Times are tough all over

Wanna know how bad the economy has gotten? The real-life Coach has been fired from the place where-everybody-knows-your-name.

Eddie Doyle, the long-time bartender of the Beacon Hill pub that became the inspiration for Cheers, was let go this week. Doyle was a Boston institution who was very involved in the community, with such actions as creating The Boston Barleyhoppers, a running club that ran once a week from the Bull & Finch to an area bar.

"We'd have two beers at the bar and run back," said Doyle, who also led the
group to charity work, such as assisting disabled racers after they arrived each
year for the Boston Marathon.

The club's motto was "We run for fun, and roam for foam." It lasted 15
years, and produced 22 marriages. "The poor guy was always buying wedding
presents," said Malden's Joy Curtis, who met her husband at the runner's club
and has been married for 22 years.

So long, Eddie. This one's for you.