Number of the Day: Atlanta Braves' 1 Game Lead in the NL East

Coming into Labor Day, the Braves have a one game lead over the Phillies in the NL East, the division they've led since beating Philadelphia on May 31st and a lead that at one time stood at seven games.

NFC Championship Game Preview: Philadelphia Eagles at the Arizona Cardinals

Next Sunday, Fox will premier The Bucket List, starring Kurt Warner and Donovan McNabb.  




1) Avoid being traded
2) Don't get injured this year
3) Prevent frat boy drafted by franchise from taking starting job
4) Read playbook more than Bible this year
5) Quit fumbling when defensive linemen breathe on me

6) Wear gloves to help with #5
7) Prove I'm not a system quarter back
8) Get benched during season because it adds drama
9) Almost get coach fired
10) Remember how Mike Martz tried to murder me
11) Avoid playing a home game the entire playoffs
12) Win a game on the East coast
13) Make phone call from Giants sideline, resulting in an unsportsmanlike penalty, so people don't get too caught up in thinking I'm a good leader
14) Remember Larry Fitzgerald is Peter Parker
15) Dust off the Edge because it might still be sharp enough to cut up defenses
16) Don't do what Jake Delhomme just did
17) Make sure Brian Westbrook is healthy
18) Pray for Anquan Boldin's hamstring
19) After beating Giants, show that I'm human by holding back emotions just enough not to cry but just enough to gain the fans' sympathy
20) Win NFC Championship game
21) Win Super Bowl

22) Ride off into the sunset  

Riot time in Philly

I don't want to judge others, but I never understood the reasoning behind rioting in the city that you love after a big win or loss. Take College Park, Maryland for example.; One year they blow it in the Final Four. The students react by rioting, flipping cars, burning couches, and smashing shop windows . Next year they win the championship, town reacts by rioting, flipping cars, burning couches and smashing shop windows. The only plausible excuse could be, well its the only night we could do this and get away with it. Of course there is no etiquette book on the nuances of rioting which gives us the correct circumstances on when to riot. But that doesn't mean there shouldn't be a guide for this maniacal behavior.

The most raucous atmosphere I have been a part of was Knoxville 2004, after UT narrowly beat Florida with a game winning field goal. After the game I went through with my usual routine; I went to the strip to eat a late dinner, then went to Carrie and C.J.'s house for some beirut, and then head back to the Pong house for the band and after-party. But something happened, people started to literally lose their mind. I believe it happened due to a mixture of copious amounts of whiskey, the pressure of classes being released, and the fact that UT had just escaped a loss to the Gators. The scene was pure insanity. Computer monitors were being throw off of houses, couches were being burned in the middle of the road, and just absolute anarchy was about.

The thing I remember the most was talking to my old roommate Trey while drinking my typical makers on ice and debating what that guys first thought is going to be in the morning, post-riot. We discussed this guys eventual morning haze for a good thirty minutes, guessing that he would wonder where all his stuff went and then decide to go get the morning paper, to find all of the smashed and/or burnt remnants of his stuff on Highland ave. Or maybe he thinks to himself that he should update his away message but his monitor has gone missing with no clue of where it is. That's the one thing that sticks out to me, the thought of hungover people questioning what happened last night. Going from friend to friend to try to piece together the carnage they were a part of last night.

Last night the citizens of Philadelphia were able to let loose a lot of frustration. After all its been months since the city last enjoyed victory in a championship game. The Philadelphia Soul are this years Arena Bowl champs. These two championships should help the town get over Rocky's recent fictional loss to Mason Dixon.

The aftermath of the celebration; 15 people made trips to the emergency room (11 trauma cases), 76 were arrested, businesses ended up with smashed windows, stores were looted, and some poor soul's car was flipped. Seriously if this is what happens when finally winning after 28 years of futility, I shudder to think of what would happen in Chicago if the Cubs every won one.

World Series: The continuation of game 5

Geoff Jenkins scores, Phils 3- Rays 2

Rocco Baldelli hits a one-run shot to left-center, Phils 3- Rays 3

Pat Burrell hits a double off the wall in center, eventually scores. Phils 4-Rays 3

Lidge comes in and shuts the door for the save. Final: Phils 4- Rays 3. Phillies win series 4-1

And the celebration begins, congratulations Philadelphia.

