It’s been a hek of a year. Personally it’s literally been the best year in my life as I earned my MBA, witnessed the election of Americas first black president, savored my first world championship as a Phildelphia sports fan, married my love muffin in a mega event in Center City and the best part of this year is that I am now a level 3 in Sodoku. I wanted to give my overall view of our 4 local sports teams and list my best / worst of what went down in 2008. I will also add some snarly remarks. Let’s get started.
IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
These are my views as I see if from a diehard sports fan
THE SKINNY: The Eagles will always remain the favorite professional team in
THE COACH – Andy Reid is the best coach we have in the city right now. He is the best coach the Eagles ever had and he may be one of the top 5 coaches in the NFL today. With all that being said, he needs to go. I realize how insane that sounds but I believe that he has the “Larry Brown Syndrome.” He has done everything he can do with the talent he has on the team. His play-calling has been stagnant and predictable. Obviously my opinion will change if this team goes on a run and makes it to the Super Bowl but being slightly above average is no longer acceptable for this team.
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO – After they fire the coach, they should also fire the GM, which in this case should be easy since it’s the same guy. They should stop thinking that they are good enough to trade down in drafts. Most GM’s are working off the same scouting materials so the first few rounds should be easy enough that we don’t need to trade those picks away. The tough part is finding that solid pick in the later rounds. I feel like the team should do VERY little on defense this off-season (except offer 1 more year to Dawkins). The Defense is young, talented and somewhat deep. As for offense, I say we should draft a TE, RB and OT early on. I would then pick up a WR to compliment Jackson and Curtis.
THE PROJECTION – I predict that Andy Reid has a job as long as he wants it. In other words he wouldn’t get fired even if he was caught popping pills with his boys. The team is caught in a difficult position. The team is not good enough to win a Super Bowl but there not bad enough to get a high draft pick. As for this year, we should be happy if they get us 1 or 2 more wins. They are on borrowed time.
SATISFACTION OF TEAM PERFORMANCE – A+ last week, D for all the games prior.
THE SKINNY – The team went real deep into the playoffs this year. I would say that the fun is back after that dreadful season two years ago. Although its tough to identify and grab on to guys who seem very blah to me (i.e. Nodl, Kalinski, Powe, Alberts). They just don’t seem as appealing as the days of Roenick, Tocchet, Amonte, Recchi, etc). But I’m knit picking; I just want a team with more Hartnell personalities.
THE COACH – I’m not a big John Stevens but my opinion of his coaching is changing every day. He still manages to have a very productive team despite half of his team being call-ups from the Phantoms. Stevens does have one glaring flaw that is somewhat detrimental to the team. I think he may be the worst NHL coach in terms of overtime strategy. In particular, he puts his worst shooters in a competition entitled “shootout.” I know it sounds like I’m picking small things to diminish his coaching ability but winning 4 more shootouts a year is a difference between a 1st seed and maybe even a 4th seed. One other thing I feel is that Stevens doesn’t give me an aura of a guy who coaches hockey. He looks more like my tax accountant. He may be the most boring guy in hockey but he wins….so who cares?
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO: To compete for the Stanley Cup they need to do 5 very easy things….
5. Get Healthy so we can have a team that doesn’t have to rely on only 2 lines for scoring.
4. Get Biron Hot in the late season.
3 Get Biron Hot in the late season.
2. Get Biron Hot in the late season.
1. Get Biron Hot in the late season.
Catch my drift? I don’t care if you have 12 Gretzkys on your team, if your goalie is mediocre in the playoffs then you have ZERO shot at the cup. That simple.
THE PROJECTION – I think the Flyers are very streaky. My guess is they’ll have a losing streak in the coming weeks then get hot around the playoff time. I think it’s very possible that they can reach the Finals but then they’ll face a better Western Conference opponent.
SATISFACTION OF TEAM PERFORMANCE – I admit that even though hockey is the least popular sport of most local fans (as far as interest is concerned), they still sell out arenas. It is fun to watch these guys. Especially the top two lines. I give them props (but not Brian). They get an A+
THE SKINNY – World F-in Champions…Need I say more?
