Well, today, The Big Lead has video of a fight at the Spectrum. It's pretty sweet.
Gotta love the '80s.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
A Warm Spectrum Memory
As we all know, this is the last season of the Spectrum. The Flyers played two preseason games there to commemorate the historic building, and the Sixers will play one final regular-season game there on March 13 against the Bulls. Then, after the Phantoms' season is over, the building will be no more.
Well, today, The Big Lead has video of a fight at the Spectrum. It's pretty sweet.
Gotta love the '80s.
Well, today, The Big Lead has video of a fight at the Spectrum. It's pretty sweet.
Gotta love the '80s.
Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself
I agree with every last word Les Bowen wrote today, so I'm giving it all to you here:
Les Bowen: Further review: Run-pass balance: Andy Reid still doesn't get it
By Les Bowen
Philadelphia Daily News
Daily News Sports Columnist
LOTS OF PEOPLE seemed lost in thought in the cramped visitors' locker room at FedEx Field Sunday evening.
The power to read minds would have come in very handy. Two offensive linemen huddled over the postgame stat book; one of them pointed at a row of figures and shook his head in disbelief. He quickly put the stats aside when a reporter seemed interested in what was being discussed.
Behind a partial curtain, outside the closed door to the coaches' room, Eagles president Joe Banner sat on the floor, his back against the wall. Banner, too, was scrutinizing something that could have been the stat book.
A million bucks' worth of salary-cap space for your thoughts, Joe?
All available evidence suggests that Banner and team owner Jeffrey Lurie have no intention of replacing Andy Reid. If you are industrious enough, you can still dig up enough stats from earlier in the decade to layer in with what's happening now and make it seem like Reid is doing a good job. We'll leave that task to others, though.
All we have to offer you this morning is despair. Despair over whether the people in charge will continue to delude themselves, thinking that being a play here and a play there away from doing something is the same thing as actually doing it.
I asked Reid yesterday if it doesn't seem he is answering the same questions, explaining the same failings, after every loss. Reid turned on the humor: "Yeah, you guys aren't very creative."
Yuk, yuk.
The Eagles of 2008, like the Eagles of 2007, have a very good defense and an erratic, often painfully inept offense that depends on Brian Westbrook feeling spry. That combination didn't quite get them to the playoffs a year ago and it very likely won't get them there this year.
So what will change?
Probably nothing. We will be sitting in the same news conference this time next year, listening to the same mush.
In response to one question yesterday, Reid said: "I'll take responsibility for that."
That brought back memories of an old comedy album (remember comedy albums?). There was a guy named David Frye, and back in the '70s he made a good living off his Richard Nixon impression. Frye had a riff about Nixon accepting the "responsibility" but not the "blame" for Watergate.
"Let me explain the difference," the faux Nixon intoned. "People who are to blame go to jail. People who are responsible do not."
Change "go to jail" to "lose their jobs" and you pretty much have Andy's shtick. It's his responsibility, but everybody deserves a piece of the blame "pie." Because when everyone is to blame, effectively, no one is to blame.
Developing storylines
* Sav Rocca, Mr. September, is of very limited use to a team whose season extends into cold-weather months, in the northeastern United States.
* DeSean Jackson's drop of the touchdown strike in the final minute brought up a question: When did Donovan McNabb and a receiver last connect on an actual bomb, not a catch-and-run but a long heave, 40 yards or more through the air?
* Reggie Brown needed to run that last route to the end zone, not to the 1-yard line. "We tell the receivers to make sure they're in the end zone in those situations, so we could have done a little bit better of a job there," Reid said.
* Since the Eagles are playing the Cowboys this week, it seems relevant to point out that Reid could have drafted Jason Witten in the second round in 2003. He chose L.J. Smith instead. How's that working for him?
* Doesn't it seem that not only do the Eagles never win a replay challenge, the opponents never lose one?
Who knew?
That you could lose twice in the same season to Jim Zorn?
Obscure stat
The Eagles were beaten Sunday by a quarterback who completed seven passes to wide receivers, for a total of 56 yards. In the second half, Jason Campbell completed one pass to a wideout, Antwaan Randle El, for 11 yards.
Extra point
Reporters diligently flogged the dead horse yesterday.
Reuben Frank, of the Burlington County Times, asked Andy Reid why the Eagles called five runs in 41 plays in the second half Sunday.
"We probably could have run it a couple of more times, yeah," Reid said. "We were backed up and trying to make some things happen. We took some shots in there, and at the time, we weren't running quite as effectively as we would have liked to, but we probably could have stuck with it a little bit more."
A little while later, Frank persistently pointed out that Brian Westbrook averaged 4.1 yards per carry in the first half. So, he asked, what made Reid think the run wasn't working?
"We started off throwing. It just worked out that way. We started off throwing the football," Reid said. "We were backed up and we were trying to make some things happen that way. Like I said, we probably could have run it a few more times."
Another reporter wondered whether being pinned deep in your own territory, as the Eagles were most of the second half, might instead lead one to run the ball.
"The majority of the time on first and second down, they were presenting an eight-man front," Reid said.
"And so, they gave you opportunities to work your quick game, and they were playing off-coverage on the outside. We just didn't do as well as I thought we could do."
Jim Johnson might want to write that down.
Show an eight-man front, the opposition has to drop back to throw 16 successive times.
This strategy could come in quite handy against the other NFC East teams, who all presumably will have to then abandon any idea of running.
Les Bowen: Further review: Run-pass balance: Andy Reid still doesn't get it
By Les Bowen
Philadelphia Daily News
Daily News Sports Columnist
LOTS OF PEOPLE seemed lost in thought in the cramped visitors' locker room at FedEx Field Sunday evening.
The power to read minds would have come in very handy. Two offensive linemen huddled over the postgame stat book; one of them pointed at a row of figures and shook his head in disbelief. He quickly put the stats aside when a reporter seemed interested in what was being discussed.
Behind a partial curtain, outside the closed door to the coaches' room, Eagles president Joe Banner sat on the floor, his back against the wall. Banner, too, was scrutinizing something that could have been the stat book.
A million bucks' worth of salary-cap space for your thoughts, Joe?
All available evidence suggests that Banner and team owner Jeffrey Lurie have no intention of replacing Andy Reid. If you are industrious enough, you can still dig up enough stats from earlier in the decade to layer in with what's happening now and make it seem like Reid is doing a good job. We'll leave that task to others, though.
All we have to offer you this morning is despair. Despair over whether the people in charge will continue to delude themselves, thinking that being a play here and a play there away from doing something is the same thing as actually doing it.
I asked Reid yesterday if it doesn't seem he is answering the same questions, explaining the same failings, after every loss. Reid turned on the humor: "Yeah, you guys aren't very creative."
Yuk, yuk.
The Eagles of 2008, like the Eagles of 2007, have a very good defense and an erratic, often painfully inept offense that depends on Brian Westbrook feeling spry. That combination didn't quite get them to the playoffs a year ago and it very likely won't get them there this year.
So what will change?
Probably nothing. We will be sitting in the same news conference this time next year, listening to the same mush.
In response to one question yesterday, Reid said: "I'll take responsibility for that."
That brought back memories of an old comedy album (remember comedy albums?). There was a guy named David Frye, and back in the '70s he made a good living off his Richard Nixon impression. Frye had a riff about Nixon accepting the "responsibility" but not the "blame" for Watergate.
"Let me explain the difference," the faux Nixon intoned. "People who are to blame go to jail. People who are responsible do not."
Change "go to jail" to "lose their jobs" and you pretty much have Andy's shtick. It's his responsibility, but everybody deserves a piece of the blame "pie." Because when everyone is to blame, effectively, no one is to blame.
Developing storylines
* Sav Rocca, Mr. September, is of very limited use to a team whose season extends into cold-weather months, in the northeastern United States.
* DeSean Jackson's drop of the touchdown strike in the final minute brought up a question: When did Donovan McNabb and a receiver last connect on an actual bomb, not a catch-and-run but a long heave, 40 yards or more through the air?
* Reggie Brown needed to run that last route to the end zone, not to the 1-yard line. "We tell the receivers to make sure they're in the end zone in those situations, so we could have done a little bit better of a job there," Reid said.
* Since the Eagles are playing the Cowboys this week, it seems relevant to point out that Reid could have drafted Jason Witten in the second round in 2003. He chose L.J. Smith instead. How's that working for him?
* Doesn't it seem that not only do the Eagles never win a replay challenge, the opponents never lose one?
Who knew?
That you could lose twice in the same season to Jim Zorn?
Obscure stat
The Eagles were beaten Sunday by a quarterback who completed seven passes to wide receivers, for a total of 56 yards. In the second half, Jason Campbell completed one pass to a wideout, Antwaan Randle El, for 11 yards.
Extra point
Reporters diligently flogged the dead horse yesterday.
Reuben Frank, of the Burlington County Times, asked Andy Reid why the Eagles called five runs in 41 plays in the second half Sunday.
"We probably could have run it a couple of more times, yeah," Reid said. "We were backed up and trying to make some things happen. We took some shots in there, and at the time, we weren't running quite as effectively as we would have liked to, but we probably could have stuck with it a little bit more."
A little while later, Frank persistently pointed out that Brian Westbrook averaged 4.1 yards per carry in the first half. So, he asked, what made Reid think the run wasn't working?
"We started off throwing. It just worked out that way. We started off throwing the football," Reid said. "We were backed up and we were trying to make some things happen that way. Like I said, we probably could have run it a few more times."
Another reporter wondered whether being pinned deep in your own territory, as the Eagles were most of the second half, might instead lead one to run the ball.
"The majority of the time on first and second down, they were presenting an eight-man front," Reid said.
"And so, they gave you opportunities to work your quick game, and they were playing off-coverage on the outside. We just didn't do as well as I thought we could do."