The number of the day is:

47, as in Brad Lidge recorded his 47th save in 47 chances. The once unreliable closer has become the best closer in baseball, well for this season. I know every time he comes in I am thinking the same thing, when will he blow another one. I remember him better for the meltdown in Houston and the hang-over he pitched with the next season. But I should probably readjust my thoughts of the closer, since arriving in Philadelphia he has been the most reliable pitcher in all of baseball. It really is one of the more impressive turnarounds that I can remember.

The Phillies won last night 3-2 thanks to a great performance by Cole Hamels, a two run home run by Chase Utley, Ruiz knocking in Victorino, and two great innings from Madson and Lidge. Game 2 is tonight at 8:29 on Fox. If you didn't watch the first game or you tuned in late, you missed Fox's introduction to the World Series. The narration is done by Michael Douglas and includes our two Presidential candidates.

Well done Fox, well done indeed. Clip thanks to AA

World Series: Who I'm rooting for

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies are ready and roaring to face-off in this years installment of the October Classic. The two teams have a combined total of one World Series Championships. Tampa Bay has never won one, they have only been around since 1998 and this is the first time they have been to the playoffs let alone the World Series. The two championships for Tampa Bay were won by the Buccanneers in the 2002-2003 season and the Lightning(Thanks Smitty for the reminder) in 2003-2004. The Phillies won their lone World Series Championship in 1980 against George Brett and the Kansas City Royals. The only championships Philly has seen since, include an NBA Championship by the Sixers in 1983 and an Arena Bowl in 2008. Throughout the day I have been pondering on which team/city I should root for. The following list helped me decide;

• Better Fans: The city of Brotherly love or the Sunshine City; Philly has obnoxious fans, but they are about as loyal as they come. The Rays can name all of their loyal fans in about five minutes. They also finished 26th in attendance. (Phils +1)
• Tougher Road to the WS: The Phillies tore through the playoffs, crushed their competition and it ended with them being champs of the NL. The Rays are a young and exciting team, and has had to play two teams with recent World Series championships to get where they are now. (Rays +1)
• Salaries: Now it may sound absurd coming from a Dodger fan (seeing as they have one of the higher payrolls in the bigs) but when I decide on alternative teams to root for I tend to go for the team with the lower payroll. Everyone loves an underdog right? The Phillies payroll is ranked 13th at a modest $98 million, pretty close to the league average. However the Rays are ranked 29th at a ridiculously efficient $43 million. (Rays +1)
• Players to root for: The Phillies may have the impossible to hate Shane Victorino , but I went to middle school with BJ Upton (Rays +1)
• Ballpark: The Phillies play in one of the nicer ball parks in all of baseball while the Rays play in a glorified warehouse. Seriously why build a dome in Florida? (Phils +1)
• Better Food: Each baseball stadium has food that is unique to that city. In Boston its Fenway Franks, in Baltimore its Boog's BBQ, and in DC its Bens Chili Bowl. The Phillies have Rick's Steaks and the Rays have Ybor City Cubans. Rick's steaks is run by the grandson of the owner of Pat's King of Steaks. The biggest debate over the years in Phily has been "Pats or Genos?" and apparently the Phillies chose Pats. The grandson of the king will clearly win this battle, yet I can always go for a good cuban. (Phils +1)
  

Final score 3-3. Its a wash, but I think we are all winners since we don't have to endure another year of annoying S.I. ads that involve the Red Sox. It should be an exciting series to watch and I look forward to it. The World Series kicks off Weds. from Tropicana at 8:35 on Fox.

Phillies 4 LA 1

Congratulations to the Phillies, they were the better team and are deserving of whats ahead of them. Even with the disappointment this series has brought, it has been a terrific year watching the Dodgers play. Torre has been a stabilizing force, something that has been lacking since Tommy reitred. Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier evolved into everyday players, while James Loney is getting better with each at bat. Manny helped revive the team, like no other could. Even if he never plays another inning in Los Angeles, I will be a fan for life. I know the way he ended up playing for the Dodgers wasn't the right way, but I didn't mind it much when he put the team on his back for the final stretch of the season.

No one believed they could be playoff contenders, let alone have the ability to reach the NLCS. Not when the biggest off-season acquisition showed up looking like the Michelin man, not when the Diamondbacks were the best team in baseball, not when Furcal went down to injury and what seemed like the rest of the team soon followed, and not even when they won the division. The Dodgers did a lot of things to prove their doubters wrong, and even though they are not in the World Series they have something to build upon.

