What a joke

By chance I caught the stupid and overhyped mixed martial arts thing that CBS showed tonight instead of the local news. The announcers were hilariously bad, trying to do a professional job but ended up sounding like some backup WWE announcers. When the match finally started after 30 minutes of talking about nothing and posturing, it mostly consisted of two big dudes wrestling on the ground doing alot of nothing. Eventually they got off the ground and a couple punches were thrown and the white dude with the giant cauliflower ear named "Colossus" Thompson couldn't box and couldn't avoid them. So after otherwise controlling the supposed "baddest man alive" Kimbo Slice or 2 rounds, he ended up losing early in the third when Kimbo staggered him - but didn't knock him down - and the ref prematurely called the fight.

So after watching this and seeing Kimbo Slice controversially awarded a victory, I couldn't help but feel that the league really needed to have Kimbo win since it was his image that had finally gotten them some mainstream hype and onto CBS. But in effect it probably confirmed what most people thought coming in - this crap is basically a carnival sideshow and a joke. But I wouldn't be surprised if it got better ratings than the Stanley Cup.

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story

We all played "whisper down the lane" in grade school, and learned the lesson that stories can be altered drastically in a short period of time. Even if they aren't passed from person to person, our stories can become scrambled by way of revisionist history, intentional or not.

Now, if you base all your life decisions on a literal reading of the Bible, or are about to start a war based on a disputed line on a map, changing stories and fuzzy memories can be problematic. Not so with sports stories, which often benefit from the fuzziness.

Case in point: I saw this post and found the story of a Carlton Fisk-hating Thurman Munson deliberately dropping third strikes so as to pass his rival for the league lead in a pointless statistic very amusing. The problem? It's probably not true, as pointed out by Rob Neyer in this excerpt from his book on baseball legends.

Munson was unavailable for comment.

100 failures

Yep, we are fans of the biggest bunch of almosts, just this closes, one player away losers and far, far worse. Our teams have been in the finals 7 times since the Sixers last won, May 31st, 1983 and no one has managed to win it all since. There will be no miracle catches on the side of a helmet for a Philadelphia team.

After the Flyers were eliminated by Pittsburgh, the national media has started to recognize Philadelphia's "100 Seasons of Failure" milestone, but I doubt it will instill any understanding of the psychic toll that results from continuous failure. They'll still continue to lazily dredge up "they threw snowballs at Santa Claus" every time we boo another Philadelphia failure in anger and disgust.

Sports Illustrated has a decent article listing 100 heartbreaks during our ignominious 25 year run. Why college disappointments are in there I don't know; no one cares. And if they count, what about Villanova winning in 1986? Some events are missing however - Flyers, a 2 seed, only scoring 2 goals in a 5 game series vs. Ottawa, the 7th seed, who had Patrick Lalime in goal, and Lindberg killing himself drunk driving.

What else was forgotten? What team has the best chance of breaking the drought?

Let's go Phils

Flyers got outplayed the entire game, true. But every bounce and every bogus call went the Penguins way including Thoresen's goal being stolen away from him for absolutely no good reason or explanation. He was so due. But hats off to the the refs and their consistency, sucking from October to May with no wavering.

It is disappointing and pisses me off the weak way the Flyers went out in their last game. Other than 2004 it has been the Flyers tradition the last couple years to get blown out and embarrassed. This time though it only leaves a sour taste after a successful season. Before it was bitter anger.

Other notes:

• Penguins fans are lamest, most clueless fans in hockey. Nashville fans know hockey better. Seriously, only people 10 years behind the times still do the weak ass mock name cheer, sing the goodbye song, and vote for a Clinton. I was waiting for the wave to start next.
• Fleury is a guido and gets his eyebrows waxed.
• Anyone else notice the Penguins wheeled the Prince of Wales trophy out in a shopping cart? Fitting.

Alive and punching

OK, the guy who said its over for the Flyers in the previous post will post again for the game 4 win.

Yes, they tried to blow a three-goal lead (they might have thought they had a two-goal lead again), but they pulled it out.

Of note was the increased nastiness in this one, culminating in Hatcher giving Malone a good thrashing behind the net, and Richards repeatedly slashing Crosby in the legs after a faceoff. Unfortunately Crosby didn't drop the gloves like Richards did (drop the gloves Crosby!) or before the refs jumped in, obviously mortified at the thought of someone bloodying Crosby's hairy lip.

I believe the Flyers when they say they believe they can still win this series. Looks impossible considering the Penguins' team strength, but if they can steal one in Pittsburgh Sunday, and maybe get Timonen and Coburn back ... ehhh? Ehhh?

