Do or Die in Big D

This year, Santa has a special gift for the city of Philadelphia: an Eagles versus Cowboys Sunday night showdown with playoff implications on the line. Yea, don't think it can get much better than that!

Coming off a dominating 54-11 mauling of the Bears last Sunday night, the Eagles were flawless in all three phases of the game. 

On offense, quarterback Nick Foles continued looking sharp in the pocket and even on the run, as he rolled out a few times, completing big passes to his receivers. One of those receivers was Riley Cooper, who has had a monster season and seems like he catches everything in his path. Running back LeSean "Shady" McCoy does everything--literally--from catching the ball out of the backfield, making his defenders look like cones and having a motor that never stops running. And, oh by the way,
Shady is the NFL's leading rusher with 1,476 yards and is just 37 yards away from breaking Wilbert Montgomery's single-season rushing mark of 1,512 in 1979.

Defensively, the Eagles bounced back after allowing an inexcusable 48 points against the Adrian Peterson-less Vikings. The defensive line manhandled the Bears' offensive line and was able to get after quarterback Jay Cutler. Linebackers Mychal Kendricks and Trent Cole led the way -- Cole with three sacks and Kendricks with two. A lot of credit has to go to the Eagles cornerbacks as well, as Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher bottled up and kept stud wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery in check. Cornerback Brandon Boykin even had a pick six of his own in the fourth quarter.

Never attempting to kick to kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson two weeks ago against the Vikings --instead kicking a short floater, giving Minnesota better field possession throughout the game--Chip Kelly and his staff decided to change things up against the Bears. They showed confidence in their special teams by kicking to Chicago's dangerous return man Devin Hester. The special teams forced a key fumble, which allowed the offense to score the second touchdown of the game and go up 14-0.    

Now, it's time for the Eagles to look ahead to week 16 against their hated rivals, the Cowboys. There have been reports that Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will be out for the remainder of the season with a back injury, but the Eagles cannot overlook a team without its franchise player. You know what happened the last time they did that (cough, cough...Adrian Peterson). Dallas' anchor on defense, Sean Lee, is also expected to miss Sunday's game.

The Eagles have been lucky this year, with not having to play against Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Lions running back Reggie Bush, Peterson and now, Tony Romo, who will most likely be watching from his hotel room:

However, a great team always has a combination of luck and skill on their side, and that's exactly what Philadelphia has going for them right now.

One Week Away: Eagles, Redskins

We are exactly one week away from the start of the Eagles' 2013 NFL season. What better way to kick off the season than being on Monday Night Football against your division rivals in the Washington Redskins?!

The nation is excited to witness "a little something" from both teams. 

For the Redskins, RGIII, who is coming off a torn ACL, is the big storyline, as he makes his much-anticpated debut. His speedy recovery has greatly impressed the football and medical world, helping him earn the superhuman title, a la Adrian Peterson from last year. His miraculous recovery process was well-documented in ESPN's, in conjunction with NFL Films and Gatorade Productions, "RGIII: The Will To Win." 

On the other side of the ball, the Eagles are a team that have cleared house, implementing a never before seen system in the NFL, a set of new players and most importantly, hiring a genius college coach. Former Oregon coach Chip Kelly has taken over the reigns in Philly. He has given the fans a huge dose of hope and is helping turn the page on the Andy Reid era, which contained many agonizing "I gotta do a better job" moments. Out with the slow repetitive monotone expressions and in with high-energy and enthusiasm. Now, Eagles fans will be seeing a lot more licking of the lips and a lot less clearing of the throat - you see what I did there in those last two sentences, comparing Reid and Kelly? Just making sure! 

Anyways, there are many questions going into this NFC East divisional matchup: How will RGIII perform without taking any snaps during the preseason? Will Chip Kelly's system work in the NFL? Has Michael Vick learned his lesson from last year and will he succeed in this fast-paced, supposedly high-scoring offense? Can the Eagles defense do just enough to pull out victories?

We shall see how everything unravels starting Sept. 9th. Hoping for Kelly to bring a champion-CHIP! 

Hinkie makes his mark

In the moments leading up to the 2013 NBA Draft, most Sixers fans weren't too enthused about the pool of talent in the college ranks or even the team itself after its disappointing 2012 season; players like supposed savior center Andrew Bynum gave "The City of Brotherly Love" hope, - something they hadn't had in a long time - believing they could compete with established teams like the Miami Heat or Oklahoma City Thunder. That all ended, well, from the start, when Bynum wasn't cleared to play half the season, then, ultimately, the entire season.  

