Atlantic City Weekly

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AS THE SOUTH JERSEY LANDSCAPE continues to get greener by the day, it's appropriate that we've got our minds on things related to ... well, turf. First, we've got Lori Hoffman's story on the Atlantic City Surf (page 10). Our own professional baseball squad looks to recapture the glory of its championship inaugural season (1998) at Sandcastle Stadium by bringing skipper Jeff Ball on board. Lori spoke to Ball and some of the players who will take the field this year and captured the spirit of baseball as it was meant to be enjoyed. Baseball that can be enjoyed without mortgaging your house.

Two Saturdays ago I took the family to a Phillies game at the new Citizens Bank Park. I'm a diehard Phillies fan and the new park is truly awesome, but we dropped about $200 between the tickets, food and parking. You'd be hard-pressed to spend a quarter of that amount for a jaunt to see the Surf at the Sandcastle.

WITH ALL THE HUBBUB SURROUNDING THE recent victory at the Kentucky Derby by Philadelphia's own Smarty Jones, many horse-racing fans' thoughts have drifted to the glory days of the Atlantic City Race Course (ACRC). As Jeff Schwachter relates in his story (page 40) Race to the Finish, the days of live racing at the storied track are numbered. Fairly recent changes in state law regarding simulcasting, or off-track betting, have eliminated the need for the ACRC to keep the ponies running to keep the betting revenue flowing. For those who have never experienced the thrill and unique flavor of live horse racing, I recommend you head out to the ACRC and check out one of the two live race dates left: May 13 and 19. It's something you should experience once in your life. It's also a way to say goodbye to a piece of South Jersey history.

RON JAWORSKI, THE HERO WHO LED THE Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl during an unforgettable 1980 season, is bringing his Celebrity Golf Challenge to the area once again this weekend. If you're a golf fanatic and want an opportunity to see some of the biggest stars in professional sports, check out Joe Gorman's Celebrity Shoot-Out (page 38).

The great thing about Jaworski is that his support of Atlantic City doesn't begin and end with the Celebrity Golf Challenge. As president of the Maxwell Football Club, Jaws showed a commitment to this city once again when he brought the prestigious Maxwell Awards Banquet to Harrah's earlier this year. Such football greats as Peyton and Eli Manning, Coach Dick Vermeil and others were honored at the event. Gorman asked Jaworski if he received any flak from other members about moving an annual Philadelphia tradition to a different venue? Here's what he told Joe: "Oh yeah. ... we discussed it [the move]... Some of them objected, but Dave Jonas [senior vice president of Atlantic City operations for Harrah's and Showboat] convinced them to try it. ... most of them were pleased. They really enjoyed Atlantic City."

Will the Maxwell Awards event will be back next year? "We may come back. I hope so." We hope so, too, Jaws. But for now, we'll welcome the football greats who come to town for the Challenge. n

Correction: In the April 29 issue of AC Weekly, we incorrectly wrote in our Social Sightings section that the RNS Cancer and Heart Fund was this year's recipient of the Edward R. Knight Award at the AtlantiCare Foundation's annual Century Club Gala. This year's honoree was Michael Neustadter.

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