Why Not Us?
Paul Holmgren brazenly coined the moniker, “Why Not Us,” that the Flyers have used as the central theme during their march into the Eastern Conference Finals. The Organization even went as far as handing-out 20,000 orange tee-shirts with those very words adorned on the front, right above the corporate sponsors, of course. As the once-frenzied, rabid building morphed into an orange funeral procession last night at the corner of Broad and Pattison, the scene became all too familiar. It was Groundhog Day, only this time, Bill Murray had just changed from his Eagles jersey into an orange and black sweater.
The proverbial fat lady was already singing even before it was over; she wore a real bad dress and was overweight. Her name was Kate Smith. Minus their top two defensemen, the Fly Boys succumbed to the Pens and sent their fans home begrudgingly staring at those very words on the front of their orange shirts that once stood for championship dreams. In unison, all 20,000 fans looked upward to the sporting Gods and shouted, “Why Not Us?”
Why not us? It’s a very simple question. As Philadelphia fans, what have we ever done to deserve this fate? As we loyally and painstakingly sit back and unwaveringly support our teams, why do the endings always seem so tragic? Why do horrible expansion teams like the Marlins and Heat with even more horrible fans get rewarded with Championship bliss? How about the Carolina Hurricanes? The freakin’ Arizona Diamondbacks. Why not us?
The Curse of the Billy Goat. The Curse of the Bambino. I don’t what hear it. Chicago had a guy named Jordan winning titles every year. They had the Bears. Before the Red Sox won their two titles, Boston had one of the greatest dynasties of all-time in the Celtics. Boston had the Orr-led Bruins. Boston now has the Pats. You get the point. Nothing compares to the absolute, unadulterated, abject futility of being a Philadelphia sports fan.
Twenty-Five times four. For the scholars out there, that equals 100. For close to 25 straight years, all four Philadelphia teams have been devoid of a Championship. It is almost unfathomable, an entire generation of fans never being able to witness a championship, watching that championship train derail just when you thought you had a chance, when the champagne bubbles were almost tickling your nose. One-hundred straight season have ended the same way, without a title.
How could a title not be stumbled upon? How could Philadelphia not have that one magical season? I am not even talking about multiple titles or dynasties, what about just that one Wild Card team or low seed that catches lightning in bottle and wins a title? Nothing, Nada, Zilch. How can we not have one title? Why not us?
Yeah, there were chances, but it seemed like those chances just ended in more direct, brutal bouts of depression for longer periods of time. Joe Carter’s home run shut down local bridges and brought suicide hot lines back in vogue. The Kodak moment of our generation is Lindros out cold, motionless on the ice after getting rocked by Stevens, the symbolism never so apparent at the time. When the Birds made the big dance, the star QB was throwing-up the product he endorsed down the stretch. Iverson’s tantalizing game one against the Lakers in the Finals just made the feeling that much more bottomless after the Sixers got white-washed the rest of the series.
Someone else can fill in the rest of the close calls, fleecings, conspiracy theories, collapses, soap operas, scandals, cheapskates, busts, and whatever the hell else they want to remember, or should I say forget. As the years go by and as we sit on the sidelines watching other cities win titles, the attainment of a championship seems more and more distant. Visions of grandeur simply become replaced by jaded cynicism, each season and sport becoming less and less enjoyable. Other cities are envied, they really are, as we all sit aghast and wonder, “Why Not Us?”
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Phils talk a good game, but........................
Jimmy Rollins predicts 100 wins. Brett Myers says that fans shouldn't be concerned about anything as far as their pitching staff is concerned. This team now has a swagger, a bitter taste if you will from last years winless October. Funny thing is, you would never know it after watching the debacle known as the ninth inning of the Phillies season opener.
Yes I know, we are only a few days into the Phillies 2008 season and I am writing a blog on this site to vent my frustration at the teams 11-6 loss at the hands of the now 2-0 Washington Nationals(?). However, before you go calling me a "negadelphian" and throw slogans out there like "it's only one game" and "Brad Lidge will be back soon," there's good reason (as always) to approach this team with caution. Washington's 5-run ninth inning off Phillies "interim closer" Tom "flash in the pan" Gordon only reassured the obvious: The Phillies, considered a playoff contender by many baseball insiders, still have glaring holes in the bullpen, and one can only hope that Brad Lidge can return to his pre-October 2005 form when he returns from the disabled list in a few days. In fairness to Lidge, that is a lot to ask for. Lidge has already missed several weeks of spring training due to the re injuring of his knee-- on the first pitch he threw off of a mound this year! Charlie Manuel does not want to resort to J.C. Romero as his closer. Although Romero clearly showed signs today that his 2007 was no fluke, he is best served where he belongs as the deadly left-handed set up man from the bullpen. Romero's fiery optimism and competitive personality easily make him this generations Mr. T (Al Holland for those of you born past 1984). Oddly enough, this will NOT be the only Mr. T reference in this blog. More on that later.
The same however, cannot be said for Gordon. Once a venerable force in the Red Sox and Yankees bullpen, the 40-year old hurler more or less proved that his brief but effective performance in the 2007 NLDS may have been a mirage. The Phillies were depending on Gordon to hold the role of middle relief this season. Assuming that his arm lasts for six months and he pitches as effectively as he did when he returned from injury last summer. In saying that, the brass must have suspected that age and his torn labrum could both be problems for Gordon as the season started. In true Phillies fashion, the "suits" have never been one for a backup plan, and that usually goes to hell in a hand basket anyway (see Tim Worrell, Jon Lieber, Freddie Garcia, or any of the other 15 starting pitchers the team put on the mound last season). The team will never release Flash, for that would be swallowing money- a whole other story for another blog. One can only hope that he gets it together. If you think you can't stand Adam Eaton, wait until Gordon keeps this going all summer. Although his comeback last season at his advanced age was indeed admirable, Gordon can talk as much as he wants to the press about how good he thought his stuff was today. However, Flash is a veteran of 20-plus major league seasons and should do the team a favor and retire if he is hurting the team instead of helping them. Carlos Ruiz insists that there was nothing wrong with his arm or his stuff on Monday, leading to speculation that perhaps Gordon is tipping off his pitches. Gordon is not tradable due to his shoulder history, age, and expensive contract, so he is out of options.
