Categories
Philadelphia 76ers

Dual Albatrosses doom Sixers future

It was right there for the taking. Or the shaking, if you will. The Sixers, the fans, the organization — so close to shedding the dead weight of Samuel Dalembert and Andre Iguodala’s contracts — and Ed Stefanski let it get away.

There is no guarantee the deal was in place and that Houston would have pulled the trigger, but there certainly was every indication that the Rockets were seriously considering taking Iguodala and Dalembert in exchange for McGrady and trade filler. No matter what it took, this deal should have been made. But Stefanski in his stubbornness (or is it lame-duckness) refused to trade for anything other than players to improve the team this year.

In the end, this last obstinate stroke will be the final nail in the Stefanski era in Philadelphia, one mired in mediocrity and miscalculation.  Unlike most,  I don’t fault Stefanski for the Elton Brand deal. But his refusal to own up to his mistakes and wipe the slate clean for the organization, whether for himself or the next GM, will be what ultimately makes his tenure one that is, and this is hard to fathom, worse than the one helmed by Billy King.

Categories
NFL General

Super Bowl Party Rules for the Hardcore Fan

If you are a hardcore football fan, Super Bowl Sunday creates a dilemma: do you watch the game per your usual routine (either alone or with a small group of knowledgeable football fans) or do you join the hoi polloi for a Super Bowl Party?

If your team is playing in the Super Bowl, you must maintain your usual routine. There’s no excuse for breaking it now. If your team loses, it’s most likely your fault. This is not the time to be messing around with parties and not wearing your lucky underwear. The Lombardi is at stake.

For the rest of you, if you make the decision to host or attend a Super Bowl party, here are the rules you must adhere to. If you’re attending a party, print out this column for the host and other guests and let me be the jerk in your stead.

Categories
Philadelphia Phillies

Dear America, welcome to the Phillies bandwagon

Are you undecided on whom to root for in the 2009 World Series? Well, I’m here to tell you that the Phillies should be your team — for the next week or so at least.

Around here, we don’t take kindly to bandwagon jumpers. The thinking goes that if you haven’t suffered through the misery that is being a Philly sports fan, we don’t really want you celebrating the triumph of a championship. But that was during The Drought.

After carrying around the Championship belt for a full year, we feel (and this is a one time only offer) we can be magnanimous and offer fans of all teams a seat on the bandwagon this year. Yes, even you, Mets fans.

Categories
Philadelphia Phillies

“It’s always better to write joy”

A semi-wise man once wrote, on this website no less, that it’s always better to write joy.  And so while I had every intention of writing about the bewildering circus that has become the Eagles early 2009 season, the Phillies clinching the NL East tonight in convincing fashion has me switching topics.  Why ponder the season of an infuriating  franchise when you can celebrate the victory of a champion?

Categories
Philadelphia Eagles

Can McNabb handle inevitable calls for Vick?

A couple of weeks ago, while we were broadcasting Poor Man’s PTI, RJ called in and informed me that the Eagles had just signed Michael Vick.  Like the rest of football America, I was shocked and dumbfounded.   Not because I had any objection to Michael Vick being back in the NFL but because I had no idea what the Eagles wanted Michael Vick on the team for.

The only time I’ve been confident in an NFC Championship game was when the Eagles took on the Atlanta Falcons.  There was no way that Michael Vick, even with his considerable athletic skills, could read and react to the defense that Jim Johnson was going to throw at him.  Rarely am I that correct on anything.

The problem with Vick then is the problem with Vick now — he’s just not a very good quarterback.

Categories
Philadelphia Phillies

Losing My Religion

It ain’t easy being a Philly fan these days. I’m a 5 for 5 guy (Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, Flyers, FC Cheesesteaks) but lately, it’s getting harder and harder to root for all the Philadelphia pro teams.

The Flyers continue to tease but disappoint. The Sixers trot out the albatross that is Samuel Dalembert and expect us to keep paying attention. The Eagles have the most arrogant management group in the area, a maddening head coach, and a quarterback that gags harder the bigger the game.

Meanwhile, the Phillies, fresh off a World Series Championship and looking like a sure bet to meet the Red Sox or Yankees in the Fall Classic, have fans that are killing each other in parking lots.

Categories
General Sports

July 16 2009 episode of Poor Man’s PTI

Picking the over/under on total wins for all the NFL teams dominates this week’s episode. You can download this week’s podcast directly (running time 90 mins) or subscribe to the feed.

If you use iTunes, just click here and then click subscribe and iTunes will take care of the rest.

This week’s topics include:

  • Antoine Walker in trouble for passing $1M in bad checks at casinos
  • McNabb invites porn star to watch the UFC fight with him
  • Bruno vs Borat
  • Over/Unders for all 32 NFL teams

Trivia Question of the week:  In terms of population, what is the smallest US state that has a team in all 4 professional leagues.  What is the largest state with no teams?  (Answer after the  jump.)

Categories
Uncategorized

Philadelphia Union already needs a makeover

We’re nine months from first kick and I’ve already got a complaint about the new Philadelphia MLS team.  Philadelphia Union?  Hell, even a simple FC Philadelphia sounds better.  I’d also settle for Philadelphia Athletics or Philadelphia 1776.  Unfortunately, the massholes already took Revolution but surely there’s a better name than Union.  When I watch the beautiful game, I don’t want to be reminded of hard work, The Jungle, or Frank Sobotka.

Categories
General Sports

June 25 2009 episode of Poor Man’s PTI

Our show happens during the NBA draft so we intersperse all our discussion with the latest draft picks. You can download this week’s podcast directly (running time 90 mins) or subscribe to the feed.

If you use iTunes, just click here and then click subscribe and iTunes will take care of the rest.

This week’s topics include:

  • Who are three people who’ve never been in my kitchen
  • Mark Sanchez’s sloppy seconds
  • That’s not how you spell Drew, Jrue
  • 30 days for Donte Stalworth
  • Where’s Manny’s remorse?
  • USA soccer upsets Spain
  • Who will have a longer career: Blake Griffin or Tyler Hansborough?
  • Allen Iverson Practice rap remix
  • NBA Draft talk with Trevor Freeman
  • Corrections with Stat Boy

Trivia question of the week:   Who was the only NBA champion to coach in the Super Bowl? (Answer after the jump.)

Categories
Philadelphia 76ers

Can Eddie Jordan save the Sixers?

On Monday, Ed Stefanski will have a press conference and introduce Eddie Jordan as the new Sixers head coach. And, as with most things Sixers related, the hiring of Eddie Jordan will be greeted by a collective yawn from Philly sports fans.

It’s not that Eddie Jordan is a bad coach. Unfortunately, he’s not a good enough coach to get butts in seats at the empty Wachovia Center. In fact, you could argue that Eddie Jordan is the perfect fit for the Sixers. His career coaching record is 230-288 and in his last three years with the Wizards (not including 2008-2009), he steered Washington to a 126-120 record and lost in the first round of the playoffs from 2005 to 2008. That’s Sixers basketball right there.