An estimated 1,500 Philly sports fans and good Samaritans lined up to give blood in exchange for sports jerseys yesterday at the Wachovia Center. It was quite a scene to see so many dedicated individuals looking to help save lives yesterday.
Kudos should be given to the American Red Cross for running a smooth blood drive and to the Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Wings, and Philadelphia Phantoms for offering up free replica jerseys for all donors. This is their third year holding this blood drive. It's a win-win for all people involved and I hope it will continue and grow throughout the years.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Oh Well
Well, I stand corrected. Having predicted a playoff victory for the Eagles today, I must say that the Cards are deserving of a Super Bowl berth.
The Cardinals' offense was on a roll, and their defense, though not dominant, held their own. The Eagles gave a good fight, but got outplayed.
Some mysteries from the game:
-What happened to David Akers? He missed a field goal, extra point, and kicked a kick off out of bounds.
-What was Quentin Demps doing out there? He got burned several times and had a ridiculous penalty.
-How was there no pass interference on the Eagles' last pass of the game to Kevin Curtis? Maybe it wasn't a hack job, but seemed noticeable enough that a flag should have been called.
Well, whatever, I'm not going to go all sour grapes up in here. Eagles lost, time to move on.
The Cardinals' offense was on a roll, and their defense, though not dominant, held their own. The Eagles gave a good fight, but got outplayed.
Some mysteries from the game:
-What happened to David Akers? He missed a field goal, extra point, and kicked a kick off out of bounds.
-What was Quentin Demps doing out there? He got burned several times and had a ridiculous penalty.
-How was there no pass interference on the Eagles' last pass of the game to Kevin Curtis? Maybe it wasn't a hack job, but seemed noticeable enough that a flag should have been called.
Well, whatever, I'm not going to go all sour grapes up in here. Eagles lost, time to move on.
Today's Battle of the Birds
The soaring Eagles take on the high-flying Cardinals today in the City of Desertly Love to determine which team earns a trip to the Super Bowl. Should be quite a battle as both teams have been hot during the playoffs.
Yesterday I watched the classic movie Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid. Very apropos to today's game. In the movie, the two "gentlemen bandits" get chased by a squad of hired hitmen, so to speak, who are hot on the trail of the two wanted gunmen. What ensues is an epic chase where the two outlaws try every trick in the book to get away from their followers. Ultimately, they head for the hills to escape capture. I have a feeling that is what today's game will be like. A back and forth chase, where one false move could determine the outcome of the game. And with the backdrop of the Squaw Peak/Piestewa Peak, it's eerie how much the movie and the game could have in common. Well, metaphorically, at least.
That said, I think the favored Eagles do pull it out by less than a TD, 27-24, and wind up flying down to Tampa for a final battle with another bird team... the Baltimore Ravens.
Yesterday I watched the classic movie Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid. Very apropos to today's game. In the movie, the two "gentlemen bandits" get chased by a squad of hired hitmen, so to speak, who are hot on the trail of the two wanted gunmen. What ensues is an epic chase where the two outlaws try every trick in the book to get away from their followers. Ultimately, they head for the hills to escape capture. I have a feeling that is what today's game will be like. A back and forth chase, where one false move could determine the outcome of the game. And with the backdrop of the Squaw Peak/Piestewa Peak, it's eerie how much the movie and the game could have in common. Well, metaphorically, at least.
That said, I think the favored Eagles do pull it out by less than a TD, 27-24, and wind up flying down to Tampa for a final battle with another bird team... the Baltimore Ravens.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Give Blood and Get Goods
I recently saw a commercial during a Flyers game that promoted an upcoming blood drive at the Wachovia Center on January 24th, benefiting the American Red Cross. The bonus is that all blood donors will receive a free replica jersey from the Flyers, Sixers, Phantoms, or Wings. But then I looked for it online for more information and had the darnedest time trying to find it. So if you're interested in helping save a life or two by giving blood, and you want to get a free sports jersey out of the deal, here's the link to sign up:
http://www.pleasegiveblood.org/feature/flyers-and-76ers--2009-blood-drive.html
This is a great event, but I'm not sure why it was so secretive to find online. Anyway, sign up today!
http://www.pleasegiveblood.org/feature/flyers-and-76ers--2009-blood-drive.html
This is a great event, but I'm not sure why it was so secretive to find online. Anyway, sign up today!
