Broad Street Billy: Ex-player & coach is big fan of the 'Flyin' Hawaiian'

AS OUR Fightin's swing along to Beyonce's "Put a Ring on It!" - please keep sending your Phillies memories and photos to

and before you know it, we'll be making like the Red Sea down Broad Street again:

VICTORINO'S PHILLY PAL: Pierre Gomez of Manayunk - a former Double-A second baseman/shortstop in the Atlanta Braves organization and a former Camden Riversharks coach - is Phillies-proud to be pals with fleet-footed centerfielder Shane "Flyin' Hawaiian" Victorino.

"We used to hang at a few South Street places with the same people," wrote the Pittsburgh native who is a godson of Pirates immortal Willie Stargell and who has been cheering for the Phils since moving here in 1992 - a return to his mom's South Philly roots.

Gomez sent Broad Street Billy a photo of himself partying with Victorino's Maui childhood friends at Citizens Bank Park during last year's playoffs, but couldn't remember their names.

"Too many Coors Lights," Gomez explained.

When the Phils let Aaron Rowand go after the 2007 season, and some of Gomez's fellow-fans doubted Victorino's ability to fill Rowand's cleats for 2008, the ex-Rivershark told them, "You watch. Shane's a jackrabbit. Rowand can't run with him. Rowand can't throw with him. And pretty soon, everybody's going to be saying, 'Aaron who?' "

TWO RINGS FOR HARRY? As the Phillies chase a second championship with a sport coat worn by their dear-departed voice, Harry Kalas, hanging in their dugout for every game, Jessica Quiroli from Chester, who's been hooked on the Phils since the '93 season of Macho Row, wrote a poem:

"We lost our voice and faced a silent summer.

But with working-class hearts, the Fightin's carried on . . .

Some say a return to glory is out of reach. A real long shot.

But imagine our voice is still here. Be guided by that heaven-sent sound.

Have nothing but the highest hopes, and remember last season's joy.

Sing our dear friend's song in the crisp, thin air,

Root, root, root for Harry's Boys."