Left Un-Answered

About 305 years ago, a defining member of this city - William Penn - left Philadelphia for his English homeland. Today, another defining citizen of the City of Brotherly Love is on his way out of town.

As everyone has heard by now, AI has been traded to the Nuggets for Andre Miller, the expiring contract of Joe Smith (one of the top five worst #1 Overall Draft Picks of all time), and two late first round picks. Under the circumstances, this is not a horrible deal by Billy King, but that's besides the point right now.

Today is about AI and remembering how he defined the heart and soul of this city for the past decade. I can't think of another athlete that has personified the very being of this city the way AI has. The only guy I can even think of from my life time that you can even mention in the same breath as AI is Bobby Clarke.

AI was the epitome of what we have always wanted in a star athlete. On top of being supremely talented, he had the intangibles that have been missing from other Philly Sports Stars such as D Mac, Lindros, Ricky Watters, Randall, Scott Rolen, Jim Thome, Forsberg, and Barkley. He was fearless, death match competitive, tough as nails, seemingly impervious to pain, cocky, and supremely loyal. He was a latter day Warrior.

In last week's issue of SI, Chris Ballard describes AI's relationship with Philly perfectly:

Philly is a city that falls in love with its sports heroes easily yet tires of them quickly, but it was different with Iverson. From the beginning, Philadelphians saw themselves in him (or at least they hoped they did), and they embraced him for it. Like Philly, he is rough around the edges, uncouth and unpredictable, but his heart is in the right place. He is undersized and plays out of position, but he never took a play off. In a city where effort is prized above talent, he was a workingman's icon.

There are so many moments from AI's career both on and off the court that are simply unforgettable. First and foremost, how can anyone ever forget his run through the 2001 playoffs when AI simply carried the Sixers to the NBA Finals. (The only Philly playoff performances you can even put in the same ballpark are the 2004 run by Keith Primeau, the Dude's 1993 performance in the NLCS and World Series and Ron Hextall's playoff MVP winning performance in the 1987 Stanley Cup Playoffs.) In 2001, AI carried a bunch of muckers and grinders (to borrow a hockey reference) to the championship series by sheer will and determination. During the Eastern Conference Playoffs, he would simply not let our Sixers lose. I envy my buddy the Captain. He was there for just about every game and knew he was witnessing something he'd one day tell his grandkids about.

I'll also remember little moments like the "killer crossover" against Jordan in AI's rookie year and how he reacted when he won the 2001 MVP as he immediately asked "where's coach?", as he wanted Larry Brown to share the spotlight. I'll remember his duel with Vinsanity in the 2001 Eastern Conference Semis. Their battles were simply amazing, a latter day version of Bird vs. 'Nique. Honestly though, I don't have a favorite performance by the Answer. They all kind of molded together over the years as the guy scored 40 or 50 so many times. It's just about impossible to pick a favorite.

He also had the single best professional athlete press conference of all time. For ease of reference, here it is:




Maybe the guy didn't make his teammates better and he sure wasn't going to change his game to develop younger players to help the team rebuild. For this reason, I'm ok with the trade. AI has gone as far as he could with this team and this inept GM. The Sixers owed it to him to send him to another place where he can contend and rejuvenate himself.

Unfortunately, I can't tell you that 'Melo and AI together on the Nuggets will be a match made in Heaven. Melo is obviously the best player AI has ever been paired with, but the Answer has never played nice with another perimeter scorer. For AI's sake, I hope it works out for the best, but I don't think Denver will rise much higher than the 3rd best team in the West.

While I think we're all happy for the guy and wish him the best, I'd rather focus on AI in a Sixers uniform and what it was like to have the privilege of watching him play. Thanks for the Memories AI. You won't soon be forgotten.

Hate to Rain On Our Parade....

But this is our QB. This raises so many questions. First of all, unless you are body builder, no man should oil himself up like this. I will withhold all others and ask you guys to post your best take on the above photo.

I have decided that I will overlook this photo, focus on his abilities on the field and remind myself that he has a Playboy Playmate of the Year fiancee.

Roll With It

After yesterday's latest improbable Eagles' victory, I've made a decision to just roll with this team. We all realize they are fatally flawed. We can all see that the defense can't stop anyone and is over reliant on turnovers. However, I have decided to take the plunge. I'm going to enjoy the ride much like I decided to overlook the Phils' problems this past summer during their playoff run.

