One win from 500, Germantown (Pa.) coach is hospitalized

Germantown Academy (Fort Washington, Pa.) athletic director and boys basketball coach Jim Fenerty is just waiting for a doctor's clearance to go after win No. 500 in his career.

Fenerty was hospitalized on Tuesday and the 61-year-old told reporters that he has Polycythemia vera, a bone marrow disease that leads to an abnormal increase in blood cells.

He's sitting on No. 499 (against 322 losses) and will likely skip tonight's game with Haverford School (Haverford, Pa.), and go after the milestone Saturday against Peddie School (N.J.). Germantown is 16-6 this season, Haverford 15-7 and Peddie 7-10.

Either way, Fenerty quoted Mark Twain to Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Rick O'Brien on Thursday: "The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated."

We're hoping and praying so coach.

* There should be more milestone coaching news in the Philly area tonight when St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.) coach William Morris goes for his 900th win against Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.), the school he started his career at in 1967.