It looked like Game 2 all over again. Multiple Pistons hitting their shots, team defense, and misses on shots the 76ers had been hitting all season long. Specifically, Andre Miller's pull-up J would not go down, and the Sixers got spanked 98-81. I could tell last night's game was not going to end well once Sheed's goaltend on Miller's jumper went unnoticed, but a few possessions later, Thad was whistled for a clean block on Rip.
You knew it was only a matter of time until Chauncy started dropping shots, but the 12 assists scare me more than the 21 points. Tayshaun continues to shoot the lights out (64% for the series) and stifle Iguodala. Sheed keeps blocking shots and hitting 3s and fadeaways. But the Sixers keep on coming. At least Mo is.
"See you back here," Cheeks said with a slight smile as he left the interview podium in Detroit. He seemed to think this young team is not finished yet. And I tend to believe him. Not just because I want to, but because I really do think the Sixers can win at home tomorrow and force an anything-goes Game 7.
This is not the face of a man who is ready to lose.
Listen, the Pistons are a better team than the Sixers. They have more talent. They have more experience. But the Sixers have intensity, athleticism, a true team mentality and a real drive to win. I hate to use cliches, but when you have your back against the wall, you tend to step up your game. A caged animal will always fight more fiercely because he knows running away is not an option.
The Sixers can't run away from Game 6, but that doesn't mean they can't run away with it. Andre Miller doesn't usually miss half of the shots he missed last night. The ball doesn't go through the hoop on a defensive deflection in a typical game. With a few breaks and the intensity level that comes with an elimination game, I think the Sixers are in for close game at home. A close game from which they emerge victorious and renewed.
This team has already succeeded. Win or lose, regardless of the score, taking the Pistons to Game 6 is a big accomplishment for this young Philadelphia team. It gives them the confidence of knowing they can beat the most legit NBA Title-threat in the Eastern Conference, both at home and on the road.
I can only imagine what kind of impact that will have on the team heading into next year. But I'm not really ready to talk about next year quite yet. I think this year has at least a Game 7 in it.
The Flyers were outshot 34-14, but still pulled off a 3-2 victory, thanks to the play of Martin Biron and the lack of play from Carey Price. Not only did Biron stop a large quantity of shots, he had to stop a lot of quality shots, including another breakaway that Marty broke up with his stick. Price, on the other hand, allowed goals that any NHL goaltender would love to have back.
Biron has an outstanding .923 save percentage in the series so far on 104 shots, and has done a good job of securing the puck after a save. He's only allowed the game-winner to Uncle Jessie and the Koivu goal last night off rebounds. It seems like most of the shots are sticking to him, which shows great use of body control and angles.
Maybe Marty's next job should be playing poker. GET IT?!??!???
Unlike Biron, Carey Price continued to show off the hole in his glove (and game), allowing Richards to notch a shorthanded tally in the 2nd. Price was pulled and the Flyers only managed 2 shots in the 3rd, but word is that the youngster will be in the net again on Wednesday. Every great empire eventually falls. Who knows how long Biron can keep up his magic act, making scoring chances disappear into thin air. The Flyers really need to get their forecheck going, if just to keep the puck away from their own net. Some sustained pressure might result in a few more quality chances, so we won't have to rely on poor play from the goalie to score. Plus the fewer shots Marty has to stop, the better.
The Flyers blocked at least 9 shots in Game 3
Granted, the Flyers have been doing an excellent job of blocking shots, and if they don't, they've at least allowed Marty a clean look at the shooter. I'd still like to see the Habs get less than 30 shots on goal in Game 4, but I don't know if that's a possibility. They really seem to be buzzing around the goal, but failed yet again to capitalize on the pressure. A few shots slid just wide of the net, and the post made another great save to keep the Canadians off the board.
This is what playoff hockey looks like.
The Flyers have won 2 of 3, but really may have only outplayed Montreal in the only game they lost. Still, a win is a win, and when you play hard, tough hockey like Philly has been, you can come out on top. Oh, and having a brick wall for a goalie helps, too.
After watching some playoff basketball tonight (nice win Hawks), I came to the conclusion that the Nuggets must be the NBA's most tattooed team of all time.
Anyway, they got swept, so who cares. Let's root for the Sixers in a pivotal game 5 matchup in the Palace of Auburn Hills tonight at 7:00 pm. Maybe they will bring a half court offense with them to Detroit, because we all know they didn't have one in game 4. I know this is a young, energetic, defensive minded team that creates points from their defense in the transition game, but to beat a team like Detroit, you have to be able to score in the half court. Oh, and rebounding the ball helps too.
TO ain't giving up that money, or so says a lawsuit the Eagles filed today. The suit for $770,000 claims that TO has not paid the $1.7 million in bonuses that he was supposed to pay back from an arbitration hearing earlier this year. I've said it before, I honestly don't care much about TO anymore. Sure I hate him because of who he is, not because he burned the Eagles. There is a time to move on. Regardless, it's nice to see a star athlete, especially one who is an asshole, have to pay up for acting like an idiot.
Despite his affinity for TO, reader Conrad sent this in. I'm still searching for an appropriate time in everyday conversation to break out an impression of this.
Whenever the draft rolls around, I am always left hoping the Eagles will make a few sexy picks to help improve their skill positions. It's the way of the fan. No one gets hyped over drafting an OG or a DT because it's hard to see their impact on the game. We want to see flashy receivers, bruising running backs or athletic safeties. I want a player who looks like he can score some points for my team.
But I also understand that a lot of NFL games are won with the dirty work in the trenches. Just look at the Giants. They dominated the line of scrimmage with their big D-line all the way through the Super Bowl. So when Saturday finally came, I prepared myself to watch the Eagles add more big-bodies while the sexy picks went to other teams. They have had success with this strategy, so I couldn't be too upset with the pre-draft predictions, but it turns out they were all pretty far off base.
Pick by Pick evaluation after the jump.
1st Round - Traded to CAR for a 2 and 4 this year, and a 1st round pick in 2009. While I was disappointed that they traded down with Mendenhall still on the board, I was very happy with the deal they made. The Eagles still got their WR in the second, added a 4th rounder and grabbed a 1st round pick from a team who could finish in the bottom 10 next year. The 4th round pick turned into Quintin (I accidently spelled it "Quitin" but then i realized there was no "quit" in him. get it?) Demps, who could make an impact in the return game and after an INT, so I guess technically the Eagles got a playmaker out of the first round pick. 2nd Round - Trevor Laws, DT from Notre Dame After the surprise of the Eagles not taking Otah at 19, I was reminded of who was in charge of the draft when the Eagles grabbed yet another DT on day 1. There's nothing wrong with the pick, but are Patterson and Bunkley in that much need of help? Montae Reagor and Lajuan Ramsey are capable subs, and I feel like the Eagles could have addressed the D-line depth later in the draft. But looking at the positive, from what I hear Laws is a good prospect with a non-stop motor who should help rush the passer from the tackle position. He's also an ex-wrestler, so he's got great balance. Plus who doesn't like the beard and dread combo?
2nd Round - DeSean Jackson, WR from Cal Ohhhhhh FUCK yeahhhhhhhhh! Here's the pick I was hoping for. Though I agree with PotsNPans that I see more than a little Freddie Mitchell in him, DeSean has the speed to make plays happen right now. He's an instant upgrade in the return game (punts and kicks) and could be utilized in the slot for at least 15 plays per game, depending on how quickly he picks up the playbook. Here's one of those playmakers we were promised. Good work on trading down and still getting your man. And for those who think he's just being drafted as a returner, Reid said that he was drafted as a WR and wouldn't draft that high just for a return guy. The Birds had him ranked as a low first round pick.
3rd Round - Bryan Smith, DE from McNeese St. The 6-2, 228 speed rusher from a small school seems like a big stretch here. I guess you want to go out and draft people that you like rather than someone who is rated higher, but this is a pick that I assume could have been made a least a round later. Coming out of McNeese St, I don't know how much attention he got from NFL teams, but I can't imagine too many teams would have selected him before the Eagles picked again 29 spots later. He'd better add some bulk or else become nothing more than a 3rd down speed rusher, which is a little weak for a 3rd round pick.
4th Round - Mike McGlynn, OT/G/C from Pitt I'm usually impartial to drafting linemen. The Eagles do a great job of identifying players they can work with, and can usually find a guy in a later round and turn him into a solid player (Herremans, Fraley, Jackson). That being said, I like this pick. To skip out on Otah and grab his teammate instead implies that there was something in Otah that the Eagles weren't sold on, so I'm glad they decided to go with a guy who played 3 different positions on the line in college. That shows he is athletic and can learn new assignments, which he may need to do to make the roster. I see him as a center or a guard, but would love for him to succeed at guard in the NFL.
