(The Phanatic Magazine) Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Kevin will undergo surgery Thursday for a sports hernia.
Curtis suffered the injury during last Friday's preseason game against Carolina and will "be out for a while," according to head coach Andy Reid.
"We're trying to not wait and do that whole thing," Reid said. "We're trying to get on it. We've identified (the hernia) as the problem, and we're trying to get it taken care of."
Reid offered no timetable for Curtis' return but does expect the Utah State product back sometime during the regular season.
Curtis had a career-high 77 receptions for 1,110 yards and six touchdowns last season, his first in Philadelphia after signing as an unrestricted free agent.
Greg Lewis and Hank Baskett are expected to rotate at Curtis' spot during his absence.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Redeem Team closes in on Gold
-Courtesy of USA Basketball
BEIJING, China (Aug. 20, 2008) -- Riding a 19-0 run that started late in the second quarter and stretched until almost four minutes into the third period, the 2008 U.S. Men's Olympic Team (6-0) demolished Australia (3-3) in the second and third quarters on its way to a 116-85 win and a 2008 Olympic semifinal berth Wednesday night at Wukesong Arena in Beijing, China. The victory improved the USA record to 6-0 and advanced the squad into the semifinals.
Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) turned in a 25-point performance as all 12 U.S. players scored in the contest, including five in double figures.
The USA will face reigning Olympic champion Argentina (5-1) in the semifinals at 10:15 p.m. (10:15 a.m. EDT) on Friday, setting up a rematch of the 2004 Olympic semifinals when Argentina beat the USA 89-81. Argentina advanced to play the USA after surviving Greece 80-78 in today's late game.
"We want to play the best. We want to play the defending champs," said Bryant. "It's all about challenges, and obviously, we welcome all comers. Argentina is the defending champs. You want to be able to play the guys who won it the last time."
In the 8:00 p.m. semifinal game, Spain (5-1), which earlier today topped Croatia 72-59, will play Lithuania (5-1), which downed China 94-68. The Olympic men's gold and bronze medal games will be held Aug. 24 at 2:30 p.m. and 12:00 p.m., respectively.
LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) added 16 points, nine rebounds and four steals in the USA's win; Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) tallied 15 points; and Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors) and Deron Williams (Utah Jazz) each contributed 10 points.
"We had to play really well in order to win," said USA and Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski. "They caused us a lot of problems, and I'm glad my Duke team doesn't play St. Mary's next year. (Patrick Mills) is a great guard. He'll be an NBA guard, and I'm very, very impressed. We're ecstatic because we know we beat an outstanding team, who I think was playing their best basketball right now. So, it was a heck of a game for us.
While the USA shot an impressive 56.6 percent from the field (43-76 FGs), Bryant was 4-of-7 from 3-point to help the USA tie the U.S. Olympic record for 3-point field goals made with 12 for a second time in this tournament and set a new mark for 3-pointers attempted with 29.
"I think myself and Melo and the rest of our shooters, Michael Redd, we're starting to get a good rhythm for our shots," Bryant said. "And, it couldn't come at a better time. Being that it's do-or-die, it's go time. This is what we came here for, and we're all ready to go. Money's on the line."
The USA raced to a nine-point lead to start the game behind points from four U.S. scorers, and a James 3-pointer with 6:41 on the clock brought the tally to 12-3 in the USA's favor. Australia countered eight more U.S. points with three 3-pointers in the next three minutes, with the last one cutting the U.S. advantage to 20-17 with 3:20 remaining in the stanza. The teams traded scores to close the quarter, and the USA was ahead by one point, 25-24, as the period ended.
The USA put together its first consecutive points of the second period with a Chris Bosh free throw at 8:25 and a James fast break bucket at 7:57 that brought the score was 33-28. Following two points from Australia, the USA again compiled four consecutive points, and Australia called its first timeout after a Wade fast break increased the U.S. lead to 37-30 at 6:43. The next four minutes were back and forth as both teams tallied 13 points, and the scoreboard read 50-43 when Australia's Brad Newley sank a three with 1:48 remaining before halftime.
That was as close as Australia would get for the remainder of the game. The score reached 55-43 after Bryant scored off an offensive rebound and Williams pulled up in transition with a 3-pointer to just beat the halftime buzzer.
