Sunday, November 30, 2008
Flyers Fall to Maple Leafs
Friday, November 28, 2008
0 for 2 Today
A Useful Analogy
As a lifelong fan, I would like to begin by congratulating you on your Thanksgiving Day win. It was impressive and the players managed to fight for a full 60 minutes. But please don't kid yourself. This was not enough. How is the team we saw on the field last night 6-5-1? I have to disagree with my dear friend Dave. Though I love this team to death, this kind of behavior is so typical and it's getting old. This is how it goes: Start the season with endless possibilities and high expectations. Follow that with a big first game against the Rams. Then fall into a win-loss-win-loss slumber until you completely tank against Cincinnati and Baltimore. THEN, when the season is nearly dead, start playing like kings of the world.
Don't try to fool us.
My fellow poster Nick is right. Eagles fan should not get complacent and believe that everything is right with Reid and McNabb. Please allow me to draw this economic/political analogy: The price of oil booms and the resulting price at the pump skyrockets in America. Once a gallon of gas passes $4.00, Americans cry out for alternatives, pressing policymakers and politicians to set aside money for increased production for solar, wind, and nuclear energy. We want out of foreign oil. All of a sudden (it's happening right now, actually), the market settles and conflicts in the Middle East calm. Prices drop and gas falls under $2.00 again. Americans forget about their pains and relax their once urgent calls for viable alternatives. We become complacent until the next spike hits. And over and over and over again.
As crazy as this sounds, it's quite similar to relationship between the Eagles and their fans. Think of it this way: We find that the Eagles, after a promising start, are lacking a true running game and a durable offensive line. McNabb struggles, yet Coach Reid continues to force in 60% or more pass plays. We cannot convert in 3rd down and short yardage situations. We cannot get in the end zone. We cannot find balance...Then the critics, rightfully so, come pouring in. "Fire Reid!"..."Bench McNabb!"..."Draft better!"..."Run the ball!" However, on the brink of elimination, the Eagles step up and have a complete game. There is a fire in the players' eyes. Reid runs the ball! McNabb throws efficiently! Well, count me as one who doubts that we can keep this up. Don't get me wrong, it was a nice win. But, just like the sudden drop in gas prices and the corresponding drop in enthusiasm for alternative energy, fans and critics may get complacent and expect this kind of play from the Eagles every week. Look, we will have to come to grips with the end of the Reid & McNabb era sometime...why not now?
By the way, pay up Jeff Lurie! You owe the city millions of dollars and Mayor Nutter could really use it, considering Philadelphia's massive budget deficit.
A Thanksgiving That Brings More Questions Than Answers
I think we are all proud of our Birds after watching them overwhelm the Arizona Cardinals in all dimensions of the game. Our offense ran with authority and threw with precision. Our defense got turnovers and made the Cardinals afraid to catch the ball. I think anyone would be happy with that performance. But for me it just proved all the more reason why Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb need to go.
Last night we saw what our Eagles are capable of accomplishing. The play of our defense did not surprise me, but our offense. Our offense seemed like a completely different offense especially when compared to the one we have been seeing the past two weeks against the Bengals and the Ravens. Did the players change? No, not really. So what was the factor for this sudden change in play? What you saw was desperation from Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb. They have been way to comfortable just milking the Eagles and this city with mediocre results. When something like that happens in a government, you see a Coup d'état.
I am asking that we do the same against this regime before it is too late. There is no question that the lack-luster passion of Mcnabb and Reid are rubbing off on the younger players. The only reason the defense has the passion is because neither of these viruses have any contact with the defense. The offense is the very definition of inconsistency. You as a fan have no idea what offense you are going to see. It could be the one that runs and passes around 50/50, like we saw last night. You might see the high flying offense that just airs the ball out all the time for amazing results, usually against a horrible defense. Or finally, the offense that gives up on the run after two drives then proceeds to pass the ball even on 3rd and 1, resulting in numerous interceptions and sacks that take us out of field goal range. So lets make a change before even the fans begin to lose their passion.
I Am Thankful For My Birds...No Matter How Inconsistent They May Be
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Trivia Time
- New York Yankees
- Boston Red Sox
- AND... Philadelphia Phillies
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Asante Doubtful For Game Versus Cardinals
Flyers Remain On Fireeeeee...But Sixers Drop A Tough One
Lenny Is Becoming The Retired Version of T.O.
So Far...So Good
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Donovan Is Friends To The Little Man
As Promised...