4th Round - Traded to Miami for RB Lorenzo Booker LOVE this move. Booker is a guy Andy was high on last season, but watched get drafted in the third round, forcing the Eagles to draft the crappy and unable to pass-protect Tony Hunt instead. Giving up a 4th round pick this year for a guy who was a 3rd round pick last year is good value, plus the Eagles got to see Booker play in the NFL before acquiring him. He only played 5 games last season, but had 28 carries for 125 yards (4.5 AVG) and 28 catches for 237 yards (8.5 AVG) for an average of almost 6.5 yards per touch. He's no Westbrook, but he has a similar skill set and could help the Eagles if Westie goes down with an injury.
4th Round - Quintin Demps, FS from UTEP This may be my new favorite player. The knock on Demps is that he's undersized and isn't great against the run, but I think that was about the same thing we heard about Brian Dawkins coming out of college. His speed is exceptional for a DB (4.38 40) and may wind up playing CB in the NFL if he can work on his coverage skills. He has the ability to play both safety spots, as well, so he may be a straight Dawkins-replacement. In my mind, Demps already has the attitude to succeed. Just read his quotes: "I'm a hit everything in the mouth that comes my way. I ain't a Pro Bowl player, I'm a Super Bowl player. The Eagles got themselves a steal in the draft."
4th Round - Jack Ikegwuono, CB from Wisconsin This is a pick that may take a year or two until we find out if it was a good move or not. He tore up his MCL and damaged his kneecap and will miss the entire 2008 season. While the Eagles said he would have been a 1st rounder if healthy, some other reports pegged him as a mid round pick. Plus he stole an Xbox with his brother, so he's got some legal issues to deal with. The positive is that Drew Rosenhaus is his agent, and that dude only represents talent, so maybe Andy knows what he's doing (preparing for a post-Lito seconday in 2009). Again, I think the Eagles could have waited on this pick, but I guess I'd rather see Andy go get a player he really likes/wants.
6th Round - Mike Gibson, OT/G/C from Cal Another jack-of-all trades big-body. I'm not sure either he or McGlynn can play tackle in the NFL, which is what the offensive line needed with Tre and Jon nearing the ends of their careers. Then again, they both show that versatility to play multiple positions in college, and I'm not sure the Big Kid couldn't play tackle, so I'll have to trust that Andy and Co. know what they are doing with the linemen. I never thought I'd say this, but I was a bit disappointed the Eagles didn't draft an OT earlier than in the 7th. It's a position of need, and the first round was filled with good OTs. I know. Who have I become? 6th Round - Joe Mays, ILB from North Dakota State University In the late rounds of the draft, you select athletes, not necessarily players at specific positions. Mays is one of those guys. At 5-11, 245, he's a wrecking ball. Apparently a heavy hitter and a player who "jumped out at you when you watch film on him", Mays is going to push for a LB spot and contribute on special teams. I like the addition of a big hitter, since Dawkins and Sheldon are basically the two best hitters on the team (JR Reed gets the honorable mention), so maybe he can make some plays on kickoffs and punts while he learns LB. He's compared to London Fletcher in that he's a muscular midget with good recognition and burst.
6th Round - Andy Studebaker, DE/LB from Wheaton Conniesmack would be so proud. A DIII player, Studebaker dominated lesser competition, and has the athleticism to contribute in the NFL...maybe. I'm skeptical of how effective he can be going against the top athletes in the sport. The Eagles love to shop around at small schools for players who dominated the competition, but couldn't you have signed this guy as a rookie free agent? A sleeper is only a sleeper if other teams sleep on him. I'm no scout, but I can't imagine too many teams were considering drafting this guy. Still, his positive attitude shown during an injury last year, is quite promising. Plus he still plays Mario Kart 64. Truly a man after my own heart.
7th Round - King Dunlap, OT from Auburn Finally, the Eagles got a natural tackle. He's got the body and tools to become an NFL player, and apparently takes well to "hard coaching." Really only had a poor senior year, so I'm gonna say I like this pick, especially in the 7th round. CAUTION! RED FLAG! This guy was arrested for failing to pay a speeding ticket. Terrible character guy. But seriously, this guy is a proven starter at a big school. He lost his starter status by showing up overweight, but the Eagles have had great success controlling Bunkley, Andrews and Jackson, (probably because of Chuck Morris. No, not Norris, Morris.), so I don't think this is an issue. Typical Eagles Draft This draft was no different than any of the other recent Philadelphia drafts, and I'm OK with that, surprisingly. My initial reaction was disappointment at not drafting a player at 19, but I think the Eagles selected a group of players who fit some needs of the team, even if that need is a year or two away.
I have trouble understanding what Andy Reid meant when he said he agreed with McNabb that the Eagles needed to go out and get some "playmakers" for the upcoming season. While Andy maintains that the Eagles added 3 impact players on Day 1, Trevor Laws, DeSean Jackson and Lorenzo Booker (via a trade with Miami), I was not alone in being disappointed to see the Eagles trade out of the first round for the second time in 2 years. There had to have been someone that they could draft to come in and make an immediate impact, though I guess they still got that in DeSean Jackson. I think the Eagles may have missed an opportunity in the first round Ray Diddinger agrees with me, pointing out that, for a team who was 8-8 and last in their division, the Eagles really should have tried to get an impact player at 19 (or package some picks and move up). Andy says they tried to move up to get a player they liked (my guess is OT Brandon Albert), but it didn't go through. While Booker is a great Westbrook clone and I'm excited he's an Eagle, both Mendenhall and Felix Jones were available at 19, and I think either dude could be a beast in the NFL.
Something important to take away from the weekend was that Lito is still an Eagle. The team didn't just throw him away to get picks, and I think that was the right move. If he stays on the team, the Birds have the best secondary in the NFL, hands down. But when asked directly about Lito, Andy said that "as I sit here, he's still an Eagle," which is perfect political speak for "we're not sure what we're going to do with him." When asked about restructuring Lito's contract, Reid replied, "We'll talk about that. I'll talk to Lito about that." But Reid remained cryptic, adding "Yeah, we'll work something out. Something will be worked out." when asked about the need to talk to Sheppard about his situation.
Something to think about Andy may still make a move to add a veteran WR before the season kicks off. The Birds have 2 first round picks next year, and an unhappy Pro Bowl CB to dangle in front of perspective teams. I hear the Bengals can avoid that 8 million cap hit if Chad Johnson is traded after May, so we may still see Ocho-Cinco yet. Ditto Anquan Boldin and Roy Williams.
Cinci drafted only 1 DB (a safety in the 6th), Detroit took America's favorite, Caleb Campbell in the 7th(S out of Army), and even though Arizona took Rodgers-Cromartie, any of the teams could still use some help on the outside. So until we see what happens with Carolina's #1 in 2009 and Lito, I can't fully say I'm upset with the playmakers Reid added. We have 3 KR (Booker, Jackson, Demps) and an electric PR (Jackson) who can contribute right away, and took a chance on some terrific athletes in the later rounds.
I'm not sure how many of the players will make the roster, but I think that just means any player who does is really a gamer. I'm excited to see how these guys play in training camp. I can't wait to read all the glowing reviews Spuds gives them, praising them as if they are Pro-Bowlers in the making. More importantly, I just can't wait for football. The draft has a tendency to do that to a fan.
Last night the Sixers entered the third quarter with a 10 point lead and ended it with a 10 point deficit. There was no miraculous comeback to be made last night (ala game 1). The Sixers fell 93 - 84 and missed out on an opportunity to take a commanding 3 games to 1 lead in the series.
Good luck getting a quality shot off, Andre
The game took a complete 180 degree turn in that third quarter. The Sixers defense had the Pistons scrambling and confused in the first half but looked soft in the second half. The Sixers offense suffered a similar fate in the second half. Their lack of a consistent scorer was very evident. Its no secret that Tayshaun has put the shackles down on Iguodala, but Mo is not helping his leading scorer at all. The Sixers play calling needs to get creative in order to get a better matchup for AI. How about a screen or two on Tayshaun? Maybe that will force a switch every now and then so that maybe Iggy wouldn't be forced to settle for awkward jumpers over one of the league's premier defenders. One on one play against the Pistons' defense isn't going to cut it.
The worst part is that now the Pistons have the momentum and are returning to the Palace for game 5. Its time to see what kind of character this young Sixers team has. They had the Pistons on the ropes but were unable to deliver that knockout punch on Sunday night. They missed a golden opportunity. Now its time to rebound from a disappointing loss and show what their made of.