However, newly appointed Sixers GM Sam Hinkie had other plans. The Former Houston Rockets Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations raised eyebrows around the league as he traded the Sixers's sole all-star point guard Jrue Holiday and a second round pick to the New Orleans Pelicans - yes, that's their name - for Nerlens Noel and a future first rounder. Bold, bold move, Hinkie. Such a risk, but I like it!

Even the emotionless Holiday had to have dropped his jaw when he heard the news!

Typical Holiday face

Hearing he had been traded face

Don't get me wrong, I will miss Jrue, but the Sixers were going no where and needed to start from scratch.

The first step in the process was receiving a big man, and they did in Noel. The University of Kentucky product looks like quite the talent, yet follows a disturbing pattern among Philadelphia centers...knee injuries. He is coming off a torn ACL.

The youngster with the high top hair shows a lot of promise with his athletic and blocking abilities. His flaw is obviously his weight; it's a necessity, especially in today's NBA, that he puts on 10-15 pounds of muscle, which will prevent him from getting knocked around by other physical centers.   

And then there's the number eleven pick, Michael Carter-Williams. He's gotta be good, right? He has three names!

In all seriousness, I like the Carter-Williams

pickup. He has big shoes to fill in Holiday, however, his physical characteristics give him a favorable shot to succeed. The 6 foot 6 point guard out of Syracuse has good passing instincts and a solid basketball IQ. If he improves his shooting, I think he can develop into an all-star point guard.  

Hinkie has a plan, and that is to value youth and build through the draft. Then, once the players develop, you add more talent in next year's draft, and Philadelphia becomes an attractive destination for the 2014 free agents. In that class, players such as Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony become available...enough said! 

The Year of the Bundesliga

No longer are the Spaniards moguls of European club soccer, as was displayed recently in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Spanish clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid were not able to crack the German code in Bortussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.

Even the German media were able to predict a Spanish butt whooping in an ad they ran during the Champions League.

Madrid were defeated by Dortmund 4-3 in aggregate. In the first leg, Los Merengues were beaten

4-1; they were showed up by Dortmund's one-man show Robert Lewandowski, who netted all four goals. Lewandowski's stock sky-rocketed after his classic performance, stewing transfer rumors with teams including Bayern Munich and Manchester United. Despite a 2-0 victory against Dortmund in the second leg, Madrid just didn't have enough goals to advance themselves into the finals.

Not even Master Tactician Jose Mourinho, coach of Real Madrid, was able to pull a page from his precious book to help overcome a huge deficit - almost, but no cigar, Jose! His days in Madrid now become numbered as the rumor is that he will be moving on to coach his former team in Chelsea.

  
On the other side of the bracket, Barcelona had no such success against a strong, well-coached Bayern side; the Blaugranes were trounced 7-0 in aggregate. Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova and his defense looked puzzled during the first leg with an injured Lionel Messi ineffective in a 4-0 defeat. Vilanova was criticized after the game on whether he should've played Messi or not. Why not play the 2012 Ballon D'Or winner?!

So Vilanova silenced his critics by benching his star forward for the entire length of the second leg; yes, I did not stutter: "Lionel Messi DID NOT PLAY in a Champions League semi-final game." He sat and looked on helplessly from the bench, watching his teammates get out-sprinted by the blazing speed of Franck Ribery and out-hopped by the German sensation Thomas Müller. The Bavarians kept the pressure on as they defeated Barca, 3-0.     

Now, both victors will move on to Wembley Stadium in London, where the UEFA Champions League final will take place. It's an all-German final and what a showdown it should turn out to be. All Hail the Bundesliga! 

 

Successful Former Philadelphia Athletes

Why does it seem like that a number of ex-Philadelphia athletes always do better elsewhere? Is this a part of William Penn's devious plan in regards to "the curse" or is it just players not being able to withstand the pressure to succeed in Philly? Well, all I know is that it'd be nice for those athletes to live up to their potential in the City of Brotherly Love. Is that too much to ask for?

You can choose from any major sport, and I could give you an athlete that didn't pan out too well in Philly, yet managed to find their groove with another organization. Here's my list:

Eagles

Chris Clemons - Averaging a lowly 3.5 sacks during his two years as an Eagle from 2008-2009, the defensive end out of Georgia moved on to Seattle, where he currently plays now, and averaged 11.2 sacks in his three seasons there. Talk about career-altering stats right there!