Then there's Ryan Madson. After today's rocky outing, it's not an issue of whether he's recovered from his injury that forced him to miss last season's playoffs. Instead, the brass may HAVE to cut their losses with Madson and just accept the fact that he may simply no longer be an effective major league pitcher. Consistency has always been an issue with Madson, and the Phillies are only kidding themselves if they think that is going to change. As this fan watched Lastings Milledge launch a rocket delivered from Madson's hands right into the outfield seats, my thoughts were best expressed in a line from Kevin Costner from "Bull Durham": anything travelling that far outta here should have a........well you know the line. The Phillies should have had a plan b for Madson as well, but we've already addressed that (see Tom Gordon).
Several defensive miscues also led to the Phillies demise this afternoon. Though he tied the game with his dramatic two-run homer, Jimmy Rollins booting a ground ball is almost as shocking as Garry Maddox dropping routine fly balls in Los Angeles- it rarely happens, but when it does, it occurs at the worse time possible. Also lost on this team at is the art of the relay throw to home plate. Rollins to Ruiz sure as hell isn't Bowa to Boone. No longer can you blame Mike Lieberthal and his bum knee for not crowding home plate. An MVP Gold Glove shortstop should be able to master the relay throw to home in his sleep. What was once one of the more exciting plays on the field has become somewhat of a lost art in today's game.
Offensively, the Phillies lineup top to bottom may be among the best in the major leagues. Although good pitching is an oddity in today's offensive minded game, if the Phillies had a staff that even closely matched their potent offense, many a banner would be waving from the Citizens Bank Park flagpoles in the coming years. Problem is with the Phillies, they only have "so much money to spend." What someone should tell them is that is not how much money you spend, it's where you spend the money (see Boston Red Sox). I'm not even going to get into selling the team and all of that nonsense- everyone knows that will not happen. And when it does, pigs will indeed take flight. One thing is certain: if pitching continues to be this shaky, they cannot help but do something- and I don't mean 39 year-old Rudy Seanez.
After the game, the mood in the clubhouse is always upbeat and positive with today being no exception. Truth be told, it is only one game. Whether this team cares goes without saying-they obvoiusly do. After a while though, the optimism is almost to a fault. While earning their division title fair and square in 2007, the Fightin's were also the beneficiary of the worst collapse in baseball history (I must admit it feels great just typing that!). This team swears that there's no reason to worry about a thing. Their inaugural contest of 2008 was anything but championship caliber baseball. Just remember when a certain Philly icon got too cocky and Clubber Lang gave him his lunch. We can only hope that art does not indeed imitate life. 100 more wins, J-Roll. The countdown begins Wednesday.
And yes, Johan Santana is now 1-0. Oh well, at least Atlanta is 0-2, right?
Yes I know, we are only a few days into the Phillies 2008 season and I am writing a blog on this site to vent my frustration at the teams 11-6 loss at the hands of the now 2-0 Washington Nationals(?). However, before you go calling me a "negadelphian" and throw slogans out there like "it's only one game" and "Brad Lidge will be back soon," there's good reason (as always) to approach this team with caution. Washington's 5-run ninth inning off Phillies "interim closer" Tom "flash in the pan" Gordon only reassured the obvious: The Phillies, considered a playoff contender by many baseball insiders, still have glaring holes in the bullpen, and one can only hope that Brad Lidge can return to his pre-October 2005 form when he returns from the disabled list in a few days. In fairness to Lidge, that is a lot to ask for. Lidge has already missed several weeks of spring training due to the re injuring of his knee-- on the first pitch he threw off of a mound this year! Charlie Manuel does not want to resort to J.C. Romero as his closer. Although Romero clearly showed signs today that his 2007 was no fluke, he is best served where he belongs as the deadly left-handed set up man from the bullpen. Romero's fiery optimism and competitive personality easily make him this generations Mr. T (Al Holland for those of you born past 1984). Oddly enough, this will NOT be the only Mr. T reference in this blog. More on that later.
The same however, cannot be said for Gordon. Once a venerable force in the Red Sox and Yankees bullpen, the 40-year old hurler more or less proved that his brief but effective performance in the 2007 NLDS may have been a mirage. The Phillies were depending on Gordon to hold the role of middle relief this season. Assuming that his arm lasts for six months and he pitches as effectively as he did when he returned from injury last summer. In saying that, the brass must have suspected that age and his torn labrum could both be problems for Gordon as the season started. In true Phillies fashion, the "suits" have never been one for a backup plan, and that usually goes to hell in a hand basket anyway (see Tim Worrell, Jon Lieber, Freddie Garcia, or any of the other 15 starting pitchers the team put on the mound last season). The team will never release Flash, for that would be swallowing money- a whole other story for another blog. One can only hope that he gets it together. If you think you can't stand Adam Eaton, wait until Gordon keeps this going all summer. Although his comeback last season at his advanced age was indeed admirable, Gordon can talk as much as he wants to the press about how good he thought his stuff was today. However, Flash is a veteran of 20-plus major league seasons and should do the team a favor and retire if he is hurting the team instead of helping them. Carlos Ruiz insists that there was nothing wrong with his arm or his stuff on Monday, leading to speculation that perhaps Gordon is tipping off his pitches. Gordon is not tradable due to his shoulder history, age, and expensive contract, so he is out of options.
Then there's Ryan Madson. After today's rocky outing, it's not an issue of whether he's recovered from his injury that forced him to miss last season's playoffs. Instead, the brass may HAVE to cut their losses with Madson and just accept the fact that he may simply no longer be an effective major league pitcher. Consistency has always been an issue with Madson, and the Phillies are only kidding themselves if they think that is going to change. As this fan watched Lastings Milledge launch a rocket delivered from Madson's hands right into the outfield seats, my thoughts were best expressed in a line from Kevin Costner from "Bull Durham": anything travelling that far outta here should have a........well you know the line. The Phillies should have had a plan b for Madson as well, but we've already addressed that (see Tom Gordon).
