Video evidence of Martell Mallett

The Eagles signed Canadian Football League Most Outstanding Rookie Award winner Martell Mallett earlier today and I just wanted to throw out some YouTube footage of the former Arkansas-Pine Bluff star.

Mallett played  for the B.C. Lions in 2009, rushing for 1,240 yards and catching 43 passes for 342 more. Mallett was not drafted out of college. Here’s his profile from NFLDraftScout.com.

Here’s Mallett being interviewed after winning his ROY award

…and a nice highlight package from his Arkansas-Pine Bluff days

…and finally his sweet ride apparently

Published
by
Jared
on January 19, 2010
in 2010 Off-season
. 1 Comment

Myers and Wade reunited in Houston

According to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggert mercurial starting pitcher Brett Myers, a lightning rod in Philadelphia during his entire career, was signed by the Houston Astros today.

Ed Wade, former Phillies GM and pariah, signed Myers, 29, to a one-year, $5.1MM deal ($3.1MM in 2010 with a $8MM mutual option/$2MM buyout in 2011).

Myers’ once-promising career in Philly was marred by alleged spousal abuse, bar fights, sulking and poor conditioning. The former 1999 first round pick (12th overall) ended his career in Philly with a 73-63 record and 4.40 ERA. He never pitched more than 215 innnings in a season but did enjoy some fine years, including a 2005 season that saw him strikeout 208 batters and record a career-low 3.72 ERA.

One of Myers’ most memorable years in Philadelphia was 2007 when he took over as closer from an ineffective Tom Gordon and Antonio Alfonseca. It was in this role his hammer of a curve and his menacing presence on the mound was most effective.

Myers’ fire will be missed, but his inability to break through as a star and unwillingness to stay in shape ultimately make his departure more palatable.

Published
by
Jared
on January 12, 2010
in Phillies
. 0 Comments

Eagles playoff synopsis

fuck.

Published
by
Jared
on January 10, 2010
in Eagles
. 0 Comments

Firsthand observations from the 2010 Winter Classic

Despite the outcome, the 2010 Winter Classic was a thrill as well as a once in a lifetime experience for the thousands of Flyers fans who made the trip to Fenway Park.

Philly fans once again were out in full force for a road game. Boston fans were commenting on how they had never seen their city taken over like that. If there were 40,000 in Fenway on New Year’s Day, at least 15,000 of them, if not more, were wearing orange.

Flyers fans were all over New England:

  • The flight up on Thursday morning was packed with orange and black. One guy got on the plane wearing a Cam Neely t-shirt and got booed.
  • In line at the supermarket in Scituate MA on New Year’s Eve, two separate guys turned around to me and yelled Let’s Go Flyers!
  • On the train ride in to the game from the South Shore suburbs of Boston, at least 10 other Flyers fans were waiting at the station along with me.
  • Lansdowne Street behind the Green Monster before the game was overtaken by orange. The coolest thing was seeing fans on top of the Monster looking down at fans on the street and chanting Let’s Go Flyers back and forth at each other. Amazing.
  • Inside the park, I didn’t see anything crazy between Bruins and Flyers fans. Sure there was plenty of talk back and forth but from what I saw, everybody was there to have a good time. At numerous times during the game, fans were chanting Let’s Go Bruins and then Let’s Go Flyers back and forth, pretty cool.
  • The fans in centerfield got into the Fenway spirit and got a ‘Yankees suck’ chant going, one of the few things all the fans could agree on.
  • Both teams fans booing a Reebok hockey commercial with Sidney Crosby and Max Talbot every time it was shown on the big screens during the game.
  • Hours after the game, taking a cab back to the train station, all you saw walking the streets of Boston were people in orange Mike Richards jerseys. Everywhere.
  • Even with the disappointing finish, what a great day to be a Flyers fan.

Boston Mayor Tom Menino told the Boston Herald he’d be happy to have the Winter Classic in town every year. “It’s been a very special week in the city,” Menino told us. “This game brought a lot of energy with it. On the first night, I saw a lot of Philadelphia fans out enjoying the city. January is always the quietest month of the year and this brought 40,000 people into Fenway Park and to eat in our restaurants and stay in our hotels. I told the commissioner, I want this back next year. I love this.”

