14 Years in the Making

Not a whole lot to say here. I was too nervous to write anything during that roller coaster ride at the end of the season that ended with the Phils as NL East Champs (fuck the METS). Now they should be ready to face Colorado, who had an equally impressive ride to get in. The game times suck (I thought national audiences would like the Phils, and two top offenses going at it), but be ready for the City to shut down early the next couple days and cheer on the Phightin's. Colorado makes me nervous but if our starters (namely Hamels and Kendrick) can get things done, the Phils have a great shot.

I've been waiting a while to watch post season baseball in Philadelphia, lets make the most of the shot. Go Phillies

The Phils Make Me Want To Drink Excessively

With a win today, the Phillies would have been 4 out in the division, 2 out in the wild card, and taken the series from the Braves.

Now disregard regard everything you just read. If you were listening to the game today, you probably thought the Phillies had this one wrapped up, like me, when I got out of my car with the Phils up 8 to 2. However, you, like me, are extremely naive and have no idea about how Flash and Brett 'Lights Out' Meyers really feel about 6 run leads. As it turns out, they really don't like them. Sure there were some bloop hits, broken-bat infield singles, and shoddy fielding (see Roberson) but there were also wild pitches, hard hit doubles, and worse yet, bases-loaded walks.

For me, this has to be one of the most frustrating losses of the year. This is September and the Phils are shitting the bed. The only guy who could be called dependable in our bullpen just doesn't have the juice half the time.

I've been quoted as saying, "Sometimes I think the more I drink the better the chances the Phillies have of winning."

But now its, "the more I drink the better the chances are that I won't remember what baseball is when I wake up."

What If He Was Ya Boy?

Gone for Good?

Tuesday night I was sitting at Flat Rocks Saloon with some buddies watching the Phillies, having a beer, and waiting for my wings when a guy in a Michael Vick jersey walked through the door. He walked down the length of restaurant, turned around and came back towards the front of the bar, then left. Watching him walk in and then back out of the bar I couldn't help, but notice other people's eyes following him closely, half shocked, half disgusted. He wasn't looking for trouble though, he just wanted a place to enjoy some wings and have a cold one with his girl. He never looked at anyone and his demeanor was calm--he genuinely looked like a nice guy. When he stepped out we all turned to each other and laid into him.

"I mean you have to be sick to wear that man!"
"Yeah I mean wuddya doin?!"
"It is like saying hey look at me, I support abusing and murdering helpless animals."

It reminded me of guys wearing Duke lax jerseys last spring at college when the rape allegations came out. I saw them as as despicable and I just didn't understand it. What are you saying wearing that jersey? Do you support rape? Do you think you are funny? Are you looking for attention? We all learned a lesson from that case though...

Sitting there dumbfounded that this guy would have the gall to wear that jersey I got to thinking. Well did this guy really support dogfighting and abuse?

No. Of course he didn't, but then why did he wear the jersey knowing that he would be getting death stares from everyone who knew who Michael Vick was and had a heart in their chest.

It got us talking and got me thinking.

Theo, I see you baby!

What if Allen Iverson was being indicted by the FBI for dogfighting? Would I stand up for my man despite him being linked to something so terrible and heartless? After reflecting for a day, and then another day I honestly don't know. I have always had dogs and have 2 chocolate labs who I love dearly. I love Allen Iverson too. I grew up with him--hell, we grew up together! He is the underdog with the heart of a champion and keeps it so goddam real it hurts sometimes. He represents a culture misunderstood by mainstream America and it makes me love him even more. I have defended and argued for him endless times. I even used to carry Rick Reilly's article from 2001 in my wallet so I could just show it to people and tell them to stop hating, to get past the tattoos and the cornrows.

"Ohh Mike...."