Following suit with everyone else in this city, I flat out love how Garcia is running this team. He is making the simple plays. He doesn't take sacks or force balls into coverage (other than that one pick.) He also knows when to take off and run with the ball. He seems to have turned the clock back about 4 years. It sure looks like he has enough left in the tank to keep this roll going for a couple more weeks.

(As an aside, I know that it is starting to become fashionable for some phans to favor Garcia over D Mac. Look, Garcia is a nice backup and has shown that he can carry you when your starter is down, but he is no where close to being the QB that McNabb is. People have to realize that #5 is a stud in his prime. If he stayed healthy, he would have likely had a record setting year. Although, I do hope that McNabb watches these games and learns a few things. I hope he sees from Garcia's play that there are some plays that he has to give up on. It seems the only time D Mac gets in real trouble is when he tries to keep plays alive with his scrambling ability and force passes down field. Maybe the experience of seeing how another QB in this offense runs things will be a good thing.)

I also love that the Birds are running the ball consistently. The offensive line is one of this team's strengths. It would be ridiculous to make these guys backpedal all night as pass blockers. They can clearly open holes for Westbrook and Buck. I hope this strategy continues. Just imagine if this team had a more reliable second option to B West at RB.

In any event, I'm looking forward to Christmas Evening's game with the 'Boys. Can they win? I have no clue. I didn't see them winning last night or in Washington, but what the hell do I know.

Ocho Foldo (Language is NSFW)

To Ocho Cinco:

Thank you for absolutely nothing, you big f'n piece of sh*t! You killed my chances of completing a 3-peat in my fantasy football league and the inevitable purchase of a beer meister. I wish I could take one of those ridiculous tiger striped cleats you wore tonight and stick it straight up your candy ass. I hope you get crabs during the offseason. I will never draft your ass again as long as you are in the NFL.

Congrats Chad, I think you are the first person ever in the history of organized sports to suffer "cramps" in a climate controlled arena in mid-December outside the Sun Belt.

For those of you who blame his lackluster performance on Carson Palmer or his lack of pass protection, you can suck my balls.

Thank you and good night.

Sincerely,


Every Fantasy Owner Who Counted On You Tonight!!!!

Me and The Sports Guy Share a Brain!

For years, me and my buddy Mr. Nascar have argued over the type of players the Sixers should have surrounded AI with. Mr. Nascar was fine with Larry's approach of surrounding AI with a bunch of pluggers that would only play defense and rebound. I on the other hand had a much grander plan. I was very specific on the type of players the Sixers needed. Of course, Larry and Billy King never found the necessary pieces to catapult to the Sixers to the next level.

I have fostered resentment towards the franchise for failing to obtain the pieces I perceived as so vital to any potential success for our 76ers. However, I did get a bit a satisfaction this past Friday when I read the Sports Guy's latest mailbag. When asked about the perfect pieces to compliment to AI, it was if he was reading from my Sixers manifesto. Bill Simmons opined the following:

SG: You'd need a shot-blocking center who could protect him on the defensive end, handle the boards, set picks and not care if he doesn't get a ton of shots (like Emeka Okafor). You'd need a big point guard who could bring the ball up (allowing Iverson to play like a 2-guard), make open 3-pointers and defend 2-guards on the other end (like Shaun Livingston, only if he had a reliable outside shot). You'd need a small forward who couldn't be left alone from 3-point range (like Rashard Lewis). And you'd need a power forward who could protect the rim, score on the low post, set picks and run the floor (like Elton Brand). That's the most ideal situation possible. Out of the current teams, the Clippers come the closest because they already have Brand and Livingston. Anyway, intriguing question.

Bill Simmons knows basketball. Since we share the same exact opinion on a basketball topic, then I, by the transitive property of equality, know basketball. Please give me my props. My sports versatility knows no bounds.

Time to Adjust Their Thinking

Brodrick Bunkley’s disappointing rookie season is a topic that has pretty much been beaten to death in this town. However, if this team is ever going to step up on defense and become something more than they’ve shown through 13 weeks, it’s only going to happen if Bunkley is given a chance. We know we have with the rest of the defensive line. Patterson, Darwin Walker, Cole and Darren Howard aren’t going to add much more than we’ve seen in the past month. Why not give Bunkley a shot? Can he be any worse? I say no, but can he better given more playing time? I say absolutely. To me, this is a no brainer. This is the kind of move that could spark the team and improve the entire defense. You know, just the kind of thing this team needs desperately as it attempts to qualify for the playoffs.