I'm going to guess that you were probably as bored as I was while watching the first 4 hours of the draft yesterday. Not a single pick until midway through the 2nd round? Apparently Andy hates 1st round picks (at least he didn't trade this year's pick to the Cowboys). You have to look at the long term impact, though. The Eagles came away with Carolina's 1st rounder next year, which could be pretty high (thanks Jake Delhomme).
The other news is that Lito is still an Eagle. The trade that everyone expected to go down today has not happened.
Of course it will take years before we truly know if this was a successful draft for the birds, but I have to say I'm fairly satisfied. Andy and the Eagles' staff have filled some needs. Here's what they've added:
Rd 6 - #34(200) - Joe Mays (ILB) North Dakota State
Rd 6 - #37(203) - Andrew Studebaker (DE) Wheaton
Rd 7 - #22(230) - King Dunlap (OT) Auburn
DeSean Jackson is the biggest name on the list. He definitely fits the description of "playmaker" that McNabb was looking for. If anything, he instantly gives the Eagles a dynamic, home run threat in the return game. I have to say though, I saw some flashbacks to FredEx when ESPN cut to video of him wearing a tuxedo vest at his home in Cali. I can't wait to see this guy on the field.
We'll get a full recap after the draft is completed, but in the meantime check out some highlights of the Eagles early picks. . .
I'm not even going to bitch about how the Flyers got robbed of a win. I'm over that. Everyone who saw the game knows what happened. Though I am disappointed that the refs (who called only 3 power plays before the Richards call), you cannot blame officials for a loss. The high-stick call hurt, too, but again, we must move on. No use crying over spilled milk. Just lick it off the floor and go on with your day.
My first impressions of the series included such thoughts as "Wow, Montreal sells out every game? There really must be nothing to do there.", "Mike Komisar looks HUGE (6'4", 242)" and "Is that Garth Brooks on Price's helmet?" The crowd was loud and active, though quickly silenced by the great play of the Flyers and a 2-0 lead. Later, fans threw a beer at Mike Richards and you could see the result all over the glass in the penalty box (where he shouldn't have been, anyway). This just goes to further support the idea that sports fans are morons in general, and not just in Philadelphia.
Yup. That's Garth Brooks. How intimidating.
Speed racers. The key to this series, IMO, is not getting beaten by the team speed of Montreal. The Flyers came out hitting hard and skating well. I was afraid they'd lose a lot of the 50-50 pucks, but the Flyers have some strong skaters of their own. I don't know if it was adrenaline that allowed the Flyers to keep pace, but they were NOT outplayed or outskated on this night. The hitting might have also helped this, as a few times instead of looking for the puck along the boards, Canadians were looking to brace for the big hit rather than just looking to make a move with the puck.
Leakier than a screen door on a submarine. Carey Price's glove hand, while active, had trouble keeping the puck controlled. There were tons of rebounds, and Philly should continue to shoot and follow all series long, looking for the rebound bouncing right on their sticks. The gameplan really seemed to be working, as they built a quick lead with classic Flyers hockey. Both tallies in the first were blue collar goals—RJ throwing a puck on net and Dowd picking up the loose puck after some hard work along the boards. There was lots of dumping, cycling, getting in on the forecheck and then throwing the puck on net to see what develops. I'm comforted by how the boys attacked a Montreal team that beat them all 4 times in the regular season. Despite the outcome, I feel like the Flyers took something positive away from the game.
3 players really shined. Upshall, Thoresan and Hatcher played physical and really caused trouble for the Canadians all night. Thoresan has been electric all playoffs, causing problems on the forecheck and challenging defensemen with his aggressive skating. Scottie Upshall had another great game doing all the dirty work, freeing the puck from the boards and finding open teammates for shots. Hatcher, while occasionally looking like he was skating on melting ice, tied up sticks and took out the trash around the net, limiting any rebounds Biron let slip out.
Speaking of Marty. He continued his excellent play, allowing one goal on a high stick, and another off a 6-on-4 (and really it was 6-on-3 since Carter broke his stick on the face-off) with 30 seconds left in regulation. Biron had his angles down perfectly, letting 2 pucks deflect off the post, one of which actually beat him 5-hole and narrowly missed the back of the net. He dove to the side to make a glove save on a puck that was probably going wide, but considering 2 goals were scored last series on ricochets off the boards behind the net, I was perfectly fine with the save.
A quick breakdown of Game 1
Things I Liked: -Hustle/Tempo -Cycling -Price's rebounds
Things I Disliked: -The outcome -Broken sticks -Montreal's speed
We'll have to see how the Flyers respond after this tough loss. They really beat Montreal everywhere but the scoreboard. I think they can come back and take Game 2, much like they did against Washington, but if they fall behind 2-0, I don't have a good feeling about the series. The Flyers need to win on Saturday or else start planning their summer vacation.
The Flyers absolutely got jobbed. Kovalev's stick was above the crossbar and Mike Richards is just a beast. Expect actual game analysis tomorrow, but for now...I must seek solace in LOST.
If only Jack was on the Flyers. He'd never let something like this happen.
Game 7 taught me a few things about sports fans, but yielded one important finding— losing is truly the great equalizer. No matter the fact that every sportswriter in the nation, every sports fan outside the city and probably people in other parts of the world think that Philadelphia fans are crude, unruly, obscene and bad for sports, we do nothing different from other sports fans when their team loses. We just may do it in a more memorable fashion.
By now you’ve probably heard about the Caps fans showering the ice with garbage after the OT game-winner and interrupting a television interview by throwing a beer bottle at Jeff Carter. Though we are not without our own faults, I like to think we Philadelphians hold a certain respect for the game, players and officials.
OK. We threw batteries at J.D. Drew. But that’s because he was being a little bitch and refused to play for the Phillies. That’s an insult to the franchise, which to a sports fan, is an insult to them. We threw snowballs at Santa Claus, but it was more a reaction to a crappy front office than a lack of respect for the jolly old fellow. Speaking of respect for other people… I mentioned that Caps owner Ted Leonsis has a blog where he comments on the games and allows fans to comment back. While I tried to post several comments to refute the multitude of Caps fans who think the Flyers were handed the series by the refs, none of them were ultimately “approved”. I guess you can comment back, but only if you agree with what Ted is saying.
I was not rude nor did I use bad language, but my comments about how the trip on Sami to nullify a 2 on 1 break in OT was not well received. I’d prefer a 5-on-5 goal to be the game winner, but it’s not my fault the Caps had to dive and trip a Flyer twice in OT. Eventually, it was going to be called.
He also had urged his fans to be “loud and intimidating but have a bit more class than our northern neighbors”, but then stooped to inflating the noise-level at the Verizon Center for Game 7, even to the point that their own fans would complain about it. Not to mention how classless the fans proved themselves following the game-winner.
Which brings me back to Mike Wise. This columnist obviously was upset with how the Flyers had stunned his Caps, but to say innocent women and children “looked like they could work security for Megadeath” seems pretty classless to me. I expect the generalities of sports journalism. I expect writers to bring up Michael Irving and Tie Domi, despite lists like this (scroll down to the bottom for the list), debunking Philly as the only sportstown ever to have sinned.
It really showed me that every fan is upset after a big loss. Philadelphians seem to be noticed more because they suffer more big losses than other cities, and when we do, we've had a few memorable instances. Our teams are good, but haven’t gotten lucky enough to win a championship in 25 years. Because our fans are bothered by losses or poor performance, or proud of a big hit on a hated rival player, we are known as a rowdy bunch.
But where others pass this activity off as a negative, I consider that validation of the passion our fans feel. We cheer when our team wins, when our players show effort and guts, and when we lay-out a hated rival. Despite not winning anything major, our fans boo teams that fall short, players who are underachieving and yes, even stand-in Santas.
Montreal is no exception. Their fans are nuts about hockey. I mean, it’s Canada, so I guess they are obligated as citizens to go bonkers for the sport. That’s the only thing that could explain the rioting that occurred after advancing out of the first round of the playoffs—as the top overall seed. If they are that worked up over winning a series designed to allow them to advance, I have no idea how they'll react to the series with the Flyers, win or lose.
I apologize for the crappy soundtrack. If Montreal fans destroy property like this after WINNING, what on earth are they going to do after a loss? Hopefully we'll find out.
The Bottom line. If other cities cared about their teams the way Philly does, they’d be acting the same way. Instead, they stop buying tickets or watching at home once the team stops winning. If you ask me, it’s the Philadelphia way or nothing. Let's show those Montreal fans what a real sports town looks like when they win.