Other observations:

  • It seemed like most fans had a very limited or almost no view of the ice from their seats.
  • The B-2 bomber flyover before the game was the best one I’ve ever seen. You couldn’t hear it even as it went over the field.
  • The weather was perfect. No rain, overcast and not really cold until the third period when everyone started to feel the chill.
  • Denis Leary and Lenny Clarke’s lame attempt to get the crowd going and sing ‘Sweet Caroline’ was probably the low point of the day for me. Just horrendous. I know the song is a staple at Fenway for Sox games but those two should’ve stayed in their luxury boxes and not embarrassed themselves.
  • When the puck flew out of play and rolled until it hit the Green Monster took me back to the days of playing street or pond hockey.
  • Bobby Clarke taking the ceremonial faceoff against Bobby Orr, and of course, winning it cleanly.
  • The jackets worn by each team’s coaches were great. Where can we buy those?
  • The mini rink in center field had a game between kids from the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation against kids in Bruins jerseys with a guy dressed as the Geico caveman in goal. Every time I looked over, the Philly kids were taking it to the Bruins…great stuff.
  • Great collection of old school Flyers jerseys sighted at Fenway: Multiple Dave Schultz, a Doug Crossman, Mike Bullard, Bob Froese walking next to a Pelle Lindbergh, JJ Daigneault, Terry Carkner, Dave Poulin, Tim Kerr…and plenty of Lindros, LeClair, Clarke and Parent’s as well.
Published
by
Bill
on January 5, 2010
in Flyers
. 1 Comment

Somalia takes issue with Michael Vick

By voting for Michael Vick to win the team’s Ed Block courage award the Eagles as a team have let us all down. To honor a man who is trying to regain his once lofty standing in the NFL because he was in jail for killing dogs is a slap in the face to any player, front office executive, or fan who has truly endured a life-altering struggle.

And to add insult to injury, this is what Vick had to say about receiving the award:

I’ve had to overcome a lot, probably more than one single individual can handle or can bear. You take a look at what I’ve been through, you ask certain people to walk in my shoes, they probably couldn’t do it. Probably 95 percent of the people in this world - because nobody had to endure what I’ve been through, situations I’ve been put in, situations I’ve placed myself in.

Really? I think the ENTIRE population of Somalia begs to differ on your assertion that 95 percent of the world hasn’t had it as hard as you. Shoot, open the Philadelphia Inquirer every morning and I can find 20 people who’ve had it rougher than Vick. Unless there were countless ass-rapings in federal prison that we don’t know about, the fact he had three meals a day, a roof over his head and his good health put him in the top 10 percent of the world in terms of having it pretty darn good.

I am the first person to say Vick paid his dues for what he did, but to throw a quote like that out there makes it hard to stomach. Whatever happened to saying how honored you are for receiving the award from your teammates and thanking all the people who have helped him become a useful member of society again?

When asked for a comment about Vick’s award and statement 7-year old leukemia patient Sarah Davis summed it up best “Fuck you”.

Published
by
Jared
on December 24, 2009
in Eagles and Humor
. 0 Comments

Flyers: Has it really come to this?

After another lackluster effort against Florida, the Flyers find themselves with 14 losses in their last 17 games. Consider some of these staggering facts for the team The Hockey News picked to win the Stanley Cup:

  • 32 points in 35 games. Only Carolina has fewer in the NHL (And now the Flyers starting goalie is a guy the ‘Canes released earlier this month)
  • Mike Richards and Jeff Carter lead the Flyers with 27 points which is tied for 56TH in the NHL.
  • Seven points out of the final playoff spot in the East
  • Five goals in the last four games and 18 in 11 December contests
  • One win and 14 goals scored in their last eight homes games (eight goals scored in the seven losses)
  • No first round pick in 2010 (Traded to Anaheim)

Not much has changed since John Stevens was let go on December 4. While Peter Laviolette’s post-game press conferences may be more exciting, the product on the ice sure looks the same.

No effort. No urgency. No structure. No…..nothing.

The atmosphere in the Wachovia Center Monday night was unlike any I’ve seen at a Flyers home game in years. The fans were unusually quiet until the third period when the mob turned ugly. One fan had a bag on his head. Venom was being spewed not at the visiting Panthers, but on the home team. Nobody was free from criticism. Pronger, Richards, Hartnell, Carter, Leighton, Holmgren….the fans had something to say about anyone in an orange jersey. Even PA announcer Lou Nolan was terrible, pronouncing names incorrectly and mixing up teams and players. I haven’t seen a crowd that frustrated since the early 1990’s when the Spectrum faithful would chant “Jay must go” in reference to team president Jay Snider.

