Luck?

Scott Hartnell looks like a leprechaun, but his point production as of late has nothing to do with luck - it's all gritty, hard work. With 28.5 seconds left in overtime tonight against the Kings (Ron Hextall Assistant GM represent), a desperate pass was sent to the center and Hartnell crashed the net, tipping the puck in off his skate. With the win, the Flyers avoided fake hockey, and now are in sole possession of first in the Atlantic.

Hartnell has been on fire as of late, with 11 goals in 10 games, and as much as I hate him because of his looks, he's snapped his dismal start to the season and proved to be another great part of the puzzle Holmgren put together in just over a year since taking over for Clarkie. Other notable pieces include Timonen and Smith on defense, along with forwards Lupul (although he's out right now after getting crushed by Jeff Spicoli, I mean Hatcher) and *cough wussbag cough* Briere. The latter mention of Briere is with reservation, as I feel he needs to step up his game, earn his paycheck, and stop taking stupid penalties. All in all though, with the All Star Game and Stupid Skills Competition out of the way, we look to the second half of the season and things seem set for the Flyers to make a decent run in the post season.

And who better to lead them in this run than a proven leader, Mike Richards? This kid is 22, having an MVP type season with 55 points in 48 games, and he just inked a huge contract that will probably keep him in a Flyers uniform for the duration of his career. He's done it in Juniors, done it with the Phantoms, and soon he'll do it for the Flyers. Mark my words, this guy will be leading a parade down Broad Street sometime in the next few years, but will it be as soon as June? Too early to tell, but it will be interesting to watch it all play out, so pay attention to these important dates coming up:

February 6th - vs Caps: Ron Hextall Hall of Fame night
February 10th - at Pens: George Larque payback night
February 19th - vs Sens: battle for East lead night?

Then again, the most important date for Flyers fans might be February 26th, as that's the trade deadline, and rumors are heating up that the man who brought Foppatoffels to Sweden, Peter Forsberg, might be back in orange and black. I'm not too sure if I'd want to mess with the chemistry this team has, but even at 1 percent, Forsberg is a better center than New Jersey's own Jim Dowd, so I say go for it. There are also rumors if this deal does not go down, that they might try to swing something for Sundin, but that means getting rid of Carter, and I'm just not ready to do that.

In closing, wake up Flyers fans. We're coming down to an important stretch of the season, so pay attention and tell us your thoughts on how this part of the season will unfold. The team is playing with a ton of heart; they are 2nd in scoring, 1st on the power play, and 2nd in penalty minutes; and I have a feeling they might surprise some people come playoff time - with a little bit of luck.

Almost good enough, but not really

Remember not so long ago the Eagles would be playing today in the NFC Championship game? Of course they'd usually lose it, but at least they were in it right? Lots of people expected them to be in it again this year or at least pretty good and not just the so called experts, but the real experts that read this site. Dumbasses. I thought they would go 9-7 but the offense would be good and the defense would be their downfall again. Oh well. Everyone that bothered to make a prediction wrote a mixture of smart and dumb. Anyway, here is my quick review of the season so we can relive and remember where it all went so wrong.

Game 1: Favored at Green Bay, lost 13-16
Clever headline by me - "Call Reno, 911". People only remember the two fumbled punts that were big contributors to the loss, but this was also the debut of the sucky offense that couldn't do anything in the redzone that would persist all season and end up being the primary reason the Eagles are sitting at home right now.

Game 2: Favored vs. Washington, lost 12-20
Eagles offense was brutal when it wasn't somnabulant with McNabb's immobility really being noticed for the first time. More redzone futility. A bad, boring game with the added bonus of suffering through it via ESPN's bad coverage and them giving Barkley a platform to trash Philadelphia for the entire third quarter.

Game 3: Favored vs. Detroit, won 56-21
Eagles offense explodes in their throwback jerseys but everyone is suspicious that it's a fluke. It was.

Game 4: Favored at the Giants, lost 3-16
Another horrible, unwatchable game that we all watched of course. Both teams were horrible but this game is remembered for Winston Justice's spot on impression of wet tissue paper that got Umenyiora a ticket to the Pro Bowl (whatta joke). Yet Reid and the offense did nothing to fix it. Eagles also had 15 penalties for 132 yards. I also remember Buckhalter being incapable of making an easy fumble recovery, an Eagles specialty, and the Giants picking it up and scoring a TD. This is also when I first declared the season over.