The core of the team is young and should get better with age and their new found playoff experience. This was a great season to be a Dodger fan. I am happy they finally won a playoff series in my adult life. I'm also elated that my best playoff memories of the team involve more than Jose Lima. I can't wait to see who they sign and who they keep. But most of all I can't wait until spring training to see how the big blue wrecking crew shape up, just so I can start this roller coaster all over again. Go Dodgers!

Philly 3 LA 1

Last nights game will be now known as "the game of which we do not speak" as it was amazing at times and soul crushing just moments later. Game 5 will be played Wednesday at 8:22 on Fox. Cole Hamels will start for the Phillies while Chad Billingsley will start for the Dodgers. I am still thinking blue, and I think its time we bring some mojo back to the big blue wrecking crew. So with that, its time for some Ozomatli...

The number of the day is:

4, for this being the fourth time the Phillies and Dodgers have met in the NLCS. Which is the second-most frequent NLCS match-up of all-time behind Cincinnati-Pittsburgh. The Reds and Pirates have met in the NLCS five times (1970, 1972, 1975, 1979, 1990), while the Dodgers and Phillies will have met four times (1977, 1978, 1983, 2008). No other match-up has occurred more than twice. This will be the first time the Dodgers have met the Phillies in a best-of-seven NLCS, the three previous meetings were all best-of-five, and each of the three went four games. Dodgers won in '77 and '78, Phillies won in '83.

The two teams split the season series 4-4, with both clubs sweeping their home games. This series has the potential of being a fantastic one, with both clubs matching up well throughout their respected lineups.

The number of the day is:

100, for the Washington Nationals lost their 100th game last night. The first time the franchise has lost that many games since the Montreal Expos were 55-107 in 1976. Ryan Howard hit his major league-leading 48th homer, Joe Blanton pitched six effective innings, and as the Nationals reached a terrible milestone the Phillies moved closer to clinching the NL East title with an 8-4 victory. The Phillies' magic number for winning their second straight division championship was reduced to one after the New York Mets lost 6-1 to the Florida Marlins.

Also of note, Jimmy Rollins set a career-high with his 47th stolen base. He's been caught just three times. Ryan Howard's 32 RBIs this month are a team record for SeptembeR, he also leads all first basemen with 10 errors.

Intro Post

Well kids, it's official... I'm now a Lawn Chair Boy. And as Langston mentioned I'm also a die hard Philly sports fan and LCB's token hockey guy. Well, as fate would have it, mere hours after being asked to join LCB earlier this week, Ed Snider announced that the Spectrum is scheduled to meet the same demise as the Vet following the Phantoms 2008-09 season. I can't help feeling that another little piece of my childhood will be demolished along with that stadium. Sure the Wachovia Center is great but those Stanley Cup Champion banners hanging from the rafters weren't won on that ice. So in tribute to the former home of the Flyers and 76ers I thought I would highlight some of the memorable events the Spectrum played host to over the years. While not the bastion of sports history that is Yankee Stadium, the Spectrum's death sentence is nontheless worthy of lament.

The Spectrum has held countless concerts over the years and artists like Bob Marley, Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, The Who, and Guns 'N' Roses have graced the stage. The Grateful Dead played there 53 times!

NCAA Basketball: In addition to hosting tons of games for Philly's Big 5, the Spectrum was the frequent cite of the A-10 tournament. Remember Christian Laettner's last second jumper to beat Kentucky in '92? That was at the Spectrum. That same court hosted the Final Four in '76 and '81... good memories for you Hoosier fans out there.

The NBA Finals were played there 4 times including the Sixers World Championship in 1983. (That happens to be the last time us Philly fans had a championship to celebrate. I was 2.) NBA All-Star games were held at the Spectrum in '70 and '76.

It is the current home of the Flyers AHL affiliate Philadelphia Phantoms (2 time Calder Cup champions), the MISL's Philadelphia Kixx, and on Saturdays the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul.

The NHL All-Star game was held there in '76 and again in '92. It was on the Spectrum ice in 1976 that the Flyers became the first NHL club to beat the Soviet Red Army team. And of course, the Stanley Cup Finals were played on that same ice 6 times with the Flyers winning in '74 and '75. (Not bad for a team that entered the NHL as part of the intial 1967 expansion.)

And a wide eyed 7 year old boy who dressed as Bobby Clarke for Halloween and idolized Rick Tocchet will never forget the first time he stepped foot in the Spectrum for the first time and saw those banners proudly displayed in tribute to past glory.

http://rememberthespectrum.com/