Several defensive miscues also led to the Phillies demise this afternoon. Though he tied the game with his dramatic two-run homer, Jimmy Rollins booting a ground ball is almost as shocking as Garry Maddox dropping routine fly balls in Los Angeles- it rarely happens, but when it does, it occurs at the worse time possible. Also lost on this team at is the art of the relay throw to home plate. Rollins to Ruiz sure as hell isn't Bowa to Boone. No longer can you blame Mike Lieberthal and his bum knee for not crowding home plate. An MVP Gold Glove shortstop should be able to master the relay throw to home in his sleep. What was once one of the more exciting plays on the field has become somewhat of a lost art in today's game.
Offensively, the Phillies lineup top to bottom may be among the best in the major leagues. Although good pitching is an oddity in today's offensive minded game, if the Phillies had a staff that even closely matched their potent offense, many a banner would be waving from the Citizens Bank Park flagpoles in the coming years. Problem is with the Phillies, they only have "so much money to spend." What someone should tell them is that is not how much money you spend, it's where you spend the money (see Boston Red Sox). I'm not even going to get into selling the team and all of that nonsense- everyone knows that will not happen. And when it does, pigs will indeed take flight. One thing is certain: if pitching continues to be this shaky, they cannot help but do something- and I don't mean 39 year-old Rudy Seanez.
After the game, the mood in the clubhouse is always upbeat and positive with today being no exception. Truth be told, it is only one game. Whether this team cares goes without saying-they obvoiusly do. After a while though, the optimism is almost to a fault. While earning their division title fair and square in 2007, the Fightin's were also the beneficiary of the worst collapse in baseball history (I must admit it feels great just typing that!). This team swears that there's no reason to worry about a thing. Their inaugural contest of 2008 was anything but championship caliber baseball. Just remember when a certain Philly icon got too cocky and Clubber Lang gave him his lunch. We can only hope that art does not indeed imitate life. 100 more wins, J-Roll. The countdown begins Wednesday.
And yes, Johan Santana is now 1-0. Oh well, at least Atlanta is 0-2, right?
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Hope Springs Eternal With A Worthy Read
It's been several months since I've updated the blog section of the website. In the last few months, The Flyers have been floundering, the Sixers are surging, the Eagles improved their defense, still need some work on offense before they take flight, and last but not least, our Fightin' Phils take the field for the first official game of 2008 in a mere 11 days. So while we're on the topic of the Phillies, I would be remiss if I failed to inform our Philly faithful of the newest book to feature our beloved boys of summer.
"The Fall of the 1977 Phillies: How a Baseball Team's Collapse Sank a City's Spirit", is written by Mitchell Nathanson. "The Falls" focal point is the infamous Black Friday game vs the hated Dodgers in October of 1977. Nathanson uses Black Friday, the darkest day in the history of the ballclub, to analyze the city of Philadelphia, it's love/hate relationship with the Phillies, and how the the current state of The Phillies at any particular time can eerily reflect the pulse of the city. The general question that the book asks is why our city, who can be quick to give the Birds, Sixers, and Flyers a free pass at times, is not as forgiving when it comes to the Phillies. The answers may suprise you.
Part of the book is based upon an article that won the 2006 McFarland-SABR Award for the best article on baseball history or biography of the year. You can either click on the title of the blog at the top of the page, or highlight the following link to Mitchell's book on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Fall-1977-Phillies-Baseball-Collapse/dp/0786432179/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203354045&sr=8-1
And that, my disgruntled fans, is the Disgruntled Fans book selection of the month.
LET'S GO PHILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"The Fall of the 1977 Phillies: How a Baseball Team's Collapse Sank a City's Spirit", is written by Mitchell Nathanson. "The Falls" focal point is the infamous Black Friday game vs the hated Dodgers in October of 1977. Nathanson uses Black Friday, the darkest day in the history of the ballclub, to analyze the city of Philadelphia, it's love/hate relationship with the Phillies, and how the the current state of The Phillies at any particular time can eerily reflect the pulse of the city. The general question that the book asks is why our city, who can be quick to give the Birds, Sixers, and Flyers a free pass at times, is not as forgiving when it comes to the Phillies. The answers may suprise you.
Part of the book is based upon an article that won the 2006 McFarland-SABR Award for the best article on baseball history or biography of the year. You can either click on the title of the blog at the top of the page, or highlight the following link to Mitchell's book on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Fall-1977-Phillies-Baseball-Collapse/dp/0786432179/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203354045&sr=8-1
And that, my disgruntled fans, is the Disgruntled Fans book selection of the month.
LET'S GO PHILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
McNabb getting vocal, and it's a good thing!
For the last decade, Donovan McNabb has been a company man. With the exception of his lobbying for Terrell Owens in Philadelphia and the plea for teammate Brian Westbrook's contract extension, McNabb has more often than not remained tight lipped as far as his input regarding the on field transactions of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Those days however, have come and gone. It will be almost a year since the Eagles drafted quarterback Kevin Kolb with their number one pick in the NFL draft, and it's safe to say that if Mcnabb didn't realize beforehand that he too was expendable in the Eagles future plans, chances are he realized it then.
That is why McNabb's comments on his blog on Monday asking the Eagles front office for the additions of playmakers on his team came as no surprise. McNabb cites the Patriots (the TRUE gold standard in the NFL despite their cheating ways) acquiring Randy Moss and former Eagle Donte Stallworth despite winning three Super Bowls over the last seven years. Number five also is careful not to slight the current players on the Eagles roster, citing that even he at times did not play up to his full capabilities during the 2007 season. McNabb is just stating the obvious: a team at 8-8 despite the team's strong finish, needs considerable improvement if it wants to even compete with the (gulp!) Cowboys and Packers let alone the Patriots and Colts of the far superior AFC.
Now granted, this is obviously not the first time Donovan McNabb has been in the center of controversy. This writer for one, is always on the fence regarding the play and choice of words of Mr. McNabb. Some instances he finds himself in are his fault (remember the "black on black crime" quote regarding TO), and some are not (Rush Limbaugh). Whether you like or dislike him, it is almost impossible to argue with McNabb or find any fault with him in this situation. His comments are what you would expect from an aging quarterback whose time is expiring in Philadelphia and possibly his career. Truth be told, this should have been done in 2007 when it was obvious to all that McNabb was far from 100% during the first half of the season. While still effective as an NFL quarterback, McNabb is more on the downside of his career than the upside.
