As one of Pennsylvania’s 26 superdelegates, Marcel Groen, chairman of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee and a partner at Fox Rotschild LLP, has publicly pledged to back Hillary Clinton. He spoke to the Daily Examiner earlier today about the role of superdelegates, his prediction for tonight’s primary results, and why Pennsylvania will still be in the field of play come April 22nd.

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Remember just a few weeks ago when blogger Depressed Fan was granted an interview with new Sixers GM Ed Stefanski? Well, congratulations, Philly sports geeks, you can expect more of that in the near future. (more…)

According to a political insider, business manager of IBEW Union Local 98 John Dougherty is in the process of petition-filing for a possible state Senate bid against serial ally/rival Vince Fumo.

The source says that Dougherty, a lifelong District 1 resident, has warmed to the idea after some careful thought and the urging of Democratic insiders. The way the race is shaping up, Dougherty will consider a calculated roundhouse swipe at a wobbly Fumo and his 30-year senatorial stronghold — possibly keeping Fumo from running just to win the primary, then backing out and handpicking his successor. (more…)

We’ve had a little fun at the expense of former Fox 29 weatherman Rob Guarino since he’s left the station, but he’s a big enough man to take a joke. (Must be the outdoor push-ups.) He’s been keeping himself busy building his weather-geek dream site, Robguarino.com. (Philly storm chasers, compose yourselves.)

The Guarino took time out from online weather-moguling to share his feelings about his departure, Bolaris, the gossip game, weather porn, and the always intriguing “more.” Read the the edited transcript of our talk after the jump. (more…)

Fans of the ’93 Phillies and Darren Daulton, rejoice! Dutch has decided to write another book, but this time he’s leaving all the metaphysical mumbo-jumbo out of it. His literary agent, Laurie Hawkins, has confirmed that Daulton is working on a project about his major-league career that won’t even mention time-traveling or Mayan calendars.

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Based on some hints being thrown around on the air on WIP’s morning show last week, there’s a rumor going around that we may about to see the last of the “Wing Bowl,” the famous gorging-and-boob-ogling fest that miraculously became one of the city’s most popular and character-defining events over the last 15 years.

We asked WIP morning man and wing maestro Angelo Cataldi if Wing Bowl 16, slated for February 1st, really is the final one. “Absolutely, A.J.,” he replied by e-mail. “Of course, we’ve been saying that for the past five years. I’m pretty sure that Wing Bowl will outlive our show, and us …”

So, Cataldi is saying it is the last one — for now. But, of course, tickets go on sale December 12th at $5 a pop, and if attracts the usual, rabid, too-drunk-to-hold-their-own-urine crowd, we’re sure that it’ll find another willing sponsor for a future incarnation. This seems like it’d be right up W.B. Mason’s alley.

The Cheesesteak Triple Crown [The700Level]
Wings Arrive at WIP [Philly.com]
Wing Bowl Details [Philly.com]

UA King of Prussia Stadium 16 traded its usual curbside crowd of baggy-pant-wearing 14-year-old loiterers for a big white tent, spotlights and red carpet last night for the premiere of Bella, the first producing cred for local financiers Eustace Wolfington (a St. Joe’s grad) and nephew Sean. Although the mall traffic did little to add to the less-than-glam festivities, the usual opening-night crowd of real estate suits and the occasional horned-rimmed film type were in attendance. Sean was out shaking hands, and Eustace was spotted outside the theaters, which, rumors swirled, needed to add an extra screen due to the larger-than-expected guest list.

Director Alejandro Monteverde spoke before and after the festival-winning film, and the stars, including to-die-for leading man Eduardo Verastegui, were out and shining, asking for Philadelphia to fill the theaters for the next two weeks; this low-budget baby
needs to hit big numbers in the next 14 days in order to secure bookings in other theaters across the country. So do your part and buy a ticket. Not only will you see the most uplifting, feel-good film since Little Miss Sunshine, but you’ll also be able to say you saw it first and get a hit of Philly pride when these local faces walk across the stage come Oscar time. — Jenna Bergen

Bella [IMDB]

Yesterday’s “10,000 Men: A Call to Action” rundown erroneously reported that Rep. Chaka Fattah wore a white T-shirt to Sunday’s event at the Liacouras Center.

“No,” says Fattah’s press secretary Ron Goldwyn, who tracked the Daily Examiner down at 8:34 p.m. last evening to clarify the rep’s wardrobe: “It was gray.”

Goldwyn also said that Fattah was not one of the speakers who bashed the media in his speech. The Daily Examiner regrets the errors.

10,000 Black Men Itchin’ to Get Busy [Daily Examiner]

I’ve been hearing for a while that employees at Urban Outfitters’ Navy Yard HQ have been dissatisfied with the food and service at Frog at the Yard, the cafeteria run by Steve Poses, whose groundbreaking restaurant Frog was largely responsible for Philadelphia’s restaurant renaissance in the 1970s. And a couple of weeks ago, the word was that Urban CEO Dick Hayne himself had some problems with the establishment. Of course, these were unsubstantiated rumors, as was the one that Hayne had allowed Poses to use the space rent-free. But today, Urban spokesperson Kiley Baum confirms that Poses will soon be out on his ass, with a transition beginning next week.

The following e-mail was circulated to the staff today:

Dear Everyone,

Frog at the Yard team, Thank You.

I double-checked Feniger’s name spelling with Baum and turned nothing up on Google, so who knows? Whoever the hell he is, we hope he gets Poses’s delightful lemonade recipe, which we awarded Best of Philly in August. — Victor Fiorillo

As if Penn hasn’t had enough bad pub recently with rumors of deans “matriculating” students on the sly and the never-ending Tracy McIntosh sexual assault drama, convicted felon and kiddie-diddler Scott Ward (“The Brilliant Professor Ward,” January 2007) is making news again. Word leaked out on Monday on ivygateblog.com that the former Wharton prof shared property in Cape Cod with newly appointed Wharton dean Thomas Robertson. The two purchased a waterfront retreat together back in 1977 while both were teaching at Harvard, and would later co-author more than 20 papers and reports, including the unfortunately titled “Consumer Satisfaction Among Children.” Accompanying the IvyGate post is an image of a mortgage record for the property from 2001 listing Ward, Robertson and his wife as co-mortgagors.

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