Along the same lines\, I’d go back to Lewis as strong safety and put Considine’s little white ass on the bench. I’ve seen enough of him this year to realize that he’s not a starting quality NFL safety. However, Michael Lewis clearly is an above average strong safety. He just fell in love with the kill shot and it caused him to give up too many big plays. My buddy the Captain, the biggest Eagles homer this side of Merrill Reese, pointed out that Sean Taylor and Roy Williams bite on pass plays all the time trying to make the big hit and they are given carte blanche. Now that Lewis has sat on the sideline and watched his prospects for earning a big contract in free agency dwindle to nearly zero, I think he’s ready to play more reliably.

Come on, Big Red and JJ. It’s time to stop being so damn stubborn and play the kid. I could really give a sh*t if he missed a team plane. The kid has talent. He needs to be on the field.

What We're Losing For

I know many of you are hearing that the only hope for the Sixers to ever contend again is to win the Greg Oden lottery. I'm also pretty sure a fair amount of you are saying who the f*(k is Greg Oden and why should I be excited? Well, that 's why your favorite blogger is here. Here's a quicky highlight film of Oden in high school and at the McDonald's All American Game.

More Heartwarming Flyers Memories

The Flyers really sucked tonight losing 8-4 to the Penguins. Thankfully, someone invented You Tube and we can go back and savor memories like this one.



(Yes, now that I learned how to input You Tube clips into my blog, I'm going to be incredibly lazy.)

A.I......

...is still a Sixer. The trade watch continues!

At this point, I've lost interest in who's still involved and who's lost interest for various reasons. I just want it to be over. I'm tired of hearing about it at this point and just want the inevitably horrible trade to be consumated already!

Question

Hey....is anyone having a hard time posting comments lately? St. Joe's Nick informed he's having a problem. Let me know at tony_dangelis@hotmail.com, if you are experiencing an issue.

For All Those Flyers Phans That Need A Pick Me Up

This team really should have won the Cup. If just one more defenseman didn't suffer a season ending injury, we would have tasted glory.

Oh well...I guess that's how things go in this city.

Note to Self: Don't Piss Off Mr. Snider

In a scene reminiscent to the one six years ago when the team equipment manager was video taped removing the "C" from Eric Lindros' jersey and stitched onto Eric Desjardins', AI's locker was cleaned out and the name plate removed. Of course, the vindictive Mr. Snider made sure there was video tape of this event.

AI deserves better. I hope he's traded to a contender and he wins the title he rightly deserves.

As stated here yesterday, I hope AI is traded to Minnesota, but if he has to end up with another struggling franchise, I hope he becomes a Knick. I might get the NBA League Pass if this happens just to see the chaos that ensues. There is a better than even money chance that AI and Isiah could come to blows inside the first month.

If those two options don't work out, I'm really hoping he ends up in Sacto with Ron Artest. How wonderful would that be? Can you imagine a scenario where AI is the voice of reason? Plus, AI could finally team up with Artest and release that long awaited rap album where he offends one and all.

Hollow Win

While I must apologize for once again being a day late with my Eagles' analysis, I have to admit that I wanted an extra day to let yesterday's 21-19 win over the 'Skins sink in and see if I could talk myself into feeling a bit better about it. After much reflection, I couldn't find a whole lot to get excited about. I still feel pretty hollow after this victory. The Birds got me believing that they were ready to make a push for the division by toying with the 'Skins in the 2nd quarter and then quickly got into bad habits throughout the rest of the game and almost allowed the 'Skins to steal the game. Thank God the Daniel Snyder forgot to wake up Joe Gibbs for the game, because if they had their head coach around, they might not have blown all their time outs before the two minute warning and spared us further agony.

On the bright side, somehow the Birds control their own destiny in the NFC East. If they win out, the NFC East is theirs. However, if you think winning their last three, including the next two on the road against the G Men and the Cowboys, is a possibility, then you, my friend, are much more positive than me and likely need to move out of Negadelphia.