With or without Donovan McNabb, the Eagles will probably win a Super Bowl one day. Before you run him out of town however, you must give credit where credit is due. There will probably never be another quarterback in the history of the franchise who takes his team to four consecutive NFC Championship games. And despite reports of his discontent with Philadelphia, one gets the feeling that if 2008 is indeed his last season in Philadelphia, McNabb wants to go out a winner with the team he started with.
For a man who doesn't seem to always say the right things at the right time, Donovan McNabb should be applauded for his candor regarding the fate of his football team. A team that this city has lived and died with more than any other team in this city for the last 75 years. If our beloved billionaire owners have a problem with this, that's too damn bad. Go to your penthouses and cry in your caviar. Enough is enough. We're the one's who took out second mortgages on our homes to go to The Super Bowl. That HAS to account for something eventually.
Congratulations Donovan. You spoke your mind, and for once, we love it! If only other Philadelphia athletes were as honest and straightforward when speaking of their teams. For the record we DO agree. The whole city agrees. And most importantly, every Disgruntled Fan agrees!
Those days however, have come and gone. It will be almost a year since the Eagles drafted quarterback Kevin Kolb with their number one pick in the NFL draft, and it's safe to say that if Mcnabb didn't realize beforehand that he too was expendable in the Eagles future plans, chances are he realized it then.
That is why McNabb's comments on his blog on Monday asking the Eagles front office for the additions of playmakers on his team came as no surprise. McNabb cites the Patriots (the TRUE gold standard in the NFL despite their cheating ways) acquiring Randy Moss and former Eagle Donte Stallworth despite winning three Super Bowls over the last seven years. Number five also is careful not to slight the current players on the Eagles roster, citing that even he at times did not play up to his full capabilities during the 2007 season. McNabb is just stating the obvious: a team at 8-8 despite the team's strong finish, needs considerable improvement if it wants to even compete with the (gulp!) Cowboys and Packers let alone the Patriots and Colts of the far superior AFC.
Now granted, this is obviously not the first time Donovan McNabb has been in the center of controversy. This writer for one, is always on the fence regarding the play and choice of words of Mr. McNabb. Some instances he finds himself in are his fault (remember the "black on black crime" quote regarding TO), and some are not (Rush Limbaugh). Whether you like or dislike him, it is almost impossible to argue with McNabb or find any fault with him in this situation. His comments are what you would expect from an aging quarterback whose time is expiring in Philadelphia and possibly his career. Truth be told, this should have been done in 2007 when it was obvious to all that McNabb was far from 100% during the first half of the season. While still effective as an NFL quarterback, McNabb is more on the downside of his career than the upside.
With or without Donovan McNabb, the Eagles will probably win a Super Bowl one day. Before you run him out of town however, you must give credit where credit is due. There will probably never be another quarterback in the history of the franchise who takes his team to four consecutive NFC Championship games. And despite reports of his discontent with Philadelphia, one gets the feeling that if 2008 is indeed his last season in Philadelphia, McNabb wants to go out a winner with the team he started with.
For a man who doesn't seem to always say the right things at the right time, Donovan McNabb should be applauded for his candor regarding the fate of his football team. A team that this city has lived and died with more than any other team in this city for the last 75 years. If our beloved billionaire owners have a problem with this, that's too damn bad. Go to your penthouses and cry in your caviar. Enough is enough. We're the one's who took out second mortgages on our homes to go to The Super Bowl. That HAS to account for something eventually.
Congratulations Donovan. You spoke your mind, and for once, we love it! If only other Philadelphia athletes were as honest and straightforward when speaking of their teams. For the record we DO agree. The whole city agrees. And most importantly, every Disgruntled Fan agrees!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
The Great Depression-by Todd Flynn
It all started in 1983, soon after Mo Cheeks threw down the final dunk to stake claim to the NBA Championship. I was six-years-old at the time, my faint and faded memories are more than likely attributed to ESPN Classic, but I like to tell people I remember so they don’t think I’m of one of “them.” My childhood was marred by cheapskate owners, low payrolls, and half-filled stadiums. My foray into the uncharted waters of young adulthood consisted of bad trades, superstars being run out of town, and the end of promising eras. The common denominator of my entire fandom has been failure and futility, every year culminating without a Championship. Expansion teams have won titles, some multiple. Season after season, year after year, I am emotionally beat-up, yet I keeping coming back, I keep painstakingly punishing myself for no logical reason. The pot of gold over the rainbow is what I am searching for, that feeling of satisfaction and euphoria that you ultimately hope outweighs all of the anguish and heartache suffered after each traumatizing loss. I can’t deny the fact, I am indeed, a Depression Era Kid.
The Philadelphia Sports Depression has lasted a quarter century, it has spurned two and half plus decades devoid of civic pride, with despondent young adults walking around with parched throats, still waiting to sip the proverbial champagne that accompanies such joyous occasions. Depression era children have an edge, harboring an inferiority complex to their Boston and New York and Dallas and fill-in-the-blank counterparts. The overwhelming largess of the Wing Bowl has become a symbol of ineptness to our generation. We pack the building to overflow, indulge in women, booze, and violence to hide our sporting shortcomings. We use the Wing Bowl as a deflection of our pain, as a substitute for our hurt. We are all just crying out for attention, we all just want to feel like we belong, like we have a championship.
Bill Giles, Norman Braman, Ed Snider, and Harold Katz were the grumpy old men that helped ruin our childhoods, four grinches that stole our sports championships. In Giles case, it was cheapness, he took America out of past-time, he mired our generation with Attention Deficit Disorder, ever try to watch Lance Parrish, or Ricky Otero, or Chad Ogea for a full nine innings? Braman showed us how to be disloyal, how to care more about your yacht in France and your used car dealerships than your football team. We do have to give him credit for introducing us to religion though, he allowed us to see how God took Reggie White to Green Bay. Harold Katz gave us all hope, he showed that an inept buffoon could still become rich. He also gave us a Hooked-on-Phonics example of how a dynasty can crumble in just one day by trading the first overall pick and Moses in separate deals that fetched a sack of potatoes in return. Ed Snider taught us the finer things in life, how to live fast, how to have high payrolls and to-a-fault loyalty that always ended in heartache,no matter how genuine and heartfelt the intention. He also taught a generation respect, how to refer to your elders as “Mister.”