Wearing the jersey isn't about taking sides between a favorite athlete and man's best friend though. It can't be. Maybe it was his solemn walk or his passive expression, but the guy at the bar was more of a 'dead man walking,' a martyr, a last shimmer of love for Michael Vick before they close the door on him. Let's be honest, he was arguably the most exciting football player of the decade. He did things that could only be done in Madden when your friend didn't know what the tackle button was yet. I never thought he was a top QB in the league, but you would watch the Falcons when you got the chance, thats for damn sure. There was no one like him and there may never be again. His tarnished legacy will be the kid from Bad Newz, VA with all the talent in the world who was so close to turning the corner to greatness, whose electrifying career was cut short by his inability to separate himself from his boys and a disgusting hobby that eventually led to his demise. But his game and highlights will certainly never be forgotten.

More than anything I feel bad for the guy wearing the Vick jersey and all the people who wear the Vick jersey. They didn't know it would turn out like this. They just loved him and lined up to support him every Sunday for the past 6 years. Vick might go to jail, they are saying he probably will never play again, but he will be fine and retire with millions of dollars and probably live a happy life in the long run. So who does all of this really hurt? My man wearing the jersey.

I hear your pain.

Iverson was interviewed last weekend at his annual Summer Classic Weekend after a celebrity game of flag football. In response to a question about cutting ties with old friends Iverson said this.

"You know, I don't think it's fair to say, 'Stay away from the people you grew up with,'" he said. "It's hard to have a relationship with people once you're already rich. You have to have a relationship with the same people you grew up with.

"But at the same time, you've got to make sure the guys are not hurting you. You've got to be smart enough to know when they're hurting you and when they're helping you."

I am just glad it wasn't me wearing an Iverson jersey Tuesday night, feeling everyone glare at me in disgust because...well why? Don't hate on him, he just lost his boy.

Transformers: Dumbed Down to Double their Dollars

Prime

When I was a kid my favorite cartoons were G.I. Joe, Thundercats, and Transformers. They were action packed, complex, and totally bad ass. So last winter when I saw a preview for Transformers I was pretty elated. I went back and watched a few episodes on the web just to get myself back in the swing of things. It is funny how much you remember from the hours spent watching them when you were a kid and how much more there is to these cartoons than what you could grasp as a child. The Transformers cartoon full length movie had Optimus Prime sacrificing himself to save the galaxy. Megatron was killed and then usurped by Starscream who has always had an inferiority complex to Megatron and a lust for power that is seen from the first cartoon in the series. Megatron is reformed in the movie and returns with venegeance to overthrow Starscream and take back the reigns of the Decepticons. This is only what I remember having not seen the movie in probably 14 years (it is on my Netflix queue though), but it was complex, edgy, and certainly challenged the comprehension of an 8 year old.

"You got the touch!...You got the Power!!!"

The new Transformers movie was well, as expected. It was visually incredible (including Megan Fox), action packed, funny, and had a happy ending that setup hopefully many more movies to come. Despite enjoying almost every minute of the movie it just wasn't a good movie. It was corny, soft, and full of endorsements. I can get over all the Autobots being GM brand cars, I guess, and every Michael Bay movie is going to have some cheesy humor in it, but what really got me was how the movie was dumbed down. We didn't get to meet the Transformers and their unique characters. We barely got to see them interact with each other. The focus was on the humans instead of the Transformers and this was probably the biggest difference between the cartoon and the movie.

The hardest scene to watch was when Sam (Shia LaBeouf) was looking for his grandfather's glasses while simultaneously trying to get rid of his parents and hide the Autobots in his yard. While it was great to see the Autobots up close, they were lowered to clumsy dummies, helpless to this goofball kid who was wasting time trying to convince his mom that he wasn't playing with himself. The fate of the galaxy is on the line here, man! Another tough scene to watch was when Capt. Lennox (Josh Duhamel) had to use a credit card to telephone the Pentagon while in the middle of being attacked. I mean come on... Lastly, Agent Simmons (John Turturro) was a terrible character who was a far stretch from being a leader in a government organization that was so top secret that the Secretary of Defense didn't even know about it. Again, his character was created for a few extra laughs, but what was sacrificed was any remaining integrity the movie could have had.