I love what Jeff Garcia is doing for the offense. I really do. I just can't get past how horrible the defense is. The porous run defense was on display again as someone named Ladell Betts ran for 177 yars. More alarmingly, the coverage had some leaks as well and let a QB in his 4th NFL start make some big plays down the field. Thankfully, the defense tightened up when it had to and got two big plays out of rookie, Omar Gaither - who has made more plays in two games than Dhani and McCoy have made all year - and Michael Lewis - who shook off the rust and looked pretty spry streaking down the sideline with a second quarter TD interception return.

Who knows, maybe it's just the state of the NFL these days. The Boys' D got trounced on Sunday night by the Saints and the Colts looked like Baylor University playing against those old Barry Switzer Oklahoma Sooners' wishbone offenses of the 70's and 80's. The Pats had trouble with Joey Harrington and the 'Phins. Even the Bears gave up 27 to the Rams tonight. However, at least those teams have shown they can stop a team from time to time. Our Birds haven't stopped anyone since the first Redskins game, which is tough to count since it was in a rain storm.

As a result, I'm still skeptical, but I still think the Birds can make the playoffs at 8-8 if they beat Ron Mexico, his STD's and the Falcons on New Year's Eve. Yes, I'm finally showing a little positivity. I hope that appeases my main man, the Captain. After all my criticism of late, I woke up to find a fish wrapped in newspaper on my front step. I think he's trying to send a message.

Random Thought on the AI Saga

If there is a God in heaven, AI will get traded to Minnesota. Sure, it will be interesting to see him and KG try to win a title. However, I have more selfish plans. If he does go the Land of 10,000 Lakes, I am immediately going pitch a reality show to ESPN, HBO or anyone interested to have AI and his posse followed by a film crew as they adjust to the wonderful Great White North of Minnesota.

The pilot episode can be based upon AI and posse trying to find a new night club and home to their liking. A follow up could show AI and crew trying to shovel his Bentley out of a snow drift, dealing with their first significantly cold winter. Another great episode could focus on his posse going ice fishing while AI is at practice.

Frankly, the possibilities are endless. If you thought the Osbornes was must see TV, I think this show would blow it away.

PSP's EAGLES' PREDICTION

This one won't be popular....

After last week's late game heroics enabled the Birds to get a win over Carolina and move themselves back into contention for the debacle that is the NFC Wildcard Race, it seems that the whole city has gone overboard and forgotten the fact that this team's defense is still totally inept and Jeff Garcia is still 37 years old (although he does feel like a young 37). Since I consider myself a bit more centered and realistic when it comes to the Birds' chances, I have not been sucked into thinking that today will be a walk over against the struggling 'Skins.

If I'm Al Saunders, I give the ball 40+ times to Ladell Betts and see if the porous Birds' run defense can stop him. Such an approach won't be sexy, but it will be effective. I see the Birds defense giving up a ton of yards, but stiffening in red zone and holding the Skins to only 13 points. However, I think Garcia and the offense comes back to earth and commits a bunch of turnovers.

As a result, I see the Birds losing a boring, sloppy, maddening 13-10 game. At least I'll get some satisfaction today from decorating the Christmas Tree.

New Jersey Italians Unite and Celebrate!

One of our own has been named the Home Depot Coach of the Year for 2006. Way to go Greg Schiano. Way to make your fellow NJ paisans proud!

ATLANTA, Ga. – Rutgers University head football coach Greg Schiano, who has been the architect of one of the best turnaround stories in college football, will be named The Home Depot "Coach of the Year" during a live telecast of the 2006 Home Depot College Football Awards tonight from 7-9 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Sophomore running back Ray Rice is one of three finalists for the Maxwell Award, honoring college football's player of the year, which will also be presented at the award show.

"It is an honor to be recognized as The Home Depot Coach of the Year," said Schiano. "This award is a true reflection of all the great people here at Rutgers."

Schiano guided the Scarlet Knights to just their second 10-win season in school history (137 seasons) in 2006, including a thrilling, come-from-behind 28-25 victory over then third-ranked Louisville on Nov. 9 at Rutgers Stadium.

Rutgers achieved its first top-10 ranking in school history this season as the Scarlet Knights have been ranked for 10 consecutive weeks, the longest stretch ever for a Rutgers squad.

Plus, my man turned down "The U" to stay at RU. What a guy!