Sixers

Andre Iguodala - The Arizona product was known as the frustrating Sixer who never flourished into the superstar he was anticipated to become. Free throws, the ability to shoot well consistently as well as sinking clutch shots were not his forte; however, now as a member of the Denver Nuggets, Iguodala seems to have found his fit as just another piece to the puzzle and not a superstar. He's even making clutch shots for the playoff-bound Nuggets. Check it out:

  



Phillies

Michael Bourn - Drafted by the Phillies in 2003 and spending his time in the minor leagues until 2007, Bourn spent two years on the squad until being traded to the Astros, and then again to the Braves in 2011. In 2012, Bourn hit nine home runs and 57 RBIs as opposed to one home run and six RBIs as a Phillie; the speedy outfielder also recorded 61 stolen bases in 2009 as an Astro. He is currently on the Cleveland Indians.


Flyers

Simon Gagne, Mike Richards, Justin Williams and Jeff Carter - All were on the Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings team in 2012. I think that's all that needs to be said.

Most Dangerous Positions in Sports

It has happened to all of us. You're playing the sport you adore and suddenly, a quick thought of doubt flashes before your very eyes - the thought of never being able to play again. With this cloud of doubt trapped in your mind, your next move is carefully thought through, causing unforeseen flaws in your gameplay; you think to yourself, "This is not how I play." Well, that's a sign that the threat of danger has taken control, making you think twice about the next move.

In sports, danger constantly lurks, whether it's an injury that may put you on the sidelines for a few weeks or even worse, for good. Surely, every athlete has heard the saying: "Play like it's your last game." However, no other athletes from the five major sports have said this more than the players in the following positions:

Football: Kick Returner

 Imagine having 11 football players running at you at full speed, and their sole focus is to tackle the snot out of you. Sounds kind of like the hundreds of thousands of Persians attacking the 300 Spartans, am I right?

Don't believe me, just ask former Titans RB Chris Henry during this 2007 game against the Colts. Hold on to your helmets for this hit:

    

Basketball: The guy being dunked on

You don't want to be that guy that is situated right in front of the basketball hoop, especially when you see a player in your path that has the capability of endangering your career. Unfortunately, Pistons PG Brandon Knight experienced just that the other night against Lob City: 

Hockey: Goaltender 

You have to be nuts to be a goaltender in hockey. These guys fear nothing, even when a 100 mph slap shot is fired their way; it is casual for them to get in front of the puck's way and block/deflect it out so it doesn't go into the net.  These guys are the ones who should be saying "NBD" (No big deal), and then brush the dust off their shoulders.

Calgary Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff took a slap shot to the face, which knocked the mask off of his head. No complains there from Kiprusoff as he grabbed his helmet and went back to work:

Baseball: Catcher

Being in a kneeling position for a long period of time is quite uncomfortable, and may I say, stressful on the knees. That is not the only thing stressful about the catcher position in baseball; they have to worry about high-speed pitches zooming straight at them as well as runners sprinting in from third base, looking to nail a good lick on the catcher as he/she concentrates on catching and holding onto the ball to tag the runner out at home plate. 

Here's a segment from the "The Franchise: A Season With the San Francisco Giants" when catcher Buster Posey was involved in a scary collision:   

Soccer: Goalkeeper

To be a goalkeeper in soccer, you have to fear not of the ball ricocheting off your face, or ribs or dare I say, the nads. As the lion from "The Wizard of Oz" learned, being brave is a necessity. Scenarios such as a 50/50 ball between a forward and a goalkeeper are won through sacrifices to the body like diving at the legs of a forward to retrieve the ball at all means. 

Watch this studs up sliding tackle USA goalkeeper Tim Howard absorbs against England during the 2010 World Cup:

    

Manchester United's Card to Remember

Was it or was it not deserving of a red card? That is the question many are bantering about this week in the soccer world. Yesterday, during the 57th minute of a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford in England, United midfielder Nani attempted to bring down a ball that resulted in a waist-high challenge on Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa. Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir chose to give Nani a straight red card. The complexion of the game changed after the booking, as the Red Devils' 1-0 lead turned into a 2-1 defeat and elimination from Champions League play.