Wish I was rockin' these back in the day...not so much now though

Leaving the movie I was thoroughly entertained, but I kept asking myself why the producers felt such a need to create a movie that was so hollow. The obvious answer is viewers would enjoy a movie that focused on the humans and had humorous elements even if they strayed far from the feeling of the original cartoon. Here is the thing though: would fans not have enjoyed a film that was much darker, focused more on the Transformers, and lacked the excesses? Would they not have understood a deeper interplay between the characters and more complex story line that as 6 and 10 year-olds we loved so much? Of course they would have! They still could have created a movie that was PG-13, but made it so much better. Batman Begins is the first of the new superhero movies to do this and it was great (the X-Men movies were good too)! It made millions of dollars and managed to actually be a good movie too.

Look at the success of the Star Wars movies and the Lord of the Rings series. These are great movies that are not just visually stimulating, but they are so good because they completely immerse the viewer in the worlds they depict. Why doesn't anyone try to recreate this type of epic movie with these superhero stories?

Megan Fox. The name says it all.

I will never understand why movie producers create such fluff movies out of all these wonderful cartoon and comic book characters. By underestimating public comprehension and letting the marketing and money change the scope of the movie--if this is in fact their reasoning--they turn gold into garbage almost every time. The only hope for the Tranformers is that the producers and directors wise up and aim to capture the full potential of these movies. All hope is not yet lost.

The Phillies at the Break

We are halfway through a baseball season people. The Phillies are a .500 ballclub, leaving them 4.5 out in the NL east and 4.5 out of the wildcard. Thats right, I'm talking playoffs. An event unattended by the Phillies since 1993.




Love Him, the original fat man.







Making a comeback in '07







Ah the memories...

If you saw the paper today, Steven A. thinks we are going nowhere. I think Steven A. is a jerk who should generally stick to basketball columns.

Why does this guy insist that the Phillies don't have it?




I'm not trying to suggest that the Phillies are a great team or that they are playoff bound. However, we sit in better shape now than we did this time last year. We have a great young core (as mentioned by Screamin' A.) who proved they could turn it on in the second half last year. The offense leads the league in runs. Oh but wait, the pitching.

Lets talk pitching for a while. Right now the Phillies are carrying 8 bullpen pitchers. Can you name them all? Here is a quick rundown with some stats:

Jose Mesa - 8.28 ERA, he is used up, there is no excuse for him being in our lineup. In 25 innings he has given up 23 earned runs, 28 total, as well as 6 homers and an almost even K/BB ratio of 13/12. Why is he here?
J.C. Romero - 2 hits and 0 runs in 3 innings pitched
Alfonseca - not too bad for a fat guy. he has held it down while Meyers and Gordon are out but still just 6 for 9 in save opportunities
JD Durbin - Has his ERA down to 14 after starting his big league career with a 94.5 ERA performance
Ryan Madson - 3.66 ERA including some tough situations, not bad
Brain Sanches - In 10.2 innings: 4.22 era, 5/9 K/BB, 2 HR






Mike Zagurski - In 15.1 innings: 4.7, 14/7, 2 HR. Manchild, love him even when he struggles






Anderson Garcia - 1 appearance for 2/3 of an inning giving up 1 run for a 13.5 era






Looking at those stats is no wonder we own the worst team era in the NL and 3rd worst overall. There are some guys in there who have potential and might help in the future, and there are some guys who aren't good anymore or never were. There are serious needs here. But, a trade and the return of Gordon/Meyers could totally turn this thing around.

I think our starting pitching has been decent: Cole is great, Moyer has battled valiantly, Kendrick could be a decent player in the league, and Eaton has underachieved, but not by Pat Burrel standards. However, four starters won't get you into the playoffs, so, like the bullpen, we need help from a trade.

Gillick must do something. There are a couple guys in the minor league system who have potential but probably not this year. Namely Carrasco and Outman. However, they are not ready and the rest of the minor league system sucks. Look no further than C.J. Henry, the gem of the Abreu trade, who is looking to quit baseball for basketball.


Did you see J-Roll rocking the pants rolled up last Sunday on Colorado? Expect some more of it in the second half. And how about that tarp business? What a bunch of character guys these Phillies are. Real Rolemodels.


I don't know about you but I am ready for the second half to begin. What Phillies team will we see out there? Will Pat Gillick pull the trigger on a big move? Will the team even let Meyers come back if he can return? Will old Coolerpants Manuel keep his job? How many teams have ever finished the season with the most runs but the worst pitching?