Jim Johnson might want to write that down.
Show an eight-man front, the opposition has to drop back to throw 16 successive times.
This strategy could come in quite handy against the other NFC East teams, who all presumably will have to then abandon any idea of running.
DIE! DIE! DIE!
I'm a realist. I knew, in the big scheme of things, the outcome of last night's Bears-Packers game had no real bearing on the Eagles. Tampa Bay is not losing to the Raiders at home. Just not happening.
So really, I was watching the game just to be entertained. There weren't any real emotions involved … until the game ended thanks to this jerkoff:
No. NO. NO! A THOUSAND TIMES NO!!!!! Damn you Green Bay. Damn you Mason Crosby. You could have prevented this.
I hate Robbie Gould. I hate him so very much. Every time I see him make a game-winning kick (Did you know he leads the NFL with 5 game-winners this year?), I want to claw my eyes out. Iowa 6, Penn State 4. A missed 25-yard field goal by Robbie Gould, one of many, many horrible misses during his horrific career at Penn State. And I was there to see most of them.
The more I see of him, the more I hate his guts. I'll go so far as to say that Robbie Gould is my least favorite player to ever play at Penn State, and quite possibly my least favorite player of all time. In any sport. I hate you Robbie Gould. I hate you.
So really, I was watching the game just to be entertained. There weren't any real emotions involved … until the game ended thanks to this jerkoff:
No. NO. NO! A THOUSAND TIMES NO!!!!! Damn you Green Bay. Damn you Mason Crosby. You could have prevented this.
I hate Robbie Gould. I hate him so very much. Every time I see him make a game-winning kick (Did you know he leads the NFL with 5 game-winners this year?), I want to claw my eyes out. Iowa 6, Penn State 4. A missed 25-yard field goal by Robbie Gould, one of many, many horrible misses during his horrific career at Penn State. And I was there to see most of them.
The more I see of him, the more I hate his guts. I'll go so far as to say that Robbie Gould is my least favorite player to ever play at Penn State, and quite possibly my least favorite player of all time. In any sport. I hate you Robbie Gould. I hate you.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Peter King Should Get Hit by a Bus
Calling for the head of Joe Paterno is no way to make friends there, Peter King. Now, as KSK routinely points out, Peter King has no fucking clue about football. Today, Big Daddy Drew destroys King for his insistence that Penn State (and Penn State fans) should tell Paterno to step down:
Penn State is insane. A three-year contract extension for an 82-year-old coach who has had recent health problems? Why is there no one at this august institution who can tell a man whom the school isn’t positive can even STAND on the sideline every week that it’s time to step down? Can anyone who bleeds Nittany blue honestly tell me Paterno has the energy to out-recruit coaches 40 years his junior for the best football players in the country?
For real. It’s not like they went to the Rose Bowl this year. And it’s not like JoePa could just go hire talented people to go recruit for him while he remains an effective figurehead. Or like he helped build half of the school. STOP FOOLING YOURSELVES, YOU PEOPLE! HOW CAN ANYONE POSSIBLY LEAD WITHOUT THE POWER TO STAND?
Yes, how ever will Paterno land prized recruits? Fuck off, Peter King. My dog knows more about football than you.
Penn State is insane. A three-year contract extension for an 82-year-old coach who has had recent health problems? Why is there no one at this august institution who can tell a man whom the school isn’t positive can even STAND on the sideline every week that it’s time to step down? Can anyone who bleeds Nittany blue honestly tell me Paterno has the energy to out-recruit coaches 40 years his junior for the best football players in the country?
For real. It’s not like they went to the Rose Bowl this year. And it’s not like JoePa could just go hire talented people to go recruit for him while he remains an effective figurehead. Or like he helped build half of the school. STOP FOOLING YOURSELVES, YOU PEOPLE! HOW CAN ANYONE POSSIBLY LEAD WITHOUT THE POWER TO STAND?
Yes, how ever will Paterno land prized recruits? Fuck off, Peter King. My dog knows more about football than you.
Better Brand of Basketball
Today, I read some thoughts on Dime and FreeDarko about Josh Smith's struggles to fit in since returning from injury.
The gist of those sentiments is, essentially, Josh Smith isn't a true power forward or even a true small forward, and his presence in the paint clutters up the works for Al Horford, a bona fide power forward. Add in the swing game of Marvin Williams, Joe Johnson as the unquestioned 2 and Mike Bibby manning the point, where exactly does Josh Smith fit into this team? It's almost as if they've forgotten about him while he was injured, and now, all the sudden, he doesn't fit.
Maybe it will just take a little time. And it's not as if the Hawks are struggling. But something is off with Smith so far this year compared to last year.
All this got me thinking about the 76ers. Elton Brand, since he has been here, just hasn't meshed well with his Philadelphia teammates. A team that grew leaps and bounds by running, running and running some more felt obligated to get Elton the ball, slow things down and run the offense through the big free agent signing. He was supposed to be the low post presence the Sixers desperately needed. But he was also supposed to help the Sixers become better in the half court while not hindering the running of this young, energetic team.
Well, it hasn't quite worked out that way. In fact, Brand has seemed to muddy the waters for a team that lived and died with its transition game last season. And Brand hasn't been what many fans thought—a low post presence. Brand, in actuality, is a high post power forward, capable of doing some scoring around the rim, but mostly just blocking shots and grabbing boards down low, while scoring from the 10-14 foot range.
It's been a complicated process, and the team has looked like it's tried too hard to adjust its game to fit Brand's style, not the other way around. As a result, Andre Iguodala, Louis Williams and Samuel Dalembert struggled mightily early on. What the Sixers needed was a big man who could run at the same pace as the Sixers, a guy who could rebound, block shots and be the first one down the floor … a guy like Josh Smith. I know, I know. The Hawks were going to match the offer anyway. I get that. But the Sixers could have saved the cash, waited until next year and make another run at players that fit what this team is all about.
Instead, they went with the big name, a guy coming off a serious injury (and a guy who is injured again, albeit a completely different injury), and everyone applauded them for it. But the Sixers didn't think this one through. They didn't see what Brand's effect would be on the rest of the players. Turns out, it wasn't good early on. Not at all.
And now, suddenly, with Brand going down, the Sixers have looked a lot more like that team that finished up the 2007-08 campaign. The power forward they've coveted all along seems to be emerging with Brand out of the lineup. Marreese Speights, the rookie out of Florida, has been what we all thought Brand would be for this team. The guy is providing a strong inside presence, both offensively and defensively, and, here's the real plus, he's running the floor at the same tempo as the likes of Louis Williams and Andre Iguodala.
As a result, Iguodala and Lou Will, particularly Lou Will, are playing better. The team is playing better. And the Sixers are starting to resemble last year's squad. Sure, they've won 3 of 4 going against the likes of Washington, Milwaukee and Indiana, but they are beginning to get back to what worked for them last year.
The biggest key has been the expanded role of Speights. With him in the lineup, the Sixers don't feel the need to feed him in the half court almost every trip like they did with Brand. They aren't slowing down, waiting for Elton. As a result, the players look more comfortable and relaxed, which is translating into better offensive production and much, much more running. And Marreese has provided energy that Brand simply did not, like this:
And this:
And this:
He just looks like a better fit at power forward for the Sixers. And it's really a shame when you think about it. Instead of splurging, paying more than $160 million for Brand and Iguodala, the Sixers could have made a more reasonable offer to Andre (6 years, $60 million?) and made a run at Smith. Then, at worst, the Sixers end up with Iguodala at a much cheaper price and a ton of cap space for this upcoming offseason, when Andre Miller comes off the books as well. I don't want to get on Ed Stefanski too hard for investing in Brand and Iguodala, but it seems like, at least to this point, he made two big mistakes there, effectively rendering the Sixers useless in the upcoming free agent markets.
In the meantime, a rookie that some people thought wouldn't work hard enough to become a good pro has looked like a better power forward option for this team than Brand. It's kind of depressing when you really sit back and think about it. For the next 5 years, the Sixers are saddled with the heavy contracts of Brand and Iguodala, when the guys who really look they can be special are Thaddeus Young, Marreese Speights and Louis Williams. But as long as Brand and Iguodala are around, they will be getting in the way of Speights and Young, what with sharing the same position and all.
It's still probably too early to really grade the moves by Stefanski thus far, but all those moves that looked so good on paper aren't looking so good on the court. At least Marreese Speights is.
The gist of those sentiments is, essentially, Josh Smith isn't a true power forward or even a true small forward, and his presence in the paint clutters up the works for Al Horford, a bona fide power forward. Add in the swing game of Marvin Williams, Joe Johnson as the unquestioned 2 and Mike Bibby manning the point, where exactly does Josh Smith fit into this team? It's almost as if they've forgotten about him while he was injured, and now, all the sudden, he doesn't fit.
Maybe it will just take a little time. And it's not as if the Hawks are struggling. But something is off with Smith so far this year compared to last year.
All this got me thinking about the 76ers. Elton Brand, since he has been here, just hasn't meshed well with his Philadelphia teammates. A team that grew leaps and bounds by running, running and running some more felt obligated to get Elton the ball, slow things down and run the offense through the big free agent signing. He was supposed to be the low post presence the Sixers desperately needed. But he was also supposed to help the Sixers become better in the half court while not hindering the running of this young, energetic team.
Well, it hasn't quite worked out that way. In fact, Brand has seemed to muddy the waters for a team that lived and died with its transition game last season. And Brand hasn't been what many fans thought—a low post presence. Brand, in actuality, is a high post power forward, capable of doing some scoring around the rim, but mostly just blocking shots and grabbing boards down low, while scoring from the 10-14 foot range.