Where has this team gone wrong?

  1. Way too may penalties. The Flyers lead the NHL with 18.2 PIM/gm, and 191 minors against. Hartnell leads the league with 25 minor penalties and the PK has slipped to 26th overall.
  2. Too many muckers and grinders. On any given night, why do the Flyers need Carcillo, Asham, Laperriere, Cote all dressed? On Monday, Florida was looking for a fight-filled contest so Cote was inserted for Mika Pyorala. Cote played a grand total of 1:04. When Darrell Powe comes back, wow, add another mucker. To their credit, Lappy and Carcillo have been the most energetic and noticeable Flyers of late. The same could be said for Powe before he got hurt.
  3. For all the talk about goaltending, that isn’t what ails the Flyers. I disagree with CSNPhilly’s Tim Panaccio’s assessment that Michael Leighton looked over-matched against Florida. The two goals he allowed in relief were on a deflection and laser to the top corner from the dot. No chance for any goalie on those. Patrick Roy circa 1993 could’ve played for the Flyers this month and not much would be different in the standings. The goals have dried up, not the goaltending.
  4. Power play is 4-for-33 over the last seven games including 0-for-7 against Florida.
  5. JVR has gone cold. One goal in 17 games.
  6. What has happened to Braydon Coburn? To say he’s been awful this year would be putting it mildly.
  7. With Powe returning this week, injuries are no longer an excuse. Aside from in goal, the Flyers are a healthy hockey team.

What needs to be done?

  • Does Mike Richards need to relinquish the captaincy to Chris Pronger?
  • Are the rumors about Carter messing around with Hartnell’s wife too crazy to be true?
  • Any truth to what Jeremy Roenick said on TSN that something or someone must be poisoning the dressing room since there is too much talent for this team to be so brutal?
  • Is a trade necessary just for the sake of change?
  • Should the Flyers take a run at potential free agent Ilya Kovalchuk? One rumor had Carter, Coburn and Giroux headed south for Kovy…is that too much?

All these questions, and really no clear cut answers…Unfortunately I could keep going but it’s all making my head hurt. Nothing cures better than a few wins…

Published
by
Bill
on December 23, 2009
in Flyers
. 0 Comments

Hitler upset about Kyle Drabek

Published
by
Jared
on December 15, 2009
in Humor and Phillies
. 0 Comments

Halladay in Philly - This sh*t may be going down!

FOXsports.com is reporting that Roy Halladay is in Philadelphia right now, and could be a Phillie very soon.

The only reasons for the Blue Jays right-hander to be in Philly would be to negotiate a contract extension, take a physical or both. One source said that — as of shortly after 3 p.m. Monday — the commissioner’s office had not yet granted the Phillies permission to discuss an extension with Halladay. Judging by that, it would appear that an agreement is not imminent today.

The rub is the Phils would be parting with post-season hero Cliff Lee. FOX reports that the Halladay and Lee would be part of a three-team trade involving themselves, the Jays and possibly the Angels. The Phils would get Halladay and cash. Halladay would have to be signed

How bad was that meeting with Lee’s agent last week?

More news when it drops!

Published
by
Jared
on December 14, 2009
in 2010 Free Agency and Phillies
. 0 Comments

Lee for Halladay. It could happen, but should it?

With the winter meetings over and the Phillies’ bench restocked fans have turned their attention to Ruben Amaro Jr.’s non-attempts to trade for Toronto’s Roy Halladay. What was once an exercise in prospect roulette may have taken a turn towards blockbuster.

FOXSport’s Ken Rosenthal thinks there is a good possibility the Phils could dangle playoff and World Series stud Cliff Lee as part of a potential Halladay deal. The gist of it being the Phillies trade Lee for a bevy of prospects and then flip some or all of them to Toronto for Halladay. Halladay would get a contract extension in exchange for him waiving his no-trade clause.

Would this make sense though?

Pros

What it may do is keep some of the Phillies’ top prospects like Domonic Brown and Kyle Drabek safely off the table and secure a right handed ace to go alongside erstwhile ace Cole Hamels. Halladay is battle-tested against the American League behemoths New York and Boston, and while many will scoff at the Phils’ rotation being to lefty-heavy, Halladay would bring a nice balance. Philadelphia may also be able to hold onto a prospect they receive for Lee.