Once again, Burrell came through in the top of the eighth to deliver a two out, two RBI double and put the Phils ahead of the Brew Crew 3-1.
Also, Tom Gordon stranded runners on first and third with no outs in an outstanding relief appearence for Jamie Moyer in the bottom of the seventh.
Lastly, for everyone listening on MLB radio at work, can anyone confirm that Larry Andersen referred to Brewers' pitcher Brian Shouse as a "Salad Tosser?" Did I hear that correctly?
Just when you think Kyle Korver is kind of a pussy, he proves you wrong by talking about church, awkwardly clutching a pillow and claiming that he listens to David Gray.
Just replace "Bears" with "Capitals", "quarters" with "periods", and "field" with "ice" and there you have it. They are who we thought they were. And we let 'em off the hook. All credit goes to Nick on this one.
Time to rebait, recast, catch, clean, fry and devour this son of a bitch.
It feels pretty good right now to be a Philadelphia fan.
Maybe I’m just riding the high of yesterday’s upset of the Pistons, or experiencing the relief of avoiding a sweep by the hated Mets. Maybe I’m eagerly anticipating the Flyers finishing off the wounded Capitals tonight.
Maybe it’s all three. Maybe this feeling will be gone tomorrow.
I do know that I have to schedule my upcoming week around watching meaningful games for three different teams, and that makes it a little bit easier to face another dreary, dehumanizing week in the office.
At some point every fan asks him or herself the question, “Why do I care?” The funny thing is that it’s most often asked when your team loses. When your team loses, there’s no good answer. After all, you don’t know any of the players personally. Their failure has no direct impact on your daily life.
These things, of course, are all just as true when your team wins, yet they seem more transparent. Wins have a way of validating our emotional investment even if it can't be explained.
Professional athletes are paid to win, and to accomplish great physical feats. When you think about it, though, whether they choose to invest emotionally in their employer and their fans is entirely up to them.
Philadelphia has not had the ideal professional sports history. Even the most deluded Philly fan would not argue that we have the championship pedigree of say, New York or Boston. But we consider our passion to be unrivaled.
Right now, our teams are all highly competitive. I believe that they all have the chance to win a championship.
Yet, that fact alone can’t be responsible for the good feeling that I have today.
I’m not a professional athlete.
I’ve never personally met a Flyer, Phillie, or Sixer.
No matter what happens, I will still have to go to work today, tomorrow, and every weekday after that.
But I care.
And, because of the way they play, I am convinced that the Flyers, Phillies, and Sixers actually care that I care.
The Flyers suffered a setback this weekend, both on the scoreboard and on the bench. A dynamite 3rd period wasn’t enough to recover from an early 2-0 deficit, and Knuble added injury to insult, fell awkwardly, America’s Funniest Home Video style, and partially tore his hammy. Knuble will miss the rest of the series, but may be available if (when) the Flyers advance.
His absence hurts the Flyers, but I think there are a few guys on the team that can fill Knubles physical role in front of Huey. Hartnell has and I hope Stevens looks to Steve Downie as another physical presence in front of the net. I hear Riley Cote could be the other name added to the roster, but as much as I like the guy, we need a more 2-dimensional player on the ice down the stretch. Hindsight is 20-20. But I still can say that I saw this loss coming. Facing elimination at home, and really beating beaten in all facets of the game (aside from the 3rd period of Game 1), Washington had to put their foot down or suffer the embarrassment of letting the away team advance on national TV. The Caps hit hard, often and sometimes late, but that’s been the key to success in the series (and judging by how the games in Montreal are going, the whole Eastern Conference Playoffs).
Huet, Dewey and Louie.
The Flyers really have bothered Huet to the point where he might be taking quite a few relaxing dips in Uncle Scrooge's money pit to recover after this series. They've continued to get in his face and dig at the puck until it's in the net, but he got the better of them on Saturday afternoon, stopping 30 of 32 shots and having his best overall game of the series, IMO.
The Flyers lose the game, not their attitude. All things said, the amped-up third period really comforted me that at least the Flyers still had what it took to get motivated to keep playing Flyer hockey, regardless of the game or situation. I really liked Hatcher’s goal late to pull the Flyers back within 1 only moments after the Caps scored to seemingly put the game away.
It’s that kind of mentality that has kept the Flyers rolling all series long, and it will be what sets the tone for tonight’s game in Philly. Remember, I called Philly in 6, and I’m sticking to it. A return to their home-ice advantage really makes a difference this series. Coach Stevens ability to match his lines and hold Ovechkin to a -2 in Philly was a big reason the Flyers won both games last week.
Let’s give Washington a few thousand new Wizards fans. Take it to em, boys. Huet has been flashy but beatable all series long, so as long as he keeps going down in the butterfly and the Flyers shots and deflections keep coming up high, I like the odds. Ovechkin has yet to prove why he’s the league MVP, and I couldn’t be happier. Let’s give everyone in our nation's capitol a reason to switch their TVs from NBC, Comcast and the NHL over to TBS, ESPN and the NBA.
Because, hell, I’d LOVE the chance to eventually watch the 76ers boot another Washington team from the playoffs.
Pots already wrapped up the Sixers excitement, but the day only got better for Philadelphia sports. Luckily for me, the Phils game was on Sunday Night Baseball and I had been waiting all week for it. The game didn't disappoint. Chase Utley was the man tonight with two homers and 4 RBI. Connie's player to watch, Adam Eaton, gave 5 solid innings before running into trouble and allowing the Mets to tie things up at 4. Pedro Feliz was the unlikely hero, with a pinch hit, go-ahead homer in the 7th. Lidge finished things off with an eventful, albeit effective 9th. The play of the game for me and the rest of CBP was the final out. Much maligned Eric Bruntlett made a Rollins-esque, diving stab at a Beltran shot up the middle and gunned him down to end the game. So the Phils salvaged a game out the series... and they didn't even have to use their AK.
Yes its a long series. Yes its only one game. Yes Detroit did more to lose the game than the Sixers did to win it. Does any of that really matter, though? This Sixers' win over the Pistons is absolutely huge. They were able to steal a win on the road in the playoffs against a very good basketball team. On top of that a statement has been made: the Sixers are not going to be intimidated and this series will not be a cakewalk for Detroit. Did anyone expect the Sixers to march into the Palace and pull out a win in the first game of this series? I doubt it.
The most impressive part of this win is the fact that the Sixers in no way played their best game. They stayed mentally tough and fought back against a tough team, but there were big chunks of the game where the offense disappeared entirely. The fact that they can compete with, and defeat, a top tier team in the playoffs with a less than perfect performance is a very good sign. That being said, they'll need to pick up their play before game 2 on Wednesday. I wouldn't bet on Detroit putting up 2 less than stellar games at home to start this series.
Tonight kicks off an important three game series against the Mets. We gave back a lot of crucial momentum earlier this April so it would behoove us to get off to a fast start tonight. Above all else, I want to see solid defense and pitchers attacking the strike zone.
You've probably heard about the Mike Wise article by now. I actually want to start this post by defending Mike. I mean, I don't know how I'd react if my home town team was being beaten in all facets of the game. We all do stupid things when we're upset, and losing the way the Caps did on Tuesday could drive even the most confident of sportswriters to lash out defensively.
He seems to lament the style of hockey the Flyers are playing, comparing the players to "World Extreme Cagefighters" which was intended to sound insulting, but I find complimentary. Just because the game has shifted from big bodies and heavy slapshots doesn't mean it has left them in the past.
The Washington Capitals have been one of the most feared offensive units in the NHL, especially in the recent weeks. The Flyers didn't score 6 goals on Tueday despite their rough style, rather they scored 6 goals because of their rough style. Strong forechecking, pelting Huey with shots and going after rebounds has put the Flyers up in the series, 3-1.
The Flyers have punched the Caps in their mouth, a fitting metaphor for the series, don't you think? Maybe the Caps would be performing better if they took a page from the Flyers game plan.
What really bothers me, however, is how he serves up the Flyers fans at games. He was at the arena for 1 game and is already drawing conclusions like: "Did we mention they show fights on the video scoreboard every period here, more than most arenas show dunks in the NBA?" Every period? You mean the 3 you got to see before writing that article? Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that the goal of the home team was to keep the crowd quiet. Firing up the fans and creating that home-ice advantage that teams fight so hard for leading up to the playoffs is really classless.
Classless, to me, is more something like publically insulting innocent women and children fans of another town's hockey team in a national publication. But then again, I'm from Philly. What do I know about class?
