With basketball and hockey on hiatus for the summer and football still a month away from real games that count, there's nothing happening except the dog days of summer. So I'll be publishing my own personal lists of my five favorite players of the four major Philadelphia sports franchises.
View the first installment on the Phillies here, the second installment on the Sixers here, the third installment on the Flyers here, the fourth installment on the Eagles defense here and the fifth installment on the Eagles offense here.
Today we tackle the third phase of football, special teams. There are guys who I would have liked to add to the list — guys like Brian Westbrook and Jeremiah Trotter — but this is guys strictly known as special teamers, guys who played most of their careers covering punts and kicks, actually doing the punting or kicking, or being part of the return teams. So without further ado, here's the list.
1. Vai Sikahema
Vai Sikahema spent just two seasons of his career in Philadelphia, his final two in fact, and didn't exactly put up huge numbers. But Vai was a very solid return man with sure hands and great vision. And the reason he's tops on my list is plain and simple … his touchdown return against in the Giants in Giants Stadium, where he then let loose on the goal posts for one of the most awesome touchdown celebrations of all time.
Clearly Vai loved his time here because the former punt and kick returner has made Philadelphia his post-football home, working at NBC 10 covering sports. Oh, and he also likes to knock people the fuck out.
2. Ike Reese
Ike was simply a special teams machine, serving as the Eagles special teams captain most of his years with the Eagles. Drafted in the fifth round of the 1998 draft out of Michigan State, Ike was a four-year starter at linebacker for the Spartans. In Philadelphia, he'd never become a starter on defense, but he quickly established himself as the leader on the special teams, becoming one of the best special team coverage tacklers in the league. He was so good, in fact, that he was named to the Pro Bowl in 2004, the year the Eagles went to the Super Bowl.
His playmaking ability became so apparent that Ike not only led the special teams, but he became an integral part of the Birds' nickel package on defense, thanks to his speed and coverage abilities. And the thing about Ike that was so special and unique was that the media would go to him, a special teamer, for quotes. His passion was unquestioned, and his confidence brought a strong presence to that locker room.
After two forgettable seasons in Atlanta to wrap up his career, Ike has returned to Philadelphia, working for 610 WIP as a sports talk radio host. While his work on radio is rather unimpressive, Ike is still a beloved character here in the city, and you can see him just about anywhere. Personally, I've seen the guy at the Wachovia Center during Sixers games more times than I can count, and he always takes the time to embrace fans.
3. Brian MItchell
I'm not quite sure how I should feel about having a guy who will forever be remembered as a Washington Redskin on the list, but Brian Mitchell's three seasons with the Eagles were enough to make me really appreciate this former Eagle killer.
Used to a return game that was stale, Mitchell came here and helped transform the Eagles special teams. In first season, he returned a punt and kickoff for touchdowns, setting the tone for what was to come. In all, he finished with four touchdown returns in three seasons, more than any other Eagle I can remember. And he led the way on coverage teams as well, showing no fear.
And for a brief moment in the final game at the Vet, Brian Mitchell had us all believing the Eagles were going to the Super Bowl, taking the opening kickoff 70 yards to set up Duce Staley's 20-yard touchdown run.
Never flashy, Mitchell was a north-south return man who would run by you or over you. He is the all-time leader in punt return yards with 4,999, second in punt return touchdowns with 9 (behind Eric Metcalf's 10), first in kickoff yards with 14,014, nearly 3,500 more than the next closest guy, and he's second all time in most combined yards gained ever, sitting at 23,330 yards, trailing only Jerry Rice's 23,546. I know special teamers don't often make the Hall of Fame, but Brian Mitchell should.
4. David Akers
David Akers is the most accomplished kicker in Eagles history. He's the franchise leader in field goals made, blowing everyone else out of the water with his 230 makes. He's among the all-time NFL leaders in field goal percentage, currently sitting at 81 percent, and he's made three Pro Bowls and been named First Team All-Pro once.
In recent years, Akers has had some troublesome stretches, but he's been damn good for a long time, and for a long while, he had one of the most reliable legs from 50-plus yards. That David Akers isn't around anymore, but he's still a very good kicker that rarely misses the big kick.
Plus, the guy isn't afraid to get dirty. How many times has Akers made a touchdown-saving tackle? And who can forget his dive when he was already well past the first down marker on that awesome fake field goal flip? David Akers isn't your typical kicker.
5. Vaughn Hebron
Vaughn Hebron had a short career in the NFL, playing just five seasons. His first two were as an Eagle, where he played for a not so great team, seeing most of his time as a kick returner, and also getting some spot duty in the backfield. To be honest, Hebron's numbers aren't very impressive, at least not with the Eagles. But I remember really liking the guy because he seemed to give a damn, and frankly, his name was pretty sweet.
Of course, Vaughn left Philadelphia in 1996, spending his final three seasons in Denver as their kick returner, winning a Super Bowl in 1998 and putting up good numbers each of his three seasons out west.
Now Vaughn, much like Vai, is back in town working for the Eagles pre- and post-game shows, proving that if you were a return man for the Eagles and your first name begins with a V, you will spend your retired days talking sports in Philadelphia.
Special shoutout to Koy Detmer, who is rumored to be the greatest holder in franchise history.
With basketball and hockey on hiatus for the summer and football still a month away from real games that count, there's nothing happening except the dog days of summer. So I'll be publishing my own personal lists of my five favorite players of the four major Philadelphia sports franchises.
View the first installment on the Phillies here, the second installment on the Sixers here, the third installment on the Flyers here and the fourth installment on the Eagles defense here.
I'm Roy Halladay-ed out. The Phillies should get him. If they don't I'm not going to be happy. I hope Rubes reads this today and just pulls the damn trigger. That's all I have left to say about that.
Now let's shift focus to my favorite Eagles on the offensive side of the football in my lifetime.
