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Saturday, December 4, 2010

Phil Jasner RIP.

Philly has been a great town for sports writing every since Daily News sports editor Larry Merchant was part of the "chipmunk" revolution in the late 1950s, along with NY writers and editors, creating a new approach to covering athletics, focusing on the personalities and behind the scenes stories rather than game day reports, an approach which served them well as more and more fans got to see games on TV and didn't need a play-by-play report. Phil Jasner was one of the local guys who was integral to the new wave of coverage, along with Stan Hochman, Bill Conlin, George Kisida, Sandy Grady, Jack McKinney and so many more whose names do not immediately leap to mind.

Phil may have been the most dogged pure reporter of them all and likely was the kindest and gentlest among their number. He left us last night, leaving behind a 38-year career which earned him membership in five sports Halls of Fame. He was a working writer right up until the end.

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