Wise continues on, comparing the Capitals to gladiators that the Flyers' fans would rather see beaten physically than in the game. Isn't being beaten physically a large part of the game? We're talking about hockey here, people. Did our fans chant "F Ovechkin?" Yup. When another team has a talented player, forced to take dives to make something happen, we like to get on them a bit. It's hockey, for crying out loud. All hockey fans are rough around the edges, not just in Philly.
Wise comments that the "crowd in the upper bowl chanted vulgarities at Ovechkin that went beyond the bounds of loutish fan behavior." Because you've never heard any fans chant "f- [insert star athlete's name]" in any other city. Ever. Us Philadelphians are so creative that we've pushed the art of cat-calling to a whole new level. Puh-lease.
He mentions how it's almost unfathomable (his words) that the Wachovia Center would be louder than the Caps Verizon Center, but I think any decent hockey fan knows that Philly is a much better hockey town than Washington. It looks like the players aren't the only one's being affected by the Flyers dominance. Even the Caps owner, who I admire in his willingness to communicate with the fans, bashes Philly in his own blog. He has a running commentary of the series, but comes across like he's watching different games than the rest of us.
After the Washington mentality seemed to be that the Flyers' crude, physical game was a bad thing for the sport, Ted goes on to say "Our team is bigger and tougher than the Flyers. They know it now and we know it now" after losing last night's game. "We now know how to play playoff hockey, NHL style." You now know how to play playoff hockey after going down 3-1 in the series? You're fast learners, aren't you?
So while he earned my respect for putting himself so close to the fans, he loses points for being a dumbass. Them's the breaks.
4 rockets, to be specific. Utley, Howard and Burrell (back to back) and Coste all went deep as the offense exploded for a season-high 16 hits, beating the Astros 10-2. The only positive to come out of my current case of strep throat is the fact I got to watch the Phils in their most dominating performance of 08. Brett Myers looked great, striking out 8 and allowing only 5 hits and 1 run.
As I mentioned, Chris Coste continued to prove why he's a fan favorite, collecting 4 hits with that wreckless swing of his. Apparently, I'm not the only one to be baffled by the effectiveness of his hitched swing. That seems to have been the knock on him coming out of college. This is a nice little post about Chris, with some personal commentary from the players who called him a teammate before he was pounding the ball for the Phils.
What I now want to know is why the Phillies lineup has become a trend of feast or famine. Hours after losing 2-1, and a day removed from scoring all 4 runs in the bottom of the ninth, the Phils bats exploded. You were the odd man out if you DIDN'T rip the ball (I'm looking at YOU, Eric Brunlett. 0-5? When is Jimmy coming back?). I'd like to see more consistent offense continuing through this season.
Still, a win is a win. And it's good to see R Ho go 2-4 with only 1 K. Now bring on the Mets.
What do you get when you combine one unhappy pro-bowl WR on a team desperate for a defense with a team holding 3 pro-bowl CBs looking to add a legit WR weapon?
Well, I'm not sure, but it looks like that's the situation with the Eagles and Bengals.
Considering most experts are guessing that the Eagles will look to draft a WR in the first day, it's not unreasonable to think the Eagles would entertain the idea of trading Lito and a pick for Chad Johnson.
Ocho-Cinco is loud and flashy, both with his game and his personality. Though he bad-mouths Carson Palmer a bit in that espn.com article, he's had a good relationship with his teammates throughout his career, and it looks to me like he's sick of being stuck on a team going backwards.
The Bengals continue to say they will not trade Johnson, but I know I wouldn't want an unhappy WR who says he will not report to any offseason events on my team. Chad Johnson could give McNabb another T.O. to throw to, and we all know what kind of numbers the two of them put up a few years back.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Eagles passed on this opportunity, but it's something to keep your eye on leading up to the draft.
Its no secret that the popularity of hockey has significantly declined since the strike. I mean, VS carries most national TV games now. I couldn't even tell you what channel VS is on my TV.
Philly still loves its Flyers, though. You've gotta love the passion this city has for its teams. Check out this video from last night's 6-3 victory over the Caps. Mike Richards' 3rd period penalty shot put this game out of reach and got the crowd on its feet.
I had the privilege of witnessing the Phils’ stirring comeback victory last night from section 130, row 17, aisle-seat 18, which provided the finest vantage point that I’ve had at the Bank yet. It was also a dollar dog night; therefore, gluttony turned to revelry when the Phightins’ bats awoke in the bottom of the ninth:
After Jenkins scored the winning run on a Pedro Feliz single (who was 3 for 4, by the way,) “Whoop! There it is!” started blaring through the loudspeakers. I wish I could get the Jumbotron footage that accompanied it. We were especially entertained by four or five kids in the sparsely populated 400 level popping and locking away like it was 1990-whatever.
As we all know, Pat Burrell has been on fire. However, give props to Chris Snelling for waking everyone up with a pinch hit solo homer to lead off the ninth inning. I’d also like to point out that it was another solid performance from my boy Adam Eaton, who escaped a rocky sixth to turn in a third consecutive quality start. Am I a prophet? No…just a fan, trying to do my part.
Thanks in part to the most ridiculous finish to a game in NBA history, the Sixers are locked into the 7th seed. That means they've won a date with the Detroit Pistons. The same Detroit team that has ousted the Sixers in their previous two trips to the postseason. Those were different teams, though.
This Sixers team has youth and energy on their side. That's something they're going to need against a talented, experienced Pistons squad.
Check out some of the key matchups:
The Sixers young guns will look to run on the favored Pistons
Chauncey Billups vs Andre Miller : Easily the best PG matchup in the East. These are two of the smarter guards in the game. Both are big, both are above average passers and both are the heart of their respective teams. This should be the most exciting part of this series. Chauncey has the edge here, being a much better perimeter shooter and a proven performer in crunch time of big games.
Rip Hamilton vs Willie Green/Lou Williams: Willie is the starter here, but don't be surprised to see Mo throw Lou and his young legs out there to chase Rip around for a while. Rip is known for his endless motor, so you're going to need someone fresh to guard him for 48 minutes. Lou is coming off of probably the best game of his career on Monday and Willie has been putting up pretty decent offensive numbers over the last few months. I don't expect either to outshine Rip, the Piston's leading scorer, but I wouldn't be surprised if one of these two Sixers guards had a big scoring game in this series.
Tayshaun Prince vs Andre Iguodala: Could there be a more lopsided matchup in terms of body type? Action figure arms vs Weird Harold from the Cosby Kids. Andre needs to shoulder a big portion of the scoring load in this series. Tayshaun is a good defender, but no match for the strength of Iggy. Let's hope he recognizes this mismatch and takes advantage.
Things get a little less clear with the big men. The Pistons use a combination of Rasheed Wallace, Antonia McDyess and Jason Maxiell at the 4 & 5 positions. They're a pretty versatile bunch that will be a handful for Sammy D, Reggie and Jason Smith. The Pistons' big men play all over the court, something that only Thaddeus is really capable of handling. He could prove to be a pretty big asset in this series. He can draw out the Pistons' 4 when on offense and handle his own inside and out on D. Another wild card: Sammy D led all playoff bigs in rebounds a few years back thanks to a solid performance against a very similar Detroit squad.
The dates and times for games are yet to be decided, so stay posted.
I know, that's probably one of the most cliché sayings in sports, but its true. The Sixers were one of the hottest teams in the NBA for months. Now, when it counts, they're just 5-5 in their last 10. This weekend the Sixers lost to the Pacers and (more importantly) the Wizards in what was probably their biggest game of the season. The most frustrating part about that loss to the Wiz was the 4th quarter. After leading by 7 at the end of three quarters, the Sixers could only manage 9 points from there on out. NINE POINTS. In a quarter of basketball the Sixers scored 9 points. (Where's the Ferris Bueller "NINE TIMES" audio when you need it?).
Where does that leave the team now?
Pick your poison - Dwight Howard and the Magic or Rip and the Pistons
They can't catch the Cavs or Wiz with just two games remaining. That means they'll be forced to play either the Pistons or the Magic. Its tough to say who I'd rather see them play. Dwight Howard has lived up to his Superman nickname against the Sixers this year. Sammy D isn't strong enough to guard him and Reggie Evans isn't good at basketball - so that makes for a tough matchup. Then you have the Pistons. Sure the Sixers took 2 of 4 from the team from Motown, but that doesn't mean they're a team you want to face in the playoffs. This team is filled with veterans and guys that have proven they can succeed in big games. I wouldn't mind watching a Billups - Miller matchup though.
For now, the Sixers will have to stop celebrating the fact that they've made the playoffs and make sure they win their last two games (tonight vs. Cleveland and Wed @ Charlotte). Its not as much about the seeding as it is about confidence. This team seems to have let up on the gas a bit since clinching the post season. It would be nice to see get that winning taste back before the games start to really count.