I leave you with this advice from the Manchild on Monday night: "If you can't win, then get drunk"...

NBA Draft '07

Winners

Portland Trailblazers
Greg Oden gives the Trailblazers a dominant center who impacts the game on both sides of the floor and will be the premiere center in the league for the next 10 years. The Blazers didn't stop here. By getting rid of Zach Randolph and bringing in Channing Frye along with drafting two European standouts (Rudy Fernandez and Petteri Koponen), they have changed the mindset and image of the team.

Note: Josh McRoberts is a bum and his drop all the way to #37 is a testament to this. With that said, he is apparently good friends with Oden and a decent pick up at #37. I am just thankful the Billy King didn't take him.


Seattle SuperSonics
Durant will be great, but picking up Jeff Green to play alongside him was great. Green's pass first mentality is perfect for Durant and his solid defense, bball IQ, and strong character will go a long way in the league. Getting rid of Ray Allen signifies a new era for the Sonics (like the Blazers) and gives the reigns to Durant. Despite taking on Wally's contract from Boston, they can still offer Rashard Lewis a big contract which they are expected to pursue after ridding themselves of Ray Allen's contract.

Goldenstate Warriors
They replaced Jason Richardson with versatile and athletic Brandon Wright from UNC. Wright has a high-ceiling for improvement and will thrive in Nellie's system. Moving Richardson also open up $10 million to sign-free agents or for trades. Marco Bellini is another high-tempo guy who has proved himself in the Italian league. He looks like Manu in the few highlights I have seen.

New York Knicks
As predicted, Isiah made major moves in the off-season once again. For once they seem to be the right moves. Bringing in Randolph to play the 4 along side Curry at the 5, and supported by David Lee they arguably have the best front court in the East, at least on paper. Chemistry problems could ensue, but that is for Isiah to deal with. Getting rid of Francis and his contract was a near miracle as well. If New York can play even close to their potential they will certainly make the playoffs this year--that is a big 'if' though.

Spike believes in Isiah

Losers

Boston Celtics
I just don't understand anything this team does. They trade a #5 pick and a solid young point guard for a 32 year old sharpshooter who is past his prime. Pierce, Allen, and Big Al appear to be a strong 3, especially in the East, but how is this offense going to work? Allen and Pierce play the same role, jump-shooter. They don't have a penetrate and dish point guard (Rondo could emerge over time) and while Big Al's numbers are increasingly impressive since entering the league are teams really going to leave Pierce or Allen open to double him in the post? I just don't see that happening and I just don't get it. Stay young and build around an already solid core of young talent. The Bulls started doing this 3 years ago and look where they are and where they are heading. The C's pushed back any chance they have of becoming very good down the road and for what? A playoff birth and a probable first round exit. Ainge loves making big moves every off-season so their roster could still change a bit before the season starts.


Miami Heat
It isn't that I don't like Daequon Cook I just don't understand the pick. He is athletic, but raw and therefore won't see very much playing time this year under Riles. They have a shallow bench filled with injured-ridden veterans, yet their only pick got them a guy who won't play very much.

In other news I caught an episode of "Shaq's Big Challenge" on ABC. Shaq takes a group of overweight kids and is tries to get them to lose weight by exercising and eating healthy. He s also educating America about the importance of living a healthy life.

Shaq helping the kids

Sacramento Kings
This is another team on the decline who only had one pick and used it on a guy that doesn't seem to make sense for their team. Spencer Hawes is a versatile center who has a decent outside shot, but don't they already have Brad Miller doing this? They aren't going to play both of them at the same time.

The bigger issue is that they need to move Artest and why not move him on draft day to get a pick or two, any pick or two?


To Be Determined...

Philadelphia 76ers
It would have been nice if they took Thornton with their first pick, but everything I have heard about Thaddeus Young has been good. Jason Smith is a tall, versatile big man who can run the court and hit open jump shots. He was even predicted to be a lottery pick at one point and his game has been compared to that of Yi Jianlian's. Derrick Byars is a solid ball player and should fit in well with Philadelphia's young, athletic, and defensive minded team. Herbert Hill is a bruiser who should also make the team--and hopefully kick Shavlik Randolph off the team.

