You know when the boss gave me a rang today asking if I could get a blog going, I was like yeah I’ll get to it sure but had no idea what I was going to write about. Today I was watching Game of Thrones “Battle of the Bastards” and couldn’t help but think how much Ramsay Bolton reminds me of Roger Goodell. Words that came to mind were evil, heinous, awful, etc. Got me thinking, who else in Game of Thrones is relatable to a sports icon? Let’s roll.
Pictured here we see Sandor “The Hound” Clegane compared to Kicking and Screaming star Ambrose. Ambrose is the giant towering over everyone. Not only is their size similar, but the way they talk as well. Very short, blunt, responses. If you are reading this and complain because you haven’t seen Kicking and Screaming, f*ck off.
I mean talk about one hit wonders. “Linsanity” was the worst and I can’t even remember how long it lasted. All I know is that one season was enough for the guy. For Robb Stark, just what an idiot. Just marry the Fray girl and not that smoke of a healer/nurse or whatever she was! Robb literally won that one battle where they captured Jaime Lannister, and then what? The battle against that tree he fought after Ned Stark died (shoutout Ned and yikes sucks for you if that’s a spoiler)? Robb was an awesome character, but a total bust.
Not even gonna explain this one
Tormund Giantsbane and All-Star WWE Wrestler Shamus. These guys rock. First off, they’re Irish, well if they had Irish people in Game of Thrones Tormund would definitely be Irish. Two they have red hair, great hair color (something Patty Doubletime and I share in common!!). Three, well look at them they’re identical. Tormund drinks milk from giants in the show, and no doubt Shamus dabbles in the giant’s milk game.
Ummm, someone call the neighborhood watch? Petyr “Little Finger” Baelish and Ben McAdoo get it together! Those mustaches it’s just like what? Why would you do that to yourself? For Little Finger, he goes off falling in love with a minor in Sansa Stark. He is literally a sex offender. Also owns a brothel. McAdoo got nothing to his name now except being the guy who ruined the Big Apple for Odell. Just two really bad looks for these guys (although Little Finger was an awesome character, Ben McAdoo just sucks).
That’s all I got for this week. Stay tuned for next week’s five comparisons! Hint: Sir Jorah Mormont will be compared *eyes emoji*.
With the recent news that Rob Manfred is not confident that we will have baseball this year, many fans like me are dismayed. On top of that, there is a large faction of NBA players who disapprove returning to play due to various concerns. But yet, the league with players making far less than the MLB and NBA, is going to have no problem returning to the ice in the NHL.
The fact that there has been no uproar from NHL players is intriguing to say the least. The playoff bracket is less than the ideal, as unless you have a first round bye you will be subjected to a five game series. A five game series is not optimal, as teams who would have had no business being in the Stanley Cup playoffs, now have a better chance to make it out of the first round.
This notion holds true as in Hockey anything can happen. The highest paid players in the NHL make around what some NBA bench players have as salaries. Not to mention that in my opinion the NHL return to play plan is the worst among these 3 major sports leagues. But yet they are eager to come back and play, unlike factions of players in the NBA, and MLB.
In the MLB it is widely reported that the owners are being unreasonable, and trying to undercompensate players. For example, if you make 37 million a year, you will now probably make around 7 to 8 million. Look is that bullshit? Sure, But I have a tough time feeling any sympathy for anyone who is set to make millions of dollars in any occupation. Not to mention that it is widely reported that the MLB will be losing 600,000 dollars for every game that is played without fans. That is a shit ton of money, as players in the NHL are going to be coming back to play for chump change. The MLB is already a dying brand as it is, as the NBA has already passed baseball as the number two sport in america. Their social media presence is lackluster to say the least, and without a season of content the disconnect between baseball and the younger generation will grow further and further apart. The players need to realize that for the sake of the game, take a pay cut like every other business in America is doing.