It's been a complicated process, and the team has looked like it's tried too hard to adjust its game to fit Brand's style, not the other way around. As a result, Andre Iguodala, Louis Williams and Samuel Dalembert struggled mightily early on. What the Sixers needed was a big man who could run at the same pace as the Sixers, a guy who could rebound, block shots and be the first one down the floor … a guy like Josh Smith. I know, I know. The Hawks were going to match the offer anyway. I get that. But the Sixers could have saved the cash, waited until next year and make another run at players that fit what this team is all about.
Instead, they went with the big name, a guy coming off a serious injury (and a guy who is injured again, albeit a completely different injury), and everyone applauded them for it. But the Sixers didn't think this one through. They didn't see what Brand's effect would be on the rest of the players. Turns out, it wasn't good early on. Not at all.
And now, suddenly, with Brand going down, the Sixers have looked a lot more like that team that finished up the 2007-08 campaign. The power forward they've coveted all along seems to be emerging with Brand out of the lineup. Marreese Speights, the rookie out of Florida, has been what we all thought Brand would be for this team. The guy is providing a strong inside presence, both offensively and defensively, and, here's the real plus, he's running the floor at the same tempo as the likes of Louis Williams and Andre Iguodala.
As a result, Iguodala and Lou Will, particularly Lou Will, are playing better. The team is playing better. And the Sixers are starting to resemble last year's squad. Sure, they've won 3 of 4 going against the likes of Washington, Milwaukee and Indiana, but they are beginning to get back to what worked for them last year.
The biggest key has been the expanded role of Speights. With him in the lineup, the Sixers don't feel the need to feed him in the half court almost every trip like they did with Brand. They aren't slowing down, waiting for Elton. As a result, the players look more comfortable and relaxed, which is translating into better offensive production and much, much more running. And Marreese has provided energy that Brand simply did not, like this:
And this:
And this:
He just looks like a better fit at power forward for the Sixers. And it's really a shame when you think about it. Instead of splurging, paying more than $160 million for Brand and Iguodala, the Sixers could have made a more reasonable offer to Andre (6 years, $60 million?) and made a run at Smith. Then, at worst, the Sixers end up with Iguodala at a much cheaper price and a ton of cap space for this upcoming offseason, when Andre Miller comes off the books as well. I don't want to get on Ed Stefanski too hard for investing in Brand and Iguodala, but it seems like, at least to this point, he made two big mistakes there, effectively rendering the Sixers useless in the upcoming free agent markets.
In the meantime, a rookie that some people thought wouldn't work hard enough to become a good pro has looked like a better power forward option for this team than Brand. It's kind of depressing when you really sit back and think about it. For the next 5 years, the Sixers are saddled with the heavy contracts of Brand and Iguodala, when the guys who really look they can be special are Thaddeus Young, Marreese Speights and Louis Williams. But as long as Brand and Iguodala are around, they will be getting in the way of Speights and Young, what with sharing the same position and all.
It's still probably too early to really grade the moves by Stefanski thus far, but all those moves that looked so good on paper aren't looking so good on the court. At least Marreese Speights is.
Fans Throw Snowballs at Players, Player Fires Back
Seattle Seahawks fans decided to pelt some Jets with snowballs during the game, but it was no big deal because they weren't Philadelphia Eagles fans. Anyway, Shaun Ellis decided to retaliate, awesomely I might add, by chucking a huge chunk of snow into the stands.
The Links to Failure
What a horrible Sunday. The Eagles choked, and the Flyers lost in a shootout to the hated Devils. At least the Flyers picked up a point yesterday after winning 7-1 Saturday. In that game, the Capitals completely dominated the Flyers for two periods, but Antero Niittymaki played out of his God damn mind, stopping 25 shots in the first period and making 47 saves in all in 48 shots. The Flyers were opportunists, scoring in the first on a goal by Joffrey Lupul and then a pair in the 2nd by Jeff Carter, one of which was a shorthanded breakaway.
Carter is now officially a star, leading the NHL in goals with 25, and his line is on fire. Scott Hartnell chipped in with a hat trick in a game where the final score really was deceiving. Washington outplayed the Flyers for two whole periods but found themselves down 3-0 because Niitty was just in the zone. That game was fun all around. Huge hits, chippy play and fights. Donald Brashear beat the shit out of Riley Cote, but Josh Gratton returned the favor for the Flyers, pummeling Matt Bradley.
This team is fun to watch. Unlike the Eagles … as some of the links will show.
-Paul Domowitch is not happy with Andy and Marty:
Thumbs down
…
-- To Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg for the lopsided playcalling. So the Redskins put an extra man in the box much of the game. So what? That's no excuse for 46 passes and 16 runs. That's no excuse for giving the ball to Brian Westbrook just four times in the second half. Enough already.
-Great read by Rich Hoffman:
They botched it, spectacularly. Destiny was in their hands and then it was clanking off of DeSean Jackson's, or L.J. Smith's, or Asante Samuel's. "It's simple: Catch the ball," tackle Jon Runyan said, tersely, eloquently, finally.
The thing was theirs. The Tampa Bay Bucs handed it to them just before the Eagles took the field against the Redskins. They had fought and clawed their way from oblivion over the last few weeks and the bright shining light of the playoffs was finally in view. They were in control. All they needed was two more wins, starting yesterday with the reeling Redskins.
So much work. So much digging. But the Eagles had done it. It was theirs. All of the carping and all of the midseason recriminations were about to be buried. They were favored, they were the better team, the more complete team, the more versatile team, the more explosive team, the hotter team, the destined team.
It was theirs. And then it wasn't. Destiny, ha.
-Phil Sheridan takes Reid to task:
Last week, Washington's Jim Zorn said he felt like "the worst coach in America" after his team lost to the Cincinnati Bengals. Yesterday, Zorn beat Andy Reid, completing a sweep of the two-game series with the Eagles.
Does that make Reid the worst coach in America? Of course not. He's the winningest coach in Eagles history. You can't just discount that. To pin this loss on Reid, you'd have to take a close look at how this 10-3 abomination came to pass.
And pass and pass and pass and pass.
The focus will be on the final 12 seconds, that final oh-so-close completion to Reggie Brown. But it should be on the preceding 59 minutes, 48 seconds, when Reid's offense was bullied and intimidated into its most embarrassing performance in a season full of contenders for that honor.
The Eagles started a three-game winning streak by running the ball more than Reid prefers, taking pressure off the slumping Donovan McNabb and giving his offensive line a chance to dictate the action for a change.
Now with a playoff berth there for the taking, Reid got back to his familiar balanced approach: He called passes as well as throws.
…
Take away the two junk runs at the end of the first half and the Eagles called just 12 runs while attempting 48 passes (not counting two McNabb spikes). That's an 80/20 split, if you're interested in percentages. That's just stupid, if you're interested in adjective.
…
Fred Smoot, whose heads-up play kept Reggie Brown from scoring the tying touchdown as time ran out, was grateful. He looks over and sees Westbrook and that big offensive line and wonders why the Eagles don't run the ball more.
"To me, it shocks me," Smoot said. "Especially having a guy like 36 back there. My goodness. If I was a coach, I wouldn't have a game where he didn't touch the ball 25 times. I make sure I put the ball in his hands."
Damn. Can we get Fred Smoot as our coach?
-The Carter line is just ridiculous right now.
Oh, and if you didn't watch the Lakers-Heat game Friday night, you missed some incredible basketball by Dwyane Wade and Kobe.
In a tight contest, the two were going back and forth, just making ridiculous shots. And Wade did it on defense too, blocking Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol consecutively. Then, the Kobe rimmed a game-tying shot as time expired. It was thrilling.
Carter is now officially a star, leading the NHL in goals with 25, and his line is on fire. Scott Hartnell chipped in with a hat trick in a game where the final score really was deceiving. Washington outplayed the Flyers for two whole periods but found themselves down 3-0 because Niitty was just in the zone. That game was fun all around. Huge hits, chippy play and fights. Donald Brashear beat the shit out of Riley Cote, but Josh Gratton returned the favor for the Flyers, pummeling Matt Bradley.
This team is fun to watch. Unlike the Eagles … as some of the links will show.
-Paul Domowitch is not happy with Andy and Marty:
Thumbs down
…
-- To Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg for the lopsided playcalling. So the Redskins put an extra man in the box much of the game. So what? That's no excuse for 46 passes and 16 runs. That's no excuse for giving the ball to Brian Westbrook just four times in the second half. Enough already.
-Great read by Rich Hoffman:
They botched it, spectacularly. Destiny was in their hands and then it was clanking off of DeSean Jackson's, or L.J. Smith's, or Asante Samuel's. "It's simple: Catch the ball," tackle Jon Runyan said, tersely, eloquently, finally.
The thing was theirs. The Tampa Bay Bucs handed it to them just before the Eagles took the field against the Redskins. They had fought and clawed their way from oblivion over the last few weeks and the bright shining light of the playoffs was finally in view. They were in control. All they needed was two more wins, starting yesterday with the reeling Redskins.
So much work. So much digging. But the Eagles had done it. It was theirs. All of the carping and all of the midseason recriminations were about to be buried. They were favored, they were the better team, the more complete team, the more versatile team, the more explosive team, the hotter team, the destined team.
It was theirs. And then it wasn't. Destiny, ha.
-Phil Sheridan takes Reid to task:
Last week, Washington's Jim Zorn said he felt like "the worst coach in America" after his team lost to the Cincinnati Bengals. Yesterday, Zorn beat Andy Reid, completing a sweep of the two-game series with the Eagles.
Does that make Reid the worst coach in America? Of course not. He's the winningest coach in Eagles history. You can't just discount that. To pin this loss on Reid, you'd have to take a close look at how this 10-3 abomination came to pass.
And pass and pass and pass and pass.