Game 5: Favored at the Jets, won 16-9
This game continued the trend of really bad, really boring games featuring teams not trying to necessarily win, but trying to not suck as bad as their opponent. In this contest the Jets ended up sucking more. Westbrook had the best play in the game knocking Vilma on his ass and the Jets the stupidest with their fade pass call when it was 4th and goal on the 3" line.

Game 6: Favored vs Bears, lost 16-19
In a season full of "patheticness", the most pathetic moment probably was the defensive collapse that allowed the Brian Griese led Bears to go 97 yards in 1:52 with no time-outs to win the game. The offense was terrible again in the redzone, Eagles were afraid of Hester, and we learned it's not a fumble if the center hikes the ball through the QBs legs, it's only a false start. After this one, more people admitted to themselves that the season was over.

Game 7: Favored at the Vikings, won 23-16
The offense managed to score 2 touchdowns this game and the defense shut down Adrian Peterson. But the main result of this game was creating some false hope for the diehards.

Game 8: Underdog vs. Dallass, lost 38-17
This was the one game where the Eagles were crushed. McNabb started the game by fumbling it on the very first play which Dallas converted into a TD 6 plays later and the rout was on. Well not really, it was only 14-7 late in the half but Dallass was deep in Eagles territory looking to score when Lito picked it off giving the Eagles some hope and the offense the ball on their own 17. 3 plays later though McNabb gave it right back and Dallas went in up 21-7. And from that point the rout was on.

Game 9: Underdog at Redskins, won 33-25
The highlight of this game was Westbrook taking a screen pass 57 yards behind some great blocks for a go ahead and ultimately game winning TD. The game also featured 2 James Thrash TDs, a Reggie Brown TD on a horribly thrown "bomb", and the Redskins allowing Westbrook to run in for another TD late so they would get the ball back with time. This game is also notable because it was actually entertaining to watch.

Game 10: Favored vs. Dolphis, won 17-7
A return home and a return to the usual unwatchable dreck. In the first half the Eagles struggled to score 3 points vs. the league worst Dolphins while giving up a kickoff return for a TD. McNabb was 3-11, 34 yards, and 2 interceptions before he got hurt and was relieved by Feeley. LJ Smith also had an especially bad game. In the second half, coaching genius Reid decided to start running the ball vs. the 30th ranked run defense and the Eagles managed to tack on 14 more points for the victory. The defense also had their second notable goal line stand of the season, helped out by some bad play calls by the Dolphins.

Game 11: Underdog at the Patriots, lost 28-31
This was maybe the most memorable game of this forgettable season. It was a Sunday Night nationally televised game and the Eagles were 26 point underdogs by gametime. But with Feeley at QB the offense sustained drives and went up and down the field with a purpose and a consistency that was completely absent in the prior games. But with Feeley at QB there were 2 killer interceptions - 1 at the start that spotted the Patriots 7 points and 1 at the end killing the Eagles upset chances when they were at the Patriots 30 yard line and driving with the game clock winding down and only down by 3. The Eagles were the first team all season to challenge the Patriots, expose their defense, shut down Moss, and outplay them. They deserved to win but self inflicted mistakes killed them in the end. Sigh.

Game 12: Favored vs. Seahawks, lost 24-28
This game is remembered for AJ Feeley's 4 interceptions, 3 to the same Seattle linebacker with the funny name, Lofa Tatupu. This time 2 of the picks led to 14 points for the opposition and the usual 1 at the end of the game that doomed the Eagles after they had been placed in position to win the game thanks to a Westbrook punt return to the 14 yard line. Other lowpoints were Spikes dropping an easy pick, Eagles having 1st and goal at the 1 and getting no points, and throwing a 20 yard incomplete pass down the sidelines to LJ Smith after 2 running plays had made it 3rd and 1. I am still amazed though that the Eagles had ZERO penalties in this game. I'm not amazed that despite that feat they still lost.