"When I caught it, it was about three seconds," Williams recalled. "I could make it to the basket, but he (the Australian defender) kept backing up. That was my first thought. If he came up and challenged me, he was a big man, then I was going to try and get to the basket. But he kept backing up and I just rose up for the three."
The momentum, and the run, carried through the break for the USA. The red, white and blue sank three 3-pointers in the first 3:23 of the third period, including two from Bryant, as it raced to 14 unanswered points. The 19-0 run, which included 10 points from Bryant, was interrupted by a 3-pointer from Australia's Patrick Mills with 6:01 on the clock, but the Aussie response was too little too late.
"(Kobe) had a great performance, and he came up when we needed it the most, right at the start of the second half," Krzyzewski said. "It was such a possession by possession game, we were lucky that Deron hit that shot right at the end of the first half."
Having recorded just two assists in the first half, the USA went on to record nine assists on 12 made field goals in the third quarter to outscore Australia 34-19 in the period and stretch its lead to 28 points, 89-61, headed into the final 10 minutes.
With the game's outcome decided Australia never gave up, but the USA offense continued to overpower its opponent. With the help of six more points from Bryant and five from Williams and Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks) the USA tallied 27 points to Australia's 24 to bring the game to its final score of 116-85.
While the USA dominated the boards, outrebounding Australia 57-28, including 19 on the offensive glass, the Americans struggled from the free throw line, shooting just 58.1 percent (18-31 FTs) from the charity stripe.
The USA has played Argentina four times in Olympic action, recording wins on three occasions and a loss in the 2004 Olympic semifinals. The USA topped Argentina 96-68 in 2000, 85-76 in 1952 and 59-57 in 1948. Handing Argentina a 96-81 setback in the bronze medal game of the 2006 FIBA World Championship, and additionally, the USA beat a less-than-full strength Argentina squad twice in the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship, 91-76 in second round action and 118-81 in the gold medal game. The 2007 Argentina team, while featuring Luis Scola and Carlos Delfino, was without several starters including Manu Ginobili, who currently leads his squad with 20.3 ppg., and Andres Nocioni, who is the team's third-leading scorer with 12.8 ppg. And the leading rebounder at 6.8 rpg.
"Well we haven't accomplished anything yet," said Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks). "We've taken one baby step, and now our next step is going to be tough. When we play Argentina, we will have our hands full. We'll have to make sure that our defense is tight and remember that we are here for one thing and that is to win a gold medal."
Second opinion confirms knee injury for Sixers' Smith
Philadelphia, PA (The Phanatic Magazine) - Philadelphia 76ers center Jason Smith was examined Tuesday afternoon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.
Dr. David Altchek, the attending orthopaedic surgeon in the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service at the hospital confirmed that the center suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Smith has improved his strength and range of motion in the knee and will continue with therapy and medication before a follow-up visit with Dr. Altchek in early September.
Smith was originally hurt during normal basketball activity earlier this month. No timetable has been set for his return.
The Colorado State product averaged 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 76 games during his rookie campaign last season. He played five games during the recently completed Las Vegas Summer League and averaged 18.6 points with 8.0 rebounds.
Dr. David Altchek, the attending orthopaedic surgeon in the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service at the hospital confirmed that the center suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Smith has improved his strength and range of motion in the knee and will continue with therapy and medication before a follow-up visit with Dr. Altchek in early September.
Smith was originally hurt during normal basketball activity earlier this month. No timetable has been set for his return.
The Colorado State product averaged 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 76 games during his rookie campaign last season. He played five games during the recently completed Las Vegas Summer League and averaged 18.6 points with 8.0 rebounds.
Alyssa Milano was recently at Citizen's Bank Park hawking her MLB clothing line. Well, she also has an NHL line so here's a gift to all the Flyers fans out there....
Ratliff on his way back to the Sixers
The Sixers and forward/center Theo Ratliff have reportedly come to an agreement on a one-yaer deal. According to Phil Jasner, the 35-year-old Ratliff, 35, a veteran of 13 NBA seasons, has picked the Sixers over three other teams.