On an unrelated note, what the hell are the world hockey championships being played during the NHL playoffs for?

Let's get this over with

Ron was right, it's over. To the lowlights:

— Biron against the Caps or Habs stops those two first goals. The first goal, that bounced in off of Smith, was especially weak. He's been great, but you can't start playing after you're down 2-0 and expect to beat Pittsburgh.

— Prospal was virtually invisible, and Briere wasn't much better. Prospal assisted on the Umberger goal, and his line had another good chance in the first, but that was it, and that's not enough. Briere had the puck in good scoring positions a number of times but often didn't shoot until a defenseman got in blocking position. Where were the scoring instincts?

— Gonchar made a great play when we needed one from Richards on the short-handed break.

— Downie had another costly mistake. He could have just held the puck. Instead, he made the aggressive pass to the cutter at the blue line, and the Pens were just waiting to pounce. Of course everyone else on the ice took that opportunity to look like crap — Hatcher, Jones, Kapanen — and the Pens scored, sealing game.

— Since when are the Penguins such a great defensive team, or were the Flyers just that bad?

— Other stuff may have happened, but I repressed it.

I'll leave the season overview until after the season's officially over, but it was clear the Penguins are the better team, and out top two defensemen being out hurt. The rest of the defense couldn't step up as much as might have been needed, too many top forwards were invisible, and Biron wasn't the same this series. And that's that.

Am I crazy, or ...

MalkinBerry?

Will we ever win?

No.

As if losing Timonen wasn't bad enough. So now they basically have the defense they had last year during their worst season ever.

Is Richards going to be the only Flyer forward to show up? I guess Carter is doing pretty good too, but where's everyone else?

And don't give me any of that "they played better crap" because they played horrible in game one, so, so what. Tonight they played bad enough to lose. They're losing exactly how the Rangers did, waiting for something to happen.

Season is over.

Roll 'em

The last three innings took forever — I dozed off twice — but the Phillies employed some clutch hitting to beat the Giants late last night.

Jimmy Rollins returned to the lineup, and on the heels of a bunch of 0-fers in his rehab games, smacked a two-run homer to get the Phils back in the game, an RBI double and a single. Perhaps he was inspired by his return to his native Bay Area. I seem to remember the Oakland native always doing well in Frisco.

Cole Hamels wasn't dominant, but pitched well enough and deep enough into the game to pick up the win.

It was Brad Lidge who, despite giving up a one-out single in the ninth, looked pretty dominant, striking out the side pretty easily for the save. He's making a bunch of young hitters look silly, and his scoreless streak can't last forever, but it's pretty impressive while it lasts.

Alright, bed time.

1-2-3 Repeater, Flyers lose opening game of series

The Flyers simply turned the puck over way too many times in a frustrating 4-2 loss to the Pens. Philly turned the puck over in their own zone, the neutral zone and at the Penguins blueline. They turned it over when pressured, when unpressured and via limp wristed dump-ins that trickled to the Penguins defenders. Weak. When not turning the puck over, the Flyers did play well for 19 of the first 20 minutes of the game, and then again for 6 of the final 7 minutes. In the second and most of the third period Pittsburgh outplayed the Flyers, winning the battles for the lose pucks and controlling play. Mike Richards played well for the Flyers scoring both Philadelphia goals. Some notes:

Sykora scores the opening goal from a nice pass from Malkin. Mr. Hockey sense Thoreson must have had a brain cramp or something, it was his turnover at the Pens blue line that sprang the 3 on 2.

Richards tied it on a wrap around. Good hard work here from Umberger as well.

Flyers take the lead as they crash the net and Richards scores again.

Biron turns the puck over to Hossa and Sidney Crosby tips the puck in to tie the game up.

Flyers give up a horrendous goal in the last 10 seconds of the first period after a turnover in the neutral zone leads to a nice Whitney pass to Malkin who beat Biron to the far side. The Biron of the Montreal series stops that shot. This play was also very close to being off-side.

The Penguins final goal was a crazy play. First Malkin gets a partial shorthanded breakaway, which is defused and ends with an awesome Richards hit on Malkin. Malkin is basically out of the play, the Flyers have what amounts to a 5 on 3, but they turn the puck over entering the Penguins zone. Gonchar makes a nice pass to Malkin who is far behind the play at the Flyers blue line. Malkin channels Steve Larmer and blasts the breakaway slapshot for a two goal lead. Again, the Biron of the Montreal series stops that shot.