THE COACH – The man can speak Japanese but has trouble speaking English but who cares because he is also a World F-in Manager.
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO – Pay their players come arbitration time. Yes, even…Ryan Howard. But more importantly taking care of the unsung hero’s like Victorino, Werth, Dobbs and Madson is essential.
THE PROJECTION – I feel like the Phillies have another run in them. I’m predicting NL Champions or better.
SATISFACTION OF TEAM PERFORMANCE – Put it this way, there is nothing that will ever replace that memory of seeing Lidge get that strikeout and secure our 1st championship in Philly since 1983....I still can't believe it.
THE SKINNY – Hmm. Where do I begin? I may be a diehard fan but even I’m starting to recognize some disappoint but I implore all naysayers that the season isn’t even half over yet. To me it’s a very simple problem. The team has good players who are still learning to play together. It will take some more time. More specifically, they will need the second half of the season to see some consistency and chemistry. They have a solid center in Dalembert. He averages a double-double each night and is pretty high up in the league in blocks + Off rebounds. We have a nice guard rotation. The biggest flaw is outside shooting. Most people expected that to come from Iggy. I expected it to come from Kareem Rush. The one thing that baffles me is why Rush isn’t playing more minutes when you have the worst 3 point shooting team in the league
THE COACH – Ok, no exaggeration but Tony Dileo looks completely lost, baffled and out of sorts during the game. I understand he is a short-term coach until the season ends but my theory is if your going to fire Cheeks, you should have someone else in mind to finish the season. Otherwise, what’s the point? You are sending a message to your team that you want to tank the rest of the season with Dileo being the righteous scapegoat. Tony Dileos only coaching experience came in
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO – Trade Thaddeus Young for an outside shooter. This makes the most sense to me since he has value, is young in age and because we have 2 other Small Forwards.
PROJECTION – Here is a story no one is reporting. The Celtics and Cavaliers are both on pace to break the Chicago Bulls single season win total. How does that affect the Sixers? Well, they will lose all 10 games on the schedule that are against those 2 opponents. The Sixers will finish 4th or 5th in the conference in total wins. How many wins? Between 40- and 42. Because of the Celtics and Cavs eastern conference dominance, there is a very real possibility that only 3 of the 8 playoff teams in the East will finish above .500. Something else I should mention. I still very much believe that Sixers will run off 10 straight games at some point this season. I actually thought they could win 12-15 in a row before Cheeks was fired. I have a pretty good idea on where this run will take place but I will keep my mouth shut to not jinx it.
SATISFACTION OF TEAM PERFORMANCE – C minus. They are still a fun team to reach. They rarely get blown out and they pretty good defense. But with the great drafting they did the last couple of years, coupled with the Rush and Brand signings, I would say that this team has underperformed thus far.
Top National Stories
1. Presidential Race (Palin, Edwards Obama Nation). What a captivating fun ride. The drama, the debates, the punch in the stomach I felt when I heard about John Edwards cheating on his cancer-stricken wife. As you may know, I was a fan of Obama and Edwards early on and somewhere in the debates between Oct. 2007 and Dec 2007, I went totally in the tank for Obama. The fun continued with the laughable pick of Palin and then there was Joe the Plumber…oh the memories. I loved this election for all the wrong reasons.
2. Economy – 10 million out of jobs. Many more underemployed, our 401KS have dropped dramatically, mortgage companies sold really bad loans, and Wall Street is crashing. Our government is handing out bailout money like its Halloween. We all feel it in someway. Even my love muffin was laid off from her job. I am optimistic that things will turn around in 2009.
3. Olympics – Michael Phelps is the greatest athlete of our time. I know swimming is not really a sexy sport in terms of interest but his 9 medals may be equal or better than then Brady’s Super Bowls and Michael Jordan’s championships.
4. Caylee Anthony – That gal’s murder was horrifying and disgusting but her mother is a MILF.
5. Gays can marry – At least they could for most of the year then some people found it to be disgusting and got the law changed. Does this mean that Portia DeRossi is available again?