Eric Lindros was our JFK Jr., he embodied hope and expectation, he raised the level, and then it ended all so quickly, as our era’s anti-hero, Scott Stevens, literally ended his Flyers career on the Corestates Ice. The other three in the Mount Rushmore of Superstars; Barkley, McNabb, and Iverson all left town or are leaving town without procuring a title. All of their departures symbolize the end of eras, the end of hope, and the end of Championship dreams. The Depression ushered out a group of superstars in Schmidt, Carlton, Clarke and Dr. J and broke in a newer group that couldn’t compare. This group of superstars allowed the “close but no cigar” moniker to be part of our daily vernacular.
We hate Joe Carter with passion. We would love to pound mad brews with Lenny, Dutch, and Krukker. We would not eat dinner with Chris Wheeler because we would be afraid that the raccoon would jump off the top of his head and eat our steak. We grew up listening to Harry, and Gene, and Whitey, and Merrill on the transistor. We say that Lou Tilley and Jim Jackson have porn star mustaches. We say prayers for Jerome Brown and Pelle Lindbergh before meal. You get the point. Our generation is knowledgeable and we’re scorned. It’s unreal how we’ve come up empty in over 100 chances for championship bliss. Life as a fan during the depression isn’t easy, yet we support all of our teams and keep coming back. We are all depression era children, we’re disgruntled, and it’s time to fight back!
Todd Flynn is a contributor to www.disgruntledfans.com and is a life long Disgruntled Philadelphia Fan.
The Philadelphia Sports Depression has lasted a quarter century, it has spurned two and half plus decades devoid of civic pride, with despondent young adults walking around with parched throats, still waiting to sip the proverbial champagne that accompanies such joyous occasions. Depression era children have an edge, harboring an inferiority complex to their Boston and New York and Dallas and fill-in-the-blank counterparts. The overwhelming largess of the Wing Bowl has become a symbol of ineptness to our generation. We pack the building to overflow, indulge in women, booze, and violence to hide our sporting shortcomings. We use the Wing Bowl as a deflection of our pain, as a substitute for our hurt. We are all just crying out for attention, we all just want to feel like we belong, like we have a championship.
Bill Giles, Norman Braman, Ed Snider, and Harold Katz were the grumpy old men that helped ruin our childhoods, four grinches that stole our sports championships. In Giles case, it was cheapness, he took America out of past-time, he mired our generation with Attention Deficit Disorder, ever try to watch Lance Parrish, or Ricky Otero, or Chad Ogea for a full nine innings? Braman showed us how to be disloyal, how to care more about your yacht in France and your used car dealerships than your football team. We do have to give him credit for introducing us to religion though, he allowed us to see how God took Reggie White to Green Bay. Harold Katz gave us all hope, he showed that an inept buffoon could still become rich. He also gave us a Hooked-on-Phonics example of how a dynasty can crumble in just one day by trading the first overall pick and Moses in separate deals that fetched a sack of potatoes in return. Ed Snider taught us the finer things in life, how to live fast, how to have high payrolls and to-a-fault loyalty that always ended in heartache,no matter how genuine and heartfelt the intention. He also taught a generation respect, how to refer to your elders as “Mister.”
Eric Lindros was our JFK Jr., he embodied hope and expectation, he raised the level, and then it ended all so quickly, as our era’s anti-hero, Scott Stevens, literally ended his Flyers career on the Corestates Ice. The other three in the Mount Rushmore of Superstars; Barkley, McNabb, and Iverson all left town or are leaving town without procuring a title. All of their departures symbolize the end of eras, the end of hope, and the end of Championship dreams. The Depression ushered out a group of superstars in Schmidt, Carlton, Clarke and Dr. J and broke in a newer group that couldn’t compare. This group of superstars allowed the “close but no cigar” moniker to be part of our daily vernacular.
We hate Joe Carter with passion. We would love to pound mad brews with Lenny, Dutch, and Krukker. We would not eat dinner with Chris Wheeler because we would be afraid that the raccoon would jump off the top of his head and eat our steak. We grew up listening to Harry, and Gene, and Whitey, and Merrill on the transistor. We say that Lou Tilley and Jim Jackson have porn star mustaches. We say prayers for Jerome Brown and Pelle Lindbergh before meal. You get the point. Our generation is knowledgeable and we’re scorned. It’s unreal how we’ve come up empty in over 100 chances for championship bliss. Life as a fan during the depression isn’t easy, yet we support all of our teams and keep coming back. We are all depression era children, we’re disgruntled, and it’s time to fight back!
Todd Flynn is a contributor to www.disgruntledfans.com and is a life long Disgruntled Philadelphia Fan.
Monday, December 17, 2007
To YOU, the person disgruntled with ME.
As I listened to 610 WIP on the way home from work this evening, show host Glenn Macnow was discussing the Donovan McNabb soap opera yet again, when I decided to put a call into Glenn myself. Glenn answered my questions without a problem.
Several moments later, a "gentleman" called Glenn and decided to try and make an example out of myself and my blog, and really wound up sounding quite ridiculous.
One of my points I discussed with Glenn was how the Eagles ownership has failed to consistently supply McNabb with a Super Bowl contending nucleus(with the exception of 2004, a pretty good year if you remember). The caller then "alertly" pointed out to Glenn that the Eagles had in fact, consistently given McNabb the players to win a Super Bowl (?). He then claimed that my lifelong love of Eagles football consisted of four years, and that I should call WIP again so I can have more feedback for my blog.
First of all, to you, Mr. "elite sports fan" who knows so much about me, the Eagles ownership has NOT (excluding 2004) consistently given McNabb what he needs to get to the next level. Whether it's their philosophy regarding free agency, or their unwillingness since the Terrell Owens debacle to seriously dip into the free agent market, the high-caliber player (with the exception of 2004) never seems to fly into Philadelphia Are YOU happy with Kevin Curtis? Reggie Brown as your number 2 receiver? How about Freddie Mitchell? Matt Schobel? Torrence Small? Charles Johnson? Na Brown? Ryan Moats? a washed up Antonio Freeman? James Thrash? Todd Stinkston? Greg Lewis? Some of these players go back a lot further than four years. Do you remember Anthony Toney? Byron Darby? Luis Zendejas? I rest my case. I wouldn't develop a whole web site if I didn't know my stuff. And I'm not just talking about the draft. These are free agents as well. ONE of them turning out to be a legitimate big time receiver.