1. Donovan McNabb
I know half of Philadelphia just threw up in their mouths at placing Donovan McNabb in my top spot. He's everyone's favorite whipping boy, some criticism extremely deserved, some completely absurd. But I'm as big a McNabb as fan as there is. He is, hands down, the most prolific quarterback in Eagles history, and most certainly the best modern-day QB ever to wear an Eagles uniform. Arguing this just sounds uninformed and frankly, ignorant.
Check the numbers: He's the franchise leader in completions (2,534), passing yards (29,320) and passing touchdowns (194). He's posted a career record of 82-45-1 in the regular season, gone to to playoffs seven times in 10 seasons, gone to five Pro Bowls, five NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl. Add in his 3,109 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns, and you have yourself a great player.
Yes, he didn't win the big one. Yes, he's had subpar performances in many championship games. And yes, he threw up in the Super Bowl. He also led the Eagles to all those opportunities, oftentimes without superior talent at the receiver position. He's battled through injuries, controversies and disappointment, all the while establishing himself as the face of the Eagles.
Yes, he can drive me crazy when he buries a pass at someone's feet or fails to take the open field in front of him with his legs, but he also helped bring a lifeless franchise back from the dead, and he's still here some 10 years later. Each and every season with McNabb at the helm, the Eagles are among the favorites in the NFC. As much as those final losses hurt, it sure as hell beats the Ty Detmer/Rodney Peete/Bubby Brister eras of no hope. A major reason is Number 5.
2. Brian Westbrook
Simply put, Brian Westbrook is the most explosion weapon I've ever seen in an Eagles uniform. Beginning as a punt returner who saw spot duty when he was drafted, Westbrook displayed his dynamic game-changing ability from the start, scaring opposing punt coverage teams to death.
His talent could not be ignored, forcing his way onto the field despite concerns about his size and durability. While injuries have nagged him over his career, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more complete back (LT excluded) in his prime during the years Brian Westbrook has been in Philadelphia. His speed and explosiveness made him a threat to take it to the house on any play. He could break it to the outside, but as he has shown, his strong frame made him just as effective between the tackles. Catching the ball out of the backfield was perhaps his biggest strength, creating all kinds of matchup problems (no linebacker alive can cover him) and despite his stature, he turned into a devastating blocker.
In 2006 and 07, he was as good as back as there was in the league. In 06, he rushed for 1,217 yards, seven touchdowns and averaged 5.1 yards per carry, all while catching 77 passes for for 699 yards and four TDs. He followed that up with a remarkable 2007, rushing for 1,333 yards, seven TDs, averaging 4.8 ypc and nabbing 90 receptions for 771 yards and five TDs, leading all the land with 2,104 yards from scrimmage.
And even last year, playing through injury, he put up 936 yards rushing, 9 TDs, and added 54 catches and five more receiving touchdowns. And of course, he made huge plays in the playoffs, especially against the Vikings. It's damn near impossible to not love Brian Westbrook if you're an Eagles fan.
3. Duce Staley
When the Eagles let Duce Staley go, I was admittedly bummed out. Turns out the Birds were right, as Staley had nothing left in the tank, but regardless, I was not pleased. During his seven seasons in Philadelphia, Duce was nothing short of a workhorse, putting up some phenomenal seasons, specifically in 1998, 99 and 2002, when he rushed for over 1,000 yards and carried the ball at least 258 times (325 in 99) each of those seasons.
When a small contingent of moronic Eagles fans booed the selection of Donovan McNabb in 1999 because they wanted Ricky Williams, I applauded the move of picking a potential franchise QB because the Eagles already had a damn good running back in Staley. Sure, Duce wasn't a speed burner with game-changing speed the way Westbrook has been in his career, but he was a dependable, tough workhorse who also could block and catch the ball out of the backfield well. Not to mention that his effort could never be questioned, giving it his all every down.
In fact, in the 2004 NFC Championship game, while the rest of his teammates looked flat and, frankly, disinterested against the Carolina Panthers, Duce played his tail off. Honestly, to me, he looked like the only Eagle, on either side of the ball, who looked like he gave a shit in that game.
And of course, who can forget his incredible performance in the "Pickle Juice Game" in 2000, when he rushed for 201 yards against the stinking Cowboys in Cowboy Stadium?
Huge Duce fan.
4. Irving Fryar
Irving Fryar played 17 seasons in the NFL. Only three of them were with the Eagles, but two of those three were two of his finest seasons of his career. In 1996, he caught 88 balls for 1,195 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning a Pro Bowl bid in his first season with the team.
Fryar followed that up with another Pro Bowl year in 1997, catching 86 passes for 1,316 yards and six TDs. He tapered off in 98, as age finally caught up with him, but a guy who had been considered a bust and troublesome character for the Patriots turned into a very fine player and upstanding citizen as an Eagle. He also made one of the most incredible catches I've ever seen, leaping up the air, full extension and plucking the ball out of mid-air with one hand, reaching back behind him, and coming down with it as he slammed on the Vet's horrific turf and getting hit. It was amazing.
5. Terrell Owens
I know, Terrell Owens was only an Eagle for one and half seasons, effectively dividing a locker room and causing headaches and distractions beyond belief in his second season. He's an asshole. An attention-whore. A certified lunatic who doesn't give a damn about anyone but himself. He also was a part of the most fun professional football season in my lifetime, and easily the most dominant wide receiver the Eagles have ever had in one season.
The arrival of T.O. in 2004 brought an excitement and fun to the Eagles that had been lacking. No longer was Donovan forced to choose between Todd Pinkston and James Thrash. No, he had his man, finally, and McNabb and Owens instantly became the most lethal QB-WR combo in the league: 77 receptions, 1,200 yards, 14 touchdowns. The only thing that could slow them down was Roy Williams and his dirty fucking tackling.