The focus will be on the final 12 seconds, that final oh-so-close completion to Reggie Brown. But it should be on the preceding 59 minutes, 48 seconds, when Reid's offense was bullied and intimidated into its most embarrassing performance in a season full of contenders for that honor.
The Eagles started a three-game winning streak by running the ball more than Reid prefers, taking pressure off the slumping Donovan McNabb and giving his offensive line a chance to dictate the action for a change.
Now with a playoff berth there for the taking, Reid got back to his familiar balanced approach: He called passes as well as throws.
…
Take away the two junk runs at the end of the first half and the Eagles called just 12 runs while attempting 48 passes (not counting two McNabb spikes). That's an 80/20 split, if you're interested in percentages. That's just stupid, if you're interested in adjective.
…
Fred Smoot, whose heads-up play kept Reggie Brown from scoring the tying touchdown as time ran out, was grateful. He looks over and sees Westbrook and that big offensive line and wonders why the Eagles don't run the ball more.
"To me, it shocks me," Smoot said. "Especially having a guy like 36 back there. My goodness. If I was a coach, I wouldn't have a game where he didn't touch the ball 25 times. I make sure I put the ball in his hands."
Damn. Can we get Fred Smoot as our coach?
-The Carter line is just ridiculous right now.
Oh, and if you didn't watch the Lakers-Heat game Friday night, you missed some incredible basketball by Dwyane Wade and Kobe.
In a tight contest, the two were going back and forth, just making ridiculous shots. And Wade did it on defense too, blocking Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol consecutively. Then, the Kobe rimmed a game-tying shot as time expired. It was thrilling.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Birds are Cooked
Drop. Bouncer. Drop. Punt. Bouncer. Drop. 2 yard pass. Punt. Bouncer. 2 yard run. Drop. Punt. Repeat.
That, in essence, was the Eagles on offense today. It was just embarrassing. After receiving the best news ever following the Cowboys' loss last night and the Buccaneers' loss this afternoon, the Eagles headed into the game knowing they controlled their own destiny to make the playoffs. Beat the Redskins and Cowboys, and they're in. Easier said than done.
The defense played their hearts out, but the offense literally dropped the game away. And so did Asante Samuel. Not taking away anything the defense did, I'd like to point out how much of a disappointment Samuel has been. The guy was brought in to get interceptions. Nothing more. Nothing less. The Eagles already had two Pro Bowl caliber corners who were reliable, but they needed someone who could take the ball away more regularly. Enter Asante Samuel, he of the most interceptions over the past few years.
Well, coming into today, Samuel had exactly 4 interceptions and 1 touchdown, not exactly gaudy numbers. No, Samuel has been more accustomed to dropping interceptions, kind of like he did in the Super Bowl last year--an interception that would have iced the game for the Patriots. And today, he had another chance to come up with a huge interception. Instead, he dropped it, and the Eagles were pinned inside their own 10 yet again. I guess what I'm trying to say is, Asante Samuel fucking blows. I'm no genius, but I know Lito usually caught the ball when it was thrown at him. Asante just drops it. You blow, Asante.
And speaking of drops, how about DeSean Jackson? Wow. Just an absolutely awful, awful day. With the team desperately needing a big play, Donovan finds you deep behind the defense, all alone, and delivers the ball. And you drop it. Then, on a potential game-tying touchdown, Donovan found you again, stuck the ball right in there, and you dropped it. Way to go, superstar. You really hate the end zone, don't you?
And don't think you're getting off easy there either, McNabb. All you seemed to do most of the game was throw the ball in the ground, behind your receivers or nowhere close to anyone. It was awful. In your defense, the receivers rarely got open, but shit, you were off big time, holding the ball too long, taking sacks, and, oh yeah, fumbling the ball--which led to the only touchdown of the game. It was a horrendous performance, kind of like L.J. Smith, who just really sucks at football in general. L.J. made some of his usual lackadaisical drops, and also completely failed to block Chris Horton on a Brian Westbrook pass that would have probably went for a touchdown if L.J. had just picked up Horton. Instead, he ran right by Horton, who tackled Westbrook before he could even get the first down.
You suck, L.J. Can't wait till your gone.
Same for you, Reggie Brown. Man, was it nice having you inactive. It's a shame Hank and Curtis were hurt, meaning you had to start. You can't get open. You can't catch. And, with the game on the line, practically no time left and your team near the end zone, you can't even run a proper route into the end zone. Instead, you cut it off short, get tackled at the one and end the game. Way to go, Einstein. Go back to the bench ... for-fucking-ever.
Oh, and my favorite pal, Andy. Sweet fucking christ are you the dumbest, most stubborn coach to ever walk an NFL sideline. Excluding the Browns game, the Eagles turned the season around by becoming a balanced offense, running and passing interchangeably. Prior to that, the offense looked horrible because all Reid did was dial up pass play after pass play. So what does he do with the playoffs in sight and two of his receivers hurt? Pass the ball every damn play. What. The. Fuck?
The Eagles ran 64 plays on offense. 46 of them were throws. 16 were rushes, 2 of which were scrambles by McNabb. That means, in a game that the Eagles never trailed by more than 10 points, Reid and Marty Mornhingweg called 48 pass plays and just 14 run plays. Granted, it's a little skewed due to the 4th quarter, but honestly, they ran the ball just 16 times in the entire game. With two receivers out. One who starts and the other who plays a lot. Against a good pass defense.
Someone please explain this to me. Wait, don't bother. I don't even want to know.
Honestly, this team should be completely ashamed of itself. Well, this offense anyway. Jim Johnson and his defense don't have anything really to be ashamed of. Sure, there were times that the Redskins' offensive line was handling their small front, but they held the Skins to just 10 points and just 249 yards of offense in a game that they were repeatedly put in bad spots due to the offense. Excluding that atrocious drop by Samuel, and the equally terrible drop by Quintin Mikell in the end zone, the Eagles defense played incredibly well. The offense, the pride and joy of Andy and Marty, sucked horribly.
Now it will take a miracle to make the playoffs. That was an inexcusable, embarrassing display by theNew York Mets Philadelphia Eagles. Heads should roll. And we all know, unfortunately, that Andy's fat face won't be one of them. I fucking hate these guys. Merry fucking Christmas, Eagles. You all deserve nothing but coal in your stockings. And a punch to the face. Every last one of you.
That, in essence, was the Eagles on offense today. It was just embarrassing. After receiving the best news ever following the Cowboys' loss last night and the Buccaneers' loss this afternoon, the Eagles headed into the game knowing they controlled their own destiny to make the playoffs. Beat the Redskins and Cowboys, and they're in. Easier said than done.
The defense played their hearts out, but the offense literally dropped the game away. And so did Asante Samuel. Not taking away anything the defense did, I'd like to point out how much of a disappointment Samuel has been. The guy was brought in to get interceptions. Nothing more. Nothing less. The Eagles already had two Pro Bowl caliber corners who were reliable, but they needed someone who could take the ball away more regularly. Enter Asante Samuel, he of the most interceptions over the past few years.
Well, coming into today, Samuel had exactly 4 interceptions and 1 touchdown, not exactly gaudy numbers. No, Samuel has been more accustomed to dropping interceptions, kind of like he did in the Super Bowl last year--an interception that would have iced the game for the Patriots. And today, he had another chance to come up with a huge interception. Instead, he dropped it, and the Eagles were pinned inside their own 10 yet again. I guess what I'm trying to say is, Asante Samuel fucking blows. I'm no genius, but I know Lito usually caught the ball when it was thrown at him. Asante just drops it. You blow, Asante.
And speaking of drops, how about DeSean Jackson? Wow. Just an absolutely awful, awful day. With the team desperately needing a big play, Donovan finds you deep behind the defense, all alone, and delivers the ball. And you drop it. Then, on a potential game-tying touchdown, Donovan found you again, stuck the ball right in there, and you dropped it. Way to go, superstar. You really hate the end zone, don't you?
And don't think you're getting off easy there either, McNabb. All you seemed to do most of the game was throw the ball in the ground, behind your receivers or nowhere close to anyone. It was awful. In your defense, the receivers rarely got open, but shit, you were off big time, holding the ball too long, taking sacks, and, oh yeah, fumbling the ball--which led to the only touchdown of the game. It was a horrendous performance, kind of like L.J. Smith, who just really sucks at football in general. L.J. made some of his usual lackadaisical drops, and also completely failed to block Chris Horton on a Brian Westbrook pass that would have probably went for a touchdown if L.J. had just picked up Horton. Instead, he ran right by Horton, who tackled Westbrook before he could even get the first down.
You suck, L.J. Can't wait till your gone.
Same for you, Reggie Brown. Man, was it nice having you inactive. It's a shame Hank and Curtis were hurt, meaning you had to start. You can't get open. You can't catch. And, with the game on the line, practically no time left and your team near the end zone, you can't even run a proper route into the end zone. Instead, you cut it off short, get tackled at the one and end the game. Way to go, Einstein. Go back to the bench ... for-fucking-ever.
Oh, and my favorite pal, Andy. Sweet fucking christ are you the dumbest, most stubborn coach to ever walk an NFL sideline. Excluding the Browns game, the Eagles turned the season around by becoming a balanced offense, running and passing interchangeably. Prior to that, the offense looked horrible because all Reid did was dial up pass play after pass play. So what does he do with the playoffs in sight and two of his receivers hurt? Pass the ball every damn play. What. The. Fuck?
The Eagles ran 64 plays on offense. 46 of them were throws. 16 were rushes, 2 of which were scrambles by McNabb. That means, in a game that the Eagles never trailed by more than 10 points, Reid and Marty Mornhingweg called 48 pass plays and just 14 run plays. Granted, it's a little skewed due to the 4th quarter, but honestly, they ran the ball just 16 times in the entire game. With two receivers out. One who starts and the other who plays a lot. Against a good pass defense.