The NBA is a much more complicated situation. A season will happen, but there are players who are causing an uproar about returning. Guys like Kyrie Irving are calling for his fellow players to boycott the season due the issue of systemic racism. The Black Lives Matter movement is something that definitely deserves attention, and since the death of George Floyd it has been at the forefront of american society. So that is why I believe that NBA players should return to play, and use their platform to incite change. If Kyrie Irving and other players want to take a stand against racism, why not come back and play? The NBA is a perfect platform to get your message across, and now more than others we need help unite this nation. Sports brings people together whether you are black, white or yellow. Sitting out due to racism is understandable don’t get me wrong, but it will only further the divide in our nation.
The NBA and MLB players need to take a page out of the NHL’s playbook. Whether it’s issues of greed, or systemic racism, players should come back because now more than ever, we need sports in this country.
Here at Day Trading for Dummies, I strive to put forth entertaining quality that should not be taken seriously in any regard. However, When I carry out a public execution of a stock and said stock responds with a wild 1000% move to the positive side, it warrants an official response from the man himself. I will never hide behind my computer and let some shit stonk like HTZ put me into a bodybag so here is my official statement: If any of you haven’t been reading my blogs for the past week, 1. F*** you, 2. I need to provide a little background. I basically said how HTZ was a shitty stonk for losing me money, put them on my “dead to me” list, and wrote them off because they declared bankruptcy. Immediately following my blog, HTZ proceeds to rise by nearly 1000%. Many chirped me and called me names including, but not limited to: Idiot, moron, and Needle D*ck. I am here today to say that I deserved this backlash as I did not trust the number 1 rule of trading. Stonks always go up. It was a tough lesson to learn but I have to face the music and own up to idiot impulse trading. Going forward I will be rooting against HTZ with everything I got. I hate HTZ and I hate their stupid CEO who declared bankruptcy and then, as Duo Lipa would say, “Did a full 180”. Hopefully hertz will go halt operations soon since they suck and have no money. Also, I will no longer be capitalizing hertz.
In my previous article I talked about what entertainment industries hold the most impactful role models, ranging from Hollywood to sports. I delved in the world of media, and how ultimately its role makes athletes the most emotionally pulling in terms of role models. However, that is a fan’s view. What about the other side? Do all athletes feel they hold the “job” of acting as role models for fans around the world? Certainly, in times like today with those panicking about the current pandemic, or those wanting to join the fight to end social injustice, you would think an athlete would put their voice out there to guide people. Many have, but do they want to hold that power? We’ll have to go back into history to find out the answer, with National Basketball Association (NBA) player Charles Barkley starting the debate for this aspect.
Take a look at this 1993 video, famously known as the “I Am Not a Role Model” Nike commercial:
“I am not a role model…I am not paid to be a role model…parents should be role models…just because I can dunk a basketball does not mean I should be raising your kids.” Ok so keep in mind those quotes, and then watch this interview between Barkley and Dr. Phil:
I love this interview because of the way Barkley attacks the media. He calls them out for twisting his words and putting out negative views of his commercial, which is very true, it is what the media does, they manipulate people. So point one to Barkley in that aspect, because he did that commercial having the best intentions, unlike what the media says. The other question I have for this commercial is, was this the right way to exploit Barkley’s message?
Barkley states in his interview with Dr. Phil that 90% of the letters Nike received about the commercial were positive. While the Nike advertisers were shocked, Barkley knew they would be positive. After touring schools around the country, Barkley realized white students and African American had different goals in life, with white students wanting to pursue doctoring and lawyering, and African American students wanting to pursue sports.
With this in mind, Barkley began to develop the idea for the “I Am Not a Role Model” commercial, which had the intent to break a social barrier, and not necessarily the intent the media relayed to the country. For this I applaud Barkley, as I’m sure many others do. I mean it had a 90% approval rating. When talking about the effect of the commercial, Barkley says how he did not want to damage his reputation as a role model, he simply wanted to show another side to the aspect of role models.