Immediately afterwards, with the Flyers still on the power-play, Carter takes a pathetic offensive zone hooking penalty. Carter had a bad game. He later did not get a shot off on an awesome feed from Upshall that lead to Jeff staring at an open net. (Admittedly earlier in the game Carter did have a nice shot from the slot that Fluery stopped with a strong glove save).

The Hartnell, Briere and Prospal were all non factors. On the plus side so were Flyer killer Staal and, except for his Biron gifted goal, Sidney Crosby.

And for the first time in a long time the referees were also non factors.

The Flyers really missed Timmonen on their power play, which looked pathetic.

Fluery easily outplayed Biron. His poke check on Umberger's first period breakaway was a great, game changing save.

Finally if the Penguins best player Malkin, obviously feeling his playoff muscles, is face washing in a last minute scrum, maybe someone on the Flyers should take off their gloves and pound him. Also Hatcher quit talking shit to Ryan Malone and give him a beat down. Props to Knuble who actually did look like he wanted to fight.

Game two is Sunday night. If the Flyers play like they did in the first period and manage not to turn the puck over they could win. If not, it's a Fugazi all over again.

Flyers vs. Penguins

All the "experts" are predictably picking the Penguins -- has anyone really spent some time considering how completely lame their name is? They're also predicting a "war", except minus actual death, destruction, criminal profiteering by Dick Cheney's buddies, and destabilization of an entire region - somehow I think Pennsylvania will survive. Why they are predicting a war along the lines of "Old Time Hockey" is really odd considering that aspect of the game has been virtually eliminated thanks to Gary Bettman, but maybe they mean it in a sense compared to what passes for goonery in today's NHL.

Anyway, I don't fear the Penguins but I do worry that the Flyers luck will run out. Things have a way of balancing out. But then again, there are years upon years of bad luck built up on that side of the Flyers ledger. What's amazing is the Flyers are pretty much healthy. When has that ever happened at this stage in the playoffs? Shouldn't a couple of the best players be playing with severe concussions or their shoulders falling apart?

To win the series the Flyers need to make the hand signal for diving popularized by Forsberg every time Sidney Crybaby goes to the ice. It would be cool if they run the goalie a lot and Malkin twice as much. Malkin, who everyone seems to be recognizing is the best player on the Penguins months after everyone here at WWEW did, is who the Flyers do need to fear somewhat. Crosby and Hossa a little. And pound that Whitney guy into the ice so he coughs the puck up a bunch. But don't get penalties doing so. Keep balanced scoring, keep scoring on the power play, keep up the great penalty killing, and Biron, please keep making the miracle saves along with the routine ones. But most crucial is a great effort on defense. If the team defense steps up and can frustrate the punk ass pair, Crosby and Malkin, the series can be won.

Vote Chris Coste!

I have been asked to use the mighty power of this blog to encourage everyone to vote for Chris Coste as a write-in for this year's All Star Game. You can vote 25 times per email address.

Now why should you stuff the ballot box for Coste? Well first, the obvious reason is he plays for the Phillies. Second, the sports media needs a new old guy to lionize since Brett Favre retired and what better old guy than a 33 year old rookie? And third, Coste thinks the gas tax holiday is not only an example of political pandering at its worst, but it's also one of the stupidest ideas he's ever heard. Other good reasons are he's hitting above .300, his on base percentage is almost .400 and his slugging percentage is above .500. And the catchers on all the other teams don't play for the Phillies, so vote and tell your friends to vote. But seriously, it would be a cool thing to have happen.

Les Habs and Les Hab Nots

Flyers win, Canadiens lose.

Other notes:

• Price was wrong once again.
• Umstoppable, dude.
• A new "Hand of God" goal?
• Even the empty net goal bounced right.
• I've been told I should stop resisting, stop doubting, stop worrying, and learn to accept that it is possible for a Philadelphia team to get huge meaningful breaks and be happy.

Bonus picture:


 

Phillies do their Flyers act

After blowing a 4-1 lead in the seventh, going to extras and going down a run after Aaron Rowand led off the 10th with a homer, the Phils pulled out the win thanks to a Pat Burrell walk-off, scoring Chase Utley.

Giants closer Brian Wilso was hurling fire — with most pitches 96 and above — but he didn't bother mixing in any breaking stuff against Burrell, and after getting down 3-0 in the count threw three fast balls right down the middle. Burrell swung through the first, fouled off the second and crushed the third. Anything off-speed on that 3-2 pitch and Burrell would have looked silly. Instead, he's the hero, and continues a great start to the season.