And finally, as far as talking to the WIP hosts for my blog, the best material I got for the evening was you, Mr. "elite sports fan", who firmly believes that Eagles brass is just sooooo consistent with filling missing pieces of their puzzle that "never just seem to fit."
In closing, I would like to thank the fans of Philly who have supported this site. I may not know everything about the history of the NFL, but I'm pretty damn knowledgable, and would love hear from you, the fans, in reference to my blog or just Philly sports in general. Feel free to stop by anytime. I promise I won't use you for blog feed (LOL!).
Several moments later, a "gentleman" called Glenn and decided to try and make an example out of myself and my blog, and really wound up sounding quite ridiculous.
One of my points I discussed with Glenn was how the Eagles ownership has failed to consistently supply McNabb with a Super Bowl contending nucleus(with the exception of 2004, a pretty good year if you remember). The caller then "alertly" pointed out to Glenn that the Eagles had in fact, consistently given McNabb the players to win a Super Bowl (?). He then claimed that my lifelong love of Eagles football consisted of four years, and that I should call WIP again so I can have more feedback for my blog.
First of all, to you, Mr. "elite sports fan" who knows so much about me, the Eagles ownership has NOT (excluding 2004) consistently given McNabb what he needs to get to the next level. Whether it's their philosophy regarding free agency, or their unwillingness since the Terrell Owens debacle to seriously dip into the free agent market, the high-caliber player (with the exception of 2004) never seems to fly into Philadelphia Are YOU happy with Kevin Curtis? Reggie Brown as your number 2 receiver? How about Freddie Mitchell? Matt Schobel? Torrence Small? Charles Johnson? Na Brown? Ryan Moats? a washed up Antonio Freeman? James Thrash? Todd Stinkston? Greg Lewis? Some of these players go back a lot further than four years. Do you remember Anthony Toney? Byron Darby? Luis Zendejas? I rest my case. I wouldn't develop a whole web site if I didn't know my stuff. And I'm not just talking about the draft. These are free agents as well. ONE of them turning out to be a legitimate big time receiver.
And finally, as far as talking to the WIP hosts for my blog, the best material I got for the evening was you, Mr. "elite sports fan", who firmly believes that Eagles brass is just sooooo consistent with filling missing pieces of their puzzle that "never just seem to fit."
In closing, I would like to thank the fans of Philly who have supported this site. I may not know everything about the history of the NFL, but I'm pretty damn knowledgable, and would love hear from you, the fans, in reference to my blog or just Philly sports in general. Feel free to stop by anytime. I promise I won't use you for blog feed (LOL!).
Sunday, December 9, 2007
No longer the "Gold Standard Of the NFL", who is to blame for the Eagles demise?
When David Akers' field goal attempt hit the right goal post with just seconds remaining on today's Eagles/Giants contest, the feeling that this was not the Eagles day was officially confirmed.
After all, how often does Brian Westbrook fumble, and the almost automatic Akers boots a field goal (even though the distance was less than normal)? either way, let's just file that under "not very often."
My oh my, times have changed for our boys in green. Our once proud Eagles, long considered the "gold standard" of NFL franchises, couldn't even get a gold medal out of a Cracker Jack box these days. This however, did not happen overnight. A great mid-season surge by the team last year perhaps swept under the rug that the wear and tear is starting to show in the armor, and that the window has indeed closed for our heroes. Never has there been so much drama surrounding a team that hasn't even won a championship. The Oakland A's fought their way to three championships. the Yankees of the 70's did as well. Those of course, are just two examples of many sports teams over the last 35 years. If you look really hard, it would be hard to find another team with more plot twists than an episode of As the World Turns.
Who is to blame for the team's demise and where do we begin? Let's take a look:
Donovan Mcnabb: In all fairness, the man came back from a possible career ending injury to almost start every game this year. For that, Donovan should be commended. However, is he helping or hurting this team by playing? While it is obvious that he is not 100 percent healthy, you can't almost always count of number five to break down some point in mid November. This is a fact not unnoticed by the Eagles brass. Let's just put it this way: there is no coincidence that contract talks were called off after his injury in November 2006. The problem with McNabb is that he makes a lot of amazing plays, but also a lot of dumb mistakes. These are further magnified because they usually come at the worst possible time (Rondee Barber). Is this pure coincidence? Or a major meltdown? The Philly fans who begged for A.J. Feely weren't doing so out of anger towards McNabb, they did it because they want to win so badly. And at this point, they don't care if it's Matt Cavanaugh on the field. Donovan has done very well for himself in his NFL career, and at times he is unfairly scrutinized for doing extremely well, but in the end not well enough. Sure, there were the four straight NFC Championship games (which will probably NEVER happen in this town again, by the way), but Philly hasn't won a title in quite some time. That isn't McNabb's fault, but nonetheless he is the quarterback. And the teams failure to ultimately win the big game more often than not will be placed on his shoulders. This is a notion that McNabb has never acknowledged or really understood. In saying that, do you bring back Donovan next year and surround him with the players it takes to ultimately win the Super Bowl, or has his time come and gone? Will he ever be effective again? If you think a hobbled McNabb is ineffective and the team isn't winning now, try starting a rookie at QB next year.
McNabb's psyche has always been questioned. I always wondered why he never went to bat for T.O. as far as contract extensions were concerned, yet he lobbied for the Eagles front office to sign Brian Westbrook. McNabb had the best season of his career with T.O. as his sidekick. One can only imagine how things would have been if things were handled differently on both sides. Sure, the two of them now speak and they've cleared the air. That's nice. Real nice. Makes me warm and fuzzy inside that two overpaid millionaire athletes can't play nice, but finally kiss and make up. In the meantime, it has been said that the Donovan vs. T.O. feud singlehandedly changed the face of the franchise. I can believe it. Sure, everyone says that Donovan is their leader and all that nonsense, but it's no coincidence that the locker room was divided in 2005.