Cons

Does this dramatically improve the Phils? Lee is as much of an ace as Halladay and showed he could be counted on in the post-season. He’s a year younger than Halladay as well (31 to 32).

Halladay and Lee are both aces, but for my money (which it’s not) Doc is the ace of aces. A guy who will take the ball at the start of each game with every intention of getting that ball back from the catcher at the end. He’s faced down the big bullies on the block season after season and never blinked. Giving up Lee isn’t ideal but if that’s what it takes to lock up Halladay it has to be done.

Published
by
Jared
on December 12, 2009
in 2010 Free Agency and Phillies
. 0 Comments

Iverson’s return about more than wins and losses

The Sixers’ decision to bring back Allen Iverson has created a buzz in Philadelphia that this organization hasn’t experienced since the 2001 season. NBA basketball in his town had become about as irrelevant as Philadelphia’s lingerie football team.

Love him or hate him, Iverson has a way of finding himself at the center of attention. And let’s face it—the Sixers need as much attention as they can get.

It’s not about him taking minutes away from Jrue Holiday or who will start once Lou Williams comes back. This team isn’t winning anything anytime soon. LeBron James isn’t sitting out there as the prize for team with the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft. Losing to acquire a better draft slot was always a weak argument to me anyway.

What the Sixers need most is to recapture their place on the Philadelphia sports map.

Unless you are the most ardent die-hard, the Sixers have provided very little reason to watch their games. Walking around the city, it’s rare to see anyone wearing Sixers gear. The Wachovia Center is a cold, quiet and empty place these days during NBA games.

Earlier this year, the Celtics came to town and the arena was easily less than half-full. Many in the crowd were rooting for the hated C’s, and as a Sixer fan, it was hard for me to say anything to them. That’s how sad it’s become.

Which brings us back to AI. It doesn’t matter if this decision was more for business than wins and losses. The return of “The Answer” has people talking and thinking about Sixers basketball again. Monday’s game against Denver is an expected sellout, something that even a visit by the Cavs or Lakers probably wouldn’t generate.

Thursday’s press conference had me excited to be a Sixers fan again. I got choked up when AI did and got chills thinking about the memories he helped make and the prospect of a new beginning. To me, that afternoon alone made it worth signing him.

Who knows how long the buzz will last or how many more additional tickets will be sold. Is this a playoff team or still just an afterthought in an already watered-down league? Doesn’t really matter because the Sixers, for now, are no longer out of sight, out of mind.

You have to start somewhere….

Published
by
Bill
on December 6, 2009
in 76ers
. 0 Comments

Stevens leaves Flyers with no identity

The Flyers’ decision to fire John Stevens was certaily not surprising to anyone who has watched this team over the last two seasons. While most believe the roster is stocked with talent, the product on the ice is far from impressive.

For a team that was selected by The Hockey News to win the Stanley Cup this season to be sitting tied for 11th in the Eastern Conference is completely unacceptable. The reasons for the Flyers’ struggles are puzzling, yet plentiful.

First of all, is there any structure? Are the Flyers an up-tempo offensive team? A shut-down defensive squad? A team that excels on special teams? I would have to say no on all three. I have no idea what they are. With an impressive roster that would make even Joe Banner proud, the Flyers are not a team I feel comfortable with whether they have a 3-0 lead or are trailing by a three goals. There is no confidence this group can either hold a lead or rally from a deficit.

The same simple mistakes this team makes are maddening. Once again, they CANNOT win a faceoff. Ever. Outside of the injured Blair Betts, this team is pathetic inside the circle. Jim Dowd, where have you gone? A 60-minute effort must be too much to ask for because this collection of players seems to sleepwalk through stretches every night. This fact cost the Flyers down the stretch last season, most notably in the final regular season game against the Rangers when they fell asleep with a lead and lost the game, allowing the Penguins to claim home ice in the first round. We all know how that turned out, especially in Game 6.

The chain of command inside the dressing room is another issue. When Mike Richards was named captain, many wondered if he was ready. With Chris Pronger now in the fold, who takes the reigns and steps up when things need to be said? Pronger admitted this week he was “walking a tightrope” inside the room and didn’t want to step on Richards’ toes. A team meeting was called after Thursday’s loss to the Canucks that Richards supposedly led, but who is really in charge? Richards fought Kevin Bieksa when the Flyers needed a spark against the Canucks, but that sort of thing seemed to happen a lot more when #18 wasn’t wearing the C.