However, every debate has a rebuttal. This comes in former Oklahoma college football player J.C. Watts, who claims “it is much more important to be a good citizen than a good athlete.” Watts looks at the other side of Barkley’s commercial, the one that impacted those 10% of letters. In the commercial, Barkley says “I am paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court.” This is the one part that I didn’t like because as Watts pointed out, that sentence focused too much on sports if Barkley was truly going for a different angle. To say “paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court” seems irrelevant and out of context. This is because Barkley does acknowledge being a role model can be important, but that line contradicts that.
This all took place more than 25 years ago, yet we still see athletes towering as role models. Perhaps Barkley’s message went unnoticed, or perhaps the impact athletes can have on a person is too strong for anyone to stop it. With the media surrounding athletes constantly, we see their thoughts on politics, music tastes, video games, almost anything. So does Barkley make a good point? Yes, he does if what he said was truly his angle. Was it? Who knows, but in today’s world athletes will be heard no matter what.
I’d like to think that worship towards athletes is commonly shared between whites and African Americans, and Barkley played a role in starting that conversation. That is the impact athletes can have. But do they want that power? We’ll never know unless an athlete does the same thing as Barkley. In today’s world, with the media vying for any chance to make a headline story, even if it means damaging an athlete’s image, who knows if an athlete will vocalize their opinions against what is expected. If there’s any time to do it, it’s now.
Mets fans clamoring for new ownership may be getting closer to their wish as Josh Harris and David Blitzer have emerged as “serious” suitors, The Post reported Monday.
But what would a Harris and Blitzer-owned Mets franchise look like if a deal eventually comes to fruition?
There is some precedent for that. Harris and Blitzer bought the 76ers in 2011 and then purchased a majority stake in the Devils in 2013. In the 13 years before they bought the 76ers, the team had made the playoffs nine times; in nine years since, the 76ers have made three postseason appearances.
And in the 25 years before they bought the Devils, the team had made the playoffs 21 times, including five trips to the Stanley Cup; in the seven years since, the Devils have been to the postseason just once.
Here’s a look at how those franchises have fared since Harris and Blitzer took control, with the best and worst moves under their watch (New York Post)
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? Josh Harris, the man who has assembled the worst front office personnel the Philadelphia Sixers have ever seen now want to buy the Mets. THE METS?!?! Whenever I hear that repulsive four letter word a common phrase comes to mind:
Ah yes, nothing like a good old F#ck the Mets chant. There isn’t anything better than chugging two or three lokos in the jetro lot, and then rolling into Citizens Bank chanting this phrase at the top of your lungs.
In all seriousness, I am disgusted that Josh Harris wants to purchase the Mets. It was already bad enough that he purchased the trashiest hockey franchise in the NHL in the Devils, and somewhat threatened to move the Sixers to Jersey. But now the Mets?, a team that I hate more than the nearly 100 percent of things in this world, cmon. Anything north of Philadelphia I don’t wanna associate with. Sorry New York/North Jersey, it’s called a HOAGIE, not a sub.
To make matters worse, Harris is also apparently planning to create a regional sports network to broadcast Mets, Devils, and Sixers games. For starters, NBC Sports Philly does a great job with Philly sports, and losing the Sixers would certainly be a blow to their programing. Secondly, why would we as Philly fans associate with New York/North Jersey trashy sports teams? As a diehard Philly sports fan, I don’t want to have to include a channel that will constantly broadcast Devils and Mets in my sports package just so I can watch the Sixers. Philly and New York do not mix well at all, and we should stay separated as much as we can, unless our teams are playing on the field.
On a lighter note, who is going to even watch that network? Find me one person who is a Sixers, Mets, and Devils fan. This regional sports network is just a stupid idea. We have ESPN if we want that, and it’s not like people older than 55 and up actually watch TV anymore.
If this deal takes place it will be an insult to all Sixers fans far and wide. Shame on Josh Harris if this deal happens. This photo of Mr Met perfectly illustrates my feeling towards this deal.
