Jimmy V. and Dmitri Tertyshny Links

I've been so busy lately that Jimmy V. week snuck up on me this year. And since it's an incredibly worthy cause and because Jimmy V. was such a great man, I'd be remiss if I didn't post his speech from the 1993 ESPYs, the greatest speech of all time, something I plan on doing every year for as long as I do this:



For some reason, even before I remembered it was Jimmy V. week, which makes this somewhat more relevant given Valvano's untimely death, I've been reminiscing about former Flyers defenseman Dmitri Tertyshny, who was tragically killed in a boating accident on July 23, 1999, at the ripe old age of 22.



Tertyshny was a promising young defenseman who quickly won over the hearts of Philadelphia in just one season. As a rookie during the 1998-99 campaign, Tertyshny played in 62 games for the Flyers, showcasing a smooth-skating, confident game, getting nearly 20 minutes of ice time a night. Both the Flyers organization and fans had high hopes for him as the future standout defenseman of the Orange and Black. Then tragedy struck, and I remember my reaction the moment I heard as a 15-year-old kid. I was saddened, shocked and then uttered the words, "Why couldn't it have been Desjardins?" I know, I know, I was an asshole even back then, but that was my way of complimenting Tertyshny and grieving as a die-hard Flyers fan. Plus, I never liked Desjardins, even though he had a fine career with the Flyers. Something about turning the puck over and never hitting anyone in the playoffs really rubbed me the wrong way. I'm fussy like that. But this was more about what I saw, what everyone saw in Dmitri Tertyshny. On a much smaller scale, he was our Reggie Lewis. For whatever reason, I was thinking of him this week. Can't tell you why exactly. But just wanted to share.

Anyway, let's link …

-Looks like Placido Polanco and his misshapen head are coming back to Philly.



Terms of the deal are reportedly three years at $18 million with an option for 2013, pending a physical. That's a nice way to replace Pedro Feliz as third. I would have been plenty happy to see Pete Happy return for the Phils, but Polanco adds a potent bat, and more importantly, a contact bat that very rarely strikes out, to balance out this free-swinging, high-strikeout offense. Plus, even though Polanco hasn't played third base since early in his first go-round with the Phils, he was a very good fielder there, committing just 15 errors in 322 games at third, good for a .982 fielding percentage. I like this move a lot.

-Philip Rivers better than Drew Brees? Kenny has lost his god damn mind. Seriously. This is the most insane argument in the history of the world. Rivers is good. Really good. But he isn't even on the same planet as Breesus. Lay off the sticky stuff, Kenny.

-More gold from Andrew's Today in Philly Sports History:



-Seriously, back to Kenny for a minute. Not only is his argument insane, and frankly, wrong (yes, I'm saying an opinion is wrong, that's how indefensible it is), but he makes his argument after Drew Brees just torched the Patriots for 371 yards and 5 touchdowns on 18-23 passing, good enough to earn him the coveted Sean Taylor Memorial Meast of the Week and a whole slew of hyperbole to boot:

We’re professional haters at this site. It’s what we do best. But I can’t think of a single reason to hate on Drew Brees. Drew Brees is fucking awesome. He never sulks. He never points fingers. He’s not in every other commercial. And it’s fun to watch him play football. I dare you to hate this man. He should be made an honorary Canadian or Australian, he’s so amiable. He’s the anti-Cutler. In fact, I do believe there’s a meme here.

Drew Brees will pick up the check. No worries, man.

Drew Brees isn’t mad that you crashed the car. Insurance will take care of everything. He just hopes you’re okay.

Drew Brees has heard that birthmark joke 4,567 times before. But he still laughed at it anyway.
Drew Brees uses Lincolns at the titty bar.

Drew Brees is renting a speedboat this weekend. Wanna head out onto the lake with some beers?

Drew Brees dated your sister, and that was all right with you.

Drew Brees cleaned up the bathroom after you booted in it, and didn’t ever bring it up again.

Drew Brees helped you move.

Drew Brees thinks that song you wrote actually had some potential.

That's pretty much the highest praise in the history of the universe coming from KSK. Seriously Kenny, you're fucking insane.

-For those who haven't seen it, I present you with the greatest college football play of all time:



Gee, I can't figure out why Florida State would want to force Bobby Bowden into retirement with a play as brilliant as that.

-I'm sure you already heard, but James van Riemsdyk was named the NHL rookie of the month for November.



In 12 games in November, JVR scored four goals and notched five assists. He has 19 points in 21 games (6 goals and 13 assists), behind only the Islanders' John Tavares, who has 21 points, in points for rookies. JVR is good.

-And in more Flyers news, John Stevens is already creating a goalie controversy. New season, same story. Fun.

-I'm sure you also heard that Brent Celek signed a six-year extension, which given the way he's played this year and the end of last season is a great move.

-Duke lost to Wisconsin last night, proving once again that they're not as good as people always seem to think they are. In the process, the Big Ten won the Big Ten/ACC challenge for the first time in the tournment's 11-year history, and Marcus Ginyard has the line of the year.

Indeed, when Duke loses, we all win.

-Who should be in the dunk contest this year? Here are some ideas:









-The greatest shoes ever made will be back in stores. Yes, I'm talking about The Questions.



I love those sneakers with all my heart.

-Trevor Ariza would like a poster:



-Who deserves to make the Baseball Hall of Fame out of these first-time candidates? I say Barry Larkin and Roberto Alomar for sure. Maybe Edgar Martinez, but I cannot endorse him in good conscious because never took the field, whereas Larkin and Alomar were both amazing, gold-glove fielders AND could hit.

-A Charles Barkley video? Sure, why not?



-I believe it's pronounced Chris Coste, great headline by the way.

-Tough break for Villanova: super recruit big man Mouphtaou Yarou is out for the year with a viral infection, which it turns out is Hepatitis B. Best wishes for the young man.

Lastly, I flipped back and forth between the Bernard Hopkins fight and the Sixers game, watching mainly the Sixers game. But I caught five rounds of the fight, including the final two, and Bernard won pretty easily. But he definitely looks old and slower, though he's still in good shape. The bigger question: Why was a boxing match on at 8 p.m. on a Wednesday night? Makes not sense, but congrats Bernard.

Oh, and if you think Philip Rivers is a better quarterback than Drew Brees, seriously, you have to get your head checked.