Owens was electric in that one season, even returning from that injury in the Super Bowl, only to be the best player on the field. Big, fast, talented. He made the offense better than it had ever been under Andy Reid. And as painful as the 05 campaign was, I'd do it all over again if I had the chance, no questions asked.
With Owens in the fold, it wasn't if the Eagles were going to win, it was by how much. They cruised through the season. It was just so damn fun. And Owens was everything we'd hoped he'd be and then some.
The man was a beast. He's tired and played out now, but in 2004, shit, that man could do no wrong in this city. And it was easily my favorite season ever for an Eagles wide receiver.
I expect a ton of people to question my decisions here. No Randall Cunningham, you ask? No, no Randall. He never won a playoff game, and I typically find that the same people who lambast McNabb are ardent Cunningham fans. That annoys the shit out of me to no end, because McNabb is a million times better at playing quarterback than Randall ever was. Not that I blame Randall. I was a fan of his, for sure. Fred Barnett and Calvin Williams almost made the list, because that duo was badass. But that's the list. Take it for what you will.
DeSean may be coming in the future. If he remembers to cross the goal line before dropping the ball.
With basketball and hockey on hiatus for the summer and football still months away, there's nothing happening except the dog days of summer. So I'll be publishing my own personal lists of my five favorite players of the four major Philadelphia sports franchises.
View the first installment on the Phillies here, the second installment on the Sixers here and third installment on the Flyers here.
Let's face it, football is a completely different animal than baseball, hockey or basketball. For starters, there are 53 players the team, a thousand coaches and the players are more specialized than in any other sport. So, we're going to go in a little bit of a different direction with my favorite Eagles, picking my five favorite players on defense, five favorites on offense and maybe even go with my five favorite special teamers. Maybe. Today, we'll begin with the defense.
1. Eric Allen
As you will see, I have a strong affinity for cornerbacks, and during his prime, there was no finer cornerback ever to wear an Eagles uniform than Eric Allen. In seven seasons in Philadelphia, Allen made five Pro Bowls, amassed 34 interceptions and scored five touchdowns. He was widely regarded as one of the best corners in game, right up there with Rod Woodson and Deion Sanders at the time.
In 1989, he was second in the NFL with 8 interceptions, being named 1st Team All-Pro. In 1993, he had perhaps his finest season ever, recording 64 tackles, picking off 6 passes and returning an astounding four of them for touchdowns to lead the NFL in defensive touchdowns, and his 201 interception return yards were tops in the league as well. Included in that was his insane 94-yard interception return against the Jets where he ran about 201 yards alone after picking off Boomer Esiason.
It was quite possibly the most memorable play from my childhood. Eric Allen was an absolute beast and flat-out one of the most exciting players in football. I loved that guy.
And his standout days weren't limited to his time in Philadelphia. He made the Pro Bowl in 1994 and 95 with the Saints and picked off 6 passes in 2000 as a Raider, when he also led the NFL with three interception returns for touchdowns. For his career, Allen totaled 54 interceptions, eight touchdowns off interception returns and one on a fumble return, 734 tackles and six Pro Bowls in 217 games over 14 seasons.
To top things off, when the final four teams remaining in the 2003 playoffs were the Eagles, Bucs, Raiders and Titans. Working for ESPN, Allen was asked if the Eagles and Raiders wound up in the Super Bowl, who would he root for? His answer was something to the effect of that while he loved his time as a Raider, he grew up, became a man in Philadelphia, so he'd be going with the Eagles. That's good people right there.
Sadly, the Eagles didn't make it there, instead closing out Veterans Stadium in embarrassing fashion by losing to the Bucs. And I was there. It sucked. But Eric Allen was the man, and he is my favorite Philadelphia Eagle ever.
2. Brian Dawkins
If you are a Philadelphia Eagles fan, you love Brian Dawkins. Plain and simple. That's just a fact. There isn't a single Eagles fan alive that honestly can say they don't like, scratch that, love Dawkins. He is the greatest safety in the history of the franchise, bar-none, and he is one of the best at his position ever. There aren't many safeties in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but you bet your ass Brian Dawkins deserves his plaque in there. In his prime, he was Ronnie Lott with better coverage skills.
His numbers certainly say a lot: 183 games (182 of them started), 21 sacks, 34 interceptions, two interception returns for touchdowns, 32 forced fumbles, 16 fumble recoveries, one fumble recovery for a touchdown, 723 tackles, seven Pro Bowls, four 1st Team All-Pro status in 13 seasons, all in Eagles green. Sadly, we all know his 14th season won't be in Philadelphia, but he will be in town when the Broncos come to Philadelphia on Dec. 27 for the final home game at the Linc of the regular season.
As great as Brian Dawkins the player has been — and make no mistake about it, Brian Dawkins has been one of the greatest defensive players of all time — he was equally as valuable for his leadership, his understanding of the game and personalities. Donovan McNabb may have been proclaimed the leader publicly, but that locker room always belonged to Dawk. It was his defense. It was his team. For 13 seasons, Brian Dawkins was the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Sure, as he has gotten older, he has lost a step here and there. He can't cover the way he used to. But ever since the day he showed up in Philadelphia out of Clemson, Brian Dawkins has given everything he has every last play he was out on that field. He led by example, never taking a play off, never passing the blame on those less talented than him. Brian Dawkins wasn't just the best safety in the game. He was our safety, Philadelphia's safety. Seeing him in a Broncos uniform just won't look right. It never will.
He may not be ours in the coming years, but really, honestly, Brian Dawkins will always be a Philadelphia Eagle. His ferocious hits, big interceptions and immaculate sacks will never be forgotten in this city. Never. He may not have won a Super Bowl here, but he certainly won our hearts.
3. William Thomas
When Tra Thomas tried to go by his first name, William, and forget Tra after already being a veteran, I was not happy. This city already had William Thomas, the outside linebacker who called Philadelphia home from 1991-1999. This city was only big enough for one Willie T. Thankfully, Tra gave up his futile crusade, going back to Tra since that's what everyone knew him as. And I was relieved, because as much as I like Tra Thomas, he doesn't compare with Willie T. in my book.
