Comments on: Most Important Sporting Venues in Philly http://citypaper.net/blogs/sports/2008/09/22/most-important-sporting-venues-in-philly/ Just another Blogs.citypaper.net weblog Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:48:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Philly Max http://citypaper.net/blogs/sports/2008/09/22/most-important-sporting-venues-in-philly/comment-page-1/#comment-2801 Philly Max Tue, 23 Sep 2008 03:42:08 +0000 http://sportscomplex.blogs.citypaper.net/blogs/mu/2008/09/22/most-important-sporting-venues-in-philly/#comment-2801 Seems like Boxing really should hit the list. I don't know enough about the real ins and outs of Philly boxing - e.g. where did Bouie Fisher train Bernard Hopkins? The Blue Horizon has style but I get the idea there is a real deal gym tucked away here in Philly that should make that list. Anybody have any insight into that? Also, the Schuylkill has racked up some big moments in rowing. And yes, rowing is a legit sport. Jack Kelly is the greatest sculler the United States has ever produced. He began rowing with the Chamonix and Montrose Boat Clubs of Philadelphia, but in 1909 he joined the Vesper Boat Club. Between 1909 and his competitive retirement after the 1924 Olympics, Kelly won every sculling title available to him, including the World Championship in both singles and doubles, the Olympics in singles and doubles, and many national titles in both boats. Kelly was a bricklayer and later a contractor. His daughter Grace Kelly, Grace Kelly, became a movie star and later Princess Grace of Monaco. One of Thomas Eakins most famous paintings, The Champion Single Sculls, features the Schuylkill and one of its bridges. See www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/eapa/ho_34.92.htm for a good image. Striking, no? Seems like Boxing really should hit the list. I don’t know enough about the real ins and outs of Philly boxing – e.g. where did Bouie Fisher train Bernard Hopkins? The Blue Horizon has style but I get the idea there is a real deal gym tucked away here in Philly that should make that list. Anybody have any insight into that?

Also, the Schuylkill has racked up some big moments in rowing. And yes, rowing is a legit sport.

Jack Kelly is the greatest sculler the United States has ever produced. He began rowing with the Chamonix and Montrose Boat Clubs of Philadelphia, but in 1909 he joined the Vesper Boat Club. Between 1909 and his competitive retirement after the 1924 Olympics, Kelly won every sculling title available to him, including the World Championship in both singles and doubles, the Olympics in singles and doubles, and many national titles in both boats. Kelly was a bricklayer and later a contractor. His daughter Grace Kelly, Grace Kelly, became a movie star and later Princess Grace of Monaco.

One of Thomas Eakins most famous paintings, The Champion Single Sculls, features the Schuylkill and one of its bridges.

See http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/eapa/ho_34.92.htm for a good image.

Striking, no?

]]>