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The John DeBella Show

John DeBella retired from radio on June 30th, 2023. Explore this archive of the most memorable moments of the John DeBella Show on WMGK.

The Greatest Annual Sporting Event Ever: The Gloucester Cheese Roll

Placeholder Shilloutte User Image By Steve Vassalotti May 31st
(Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)

The greatest annual sporting event ever to occur on earth happened again yesterday: The Gloucester Cheese Roll. Each year thousands of people gather on the outskirts of the English village of Brockworth in Gloucester. Hundreds are there hoping they can win a 7-9lb. wheel of cheese. To win this wheel of cheese they must race from the top of Cooper’s Hill and be the first to cross the finish line at the bottom. That sounds simple enough, except Cooper’s hill is a 200 yard long, 45° concave hill. That means the if you’re standing back a few feet on top of the hill you can’t see the middle because it bends in. If you’re a visual learner, take a look at this photo:

45° angle of Cooper's Hill

(Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

According to the Visit Gloucester website:

“The first written evidence of cheese rolling is found from a message written to the Gloucester town crier in 1826; even then it was apparent the event was an old tradition, and is believed to be at least 600 years old.”

600 years of people getting to the bottom of the hill after being knocked unconscious with concussions, broken wrists, ankles, arms, etc. Imagine having to get your arm or leg fixed in the 1400s because you were chasing a wheel of cheese? That’s life changing back then!

These photos are the perfect record scratch “Yep that’s me flying through the air. I’m sure you’re wondering how I got here.”

Cheese Rolling falls

(Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Cheese Roll falls 2

(Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Cheese Rolling Falls 3

(Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)

The event takes place each year during the Spring Bank Holiday in the UK, which falls on the last Monday of May each year. During the event there are multiple races and a winner is crowned each time whether they’re conscious or not once they reach the bottom of the hill. This year’s women’s race winner was a 19 year old Canadian, Delaney Iriving. She was knocked unconscious by a fall, but her momentum kept her body tumbling down the hill across the finish line. The 2 other winners in 2023’s heats where England’s Matt Crolla and United States’ Cooper Cummings and Japan’s Ryoya Minami. The most wins are held by Chris Anderson with 23 race wins. He’s won multiple races at single event. Which I’m not sure if that is an incredible or idiotic feat of athleticism.

If you find the time, go get lost in a YouTube hole of Gloucester Cheese Roll videos.

The British Premier Soccer League Is Coming To Philadelphia

If you’re a fan of soccer, than this is a HUGE deal. I just started learning a little more about soccer and all the different football clubs over the last few years. It’s strange how it’s never really been a part of American culture, and it’s literally so massive throughout the rest of the world. Lionel Messi is the most famous athlete in the world and he could walk into Target across the street from the radio station on City Ave and I bet no one would know who he is. It’s fascinating.

Obviously ,Ted Lasso has helped get people in America into soccer as well as Ryan Reynolds and Rob Rob McElhenney’s show Welcome to Wrexham. Welcome to Wrexham is documentary series on FX that follows the events of Welsh association football club Wrexham A.F.C., as told by the club’s owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. Everyone said it’s such an amazing show so I need to add to my watch list ASAP.

Not to mention the Philadelphia Union! They made it to the MLS Championship last season and obviously lost in the most heartbreaking way basically the same day the Phillies lost the World Series. Whew, tough fall/winter here in Philadelphia.

The top British Premiere Soccer teams are: Arsenal, Man. City, Newcastle, Manchester Utd. Obviously Manchester United is where David Beckham played for 11 seasons.

It’s exciting the Premiere League is coming to Philly because it will help people better understand how the system works. It’s very confusing as if a team doesn’t play well, they get kicked out! Can you imagine if that happened in the NFL? Like a team just gets kicked out and can’t play for a championship.

Lionel Messi is one the most popular soccer players in the world and currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain Football Club. His whole career until 2021 he played for Barcelona.

  • Welcome to Wrexham is Getting America Into Soccer

    Thanks to the brilliant (and rich) Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

  • Ted Lasso Has Us Cheering Every Week

    Best show on TV by far!

  • We Are Lucky to Have the Philadelphia Union

    They made it the championship last year, let’s hope they win this year!

  • Rob McElhenney Is From Philly So He Is Basically Responsible

  • English Premier League is Coming to Philadelphia This Summer

    Chelsea, Fulham, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Brentford and Brighton will all come to town to play at Lincoln Financial Field on July 22 and 23.

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