Someone please explain this to me. Wait, don't bother. I don't even want to know.
Honestly, this team should be completely ashamed of itself. Well, this offense anyway. Jim Johnson and his defense don't have anything really to be ashamed of. Sure, there were times that the Redskins' offensive line was handling their small front, but they held the Skins to just 10 points and just 249 yards of offense in a game that they were repeatedly put in bad spots due to the offense. Excluding that atrocious drop by Samuel, and the equally terrible drop by Quintin Mikell in the end zone, the Eagles defense played incredibly well. The offense, the pride and joy of Andy and Marty, sucked horribly.
Now it will take a miracle to make the playoffs. That was an inexcusable, embarrassing display by the
Friday, December 19, 2008
Is Tomorrow the Second Saturday of Christmas?
Last Saturday, Dionte Christmas exploded for 30 points in the second half, scoring 35 overall, in Temple's upset victory of then 8th-ranked Tennessee. It couldn't have been better timing for Christmas, what with anywhere from 17 to 22 NBA scouts hanging out in North Philadelphia.
Tomorrow, Temple again takes on a top program, albeit one that's currently unranked. Yeah, they just so happen to be the defending champs. This time, Dionte and company will be on the road to take on the Jayhawks in Kansas, and for the second straight Saturday, the Owls will be an afternoon showcase on ESPN. Temple's hoping for a repeat performance from both the team and its star player.
Last Saturday, Dionte caught the eye of the nation and pro scouts. If he can duplicate his performance, or come remotely close, his draft stock and national notoriety will skyrocket. Now, I've seen many Temple guards come and go in my 24 years. My personal favorite is Lynn Greer, the sharpshooting lefty who should be on an NBA roster somewhere.
Anyway, there have been some really good ones: Rick Brunson, Pepe Sanchez, Mardy Collins, Mark Karcher (forward I guess), just to name a few. And there's the cream of the crop in Eddie Jones and Aaron McKie.
Well, I think, believe it or not, Dionte is more in the Jones-McKie mold. He's a decent defender, rangy guard and from the looks of it, every bit as good a scorer as a young Eddie Jones. The man should get drafted, and another good game on national television would certainly help.
So let's hope Christmas comes around once again tomorrow, and Dionte builds off last weekend's dynamic performance. Who knows, come June, maybe Christmas will be delivered to some team in the first round.
Tomorrow, Temple again takes on a top program, albeit one that's currently unranked. Yeah, they just so happen to be the defending champs. This time, Dionte and company will be on the road to take on the Jayhawks in Kansas, and for the second straight Saturday, the Owls will be an afternoon showcase on ESPN. Temple's hoping for a repeat performance from both the team and its star player.
Last Saturday, Dionte caught the eye of the nation and pro scouts. If he can duplicate his performance, or come remotely close, his draft stock and national notoriety will skyrocket. Now, I've seen many Temple guards come and go in my 24 years. My personal favorite is Lynn Greer, the sharpshooting lefty who should be on an NBA roster somewhere.
Anyway, there have been some really good ones: Rick Brunson, Pepe Sanchez, Mardy Collins, Mark Karcher (forward I guess), just to name a few. And there's the cream of the crop in Eddie Jones and Aaron McKie.
Well, I think, believe it or not, Dionte is more in the Jones-McKie mold. He's a decent defender, rangy guard and from the looks of it, every bit as good a scorer as a young Eddie Jones. The man should get drafted, and another good game on national television would certainly help.
So let's hope Christmas comes around once again tomorrow, and Dionte builds off last weekend's dynamic performance. Who knows, come June, maybe Christmas will be delivered to some team in the first round.
Brandon Roy Went Bonkers
I'm so pissed off at myself right now. I've been dying to watch the Suns now that they have Jason Richardson, and last night was a perfect time to catch the new-look Suns in a great matchup with the Trailblazers. Instead, I fell asleep like a jerk and missed the 124-119 scoring fest victory for Portland where Brandon Roy went nuts, scoring 52 points.
Damn this waking up early and working shit. Cost me watching a great game. I need to get my sleep deprivation dedication back pronto.
Seriously, check out Roy's game.
Damn this waking up early and working shit. Cost me watching a great game. I need to get my sleep deprivation dedication back pronto.
Seriously, check out Roy's game.
It's Friday, Time to Dance
If the Eagles beat the Redskins and Dallas, they'll still need help to get in the playoffs—Atlanta or Tampa Bay have to lose. So, seeing as the Falcons take on the Vikings in Minnesota, we're all going to be rooting for Adrian Peterson to go nuts.
To honor Purple Jesus, check out The Jesus, draped in purple, doing his little dance.
You don't fuck with The Jesus.
To honor Purple Jesus, check out The Jesus, draped in purple, doing his little dance.
You don't fuck with The Jesus.
George W. Bush or Charles Barkley?
Chris Webber seems to think Chuck is G-dub.
And in other news, Mats Sundin signed with Vancouver, which is great news for the Flyers (not being in New York), and congratulations are in order for Tyler Hansbrough, who became the all-time leading scoring in North Carolina history with 20 points in the Tar Heels 91-73 win against Evansville.
And in other news, Mats Sundin signed with Vancouver, which is great news for the Flyers (not being in New York), and congratulations are in order for Tyler Hansbrough, who became the all-time leading scoring in North Carolina history with 20 points in the Tar Heels 91-73 win against Evansville.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Airing of the Grievances, All White Edition!
Now that I have some added time, I figured I'd also weigh in on the 5 football players I hate from Penn State that immediately came to mind. Oddly enough, they are all white.
1. Robbie Gould.
Worst kicker in the history of Penn State. In my junior season, Penn State lost to Iowa 6-4 in the worst game ever played. Robbie Gould missed a 25-yard field goal in that game, wide left. And it was ridiculously wide left. Not even close. He should be shot. This motherfucker couldn't make a kick if his life fucking depended on it at Penn State. Then he goes to the pros somehow and makes the Pro Bowl. Die, Robbie Gould. Die a terrible, embarrassing death.
2. Anthony Morelli.
If there's ever been a dumber quarterback in the history of football, I've never seen or heard of it. Morelli came in as a pretty big deal with a big arm. He turned into a horrible quarterback with a big arm. Morelli couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, unless that barn was wearing an opposing team's jersey.
For his utter stupidity and horrendous play, Morelli's right arm should be amputated. Then he and Jay Paterno should be beaten to death with it.
3. Andrew Guman.
I hate gingers, especially when they play safety yet cannot hit, cover or catch a football. To top things off, Guman couldn't run either. Essentially, he was the worst safety you could ask for. However, apparently he had a hot sister who my roommate used to chat up. But they never hooked up. So fuck you for that too, Guman. You asshole.
4. Josh Hull.
The Andrew Guman of linebackers.
5. Robbie Gould. Yes, I hate him that much.
1. Robbie Gould.
Worst kicker in the history of Penn State. In my junior season, Penn State lost to Iowa 6-4 in the worst game ever played. Robbie Gould missed a 25-yard field goal in that game, wide left. And it was ridiculously wide left. Not even close. He should be shot. This motherfucker couldn't make a kick if his life fucking depended on it at Penn State. Then he goes to the pros somehow and makes the Pro Bowl. Die, Robbie Gould. Die a terrible, embarrassing death.
2. Anthony Morelli.
If there's ever been a dumber quarterback in the history of football, I've never seen or heard of it. Morelli came in as a pretty big deal with a big arm. He turned into a horrible quarterback with a big arm. Morelli couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, unless that barn was wearing an opposing team's jersey.
For his utter stupidity and horrendous play, Morelli's right arm should be amputated. Then he and Jay Paterno should be beaten to death with it.
3. Andrew Guman.
I hate gingers, especially when they play safety yet cannot hit, cover or catch a football. To top things off, Guman couldn't run either. Essentially, he was the worst safety you could ask for. However, apparently he had a hot sister who my roommate used to chat up. But they never hooked up. So fuck you for that too, Guman. You asshole.
4. Josh Hull.
The Andrew Guman of linebackers.
5. Robbie Gould. Yes, I hate him that much.
Airing of the Grievances
So on consecutive days, Tuesday and yesterday, I received wedding invitations from friends. That's right, two of my friends, both of whom I've known since I was in elementary school, are getting married. You know what that means? I'm getting fucking old. And while people around me are getting married, I'm lucky if I can take my focus away from sports long enough to finish an entire conversation with a female. Needless to say, I won't be getting married any time soon, but I hate the fact that this makes me feel old. And hate seems to be a theme here today.
Today, my brother-in-law emailed me the 100 players you love to hate, a list that is from September 2007. While it is a bit too long to touch on in its entirety, I would like to address two things: Andre Ware and the Philadelphia section.
Andre Ware is on this list under quarterbacks, and he should be. Know why? He's a fucking moron.
And here is the Phillies section:
PHILLIES DIVISION
26. Dick Allen, Philadelphia Phillies and elsewhere: The Albert Belle of his era, Allen was a fearsome power hitter who was still hated in Philly. Some of the abuse, including a stream of racial epithets from fans, was unwarranted. But Allen often came across as immature and selfish: He once missed a doubleheader against the Mets because he went to see a horse race that morning and got caught in traffic on the way back, then walked out on the White Sox with two weeks to go in the 1974 season.
27. Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies: Yes, they even hated the greatest third baseman in major league history. Schmidt's reserved demeanor on the field gave some the perception that he was aloof, a trait Phillies fans hated most when Schmidt would walk back to the dugout after striking out. In related news, Philly fans, while incredibly loyal to their teams, are also insane.