Thomas was the best linebacker I can recall at covering tight ends, and he definitely had the greatest set of hands of any linebacker I've ever seen. In his nine years with Eagles, Thomas accumulated 18 interceptions, including an absurd 7 in 1995, when he finished third in the entire NFL in picks. He made two Pro Bowls (1995 and 96), wracked up 595 tackles, 33 sacks one interception return for a touchdown, two fumble recoveries for touchdowns and a safety as an Eagle.
When it was time for him to go at the turn of the decade/century/millenium, I was heartbroken. Willie T. was by far my favorite holdover from the Buddy Ryan era. And the guy showed he still had some game in his two years in Oakland, nabbing another 6 interceptions in 2000 (seriously, how many other linebackers have picked off 13 passes in two seasons?) and three more in 2001. He finished his career with 37 sacks, 27 picks, four touchdowns and 728 tackles in 11 seasons.
The only other Eagles linebacker I can remember even coming anywhere near the vicinity of Willie T. as far as coverage skills are concerned is Carlos Emmons, a guy who just missed the cut on this list for me. But Willie T. is the standard all cover linebackers are measured by for me, because the guy was simply the best.
4. Troy Vincent
Unlike the guys mentioned above, Troy Vincent, born in nearby Trenton, N.J., came to Philadelphia via free agency in 1996 already having established himself as a fine cornerback in four seasons as a Miami Dolphin. But it was during his eight years in Philadelphia that Vincent became a premier defensive back in the National Football League as both a tremendous player and an outstanding leader.
Troy played in 118 regular season games as an Eagle, starting all 118 of them. He racked up 28 interceptions, a touchdown, 425 tackles, 4.5 sacks and five straight Pro Bowl appearances from 1999-2003. He led the league with seven picks in 1999 and was named 1st Team All-Pro in 2002. Essentially, the guy was a lock-down corner who Jim Johnson could count on each and every snap.
As great an innovator and coordinator that Jim Johnson was/is with his aggressive, blitzing scheme, it was Troy Vincent and the next guy on this list that allowed Johnson to whip up those crazy schemes. He knew he could leave Troy and Bobby Taylor all alone on an island, and he knew no matter what, those two guys weren't going to get beat deep. I never once felt worried with a healthy Troy in man coverage. Not once.
He was an outstanding player that finished with 47 picks, three touchdowns and 738 tackles over 15 years, playing the bulk of that with the Birds. And he was an incredible tutor for the likes of Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard, drafted by the Eagles to replace Bobby and Troy. He never once complained about getting shoved out the door. He understood it. He was aging, and his replacements were ready. Class act. Great teammate. And great player.
That was one of the coolest endings to a game ever, even if James Willis had no business lateralling that ball to Troy. Sweet.
5. Bobby Taylor
The other half of Bobby and Troy, Taylor was the lesser known corner of the two among outsiders, but he was darn good in his own right. And the man was never better than when he faced big-time receivers. He was Michael Irvin's personal nemesis, always shutting down the loudmouth Dallas wideout. It was that Emmitt guy that gave the Eagles problems.
The knock on Bobby was that he was never really a great tackler, which is true. Bobby couldn't touch Troy Vincent or Eric Allen in tackling acumen, but he also wasn't really horrible at it – you know, like Deion. Even so, Taylor didn't shy from contact. He was an aggressive, bump and run corner who always played his best when going against physical receivers like Irvin and Terrell Owens.
Overshadowed by Troy, Bobby only made one Pro Bowl, that coming in 2002. But he was certainly just as much of a reason that those late '90s defenses under Jim Johnson were so successful. Along with Dawkins and Vincent, Taylor made up a formidable secondary that allowed Johnson to be so creative.
In his nine years in Philadelphia, Bobby recorded 317 tackles, 19 interceptions and two touchdowns. He also added two sacks and countless games shutting down the bigger receivers in the game. As good as Sheldon and Lito were together, and as exciting as it is to have Sheldon and Asante, Bobby and Troy were the best duo I've ever seen at corner.
There you have it, my five favorite Eagles defenders of all time. I know there aren't any linemen here, but honestly, none jumped out at me. I loved Hugh Douglas in his prime, and Andy Harmon was always a favorite. Of course there's Reggie and Jerome and Clyde, but during those early years, as you can tell, Eric Allen and William Thomas were my guys. Seth Joyner and Byron Evans were guys I also loved, along with the likes of Sheldon, Emmons, Trotter (I was furious when they let him go the first time), Tim Hauck, Michael Zordich and the list can go on. But in the end, there really wasn't any question. These are my five favorites, hands down.
With basketball and hockey on hiatus for the summer and football still months away, there's nothing happening except the dog days of summer. So I'll be publishing my own personal lists of my five favorite players of the four major Philadelphia sports franchises.
View the first installment on the Phillies here and the second installment on the Sixers here.
Last night was one of the most boringest nights in the history of boring, meaning I spent a large portion of it aimlessly flipping through the channels watching whatever horrible show captured my interest for more than 2 minutes. Then I went to sleep. Weeknights with no Phillies games are brutal.
So seeing as I have nothing else to talk about at the moment, I figured it'd be a great time to share with you, the people, my five favorite Philadelphia Flyers of my lifetime, especially with the Flyers making a big splash by trading for Chris Pronger over the weekend. This one was tougher than you might think because traditionally, I have liked almost every Flyer on every team since I can remember watching, with the notable exceptions of the players listed here. I really hated those guys.
Anyway, here's the list. Number one is sure to be a shocker … unless you actually know me.
