On this Date, June 28^th, in 1931, in New York City, Eugene Charles Hart was born. Gene Hart was the legendary voice of the Flyers from the team’s inception, through the end of the 1994-95 season.  Flyers fan enjoyed 29 years of one of the NHL’s greatest announcers. Gene Hart called over 2,000 NHL games, 6 Stanley Cup Finals including the 1974 and 1975 Cup winners, and 5 NHL All Star Games. Hart carried us through the highs (winning two Cups, beating the Russians, getting Eric Lindros); and helped us through the lows, (losing Barry Ashbee, and losing Pelle Lindbergh). He taught the game of hockey to a sports-crazed town, and the incredible turnout for the Flyers Stanley Cup parade in the Spring of 1974 was doubtlessly due in part to the passion Hart had for the Flyers, and how legions of fans fed off that passion.

Gene Hart was  inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame in 1992, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997. Not bad for a Jersey high school history teacher.  Did you know… Gene’s daughter, the very talented Lauren Hart not only sings the National Anthem or God Bless America before every Flyers home game, but wears a Flyers jersey with the #68 to honor her Dad who died at the age of 68.  Gene Hart, Philly loved you as much as you loved Philly. Your Stanley Cup-winning call still gives us chills. To one of the greatest ever… Good Night, Good Hockey!

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Joel Embiid – Sixers/C (2014-present) Foot issues caused Embiid to sit out his first two seasons. Embiid was limited to 31 games during his third season and he was still named 1^st Team All-Rookie. The Cameroonian showed in 2017-2018 that he was well worth the wait. Embiid was selected for his first NBA All Star game and led the Sixers back to the postseason. His season was cut short when he collided with teammate Markelle Fultz, breaking his orbital bone and requiring surgery. Embiid finished 3^rd in voting for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award for 2017-18. The Process was also named 2nd team All-Defensive, and 2nd team All-NBA for 2017-18. JoJo is on the cover of EA Sports NBA Live 19!

Did you know… Joel Embiid is fluent in three languages (English, French, and Basaa), and his middle name is Hans.

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Dikembe Mutombo – Sixers/C (2001-02) Dikembe Mutombo played little more than a season in Philadelphia, but he was extremely popular with the Philly Faithful, and the Sixers do not go to the 2001 NBA Finals without him on the team. Mutombo was a defensive powerhouse and prolific shot blocker. Mutombo’s humanitarian work, like his shot blocking, is also prolific.  Dikembe entered the Sixers Hall of Fame and the NBA Hall of Fame in 2015.  

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Carlos Ruiz – Phillies/C (2006-16) Carlos Ruiz was a mainstay behind the plate for the Phillies for a decade. Chooch had a penchant for delivering clutch hits in bigtime post-season spots earning him the nickname Senor Octubre. Ruiz was named to the TOPPS All Rookie Team for 2007. In game 3 of the 2008 World Series, Chooch had a World Series game-winning walk-off infield single, the first ever in World Series history.  Ruiz caught the final out of the Phillies, World Series clinching game over the Tampa Bay Rays.  Chooch seemed to get better as he got older. He was a 2012 NL All Star, and garnered MVP votes three consecutive seasons (2010-2012). Ruiz caught an NL record-breaking four no-hitters as a Phillie. He caught Roy Halladay’s perfect game and his no-hitter in 2010. It was the first time in 38 years that a catcher caught two no-hitters in the same season. He then caught the Phillies combined no-hitter in 2014 (Hamels, Diekman, Giles, Papelbon) and Cole Hamels no-hitter in his final game as a Phillie in 2015.     Ruiz won the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association Heart and Hustle Award for 2012.

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Hal Greer – Sixers/Nationals/G (1958-73) Hal Greer was a mainstay on the Sixers backcourt for 15 seasons (five w/ Syracuse Nationals). Greer is the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (1,122), Minutes played (39,788), FG’s (8,504), and points (21,586).  The Ten-time NBA All Star was the All Star MVP in 1968.  Greer won an NBA Championship as a member of the Sixers in 1967. He was selected as part of the NBA’s 50^th Anniversary All-Time Team. Greer is in the Sixers Hall of Fame and had his #15 retired.  He was inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.

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Jerome Brown – Eagles/DT (1987-91) Jerome Brown was a dominating defensive lineman and part of the Eagles infamous Gang Green. He was drafted 9^th overall in the 1987 NFL Draft. Brown was selected to the 1987 NFL All-Rookie Team. Brown was a two-time NFC Defensive Player of the Week, two-time Pro Bowler, and two-time 1^st Team All Pro. Brown’s 29.5 career sacks is 18^th on the Eagles all-time list. Brown was named to the Eagles 75^th Anniversary Team, and the Eagles Hall of Fame in 1996.   Jerome Brown died in a car crash on June 25^th, 1992 in Brooksville, Florida at the age of 27.  The Eagles retired Jerome Brown’s #99 prior to the season opener in 1992.   

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