I am sitting at my desk at work, wearing my signed Keith Jones sweater (he was my favorite non-star Flyer) and I noticed a spot on the left sleeve. I haven’t washed it more than twice since it was signed (to preserve the signature, bro) but there’s something comforting about wearing the jersey again. I'll explain.
See, a hockey sweater is a tricky thing. There aren’t too many occasions where the jersey is kosher. It’s simply the least formal/socially acceptable jersey. It looks like a smock with sleeves. A sweater is the least-seen sports jersey in public, and when it is spotted, it’s often covering up a beer gut.
Even hockey hotties look a little “rough around the edges”, if you know what I’m saying. That’s not an insult. We all need girls willing to do the things our wives won’t. You keep crimping your hair and piling on the eyeliner. I dig it.
Hockey girls aren't always trashy.
Playoff prediction after the jump. I swear... Back to the sweater. You don’t really get a chance to wear a hockey jersey too often, so with the playoffs here, I’m finally noticing the spot on my sleeve. It’s probably from 2 years ago, the last time the Flyers were in the playoffs. That series ended with a loss in Buffalo. I’ve got a better feeling about this series.
Ovechkin be damned, the Flyers win in 6. I know the Caps are 11-1 in their last 12. But I care less when that record comes against the Flames (94 points), Thrashers 2x (76), Bruins (94), Predators (91), Blackhawks (88), Hurricanes 2x(92), Lightning 2x(71) and Panthers 2x (85 points). Only three of those games were against playoff teams (Flames, Bruins, Predators).
The Flyers are 7-3-2 in their last 12 against the Maple Leafs (83), Bruins (94), Penguins 3x (102), Thrashers (76), Rangers 2x (97), Islanders 2x (79), and Devils 2x (99). That’s 8 games against playoff opponents a 4-2-2 record. I like that kind of schedule as a warm-up for the playoffs. I think it really put the team in a great spot, as far as intensity is concerned.
I just plain like the way the boys have been skating lately. What’s more important, Martin Biron has looked sharp in net, and riding the hot goaltender has always been a key to post season success in the NHL. Regardless of what Ovechkin can do, I like the Flyers' odds in the first round. It feels comfortable. Just like my Keith Jones signed jersey.
We've noticed our readership slipping since we last published this weekly post. So, without further ado...
Does the jump count as "further ado?"
Hero: Andre,
Andre,
and more Andre
One for his superior passing and floor leadership, one for his explosiveness and ability to take over the fourth quarter, and the latter for its economical price and extra-dryness (a fine attribute of any liquid.)
Seriously, the Sixers' two leading scorers have ignited this team and city, changing the question on everyone's mind from "When will they be able to compete?" to "How far can they go?"
Zero: Eric Bruntlett
Mr. Feet-For-Hands took a break from mashing grounders into rawhide goulash last night to help us lose with his bat. Following the act of Shane Victorino from earlier, he failed to sacrifice the potential game winning run from second to third in the twelfth inning, with no outs.
It's tough coming to a new city and having to fill in unexpectedly for the reigning MVP. That's fine; we don't expect you to tear it up like Iguchi did last year when Utley was on the DL. But you are a utility player, which means you are supposed to be able to do utile things like fielding and bunting.
The Phils lost to the Mets last night despite a pretty solid outing by Adam Eaton (Eaton pitching well is sure to make Connie happy).
It wasn't so much that they lost, but how they lost that gets me fired up (plus its the Mets).
Check out the photos and video after the jump. So its the bottom of the 13th and. . . Oh I'll just DGunn tell you about it
Looks close huh? Now check out these stills (from Bugs and Cranks)
It sure looks like he's out to me.
Oh well, only 152 more games to make up for it. The other good news: Rollins pinch hit in the 9th, so he shouldn't be too far from returning to the field.
For his two errors, Eric Bruntlett bears my photoshopping wrath for this evening, which isn't entirely fair given the fact that he was just filling in for the injured J-Roll. Utley was also responsible for a run by not fielding a pretty easy grounder to his left.
The Phillies have combined to play atrocious defense for the first week and a half of the season; I believe they are leading the league in errors. While I know they'll get it ironed out, it is an extroardinarily frustrating way to lose, especially when you're carrying a nine-game win streak and a shitload of momentum against your division rival.
It's all good, though. My boy Adam will get us back on track tomorra. Right, buddy?
"There's none of us in here going, geez, the Phillies are coming to town, we're probably going to lose," Mets closer Billy Wagner said. "I think all of us are tired of hearing the Phils have our number. The Phils don't have our number. We shoot ourselves in the foot every time we go out there."
Jimmy and Shane score after Delgado "shoots himself in the foot" with a throwing error
Well maybe it's time you kept the safety on, Billy, because it's happened 9 times in a row. Even the late Charlton Heston would have to agree that if you're shooting yourself in the foot that often, pick a different hobby.
I think Shane Victorino said it best:
"If we're in their head, we're in their head. It's not for me to say. We're not going out there saying, 'We own the Mets.'"
You don't have to say it, Shane. It goes unsaid. Whether you believe it's the Mets' fault for blowing games, or the Phillies' achievement for rattling a group of professional athletes, I sure like the outcome- A victorious Phils team and a pissed-off Billy Wagner.
Over 5 million votes later, the Mets go rickrolled. One Mets blog had a write-up on his experience at the home opener, and among him bashing his own fanbase for fighting (photos here, here, here, here and here) and criticizing them for having a history of leaving games early, he noted that the 8th inning song was met with a chorus of boos.
I feel satisfied. My vote meant something.
But since the song was met with such terrible reaction, apparently the Mets will have a runoff to decide the actual song. This article explains, though they attribute the movement to fark.com instead of Digg, where it started. But hey, anything to mess with the Mets is good in my book, no matter who gets the credit.
The Phillies beat the Mets. Again. 9 in a row. *YAWN*
What else is new? The Mets bullpen still makes the Phillies bullpen look dependable. Actually, with the way the Phillies relievers pitched yesterday, especially sans Lidge (Gordon didn’t look too bad), they looked more than dependable. I’ll even say “solid.”
What I didn’t like was seeing Chase Utley get hit by 3 pitches and 1 thrown ball. 3 HBP in one game tied the MLB record, though I’m not so sure that’s a record people aim to break. I’d think HRs, Ws, and hits would be more popular choices, but then again, everyone’s trying to break those records. Chase already has his name in the books. Though Delgado’s errant throw helped the Phillies in the end, and even though Chase made the smart move to cut down the angle on the throw, I always hate to see him get hit with the ball. Last year Utley missed a chunk of time when he was hit on the hand by a pitch, and it may be the only reason Jimmy Rollins won last year’s MVP. Chase was on fire, and a month of added stats could have had him hoisting the trophy instead of JRoll.
One of the few times Chase hit the ball and not the other way around
Chase led the MLB in HBP, with 25. I don’t want to see last year’s trend continue. It’s not like Chase crowds the plate, donning armor like some roid-heads who fancy themselves ballplayers. Though Mets fans feel differently. They claim he wasn't allowing the Mets' pitchers to throw strikes. They call his game "bush league" which is probably the last word I'd use to describe Utley's game, right after "terrible" and "girly".
I say he’s just too f-ing dedicated to get out of the way in time. He doesn't lean into pitches, Dave Hollins would lean into pitches. Chase stands in, looking for his pitch, waiting on a mistake and will take his lumps if they come. Maybe there’s just something about him that attracts the ball. Though I have a feeling that when it comes to New York, it might just be because he’s a Phillie.
None of the pitches that hit him were particularly malicious, but when you have a rivalry and recent history like the one between the Phillies and the Mets, I don’t think the Mets pitchers cared much if a ball came in a little tight. Especially three times, twice by Perez. If they are throwing strikes they wouldn't be hitting Utley in the hand.
But hey, if you want to put him on base and take your chances with Howard, Burrell, Werth/Jenkins, that’s OK with me, as long as Chase the Base stays healthy. And as long as the Mets stay futile. Let’s hope Howard gets it going and Kendrick continues his strong play tonight against Mike Pelfrey?
This is just what you want from your up-and-coming young linebacker: good looks, a love of gingers and a genuine members only jacket. Great work Stewart.
There are a lot of things I could write about—the Phillies disappointing (but not unusual), slow start to the season; the fact the Flyers beat Pittsburgh yesterday, earning them a first round match-up with this season’s MVP, Ovechkin (surprisingly, the Flyers finish with more points than the Caps, 95-94); the Sixers clinching a playoff spot.
But no.
