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Showing posts from December, 2006
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Philly's Best & Worst: Year in Review

It’s that time of year when we look back and evaluate, and I decided to do the same with the Philly sports scene. At first I tried to come up with categories in which to determine the best and worst. Then I realized that this is Philadelphia. We have no problem identifying someone or something as “the worst” (or “the best”) and leaving it at that. So, here’s the Philly Sports Review round-up of the best and worst in 2006: Eagles: They’re the best. For the first time in ages there’s a legitimate argument for another team, but their surge to the playoffs and potential NFC East title helps them nudge the Phillies. Flyers: They’re the worst. They were supposed to have hoisted the Stanley Cup in the last couple of years, and are now an irrelevant team in an irrelevant sport. Ryan Howard: He’s the best, hands down. He made a serious run at the non-juiced home run mark, and is the biggest reason the Phillies likely supplant the Eagles as town favorite in 2007. Pat Gillick: He’s the best. Gill

McNabb Defended . . . by Mommy

Yesterday, Donovan McNabb’s mother posted the following on her blog on the quarterback’s “official” website: Bittersweet The win this week was great and I could actually say that's what I wanted for Christmas. Yes, now we have solidly beat the Cowboys with my son and without him. But I can hear you asking, mama McNabb what are you really thinking? Well here it is, the real deal. It's kind of bitter sweet for me as my son, the quarterback sits out on injured reserved watching the game during his rehab. I polled my family too and they feel the same. We want our team to win and even go to the Superbowl and win it in Miami especially if they continue to play as they have. But oh oh, if they win the Superbowl without my son, what would be the real outcome with the fans? Will they crucify him? Maybe, then the trade talks would begin. Off season madness, worse than last year's fiasco. But guess what, I guess I'll have to take the beating if it comes. I would have to hope that

Eagles Crush Dallas

As the Christmas euphoria slowly fades, I’m still rather shocked at the turn the Philadelphia Eagles’ season has taken. After yesterday’s 23-7 pounding of the Cowboys in Dallas, which wasn’t even that close and clinched a playoff spot, this team that was once left for dead looks poised for a deep playoff run. I won’t even scoff at those using “Super Bowl” and “Eagles” in the same sentence. Despite the reluctance of seemingly every media member to say it, Jeff Garcia is running this team better than Donovan McNabb has for most of his career. The fact is that this team relied on the big play under McNabb, and that’s not what this offense is meant to do. They don’t have to do that under Garcia, who has been consistent, responds well after making potentially critical errors, and is clearly more comfortable in the offense and the spotlight. He even runs the ball effectively, something McNabb started to shy away from, and has taken balls that bounce at the feet of receivers out of the offens

Christmas Wish List, '06

Dear Santa, I wrote last year on behalf of the Philadelphia sports fan, and just realized I at least got a few things on my list. Donte' Stallworth might not be the best number one receiver, but at least he’s sane. A season late, but Freddy Garcia is definitely a number one pitcher. Andy Reid actually started running the ball, but I’m still not confident that gift won’t break if we play with it too much. A post-up presence, bullpen, and a media that’s not fixated on Terrell Owens would still be nice, but I have a new list. This year I’d like: · An epiphany for Ed Snider on the value of retirement so he can stop ruining not one, but two, Philadelphia franchises. · A gag for Stephen A. Smith. · Now that we’ve seen the value of a solid-to-good pocket passer at quarterback, could we get one for the long haul? · I’m pretty sure we’re about to see the value of a point guard who actually passes the ball. Again, I’m just looking to keep him, ok? · Something to care about with the Flyers.

Iverson Denies Demanding Trade

We should’ve known Allen Iverson wouldn’t go away quietly. ESPN.com is offering a preview of A.I. on Quite Frankly, hosted by his favorite mouthpiece, Stephen A. Smith. Allen Iverson says he never demanded a trade, but he's sure happy he landed in Denver. In his first interview since the Nuggets acquired him from the 76ers, Iverson told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith on Wednesday, "It's a great feeling. I'm just glad the whole process is over. I think I'm just put in a situation where I can succeed." . . . Iverson took exception to the perception that he went into Sixers general manager Billy King's office and demanded a trade almost two weeks ago. "I went into a meeting with Billy and I had expressed my frustrations," Iverson said. "We had lost 12 of 14 games and something wasn't right. I told Billy King we couldn't win with this style. I didn't directly say, 'Trade me -- I'm ready to go.'" The four-time scoring