In my opinion, Nani should have never received a red card for his action. Nani's only intention on that particular play was to trap the ball; he didn't even notice the lurking Real Madrid defender. As a soccer player, when the ball is in the air like that, there is an instinct to either flick the ball on with the head, use the chest to bring it down or raise the foot high enough to the point where it's not endangering the opponent's upper body. The Portugese midfielder (Nani) chose to raise his foot, which I agree with, since the ball was too far for it to be either flicked on from a header or brought down with the chest. Yes, his boot was in the air, but like I said before, the intention was the ball first, not the man. What do you think? United coach Sir Alex Ferguson sure showed his fury. Check it out for yourself:

Now, hear from a United fan's perspective: (his reaction may contain some language not suitable for the youngsters...just saying)

However, Roy Keane and company had some compelling arguments about the call and were actually in favor of the Turkish referee - that he indeed had made the right decision.     

An Oscars For Sports

This past weekend, the year's best films were celebrated as movies like "Argo" and "Life of Pi" stole the night with their collection of awards. In honor of the presentation, I decided to create an Oscars-type award show for sports. Here are the categories and winners for 2012-2013:

Best Actor: PG/SF Rudy Fernandez of the Denver Nuggets receives an invisible elbow to the face from the Lakers' Matt Barnes. Watch as he fools the crowd, refs and even the announcers -- of course until the magic of slow motion instant replay reveals his guilt.

Best Score: Newcastle United striker Pappis Cisse's wonder goal against Chelsea left physicists scratching their heads and Stamford Bridge in pure silence. Also, BBC radio's Steve Claridge's reaction to the goal had his fellow colleagues confused of what the fuss was all about.  

Best Costume Design: PG Russell Westbrook of the Oakland Thunder struts his way into the Staples Center before facing off against the Los Angeles Lakers. The guys at ESPN couldn't help but notice Westbrook's odd attire, cracking an arsenal of jokes.  

Best Hairstyle: Although he is a force to be reckoned with on-the-field, off-the-field is a whole different story for AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli. The picture below says it all. 

Best Cinematography: Led by the great, late Steve Sabol, there is no question that the team at NFL Films are the greatest at capturing sports and telling stories. See for yourself in 2012's shots of the year.  

Philly Fans Face Tough Times

Picture courtesy of philly.com

Philadelphia is a city most notably known for its delicious cheesesteaks. Topped with melted cheese wiz, grilled onions and a condiment of your choice, the "Philly" cheesesteak is a mouth-watering treat waiting to be consumed. But what if all of a sudden those delicious cheesesteaks turned tasteless and didn't produce the same orgasmic experience as before.

Boy, Philadelphia would be in even more trouble, especially since how their sports teams have been performing lately. 2012 has not exactly been a season to remember for Philadelphia; it's been more like a season to forget.

Picture courtesy of philebrity.com

First, let's start with the Phillies. An inconsistent season led them to being eliminated from playoff contention, missing it for the first time since 2006. During the off-season, they have signed a few unknowns, one including an overweight outfielder, Delmon Young, who will get paid extra for losing some weight, which should ultimately give him motivation to come into spring training in shape. Even though the Phillies haven't made any huge signings, look for them to still be competitive in their weak division. 

Then, there are the Flyers. Coming off a Conference Semifinal loss to the New Jersey Devils in five games, the "Fly Guys" didn't envision losing half of their 2012-2013 season due to the NHL lockout. Yet, when the season came out of hibernation, they were not prepared, losing three straight and scoring a lowly two goals in three games. However, things are looking much brighter for the Flyers, winning the last two games and improving their record to 4-6.

Picture courtesy of backpost.wordpress.com

Thirdly, a team whom many seem to forget, the Union. Placing eighth in their conference with a 10-18-6 record last year, Philly's soccer team was a disappointment, especially after their 11-8-15 record during the 2011 season, when they reached the MLS Conference Semifinals. Even though they lost to the Houston Dynamo, the Union showed what seemed to be a promising future. That was not the case, as they hit a downfall in 2012.  For 2013, the Union hope the additions of Conor Casey as well as their move to reunite with forward Sebastian Le Toux will help them get back on track.

Another team struggling to find their groove are the Sixers. Head coach Doug Collins and his staff thought they hit the jackpot when they traded for coveted center Andrew Bynum; so far this season, he was been dominant...on the bench! I understand the 7-footer has knee issues, but his focus and will to get back onto the court doesn't seem legit because of his careless attitude. The players the Sixers management team brought in was specifically to help build around Bynum. Since there's no big-time presence on the floor, the team's chemistry has failed to click. Hopefully, Bynum will make an attempt to comeback during the season and show his all-star qualities. If not, they have to move forward via free agency and/or the 2013 NBA Draft.  