Game 13: Favored vs. Giants, lost 13-16
McNabb returned and the game started with the offense going right down the field on a beautiful drive that ended with a TD. After that they were their usual pathetic selves. The offense though did drive to the Giants 39 as time was winding down only to watch a game tying Akers attempt slam off the goalpost. The noise and resulting feeling summed up the entire season - as bad as they were they still were almost good enough to win, but not really.

Game 14: Underdog at Dallass, won 10-6
This game was won thanks to a great effort by the Eagles defense and the terrible play Dallass's golden boy, Tony Romo, who was trying to show off for this year's model of mildly retarded celebrity girlfriend. After the game he simply told Jessica that they won so it worked out for him personally at least. This game will be remembered for Jessica Simpson, the Cowboys losing and only scoring 6 points, and for Westbrook downing himself at the 1 instead of scoring a TD. I did find it amusing how all the commentators felt compelled to push the "Westbrook taking away personal glory from himself by not scoring a TD" narrative. If he had scored the TD it would have been just that - another normal, unremarkable TD. By not scoring the TD, Westbrook garnered tons of praise and personal glory and will be remembered for that play forever. Let this be a lesson to all the little kids out there. And this too - Dallass sucks.

Game 15: Underdog at the Saints, won 38-23
With all the pressure off McNabb and the offense they played well and even went on a 98 yard TD drive which came after the defense had another great goal line stand. Of course it was all entirely meaningless. Memorable plays included McNabb with a long run, fumbling, and Curtis recovering in the endzone and Stewart Bradley making several good plays including an interception. His play and other young defensive players' efforts give us something to look forward too I suppose.

Game 16: Favored vs. Bills, won 17-9
Another meaningless game and yet another boring game. JR Reid had a great hit, Curtis recovered another fumble in the endzone, and the defense had another goal line stand. Eagles finished 8-8 but were telling anyone who would listen that "they could beat anyone in the league right now and too bad they wouldn't get the chance to do it." Truly disturbed individuals that need to get some help.

So that was that. Another Philadelphia season that ended without a championship and another team and front office seemingly delusional about the result. By the final press conference of the season Reid was even dragging out the injuries excuse. Why is it so hard to simply say, "We sucked"?

Take it back

The Sixers broke a seven-game slide Tuesday night with a road win over Houston. They were also wearing throw-back 1980s jerseys. Coincidence? Of course. They were already blown out by Boston while sporting those jerseys, and may have lost another time too. Not sure.

Here's the thing — the trade of Kyle Korver for cap room demonstrated new GM Ed Stefanski is fully prepared to take losses this year and start from the bottom next year.

But while cleaning house, why not take the uniforms back to a better time for the team? All the simple red, white and blue goodness of the 1980s, now with baggier shorts. Win-win.

The current uniforms aren't horrible, but they've had their day. Let's take from the past and move toward the future.

Hey, if you can't play good, you may as well look good.

Eat it, Mr. Met!

Using some sort of complex economic calculus, Forbes magazine has proven what Philadelphians have long known: The Phillie Phanatic is the greatest mascot in all of sports. The Phanatic bested such notables as the artist formerly known as the San Diego Chicken, the racing sausages of Milwaukee, and that arrogant, round headed buffoon, Mr. Met. The Phanatic was unavailable for comment, but surrogate Tom Burgoyne said this:

"This isn't the same Forbes list that Oprah and Bill Gates are on?"

In a great journalistic oversight, Tommy Lasorda was not contacted for his reaction.

Baseball mascots dominated the list, no doubt because of baseball's long periods of inaction allow for more mascot face time and shenanigans than in other, more entertaining sports. And in the time of the steroid injecting, money grubbing choad as ballplayer, a mascot gives the fans a "team member" who is there for the long haul, interacts with fans, and who seems to enjoy showing up at the ballpark everyday. Congratulations to the Phanatic for a job well done.

Dallass sucks

Schadenfreude is the best word in the English language.

All-Pro, alright*

Brian Westbrook was named to the NFL's All-Pro team Wednesday for the first time, a well-deserved and overdue honor. He led the league in yards from scrimmage, and went to town on the Eagles record book. Let's just hope the front office fully commits to pursuing a Super Bowl win while Westbrook's in his prime.