Flyers interested in Sundin
“Obviously a player of Mats Sundin’s stature…he’s been a tremendous player for a long time,” said Flyers GM Paul Holmgren. “He’s a free agent, and we’ve made inquiries as to his status. We don’t know whether he’s going to play or not. I think Mats is still trying to decide that in his own timeframe. But, if he wants to play, we’d certainly have an interest in seeing if we could fit him in.”
Eagles cheerleader in Maxim
Eagles cheerleader Janelle Stangl will be featured in Maxim Magazine's upcoming 2008 All-Maxim Team issue.
Banged up Brown is being pushed by rookie
With each passing season, I find it tougher and tougher to parse through the "coach speak" that pervades the NFL.
The league's head coaches have always been paranoid but the new breed has taken things to another level. Talking without giving the media anything substantive has become an art form among the league's mentors.
And if Bill Belichick is the Michael Jordan of "coach speak," Andy Reid is Kobe Bryant. Quite simply, if you want to know what's going on with the Eagles, ignore what Reid says and concentrate on what is happening on the field.
As Reid enters his 10th year as the head coach in Philadelphia, there is quite the sample size to judge him on.
And, when talking about Reid, one thing is clear -- the veteran coach just doesn't trust rookies. In fact, Reid abhors them -- feeling they could never understand and digest his complex offensive system.
That said, undersized rookie receiver DeSean Jackson is forcing Reid to take notice.
When the Eagles selected Jackson in the second round of the NFL Draft, most expected the Cal product to improve the team's punt return game but counting on the speedy Jackson to contribute on offense was a long shot to say the least.
Even though the Eagles are sorely lacking big play talent on the outside, most felt Reid would rely on his "he doesn't know the offense crutch" to keep Jackson on the bench, and it's more than likely that's exactly how things would have shaken out.
But, fourth year receiver Reggie Brown has opened the door for Jackson. Brown missed the team's first preseason game with an Achilles' problem and then hurt his hamstring on the first play of the second game.
In Brown's absence, Jackson has excelled leading the team with 12 receptions for 122 yards in the preseason.
Of course, that hasn't kept the coaching staff from toeing the company line.
"He is a good player. Let's not let preseason deceive us any, first. He has a lot of hard work ahead of him," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said when talking about Jackson. "He does show up, though. I think he's going to be a pretty good player. He has progressed very quickly up to this point and how quickly he progresses from this point on will determine how productive he will be for us here in the near future."
Mornhinweg is also quick to tout Brown when given the opportunity.
"When he comes back, I would expect (Brown) to play well," Mornhinweg said. "Really, he had a good start. You can't do anything about what has occurred. When he comes back, I expect him to play at a very high level and consistent."
If Brown is healthy, he will be on the field.
But, when a receiver starts suffering a series of leg injuries, things can linger and Jackson offers Reid a better alternative the either Jason Avant or Hank Baskett -- rookie or not.
The league's head coaches have always been paranoid but the new breed has taken things to another level. Talking without giving the media anything substantive has become an art form among the league's mentors.
And if Bill Belichick is the Michael Jordan of "coach speak," Andy Reid is Kobe Bryant. Quite simply, if you want to know what's going on with the Eagles, ignore what Reid says and concentrate on what is happening on the field.
As Reid enters his 10th year as the head coach in Philadelphia, there is quite the sample size to judge him on.
And, when talking about Reid, one thing is clear -- the veteran coach just doesn't trust rookies. In fact, Reid abhors them -- feeling they could never understand and digest his complex offensive system.
That said, undersized rookie receiver DeSean Jackson is forcing Reid to take notice.
When the Eagles selected Jackson in the second round of the NFL Draft, most expected the Cal product to improve the team's punt return game but counting on the speedy Jackson to contribute on offense was a long shot to say the least.
Even though the Eagles are sorely lacking big play talent on the outside, most felt Reid would rely on his "he doesn't know the offense crutch" to keep Jackson on the bench, and it's more than likely that's exactly how things would have shaken out.
But, fourth year receiver Reggie Brown has opened the door for Jackson. Brown missed the team's first preseason game with an Achilles' problem and then hurt his hamstring on the first play of the second game.
In Brown's absence, Jackson has excelled leading the team with 12 receptions for 122 yards in the preseason.