The final straw came this week when the Flyers had four days at home to prepare for Vancouver in a game they were calling a must-win. The Canucks had played the night before in Jersey and were 3,000 miles from home. So what happened? The Flyers came out and established nothing on their home ice. They didn’t outwork Vancouver, didn’t display any urgency and would have been down a few goals early if not for Brian Boucher. In hockey terms, they were not a tough team to play against on that night and on too many others to count. Philadelphia looked like a defeated team right from the start.

Peter Laviolette seems to be a coach that holds players accountable. Was John Stevens? It sure didn’t seem that way. Maybe the core group felt too comfortable with a coach they had won a Calder Cup with. It’s hard to say. It is encouraging that the organization hired someone from the outside. I don’t think any fan would’ve been happy with Craig Berube or John Paddock. The only certainty is that this team, that sits below the Islanders in the standings, needed a change. It worked for the Penguins last February when they fired Michel Therrien. We’ll see how it works out for Laviolette and the Flyers.

Published
by
Bill
on December 5, 2009
in Flyers
. 0 Comments

Iverson retiring per Stephen A.

Stephen A. Smith called into Chris Myers and Steve Hartman on AM570 KLAC/ FOX Sports Radio to let them know that Allen Iverson is calling it quits. Smith’s announcement is right here.

After a mere five games with the Memphis Grizzlies The Answer quickly saw this was no way for him to spend the end of his NBA life. When he wasn’t signed by the Knicks and got little or no interest from anyone else he felt this was his only alternative. Listen to Stephen A. here.

Of course Stephen A. made sure to let us know AI reached out to him to let him know about the impending announcement. Hate to take away from Iverson’s greatness and what he did for the Sixers, but man, Stephen A. is, and always will be, a douche.

Published
by
Jared
on November 25, 2009
in 76ers
. 0 Comments

The Onion chimes in on Eagles’ red zone woes

The Onion Sports Network hilariously parodies the Birds experience in San Diego as they drove up and down the field with little to show for it.

The Eagles were forced to settle for a field goal against the Chargers Sunday after sustaining a 260-yard, 64-play drive that featured six separate red-zone appearances and took 52 minutes off the game clock.

Published
by
Jared
on November 20, 2009
in Humor
. 0 Comments

Bryan Smith emerges in Jacksonville…as a starter

News out of Jacksonville is former Eagles third-round draft pick Bryan Smith, released during training camp, will get the starting nod for the Jaguars this weekend against the New York Jets. Whether this development is a reflection on how bad things are in Jacksonville or how bad the Eagles misjudged Bryan Smith’s talent is up for debate.

Smith was drafted as an undersized, pass rushing end out of McNeese State. The Eagles had hopes he could transition to a speed-rushing outside linebacker but that never bore fruit. Neither did his career at end, where he was generally pushed around against the run and was never able to duplicate the pass rushing success he displayed in college. The Birds’ hope of uncovering the next DeMarcus Ware were dashed.

Smith, signed by Jacksonville off the St. Louis Rams’ practice squad, is now starting at right end ahead of high draft pick Quentin Groves who has not wowed head coach Jack Del Rio. I think Del Rio will soon be un-wowed by Smith soon enough. He simply didn’t have the burst to get consistent pressure on the QB.

Published
by
Jared
on November 12, 2009
in Eagles
. 0 Comments

Is Fernando Rodney an option?

According to Ken Rosenthal the Phillies are kicking the tires of Tigers free agent closer Fernando Rodney. Rodney, 32, converted 37 or 38 save chances in 2009 despite posting a dismal 4.40 ERA and a 1.49 K/BB ratio.

What is attractive about Rodney is the fact that he’s a Type B free agent - meaning the Phils or any team that signs him would not be giving up their first round pick in the 2010 draft. MLBtraderumors.com wonders whether Rodney is willing to accept a 1-year deal somewhere under $8M and accept a set-up role.

Is this what the Phils need? Another reliever with control problems? I’d rather see him in the ballgame than Chad Durbin, but for the kind of money he’s going to probably demand the Phils should stick with Ryan Madson as Plan B if Brad Lidge collapses again and concentrate on re-signing free agents Chan Ho Park and Scott Eyre while pursuing lesser free agents like Darren Oliver.

Published
by
Jared
on November 11, 2009
in 2010 Free Agency and Phillies
. 0 Comments