Flyers bitten by Sharks, 6-3

I don't have Comcast, but I listen to the Flyers on the radio then watch the NHL's highlight reel of the game. This is my recap of their recap.

Nice moves by Carle to set up Briere's first. Thorton to Heatley 2 on 1 goals were pathetic. They were street hockey goals. Good to see Giroux score again. Too many fat rebounds by Emery and nice bounces for the Sharks.

Therien quote of the game: "I think I just found the slowest guy in the NHL. Number 3, Douglas Murray. He's got two pianos on his back."

Stolen in its entirety from The Onion

Eagles Settle For Field Goal After 260-Yard Drive

SAN DIEGO—The Eagles were forced to settle for a field goal against the Chargers Sunday after sustaining a 260-yard, 64-play drive that featured six separate red-zone appearances and took 52 minutes off the game clock. "It's disappointing not to score a touchdown when you keep a drive alive for more than three and a half quarters," said quarterback Donovan McNabb, who completed 32 of his 66 passes, converted 26 first downs, and was carted off the field for X-rays twice during the drive. "At least we came away with three points. Those 120 yards in penalties really hurt our field position, but those conversions on third and 21, third and 64, and the fake punt on fourth and 72 showed that this team never quits." Backup QB Michael Vick took one snap from center during the nearly hour-long drive, failing to complete a screen pass.

Duh Behrs

11/22 8:20 PM ET	Opening	betED	Bodog	5Dimes	SPORTSBETTING
Philadelphia @ Chicago	44.5 2	45 3	45 3	45 3	45 3

Matchup • Expanded Odds • Line History

Bonus Question: What will be the higher number, Cutler interceptions or Eagles failed short yardage conversions?

Unshocking result

All the Eagles usual infuriating problems were in effect in the first half and doomed the Eagles comeback efforts of the second. You just had to laugh at every third and short failure and every red zone failure. Sometimes pathetic is funny. You also had to laugh at the penalties on every kick return and at all penalties of the stupid moron variety that occurred all game long. If I didn't laugh, my anger reserves would be depleted too early in the game. But the main reasons the Eagles lost 31-23 was they only got field goals in the first half instead of touchdowns, the defense couldn't stop the worst rush attack in the NFL, and the defense couldn't stop the Chargers on their final drive of the game. But that did save McNabb from another ignominious comeback attempt failure.

Other notes:

• Danger, high boltage is lame.
• A lot of bad tackling by the defense again.
• Samuels had a terrible game.
• I hate reverses, and I am not surprised when they fail miserably, which is almost every time. But that never stops the Eagles from trying them.
• Sheldon Brown was pushed in the back on the catch that set up the Chargers second TD, no call of course.
• On LT's first touchdown as Trent Cole was tackling him the Chargers lineman was tackling Trent Cole. No call of course.
• Who is this Reggie Brown guy?
• Do they really need to bring in Vick to throw passes behind receivers? Jackson still should have caught it though.
• Why didn't Andy Reid go for it on some of those 4th and shorts? I guess there was plenty time to kick 5 field goals for the win.
• Linebackers were weak. Insert usual tight end coverage criticism here.
• Avant is the best "catcher" on the team.
• Eagles actually put together some drives today.
• After that missed 5 yard pass to a wide open Weaver on the goal line that was behind and high, why do people wonder why McNabb gets criticized?
• By the way, where did Weaver go this game?
• I enjoyed Maclin's non-celebration after his TD. Notice McNabb's reaction on the pass? He thought he threw it out of bounds.
• Dallass lost too. Dallass sucks.

Delaware Parlay Play Picks for Week 10

Pick 3 games in the comments to win! Get the odds from the official 1/2 point parlay card. (Sorry, you can't pick the Niners/Bears game, cuz the lame NFL is starting earlier and early each year to expand their monopolization of their product through their government enabled/exempted privileges.... and Thursday Night Football started before I could post this.)