I must write about roller blades. Earlier today, ESPN.com reported on French protesters attempting to extinguish the Olympic torch in its route to Beijing for the opening ceremonies. Surprising, I know. Who thought the French fought for anything? The crowd boo’d China’s abuse of civil rights, as well as their treatment of Tibet. But that’s not the part that I was interested in. Read this:
“In Paris, police had drawn up an elaborate plan to try to keep the torch in a safe "bubble." Torchbearers were encircled by several hundred officers, some in riot police vehicles and on motorcycles,others on skates or on foot.”
"ON SKATES? Really? As in, bike-cops didn't look gay enough, we need something gayer? Geez, does this mean they all have to wear day-glo colors, too? Surprisingly, a Google search returned quite a few hits, giving us a few images to chuckle at.
It's OK, boys, you can hold hands. No one will judge you.
It also turned up this article, explaining that Bobbys (that’s UK for “cops”) had stopped using skates since chasing crooks across grass was impossible. Duh. I also can't imagine the condition of the streets and sidewalks in and around Philly being that inline-friendly, either.
Was Brink! part of required training? You know it’s bad when half of your training course involves staying upright. And the other half is “chasing suspects safely.” If some X-treme skater is being chased by skater-cops, they’re going to be totally F’d when he thrashes a gnarly grind down a handrail and they have to go around, slowly and under-control. I guess it's a good idea in theory, but come on! What's next for cops? Government issued fanny-packs?
.This reminds me of something I saw at the mall a few weeks ago. There was a security guard riding on a Segway, rolling in and out of stores and around kiosks. How helpful can Segways really be? Their website says they allow officers to see from an elevated position and cover more ground. I say they allow everyone in the mall to point and laugh at something. We’re probably both right.
Wheels, meet stairs. But just like with roller blades, if I were a criminal and I wanted to get away, I’d just find any of the 6 staircases you can find in any local shopping mall and hop up a few steps.
The cop couldn’t leave their precious (and expensive) Segway alone, so I picture them grabbing at me, comically, repeatedly bumping into the bottom step as I taunt them, eating my stolen Auntie Anne’s soft pretzels (so F’ing delicious).
I guess the only clear evolution in the wave of crime-fighting personal transportation is obvious. Just take a look at these future keepers of the peace. I think they’ve got what it takes to make this world a gayer safer place for all of us.
In 2005, David Stern announced that the NBA would require incoming players to be one year removed from high school in order to be eligible for the NBA Draft. The rule was met with mixed reactions as those who thought the Leon Smith's of the world needed the rule to protect them. Others thought that it was unfair to restrict trade and stonewall players from being employed by the league. In effect, the "One & Out" rule had been enacted, forcing many of the top basketball players to attend college for at least one year before moving up and trying their game at the pro level. Myles Brand and the NCAA were probably salivating over the ruling, which allowed the NCAA to cash in on the game's brightest stars for a year before they took their money making skills to the NBA. Word is out that Stern is looking to tack another year on the rule, forcing players to be 20 years old before being able to participate in the NBA.
Granted, we might not see the rule until the next CBA negotiation in 2010-2011. That doesn't mean this thing doesn't have legs though and won't stay on the radar for the next few years. The way I see it, this is just another way that Stern and Co. can restrict trade and allow the NCAA to continue milking its players for the cash they generate while they are in school. The NCAA makes a ridiculous amount of money every year, to the tune of $47 million. Go ahead and navigate through that fancy website and you'll see the kind of money they make. The March Madness tournament that you're watching right now - the NCAA is getting $6 billion from CBS for the rights to televise it.
Sure, Stern wants the best for his players. He wants top quality personnel that will generate the most money for him. Why not have the college level season his prospects for two years to see if they pan out before the league takes them in. He probably wants the players to even *gasp* work towards a degree! Well I don't buy it. The NCAA has been called a cartel recently for restricting trade at their level. They tried to cap the amount coaches could make, restrict players from moving as freely around the country as those same coaches, and reaping the benefits from the athletes while simultaneously not letting them reap those same benefits. I think Stern, but not allowing those interested in pursuing their aspirations at the pro level, is exerting his power over those kids trying to play basketball for a living. Let's be honest, most of the kids who are in college due to the One & Out rule, ie Oden, Durant, Rose, Mayo, etc. aren't there to get an education.
I do agree though, that the machine that is youth basketball needs to be taken down. Nike and Adidas run the show below the college level. Maybe if we didn't have shoe companies and other pariahs whispering in the ears of high school sophomores that they can be millionaires soon, they might actually have an interest in pursuing a college degree while playing basketball. Maybe if these kids weren't growing up in impoverished neighborhoods with little to no emphasis on education, however quality it may even be, they wouldn't think that the only way they can take care of their families is by taking their game to the NBA as soon as possible. Maybe if the NCAA somehow took care of its revenue generating athletes with some fair compensation, they wouldn't feel like they have to choose basketball or education, and not both.
Whatever the case, the system continues to use the athletes with little concern as to their best interests.
The Phils dropped to 2-4 today and look to salvage a split with the Reds tomorrow at 12:35 pm. Despite the annual slow start, I'm still excited for baseball and the rest of the season. At some point in August, as I have mentioned before and will continue to bring up because it's my only chance to see the Phillies live, I will be in Chavez Ravine reppin the away team. Which got me thinking, if you had to choose one player's jersey to buy/wear to a game, whose would it be? This isn't a new question, I have talked about it with Connie before. But now I open the question to you. I'm going first:
Chase Utley
It is a tough choice, but I'm going with Utley because I love the way he plays the game. He is the consummate professional; he never takes a play or a game off. None of the Phillies do, that's why this is a great team. But to me, Utley embodies that persona. On top of that, he's a great player who was a legitimate candidate for NL MVP last year before a certain Nats pitcher took him out of the lineup for a month. Look for Chase to make a run at back-to-back-to-back league MVPs for the Phillies. He's already on a torrid pace batting .429 with 3 HRs and 6 RBI.
Jayson Werth took 4 straight balls with the bases loaded to give the Phillies an 8-7 victory over the Nationals this afternoon. From what ESPN gamecast showed me, all 4 pitches were inside and very, very close to being called strikes. Good eye, Jayson.
Condrey got his first win of the season, sitting down all three batters he faced in order. Chris Coste continued his solid play as backup catcher, going 2-4 with 2R and an RBI off a HR in his first at-bat of the game.
It's not how I envisioned the first Phillies victory, but it's nice to get one in the win column. Let's hope the 1-2 start isn't indicative of another slow April for the Phils.
Philly goes out to Cinnci for a 4 game series, then heads to Shea to face the hated New York Mets for 3 games. Baseball season is in full swing.
One stinking hit. 0 runners in scoring position. This Phillies lineup scored god knows how many runs last year and all they can manage against a journeyman starter with a lifteime 5+ ERA is one stinking hit.
Add in the fact that you got 8 innings of one-run pitching from Hamels, and its enough to make you want to put your head through the TV.
So, in defense of TVs everywhere, here's some good news: There were several things I liked about last nights 1-0 loss to the Nationals.
1. Ryan Howard successfully completed a throw to second base for a force out in the first inning. Baby steps, but encouraging nonetheless.
2. Hamels threw a lot of curveballs. I thought he threw too many first pitch curveballs, which put him behind in some counts, but it's nice to see him gaining confidence in the breaking ball.
3. The Phils had a good approach in the bottom of the seventh. Utley hit a liner to right that would have been a double had Austin Kearns not been positioned in the gap. Howard had a good at-bat and worked a walk. Burrell also worked a 2-1 count before smashing a one hopper to third that Zimmerman turned into a very impressive double play. That guy might dethrone Michael Jack as the best ever at the hot corner.
4. Chad Durbin has looked really good in his first two outings. From what I can tell, he's hitting all his spots and he has a nice slider that drops out of the zone.
In any case, I'm expecting Moyer to bring his A-game today, and I can assure you that the Phils won't get one-hit again.
Freesedogg hit the nail on the head with his opinion as to why the Sixers play has improved since February. John Schuhmann over at NBA.com took this analysis a step further in a recent article. He puts the Sixers recent success under the microscope and found some interesting stats. The numbers never lie - and they show that the Sixers defense and scoring have both improved steadily since early February.