Monday, November 24, 2008
Flyers On A Rolll and Sixers Continue To Leave You Scratching Your Heads
Take This For What It's Worth...FredEx on McNabb and the Eagles
It seems that everyone is offering their opinion on the current state of the Eagles, and former wide receiver Freddie Mitchell is no exception.
FredEx talked about Donovan McNabb, Andy Reid and where the franchise is headed in an interview with Jody Mac and Harry Mayes on ESPN 950 this morning. Mitchell offered complete support for Reid, but was not so kind with his words for McNabb, which should come as no surprise.
Here are snippets of the interview:
Did he see this coming, specifically with McNabb?
"Well I mean, when you're in that environment and you see the intricacies of what's going on and the plays and stuff like that and what's not being produced, it was hard for me not to say something. ... My situation was pretty bad because I had to pick... go for what was wrong or go for what was right...T.O., a lot of people don't like him but he was totally in the right."
Did Reid coddle McNabb too much?
"There was a lot of breast milk out there."
How was McNabb viewed in the locker room when Mitchell played?
"It wasn't really a leader. ...Everyone knew what we had to do and we got it done. We were coached well."
Should the Eagles cut ties with Reid, McNabb or neither?
"Definitely not the coach. One hundred percent not the coach. ...Coach Reid is an amazing coach. He knows how to win." [Mitchell never really answered about McNabb]
On his relationship with McNabb when the two were teammates.
"It's sad that me and Donovan couldn't get along. ...I've had a lot of meetings with Donovan like 'Donovan, what am I doing wrong? How can I get better as a receiver?' and he would never ever tell me anything."
...
Mitchell said he calls T.O., Brian Westbrook and Correll Buckhalter every week.
"Every time I talk to 'em, they're like 'there's no reason why you shouldn't be out there playing,'" Mitchell said.
And when asked about if McNabb really threw up in the Super Bowl, Mitchell simply laughed and avoided the question. It almost sounded like he was confused about what was being asked, but maybe that was just my interpretation.
More on the Press Conference
Donovan Starts
Monday Morning Fan Rant: Eagles Management
Sunday, November 23, 2008
At Least One of Our Teams Playing Today Takes Care of Business and Has Heart
What The Hell Do We Make Of That???
Gameday: Two Birds Fighting with a side of Sixers taking on their Ancestors
Phillies Coaching Updates
Saturday, November 22, 2008
THRILLA IN SOUTH PHILA ORANGE AND BLACK STYLE
Preview: Flyers vs. Phoenix Coyotes
Finally, our Flyers may be settling into a consistent streak. They have played well at both ends of the rink recently and are riding a streak that has seen them win 4 of their last 5.
Tonight, they will face off against the slumping Coyotes at the Center in South Philly. Phoenix has lost four straight and rank near the bottom of the league in both scoring and power play efficiency. The key to the Flyers recent success has been an increasingly effective defense, one that was just hard to watch early on in the season.
The Flyers will be without Danny Briere for a fifth straight game.
Let's hope the Flyers can continue their streak. This season has been nothing but a string of losses followed by a run of wins. They need to figure out which team they will be for the rest of the season.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Double Dosage: THRILLA IN SOUTH PHILA and Doughnuts Delight in Buffalo
Hectic Day
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Golson Gone
Picture taken by me from my seats at the Championship Parade Rally.
Yeah Chase...You're Really Not Hurtin'...Can't Get Anything Past Us
Chase Utley is going to have hip surgery next week, which will leave his 2009 Opening Day availability in question. According to David Murphy's blog and a story from Ken Mandel at MLB.com, Utley will not resume baseball activities for three to four months and will not be done recovery time until four to six months. Four months has him miss most of Spring Training. Five months has him miss half of April. Six months has him miss a month and a half.
General Manager Ruben Amaro is saying that reports lead to Utley having a good chance to be back for the first regular season game on April 5.
Now, I love the fact Utley showed enough heart for a good portion of last season to play through this nagging hip, but I am kind of pissed he left us fans dumbfounded, saying that he was not hurt. But, maybe I am just over reacting at this point because I am not surprised he is getting surgery. After a ridiculously amazing start, his production did drop off and that was not because pitchers were figuring him out.
What options does that leave them if Utley is out for a part of the regular seasons? D-Murph gives a pretty good synopsis. He said that infield prospect Jason Donald could be an option, Eric Bruntlett could be an option or a free agent pickup could be an option. Remebmer Tadahito Iguchi did that in 2007 when Utley broke his hand?