Someone Agrees With My Expert Opinion

Remember last week when I said the Birds need to tear it down and blow it up on defense, but the offense only needs some minor changes? Well, according to yesterday's Daily News, an AFC Scout agrees with me. This is a very interesting read. Enjoy:

THE EAGLES are a wobbly 6-6 with just two wins in their last seven games. But they live in the land of opportunity, the NFC, where second and third and fourth chances seem to grow on trees; where it's never over until it's over. And even then, it's still not over.

So, it's still OK to dream. Still OK to believe that the Eagles maybe, just maybe will emerge from the December chaos with a playoff invitation.

At some point, though, maybe on New Year's Day or maybe a week or 2 or 3 later, this season is going to end and thoughts both inside the NovaCare Complex and out are going to turn to next season.

Everyone has an opinion on what the Eagles need to do in the offseason to become a legitimate Super Bowl contender again. You have one. I have one. Their middle linebacker has one.

Sometimes you can see something more clearly from a distance than from up close, though. So I decided to seek an outside opinion. Called a respected AFC personnel man I've known for more than 20 years. He is well-versed on the Eagles because they are one of 12 teams he is responsible for breaking down and evaluating. He has watched hours of tape on them and seen several of their games in person.

I asked him to put himself in general manager Tom Heckert's seat and tell me what he sees - and doesn't see - when he looks at the Eagles' roster.

Some of his conclusions:

• The offense is, for the most part, fine. Re-sign Donté Stallworth. Add another No. 3-type wideout. Add another running back, preferably a bigger short-yardage/goal-line-type guy to rotate with Brian Westbrook.

Re-sign Jeff Garcia as backup insurance for Donovan McNabb in case he isn't ready to go by next September or gets hurt again. Then call it a day.

• The most pressing problem defensively isn't the front four or even the linebackers. It's the secondary. Cornerback and safety need to be high priorities in both free agency and the draft. Lito Sheppard is the only "A" cornerback they have, and his size (5-10) is a problem against the league's taller wide receivers. Sheldon Brown can't tackle and has regressed as a cover man. Free safety Brian Dawkins is on the downside of his career and has a year, maybe 2, left as a starter. Mike Lewis isn't worth re-signing and his replacement, Sean Considine, will never be anything more than a good special-teams player.

• Put Dhani Jones and Matt McCoy on the next flight out of Philadelphia. Neither can play. Chris Gocong, the Eagles' 2005 third-round pick, should be able to step in and start in Jones' strongside spot next season, assuming his neck injury isn't a recurring problem. Omar Gaither is good enough to replace McCoy on the weakside. But the Eagles need to draft an eventual replacement for middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. He's strictly an inside run-stopper with no more than 2 semiproductive years left. If the Eagles are planning to eventually move Gaither into Trotter's spot, then they need to bring in a weakside linebacker. Shawn Barber is perfect in the nickel role he's in. His knees wouldn't hold up to an every-down pounding.

• Eagles fans need to get off Brodrick Bunkley's case. Yes, he needed to be productive as a rookie. But that's yesterday's news. Bottom line: He's still going to be a very good player.

• The Eagles weren't idiots in giving defensive tackle Mike Patterson a contract extension so soon. Patterson is a good player who is only going to get better. He and Bunkley will give the Eagles a solid tackle tandem for years. Darwin Walker is too inconsistent. Sam Rayburn showed promise his first couple of years but hasn't done much since. One of the Eagles' free-agency priorities should be a 325-pound, sun-blocking defensive tackle to back up Patterson and Bunkley and stop the bleeding when teams start gashing them with the run.

• The Eagles will never get their money's worth from Jevon Kearse or Darren Howard. They overrated the abilities of both. The emergence of '05 fifth-round pick Trent Cole offsets that a little bit, but not enough. Once Bunkley starts making a contribution inside, that should make the ends a little more productive. They're still going to need to add another defensive end in the offseason, though, because Juqua Thomas is going to attract interest from a number of 3-4 teams that like him as a pass-rushing linebacker. Jerome McDougle needs to be on the same flight with Jones and McCoy.

The Eagles like Stallworth. A lot. They haven't attempted to re-sign him yet because they wanted to see if he could stay healthy for more than a couple of games before they throw a lot of money at him.

In the six games he's been at or close to 100 percent physically this season, he has 27 receptions and four touchdowns and is averaging 20.6 yards per catch. The problem is, the more productive he is in the remaining games, the more free-agent suitors he will have and the larger his price tag will get.

