about road head and the obstacles thereto.  Next the band debated the afterlife of domesticated animals with Prolonging the Magic's "Sheep Go to Heaven."  This song initiated a bothersome trend for the evening, with McCrea elongating the final chorus by dividing the crowd and pitting them against each other in a barnyard shout-off.  

McCrea must really be into the politics of power, because on two other occasions, including a new track called "Song of the Sea," he encouraged the crowd to sing louder by intimating that the other side thought they were weak, or even that they hated them.  For a concert that was supposed to be about "hanging out, having a good time," these Machiavellian demonstrations were a bit off-putting. 

I wasn't too worried about all that, however, when CAKE closed their first set with "Jolene," played with a sweet restraint appropriate for this moving song off their first album, Motorcade of Generosity.  Definitely my favorite song of the night.

After a short break, while most were still re-upping on beer, the band returned and launched into Black Sabbath's "War Pigs," which I didn't realize was on their B-Sides and Rarities album, so that was a fun surprise.  The second set seemed to go by quickly, with the band chugging through "Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle" and "Love You Madly," which was better live that one would think. 

Before the set wound down, McCrea stopped for what I learned is a nightly occurrence at CAKE concerts - giving away a tree!  Yes, a real live sapling.  After pledging to plant the tree, upload a photo to the band's website, and take care of the tree for decades to come, a lucky gent came up on stage to claim it.  I thought this was a pretty unique tactic, and highlighted the band's environmental consciousness, also evident in the fact that their personal studio, where they now record on their own label, has been fitted to run entirely on solar power.  Looks like even rock bands from California are going green. 

After that whole process, the crowd needed a reason to explode, and they got it with a smashing rendition of "Never There."  Minutes later, the encore kicked off with "Short Skirt, Long Jacket," which had the Chuck fans in the audience happy, followed by "Mexico," and of course, closing the night with their biggest hit, "The Distance." 

Overall, CAKE put on a great show that highlighted the evolution of their unique sound over two decades and five albums.  The band sounded great; props to lead guitarist Xan McCurdy for keeping the riffs tight.  And I really want to know how McCrea gets that signature sound from his acoustic guitar, which I can only describe as "woody." 

As for stage presence, McCrea was very comfortable in his front man role, but definitely too chatty for me.  He even called out a girl in the front row for saying "Stop talking" during the encore.  I do like when bands interact with the audience, but McCrea took it a bit too far.  However, the band sounded great, it was a beautiful night, and the crowd was really into the show.  I am happy to put a notch in my concert belt for a unique and hard-working band like CAKE, and I'll be looking out for their new album on January 12. 

A few other notes:

• Don't buy tickets for Orchestra B, Row B.  You will be behind the light and sound boards and will have to stand the whole time.  Also, don't try to walk behind those boards or the usher will bitch-slap you.
• Shaking my head at Mann Center security, who allowed a guy to hop up on stage, walk casually over to John McCrea, and shake his hand before anybody realized what was going on.  That kind of stuff is pretty scary.
• Big shout-out to whoever drives the Mini Cooper with the vanity plate "CAKE."

Favorite Songs: "Comfort Eagle," "Jolene"

Wish I heard: "Commissioning a Symphony in C," "I Will Survive"

I mentioned in the comments to my last post that I distinguish between objects like glass lamps that can be shattered irrevocably in an instant and items like cars and computers, which tend to die slow deaths.  One main reason for this distinction is the ability to repair these hunks of metal and electricity.  Thanks to some internet searches, troubleshooting forums, and a DIY attitude, I am typing this entry on a 2004 Dell desktop that now boasts a brand new hard drive. 

Now, I'm not a computer whiz, but it's funny how much I've learned about computers while trying to keep this antique running.  I've learned about AGP vs PCI slots, the limits of Video Cards and the importance of drivers, the difference between IDE hard drives and SATA, and how to pair matching memory cards when upgrading RAM.  So even if I won't be hacking into the Pentagon any time soon, I am a lot closer to being able to build a computer from scratch if I choose to in the future. 

I'm sure some of you would ask, "Why don't you just buy a new computer?" or "That's why I have a Mac," and while exploring those options would be nice, I just don't have the funds for that kind of expense right now.  Plus, the point of my efforts is not only to save money, but to use my head, hands, and search engine skills to fix a solvable problem.  The satisfaction of a clean Windows install and 500 GB of fresh hard drive space surpasses the knowledge that I've kept this machine running for six years by spending only about $250, minus labor.  