Phair Weather Phans: Phoenix, not Philly
So the Arizona Cardinals will be hosting the Philadelphia Eagles in the Battle of the Birds, at next Sunday's NFC Conference Championship game.
And surprise, surprise, demand is at an all time high in Arizona as the tickets sold out in six minutes, according to this Inquirer article.
But also in that article it states that the Wild Card game that the Cardinals hosted needed an extension in time to sell out the game, or else it would have been blacked out.
Way to go Cards fans, you really showed your true colors there.
Meanwhile I guarantee you that there will be plenty of green in the seats as Philadelphia Eagles fans trek down to Phoenix to show them what real sports fans are all about.
Can you imagine a playoff game in Philly NOT selling out... ever? P-shaw! :-)
And surprise, surprise, demand is at an all time high in Arizona as the tickets sold out in six minutes, according to this Inquirer article.
But also in that article it states that the Wild Card game that the Cardinals hosted needed an extension in time to sell out the game, or else it would have been blacked out.
Way to go Cards fans, you really showed your true colors there.
Meanwhile I guarantee you that there will be plenty of green in the seats as Philadelphia Eagles fans trek down to Phoenix to show them what real sports fans are all about.
Can you imagine a playoff game in Philly NOT selling out... ever? P-shaw! :-)
Sunday, January 11, 2009
My Outlandish Prediction for Today's Eagles v. Giants Game...
Sav Rocca fumbles a long snap in overtime... BUT recovers the ball, stiff arms 3 players and returns for a TD!!!! EAGLES WIN 6-0!!!!
Get ready for the Thunda from Down Unda!
Get ready for the Thunda from Down Unda!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Ugly Win? I Think Not
The Philadelphia Inquirer's Bob Ford wrote a column entitled "Eagles win ugly, but they win" after the Eagles beat the Vikings yesterday in Minnesota to advance in the playoffs.
In the column, he goes on to say that Donovan McNabb turned the ball over twice, there were times when they should have scored touchdowns instead of field goals, and tackles were missed on defense. Okay... and?
I don't know what better way there is to say this, but when you get to the playoffs, you're playing the cream of the crop in the league. Chances are your opponents are going to come out and play you tough and force things to happen against your team. That's the name of the game. Even though the Eagles weren't "perfect" they showed a solid team effort and stuck with it the whole game. Personally, that's all I can ask of a team. True, in games in the past, the Eagles have collectively dogged it (see: Eagles v. Cincinnati, November 16, 2008). But that didn't happen yesterday, and the word ugly should not play into it.
Sometimes I just get this feeling that if Coach Andy Reid and McNabb don't execute to perfection in a game, so many people in this city get up in arms. And this column is a perfect example of this micromanagement by fans. Like I said to a friend who kept sending me emails during the game, sarcastically pointing out the Eagles' faults... chill out! Enjoy the team, enjoy the game, and if they lose, THEN you can have some concern, especially if they played an ugly game.
Let's just say that if the Eagles can score 26 points in a game, and win by double digits, I'll take that "ugly" win any day of the week.
In the column, he goes on to say that Donovan McNabb turned the ball over twice, there were times when they should have scored touchdowns instead of field goals, and tackles were missed on defense. Okay... and?
I don't know what better way there is to say this, but when you get to the playoffs, you're playing the cream of the crop in the league. Chances are your opponents are going to come out and play you tough and force things to happen against your team. That's the name of the game. Even though the Eagles weren't "perfect" they showed a solid team effort and stuck with it the whole game. Personally, that's all I can ask of a team. True, in games in the past, the Eagles have collectively dogged it (see: Eagles v. Cincinnati, November 16, 2008). But that didn't happen yesterday, and the word ugly should not play into it.