But the AFC personnel man believes re-signing him is an absolute must for the Eagles. "If Stallworth's out there, it's not a bad skill group," he said. "But they need him - or somebody like him - to push [Reggie] Brown. Because Brown is no better than a No. 2. And they need to add another [No. 3] receiver. God bless Hank Baskett. He's a nice story. But he is who he is. L.J. Smith has the ability to be in the top tier of tight ends in the league, but he has to become more consistent."

He believes it's mandatory that the Eagles bring in a bigger running back to back up Westbrook. Like Baskett, Correll Buckhalter is a nice, heartwarming story, and there's a place for him in a three-back rotation.

But the personnel man feels the Eagles need a pile-mover.

"They need another runner," he said. "They really don't have another runner besides Westbrook right now. They have a bunch of other guys back there, but none of them can play.

"I thought they were going to get T.J. Duckett this summer. That would have been a good combination. He was productive in Atlanta down near the goal line. Had 26 or something touchdowns in 3 years. I think they need that."

The scout likes the Eagles' offensive line. Thinks right guard Shawn Andrews and center Jamaal Jackson are outstanding young players. Thinks 33-year-old right tackle Jon Runyan still is playing at a very high level and has another 2 or 3 good years left. Thinks rookie second-rounder Winston Justice, who has been inactive for all 12 games, was a good pick who will make a fine left-tackle replacement for William Thomas, perhaps as soon as next year. Thinks rookie fourth-rounder Max Jean-Gilles was another good pick who probably will replace Todd Herremans at left guard next season.

"Their offensive line is going to be very good for the foreseeable future," he said. "I went back and looked at preseason tape of Justice and Gilles and both of them are going to be pretty good. Justice isn't playing because they ended up getting probably better play out of Thomas than they expected. So there's been no need to play him yet. They're getting ripped because he's a second-round pick and isn't playing. But so what? Three years from now, they'll be going, 'Hey, that was a pretty good pick.' "

Defensively, the scout has concerns about the Eagles' secondary. Big concerns.

"They've got some major issues in the secondary," he said. "That's where I think the problem is going to be in the next couple of years. Lito is a pretty good corner, but his size hurts him. Brown is a 'B' corner at best. Dawkins is definitely on the downside, and they don't have another safety. Other than Sheppard, Dawkins right now might be the best guy in their secondary. And that's not good. At this stage of his career, you want him to be the fourth best guy.

"They're going to have to draft a corner high next year. I don't think they'll be willing to spend a lot of money on one in free agency because that's one of those positions that scares you [in free agency]. You don't know what you're getting."

The scout thinks the Eagles also need to find two new safeties, one to eventually replace Dawkins and another to be their long-term strong safety. He doesn't think Sean Considine is the answer at either.

"I thought I was going to like Considine," he said. "Because he was tackling on special teams when he was just doing that.

But now that he's playing [on defense], he's getting exposed. He's just a guy."

Up front, the Eagles have drawn heavy criticism for Bunkley's failure to contribute this season and for signing Patterson, their '05 No. 1 pick, to a long-term extension.

"Patterson is as strong as [bleep]," the AFC personnel guy said. "And Bunkley's going to be fine. Rookie defensive linemen, particularly tackles, take time. People want these guys to come in here and be Warren Sapp from day one. It doesn't happen. People have to be patient with guys like that."

The scout feels the Eagles' biggest problem at the defensive-end position right now is the small contribution they're getting from Howard, who was signed as a free agent last offseason.

"They're just not getting very good play from him right now," he said. "That's the one that's hurt them a little bit up front. He's just not making a lot of plays. He always plays hard, but sometimes, you just don't know.

"I mean, Jevon isn't what they thought they were going to get when they got him, either. That's the problem with signing these free agents. I'd much rather pay my own guys, and the Eagles have done that. But if you guess wrong a couple of times - like they did with McDougle, like they did with McCoy and some of other linebackers they've drafted - then you've got to step out of the box and take a chance on free agents. And a lot of times, that's a bigger crapshoot than the draft."

I dare my buddies like the Captain and Mike B. to dispute what this guy says. I have to admit, I thought Sheldon was more highly valued throughout the league. I suppose I was wrong.