Picture courtesy of philly.com

Finally, we have the Eagles. There's nothing really positive to say about their performance during the 2012 NFL season. It didn't look good from the start as former head coach Andy Reid was given an ultimatum from owner Jeffrey Lurie: another 8-8 season and you're gone. The Eagles went on to go 4-12, and Lurie cut the cord on Andy Reid's tenure in Philadelphia. It was a mess of a season, deserving of a firing. Not only did Reid get fired, but he even fired some of his staff during the season such as his defensive line coach Jim Washburn and defensive coordinator Juan Castillo. After 14 years, Lurie finally decided enough was enough with Reid, and now has a fresh new start in former Oregon Ducks head coach Chip Kelly. Kelly's innovative mindset has given Eagles fans a sign of hope to one day celebrate as did Baltimore in Super Bowl XLVII.     

 

Call it a 'Harbowl'

Image courtesy of aol.sportingnews.com

Last weekend, as time dwindled down in the AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens, media outlets from around the country hopped aboard the Harbaugh train, craving to create that next, new catchy Super Bowl XLVII phrase.  Already knowing the outcome of the NFC Championship Game between the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers, I’m sure the media was excited for a Ravens’ victory, since 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh’s brother is the Ravens' head coach.  Headlines exploded onto Twitter, ranging from “Harbowl” and “Brother Bowl”, to the “Super Baugh.”

Next week, when media members have the opportunity to seek out their coverage, both coaches will experience the craze that goes on the week before the biggest game in America.  However, the brothers squaring up against each other is not the only story that will attract attention.

The following are potential stories from each team:

San Francisco 49ers

Image courtesy of sacbee.com

-QB Alex Smith’s injury and how it affected the 49ers’ season.

-The emergence of QB Colin Kaepernick during a Week 11 matchup against a tough Chicago Bears’ defense.

-Jim Harbaugh’s gutsy decision to keep Kaepernick as the starter for the rest of the season as well as the playoffs.

-Harbaugh and Ravens LB Ray Lewis used to be teammates during Lewis' rookie year.
-Lewis recorded his first career NFL sack on Harbaugh when he was the Colts' QB. 

-Kaepernick growing up as an adopted child.

-Kaepernick’s birth mother trying to keep in contact with her son.

-The 49ers’ defensive dominance.

-Kicker David Akers and his struggles.

Image courtesy of sbnation.com

Baltimore Ravens

-Whether QB Joe Flacco is an elite quarterback or not.

-WR Torrey Smith playing for his brother, who passed away earlier this season.

-WR Anquan Boldin catching fire in the playoffs.

-Ray Lewis’ last game in the NFL.

-Lewis shrugging off a triceps injury to lead his team to the promise land.

- Terrell Suggs coming back from a torn Achilles injury.

-Safety Ed Reed’s first Super Bowl and possible retirement after this season. 

Racism Still Exists, Even in Sports



As we enter a new year, the topic of racism, shockingly, still exists in today's world, even in the realm of sports.  Racism seems to be a problem of the past for many, yet there are still those in certain parts of the world who partake in these senseless acts.

When you think of sports, you think of it as being an outlet or an escape from concerning issues, whether it's political or racial; yet, that still doesn't seem to be the case.  From Chelsea defender John Terry's racially abusive comments toward Anton Ferdinand, to an Italian newspaper publishing a racist cartoon monkey of Mario Balotelli, an Italian of African descent, and now, AC Milan midfielder Prince Boateng receiving racist chants from opposing fans in a friendly match against Pro Patria, which ultimately was abandoned.

Italy is not the only place where racism is a dilemma.  Black players who participated in the Euro 2012 in Poland-Ukraine did not bring their families to the games, fearing an attack on their loved ones by fans in the stands.  Also, in Russia, there have been extensive problems, specifically when a Zenit St. Petersburg fans' group issued a statement calling on the Russian club not to sign black or gay players.    

Racism is more prevalent in soccer as opposed to American sports such as basketball, football and baseball.  FIFA has taken its stance against discrimination by developing awareness programs like the FIFA Anti-Discrimination Days, which have been present at FIFA's competitions every year to raise attention of the need to abolish racism and other forms of discrimination worldwide.

Nevertheless, FIFA needs to explore racism more thoroughly in hopes to resolve this ongoing issue.  As the old expression goes, "why can't we all just get along?"