Terrell Owens: T.O. was THE BEST thing to come to Philadelphia since Moses Malone. Never has there been an athlete in this town whose arrival has been more publicized since the Sixers acquired Malone in 1982. Every game, you would wait for what T.O. would do when he scored that touchdown (remember the Ray Lewis dance on Halloween 2004?). Say what you want about the man, but he was NEVER boring. He was like Pete Rose: you hated him when he wasn't on your team, but once he was, he became one of our own. Unfortunately, never has there been a quicker fall than the one he took shortly after the Super Bowl in 2005. How he handled himself in the media (sit ups), and at Lehigh later on that summer was a total disgrace. Would the Eagles have rewarded him if he kept his mouth shut and quietly went to the team after Jacksonville? Probably not a chance knowing our owners, but it beats the alternative: T.O. as a Cowboy (ugh!) As I previously had mentioned, there IS a reason why that locker room was divided two years ago.
Andy Reid: This is an even bigger question mark than Donovan McNabb. First and foremost, my heart goes out to Andy Reid for his personal issues that have been well documented throughout the year. Which brings me to my next question: How can he coach this team with a clear head? and/or an effective mind? Maybe he can, maybe he can't. Why do you spend two years waiting fr Jeremy Bloom to show up, but then you cut him right before the first game of the year and have NOBODY to return kicks? I hate to say this, but Bill Bellichick wouldn't be caught dead doing that. If you cut Jeremiah Trotter in camp, why not replace him with a veteran and not immediately by an unproven Omar Gaither?
Sure, this team is now composed of veterans as well as younger players learning the ropes of this complicated system. It's hard to argue with success, but after nine years, have the players finally tuned out Andy Reid? Riley got tuned out in LA, we saw what happened to Larry Bowa in Philly. Due to the fact that there are new players, it's a tough call. Maybe the message worked with the old crew but not the new, or it may just be that these players are just not good enough. On a side note, the fact that the west coast offense has been in effect here for almost a decade and only one high caliber wide receiver has been a part of it still boggles my mind. Your best receiver is a running back. Every time a different QB is in the lineup, the ENTIRE game plan changes and the defense knows this! I just don't get it. I'm not Vince Lombardi, but I'm not Norv Turner either (HA!) I would imagine that either McNabb or Reid will be gone after 2007. A change is needed somewhere.
The ownership- How embarrassing must it have been during Thanksgiving weekend when Jeffrey Lurie met up with Robert Kraft at Gillette Stadium? Probably pretty damn embarrassing. After all, these two teams who were once so close are so far away from each other that there's a better chance of landing on Mars before the Eagles have three Super Bowl rings. Simply put, New England was humiliated by Peyton Manning last January in the AFC Championship Game. So much to the point where they acquired Randy Moss, Dante Stallworth. Those two receivers aren't the sole reason for New England's success in 2007, but it doesn't hurt having those guys on your team in addition to the best surveillance cameras money can buy. Bottom line: they needed to improve their team and they did. The Eagles got Kevin Curtis. A nice receiver, but nowhere near the caliber of Randy Moss. The minute the Eagles were only three point losers to New England in the Super Bowl, this team should have done just that: get the remaining pieces needed to finish the job. Other owners would have handled the Donovan/T.O. scenario better as well. They didn't want to pay Owens, so they took the high road and never bothered to help solve the dispute and move on to finishing what they set out to do: win the big game. I know it's easier said than done, but even if the Eagles took a financial hit (which they would never do with the popularity of football in this town) they would still be in the black if they pulled the necessary steps in order to get this team back to its glory days.
Mr. Banner can pull his number crunching nonsense all he wants. I didn't go to Wharton School of Business, but I do know people who did, and Banner makes it seem wayyyy more complicated than it really is. Truth be told, the ownership of the Eagles doesn't care about a Super Bowl victory, they care about being competitive. As long as the birds are in the thick of things, they will always be happy. If they win, it's a bonus. Sure, the bottom line is the almighty dollar. These men aren't in business for fun. However, don't you think the fans (the one's who take second mortgages out on Super Bowl tickets) are finally entitled their just due? Just once? The town is ready for a change, and they will likely gravitate towards any team that will give them that ray of hope. If the Phillies are smart, they finally would have done what it takes to bring a winner to town. It is theirs for the taking. As we all know, the bait was once again there and as of December 9th, they have failed to take it.
So as far as who is to blame? You be the judge. You can't expect Banner to blatantly say that neither Reid or McNabb would be back next year. It's becoming more and more apparent that this team, with or without McNabb, are simply not good enough, and what they're doing isn't working now. And truth be told, does anyone have faith in this orginization to do the right thing when the time comes anyway? Oh how the mighty have fallen.
Meanwhile, over in Dallas.........................
After all, how often does Brian Westbrook fumble, and the almost automatic Akers boots a field goal (even though the distance was less than normal)? either way, let's just file that under "not very often."
My oh my, times have changed for our boys in green. Our once proud Eagles, long considered the "gold standard" of NFL franchises, couldn't even get a gold medal out of a Cracker Jack box these days. This however, did not happen overnight. A great mid-season surge by the team last year perhaps swept under the rug that the wear and tear is starting to show in the armor, and that the window has indeed closed for our heroes. Never has there been so much drama surrounding a team that hasn't even won a championship. The Oakland A's fought their way to three championships. the Yankees of the 70's did as well. Those of course, are just two examples of many sports teams over the last 35 years. If you look really hard, it would be hard to find another team with more plot twists than an episode of As the World Turns.