My Mr. Fix-It success was not only limited to hardware upgrades on this machine, however.  While waiting for my replacement hard drive for the Dell, I started messing around with a 2005 HP laptop my dad picked up at work.  The original owner had taken the hard drive, so there was no operating system on the machine.  Once I popped in a compatible hard drive and purchased a power cable, I was able to start messing around with Linux. 

I had zero experience with Linux, which is essentially a group of operating systems available for free use.  The Linux experience and community are rooted in a commitment to open source software, i.e. free.  This sounded good to me, as opposed to paying over $100 for a Windows license.  

Again, thanks to the wonders of internet tech forums, I determined that I would be able to install Ubuntu, the latest Linux distribution, on this old machine, but that there would be limits due to memory and graphics specs.  I learned all about how Linux arranges files, that it does not have traditional "drives" like Windows, and that the system encourages command-line customization.  I was quite impressed with the clear language and sensible approach of this software.  I thought I had everything right, but I was still getting a hanging black screen during bootup.  After a little more digging, I found that I needed to input a specific command to force Ubuntu to push past the limits of the old graphics card.  So then I find myself hacking into the kernel, modifying the "grub" file, and crossing my fingers.  Seconds later, bam!, I'm running Ubuntu on an ancient laptop.  I now have a working laptop that will be just fine for blogging from the coffee shop or surfing in front of the tv, at a total cost of around $150. 

Again, the satisfaction goes beyond the cost saved.  That feeling of achievement that comes from tackling an unfamiliar problem, gaining new knowledge, and making useful what was once useless is equally as powerful as the negative emotions that come from things breaking.  So while it was great to learn new things about the interaction between hardware and software, and to now have two computers that are fully functional, the real success here was the triumph of will and intellect. 

For me, these everyday experiences allow an examination of how we approach challenges in our lives.  The results, I think, speak to the resilience of human nature, that even though we are susceptible to anger and shame when things are beyond our control, we are also capable of hard work and ingenuity to take back that control.  And as long as those lessons go hand-in-hand, the universe hasn't won yet.

From July 21-24, thousands descended upon the San Diego Convention Center for Comic Con 2010. If you're a comic book fan like me, San Diego Comic Con is the once-a-year mecca for all things comics.  There were over a thousand exhibitors and artists including heavy hitters like DC and Marvel, as well as small press, movie studios, and comic retailers. In addition to the booths, attendees were treated to a bounty of exciting exclusives such as  Marvel's big reveal of the Avengers' director and cast (love Joss Whedon and Mark Ruffalo). 

Since the first Golden State Comic Con in 1970, the SDCC has blossomed into something that's much more about comics. In its current iteration, other forms of popular art -- such as tv, movies, toys, and video gaming -- receive just as much focus as comics (if not more, on occasion).  Networks often use the convention to preview new shows or boost fan support with panels of current favorites like Chuck, Dexter and Community. And at last year's SDCC, an entirely new audience comprised of Twilight Moms stormed the floor in a Team Edward v Team Jacob Battle Royale (kidding ... slightly). 

However, the flipside of this popularity is that the Comic Con has come under criticism for overcrowding. From travel expenses, sold-out events and the occasional scuffle, the SDCC may not be for everyone. If you can't make it to Comic Con, though, you don't necessarily have to miss out on meeting your favorite comic book artist or writer. There are a number of other conventions across the country and throughout the year with plenty of action for comic fans.  

At C2E2: Amanda and Frank Cho, writer and illustrator of Liberty Meadows, Mighty Avengers, and Hulk. One of these opportunities is the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo.  Since moving out to Cleveland a couple of years ago, I've attended some of the smaller, local conventions like Northeast Ohio's Tiki Con.  However, I hadn't been to a large scale convention until Scott and I took a roadtrip to Chi-town a few months ago for C2E2. April 16–18 was a weekend of firsts -- not only was it my first major convention and first time in Chicago, but also the inaugural C2E2.  

C2E2 was organized by ReedPOP, who produces the popular New York Comic Con, and was held in the Lakeside Center of the sprawling McCormick Place.  Estimates had attendance at 20,000-30,000 -- a much more bearable crowd than SDCC's 100,000+. 