Brent Celek, advertising innovator

Unlike the rest of the world, major league sports in the U.S. continue to resist allowing teams to become billboards for advertising sponsors, at least when it comes to uniforms on game day.

Granted, they've crammed sponsors' names just about everywhere else (Matt Blatt splatt of the game anyone?), but when it comes to the players they're far from moving pitchmen during games.

Brent Celek burst through the firewall last week though when he busted out a Captain Morgan pose after scoring a touchdown. But while we assumed Celek was a television viewer having a goof, or possibly a problem drinker crying out for help through a thin facade of humor, he was indeed in cahoots with the Captain's corporate overlords.

The “Captain Morgan” was effectively banned this week after the league learned of a wider campaign meant to get players to repeatedly strike the pose during NFL games.

...

Celek spoke through an Eagles spokesman and denied any knowledge of a Captain Morgan campaign. But an account executive handling the promotion told Yahoo! Sports the Eagles tight end was indeed involved.

Celek didn't stand to make any money off the deal, as every instance of leg raise would send a contribution to a nonprofit benefiting ex-NFL players. In that sense Celek should be commended, as it wasn't just a selfish, "look at me" act. However, he might have snuffed out the campaign by jumping on board early. Really though, this thing had no chance of going beyond one week, as evidenced by the response time of the No Fun League to Celek.

I make no comment on Celek earning a 15-yard penalty in the game, as that was all Jason Avant's fault. The Captain stands alone and needs no support, Jason.

The second half of the season begins

11/15 4:15 PM ET	Opening	betED	Bodog	5Dimes	SPORTSBETTING
Philadelphia @ San Diego	49 -3	47 -1.5	OFF -3	46.5 -1	47.5 -2

Matchup • Expanded Odds • Line History

Bonus Question: What do you see happening in the second half of the season?

Same old crap

After a game where everything went the Eagles way vs. the Giants, everything returned to normal this week vs. Dallass, who sucks. The Eagles were once again a team fighting itself at every turn. McNabb was his more typical inaccurate and inconsistent self with the receivers chipping in by dropping several passes (except Avant), the offense couldn't convert on 3rd down (4 of 12) and sustain drives, the offense couldn't make 1 yard on three tries, the offense had no big plays so only scored 16 points, the team had penalties (some bogus) on every other play, especially the big ones, the defense and special teams had instances of poor tackling, and of course time management and stupid coaching decisions also played a part.

One thing that was atypical for an Eagles loss though was pretty good balance between run and the pass, and they even outgained Dallass on the ground. So while this usual stupid aspect of the Eagles was avoided this game, all the other stupidity was too much to overcome and they lost, 20-16.

• Weak start by the offense.
• Weak effort by the defense after McNabb's first interception caused by Maclin.
• 100 years in the league and McNabb has never mastered the "throw the ball away" skill.
• Akers was good, hitting 3 long kicks including a 52 yarder.
• I'm glad Weaver got a bunch of handoffs for the second week in a row. How about some more though, like on third and short EVERY time, not some of the time.
• Celek showed how good he is on that one play where he caught it, got popped, but then had the field awareness to extend the ball for a first down before going out of bounds.
• The defenses inability to stop that wide receiver inside screen led to two long third down conversions and ultimately 10 points for Dallass.
• Tony Dungy looks like a vampire.
• What was Celek doing after his TD? Captain Morgan?
• Eli got the across the line of scrimmage call vs. the Eagles a while back, McNabb got the same call this game.
• Obligatory Rocky reference shot at 5 minutes to go first quarter and cheesesteak shot at 11:48 of third quarter.
• Several ridiculous calls this game on both sides, but the big ones went against the Eagles and cost them the most.
• The Wildcat seemed to send the offense off the rails in the third quarter. Vick stupidly came in and stupidly handed off, followed by a timeout, followed by the first down catch by McCoy that wasn't, followed by a challenge and a wrong ruling on the challenge and another lost timeout, followed by Peters false starting after defensive encroachment on 4th and inches, followed by a punt. No more Wildcat, dammit.
• If you can't definitively make a yard on three plays, you deserve to lose. Don't give the refs the opportunity to screw it up because it's obvious they will.
• If the Eagles are behind late in the fourth quarter, chances are the game will end that way.