1. Shjon Podein
I am pretty damn sure that I'm the only person on the planet not related to or a personal friend of Shjon Podein that lists him as their favorite Flyer of all time. After all, Podein was never even close to being considered the best player on the team in his five seasons in Philadelphia, and the guy was never an all-star. He didn't score a lot of goals or do anything flashy. Hell, if you don't really understand the game of hockey, Shjon Podein is the type of player you probably never even noticed.
But I freakin loved Shjon Podein. For starters, the guy spells his name in the most bad-ass way possible. Shawn is probably the worst possible spelling, and Sean doesn't even make sense. Shjon is the balls way to spell it, and his play reflected his bad-assness. Podein was one of the most incredible penalty killers I've ever seen wear the Orange and Black, doing anything and everything to make sure his team wouldn't give up a goal down a man. He was a grinder, a worker, and one of the toughest players on the ice. Podein could win a battle in the corner, shut down opposing superstars, kill penalties, occasionally score and wasn't afraid to drop the gloves either.
Basically, Podein would do anything asked of him for the betterment of the team. And I loved him for it. As odd as it sounds, Shjon Podein is my favorite Flyer ever.
2. Keith Primeau
Keith Primeau entered the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings with some hefty expectations in hockey town but could never quite fulfill them. He was traded to Hartford where he became a very, very good player with the Whalers/Hurricanes, and then in January of 2000, he was traded to Philadelphia for fan favorite Rod Brind'Amour. When the trade was first announced, I, just like everyone else, didn't like it. Brind'Amour was a tremendous player for the Flyers, a great face-off man, excellent penalty killer with a nice scoring touch and the type of guy every team loves to have.
Unfortunately, his rocky relationship with Eric Lindros forced him out of town. It was not going to be easy for Primeau to win over a city that just lost perhaps its favorite player. But it didn't take long for Keith to make the Philly faithful forget about Brind'Amour, at least for a while.
Turns out this trade was an excellent one for both teams. Primeau came to Philadelphia and instantly became a leader in the locker room. Everything Brind'Amour brought to the table, Primeau did as well. Any time the Flyers needed a face-off win, out went Primeau to take the draw, and more often than not, he won it. The guy became a fixture on the penalty kill, power play and transformed from a guy expected to be a scorer to one of the best shut-down centers in hockey.
He was big, fast, could hit like a truck, fight and man oh man could this guy lead. In fact, he was such an incredible leader that inspired his fellow teammates that in 2002, he took over the captaincy from Eric Desjardins and didn't relinquish it until he was forced out of action due to concussions in 2006.
In the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs, Primeau had one of the most dominating performances I've ever witnessed. Almost single-handedly, he carried the Flyers to the Eastern Conference Finals to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. In that series, he was by far the best player on the ice for either team. Unfortunately, he received little help from his teammates, ending yet another season in disappointment. But it was hardly Primeau's fault. That guy played out of his mind, and his game-tying goal in game 6 was a thing of beauty, kicking it across the crease, going behind the net and getting it on the other side to bury it.
Man was he awesome in that series. Primeau took the Flyers on his back and simply did it all. It's a shame the concussions did him in, because he was the leader the Flyers needed. In fact, it's safe to say the team hasn't been able to sufficiently fill that leadership void since he retired, though hopefully the addition of Chris Pronger will change that.
Oh yeah, and Primeau also scored the game-winning goal in the most intense, thrilling and longest playoff hockey game I've ever watched in my entire life.
I miss that guy.
3. Claude Giroux
It may seem completely absurd to include a guy who hasn't even played a full season in the NHL as my third favorite Flyer ever, but that's how much I love Claude Giroux. Seriously, he has the potential to move all the way to the top spot, that's how much I love the guy, as if you didn'talreadyknowthat.
For some reason or another, Giroux didn't make the Flyers out of training camp, but once he got the call up, he showed the makings of future superstar. Down the stretch, when most of the other Flyers were sputtering and looking gassed, Giroux was flourishing, proving he could play in the NHL.
The kid's skills are scary good. His ice vision in remarkable, his passing pin-point accurate and he handles the puck as if it's on a string attached to his stick. He routinely made defenders look silly, threaded passes even some of the most experienced NHLers wouldn't even dream of attempting and improved each and every game.
But that's not all. Giroux showed he was more than just a finesse player, throwing his weight around with hits, working his tail off to become a mainstay on the penalty kill and displaying the skill that will surely benefit the power play, even though for some insane reason (because he's a bad coach?) John Stevens did everything in his power to keep the kid off the ice with the man advantage. Something tells me that will change in 2009-10.
Giroux is simply an amazing talent who really came into his own this season. He was arguably the best player on the Flyers in the final two months of the regular season, and he was unquestionably the best forward in the first-round playoff loss to the Penguins for Philadelphia, in which he logged one of the greatest shifts these eyes have ever seen.
It may be too early to anoint Giroux as the next big thing, but man, he has to get you excited. I love this guy, even without a full season under his belt, and I can't wait to see what he has in store next season.
4. Eric Lindros
Last week, I broached the subject of Eric Lindros and the Hall of Fame. In my mind, he deserves his enshrinement, and if it was not for his tumultuous exit from Philadelphia, rest assured, this guy would be tops on my list. It's funny how a little (big?) squabble with management and seeing him in a New York Rangers uniform can make him drop to the 4th spot.
But as I said last week, Lindros, during his prime, is far and away the greatest Philadelphia Flyer I ever saw. He single-handedly made the Flyers relevant again, taking them all the way to the precipice, leading the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals, a place they haven't been since. He won the Hart Trophy here. Dominated the sport. Became the face of hockey as the careers of Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux wound down.
He carried that mantle well before concussions derailed his superstar career. Even so, Lindros scored 865 points in just 760 games, good for 1.38 points per game, sitting among the all-time best. He was a beast on the ice, able to be his own enforcer with his fists, his hits and his skills. He had perhaps the hardest wrist shot in the game, was big, fast, physical and intimidating. Frankly, if you could genetically engineer the perfect hockey player in a lab, it would look an awful lot like Eric Lindros in his prime … except for the mush head.