Of course, that hasn't kept the coaching staff from toeing the company line.
"He is a good player. Let's not let preseason deceive us any, first. He has a lot of hard work ahead of him," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said when talking about Jackson. "He does show up, though. I think he's going to be a pretty good player. He has progressed very quickly up to this point and how quickly he progresses from this point on will determine how productive he will be for us here in the near future."
Mornhinweg is also quick to tout Brown when given the opportunity.
"When he comes back, I would expect (Brown) to play well," Mornhinweg said. "Really, he had a good start. You can't do anything about what has occurred. When he comes back, I expect him to play at a very high level and consistent."
If Brown is healthy, he will be on the field.
But, when a receiver starts suffering a series of leg injuries, things can linger and Jackson offers Reid a better alternative the either Jason Avant or Hank Baskett -- rookie or not.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The Steve Lienert Show
Which is more boring: watching all 2 1/2 hours of women's marathon or having the British sweep all five of the women's cycling medals? Which was worse: the Jamaican sprinter showboating before he crossed the finish line or the beanfest and near-brawl between China and the U.S. on the baseball diamond? Which was dumber: Jimmy Rollins calling Philly fans 'frontrunners,' Donovan McNabb chiming in on what he said or the Sixers signing Andre Iguodala to an $80M contract? Everything boring, bad and dumb is debated on Episode 18 of the The Steve Lienert Show, a wildly popular Philadelphia sports podcast located at www.podmitten.com. It's 20 minutes of your life you'll never get back, so why not spend it listening to The Steve Lienert Show?
The Dead Zone, or Don’t Condemn Yourself to Repeating the Past
By Bob Herpen
(The Phanatic Magazine) - So, it’s the last two weeks of August – the real dog days. The Stanley Cup Finals and the 48-hour free-agent frenzy are sinking over the horizon in the rear-view mirror, while the start of training camp and the exhibition season are not yet visible.
Believe me, I’ve been trying desperately to shoehorn something hockey-like from my sweat-addled brain while roasting in my apartment like a turkey - to no avail.
The best thing I can offer is, don’t get your hopes up just because the venerable sure-fire Hall-of-Fame forward Mats Sundin named the Flyers as his second choice (right behind the Rangers) should he return to the NHL for the upcoming season.
Don’t get ahead of yourselves Flyers fans, because along with the excitement of that big name floated down South Broad Street, the Philadelphia cynic in you should pair that up with the abomination that was the Adam Oates era.
Since the well has temporarily run dry, I thought I’d share one of my own experiences along the road to a middling career in sports media. It’s one where I failed to heed my own advice above, and was left to deal with elevated hopes suddenly dashed.
Just about this time four years ago, a former colleague (who now works alongside former Phanatic columnist Tim McManus at the other sports talk station in the city) approached me with the idea to start a sports trivia contest at some bar in a central location in downtown Philadelphia.
It took less than a second for me to agree.
For a poor graduate student busy as hell with three jobs and classes, who didn’t get out much, it was the perfect three-for-one: College-age females, Philly bar scene, and networking opportunities.
Within days, I underwent a massive mind-dump of every Philadelphia sports-related question I could find. Hockey went first, and within 24 hours, I had close to 300. I added 300 more from baseball, football, basketball and college over the next couple days and was armed and ready to go for the first night.
Our first attempt came on a Monday night at McFadden’s on North 3rd Street in late August.
We had myself, my friend, a guy named Will who was a connection at a local golf course and one of the talent from Comcast SportsNet. The idea was to have my friend emcee the event, calling out the questions in four rounds – 10 questions per round with a bonus question at the end. We even had prizes for first and second place as an enticement for the crowd to bring their best effort.
And boy, did it bomb.
First off, McFadden’s wanted some kind of cut from the proceedings – almost impossible for something in the trial stage. Second, the last two weeks of August were totally dead. The workers of the world still on vacation, the flood of students not yet descended on the local colleges.
We had a second event scheduled for two weeks after that, on the evening of the Eagles’ Monday Night game against Minnesota – which was cancelled without half the people involved knowing about it beforehand.
From there, it was decided that the whole enterprise needed an overhaul as well as some additional force behind it.
