R.I.P. Brooksie

In remembrance of one of the truly great Philadelphia sports personalities. Tom Brookshire, dead at 78. I never saw 'em play football for the Philadelphia Eagles, but I heard he was a great one. My first memory was the duo of Tom Brookshier and Pat Summerall doing CBS football broadcasts. Before there was John Madden with (take your pick), there was Pat Summerall and Madden, and before there was Summerall and Madden, Brookshire and Summerall was the gold standard for NFL broadcasting.

I remember how inviting he was as a radio show host in the mornin’ on the fledgling WIP sports radio station. It is easy to argue that Brooksie was the genesis of sports talk radio in Philly today.

RIP

Lakers gear on Sale at the Sixers Game?

So I was part of the sellout crowd tonight at the Wach center to see the annual Sixers vs Lakers game. Even if the Sixers don't win (and that was not likely) it's always a good show. Tonite was no different. AI and Kobe put on a show in the 3rd period. Iverson had his best game of the season and Kobe was the Black Mambia. But the Sixers found another way to lose. This time it was turnovers (20). I hear the game was followed by another round of ridiculous statements from coach Eddie Jordon. It doesn't bother me anymore.

I didn't mind the loads of Lakers fans at the game either. Hey they are the world champs. They are leading the western conference and as some genius on WIP proclaimed "That Kobe guys is pretty good".

No, what bothered me was to see Lakers gear ... Yes, Lakers gear proudly on display and for sale at the Wachovia Center. Pardon me but isn't that sacrilege! You don't sell the opposing teams gear. Even if your team stinks. Even if that team is the world champion.

How low can they go? How desperate has this organization become? Have they no pride?

Has the ranks of the faithful fallen off so much that they see salvation in fair weather and front runner fans? Perhaps they should just open a Dick's Sporting goods store.

I'm appalled!

How stupid is this guy?

I guess this will be the hot topic in sports today. David Stern suspends Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton for the remainder of the season for the stupid gun incident. Sentencing by the courts is still pending. Here is the official statement from the NBA.

All over a gambling debt. Again stupid. Some, link Mitch Lawrence at the NY Daily News think Stern did not go far enuff. I’m sure there will be some who will say it is too harsh for a stupid mistake.

After all it’s not like anyone was harmed … it’s not like he choked somebody .. right?

The one thing that will not be debated is that it was stupid … and criminal of course.

Stupid is what stupid does.

Sixers bow down to the Bucks

I guess I’ve just been de-programmed to expect this. The Sixers and Bucks have similar records. Which is to say … bad. So the game was a ragged affair. The sloppy play, poor substitutions, and 4th quarter swoon are all part of the script.

Unlike Monday’s game the Sixers returned to feeding Brand in the post. EB responded with a season high 26 points. But all I will remember his that he missed a bunny layup in the last seconds of the game that would have tied it.

My hope they could turn last Friday’s win over the Mavs into a winning streak or finish the week 3-1 was just a foolish dream. I’ll head down to the arena tomorrow to hear the raucous crowd cheer/boo Kobe.

All or Nothing: Errors Key in Sixers' Loss to Bucks

Taking stock of 76ers: Not pretty

I love to read the Sunday paper. It’s a guilty pleasure that helps keep my perspective about the world. Kate Fagan’s writing for the Sixers beat has become a guilty pleasure and likewise helps keep my perspective on my world (the Sixers). Today’s insider story; Inside the Sixers: Taking stock of 76ers: Not pretty was sobering. I know there are others like myself that are amazed at her frankness. It is all to common for the media to become chummy with the team they cover on a daily basis (becoming less objective). It’s a wonder she still has a job.

While the article reaffirmed much of what I already knew, the revelation that others in team management (or close to it) wondered aloud that Eddie Jordon was not the right guy, before the season started, was an eye opener.

The Sixers had a nice win over the Pacers Saturday nite. Once again EB was the rock the Sixers swam to in the storm. I’m okay with that. Beating teams like the Pacers is what’s needed for them to reach the playoffs in the retched Eastern conference. That probably won’t get Eddie Jordon fired, but I just can’t stand losing. And I can’t see winning the John Wall sweepstakes. There are just too many bad teams out there.

So I will be rolling down to the Wac center Monday nite. Cheering for another win over the Pacers. No it’s not pretty, but what’s a die hard fan to do?

New Bench Powers Sixers over Mavs for the win

If there is anything good you could say about the grinding 82 game NBA schedule, it would be that after a disappointing loss like Wednesdays loss to Portland there is always a new game in a day or two. So there is little time to brood. You just have to get up for the next game.