Dallass sucks.

Delaware Parlay Play Picks for Week 9

Pick 3 games in the comments to win! Get the odds from the official 1/2 point parlay card.

Dallass sucks

11/08 8:20 PM ET	Opening	betED	Bodog	5Dimes	SPORTSBETTING
Dallass @ Philadelphia	47.5 -3	48.5 -3	48 -3	48.5 -2.5	48 -3

Matchup • Expanded Odds • Line History

Bonus Question: Why does it feel so good to hate the Cowboys?

We are not the champions

Now we know what it's like to be tiny plastic Tokyo.

There were not a lot of controversial calls or crazy plays Wednesday night, just one team getting more hits and better pitching. That team was the Yankees, who won 7-3 to take the World Series 4-2.

The eyes of Philadelphia were turned toward Pedro to get this thing to a game 7, but Hideki Matsui — aka Godzilla — got the better of Pedro in the second inning belting a two-run homer and making this an uphill battle for the Phillies.

Pedro just didn't have it tonight, and I'm not real sure what he was thinking against Matsui. He kept pounding him inside, but was clearly not going to get a strike by him. Eventually Matsui turned on one and that was that.

Matsui didn't just pick on Martinez, though, and doubled in two of Haap to pretty much seal things. This is the Phillies, so it was by no means over of course. But after Dámaso Marte struck out Utley with two on in the top of the seventh, the Phillies could not mount another serious threat. Mariano Rivera got the last five outs to close it out.

So, another great season for the Phillies, but one that ends in disappointment. Additions and subtractions will obviously have to be made, but we can at least be confident in the fact we have a good young core coming back. And, more importantly, that we have a group of players fun to root for, as opposed to someone like A-Centaur ...

Off the mat

Game 5 got pretty crazy late in the going, but for the Phillies to win and keep the series, they got what they needed. That meant Cliff Lee being strong and going deep into the game. But more importantly it meant the top of the lineup collectively taking it to the opposing pitchers the way they're capable of doing.

If the Yankees are going to rely on starters going on three days rest, then the Phillies lineup has to knock them around. If they don't, they're going to lose, as it seems unlikely from this point forward that the Yankees will go scoreless. Tonight, the Phillies hit the Yankees around, and they have to keep the pressure on against Pettitte Wednesday.

Obviously the standout hitter for the Phillies was Utley, hitting another two home runs, including a three-run shot in the first that really put the gears in motion for the win.

Cliff Lee wasn't lights out like he was in game 1, but he was very good, and worked himself out of jams on his way to pitching seven innings.

Victorino got hit on the hand while squaring to bunt in the first, and is lucky he didn't break a bone. You could see it swelling up, and he was in obvious discomfort but stayed in and seemed to be alright as the game went along. Which led to tonight's "What is Charlie doing?" moment.

Victorino grounded out in the bottom of the sixth, stayed in the field in the seventh, but was pulled by Manuel in the top of the eighth for Ben Francisco. Why? I couldn't tell you. If he was OK enough to play in the seventh, why not leave the better fielder in the game? Could he not throw? Had it swollen that much in an inning? With a bad hand, I would consider lifting him for a pinch hitter before replacing him in the field if he'd been playing that long.

Naturally, Ibanez missed a line drive off his glove, and Franncisco could not throw out A-Douche at home after catching a short fly ball. Would things have been different with Victorino in? Who knows. But this signaled a turn toward the late-inning chaos we've seen all too much this season.

Fortunately, things leveled out. Madson, after letting two guys on in the ninth, got a clutch double play off the bat of Jeter, and was able to eventually close things out.