Young talent and defense goes a long way
We've done our fair share of praising the Sixers at Poor Sports, but the longer they sustain this success the more impressive it gets. We raved over the Sixers for winning 7 of 9 in early February, then again when they went 11 - 3 in March. The fact is, they're still winning, and they're doing it consistently. Since Feb. 5th, they're 20-7. They have the 4th best record in the NBA over that time. They haven't just won a few games in a row or had a hot streak, they've legitimately been playing well for the last 1/3 of the season. The fact that this success seemingly came out of no where makes it that much better. It was exciting the first time the Sixers beat a quality team. It was fun to look back a few wins that they had strung together. Now this team is looking at more than just making the playoffs. They're looking to make a legitimate run. I may be getting caught up in the hype, but I'll continue to do so until this team gives me a reason not to.
This team is playing so well that Schuhmann goes as far as to call them a "dangerous" team in the post season. Tell me anyone saw that coming a year ago.
The Phillies Opening Day Forecast looked dark and gloomy. And the weather was pretty shitty, too.
By now you’ve heard about the Phils’ loss in the first game of the season. Yeah, I could go on about how Flash is washed up, but I’m still to blinded by the optimism that comes with a new season. I think he’ll be OK this season. Charlie may disagree with me, seeing as the Phils immediately went out and added Rudy Seanez to address what still appears to be the weak spot for the team—the bullpen.
There’s not a whole lot I could add that you haven’t already heard about, so I’ll attempt to entertain you with a few opening day experiences you probably haven’t read about. The700Level has a nice little video up, so you can get the feel and set the scene for what I’m about to recall. Beginning our day. We got a late start and didn’t get down to the Bank (I hate this nickname, but I think it will stick) until about 1:15, leaving only an hour+ to “fuel up” for the big game (we went with Lionshead, the ‘Ling and a grab-bag of more “high class” brews). Naturally all the good, close lots were impossible to navigate, so we sped down to the Wachovia Center lot just to find space to set up.
When we first parked in the lot, I was skeptical of just how wild the tailgaters sharing our lot could possibly be. I’m not a big drinker (well, not regularly) but once habit I never shed after college is tailgating. To me, a good sporting event is like a good night out: it’s not OK if you can’t remember anything but it’s a complete waste if you do remember everything. You gotta walk that fine line, but you know someone has always got to cross it.
If you party a lot, you wind up with a hangover. If you party too much, you wind up with a skin tuxedo.
Luckily, 2 guys parked a few spaces down had no problem with that. They were plopped down on those canvas camping chairs, probably left over from when they graduated college (~7 years ago). Their gear suggested they had been outside for awhile and were fully prepared for the crappy weather, with each sporting a hoodie under what can only be described as 2 assorted white trash jackets. I think that should paint an accurate mental picture for you. One had a scraggly beard. Both wore some type of wool hat.
But it wasn’t just the gear that led to me to believe they had been there for awhile (perhaps, as conniesmack suggested to me, since the loss to Colorado). There on the ground, barely visible to our party, sat an empty case of Miller High Life. That’s right, the champagne of beers. Now I know what you’re thinking: “FreeseDogg, 30 beers for 2 people isn’t really that much.” But I think it is. Like I said, I’m not a big drinker. These guys were.
Maybe they were exhibitionists… Within 5 minutes of parking, I watched as each man stood out of his insta-camping chair, opened the door of their hatchback, then stood, facing Broad St and watered the asphalt. I guess the open car door blocked their actual genitals, but I don’t think anyone headed up Broad were confused about what was going on. There aren’t a lot of “family-friendly” activities associated with the “feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, hands at waist, head down” position.
Usually I’m on the side of male public urination (when God gives you a body designed to be physically capable of peeing anywhere, you damn-well had better use it.), but there were at least 10 port-o-potties not 50 feet from their car. And not a single person was in line. I can’t really say I blame them, though. Port-o-potties at sporting events are probably the 2nd dirtiest thing in the world, behind Britney’s stanky-ass na-na. Urination was just the beginning. As my friends and I continued our own tailgating activities, we watched our 2 fellow ‘gaters finish the last of their beers, then watched the last of the beers finish off one of the guys. Without notice, the guy on the right (let’s call him Ralph) leans over in his chair and pours out that last beer (or 4) out his stomach, probably for his homies. Joining the champage of beers is what clearly wasn’t originally cottage cheese, but can only be described as such when viewing the aftermath. My best guess is Tostitos.
After watching Ralph earn his name a few more times, he gets up and proceeds to cover up the mess with about 25 paper towels. Now, I’m a pretty tolerant guy, and I usually mind my own business in public, but after this display I couldn’t bottle the words up inside. I just had to say something to the guy.
So I got up the nerve, raised my voice and yelled, “OPEN-ING DAY!!” OPEN-ING DAY!!” while pumping my fist in the air like there was no tomorrow.
Ralph raised his hand triumphantly, and his friend smiled at us, bobbing his head along with my chanting. Then they both packed into their hatchback and drove off to a different part of the lot, probably to escape the police and/or dirty seagulls who would have eventually eaten all his puke. Later a friend of mine saw the two inside the stadium, so they made it without killing themselves, which I guess is a positive. These 2 men taught me a lesson I'll remember forever. As I watched the team collapse (OK, it was pretty much Flash, if you ignore the Rollins error), I couldn't help but feel discouraged. But now, looking back at the day, I feel differently. Just knowing how bleak the future looked for those two dudes only to later seeing them show up when it mattered most made me believe the same could be true for the Phillies.
After all, it’s not about how bad you look in the beginning, it’s where you’re at in the end.
The offseason conditioning has officially begun for the Eagles. Their official website ran a great story about it on Monday. The focal point is the return of Brian Dawkins, who had a less than stellar year in 2007. Dawkins wasn't too happy with that showing and seems to be taking it out on himself. Its going to be interesting to see how he bounces back. A healthy, productive Brian Dawkins is just what this young defense needs. I can't wait to see him come crawling(in a good way) out of the tunnel come September.
In other Eagles news, it appears that Green Bay may be interested in the services of AJ Feeley. It makes sense for them to be looking for a veteran QB to back up the unproven Aaron Rodgers. Feeley is a solid backup for the birds, but with Kolb waiting in the wings it makes sense to swap Feeley for some more draft picks or someone else who will actually see the field. Its not hard to pick up a 3rd string QB somewhere else (Detmer? Holcomb?).
Finally, its officially April. That means the draft is right around the corner. After the draft comes the mini camps, then its really just a few weeks away from training camp . . . right? I miss football. Go Birds.
The Sixers Dancers that is. We've all enjoyed their routines during timeouts and between quarters at the Wachovia Center, so help them out. Go to the NBA website and vote for your Sixers Dancers. You owe it to them after all the fun times they've given you. The Sixers Dancers are matched up against those tramps from Miami today. Help bring the championship home to Philly.
Oh and while you're there - enjoy some of the pictures:
Come on, does anyone that looks like this deserve to lose ANYTHING?
By the way, here is the current Eastern Conference Standings after a Wiz loss and a Raps win last night. The Sixers travel to the lovely Meadowlands tonight to face the Nets. Time to make up some ground.
After spending our entire lives rooting for Philadelphia sports teams, 4 friends decided to bring their bitching to the internet. We'll weigh-in on pretty much all things sports, with a focus on Philly teams and a dash of pop culture.
Not sure why you should bookmark this blog? Not really seeing what we have to offer? Allow me to clear some things up for you: we may not be the most updated, funny, news-breaking, or politically correct sports blog out there, but we've got the most important thing of all: all the right opinions. If you disagree, you're probably wrong. Wanna fight?
This is not the face of a man who is ready to lose.
The Sixers can't run away from Game 6, but that doesn't mean they can't run away with it. Andre Miller doesn't usually miss half of the shots he missed last night. The ball doesn't go through the hoop on a defensive deflection in a typical game. With a few breaks and the intensity level that comes with an elimination game, I think the Sixers are in for close game at home. A close game from which they emerge victorious and renewed.
Granted, we might not see the rule until the next CBA negotiation in 2010-2011. That doesn't mean this thing doesn't have legs though and won't stay on the radar for the next few years. The way I see it, this is just another way that Stern and Co. can restrict trade and allow the NCAA to continue milking its players for the cash they generate while they are in school. The NCAA makes a ridiculous amount of money every year, to the tune of 
I do agree though, that the machine that is youth basketball needs to be taken down. Nike and Adidas run the show below the college level. Maybe if we didn't have shoe companies and other pariahs whispering in the ears of high school sophomores that they can be millionaires soon, they might actually have an interest in pursuing a college degree while playing basketball. Maybe if these kids weren't growing up in impoverished neighborhoods with little to no emphasis on education, however quality it may even be, they wouldn't think that the only way they can take care of their families is by taking their game to the NBA as soon as possible. Maybe if the NCAA somehow took care of its revenue generating athletes with some fair compensation, they wouldn't feel like they have to choose basketball or education, and not both.