Eddie Jordon started a new line-up tonite. Sittin’ Thad Young and Lou Williams for Elton Brand and Jrue Holliday.  If you have been watching at all, YungsMuv21 has not been playing well lately and Brand has been one of the few steady performers. For Williams it was not so much about his performance but about overall team defense. Jordon stopped just short of saying it, but the combination of Williams & Iverson in the backcourt is just too frickin’ short. Teams were posting up Iverson to start the game and sending the Sixers chasing their tails to cover it up. And lets face it …. Eddie Jordon does not have the balls to sit Iverson. So Lou was the odd man out. Holliday played only 15 minutes, but he did set the defense tone the Sixers needed.

It is hard to tell how much this new look will work out because the bench outscored the starters tonite. Thad Young-is-smooth was electric. Scoring 18 point in the 1st half. He was spinning and hoopin’ and loopin’ and giving Dallas fits. The combination of Thad and Williams played extended minutes in the 2nd period. Which took a lot of pressure off the starters. The most exciting thing about this Sixers win was (1) They played good defense. Sure I agree that Dirk was off tonite, but the Sixers held the Mavs 19 points under their average. (2) The Sixers forged a 12 point lead going into the 4th period and held on to win the game. (3) the Sixers beat a very good team tonite (not just a team with a winning record).

So I feel a lot better than I did this mornin’, but I gotta keep it real. The true test is to keep it going. They play 4 games in the next  7 days. A 2 game Home and Home series with the Pacers (15-28), a road game versus the Bucks (17-24), and the Lakers Show next Friday. Seriously, I don’t think 3-1 is too much to ask for …  seriously.

Remember the tragedy in Haiti

As time goes by it is easy to forget the tragedy in Haiti. The big media machine is always looking for something new. But the tragedy does not stop when the media lights are off. The poorest country in the world is still in shambles.

For his part, Samuel Dalembert has been remarkable. He continues to beat the drum for his struggling homeland. If you know anything about Sammy, you know his charity is not something new. It is not merely the result of recent events. Sammy has demonstrated his concern for those in need throughout his career. Those tears are genuine.

In an age where athletes are castigated for there behavior outside the game, Sammy stands out. Putting basketball aside for a moment. You gotta respect the guy for his efforts.

HATI FACTS

Population: 9 Million
Median Age: 20.2 Years
Life expectancy at birth: 60.78 years
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 2.2%
Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,    hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis
Ethnic Groups: 95% Black, 5% white or mulatto
Religions: 80% Roman Cathloc, 16% Protestant
Languages: French, Creole
Literacy Rate: 52.9%

History

The native Taino Amerindians - who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when it was discovered by COLUMBUS in 1492 - were virtually annihilated by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola. In 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island, which later became Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean but only through the heavy importation of African slaves and considerable environmental degradation. In the late 18th century, Haiti's nearly half million slaves revolted under Toussaint L'OUVERTURE. After a prolonged struggle, Haiti became the first black republic to declare independence in 1804. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history.

Is this Sanctimony or Sanity

I don’t know what this is .. Sanctimony or Sanity. My blog has been empty for over a month. It is not that I have not been watching my Sixers … or attending games …. or reading my fellow bloggers like Ricky, Liberty Ballers, and the the Depressed Fan. I still read Kate Fagan’s articles everyday on Philly.com …

I just can’t seem to get up for it like I used to. January is a rockin’ month for the 76ers over the last few years. We watch them gel as a team on the annual holiday left coast road trip. Then rip off several 5-6-7 game win streaks on the way to the all star break.

(sigh) Its sad to think that those were the good old days. Nowadays , there is no sizzle.

I watched Mondays matinee tape delayed on TiVo. No bigee. Sometimes life gets in the way and you can’t watch the game live. I started watching a couple of hours after tip-off. And I’m enjoying the game. I was at the game last Friday nite (a win over the Kings) and I was anxious to see them string a few wins together. Enter the Minnesota Timberwolves. A rarity in the NBA. They are a team with a worse record than the Sixers. The Perfect storm, right?

So I’m the digging the game. Its the 2nd period and my buddy calls me up. “Hey can you believe the Sixers blew a 20 point lead!”. I fell off my couch … WHAT! They lose this game? ”Yeah” he says  “They just lost in overtime”. I was incensed. I turned off my TV and nearly threw my remote at the screen. I could not watch another second.

So on Wednesday, I somehow forgot that we were playing Portland. What’s wrong with me? I actually tune into the end of the game. 41 seconds left and the 76ers are down 4. There’s a timeout and Eddie J is dazzling everyone with his offensive brilliance. Exiting the timeout, Iggy puts up a lame 3 pointer that clanks off the rim. I knew it was over. Hell the Sixers knew it was over.

“Thank goodness I didn't have to watch the whole thing” I’m thinking to myself.What’s wrong with me? Why am I so jaded. I have seen worse in my 30 years as a 76ers fan.

Somebody help me make sense of all this!