Lindros did things on the ice that no one else could duplicate. He was a runaway freight train with the puck, a scary combination of size and speed. He could bury the puck, but he was equally as dangerous setting up teammates. In fact, Eric Lindros was part of perhaps the greatest play I've ever seen in hockey. I can't remember exactly when it was or who it was against, but in the game, Lindros, back in his own defensive zone, saw his teammate Kevin Haller sneak behind the defense. So Lindros popped the puck up in the air down the ice, hitting Haller in stride right at the opposition's blue line, where Haller caught it perfectly without letting up, stayed onside and promptly scored a goal. It was incredible.
Much like the career of Eric Lindros as a Flyer. In the 1996-97 playoffs, Lindros was on a mission, dominating everyone in the East. In 19 games that postseason, he scored 12 goals and added 14 assists, good for 26 points against the best of the best … and this was in the era of the left-wing lock, trapping system defenses.
Lindros was a marvel, and to this day, he was the most dominating, most exciting Flyer I've ever seen lace up the skates.
Perhaps the thing I admired most about Lindros was his work in the face-off circle, as odd as that may sound. Not only was he tremendous at winning face-offs, but he also perfected the shot off the face-off in the offensive zone. I have watched a lot of hockey in my 25 years, and I can honestly say there hasn't been another center I've seen shoot the puck right at the face-off as often as Lindros did. He often caught the goalkeeper napping, either scoring off the shot or opening up a huge rebound for a teammate to bang home. It's amazing the things this guy could do, even if skating with his head up all the time wasn't one of them.
5. Kim Johnsson
Despite his girlish name, Kim Johnsson is my favorite defenseman the Flyers have had since I've been following the team. Johnsson came over to Philadelphia as part of the package that was shipped from the Rangers in exchange for Lindros, and little did we know the Flyers were getting one of the most steady defensemen in all of hockey.
In his three-plus seasons as a Flyer, Johnsson flew under the radar by NHL brass, never making the all-star game despite being the best defenseman on one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Johnsson wasn't the biggest guy or the scariest guy on the blue line, but he may very well have been the smartest d-man the Flyers have had in a long, long time.
Johnsson was a fleet-footed skater who never seemed to make a mistake. Where the wildly overrated Eric Desjardins went through infuriating bouts of coughing up the puck in his own zone, Johnsson never seemed to panic and always seemed to make the right play. He was heady, skilled and made the position look easy, which we all know it's not.
His injury in 2006 is a big reason the Flyers struggled so much in the playoffs. They were missing their top defenseman, a guy who could move the puck, run the power play and do it on both ends of the ice. In his first three seasons in Philadelphia, he played in 82, 82 and 80 games, scoring 41, 39 and 42 points respectively, and the guy never had a minus-season in the Orange and Black despite logging huge minutes against the opposition's first or second lines. He was an underappreciated, underrated player during his days here, but he was always my favorite Flyers defenseman.
As I said, this list was a difficult one to make. Leaving guys like Rod Brind'Amour, John LeClair, Rick Tocchet, Mark Recchi, Dan McGillis (I loved how much that guy hit, even if he only had one or two good seasons), Danny Markov, Jeremy Roenick, Sami Kapanen, Jody Hull, Trent Klatt, Michal Handzus, Mike Richards and the list goes on and on was difficult, because like I said, I've really, really liked the majority of Flyers that have put on the uniform in my lifetime. That's a good thing. Now if only they could win a Cup one of these days …
In the coming weeks/months, with basketball and hockey going the way of football and nothing happening except the dog days of summer, I'll be publishing my own personal lists of my five favorite and five least favorite players of the four major Philadelphia sports franchises.
With Brett Myers facing hip surgery that could potentially end his season, everyone and their mother is writing about the Phils needing to get another starter, especially going all in to try and persuade both the Padres and Jake Peavy to ship the 27-year-old ace to the Phils. And that's 100 percent true. They do need to get at least one other good starter, especially with Brett's situation, and yes, I would mortgage the farm for Peavy, if he'd come. But enough of that. There are plenty of sites covering that.
No, today, since it's Friday and I'm feeling like doing what I want, and since the Sixers are in the news with their coaching search, I've decided to tackle my favorite Sixers of my lifetime in part 2 of the Reverend Rankings. I eagerly anticipate your mocking responses.
1. Allen Iverson
Really, is there any explanation necessary? I don't think so, but here goes anyway. Allen Iverson is the single most controversial figure in Philadelphia sports during my lifetime. There's no two ways around it. For all the hoopla Terrell Owens created in his brief stint in Philadelphia, Iverson did it better for longer. He is, without question, the most polarizing Philadelphia sports figure of my lifetime.
Now, the naysayers love to point out how Allen Iverson was selfish, lazy, never practiced, couldn't co-exist with other scorers, dominated the ball, and on and on and on. All true. All valid. But those of us that grew up with the Sixers being truly one of the most putrid franchises in all of sports during our childhood, it's hard not to look at Allen Iverson in amazement, in awe.
Say what you will about his practice habits, but come game time, there has never been an athlete that has competed with every ounce of his energy every single second during every game more than Allen Iverson. Watch any game during his tenure in Philadelphia, and there's no way you can question his heart, his desire once that ball was tossed in the air.
The biggest little man to ever play this game took a franchise that was beyond dead first to the playoffs, then to the best record in the Eastern Conference, to the forefront of Philadelphia sports, a near impossibility, then to the NBA Finals. He won Rookie of the Year, the MVP, two All-Star MVPs; led the league in minutes played twice, steals twice, total points once, minutes per game 5 times (six if you count the year he was traded to Denver), points per game four times and steals three straight seasons while in Philadelphia.
He single-handedly transformed the perception of the Philadelphia 76ers. He is the greatest 76er of my era, bar-none, a surefire Hall of Famer, and the most exciting athlete Philadelphia has seen in decades.
