On the Air
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
www.bradyresidence.com/channelsurfing.html
May 27, 2005

A couple of local television reporters are riding the Afleet Alex story.

WTXF-29 "Good Day Philadelphia" co-host George Mallet wrote in an e-mail: "The Afleet Alex bug bit me last fall when I decided to do a story on this remarkable 2-year-old that always finished at the front of the pack. I was a big Secretariat fan ... so to learn that Alex ran faster than Secretariat at Saratoga last year... really made me respect him.

"On top of that he was inexpensive [$75,000], loves people, loves the camera and is having a great impact on the war against childhood cancer [the horse is affiliated with Alex's Lemonade Stand]. What's not to love about this horse?"

Horse racing aficionado Bruce Casella of CN8 is also close to the story.

He wrote: "I was at the Preakness. It was one of the gutsiest performances I've ever seen by a horse and rider. There is a very special relationship between [jockey] Jeremy [Rose] and Alex, and it shows on the racetrack. If Alex didn't get stopped when he collided with Scrappy [T], he would have won by 9 or 10 lengths, and his race would have been compared to Smarty Jones [last year's Triple crown hopeful].

"I believe Alex will win the Belmont Stakes in dramatic fashion. If I'm right, he could be another elite horse right along side of Smarty Jones, and should win Horse of the Year. As for the owners, they are fantastic, very giving and kind. It's a great story now and should be for the next year."

Both Mallet and Casella are planning to cover Afleet Alex at the Belmont Stakes on June 11.

Attention, Little Leaguers

Still having flashbacks about Little League? Then "Sports Kids Moms and Dads" on Bravo at 10 p.m. Wednesdays might be for you. It's from the producers of Bravo's "Showbiz Moms and Dads."

New deal

CBS sports star Jim Nantz signed a multi-year contract with the network. Nantz just celebrated his 20th year at CBS.

Guy flicks

As the summer movie season begins to heat up, WIP 610-AM's Glen Macnow brings back his Thursday night "Movie Club for Men." I guess they won't be discussing "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." Probable "guys" movies for this summer are "Star Wars," "Batman Begins," "The Longest Yard" and "The Bad News Bears."

Gift idea

Need a good Father's Day present? How about the trivia game "ESPN 920 Philly Sports Challenge CD-ROM" game. Go to www.phillysportschallenge.com.  

He's g-o-o-d!

Eagles' play-by-play announcer Merrill Reese will be awarded the Philadelphia Broadcast Pioneers "Person of the Year" later this year. For more information, go to www.broadcastpioneers.com.