However, just because the crowd was smaller didn't mean attendees missed out on a quality con.  With 290,000 square feet of exhibit space, there was plenty to see. DC and Marvel were there with the most prominent booths and a full schedule of signings and events - featuring talent such as Geoff Johns, Andy Kubert, Marjorie Liu, Jeph Loeb, Greg Pak, and Fred Van Lente - as well as costume contests, new video game demos, and a DC talent search.

In addition to the exhibitors' booths, there was Artist Alley which allowed guests to meet their favorites - such as Alex Ross and Frank Cho, as well as introduce themselves to new talent.   Transylvania Television and writer Eric Rampson gained Scott and I as fans that weekend. And we got to add something to my Hulk collection when we purchased a piece of the original line art from artist Ryan Stegman’s Incredible Hulk/Red She-Hulk  issue, right before he was signed to an exclusive by Marvel.  

There was also a number of opportunities to speak with comic heavyweights at the weekend's panels and events.  As a Marvel fan, hearing XMen teasers and Editor in Chief Joe Quesada hold his own against a long line of questions and debate was a thrill.  By far, though, my favorite panel was Bill Willingham.  Willingham creates amazing stories (Fables, Jack of Fables, and his writing on the Angel comics is fantastic). And during his panel he did not disappoint -- offering up a lot of info on his upcoming storylines and answering the audience's questions with straightforward and humorous answers.    For once - standing in line didn't seem so dreadful. 

After the convention floor closed for the night on Saturday, there were a few opportunities for socializing. 'An Evening with Neil Gaiman' allowed fans to join him for dinner as he took the stage to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. There was also the Kirby Krackle show at REGGIE'S rock club which is where Scott and I met with some Chicago friends on Saturday night. 

Kirkby Krackle, featuring Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada.A nerd rock band from Seattle, Kirby Krackle has been making the convention rounds because of songs based on their love of comics.  On top of their great songs and enthusiastic performances, we also got to see Marvel's Quesada play a few songs with them.  

Rockstar Quesada was a stark difference from Editor-in-Chief Quesada who we had watched deftly answer questions at the Cup O' Joe Panel. The afterhours version rocked out with Kirby Krackle with complete abandon.

Seeing this - along with catching one of the exclusive Red Hulk guitar picks they were tossing to the audience - made the afterparty one of the highlights of my convention experience.

For its first year, C2E2 was a definite success.  It featured a lot of big names in the comic industry and exciting events - all of which you could actually enjoy because the crowds weren't too overwhelming. As my first major convention, I really don't think I could have found a better experience.  C2E2 2.0 will be back next March and I can't wait to make another trip out to Chicago for it. In the meantime, there are sites that can help you find conventions in your area.

Somehow all this and more fit into my Elantra.Special shout-outs to Nick for his help unloading furniture and Amanda and Scott for opening their home.  And of course to Dave, the best roommate ever, for helping with the Tetris-like packing of the car, not to mention the four great years of cohabitation.

There were so many people who made my last few months (and years) in Chicago special, and I know I spent that time exactly as I wanted to, the best way possible.  I drank in deep the liquor of Chicago summer, and created special memories to the very last minute.

It was appropriate that the Phillies were in town during my last weekend in Chicago, and Wrigley Field became a natural canvas for my transition.  One night I went to a game with Chicago friends, and then the next day met up with friends visiting from Philly.  I was in both worlds for those few days, and that made things a bit easier, but still bittersweet.   

I’m looking forward to my life in Philly, and there’s plenty to do as I try to find work and an apartment, but I definitely felt sad as I wrapped up this chapter in Chicago.  As I’ve been reflecting on that time, I thought I’d share an incomplete list of some of my favorite memories and things that I’ll miss from life in the Windy City. 

• Cruising down Lake Shore Drive
• Day-drinking in Wrigleyville, game or no game
• Nights downtown for birthdays or visitors
• Watching Gators games with the Florida crew
• Playing sports in the park
• The New York Deli across the street from my apartment
• Walking underneath the Bean
• Trips to the suburbs
• Movies at River East
• Rooftop beer gardens
• The Signature Lounge at the Hancock Center
• Lollapalooza in Grant Park
• St. Rita football on Friday nights
• Sean’s Rhino Bar at 103^rd and Western
• Second-City Comedy
• The back room at aliveOne
• Team GOON
• Concerts at Metro and the Vic Theatre
• NFL Football at Trinity
• Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup
• The El and the Loop
• Air & Water Show
• St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawls

I could go on, as I’m sure many people could.  Feel free to add in the comments!