And if that's not enough reason for me to love Allen Iverson, check these out:
2. Theo Ratilff
When the Sixers traded Jerry Stackhouse to the Pistons for Aaron McKie and Theo Ratliff, I was a little torn. I was elated that McKie, the Temple product and Philly native, was coming home, but I didn't know much about Theo beyond his athleticism, and being a Tar Hell fan as well, I was sad to see Stack go. Clearly, he had to, because he and Iverson didn't mesh, but still.
Well, turns out, this was a steal, and immediately, Ratliff became my second favorite Sixer with his insane leaping ability, tremendous hustle and dominant shot-blocking ability. During his time as a Sixer, there wasn't a better shot-blocker in the NBA, and no one could bounce back up a second time better than Theo.
The year Ratliff was traded to the Sixers, 1997-98, he finished 4th in blocks per game at 3.1. In 98-99, he was third at 3 a game, and fourth in 99-00 again at 3. Then, in the Sixers' run to the Eastern Conference Championship, Theo led the league in blocks per game at 3.7. Sadly, injured just before the All-Star game, which he was elected to, Theo was traded for Dikembe Mutombo shortly after, missing the glorious run. However, he was an integral part, establishing the Sixers as the best team in the East from the beginning of the season. He went on the lead the league in blocks per game the next two season as well, and he's a guy I absolutely love.
I was elated when the Sixers re-signed him, and if anyone has a No. 42 Theo Ratliff Sixers jersey, I will pay good money for it. For real.
3. George Lynch
I have an affinity for defense. This is no secret, and that certainly helps explain why Theo is my second favorite Sixer and, here, why George Lynch sits at three. Along with Aaron McKie (who just missed the list, by the way; I have him at 6), George Lynch was the Sixers' best perimeter defender, able to defend just about anyone on the court. As you can see pictured above, Lynch tangled with the likes of Tracy McGrady and typically the opposition's best offensive threat, especially if that threat was a small forward.
Lynch was a tenacious defender who also could hit the outside shot ("Lynchburg") and provide all the intangibles teams need to win. There was nothing glamorous about his game, but he was the heart and soul of Philadelphia's defense during his three seasons as a Sixer. Need a rebound? George has got it. A bucket? He could provide that. Steal? Check. Assist? Sure. Lock down defense? Absolutely.
After Lynch got injured in the 2001 playoffs, Larry Brown and Billy King traded him, the epitome of a Larry Brown player that "plays the game the right way," for Derrick fucking Coleman, the laziest piece of shit to ever lace up sneakers. This infuriated me to no end, because Lynch was a much better player than people think and could really get into the head of the players he guarded. Just ask Chris Webber.
4. Dana Barros.
Dana Barros only spent two season as a Sixer, and the team was absolutely horrible. But being a short three-point gunner myself when I play basketball, I was instantly drawn to the 5-11 guard who could hit a shot from anywhere on the floor. Honestly, he was the only Sixer worth watching at the time. Sure, Clarence Weatherspoon was a nice, hard-working player, but exciting he was not. Barros provided what little intrigue there was for that team as a deadly three-point shooter (38.1 percent and 46.4 percent in his two season in Philadelphia) and dynamic scorer (20.6 ppg in 94-95).
For a guy with a girl's name, Dana was all right.
5. Hersey Hawkins.
Honestly, I was a little too young to really appreciate the Sixers during the Barkley/Hawkins era, but Hersey Hawkins makes this list for one reason and one reason only: He was a beast in Tecmo NBA Basketball.
Honestly, I would play this game on Nintendo nonstop as a youngster, and Hersey Hawkins, who really was an incredible shooter, was deadly from three in that game. If there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I absolutely love great shooters and great defenders when it comes to basketball. Or is that two things? Whatever. Hersey Hawkins was the shit.
So yesterday, I told you how I was going to rank my five favorite and least favorite players from the four major Philadelphia sports franchises in the coming weeks/months. Well, scratch part of that, because it turns out I already listed my 5 least favorite players for each of the four teams back in December.
My apologies. December seems like an eternity ago. So you can forget about my list of least favorite players. That's been done. I'll get to my favorite Flyers, Sixers and Eagles down the road. Just for shits and giggles though, I'll simply list the 20 players I despise in that post from December. Enjoy.
Phillies:
1. Adam Eaton; 2. Mitch Williams; 3. David Bell; 4. Travis Lee; 5. Jose Mesa
Flyers:
1. Karl Dykhuis; 2. Eric Desjardins; 3. John Vanbiesbrouck; 4. Roman Cechmanek; 5. Jiri Dopita
Let's face the facts, yesterday's playoff games were some of the suckiest games that ever sucked. The Lakers steamrolled the Rockets and Orlando toyed with Boston in two of the most boring game sevens ever played. Then the Red Wings came out and put a third-period beatdown on the young Blackhawks, making for an all-around hideous playoff day.
If it wasn't for Raul hitting bombs this weekend, there wouldn't have been any sports worth watching.
Yes, sweeping the Nationals is nice, and Raul is a beast, but really, the weekend was unremarkable. (And Chan Ho Park still, despite a little two-start mirage, looks like Adam Eaton.) So now seems like a perfect time to begin a little series I've been cooking up in my head the past few weeks. In the coming weeks/months, with basketball and hockey going the way of football and nothing happening except the dog days of summer, I'll be publishing my own personal lists of my five favorite and five least favorite players of the four major Philadelphia sports franchises.
There will, of course, be personal caveats that I may or may not explain, and again, these are my favorite and least favorite players, not the best and worst players. And there's a chance that these lists may have extended editions or later editions to add more to them, but for now, we'll try to keep it to five.
Since it's baseball season, we'll get things started with the Phillies, today chronicling my five favorite Phillies of my lifetime. The five least favorites I'll save for another time.