Temple University has been in a constant state of upgrade for the past decade, or so it seems. Numerous state-of-the-art facilities have been built throughout their campus such as: the new Charles Library, two apartment complexes- the View at Montgomery and Vantage Apartments, along with recently breaking ground to start the addition of new learning facilities. Now the city-based university has sought the approval from the city of Philadelphia to begin the construction of a football stadium and multi-use facility. One cannot help but wonder if Temple has enough resources around the campus to justify building something as massive as a stadium. Among other issues that have risen, legitimate concerns have been voiced from the residents surrounding the school who would be forced to find a new place to live, should the stadium be built (more on this later). Other than this problem of not respecting the surrounding residents of their campus, it begs the question is the football program really worth it? Are they deserving enough to be handed a $135 million stadium?
The result of the Owls’ previous seven seasons is not great. Their average win percentage is .552, just a hair over .500. That isn’t bad, but it’s not good either; and for the conference in which the team finds itself, that win percentage should be much, much higher, considering in 2019 the average win percentage for the conference was .556. In 2017, the University of Central Florida finished with an overall record of 13-0, yet they did not receive a bid into the NCAA playoffs. In a conference where the NCAA does not deem the teams worthy for a playoff berth, the university should not take for granted the professional facility they can continue to use for a minimal price. Add in the fact that the team is the focal point of a 135 million dollar stadium and the ends don’t necessarily justify the means. However, this statistic can seem misleading if you’re only looking at the previous seven years of the program. In 2015 and 2016, after what looked to be two consecutive breakout seasons in which the program finished with records of 10-4 and 10-4 respectively, the Owls have since been on a decline. An average of 44,159 fans packed Lincoln Financial Field on Saturdays in 2015, an all time high for Owls’ supporters, but this number dropped almost in half to 27,225 the following season; despite finishing with an identical record.
Regardless of what the team accomplishes on the field, Temple has been charged a $1 million fee per game by the Linc for use of their professional facility. In recent reports from The Philadelphia Inquirer, Lincoln Financial Field management have since decided to up the price from $1 million to now $2 million per game, not including the $12 million up front for a new 30-year lease, which begins at the beginning of the ’20-’21 season. An absurd price to pay for a normal person, during the ’18-’19 school year, Temple listed their total assets at an astounding $2,219,495,00, so paying a minimal fee for their football team should not be a problem, especially with the team contributing to revenue for the Linc.
There is an issue that stems from this decision to move forward with the construction that doesn’t physically involve its disruptive activities. According to Temple News, “Funds for the project will come from private donations and bonds, the latter supported by money that would otherwise be paid to rent Lincoln Financial Field. Student tuition will not be used.” This is a University that brings in just shy of $1 billion every year from tuition alone, yet they’re funding this project with donations. If they really desire to follow through with this, thus causing havoc and tearing apart the community, they should also be capable of shelling out their own money for their project.
In the one-million-dollar design/impact study, which was approved by the Board of Trustees (BOT), it was surveyed that 58 percent of the school’s students do not approve of the stadium being built. (Joe Brandt, Temple News) If the students can feel this way, (after all the stadium is being built for them) it makes you wonder how the surrounding residents must feel, especially since they are the ones who will be directly impacted.
A group of North Philadelphia residents came to be in 2015 when the idea of the football stadium was first announced. They call themselves the Stadium Stompers, and they have been protesting the construction with valid reasoning: they do not want their community to be impacted negatively by the construction of this stadium. On their website, https://www.stadiumstompers.org/ , the group has written “This change is unacceptable for a stadium that would be located directly across from residential homes, senior housing, a playground, a recreational center, and a school.” The change(s) they are referring to are the concerns for homes being knocked down to make space for the stadium. If this happens, these residents would be forced to find somewhere else to live, which is outright unfair. By meeting every second and fourth Wednesday of the month, the group continues to brainstorm with ways they can deliver their message to the Temple BOT.