*Think McConaughey for post title

Winter Classic

So on New Year's Day I watched the NHL's Winter Classic, oops, I mean the 2008 Amp Energy Winter Classic starring Sidney Crosby and his greatness. There were also a bunch of other guys taking up space on his rink but I don't think they were that important.

In an otherwise very entertaining game in a great atmosphere featuring constantly changing winter weather conditions (but no fights), the enjoyment was ruined by the NHL's desire and announcers Mike Emrick, Ed Olczyk and Darren Pang's pathetic devotion to the company line to sell, sell, and sell some more the absolute wondrousness of Sidney Crosby. A drive to the net that was poke checked away by the Sabres goalie, Miller (unfortunately for him right to Colby Armstrong for a half open net goal), was an example of how special Crosby is. Never mind every player in the NHL can drive to the net and have the goalie poke check the puck off his stick. Later in the first Crosby flicked the puck in the air and tapped it twice, yes I said TWICE, before he was bumped, lost control and had the puck slide harmlessly on goal. This was replayed probably 6 or 7 times and mentioned repeatedly for the rest of the game as an act of incredible talent and special skill. Later, a spin-o-rama that resulted in a weak backhander was also overly lauded. And when it was revealed he claimed to have fanned on the shot Emrick was compelled to say, and I'm paraphrasing, "Even when he fans on a shot it's a dangerous scoring opportunity."

While the selling of Crosby's greatness continued unabated by the announcers, the Sabres started taking over the game. And once they stopped being shorthanded they started to dominate and Campbell got a goal on a great shot to tie it. In the second period the Penguins barely registered a shot on net despite Crosby's hockey-god skills. Their scrub line finally got 2 in the last few minutes. And in the third while not being as dominant, the Sabres controlled play and had the best scoring chances. While Crosby was getting all the hype and praise for basically existing, the Penguins player that was actually contributing most to their ultimate victory and the player of the game, the goalie Conklin, was mentioned only when he was making a save.

After the Sabres pretty much owned the Penguins when they were playing actual hockey, the worst idea currently going in sports - the shootout, decided the game. Do you see 3 point competitions deciding games in basketball? Do you have field goal kicking contests or passing accuracy competitions deciding football games? No, of course not. They are skills competitions and gimmicks best viewed once a year on Day 1 of all-star weekends and have no business deciding team sports.* Only in hockey and soccer is this abomination practiced. So of course the Penguins undeservedly "won" the game, scoring 2 breakaway goals to 1 with Crosby getting the second and of course was credited with "winning" the game. Never mind Conklin or Letang who got the other one on a great backhander.

I recognize that Crosby is a great player, but watching this game was reminiscent of watching games in the past on ESPN and elsewhere when Brett Favre was doing nothing for the Packers but judging by the praise from the announcers you'd have thought he was 28-30, 3 TDs and 380 yards. Likewise, Crosby did nothing amazing and wasn't even the best player on the ice on Tuesday, but normal plays were hyped as something special anyway. The problem with this marketing strategy is that people aren't so easily fooled and will go, "That's what passes for spectacular in the NHL? Lame. They keep telling me this Crosby guy is awesome but I haven't seen anything yet. Didn't they used to fight in hockey? I think I'll watch UFC instead." Also, Crosby is only on one team. You're supposed to be selling the ENTIRE league and sport. And while Crosby does have great offensive skills, he is also a well known diver and crybaby. The exact opposite of what the league should be promoting. See the dude changing to the channel to UFC.

So anyway, if you missed the game because you were at the Mummers Parade or were hung over, you missed something that was out of the ordinary and entertaining but would be better served if the focus was on more than one player and the actual game that was being played, not the one where Crosby dominated and got a hattrick and 2 assists that was occurring in the announcers' imaginations. Supposedly they are thinking about doing a future Winter Classic game in Beaver Stadium with the Flyers and Penguins. I might have to return to State College for that.

*Another strike against the shootout is people have observed that Edmonton is playing for ties because they suck at even strength but are 10-2 in shootouts. Without the shootout, their record through last Friday would be 6 victories, 18 losses and 12 ties instead of 16 and 20. Way to go NHL!