28. Scott Rolen, Philadelphia Phillies: Hated because he wasn't Mike Schmidt.
29. Von Hayes, Philadelphia Phillies: Another former Phillie who lacked passion, Hayes also carried the twin burdens of being a good, but not great player, and of being acquired in an infamous, lopsided traded with the Indians. In reference to the trade, Hayes earned the unflattering nickname "Five-for-One."
30. Bobby Abreu, Philadelphia Phillies: Perpetually underrated offensive player who derives a lot of value from his great batting eye. Or from Phillies fans' perspective: lazy, good-for-nothing albatross who couldn't get out of town fast enough.
31. Pat Burrell, Philadelphia Phillies: Why do Phillies fans hate him? Let's see: No. 1 overall pick, signed to a $50 million contract, terrible defender, who strikes out more than almost anyone else in baseball. On the other hand, Burrell's also one of the baseball's most dangerous power hitters when he's on his game. Watching Phillies fans figure out how to deal with Burrell's recent hot streak has been a rare treat.
I can't speak for Dick Allen, or even for Mike Schmidt because I was too young (although I know I loved him when I was little), but Rolen deserved it because he was a baby and an underachieving hitter here. Great fielder, but a pussy. Von Hayes, I was also young, but garbage. As far as Bobby goes, I always loved Bobby. He was a great hitter and had a cannon. I'd take him back in a second. Sure, he was a terrible fielder and scared of the wall, but I always liked the guy.
And Pat, well, I think we all know how public perception has changed since becoming World Fucking Champions.
Anyway, all this got me thinking about some of the players who have played in Philadelphia that I absolutely hate. This won't be a complete list I'm sure, as I'm guaranteed to leave a few guys out, but here's my airing of the grievances.
Flyers:
1. Karl Dykuis.
Dykuis was one of the worst defensemen in the history of hockey. Honestly. This guy turned the puck over more than anyone ever. And I hate him. I hate him so very much.
2. Eric Desjardins. I know this is a strange choice to many of you. Desjardins was a longtime Flyer who had very good offensive skill. But what people fail to realize is that he never hit anyone, anywhere, ever. He was the softest of the soft. And what people really fail to remember is that he, more than any player I have seen before or since, let playoff pressure get to him. He made many tremendous passes in the playoffs … right to the other team. Look up "turning over the puck in the playoffs (especially in your own zone)" and you'll find a picture of Desjardins. You were overrated. No one else will admit it, but you were. And I hate you.
3. John Vanbiesbrouck.
Man, did you suck as a Flyer. What made matters worse was how fucking good you were against the Flyers before you came to Philly. You suck.
4. Roman Cechmanek. One of the most insane goaltenders ever. You were also awesome in the regular season, and then imploded in the playoffs every God damn year. Hell, you even skated off the ice on your own teammates. I hate you so much. The Flyers should have kept Boucher.
5. Jiri Dopita. You were heralded as the best player not in the NHL. Yeah, that's like being called the tallest midget in the world or the smartest woman in the world. In the end, you're still short and dumb. Dopita sucked donkey balls, and for a guy who was huge, never hit a fucking thing. You weren't in the NHL for a reason: You are garbage, and I hate you.
Sixers:
1. Kyle Korver.
You were a fan favorite when you were here … except with this fan. A blind, retarded ape could play better defense than you. And sometimes you refused to set your feet on your shot, and that's when you missed. If you were off shooting, you were worthless. Utah is a much better fit for you.
2. Willie Green. DO. NOT. WANT. Please, DiLeo, just bench this bum. Please.
3. Tryone Hill. Or as I like to call him, Skeletor.
Not only were you the ugliest player in the NBA, but you had bricks for hands and nothing in that decrepit skull. I once witnessed you in the playoffs, live, against the Pacers, turn the ball over on three straight possessions. Then you jacked a three, when you never made a three in your life, with tons of time left on the clock. You suck, Tyrone Hill. You suck so very much.
4. Shavlik Randolph. You went to Duke, which is already a strike against you, as a heralded recruit. And then you underachieved and completely sucked when you were a Blue Devil. Somehow, you made the Sixers. And while you hustled, you had no skill. You are poor man's Jason Smith, and I mean Jason Smith right now—hurt. Go to hell, Shavlik.
5. Matt Harpring. Worst. Free agent signing. Ever. You were pretty good before you came to the Sixers. Then you sucked when you got here. Couldn't shoot, couldn't defend, couldn't rebound. You head off to Utah and become serviceable again. Fuck off.
Phillies:
1. Adam Eaton.
I would rather be forced to cut my own eyes out of my head, eat them, puke them back up and eat them again than have to watch Adam Eaton take the hill for the Phillies. He was awful before he got here, and somehow, he has been even more awful here. Take your $9 million this year and disappear. You are literally the only Phillie from this World Fucking Champion squad that I despise completely. I will never say a kind word about you ever.
2. Mitch fucking Williams. You are fuckface. I hate you. You ruined my life once. Thank God it's been restored, no thanks to you. You were the worst closer ever, and you suck as an analyst, too. People who forgave you and enjoy your work with Comcast are fucks. I mean this from the bottom of my heart. Fuck you, Mitch Williams. Fuck you right in the ear.
3. David Bell.
Sweet Jesus, where do I begin here? You couldn't hit. You couldn't field. You couldn't run. You didn't walk. What the fuck did the Phillies sign you for again? You were the worst third baseman I've ever seen for the Phillies, and that's saying something if you think about the years between Charlie Hayes and Scott Rolen. Charlie Hayes wasn't even good.
4. Travis Lee. Now, Travis Lee was definitely one of the best fielding first basemen I've ever seen. I mean that. He was right up there with Rico Brogna. But man, he couldn't hit worth a shit. The guy was huge, yet he hit less home runs than fucking Tommy Green, or so it seemed.
He also called us low class for booing Scott Rolen on Harry Kalas bobblehead day, when the Phillies were playing Cardinals at the Vet (I was there). And what made me hate him even more: I went to a Phillies game at Camden Yards with the charles. In BP, Travis Lee hit every single pitch out of the park. I swear to God. This made me furious. You couldn't leave my life soon enough, Travis.
5. Jose Mesa. Joe Table, as they say, was the right-handed Mitch Williams. He was on shitty teams as the shitty closer. Somehow he racked up saves, even though he sucked. Although I do respect the fact that he said he'd hit Omar Visquel every time he faces him (although I love Omar, oddly enough), and that Joe Table video at the Vet was tits.
Eagles:
1. Chris Boniol.
Fuck this guy. Before he came to the Eagles, he was a Cowboy, and he was awesome. He set the NFL record for most consecutive field goals made. Then he came to Philly and couldn't make a God damn chip shot. What a worthless pile of shit—good for the Cowboys and horrible for the Eagles.
2. Todd Pinkston and James Thrash. Now, some of you may be saying, "That's two players." In body, yes, but when you combine the production of Stinkston and Trash, you get almost not quite one full, competent receiver. Basically, these two guys, who were Donovan's two main targets for the first three runs to the NFC Championship game, were terrible. They couldn't get open. They couldn't catch. They weren't overly fast. And they caused the few interceptions McNabb threw by their sheer incompetence. I hate them both so very much.
3. Mark Simoneau.
You're slow. You're white. And you suck. The Eagles signed you because you were supposed to be an athletic, quick linebacker. In reality, you were slow, horrible in coverage, and terrible at tackling. The only athletic ability you had seemed to be running straight into blockers. You routinely took the wrong route to the ball and rarely came up with a big play, except that one time you took the ball from Eddie George. That was sweet.
But overall, you were pure garbage. You were slower than Dhani Jones, dumber than Barry Gardner and worse at coverage than Chris Gocong. In the Super Bowl, you were the single worst player on the defense. I hate you, much like I hate the majority of white linebackers. Call me racist.
4. Reno Mahe. Better known as Fair Catch, which was the only thing he was good at.
5. Sean Morey. I have no idea how or why you are in the NFL. You sure as shit aren't a receiver. You're too slow to be a return man. And really, you aren't good at anything. Did I mention I hate white people?
Well, there you have it. Those are the 5 players I hate for each team that came to mind while I was airing the grievances. So to all those highlighted above, go get fucked. And Happy Festivus!
Today, my brother-in-law emailed me the 100 players you love to hate, a list that is from September 2007. While it is a bit too long to touch on in its entirety, I would like to address two things: Andre Ware and the Philadelphia section.
Andre Ware is on this list under quarterbacks, and he should be. Know why? He's a fucking moron.
And here is the Phillies section:
PHILLIES DIVISION
26. Dick Allen, Philadelphia Phillies and elsewhere: The Albert Belle of his era, Allen was a fearsome power hitter who was still hated in Philly. Some of the abuse, including a stream of racial epithets from fans, was unwarranted. But Allen often came across as immature and selfish: He once missed a doubleheader against the Mets because he went to see a horse race that morning and got caught in traffic on the way back, then walked out on the White Sox with two weeks to go in the 1974 season.
27. Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies: Yes, they even hated the greatest third baseman in major league history. Schmidt's reserved demeanor on the field gave some the perception that he was aloof, a trait Phillies fans hated most when Schmidt would walk back to the dugout after striking out. In related news, Philly fans, while incredibly loyal to their teams, are also insane.
28. Scott Rolen, Philadelphia Phillies: Hated because he wasn't Mike Schmidt.
29. Von Hayes, Philadelphia Phillies: Another former Phillie who lacked passion, Hayes also carried the twin burdens of being a good, but not great player, and of being acquired in an infamous, lopsided traded with the Indians. In reference to the trade, Hayes earned the unflattering nickname "Five-for-One."
30. Bobby Abreu, Philadelphia Phillies: Perpetually underrated offensive player who derives a lot of value from his great batting eye. Or from Phillies fans' perspective: lazy, good-for-nothing albatross who couldn't get out of town fast enough.