In 2018, protestors consisting of residents and Stadium Stompers alike, shut down a Temple town hall meeting to discuss the building plans. The president of the university, Richard Englert, was set to show potential building plans with various structures and intended to have a Q&A following the meeting. Instead, they were forced to cancel the meeting due to screams from the crowd. This goes to show how many people are in opposition of this potential construction.
At the end of the day, it is up to the Board of Trustees to make what they think is the right decision. However, if they do make the move to build the stadium, they should be ready to face the many future issues that come with it, not only from North Philly residents, but the students as well.
I regret to inform you all that today is officially the ten year anniversary of the Flyers devastating game 6 Stanley Cup Finals loss to Chicago. The thought of Patrick Kane sneaking the puck between the legs of Micheal Leighton gives me nightmares to this day. Seriously, how in the hell did that puck go in? Absurd. Despite the pain of the continued Stanley Cup drought, what makes this more painful for me is the fact that Patrick Kane scored the game winning goal.
In 2006, the Flyers had by far the worst record in the NHL. Due to this, they were set to draft the future of the franchise in Patrick Kane. Unfortunately for the Flyers, they got screwed by the draft lottery, and ended up with James Van Riemsdyk with the second overall pick. Thanks Bettman, though this was not a bad pick, JVR is no Patrick Kane. To make matters worse, at the end of the 2011 we shipped JVR off to Toronto for a lackluster return. Essentially this pick, and an awful Flyers season became a wash.
Sour Grapes aside, this Flyers team had probably the most magical and impressive run in modern day team history. At times this Flyers team felt like a team of destiny, as they rode an above average roster, and two very average NHL goalies to within two games of a Stanley Cup.
However, going into the last game of the season against the hated Rangers, the Flyers needed a victory in order to clinch a playoff spot. It all came down to Brian Boucher vs Olli Jokinen for a spot in the playoffs: the rest is history.
From then on, the Flyers went on to upset the hated second seeded Devils in five games to move on to a second round matchup with the Boston Bruins.
Things could not have gone worse for the Flyers, as they found themselves down 3 games to 0. At the time, no team had come back from being down 3-0 in a series. This was a daunting task that this overachieving team had in front of them. Thankfully, Simon Gagne would score an overtime goal in Game 4 to keep the season alive. Followed by wins in Games 5 and 6, the Flyers headed to Boston for Game 7.
Ironically enough, the Flyers found themselves down 3 to 0 just 15 minutes into game 7. Then like this Flyers season as a whole, the tides started to change.
This was the most exciting Hockey game I have ever seen, as I still can’t wrap my head around how we actually pulled that off. The Flyers were down 3 games to 0, and nobody comes back from that. Like the gritty city and team we are, we clawed our way back. It’s fitting that Simon Gagne scored the game winning goal, as he had so many clutch moments in his Flyers career. After a relatively smooth 5 game series against Carey Price and Montreal, we were onto the Stanley Cup Finals.
The fact that the Flyers were almost able to beat the Blackhawks is impressive to say the least. The Hawks had a star studded lineup consisting of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Patrick Sharp, and even Marian Hossa. The Flyers were no pushovers, as they had the likes of Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, and Chris Pronger. But they were no match for the Blackhawks, as they had a more star studded/deeper lineup, and better goaltending.
When looking at this 2009 Flyers team, I see a lot of comparisons to our current Flyers team. Just look at the stats for example:
2009 Flyers
2019 Flyers
Now keep in mind that this Flyers team played a slightly shorter regular season than the 2009 team due to the coronavirus outbreak. With that being said, both team’s stats are nearly identical. Neither team contains a star player who will put up 90 to 100 points in a season, but what they do have is depth. In addition, it is miraculous in it’s own right that the 2009 team was able to reach the Stanley Cup Final with average goaltending at best.