6. Minors can marry in creepy
7. Nick Hogan goes to jail – It doesn’t seem fair that he drinks, smashes his car and gets 8 months of jail and his buddy in the passenger seat is missing half his head and will spend the rest of his life in a nursing home.
8. OJ goes to Jail – It only took 15 years but they finally got it right. But here is a true story that had me rolling in laughter about OJ. In the mid 1980’s he was turned down for a role in the blockbuster hit “The Terminator.” The directors’ reasoning for not casting him was that OJ wasn’t believable as a killer.
MOST INTERESTING COUPLES
1. Lindsey Lohan and DJ Sam Ronson – Its one thing to wake up one morning and decide you are a lesbian but has your stardom dropped so far that you are dating someone who plays music at Bar-Mitzvahs? I guess The Hora is a turn on?
2. Evan Rachel Wood and
3. Morgan Freeman and his wife – Its one thing to be caught in bed with another woman as your wife comes home but that’s not half as embarrassingly as explaining why you were in a car late at night with another woman. Obviously he never gets caught if he doesn’t get into a major car accident. Poor Freeman has to be rushed to a hospital and when he gains consciousness all he sees is his wife by his bed with some divorce papers…She didn’t even bring him flowers.
4. A-Rod and Madonna – If Guy Ritchie only knew how to hit a ball out of Yankee Stadium.
5. Jimmy Kimmel & Sarah Silverman – It was never meant to be especially when she is f-in Matt Damon and he is f-in Ben Affleck.
WEIRDEST BABY NAMES
Gwen Stefani – Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale – There is “no Doubt” this baby will get its ass-kicked one day.
-Clay Aiken baby -Parker Foster Aiken – When you have to explain how you fertilized a baby when you are gay, that is a sure sign that this baby will actually look like a science project gone wrong.
Jessica Alba – Honor Marie Warren – I hate to JUDGE this name but I would love to be that baby during the breast feeding times.
Sunday Rose Kidman Urban – Obviously it’s her favorite day of the week because that was the day her mommy broke up with Tom Cruise.
Amy Poehler – Archie – A Comic for the Comic.
Gillian Anderson - Felix (Big Brother named Oscar) – Neil Simon says he is naming his kids Identity and Theft.
Tripp Palin – In honor of Grandma Sarah who did a lot of Tripping over her own two feet this past fall.
HONORABLE MENTION
Moxy Crime Fighter Jillette born in 2006 to Penn (of Penn and Teller)
BEST TV SHOWS
SNL – Making a comeback thanks to the election. The best skit in my opinion was Ben Affleck doing a great Keith Olberman
Lost – Still have yet to see an episode but word is that each season gets better and better.
The Office – Best new comedy. I only saw 1 episode and I’m craving more. Apparently my friend Mike Staff is a big fan so he can fill me in at some point.
Idol / Americas Got Talent – My two guilty pleasures as I get really caught up in the human interests of the contestants.
Real World – This past season was a classic. It featured Brianna Taylor. One day stripping and next day becoming a pop star. Dreams are happening right here in
Monk – In the 5 or so years it’s been on TV I’ve yet to miss an episode. It’s a program that becomes very addicting. Tony Shaloub is just amazing in this character.
Real Time with Bill Maier – Its good to know that there is still a lot of smart programming out there. He is not only right on most social issues but he makes you laugh about them. His “New Rules” Shtick is just brilliant comedy writing.
WORST list Shows / Movies / Careers / People
Knight Rider – The show and the newspaper group. Both need to go.
Brooke Hogan – The only thing talented about her is her dad, Hulk Hogan. That’s it.
Anything on the CW – Enough of these sappy teen drama stories. No one cares?
Reality shows following washed up stars or “E” celebrities (ala Denise Richards, Lohans Mom) – This niche genre of reality television jumped the shark after The Osborne’s. Back then it was new and bold. Now it’s lame and old.
Plaxico Burress – Ever hear of a gun holster dumbass?
