When the Eagles season ended, I thought the local sports media would basically mail it in until the Phils start in April and barely register a blip on my radar. Boy was I wrong. Yesterday was one of the more enjoyable days of sports writing that I've witnessed from the Daily News in quite a while.
Initially, it is quite apparent that the Daily News believes that Philly Sports Phans should be placed on suicide alert. They went way out of their way to make us feel better about the Phils' postseason chances this year, and also started trying to get us excited about the potential draftees that the Flyers and Sixers may be looking at now that it is pretty clear that both teams may end up with the first pick in their respective drafts. (By the way, have two teams in the same city, let alone two winter sports teams, ended up with the first overall draft pick during the same year? If anyone can provide this information, I will be eternally grateful.)
The Daily News included a very interesting article about how Paul Holmgren is scouring the planet to find the best available player to pick in next year's draft. As this article details, it appears to be the absolute worst year to have the first pick as there are no bona fide stars available....Figures, huh?
I particularly took notice that one of the kids they are looking at is a center from Quebec, named Angelo Esposito. Tell me you don't see this kid fitting in here in Philly. He'd be a fan favorite in South Philly and Washington Township about five minutes after he's drafted.
Next, Paul Hagen argues in his Phils Winter Carnival puff piece that Philly is really a baseball city. He details that:
The venerable Bill Conlin also checked in with a great column. He humorously points out the flaws in Pat Burrell's swing as demonstrated in a picture of "Pat the Bat" from the January 2007 page of the Phils' calendar. He also notes that since Burrell was included as Mr. January and not featured in one of the "baseball" months, there is a still a possibility that he will be traded. (If we could only be so lucky.) However, most importantly, Conlin details that recently signed Phils' reliever Antonio Alfonseca has 6 fingers on each hand AND 6 toes on each foot!!! Frankly, this is amazing. I wondered if the extra finger somehow helps his pitching, but I learned on Wikipedia that "his extra small fingers next to his pinky have no influence on his pitching, as they don't touch the ball." Bummer. I also couldn't find any pictures of his hand...Bigger Bummer.
The fun did not stop there, my friends. Old Timers' Day continued with an enjoyable column from Stan Hochman who told us about a documentary film being made about the supposed curse of Billy Penn over our beloved sports teams. He even furthered the filmmakers' argument by smartly pointing out that the Birds lost to the Saints because:
Over the last two days, both the Inky and the Daily News ran full length articles detailing how the target of the Sixers draft affections, 7 foot Ohio State Center Greg Oden, is a great player and a great person. Admittedly, it really does sound like he's a good kid. I'd love to see him here after having a star that left something to be desired in the role model category. In any event, the Sixers sure appear to be in full tank mode hoping to get Oden.
Tonight, they did not disappoint as they got blasted by Memphis, who came into tonight with an even worse record. The great thing is that even if we lose the lottery and don't get Oden, the consolation prize, Kevin Durant of Texas, ain't so bad as the Sports Guy waxed poetic about in his colum about the Suns today. As a result, I'm sure Durant will be the subject of another article this week as the Daily News desperately tries to talk all of us Philly Sports Phans off the ledge.
Yeah...I know this was a long column, and I apologize, but there was way too much good stuff to let go uncommented upon. Plus, if our teams are going to suck, it helps if the sports writing is good. Thanks guys. If you can keep me entertained between now and Phils' opening day, you will certainly have earned your money.
Initially, it is quite apparent that the Daily News believes that Philly Sports Phans should be placed on suicide alert. They went way out of their way to make us feel better about the Phils' postseason chances this year, and also started trying to get us excited about the potential draftees that the Flyers and Sixers may be looking at now that it is pretty clear that both teams may end up with the first pick in their respective drafts. (By the way, have two teams in the same city, let alone two winter sports teams, ended up with the first overall draft pick during the same year? If anyone can provide this information, I will be eternally grateful.)
The Daily News included a very interesting article about how Paul Holmgren is scouring the planet to find the best available player to pick in next year's draft. As this article details, it appears to be the absolute worst year to have the first pick as there are no bona fide stars available....Figures, huh?
I particularly took notice that one of the kids they are looking at is a center from Quebec, named Angelo Esposito. Tell me you don't see this kid fitting in here in Philly. He'd be a fan favorite in South Philly and Washington Township about five minutes after he's drafted.