Who is to blame for the team's demise and where do we begin? Let's take a look:
Donovan Mcnabb: In all fairness, the man came back from a possible career ending injury to almost start every game this year. For that, Donovan should be commended. However, is he helping or hurting this team by playing? While it is obvious that he is not 100 percent healthy, you can't almost always count of number five to break down some point in mid November. This is a fact not unnoticed by the Eagles brass. Let's just put it this way: there is no coincidence that contract talks were called off after his injury in November 2006. The problem with McNabb is that he makes a lot of amazing plays, but also a lot of dumb mistakes. These are further magnified because they usually come at the worst possible time (Rondee Barber). Is this pure coincidence? Or a major meltdown? The Philly fans who begged for A.J. Feely weren't doing so out of anger towards McNabb, they did it because they want to win so badly. And at this point, they don't care if it's Matt Cavanaugh on the field. Donovan has done very well for himself in his NFL career, and at times he is unfairly scrutinized for doing extremely well, but in the end not well enough. Sure, there were the four straight NFC Championship games (which will probably NEVER happen in this town again, by the way), but Philly hasn't won a title in quite some time. That isn't McNabb's fault, but nonetheless he is the quarterback. And the teams failure to ultimately win the big game more often than not will be placed on his shoulders. This is a notion that McNabb has never acknowledged or really understood. In saying that, do you bring back Donovan next year and surround him with the players it takes to ultimately win the Super Bowl, or has his time come and gone? Will he ever be effective again? If you think a hobbled McNabb is ineffective and the team isn't winning now, try starting a rookie at QB next year.
McNabb's psyche has always been questioned. I always wondered why he never went to bat for T.O. as far as contract extensions were concerned, yet he lobbied for the Eagles front office to sign Brian Westbrook. McNabb had the best season of his career with T.O. as his sidekick. One can only imagine how things would have been if things were handled differently on both sides. Sure, the two of them now speak and they've cleared the air. That's nice. Real nice. Makes me warm and fuzzy inside that two overpaid millionaire athletes can't play nice, but finally kiss and make up. In the meantime, it has been said that the Donovan vs. T.O. feud singlehandedly changed the face of the franchise. I can believe it. Sure, everyone says that Donovan is their leader and all that nonsense, but it's no coincidence that the locker room was divided in 2005.
Terrell Owens: T.O. was THE BEST thing to come to Philadelphia since Moses Malone. Never has there been an athlete in this town whose arrival has been more publicized since the Sixers acquired Malone in 1982. Every game, you would wait for what T.O. would do when he scored that touchdown (remember the Ray Lewis dance on Halloween 2004?). Say what you want about the man, but he was NEVER boring. He was like Pete Rose: you hated him when he wasn't on your team, but once he was, he became one of our own. Unfortunately, never has there been a quicker fall than the one he took shortly after the Super Bowl in 2005. How he handled himself in the media (sit ups), and at Lehigh later on that summer was a total disgrace. Would the Eagles have rewarded him if he kept his mouth shut and quietly went to the team after Jacksonville? Probably not a chance knowing our owners, but it beats the alternative: T.O. as a Cowboy (ugh!) As I previously had mentioned, there IS a reason why that locker room was divided two years ago.
Andy Reid: This is an even bigger question mark than Donovan McNabb. First and foremost, my heart goes out to Andy Reid for his personal issues that have been well documented throughout the year. Which brings me to my next question: How can he coach this team with a clear head? and/or an effective mind? Maybe he can, maybe he can't. Why do you spend two years waiting fr Jeremy Bloom to show up, but then you cut him right before the first game of the year and have NOBODY to return kicks? I hate to say this, but Bill Bellichick wouldn't be caught dead doing that. If you cut Jeremiah Trotter in camp, why not replace him with a veteran and not immediately by an unproven Omar Gaither?
Sure, this team is now composed of veterans as well as younger players learning the ropes of this complicated system. It's hard to argue with success, but after nine years, have the players finally tuned out Andy Reid? Riley got tuned out in LA, we saw what happened to Larry Bowa in Philly. Due to the fact that there are new players, it's a tough call. Maybe the message worked with the old crew but not the new, or it may just be that these players are just not good enough. On a side note, the fact that the west coast offense has been in effect here for almost a decade and only one high caliber wide receiver has been a part of it still boggles my mind. Your best receiver is a running back. Every time a different QB is in the lineup, the ENTIRE game plan changes and the defense knows this! I just don't get it. I'm not Vince Lombardi, but I'm not Norv Turner either (HA!) I would imagine that either McNabb or Reid will be gone after 2007. A change is needed somewhere.
The ownership- How embarrassing must it have been during Thanksgiving weekend when Jeffrey Lurie met up with Robert Kraft at Gillette Stadium? Probably pretty damn embarrassing. After all, these two teams who were once so close are so far away from each other that there's a better chance of landing on Mars before the Eagles have three Super Bowl rings. Simply put, New England was humiliated by Peyton Manning last January in the AFC Championship Game. So much to the point where they acquired Randy Moss, Dante Stallworth. Those two receivers aren't the sole reason for New England's success in 2007, but it doesn't hurt having those guys on your team in addition to the best surveillance cameras money can buy. Bottom line: they needed to improve their team and they did. The Eagles got Kevin Curtis. A nice receiver, but nowhere near the caliber of Randy Moss. The minute the Eagles were only three point losers to New England in the Super Bowl, this team should have done just that: get the remaining pieces needed to finish the job. Other owners would have handled the Donovan/T.O. scenario better as well. They didn't want to pay Owens, so they took the high road and never bothered to help solve the dispute and move on to finishing what they set out to do: win the big game. I know it's easier said than done, but even if the Eagles took a financial hit (which they would never do with the popularity of football in this town) they would still be in the black if they pulled the necessary steps in order to get this team back to its glory days.
Mr. Banner can pull his number crunching nonsense all he wants. I didn't go to Wharton School of Business, but I do know people who did, and Banner makes it seem wayyyy more complicated than it really is. Truth be told, the ownership of the Eagles doesn't care about a Super Bowl victory, they care about being competitive. As long as the birds are in the thick of things, they will always be happy. If they win, it's a bonus. Sure, the bottom line is the almighty dollar. These men aren't in business for fun. However, don't you think the fans (the one's who take second mortgages out on Super Bowl tickets) are finally entitled their just due? Just once? The town is ready for a change, and they will likely gravitate towards any team that will give them that ray of hope. If the Phillies are smart, they finally would have done what it takes to bring a winner to town. It is theirs for the taking. As we all know, the bait was once again there and as of December 9th, they have failed to take it.
So as far as who is to blame? You be the judge. You can't expect Banner to blatantly say that neither Reid or McNabb would be back next year. It's becoming more and more apparent that this team, with or without McNabb, are simply not good enough, and what they're doing isn't working now. And truth be told, does anyone have faith in this orginization to do the right thing when the time comes anyway? Oh how the mighty have fallen.
Meanwhile, over in Dallas.........................
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