Sometimes I just get this feeling that if Coach Andy Reid and McNabb don't execute to perfection in a game, so many people in this city get up in arms. And this column is a perfect example of this micromanagement by fans. Like I said to a friend who kept sending me emails during the game, sarcastically pointing out the Eagles' faults... chill out! Enjoy the team, enjoy the game, and if they lose, THEN you can have some concern, especially if they played an ugly game.
Let's just say that if the Eagles can score 26 points in a game, and win by double digits, I'll take that "ugly" win any day of the week.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Clever Television Programming
On one channel sports fans can find the Miami Dolphins playing against the Baltimore Ravens in an AFC playoff Wild Card game.
On another channel, movie buffs can watch Ace Ventura, Pet Detective solve the crime of what happened to the Dolphins' mascot Snowflake, right before a pending Super Bowl game between the Dolphins and the Philadelphia Eagles.
After the Dolphins' game at 4:30, the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC playoff Wild Card game.
Well played.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Outdoor Hockey: Fun but Fan-Friendly?
I love the concept of the NHL hosting outdoor hockey games. It's sports the way sports were played as kids. The elements play a role in the game, not to mention that any cold weather city never gets to have a Super Bowl, so at least this is some consolation.
Today the Chicago Blackhawks are hosting the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field. It's blustery and a bit snowy there today, making for perfect hockey conditions and a fun atmosphere.
I just wonder how fan-friendly it is to watch in person.
As a comparison, when attending an Eagles game, one can watch the game as it progresses on the field, or if, say, you are sitting really low behind one end zone but all the action is happening at the opposite end zone, you can watch the humongous scoreboard as the play unfolds. Otherwise, it's very difficult to see.
In today's "Winter Classic," (as it's being billed... though I'm not sure an annual game that's three years into the making can truly be considered a "classic," but I digress), the hockey rink is set up over the infield of Wrigley, and the fans are seated in the regular baseball seats. And there's no jumbotron scoreboard to get an up close view. So I must ask... can a fan on the second level or in the outfield really see much of anything? The puck is so small to begin with that it must be an eyestrain just to tell what's going on.
Last year I was very excited about the rumors of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers playing a game in Penn State's Beaver Stadium. It sounds like a tremendous idea, with the possibility of 100,000+ fans coming out to a mid-state battleground. But would it be too much like watching ants chasing arond a pebble from 50 rows up in the stands? Perhaps it doesn't even matter and fans would just go to enjoy the cold weather...
Today the Chicago Blackhawks are hosting the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field. It's blustery and a bit snowy there today, making for perfect hockey conditions and a fun atmosphere.
I just wonder how fan-friendly it is to watch in person.
As a comparison, when attending an Eagles game, one can watch the game as it progresses on the field, or if, say, you are sitting really low behind one end zone but all the action is happening at the opposite end zone, you can watch the humongous scoreboard as the play unfolds. Otherwise, it's very difficult to see.
In today's "Winter Classic," (as it's being billed... though I'm not sure an annual game that's three years into the making can truly be considered a "classic," but I digress), the hockey rink is set up over the infield of Wrigley, and the fans are seated in the regular baseball seats. And there's no jumbotron scoreboard to get an up close view. So I must ask... can a fan on the second level or in the outfield really see much of anything? The puck is so small to begin with that it must be an eyestrain just to tell what's going on.
Last year I was very excited about the rumors of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers playing a game in Penn State's Beaver Stadium. It sounds like a tremendous idea, with the possibility of 100,000+ fans coming out to a mid-state battleground. But would it be too much like watching ants chasing arond a pebble from 50 rows up in the stands? Perhaps it doesn't even matter and fans would just go to enjoy the cold weather...
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