Will and my friend went to work behind the scenes and dug up a great stable of noted Philadelphia sports talent, past and present. They worked on each of the four major teams to get extra tickets to upcoming games and with the big sports-radio station for additional prizes and enticements each week.
We also agreed to move operations northward, to a great little place called the Keswick Tavern in Glenside, which carried with it a smaller but more loyal and steady local clientele.
The official re-launch happened the second Tuesday in October. Will brought in two more of his pals, Cary and Jack, to add a deluge of additional trivia questions, our own PA system and microphone, as well as extra presence at each event.
It wasn’t a rousing success at first. The first couple weeks we might have capped at five groups each time in a half-empty bar. Our best advertising came from word-of-mouth from those initial tries, though, from the packs of college-age locals and Arcadia students who wandered in.
By early November things began to roll along. We were able to get the bar manager behind our enterprise and got free advertising. With the steady influx of patrons, we were able to expand the prizes to first, second and third place. While the event usually started around 8:30, most nights the fun lasted past 11:30.
As with all good groundwork, promises began to turn into realities.
We had former Flyers broadcaster Gary Dornhoefer as a guest host one night. Former Eagles wideout Calvin Williams made an appearance. Merrill Reese was lined up to host in the future. Even the Phillies PR office was beginning to warm up to what we offered.
Flush with this success, along with five rabid and knowledgeable Philly sports fans, the idea was floated that we should incorporate and turn the barrage of weekly quizzes into a bigger, better entity: the first-ever Philadelphia sports trivia volume.
It wasn’t long before one of the guys was able to secure a publishing deal with the same company that produced Larry Kane’s stuff. I think it was shortly after Thanksgiving when we started thinking big thoughts about the brand and the typical marketing ideas came to the fore.
Plans were in the works for t-shirts, polo shirts and hats to be produced bearing the logo of our new unstoppable juggernaut: the Philadelphia Association of Sports Trivia.
The logo was simple but reflected our mission perfectly: Rodin’s thinker (in gray) perched atop the Liberty Bell, which was decked out in the stars and stripes and “THE PAST” in simple script overlapping.
I forget the exact wording of our official motto, but it was something along the lines of George Santayana’s famous quote about remembering the past.
With the revelation of the book deal, all of us were pressed to meet a combined quota of at least 2,000 usable and edited questions spanning local sports.
Most of those queries would already be used by the time the book was officially released (estimated to be a year away) through the weekly quizzes, but with the extra ones we each brought to the project, plus the way fans of the trivia nights came in and got nicely ripped while playing, it was safe to assume nobody would really remember by the time of the release.
The t-shirts and polos never materialized, but the hats did. Mine sits atop my book shelf, angled to the side so I can see where it reads “Founding Member.”
As calm and positive as things were on the surface, the undercurrent was just as turbulent. At some point prior to the holidays, both Cary and Jack had grown a little resentful of my friend and I and our roles in the organization. Most of the questions used in any given week were mine, and my friend virtually monopolized hosting duties.
I can’t blame them for being left out, but they never once volunteered their questions to us, while basking in the reflected glow of success. I personally wasn’t out to monopolize the questions but I had the gray matter blazing 24-7 due to graduate classes, and I just kept on cranking out the goods.
After we came back from the Christmas recess, we both noticed that both guys stopped showing up. From there, things fell apart so quickly that even I was shocked back into reality. It was like the videos of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse – sudden violent upeheavals followed by a thundering crash of mangled destruction.
At the time Will finally came to us with the news of those defections, he admitted even he’d lost his zest for the project along with the ability to produce good prizes and guest appearances. He ended up leaving mid-January, and from that point it was Jack (in absentia) in charge of editing the book and shepherding the publication, me writing questions and my friend hosting.
I think you can guess how well that worked out.
Less than a month into the year, with only two people showing up every week it was obvious to the patrons that the trivia nights had lost a ton of steam. With little prizes other than what WIP had to dig out of the back corners of its prize closet plus the odd free beer, the crowds stayed away in droves.
Three weeks afterward, I made the drive up despite fighting a nasty illness with a fever - only to find eight people in the bar by 9:30 pm. The show went on that night as best as we could muster with only three participants.
