Funny Guys From Philly Entertain Phantoms Fans

The name of the show was “Two Funny Guys from Philly," but Saturday when Philly radio icon Big Daddy Graham and “The man of many voices, Joe Conklin” strolled into the Phoenixville Area Middle School auditorium they had some company.

Flyers legend and NHL hall of famer Bernie Parent was the master of ceremonies, at least after he got the microphone out the hands of Phantoms' assistant coach Rob Huston.

Parent was in the lobby before the show signing copies of his new book for fans and, as he always does wherever he goes, he took time to talk to anyone who came up to him, posing for photos with kids and adults alike.

“I think it’s important to give back when we can,” said Parent. “The area has always treated me like family and I am so happy to come out to events like this that raise money for organizations like baseball or hockey. It’s important for the kids to have our support.”

Parent got the evening going, poking fun at himself, citing that he saw people in the audience that had thrown stuff on the ice at him years ago when he had a bad game.

Parent handed the microphone over the “Coma Jim” from Spring Mount, who had won a chance on WIP610 in Philadelphia to tell one joke on stage with the “other two funny guys from Philly.”

Known to his friends as Jim Frye and an alumnus of Perkiomen Valley High School, “Coma Jim” was the victim of a drunken boater accident in the Black Rock Road area of the Schuykill River 19 years ago, from which he was in a coma for three years after being air-lifted to Lehigh Valley Trauma Center.

“The guys have been great,” said Frye. “I have spoken to groups of kids before but nothing like this. I was a little nervous at first, but Joe [Conklin] and Big Daddy made it really easy for me to relax.”

Big Daddy Graham followed “Coma Jim’s” joke about a Harvard grad and a redneck and Timbuktu, with stories of the Jersey Shore, drinking and eating, his dad, life of being a Philly sports fan and of course his wife.

The lion's share of proceeds of the show, book singings and auction went to benefit the Phoenixville Area High School baseball program and it was Phantoms' head coach Jack Sturgeon, who listens to Conklin and the WIP gang on the radio every day on his way to the school, who came up with the idea of having the Philly Guys as the third and final fundraiser of the year.

“I had some concerns at first about language,” said Sturgeon as we caught up to him during the auction of memorabilia during the intermission. “The guys ensured me they would tone it down some and I think everyone has really enjoyed the show so far. This has exceeded our expectation by far. We never anticipated this many people here.”

Prior to show, more than 500 tickets had been sold and Sturgeon noted that more than 100 walk-up sales had also been made.

Overall, Saturday night generated more than $5,000 that will go directly into the baseball program to complement the money raised earlier in the year at the trivia night and the cash raffle.

During the intermission there were some extremely nice signed memorabilia items that were auctioned of by assistant coach Huston, who ran the auction as if he had done it all his life.

“I was a little nervous at first,” said Huston. “The people really got into. I can’t believe what some of the stuff sold for, wow.”

Items that were up for auction included a baseball signed by Phillies Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels. The big sellers were an autographed Joe Dimaggio baseball, which snared more than $300 and a signed photograph of Ted Williams, which garnered a $200 bid.

In classic “Philly fashion” the audience rained down a deluge of boos when the autographed Derek Jeter photo, which sold for $100, was presented during the auction.

With all of the varsity and JV players in attendance working as parking attendants, sign holders and ushers and a multitude of moms and dads manning “Phantoms gear” and snack tables, there was a carnival atmosphere throughout the entire building.

Comedian Joe Conklin performed his classic show which included the voices of Charlie Manuel, Cole Hamels, Gary Matthews, Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley, Phillies announcer Dan Baker, Merryl Reese, Andy Reid, Jack Nicholson, Arnold Schwarzenegger and a tribute to Harry Kalas. Conklin ended the show with Chip Snappers, which seemed to be the fan favorite.

Conklin then took requests from the audience of any voices they wanted to hear before Big Daddy Graham joined him on stage and brought the curtain down as the duo sang old jingles that anyone from this area would know or has heard at one point in their lives.

“This was a great success,” added Sturgeon. “We started a few years ago going to Florida as a team and we don’t want to ever had someone not be included because of cost. The money raised will help reduce the cost for all of our kids when we go next year as we are trying to do it every other year.”

“Our coach came up with this idea,” said senior Mike Jones. “It just shows how much he cares about our team. This will really help the younger guys next year when they go to Florida. Our coaches are the best and they spend so much of their time trying to find ways that we can improve as a team.”