That is why I think that this years Flyers team has a legitimate chance to win the cup, because they don’t have Micheal Leighton or Brian Boucher, they’ve got:
CAHTAH HART. This dude is an absolute stud, and is a big reason why the Flyers have a first round bye this year. The Flyers haven’t had a goalie of Hart’s caliber since the Ron Hextall days. I firmly believe that how far we go this year will fall mainly on Hart’s shoulders.
Looping back to the 2009, the playoffs that year alone were a prime example of why Hockey is such a special game.
In no other sport do you see the number 1 seed falling in the first round, and 7 seed hosting the 8 seed for a chance to go play for a world championship. The Stanley Cup playoffs are pure madness, and a team’s fate can change with one unfortunate bounce of the puck. Hockey is truly the sport for underdogs, as on any given night a team that is severely outmatched and outmuscled can pull off the upset. Take the 1980 Miracle on Ice for example, or the 2017 Radnor Ice Hockey teams upset of Penncrest in the Pennsylvania State Quarterfinals. Both are obviously of different magnitudes, as I know it’s kind of a scumbag move to compare a high school hockey game to the Miracle on Ice. But nonetheless bot games prime examples of David beating Goliath, and how anything can happen in this sport. That holds true in the NHL today, as last year The Tampa Bay Lightning had one of the best regular seasons in league history, but were swept in the first round.
It’s moments like this that remind why I love this game so much. In 2009 when the Flyers made their run to the Cup finals, things weren’t going so well for me. I was an emotional kid, as I was literally getting in trouble at school every single day, and did not have a single friend in the world. To make matters worse, I had just gotten cut from the top travel team in my age group for the first time ever. I was so upset and distraught over this that I nearly quit Hockey. Then this Flyers team happened, and they gave me hope at a time where I so desperately needed it. This team was the personification of grit, as no matter how many times they got knocked down they kept moving forward.
Does it still hurt that the Flyers couldnt pull it off? 100 percent. But without the inspiration and motivation that this team gave me, I honestly probably would have quit Hockey, a game that I cherish so much. For that, I am forever grateful to the 2009 Flyers.
For those of you who haven’t been spending your nights watching Korean baseball at 1:00am, you’re missing out on a world of sports we didn’t know we needed. The Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) is filled with batters hitting well over .500, relievers with terrible ERAs, and cardboard fans. On the off chance any of you who haven’t been grinding the KBO I’ll try my best to introduce you to the league. The first thing every diehard KBO fan, like myself, must decide is: which team are you going to ride with?
Obviously, there are some electric teams here. I mean, KT Wiz? That’s bar-none (I hope I used that correctly, probably not). NC Dinos is also an incredible name, but they’re the best team in the league so it’s too late to pick them. SK Wyveans sounds like such a cool name but a W, Y, and V all next to each other is a disaster for a kid with dyslexia.
The next thing you need to know about the KBO is that it is the best, bad baseball you’ll ever see. It seems as if every other batter has a BA of .600 and OBP of .900. This isn’t so much that the batters are juicing out of their minds, but more because there is no such thing as a decent RP. For the first 6 innings, a game will look comparable to an MLB game, but as soon as we get a pitching change, oh boy. Strap in because the under is in for a world of hurt. I don’t understand why there is such a huge gap in skill for pitchers, but I’m not going to complain. There are definitely worse ways to spend your 3:00am than watching Kang Jin-sung hit piss missiles into orbit. A great example of this was last Sunday:
*Check out that f*** Seo Ho-cheol going 0-6 on the night. Dinos could’ve put up 50 without him
Finally, since COVID also made its way to Korea, they solved the no fans in attendance by using cardboard cutouts of fans to fill their stands with.
Other than the fact that it probably intimidates the hell out of the pitcher, this is a great idea and I’m not sure why nobody thought of this before. The Chargers could finally sell out a game, and I’m confident that the only people who go to Marlins games are the players parents. You could sell custom cardboard fans for $20 a game and have people lining to put one of themselves in the stands.