While my friend announced his intention to take over the trivia nights for himself as a way to promote the show he was producing on WIP, I told him that it wasn’t worth my driving 50 miles round-trip for diminishing gains whether in sickness or in health.
That was February, 2005. And I haven’t been back since. I heard he still goes every Tuesday night he’s available, and I wish him well with that if he’s still plugging away.
Over the next year or so, I kept in contact with Jack about the progress of the book. After the usual pleasantries, I got the standard answers each time that the release date would be pushed back indefinitely.
My last correspondence with Jack came in the Summer of 2006. There was no progress, and I assume since then the whole thing has faded away in everybody’s mind. Internet searches of PAST, Philadelphia Association of Sports Trivia, and the like all turn up empty.
Although the PAST was regrettably behind me, you can make damn sure I kept all the questions I labored over, which now have to number close to 1,000. I’m keen to keep this intellectual property.
The best chance I had to resurrect those dormant brain cells and to promote what I had brewing came in the winter of 2006, when I was regularly attending Flyers games. I talked to the founder of a local hockey magazine who was interested, but since he’d already lined up the reigning trivia guru David Sherman, there was no room for another voice.
As of today, the trivia stuff is still anchored in the back of my mind. Every once in a while I get a flash of brilliance to update older questions and add one or two extras all around.
Those seven or eight files, the hat and my memory of what went down are probably all that remains. I’m still very proud of what we all accomplished in a short time despite the sudden crash.
It’s an important lesson for anyone, not to discard what you produce just because one outlet for that creativity never comes to fruition. It’s a more valuable lesson to never get so deeply involved and committed to anything which seems to rise up out of nowhere.
It’s tougher when all those rumors and promise start certain wheels in motion, and to stop those wheels suddenly may involve your being crushed between the gears.
Just something to keep in mind for you fans who are baying for blood that R.J. Umberger is gone, Simon Gagne may not be fully healthy, and the prospect of Mats Sundin, Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg has “Stanley Cup veteran presence” dancing in your heads.
Soul's Brackins signs with NY Jets
Standout Philadelphia Soul wide receiver Larry Brackins has signed with the NFL’s New York Jets.
Brackins appeared in 15 regular season games with the Soul in 2008 and was named offensive player of the game in three of them. He had a total of 107 receptions for 1395 yards and 29 touchdowns during the regular season. In the playoffs, he registered 20 catches for 249 yards and six touchdowns and in Virgin Mobile ArenaBowl XXII caught six passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
The former 2005 fifth round Tampa Bay Buccaneers pick out of Pearl River Community College returns to the NFL since joining the Soul for the 2007 season. Though it could mean losing a key component on offense, head coach Bret Munsey thinks it’s a great opportunity for Brackins and a positive for the team.
“A number of guys have received interest from NFL teams, which is a part of having great players and winning a championship,” Munsey said. “I’m happy to get him another shot at the NFL. We feel he’s come a long way in the past two years as a professional and we wish the best for him.”
Brackins appeared in 15 regular season games with the Soul in 2008 and was named offensive player of the game in three of them. He had a total of 107 receptions for 1395 yards and 29 touchdowns during the regular season. In the playoffs, he registered 20 catches for 249 yards and six touchdowns and in Virgin Mobile ArenaBowl XXII caught six passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
The former 2005 fifth round Tampa Bay Buccaneers pick out of Pearl River Community College returns to the NFL since joining the Soul for the 2007 season. Though it could mean losing a key component on offense, head coach Bret Munsey thinks it’s a great opportunity for Brackins and a positive for the team.
“A number of guys have received interest from NFL teams, which is a part of having great players and winning a championship,” Munsey said. “I’m happy to get him another shot at the NFL. We feel he’s come a long way in the past two years as a professional and we wish the best for him.”
Monday, August 18, 2008
Phils interested in C Ross
FoxSports' Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Phillies are interested in acquiring catcher David Ross, who was released by the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.
Ross, 31, has hit .223 in parts of seven major league seasons. He was hitting .231 in 52 games for the Reds this season.
Ross, 31, has hit .223 in parts of seven major league seasons. He was hitting .231 in 52 games for the Reds this season.