Rachel Maddow – I liked her as a part time analyst and now her sarcasm is really bugging me. She is real smart and knows her stuff but she needs to stop being condescending or I’m going to turn her off soon.
Pat Buchannan – Can you believe this grumpy old man wanted to be president?
MOST IRRITATING CELEBRITY
Rush Limbaugh – George Bush could go on TV tomorrow and admit his failures and Rush would go to his grave saying that these past 8 years have been great for our country. His sarcastic remarks about Obama being the Messiah are simply unjustified and not amusing.
Paula Abdul – It is amazing to me that she can sleep with contestants, be doped up on drugs to the point where she is incoherent and she still has one of the greatest jobs in the world.
Amy Winehouse – Who are these so-called people attending her concerts?
My Greatest Sports Memories of 2008
Sixers Win 2 games vs
Sixers sign Elton Brand – On July 9th, the Sixers signed the best free agent of the season, Elton Brand to a 5-year / 80 million dollar contract.
Flyers beat Capitals in overtime and advance to next round – April 22nd. Normally winning a round in playoff hockey isn’t exciting. Unless you are an underdog and you win it in overtime. Our hero that night was Joffrey Lopel. A guy whose parents misspelled his first name on purpose.
Eagles smoke Cowboys and make playoffs – Sunday, December 28th. It was more miraculous than 4th and 26. For this would be a day when everything had to go right to make the playoffs. Then to top it all off, we crush those stinking Cowboys
Phillies Win the World Series – They were so good that they won on two days Oct 27th and the 29th due the game suspension due to rain. Hamels justifiably wins the MVP.
Phillies win division – On September 27th we won the division for the 2nd year in a row. This time it ended on a game ending double-play thus helping Lidge go perfect in save percentage in 2008.
Matt Stairs Homerun game – On Oct 13th, The Phil’s trailed 5-3 in the 8th inning when 40-year-old journeyman Matt Stairs comes to the plate. He hit the ball so far out of the park that it has still yet to land. Thus becoming the talk of the town for many days, years and decades.
Chase F-in Utley – Nobody was spooked on Halloween when Chase Utley uttered exactly what we all felt.
Flyers beat
BEST NEWSIES
1.
2.
3. Chuck Todd – Without doubt the most brilliant political analyst in all the land
4. David Gregory – Wise beyond his years, team player
5. Brian Williams – The best since Murrow
Philly Athletes of the Year
Eagles – Brian Dawkins – The future hall of famer has had a surge in his step this season.
Phillies – Cole Hamels – The true ace we finally got and deserved.
Sixers – Andre Miller – The quiet leader who has turned out to be an absolute steal in the Iverson trade.
Flyers – Mike Richards – A scorer, a fighter and a bonifide team captain.
Most Underrated Philly Athletes of the Year
Eagles – Jaqua Thomas – Even though he only has 5 sacks this season, he has been a monster on the D-line.
Sixers – Lou Williams – A great 2nd round pick who may be one of the best 6th men in the NBA.
Flyers – Scott Hartnell – He is full of personality, energy and has been awesome on the 2nd line this season.
Phillies – Ruiz / Coste – Both underrated defensive catchers. Each made terrific tag outs at home plate, limited wild pitches and helped the pitchers finish the season with a great ERA.
2009 Predictions
Artie Lange dies of drug overdose
Michael Jackson goes to jail for child pornography
Some politician will need to resign for either cheating on his wife on taking illegal cash
Some new band will emerge. There name will be “Ponzi Scam.”
Obama will find Osama
Guitar Hero 43 will be flying off the shelf
Someone will fall off a cruise ship
Jimmy Fallons show will be surprisingly good
Oprah will lose weight and then gain it back
David Blaine will attempt to swim with deadly sharks and something will go terribly wrong.
Miley Cyrus will become pregnant
A professional athlete will come out of the closet.
As will one of the following celebrities…Queen Latifah, Anderson Cooper, Ryan Seacrest and or Kevin Spacey
Cole Hamels will pitch a no-hitter
Meatloaf will die singing his lungs out on stage
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL AND HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT 2009
No comments:
Post a Comment