Whatever happens, hope "Chase the Base," "Mr. Cluth" or whatever the heck you want to call him is back for Opening Day...or night (it is a Sunday night game) against the Braves.
Another note from Murph's blog and Mandel's story, Pedro Feliz will need back surgery and will be out eight to 12 weeks. The surgery is being done by Dr. Robert Watkins. This guy recently operated on Eagles right guard Shawn Andrews.
But finishing it up with Utley–it will be a tough off season for us Phillies fans. We will all be wondering if Chase will be back in time for April 5. In the meantime, especially for myself who goes to school where there a lot of New Yorkers, we will all be hearing from Mets fans for the next few months. Don't let it get to you. Remind them who the WORLD BLEEPIN' CHAMPS are and remind them who had the opportunity to say that–Mr. Chase Utley.
-Amaro optimistic Utley will be ready for Opening Day
Videos That Need To Be Removed From YouTube
This last one is crazy. Angelo, Angelo, Angelo...
There is more where that came from, but it would take all day to post. Like I said, get these things off and start putting more of these on like all Philly Fans have been doing.
And le piece de resistance...
More to come soon...and hopefully more on the positive side.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
And When Things Just Started To Get Exciting and Hopeful...
I Didn't Want To Say This, But...
Sam Donnellon of the Daily News does for me.
The Philadelphia Eagles are on the decline and in need of some drastic changes (emphasis is mine):
Repeat this slowly, so as not to choke on the words:I never thought, after all these years, that the Phillies would end the drought, but now we all need to realize that the Eagles cannot continue on the same path. Don't get me wrong, Reid and McNabb have done a lot for this city, it just may be time to move on. A coaching spot should come open after this season, and all candidates are welcome to apply.The local franchise in most disarray these days is the Philadelphia Eagles.
Not the Flyers. Certainly not the Phillies. Not even - and what a thing to type - your Philadelphia 76ers.
...
They are 29-28-1 in the regular season since their Super Bowl appearance in February 2005. Brian Westbrook's knee and ankle injuries have rekindled the thought that he cannot be leaned on too heavily. Donovan McNabb's lack of scrambles, which once were his signature, suggest he is either not the player he once was, or is cautiously eyeing his future beyond this season.The Eagles are flat-out awful in close games. They seem anything but the "tough-minded bunch" their coach claimed they were after a surprising - and foreboding - Week 4 loss in Chicago.
The coach, Andy Reid, has come under increased criticism for his playcalling and drafts. The team's president, Joe Banner, whose press guide biography has for years trumpeted him as "one of the league's brightest football minds,'' recently failed in attempts to trade for tight end Tony Gonzalez and passed on wide receiver Roy Williams, two glaring needs in Reid's West Coast scheme.
The Cowboys traded for Williams instead, giving away a No. 1, No. 3 and No. 6 pick to Detroit.
Said Banner, on the Eagles' Web site: "Our goal is to win a Super Bowl, forget win a playoff game, which is something they are still working on.''
Smug? Well, just a little. And unduly so. In Banner's tenure - which coincides with Jeffrey Lurie's ownership - the Eagles have reached one Super Bowl. That was after they traded for a disgruntled wide receiver, Terrell Owens - but you all know how that went.
Since then, this team has made more headlines off the field than on it: Owens' holdout, suspension, and ultimately, his release. Reid's kids. McNabb's sports hernia and then, knee. Westbrook's contract.
...This team is far more interesting between Monday and Friday than it is on Sunday. Its notable news often derives from some chaotic episode.
Or from a reluctance to recognize it as such.
It smacks so much of the old Phillies way, the way things went with Ed Wade. It's as if someone swapped their manuals, or at least recovered the old Phillies one and passed it off as Bill Walsh's. Even when they were winning 11, 12 and 13 games a season, this Eagles ownership group seemed a bit too self-aggrandizing for its own good. But now it seems outright delusional. Win a Super Bowl, get to a few even, before you dismiss another team's gambit to upgrade in midseason.
Make a bold move yourself even, something a little more tangible than adding a free-agent cornerback in the offseason. The Flyers fired a Stanley Cup winning coach, Ken Hitchcock, and accepted the resignation of Bob Clarke, their most popular-ever player, to begin their makeover. The Sixers traded away their only big name, found a new, sharp general manager, and now look at them.