Boo who? Us – and here’s why
By Jeff Glauser
The Phanatic Magazine
It’s a sound that’s become - fairly or not - synonymous with the culture of Philadelphia sports.
It’s a longstanding tradition, evolving from the days of yore, reverberating from the ghosts of the Vet past to the Bank of present day. Stories are legendary, growing more extraordinary as the years pass, as folklore often does.
So I wanted to set the record straight because there’s a very good chance that the once-local demigod J-Roll is going to hear his least favorite sound upon his return to town tomorrow, one that has defined us as a fan base for quite some time, and one that, for those who are not from here, struggle at times to comprehend.
And one that especially seems to hurt the feelings of poor millionaire athletes who’ve been coddled and caressed for so long that they are appalled at even the thought of being criticized en masse.
Boo!
Did I scare you? Because it seems to scare them.
But for those who can’t comprehend why on earth this nastiness would be directed at them – the hometown players, the good guys, for gosh sakes! – please allow me to explain:
We boo because there is no tolerance for complacency or underachievers in this hard-working, blue-collar town.
We boo because we’re incredulous that some people find it so difficult to hustle 90 feet to first every time and show up to play a game on time.
We boo because we’re incredulous that your teammates aren’t as incredulous as we are about this.
We boo because, although simply switching allegiances may be easier, it’s not an option.
(And do you know why it’s not an option, Mr. Rollins? Because we’re not “frontrunners.” Frontrunners have no pride. We have plenty - perhaps too much - of it.)
We boo for retribution for the ghosts of our past: for the collapse of ‘64, Black Friday and Mitch Williams’ meatballs placed in front of Joe Carter.
(And yes, Jimmy, we realize you weren’t here for any of that. But if you can’t realize that history means something in sports, you were obviously never a true fan yourself.)
We boo because, after 10,000 losses, it’s still easier (and manlier) than crying.
We boo because first place teams with two MVPs and a potential one shouldn’t be batting a collective .253 on the year.
We boo because politely cheering for “almost” getting it done won’t send the message that “almost” is no longer acceptable.
(Plus, showing gratitude for failing is just plain silly. If you were our children with fragile egos, that’s understandable. But just acting like you are isn’t.)
We boo because people like Schilling, Rolen and Drew shouldn’t have rings.
We boo because people like Ferguson Jenkins and Ryne Sandberg should have had their Hall of Fame careers here.
We boo because people like Adam Eaton, Wes Helms, Freddy Garcia and countless others should have never had careers here.
We boo because minor league hockey, arena football and lacrosse aren't good enough.
We boo because it's safer than, ahem, throwing snowballs or batteries.
We boo in fear. Fear that this nightmare may never end.
Admittedly, we boo out of jealousy, too. Most of us can’t even dream big enough to fathom your salaries. And even if we could, we’re too busy busting our asses in our 50-plus hour a week jobs trying to pay the mortgage and put food on the table.
Yes, we’re worried about making it in life. You’re worried about your feelings getting hurt.
Simply enough, we boo because we care.
And we boo because you deserve it.
The Phanatic Magazine
It’s a sound that’s become - fairly or not - synonymous with the culture of Philadelphia sports.
It’s a longstanding tradition, evolving from the days of yore, reverberating from the ghosts of the Vet past to the Bank of present day. Stories are legendary, growing more extraordinary as the years pass, as folklore often does.
So I wanted to set the record straight because there’s a very good chance that the once-local demigod J-Roll is going to hear his least favorite sound upon his return to town tomorrow, one that has defined us as a fan base for quite some time, and one that, for those who are not from here, struggle at times to comprehend.
And one that especially seems to hurt the feelings of poor millionaire athletes who’ve been coddled and caressed for so long that they are appalled at even the thought of being criticized en masse.
Boo!
Did I scare you? Because it seems to scare them.
But for those who can’t comprehend why on earth this nastiness would be directed at them – the hometown players, the good guys, for gosh sakes! – please allow me to explain:
We boo because there is no tolerance for complacency or underachievers in this hard-working, blue-collar town.
We boo because we’re incredulous that some people find it so difficult to hustle 90 feet to first every time and show up to play a game on time.
We boo because we’re incredulous that your teammates aren’t as incredulous as we are about this.