Favorites:
1. Lenny Dykstra.
I'm a child of the 80s, and as such, I grew up watching a putrid baseball team with a bunch of putrid players, with the exception of that glorious, glorious 1993 season. Well, the best position player on that squad was without question the Dude. Chemically enhanced or not, Lenny Dykstra put forth one of the greatest statistical seasons for any leadoff hitter ever, batting .305 with a .420 obp, .482 slugging, .902 ops, 194 hits, 143 runs, 44 doubles, 6 triples, 19 home runs, 66 RBIs, 37 steals and 129 walks in 1993. He played in 161 games, notched 773 plate appearances, and tortured pitchers by seeing about a million pitches per at-bat.
He also finished second in the MVP vote, losing to Barry Bonds. And in the postseason, he tormented the Braves after Bobby Cox unjustly snubbed Dykstra from the All-Star game. Fuck Bobby Cox.
I loved Lenny Dykstra because he was a great outfielder, incredible base-runner and was the prototypical leadoff hitter. He made sure his teammates behind him saw pitches, fouling off strikes and taking balls so everyone could see what the pitcher was throwing from the first at-bat. And the guy always hustled. Always. Say what you want about Lenny the man, or businessman, but Lenny the player was a joy to watch.
2. Curt Schilling
Historically, the Phillies have had shit for pitching, especially during my childhood. The one lone exception, prior to Cole Hamels, was Curt Schilling.
With Schilling, there was no middle ground, you either loved him or hated him. People hated him because he was outspoken and during the World Series he put a towel over his head in the dugout as Mitch Williams was fucking up his world. I loved Curt Schilling because he was outspoken and wore a towel over his head in the dugout as Mitch Williams was fucking up his world. I mean, who didn't want to cover their eyes when Mitch came in? Everyone did, because Mitch Williams was the worst pitcher in the history of Major League Baseball, Adam Eaton included. Fuck you, Mitch.
Oh, and I loved Curt Schilling because he was insanely good on a team that lacked insanely good players. Schilling was a workhorse, routinely pitching over 200 innings, finishing games, and struck out way, way more batters than he walked. Every time he pitched, it felt like the Phils would win. Every time he didn't, it was almost inevitable that they'd lose.
Schilling struck out 300 batters twice as a Phillie, pitched 61 complete games in 8 and half seasons (61!), including 10 in 1992 and a ridiculous 15 in 1998, and won at least 14 games in five of his eight full years in Philadelphia, despite the fact the Phillies sucked every single one of those years with the exception of 1993.
And in the '93 season, Schilling really shined in the playoffs, winning the NLCS MVP and giving it his all in the World Series. Curt Schilling was the shit, while the rest of the pitchers in the 90s were just shitty.
3. Shane Victorino
When the Phillies didn't resign Aaron Rowand, most of Philadelphia was up in arms. How could the Phils let go such a hard-working guy who played Gold Glove caliber defense, was the cry. Simple, they had a much, much better centerfielder playing in right. Aaron Rowand, for all his grit, hustle and determination, is nowhere near as good as Shane Victorino in the outfield. Is Rowand an very good centerfielder? Absolutely. Is he Gold Glove caliber? Not even close. Just because you run face-first into a fence doesn't mean you're as good as Torii Hunter.
I love Shane Victorino. Everything about him. He's an incredible fielder, has a rocket for an arm, can fly around the base paths, has some pop and genuinely enjoys playing baseball. And hell, the guy ended a game with a walkoff throw in Atlanta. Brad Lidge wouldn't have been perfect without it.
As if I didn't already love Shane enough before last year, he went out and raised his game to even greater heights in the postseason. Who can forget this:
Not to mention his sick catch and that bomb to tie the game against the Dodgers. Is Shane Victorino the man? No questions asked.
4. Mickey Morandini
Mickey Morandini is never going to be confused for Chase Utley. Not even close. But Morandini was one of the more reliable fielding second basemen of his day, and during his time in Philadelphia, he turned himself into a pretty good hitter. As a youngster, he was my second favorite player on the team behind Dykstra. Maybe it was simply due to the fact that Harry Kalas did such a majestic job announcing his name.
Plus, Morandini provided two of my most fond memories watching Phillies games. One, his grand slam off Dave Righetti in 1993, and of course, the rarest of rare in baseball, his unassisted triple play.
And to put the icing on the cake, Morandini was traded to the Chicago Cubs for none other than patron saint Doug Glanville in December of 1997. So not only is Morandini a favorite of mine for his playing days in Philadelphia, but without him, there would be no House that Glanville Built.
5. J.C. Romero
Historically, last year not included, the Phillies have had some of the worst bullpen pitchers of all time. J.C. Romero is not one of them. No, Romero has been brilliant as a Phillie. Sure, he had that whole steroid screw-job thing, but he'll be back in the bullpen in no time. Frankly, I can't wait.
Romero is a perfect pitcher for Philadelphia. He wears his emotions on his sleeve, and you know with every pitch that Romero cares just as much as the fan sitting in the top row of the 400 section. That's something plenty of athletes fail to portray. When they do, we love it.
Plus, the guy won two games in the World Series. No other Phillies pitcher did that last year. He's been nothing short of dominant since coming to Philadelphia, and I'm excited to see him dominate again in a couple weeks.
There you have it, my favorite Phillies of my lifetime. Of course, I love guys like Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, John Kruk and Darren Daulton, but as you'll take notice, my favorite players, for the most part, tend to be players other than the majority fan favorites. I still love those guys like everyone else, but I tend to have an affinity for some of the other guys as well.
Oh, and Raul is quickly entering the discussion. The fact I drafted him for my fantasy team certainly helps that out a bit, but even if I hadn't, his play has given all Phillies fans more than enough reason to put him near the top of their favorite lists.
And fuck Mitch Williams. Right in the ear. OK, I better stop. I'll get to him later.