And You Thought The Eagles and Flyers Couldn't Play Defense?

I know the Sixers suck and I really shouldn't kick a team while they are down, but how do you let the offensively inept Bulls (a team that starts three guys that can score and 2 that have about as much offensive ability as Sammy Dalembert) score 69 points in the first half alone!?!?!?!?!

Yes, the Birds' defense has been brutal since the Dallas game and the Flyers have given up the second most goals in the NHL, but tonight's performance by the Sixers may have been the worst defensive performance by any Philly team this year.

I've advocated that the Birds need to make some changes, but let me state the obvious: The Enola Gay needs to drop both the Fat Man and the Little Boy on the Sixers because this team needs to be blown up and started over. However, with the constraints of the NBA salary cap and Billy King's inadequacies in drafting and free agent signings, I expect a change in the Sixers fortunes around the year 2015. I suppose I'll check back then.

Freddy Garcia A Phil!

I guess I should do some fact checking before I post something, huh? No sooner did I post the Lieber article and add a tidbit about the Phils not being able to make a move when I read the following:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Chicago White Sox traded right-hander Freddy Garcia to the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night for Gavin Floyd and a player to be named.

White Sox manager Kenny Williams let slip during the announcement at baseball's winter meetings that the "player to be named" is pitcher Gio Gonzalez.

The deal reconnects Garcia with his former general manager from Seattle, Pat Gillick, who has been working to upgrade the team's pitching staff. Gillick had also been looking for a right-handed bat to protect NL MVP Ryan Howard, but said he didn't expect to find one and turned his attention to the pitching staff.

Garcia was 17-9 with a 4.53 ERA for Chicago last season.

"The Chicago White Sox are still open for business," Williams said.

Floyd was 4-3 with a 7.29 ERA in 11 starts for the Phillies last season before being optioned to Triple-A on June 3.

"I think Gavin's going to be a little bit of a late bloomer," Phillies assistant GM Mike Arbuckle said.

Gonzalez was traded from the White Sox to Phillies in November 2005 as part of the deal that sent Jim Thome to Chicago and Aaron Rowand to Philadelphia.

Sounds like a great deal to me, but I've said the same thing about the Kevin Millwood, Jon Lieber, Andy Ashby, Mike Williams, etc. deals. When it comes to pitching, rarely do things work out to our benefit, but I'm certain that Floyd won't amount to much.

On paper, the Phils now have the best starting rotation in the NL East...or dare I say, the whole NL! Garcia, Myers, Hamels, Moyer, and Eaton is a pretty decent 1-5 in today's MLB. I guess the only question left is what reliever we'll trade Lieber for as this team desperately needs bullpen help, but I'll go to war with starters 1-5.

The Most Interesting Team In Town

Another day passes at the Winter Meetings and the Phils didn't sign any free agents, nor did they make any trades, but another player got ripped by management.

Hot on the heels of Dallas Green ranting about Pat Burrell yesterday, I found the latest shot across the bow of a Phils player by a high ranking member of management while down at the Winter Meetings. Check out Uncle Cholly's comments from today's Courier Post regarding Jon Lieber's conditioning, or lack thereof:

"He did let himself go, and he knows it. I think probably he's tired of hearing it. Any way that we can get him in shape, we have to try it. From there, it's up to him. He knows how much we need him. We've emphasized how important he is to us. He does play a big role for our team. He came along in the second half, but he had that slow start. I don't know if it was conditioning. We didn't score many runs for him in some games either. But that slow start, I don't know, it might translate into being in shape. We've talked quite a bit to him. I think Liebs wants to contribute. Even if he decides, once his contract is up, that he doesn't want to stay in the game, I think he wants to finish on a good note."

While I have to admit I did get a pretty good chuckle out of these comments, I'm on to the Phils' clever little ruse. I thinking that Monty, Gillick and the boys got together this week and figured that if they couldn't make any moves to the get the phan base excited, they would distract us by issuing all these uncharacteristic, but entertaining statements. For me, it is working. At this rate, I'm half expecting to open the paper tomorrow and read comments from Pat Gillick indicating he can't make a deal because Rowand "is always injuring himself because he plays like a reckless idiot" and Gavin Floyd "needs to take off the skirt, grow up and start pitching like a man".

And I thought the hot stove league did not exist here in Philly. Boy, was I wrong.