I love visiting new cities, and although I had been in St. Louis for a few hours last summer during my road trip, I was only able to knock out The Arch and eat some fried chicken.  This time around, Sean and I made ample use of his GPS and Yelp app to find plenty of cool locales at which to wet our whistle. 

Another neat aspect of our STL adventure was that Sean is relatively new to the city, having moved there for work in January, and because he travels a lot, he was exploring and learning the city with new eyes as well.  I think we both feel a lot more knowledgeable about St. Louis after this weekend. 

It was a lot of fun to catch up with an old friend, of course, swapping stories of our time in jazz band together, but we also met up with some of his friends in the area, and got plenty of tips on which neighborhoods to hit up. 

There were lots of highlights, including McGuirk's in Soulard, The Dubliner on Wash. Ave., Modesto Tapas in The Hill, and Mandarin Lounge in Central West End.  The main touristy thing we did was take the tour at the Anheuser-Busch factory, which was interesting and well-organized.  Plus, free beer! 

Instead of naming every place we visited, I went ahead and put together my first custom Google map.  Click on the screenshot to see the public map and follow my weekend step-by-step. 

Drink St. Louis - Custom Google Map by ARMYou can see the rest of my pictures from the weekend over in my photo gallery or with captions on Picasa.  On my way home on Monday, I decided to stop in Springfield, IL to see the state capital.  I had never been, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.  It was a nice little downtown area with lots of interesting Lincoln monuments. 

So, my trip to St. Louis was an all-around success, and I'm so glad I was able to make it there before I head back to the East Coast.  Thanks for the hospitality, Sean!  I know I'll be back again. 

True Blood
HBO | Sundays 9/8c

In Alan Ball's hands, vampires don't suck. (Wow, really?)  True Blood is pure campy fun, and there are plenty of hot bodies bringing steam to the screen.  I trust that the overwhelming amount of new characters and storylines will come together in some sort of cross-species orgy. 

Lie to Me
Fox | Mondays 8/7c

Tim Roth is excellent as Cal Lightman, an expert in deception through scrutiny of facial expressions and body language. His skill set makes him a useful asset to the federal government and a frequent target of people he's burned in the past.  A bit far-fetched at times, but sharp dialogue and Roth's work with his co-stars keeps it fresh.  

Burn Notice
USA | Thursdays 9/8c

If you haven't caught on to the sexy spy show by season 4, you deserve to be blacklisted by the government.  The combination of sly comedy, big action, and unfeasible escapes makes for a fast ride agaisnt a sexy Miami backdrop.  And who wouldn't want Bruce Campbell and his chin on their side?

Top Chef D.C.
Bravo | Wednesdays 9/8c

Tom and Padma are back for season 7 of the best competition reality show on the air, this time in the nation's capital.  From the looks of last night's premiere, we have another cocky cook in Angelo.  I'm also happy to see more African American chefs than in past seasons.

Wipeout
ABC | Tuesdays 8/7c

Now here's a lighthearted summer gem.  There is nothing funnier than watching people fall.  Wipeout provides endless belly laughs as contestants try to conquer a ridiculous but difficult obstacle course.  John Anderson and John Henson are alternately sympathetic and sadistic, but the ultimate selling point: Big. Red. Balls.

So, while I will try to cut down on my hours in front of the idiot box in favor of more active summer pursuits, I'm more than happy to trade in my Full House and Seinfeld reruns for some quality original programming. 

What are you watching this summer?

Museum of Science and Industry

Thankfully, the arrival of summer has brought with it many of the events that make Chicago great. Some of my ideas reflect the season or favorite places I need to revisit, while others look to the classic city jewels that one tends to admire only when guiding visitors or faced with my dilemma of leaving too soon.  

Please feel free to leave suggestions of any additional sights, sounds, or tastes you think I should take in before heading Eastward.  

Eats

Hot Doug's - gourmet sausage and duck fat fries, need I say more?

Wakamono - great sushi place in my neighborhood.

Ann Sather - classic brunch spot.  

Drinks

aliveOne - my favorite local bar.

Hopleaf - excellent selection of Belgian beers.

Sights

Cubs game at Wrigley

Comedy revue at Second City

Museum of Science and Industry

A neighborhood festival

A day at Oak St. Beach

Sounds 

Concert at Millennium Park

A night at B.L.U.E.S.

Show at new venue Lincoln Hall