Sixers Trade Iverson

Billy King may have finally made a good trade. Allen Iverson (and apparently Ivan McFarland) has been traded to the Denver Nuggets for Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and two first round picks. Smith is nothing more than an expiring contract. The two 2007 first round picks are expected to be in the 20s in what many are calling a deep draft. Miller seems to be the wild card. Reports are he has two years left on his contract, but he only makes about half of what Iverson makes, so he’s not a cap killer. Besides that, he’s not necessarily a guy you want to run out of town. In fact, he may be too good. Miller is only 30 years old, and is averaging 13 points and 9.1 assists per game. He’s a true point guard who may actually improve this team enough to allow it to make the playoffs this year. Think I’m crazy? At an admittedly horrendous 5-18, the Sixers are only 5 games out of the Atlantic Division lead in which every team is under .500. The Sixers were headed toward a very realistic chance at the n

Garcia has Birds Rollin' toward Playoffs

Birds’ fans seem to have an early Christmas present. The Eagles are poised to make the playoffs after having been left for dead weeks ago. Without having heard official scenarios, it seems apparent the Eagles need only win one of their final two to make the playoffs. With the all-but-dead Falcons waiting in Week 17, the Birds seem destined to play in January. Jeff Garcia has gone 3-1 since being a starter, and has the Eagles sitting at 8-6. I’ll be the first to admit I thought Andy Reid should have started A.J. Feeley after Donovan McNabb went down. The team was 5-5, and looked putrid. I thought it was time to see if Feeley was our future. Now, it’s time to root for lightning in a bottle. The hell with the future. Garcia has assumed leadership of this team without a single monotone proclamation of that fact by the quarterback. He’s run the offense as well as McNabb typically did (aside from occasional stellar games), runs when needed without fear of being dubbed a running quarterback,

A.I. Drama Continues Philly Trend

It’s time for an exorcism in Philadelphia. No, I’m not talking about the pending trade of Allen Iverson, at least not directly. I’m talking about the level of absurdity that our city’s sports scene consistently gets to. Before we’ve fully recovered from the Terrell Owens debacle, the 76ers create another national story by jettisoning Iverson. They can’t just quietly work to trade him. No, they have to deactivate him, and make it an ongoing story while they ensure that the world knows they have to trade him. Unfortunately, Billy King can’t trade with himself, and is destined to get nothing for the leading vote-getter among Eastern Conference guards for the All-Star game. In fact, King won’t even do that well. Lost in all the talk about obtaining salary cap relief for Iverson — a tale of the absurd manner in which trades in the NBA are made unto itself — is the fact that King has cried about cap constraints since he got here. It’s been his job in at least some capacity to fix that proble

Iverson Done in Philly?

Billy King announced late this afternoon that Allen Iverson would not be playing tonight or in the next game for the Philadelphia 76ers. His suggestion that the team would decide what to do after that “if need be,” makes it clear a) it’s not because Iverson’s hurt, and b) they’d like to rid themselves of the guard. Reports are Iverson has demanded a trade, following in the footsteps of Chris Webber, and recently stormed out of practice after head coach Maurice Cheeks told the point guard he needs to pass more and shoot less. It always amazes me when the highest paid guy on a crappy team “demands” a trade. The fact that the two highest paid guys on this team have reportedly demanded trades is mind boggling. Does it really not occur to these guys that they’re part of the reason their teams suck? They never consider that their teams would love to trade them, but no other team wants them? They certainly never offer to renegotiate their inflated contract to make themselves a little

Irvin's Free Pass is Bogus

The double-standard lives! Michael Richards is a racist, but Michael Irvin is not. Wrong! In case you missed it, Michael Irvin suggested Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo must have some black ancestors based on his athleticism: He doesn't look like he's that type of an athlete, but he is. He is, man. I don't know if some brother down in that line somewhere, I don't know who saw what or where, his great great great great grandma ran over in the 'hood or something went down. . . . If great great great great great great great great grandma pulled one of them studs up out of the barn, "Come on in here for a second," you know, and they go out and work in the yard. You know, back in the day. Of course, you couldn’t possibly have missed Michael Richards’ racist rant against some black hecklers . That was all over the news. I wasn’t looking for the Richards’ story any more than the Irvin story, yet TV news wouldn’t let the Richards’ rant go while I stumbled on