We boo because, although simply switching allegiances may be easier, it’s not an option.
(And do you know why it’s not an option, Mr. Rollins? Because we’re not “frontrunners.” Frontrunners have no pride. We have plenty - perhaps too much - of it.)
We boo for retribution for the ghosts of our past: for the collapse of ‘64, Black Friday and Mitch Williams’ meatballs placed in front of Joe Carter.
(And yes, Jimmy, we realize you weren’t here for any of that. But if you can’t realize that history means something in sports, you were obviously never a true fan yourself.)
We boo because, after 10,000 losses, it’s still easier (and manlier) than crying.
We boo because first place teams with two MVPs and a potential one shouldn’t be batting a collective .253 on the year.
We boo because politely cheering for “almost” getting it done won’t send the message that “almost” is no longer acceptable.
(Plus, showing gratitude for failing is just plain silly. If you were our children with fragile egos, that’s understandable. But just acting like you are isn’t.)
We boo because people like Schilling, Rolen and Drew shouldn’t have rings.
We boo because people like Ferguson Jenkins and Ryne Sandberg should have had their Hall of Fame careers here.
We boo because people like Adam Eaton, Wes Helms, Freddy Garcia and countless others should have never had careers here.
We boo because minor league hockey, arena football and lacrosse aren't good enough.
We boo because it's safer than, ahem, throwing snowballs or batteries.
We boo in fear. Fear that this nightmare may never end.
Admittedly, we boo out of jealousy, too. Most of us can’t even dream big enough to fathom your salaries. And even if we could, we’re too busy busting our asses in our 50-plus hour a week jobs trying to pay the mortgage and put food on the table.
Yes, we’re worried about making it in life. You’re worried about your feelings getting hurt.
Simply enough, we boo because we care.
And we boo because you deserve it.
Eagles' DT Reagor has knee surgery
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Montae Reagor underwent surgery Monday morning on his left knee.
The arthroscopic clean-out was performed by Dr. Michael Ciccotti of the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia.
No timetable has been set for Reagor’s return to the practice field.
The arthroscopic clean-out was performed by Dr. Michael Ciccotti of the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia.
No timetable has been set for Reagor’s return to the practice field.
Sixers officially sign Iguodala
(The Phanatic Magazine) -
The Philadelphia 76ers made it official on Monday and re-signed restricted free agent swingman Andre Iguodala to a new contract.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but a report in the Philadelphia Daily News said the two sides had agreed to a six-year pact worth $80 million.
Iguodala could have played the upcoming season on a one-year qualifying offer before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer.
"We have maintained since the beginning of this process that Andre was a main priority for us because he is one of the best all-around young players in the league and an integral part to the success of our team," said Sixers president and general manager Ed Stefanski. "We are excited that we are able to keep a player with Andre's talent, athleticism and work ethic here in Philadelphia."
The Sixers selected Iguodala with the ninth overall pick of the 2004 NBA Draft. He has played and started 322 of a possible 328 games in his four-year career, averaging 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists.
Last season, the 24-year-old Arizona product averaged a career-best 19.9 points with 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 82 games. He helped the 76ers reach the playoffs for the first time in three years.
Greg Schiano radio show returns
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (August 18, 2008) – The “Greg Schiano Radio Show” returns to the air waves for the 2008 football season, beginning Wednesday, August 27 at 9 p.m.
The one-hour show airs on WOR 710-AM in New York City and WCTC 1450-AM in Central Jersey and is also broadcast live on the Internet at scarletknights.com. Hosted by Tim Pernetti, the show airs through November.
Radio free-fall may be over
The summer ratings free-fall for sports radio seems to have ended.
WIP and WPEN both leveled off at 2.4 and 0.4 respectively for July. WIP did fall a bit in cumulative numbers from to 362,500 to 346,500 while WPEN showed a small increase going from just over 134,000 to 154,100.
ESPN950 is still the second lowest station rated in the market, however.
WIP and WPEN both leveled off at 2.4 and 0.4 respectively for July. WIP did fall a bit in cumulative numbers from to 362,500 to 346,500 while WPEN showed a small increase going from just over 134,000 to 154,100.
ESPN950 is still the second lowest station rated in the market, however.
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