31. Pat Burrell, Philadelphia Phillies: Why do Phillies fans hate him? Let's see: No. 1 overall pick, signed to a $50 million contract, terrible defender, who strikes out more than almost anyone else in baseball. On the other hand, Burrell's also one of the baseball's most dangerous power hitters when he's on his game. Watching Phillies fans figure out how to deal with Burrell's recent hot streak has been a rare treat.
I can't speak for Dick Allen, or even for Mike Schmidt because I was too young (although I know I loved him when I was little), but Rolen deserved it because he was a baby and an underachieving hitter here. Great fielder, but a pussy. Von Hayes, I was also young, but garbage. As far as Bobby goes, I always loved Bobby. He was a great hitter and had a cannon. I'd take him back in a second. Sure, he was a terrible fielder and scared of the wall, but I always liked the guy.
And Pat, well, I think we all know how public perception has changed since becoming World Fucking Champions.
Anyway, all this got me thinking about some of the players who have played in Philadelphia that I absolutely hate. This won't be a complete list I'm sure, as I'm guaranteed to leave a few guys out, but here's my airing of the grievances.
Flyers:
1. Karl Dykuis.
Dykuis was one of the worst defensemen in the history of hockey. Honestly. This guy turned the puck over more than anyone ever. And I hate him. I hate him so very much.
2. Eric Desjardins. I know this is a strange choice to many of you. Desjardins was a longtime Flyer who had very good offensive skill. But what people fail to realize is that he never hit anyone, anywhere, ever. He was the softest of the soft. And what people really fail to remember is that he, more than any player I have seen before or since, let playoff pressure get to him. He made many tremendous passes in the playoffs … right to the other team. Look up "turning over the puck in the playoffs (especially in your own zone)" and you'll find a picture of Desjardins. You were overrated. No one else will admit it, but you were. And I hate you.
3. John Vanbiesbrouck.
Man, did you suck as a Flyer. What made matters worse was how fucking good you were against the Flyers before you came to Philly. You suck.
4. Roman Cechmanek. One of the most insane goaltenders ever. You were also awesome in the regular season, and then imploded in the playoffs every God damn year. Hell, you even skated off the ice on your own teammates. I hate you so much. The Flyers should have kept Boucher.
5. Jiri Dopita. You were heralded as the best player not in the NHL. Yeah, that's like being called the tallest midget in the world or the smartest woman in the world. In the end, you're still short and dumb. Dopita sucked donkey balls, and for a guy who was huge, never hit a fucking thing. You weren't in the NHL for a reason: You are garbage, and I hate you.
Sixers:
1. Kyle Korver.
You were a fan favorite when you were here … except with this fan. A blind, retarded ape could play better defense than you. And sometimes you refused to set your feet on your shot, and that's when you missed. If you were off shooting, you were worthless. Utah is a much better fit for you.
2. Willie Green. DO. NOT. WANT. Please, DiLeo, just bench this bum. Please.
3. Tryone Hill. Or as I like to call him, Skeletor.
Not only were you the ugliest player in the NBA, but you had bricks for hands and nothing in that decrepit skull. I once witnessed you in the playoffs, live, against the Pacers, turn the ball over on three straight possessions. Then you jacked a three, when you never made a three in your life, with tons of time left on the clock. You suck, Tyrone Hill. You suck so very much.
4. Shavlik Randolph. You went to Duke, which is already a strike against you, as a heralded recruit. And then you underachieved and completely sucked when you were a Blue Devil. Somehow, you made the Sixers. And while you hustled, you had no skill. You are poor man's Jason Smith, and I mean Jason Smith right now—hurt. Go to hell, Shavlik.
5. Matt Harpring. Worst. Free agent signing. Ever. You were pretty good before you came to the Sixers. Then you sucked when you got here. Couldn't shoot, couldn't defend, couldn't rebound. You head off to Utah and become serviceable again. Fuck off.
Phillies:
1. Adam Eaton.
I would rather be forced to cut my own eyes out of my head, eat them, puke them back up and eat them again than have to watch Adam Eaton take the hill for the Phillies. He was awful before he got here, and somehow, he has been even more awful here. Take your $9 million this year and disappear. You are literally the only Phillie from this World Fucking Champion squad that I despise completely. I will never say a kind word about you ever.
2. Mitch fucking Williams. You are fuckface. I hate you. You ruined my life once. Thank God it's been restored, no thanks to you. You were the worst closer ever, and you suck as an analyst, too. People who forgave you and enjoy your work with Comcast are fucks. I mean this from the bottom of my heart. Fuck you, Mitch Williams. Fuck you right in the ear.
3. David Bell.
Sweet Jesus, where do I begin here? You couldn't hit. You couldn't field. You couldn't run. You didn't walk. What the fuck did the Phillies sign you for again? You were the worst third baseman I've ever seen for the Phillies, and that's saying something if you think about the years between Charlie Hayes and Scott Rolen. Charlie Hayes wasn't even good.
4. Travis Lee. Now, Travis Lee was definitely one of the best fielding first basemen I've ever seen. I mean that. He was right up there with Rico Brogna. But man, he couldn't hit worth a shit. The guy was huge, yet he hit less home runs than fucking Tommy Green, or so it seemed.
He also called us low class for booing Scott Rolen on Harry Kalas bobblehead day, when the Phillies were playing Cardinals at the Vet (I was there). And what made me hate him even more: I went to a Phillies game at Camden Yards with the charles. In BP, Travis Lee hit every single pitch out of the park. I swear to God. This made me furious. You couldn't leave my life soon enough, Travis.
5. Jose Mesa. Joe Table, as they say, was the right-handed Mitch Williams. He was on shitty teams as the shitty closer. Somehow he racked up saves, even though he sucked. Although I do respect the fact that he said he'd hit Omar Visquel every time he faces him (although I love Omar, oddly enough), and that Joe Table video at the Vet was tits.
Eagles:
1. Chris Boniol.
Fuck this guy. Before he came to the Eagles, he was a Cowboy, and he was awesome. He set the NFL record for most consecutive field goals made. Then he came to Philly and couldn't make a God damn chip shot. What a worthless pile of shit—good for the Cowboys and horrible for the Eagles.
2. Todd Pinkston and James Thrash. Now, some of you may be saying, "That's two players." In body, yes, but when you combine the production of Stinkston and Trash, you get almost not quite one full, competent receiver. Basically, these two guys, who were Donovan's two main targets for the first three runs to the NFC Championship game, were terrible. They couldn't get open. They couldn't catch. They weren't overly fast. And they caused the few interceptions McNabb threw by their sheer incompetence. I hate them both so very much.
3. Mark Simoneau.
You're slow. You're white. And you suck. The Eagles signed you because you were supposed to be an athletic, quick linebacker. In reality, you were slow, horrible in coverage, and terrible at tackling. The only athletic ability you had seemed to be running straight into blockers. You routinely took the wrong route to the ball and rarely came up with a big play, except that one time you took the ball from Eddie George. That was sweet.
But overall, you were pure garbage. You were slower than Dhani Jones, dumber than Barry Gardner and worse at coverage than Chris Gocong. In the Super Bowl, you were the single worst player on the defense. I hate you, much like I hate the majority of white linebackers. Call me racist.
4. Reno Mahe. Better known as Fair Catch, which was the only thing he was good at.
5. Sean Morey. I have no idea how or why you are in the NFL. You sure as shit aren't a receiver. You're too slow to be a return man. And really, you aren't good at anything. Did I mention I hate white people?
Well, there you have it. Those are the 5 players I hate for each team that came to mind while I was airing the grievances. So to all those highlighted above, go get fucked. And Happy Festivus!
KG Will Eat Your Children
Or at least yap at them. Or someone. After the Sixers game ended, I flipped over to watch the end of the Celtics-Hawks game, which is quickly becoming must-see TV. The Hawks were leading much of the way, from what I gathered from flipping over during commercials, and when I put it on with just minutes left in the 4th, Atlanta held 3.
Joe Johnson was doing his best Superman impression, making clutch plays after clutch plays, but he was out-clutched by a man many people have considered anything but, at least on the offensive end.
You see, during his days in Minnesota, Kevin Garnett was applauded for his tremendous effort, incredible skill and insane ferocity … until it was crunch time. His critics, who seemed to be many, always complained of Garnett's lack of assertiveness, claiming he often deferred too much to inferior teammates with the game on the line. There was plenty of instances where this was true, others were it was pure bullshit.
Last night, he was every bit as clutch as Reggie Miller, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, albeit for one night. With the C's trailing, it was Garnett who took over in that final quarter, hitting jumpers, hook shots and attacking the rim for alley-oops. His spin and finish on a great oop pass by Rajon Rondo was a thing of beauty.
And all the while, Garnett was bringing the Celtics back, then giving them the lead and winning the game (thanks to a missed freebie by Johnson), Garnett was fired up. So much so that he was jawing, nonstop, every time he got back on the defensive end, at some fan behind the Hawks' basket. Each and every trip down the floor, after Garnett had just put another dagger in the hearts of the Atlanta fans, Garnett sought out his target, who no doubt had been on KG all game, mostly when the C's were down, and spewed obscenity-laden chatter this particular fan's way.
Over recent weeks, many people have been criticizing KG and his teammates for their trash talk. I, for one, love it. It reminds me of Reggie Miller jawing with Spike Lee and taunting the Madison Square Garden faithful with the universal sign of the New York Mets:
The guy is intense. And insanely good. And last night, clutch, putting the game to rest by going right at Josh Smith, one-on-one, taking him to the paint, taking it hard at him for an easy hook. It was a great game for sure, and even better, another defining finish for a man who can't help but explode with his emotions. I love KG. I just wish he wasn't on the Celtics.