NOTES:
• Utley ties Reggie Jackson for the record total home runs in a World Series. In bad record news, Ryan Howard tied Williw McGee for most strikeouts in a World Series.
• Was that design on A.J. Burnett's had a tattoo? Super weak.


Pedro against Pettitte on three days rest Wednesday night. In the words of a high school baseball teammate, "Somebody rip that rag!"

Knockout blow(?)

Well, shit, that ninth inning just about sums up this season, at least when it comes to Brad Lidge.

With the game tied 4-4 entering the ninth, Lidge entered, got two outs, and then surrendered a single to Johnny Damon after a lengthy at bat. As soon as Damon started fouling off pitch after pitch, I got a bad feeling, because that's how so many blow ups seemed to start for Lidge this season. You saw the rest. His fastball was wild, except when located in what I refer to as the "meatball quadrant," and the Yankees started hammering it.

Goddamn it, that is a crappy way to go out. Or to lose a game, in case you think the Phillies still have a chance. Surely Cliff Lee has a good chance to win, but can the Phils then take two in a row in New York relying on the rest of their starters? Ehhh, yeah, so there you go.

Earlier in the game, before Utley and Feliz homered to tie it up and things weren't looking so good, it occurred to me that it was really good the Phillies won last year or losing to the stinking Yankees would be apocalyptic levels of suck. I guess that's still true. But losing still sucks, even if not at apocalyptic, noose-tying and looking for a chair levels.

NOTES:
• After about two months off, Joe Blanton was solid. Unfortunately he needed a little time to get into a rhythm and the Yankees picked up two early runs.
• I guess this game meant more than last night's, because Manuel pinch hit with Francisco in the sixth instead of Bruntlett.
• Would have been nice to see the Phillies go after some Yankees reliever other than Rivera. Was looking good there for a bit.

As Pat Benetar sang, it's a do or die situation tomorrow. Will we be invincible?

Giants receive a critical beatdown, 40-17

The Eagles team of the last 2 weeks was nowhere to be found today. The team of multiple drops, double digit penalties, poor tackling, no running game, bad play calling, and poor quarterbacking was seemingly replaced by a destructive force from an alternate universe. Starting from the opening kickoff the Eagles were on their game and all over the Giants.

McNabb was very accurate and made good decisions all game except for the 20 passes he annoyingly threw into people's arms. He was helped by a great day from the offensive line and good play calling that even included a running game and only one Wildcat play. Almost everyone on the offense contributed to the annihilation of the Giants. Weaver had more carries this game than he had the previous 6, Celek returned to form, Avant got some catches, McCoy made plays, and the dynamic duo of Jackson and Maclin both had big catches and big TDs.

The defense did its part as well by pressuring Manning into a terrible game - man, was Eli bad. He had opportunities for plays but missed, sometimes badly. That foot injury probably has something to do with his inaccuracy. The Giants running game was also kept in check and there were no big plays for TDs. The defense also set up two Eagles touchdowns with interceptions. My only criticism is they could have been better on 3rd down.

Other notes:

• Really good blocking on the kickoff returns.
• Good screen play call on the first play and the good play calling continued from there.
• It's about time Weaver started getting the ball. On his 41 yard run he outran the Giants defense. When does a fullback ever do that?
• I know they have injuries, but the Giants linebackers and secondary sucks.
• Sure Samuels can't tackle for crap, but he can cover and intercept and that's why he's on the team.
• How do you get an extra point blocked?
• Dawkins would have caught those balls that Quentin Mikell dropped. In the end it didn't matter, but in a closer game those drops could be the difference.
• I always enjoy the Tom Coughlin reaction shots. In comparison, there were almost none of Reid.
• The new field wasn't coming up in huge chunks on every play like previous games, but players were still losing their footing.
• Killer play when the game was still a game - 22 yard catch and run by Boss to get the Giants out of trouble which led to the 35 yard pass to Nicks (that Dawkins probably would have come across and broken up) and the TD pass to Boss where Quentin Mikell was clueless.
• The holding call on Sheldon Brown where he intercepted it was bogus in my opinion.
• The two touchdowns in 3 plays to close the half were amazing. That ripped the heart out of the Giants. First a sweet pass to DeSean Jackson by McNabb for 54 yards that Jackson made look easy. Then a pass into double coverage that McNabb put where only Maclin could get it for the second.
• Big break on that forward lateral call on the review.
• Babbin should have hit the kickoff out of bounds instead of trying to catch it.
• Have to love the Giants running the ball when they're down by 23 points. Good job.
• Moose couldn't resist, although it took him to the end of the third quarter, but he just had to deride Philadelphia fans for criticizing McNabb. Blah, blah, blah.
• How come Green Bay fans won't get criticized for booing football Jesus, Favre?
• First ever Phillies chant at an Eagles game with 8 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
• Sweet run by McCoy to reestablish the 23 point lead.
• Loved that the game ended with a Manning sack after that jackass Coughlin called timeouts when the Eagles were taking a knee.

Sixers beat the Knicks last night and the Eagles crushed the Giants today. Your turn Phillies.

Yankees ween

Aside from being paid to do it, I don't know how reporters covering the Philies did it back in the lean decades, because after two consecutive losses I feel like being a danger to myself or others. preferable others.

And yet, despite Megatron's best propaganda efforts and the fact the Phils will see C.C. Sabathia again tomorrow, I still have hope. But let's be clear — the pitching has to be better so the runs the Phils are scoring hold up.

Yankees starter Andy Pettitte was dealing effectively to left-handed batters early in the game, but was hit around a bit by the righties who, with the exception of Victorino, were also patient and working walks when Pettitte tried pitching around them. So up 3-0, it was looking good. But, sadly, with Hamels on the mound this season, that lead was nowhere close to being safe.

A walk to Teixeira on a very close pitch turned into a two-run homer to A-Nnoying in the fourth. In the fifth, it all went pear-shaped for Hamels as we saw why he hasn’t been throwing his curveball. He threw some absolute meatballs over the plate, including one Pettitte hit for an RBI single. Jeter followed with a single, and Damon drove them both in to end the night for Hamels.

For some reason, Manuel then brought in lefty Haap — and not a rightie — to face rightie Rodriguez and switch-hitter Posada. Did he want to risk A-Rod popping another homer just so he could have Posada hit right-handed? Rodriguez hit a hard line drive to center for an out, and Haap got Posada to end the inning, but that move made no sense to me and the Phils were lucky to get away with it.

That wasn't the last questionable call either. In the bottom of the sixth, with two outs and Ruiz on first, do you pinch hit with Bruntlett, or go with the better hitter in Francisco? Well, Manuel went with Bruntlett, and he made an easy out. I'm not sure what you’d be saving Francisco for at that point, down 6-3, and I guess we'll never know since he NEVER GOT IN THE GAME.

Phil Hughes gave up a homer to Ruiz in the ninth, but the back end of the Yankees bullpen was strong, and Rivera closed it out.

NOTES:
• Hamels has yet to go six innings in any postseason start. That is bad.
• A-Rod's homerun hit a camera that was slightly hanging over the right field fence. Why a camera was allowed to be hanging over the fence I don't know. I suppose it was there to get even more great game coverage (!), but it couldn't even get the shot when the ball hit the lens. Stupid.
• My brother calls Howard the "strikeout legend," and the last two games' output is why.
• I must have used up Phil Hughes playing for my Bulletproof Tigers fantasy squad, because while he was pretty much lights out in the second half of theseason, he is hella shaky right now.
• Speaking of shaky, will we ever see Brad Lidge pitch?
• Almost forgot, Jayson Werth homered twice. Be nice if someone was on base for him.

So it's Sabathia on three days rest against Joe Blanton Sunday night. It would be nice if the Sabathia plan blew up in the Yankees' faces, and the Phils came back with Cliff Lee in game 5, no?