More than anything Billy King showed me something by staying young and letting his players develop (and by not picking McRoberts). The Sixers look like the baby Bulls of 2 years ago.


Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers
Both teams are in limbo this off-season. Both teams are on the decline with superstars who are in their prime and unhappy with the direction of the team. KG going to LA would be exciting, but the logistics of it just don't work. There was talk of KG going to Phoenix for Amare and other considerations, but this doesn't make sense. Neither team did very much with the draft as far as acquiring prospects or making trades. It will be interesting to see how both these teams end up by the time the season starts. As a fan I can only hope that something happens here.

Phoenix Suns
The Suns traded away the 24th pick (second year in a row they traded away a first round pick) for cash. This is 4 years in a row that they have traded away a first round pick. They are a very successful team and were robbed of a chance to compete in the West finals this year, but I don't understand trading away first round draft picks year after year and in this case only for cash. I can't imagine that they really need the few million dollars the pick got them.

As far as their draft picks I like both players a lot. I can see Alando Tucker emerging into a Mo Peterson type player and DJ Strawberry has the potential to be a lock down defender and has a proven work ethic. People have knocked the picks because they won't fit in well with the run and gun style the Suns play because neither is an effective perimeter shooter, but with so many other perimeter scorers on the team they don't need to be, yet. Raja Bell didn't have a jumper in 2001 on the Sixers, but was able to develop one over time. I can see the athletic Tucker and Strawberry doing the same.

Top 10 Sandwiches for Men

After extensive research and endless round table discussions here is the ultimate list of sandwiches for men.

10) Ham & Cheese
In it's purest form, white bread, ham, American cheese (preferably orange craft singles), and maybe some mustard. If you really want to make it special grill it in a pan.

The basic sandwich for a man. It thrives off of its simplicity and availability. Known to stick to the top of your mouth and best had with a glass of milk and 2 Advil.


9) Sloppy Joe
Ground beef mixed with special tomato sauce, slopped onto a kaiser.

You probably last had this one back in high school when Thursday was Sloppy Joe's!!. Thought to contain ground beef, but who really knows...

8)Pulled Pork Sandwich
Slow cooked pork loin 'pulled' off the bone to create the shredded texture, lathered in BBQ sauce, and placed on a Kaiser. Usually served with a side of slaw and corn on the cob.

A sleeper pick and undeniable when done right.


7) Sausage, Peppers, and Onions
Hot or Sweet Italian sausage, roasted peppers, caramelized onions, on a hearty Italian long roll.

Whether it is at Aunt Maria's cookout or at the ball game, this classic is undeniable.

6)Hot Roast Beef
Roast Beef on a Kaiser with a side of au jus and horseradish.

Don't be scared by the au jus, this is a mean sandwich. Bread and beef, period. Great with a flavorful beer.

5)Sausage, Egg, and Cheese
Fried egg, breakfast sausage, and American cheese.

If we could eat them every morning we would.

4) The Italian
Ham, Salami, Provolone, lettuce, onions, oil, mayo, and tomatoes are the basics. Pepperoni, Soppressata, Capicola, hot, sweet, or roasted red peppers, parmesan cheese and oregano are other additions to this Godfather of all sandwiches.

Call it a sub, a hoagie, or a grinder this behemoth can come in many shapes and sizes, a classic go to move at any deli.

3)Meatball Sub
Meatballs (preferably mom's homemade), tomato sauce, provolone, parmesan, and oregano on a long roll.

You can get it anywhere and it is hard to screw this one up.

2)Cheesesteak
Sliced rib-eye grilled with provolone, American, or the famous Whiz. Onions, mushrooms, peppers, and even brocolli rabe are all possible additions.

From the city of Brotherly Love comes this beautiful baby. Whether you are at Dalessandro's, Pat's, Jim's, Geno's, Tony Luke's or your local pizza place everyone does it differently and everyone has their opinion. We can all agree that it is just about the manliest around.


1)Bacon Cheeseburger
Classic. We all know it, love it, and have our own variations.