Next, Paul Hagen argues in his Phils Winter Carnival puff piece that Philly is really a baseball city. He details that:
In the period from 1983 to '85, when Marion Campbell was coaching the Eagles and the Phillies were coming off a time when they were going to the postseason nearly every year, it was the local baseball team that dominated the sports landscape.Puhhhleeeze. Sorry Paul, Philly is a football town. People only care about the Phils when they are doing well, which is basically never and I'm not counting on it happening this year either. The only thing that could change my mind is if someone guaranteed me that Pat Burrell regains his old form and a reliever falls out of a tree to help eat up innings. So, since the Phils will never win anything significant, I guess we'll never know if Philly can be a baseball town.
And yet...
The Eagles, by losing to the Saints last weekend, assured that they will not be the team that triggers a championship parade down Broad Street this year.
All of which sets the table nicely for the Phillies, who will assemble for the first official workout for pitchers and catchers at the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater 29 days from now......
The coast is clear. The Eagles are done until training camp. The 76ers and Flyers have little to play for beyond a shot at the first overall draft choice. The Phillies suddenly have a roster chock-full of exciting young players - Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels - that fans can root for. They have been on the edge of making it to the playoffs for the past couple of years and have added a proven starting pitcher, Freddy Garcia, who could help push them over the top.
And should it all come together and result in a world championship, well, that would most likely result in a seismic shift in the football-baseball balance in the area.
"We're sitting in a good position," assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle, who has been with the organization since 1992, said yesterday at the media availability that coincides with the start of the team's offseason promotional push.
"Now we need to go out and win. The fans are hungry for a winner in any sport, so we have a great opportunity. I think the city wants to embrace this club. I think people are just waiting for the opportunity.".....
So is Philadelphia a football city like Pittsburgh and Oakland? Or a baseball city like St. Louis, and Boston?
The answer is both. Which way the pendulum swings just depends on which team has won the most lately. And, beginning April 2 against the Braves at Citizens Bank Park, it will be the Phillies' turn to try to stake their claim.
The venerable Bill Conlin also checked in with a great column. He humorously points out the flaws in Pat Burrell's swing as demonstrated in a picture of "Pat the Bat" from the January 2007 page of the Phils' calendar. He also notes that since Burrell was included as Mr. January and not featured in one of the "baseball" months, there is a still a possibility that he will be traded. (If we could only be so lucky.) However, most importantly, Conlin details that recently signed Phils' reliever Antonio Alfonseca has 6 fingers on each hand AND 6 toes on each foot!!! Frankly, this is amazing. I wondered if the extra finger somehow helps his pitching, but I learned on Wikipedia that "his extra small fingers next to his pinky have no influence on his pitching, as they don't touch the ball." Bummer. I also couldn't find any pictures of his hand...Bigger Bummer.
The fun did not stop there, my friends. Old Timers' Day continued with an enjoyable column from Stan Hochman who told us about a documentary film being made about the supposed curse of Billy Penn over our beloved sports teams. He even furthered the filmmakers' argument by smartly pointing out that the Birds lost to the Saints because:
Joe Banner had offended the gods of football by whining about the lack of love shown to owner Jeff Lurie (bad management); Shawn Andrews, their best offensive lineman, got hurt (bad luck); they couldn't stop Deuce McAllister all night (bad tackling); and they squandered their last shot at victory by punting on fourth down with less than 2 minutes left (bad coaching).Yep, Saturday was another superfecta of Philly Sports Phutility. Thanks for so succinctly pointing it out, Stan.
Over the last two days, both the Inky and the Daily News ran full length articles detailing how the target of the Sixers draft affections, 7 foot Ohio State Center Greg Oden, is a great player and a great person. Admittedly, it really does sound like he's a good kid. I'd love to see him here after having a star that left something to be desired in the role model category. In any event, the Sixers sure appear to be in full tank mode hoping to get Oden.
Tonight, they did not disappoint as they got blasted by Memphis, who came into tonight with an even worse record. The great thing is that even if we lose the lottery and don't get Oden, the consolation prize, Kevin Durant of Texas, ain't so bad as the Sports Guy waxed poetic about in his colum about the Suns today. As a result, I'm sure Durant will be the subject of another article this week as the Daily News desperately tries to talk all of us Philly Sports Phans off the ledge.
Yeah...I know this was a long column, and I apologize, but there was way too much good stuff to let go uncommented upon. Plus, if our teams are going to suck, it helps if the sports writing is good. Thanks guys. If you can keep me entertained between now and Phils' opening day, you will certainly have earned your money.
10 comments:
I know what that extra finger does do for Antonio...just ask the girls down at Delilah's.
Muller...you are on fire, my friend
Many thanks, sir.
Hey, is it me, or does Holmgren look like Ivan Drago from Rocky Whatever in this picture?
A little...maybe if they did a "Ivan Drago...Where is he now" feature
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