Oh, and of course I can't get through a game the Hawks are in without giving some love to Josh Smith. So here he is terrorizing Kendrick Perkins and the rim:
In more NBA news, I saw Chris Paul get his steal in the Hornets-Spurs game, setting the record for most consecutive games with a steal at a ridiculous 106. Paul is the best point guard in the NBA, hands down. There is no disputing this.
And speaking of the Spurs, check out this funny video from Steve Nash:
Joe Johnson was doing his best Superman impression, making clutch plays after clutch plays, but he was out-clutched by a man many people have considered anything but, at least on the offensive end.
You see, during his days in Minnesota, Kevin Garnett was applauded for his tremendous effort, incredible skill and insane ferocity … until it was crunch time. His critics, who seemed to be many, always complained of Garnett's lack of assertiveness, claiming he often deferred too much to inferior teammates with the game on the line. There was plenty of instances where this was true, others were it was pure bullshit.
Last night, he was every bit as clutch as Reggie Miller, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, albeit for one night. With the C's trailing, it was Garnett who took over in that final quarter, hitting jumpers, hook shots and attacking the rim for alley-oops. His spin and finish on a great oop pass by Rajon Rondo was a thing of beauty.
And all the while, Garnett was bringing the Celtics back, then giving them the lead and winning the game (thanks to a missed freebie by Johnson), Garnett was fired up. So much so that he was jawing, nonstop, every time he got back on the defensive end, at some fan behind the Hawks' basket. Each and every trip down the floor, after Garnett had just put another dagger in the hearts of the Atlanta fans, Garnett sought out his target, who no doubt had been on KG all game, mostly when the C's were down, and spewed obscenity-laden chatter this particular fan's way.
Over recent weeks, many people have been criticizing KG and his teammates for their trash talk. I, for one, love it. It reminds me of Reggie Miller jawing with Spike Lee and taunting the Madison Square Garden faithful with the universal sign of the New York Mets:
The guy is intense. And insanely good. And last night, clutch, putting the game to rest by going right at Josh Smith, one-on-one, taking him to the paint, taking it hard at him for an easy hook. It was a great game for sure, and even better, another defining finish for a man who can't help but explode with his emotions. I love KG. I just wish he wasn't on the Celtics.
Oh, and of course I can't get through a game the Hawks are in without giving some love to Josh Smith. So here he is terrorizing Kendrick Perkins and the rim:
In more NBA news, I saw Chris Paul get his steal in the Hornets-Spurs game, setting the record for most consecutive games with a steal at a ridiculous 106. Paul is the best point guard in the NBA, hands down. There is no disputing this.
And speaking of the Spurs, check out this funny video from Steve Nash:
Lou to the Rescue
Last night was the first time I really got to watch the Tony DiLeo 76ers, and I have to say, I was pretty underwhelmed much of the game. The Sixers came out with absolutely no defensive intensity on anyone not named Michael Redd, allowing the likes of Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Dan Gadzuric and the Charlies—Bell and Villanueva—to beat them.
The result was a 7-point halftime deficit and 53 points for the Bucks. Not good. And things didn't get much better in the third. Andre Miller, who will never be mistaken for Ron Artest, decided not to even try on defense, allowing Luke fucking Ridnour—the whitest of the white—to blow by him on several occasions en route to 8 points in the quarter, expanding the Bucks' lead. It was pathetic.
And speaking of pathetic, how about Miller's play in general? Awful. Just awful. All the sudden, the guy has decided he's a scorer, not a distributor. Last night, yet again, he chose to look for his shot first, second and third. And if you don't believe me, peep this: the guy had 1, cout em, 1, assist heading into the fourth quarter. Seriously, Miller, stop fucking shooting so much. Jesus! I mean, he did finish with 19 points on 9 of 14 shooting, but that's not what he's there for. He's there to set up others, and he finished with a measly 3 assists. Pathetic. Maybe he's looking to put up numbers in a contract year. Maybe not. Either way, he needs to realize this team functions better when he has 10-15 assists than it does when he has 15-25 points. Plus, his shot is the ugliest thing since Anthony Mason's free throws.
But luckily for the Sixers, the bench came to play. With Elton Brand falling hard andspraining dislocating his shoulder, the Sixers needed someone to step up. Well, a few someones decided to step up.
The catalyst was Reggie Evans, he who earned cult status on last year's squad yet sat buried on the bench with Mo around this year. Well, Evans came in and did exactly what he did last year for the Sixers—hustled his ass off, crashed the glass with reckless abandon and gave this team a shot in the arm.
Hell, he even scored a basket for good measure. It was nice to see him get some action and contribute, pulling down a beastly 9 boards in just 18 minutes of action.
And Reggie wasn't the only backup power forward giving the Sixers life. The rookie, Marreese Speights, came in with energy and tenacity that shows he is growing in confidence each and every game. The young big man nabbed 7 boards in his own right and showed some aggression, getting to the foul line 7 times as well. Oh yeah, and he did this:
Damn! That was pretty tits. Suddenly, with some energy from the bigs, the Sixers were back in this thing. But it was the little man that did the heavy lifting. Louis Williams, who has been underachieving to say the least this season, had a breakout game.
With Brand down, Iguodala in foul trouble and Andre Miller toning it down on the shooting, Lou Will stepped his game up, son. Like a blur of light, he flew by defenders, got the rim, finished, got fouled—simply did it all on the offensive end. In crunch time, the Bucks couldn't stop him, and he carried the Sixers to victory, coming up with every clutch basket and even a key steal down the stretch.
He finished with a game-high 25 points and looked like the guy who had all the confidence in the world last season. It was nice to see. And I must give a shoutout to the Sixers' defense in the second half. They were swarming, suffocating, whatever cliche you want to put in there. Andre Miller, matched up on a switch down low with Andrew Bogut, made a huge steal, jumping the pass, at the end of the game, and his teammates, namely Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young, held Michael Redd to just 6 points on 2 of 13 shooting. Not bad. Not bad at all.
The best part of the game for me? Willie Green being nowhere in site in the fourth quarter. Willie Green stinks. Just flat out awful. He's a chucker, and a pretty bad chucker at that. I say, put Thad back in the starting lineup at the 2 or, better yet, put Lou Will there. Yeah, you won't get much defense from him and Miller, but you may resemble a real offense for once. Anyway, nice win, but I have to say, the team doesn't look all that great. And now Brand is gone. At least that means more Speights and Evans.
The result was a 7-point halftime deficit and 53 points for the Bucks. Not good. And things didn't get much better in the third. Andre Miller, who will never be mistaken for Ron Artest, decided not to even try on defense, allowing Luke fucking Ridnour—the whitest of the white—to blow by him on several occasions en route to 8 points in the quarter, expanding the Bucks' lead. It was pathetic.
And speaking of pathetic, how about Miller's play in general? Awful. Just awful. All the sudden, the guy has decided he's a scorer, not a distributor. Last night, yet again, he chose to look for his shot first, second and third. And if you don't believe me, peep this: the guy had 1, cout em, 1, assist heading into the fourth quarter. Seriously, Miller, stop fucking shooting so much. Jesus! I mean, he did finish with 19 points on 9 of 14 shooting, but that's not what he's there for. He's there to set up others, and he finished with a measly 3 assists. Pathetic. Maybe he's looking to put up numbers in a contract year. Maybe not. Either way, he needs to realize this team functions better when he has 10-15 assists than it does when he has 15-25 points. Plus, his shot is the ugliest thing since Anthony Mason's free throws.
But luckily for the Sixers, the bench came to play. With Elton Brand falling hard and
The catalyst was Reggie Evans, he who earned cult status on last year's squad yet sat buried on the bench with Mo around this year. Well, Evans came in and did exactly what he did last year for the Sixers—hustled his ass off, crashed the glass with reckless abandon and gave this team a shot in the arm.
Hell, he even scored a basket for good measure. It was nice to see him get some action and contribute, pulling down a beastly 9 boards in just 18 minutes of action.
And Reggie wasn't the only backup power forward giving the Sixers life. The rookie, Marreese Speights, came in with energy and tenacity that shows he is growing in confidence each and every game. The young big man nabbed 7 boards in his own right and showed some aggression, getting to the foul line 7 times as well. Oh yeah, and he did this:
Damn! That was pretty tits. Suddenly, with some energy from the bigs, the Sixers were back in this thing. But it was the little man that did the heavy lifting. Louis Williams, who has been underachieving to say the least this season, had a breakout game.
With Brand down, Iguodala in foul trouble and Andre Miller toning it down on the shooting, Lou Will stepped his game up, son. Like a blur of light, he flew by defenders, got the rim, finished, got fouled—simply did it all on the offensive end. In crunch time, the Bucks couldn't stop him, and he carried the Sixers to victory, coming up with every clutch basket and even a key steal down the stretch.
He finished with a game-high 25 points and looked like the guy who had all the confidence in the world last season. It was nice to see. And I must give a shoutout to the Sixers' defense in the second half. They were swarming, suffocating, whatever cliche you want to put in there. Andre Miller, matched up on a switch down low with Andrew Bogut, made a huge steal, jumping the pass, at the end of the game, and his teammates, namely Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young, held Michael Redd to just 6 points on 2 of 13 shooting. Not bad. Not bad at all.
The best part of the game for me? Willie Green being nowhere in site in the fourth quarter. Willie Green stinks. Just flat out awful. He's a chucker, and a pretty bad chucker at that. I say, put Thad back in the starting lineup at the 2 or, better yet, put Lou Will there. Yeah, you won't get much defense from him and Miller, but you may resemble a real offense for once. Anyway, nice win, but I have to say, the team doesn't look all that great. And now Brand is gone. At least that means more Speights and Evans.
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