With all that said, I’m sure you are all massive KBO fans now.
Unfortunately, I have to be a man and address some of the hate I have been receiving about shitting on Hertz in my last blog. Yes, Hertz’s stock price has risen by 650% (at the time of me writing this probably up to 1000% as you read it) since I wrote about how terrible HTZ was. I will have a more detailed press release later this week as I’m sure Hertz will continue to skyrocket, but for now all I have to say is: Hertz is the biggest asshole in the world and I hope they never get a single dollar in revenue ever again.
This picture has been circulating all over Eagles twitter today, and I thought i’d give it a whirl. This list overall is decent, but I don’t understand how you can make Vick more expensive than Donovan. Don’t get me wrong, Vick is arguably the most electrifying player in NFL history. But by looking at the two players careers based off their stats, McNabb had a more impressive/complete career than Vick. Same goes with Randall being ranked over McNabb, as McNabb is the greatest quarterback in franchise history, and should have gotten more respect on this list. In addition, Mike Quick should not be priced higher than Desean. Nobody was more electric for Eagles fans to watch than Jackson. Judging by stats alone, Desean has Quick beat in that department. With that being said, here is my list:
Quarterback: Carson Wentz
The Main reason that I picked Wentz in this spot is because I did not see that much of a gap between him and the quarterbacks priced higher than him. I also have no doubt that when it is all said and done, Wentz will be viewed as the best quarterback in franchise history. During the 2017 season, I have never seen an Eagles quarterback be as dominant as Wentz was. He was an absolute machine, and would have been the MVP had he not been injured.
People love to hate on Wentz, but a lot of it is unjust. I’ve always said that Patrick Mahomes is what Carson Wentz would look like if he had good weapons. Wentz is the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for 4000 yards, and not have a receiver have over 500 yards receiving in a season. That stat is mind boggling, and it speaks volumes to how much of a complete player Wentz is. When stacked up against the other quarterbacks on this list, two dollars for Carson “Ginger Jesus” Wentz is a deal and a half.
Running Back: Duce Staley
As Eagles fans would say when he would rattle off a big carry DUCEEEEE. The first of two running backs on my list. Duce here at one dollar was an absolute no brainer. This guy was an absolute TANK in his prime. He was the power back of all power backs for the Eagles. Duce was a freight train when he would hit a gap in the O line, and he was so difficult to bring down. Duce is kind of underrated in the eyes of sports fans despite rushing for 1000 yards three times in his career. Duce is without question the greatest power back in Eagles history, and he will compliment the next running back on my list tremendously.
Running Back: Miles Sanders
Boobie Miles comes in hot as my other running back choice for two dollars. Sanders will compliment Duce tremendously, as he is great at stretching the field as a passing option. Not to mention his ability to get into open space. He reminds me a lot of Brian Westbrook, as how he makes the first guy miss, and stay on his feet is world class. The sky’s the limit with this kid, now let’s hope that Doug gives him the ball in 2021.
Wide Receiver: Terrell Owens
Coming in at wide receiver to bring my roster to a total of ten dollars is none other than Terrell Owens. Say what you want about TO, but he is a top 5 wideout in NFL history, and him on the Eagles was nothing short of remarkable. I have never seen a player (Other than Nick Foles for obvious reasons) capture the hearts of Philadelphians like TO did during his first year with the Eagles. The dude was more famous than the Pope in Philadelphia, and could do no wrong. Owens was going to be the piece that finally put the Eagles over the hump, and lead them to Super Bowl glory.
Despite getting hurt, Owens came back for the Super Bowl, and gave the performance of a lifetime. The guy played on one leg, and was the best player on the field. Talk about heart, as the sheer thought of Owens playing his balls off in Super Bowl 39 brings shivers down my spine. It’s just a shame that McNabb and Owens couldn’t get along because those two together were an unstoppable duo.
Is Owens a bit of diva? Sure. Take his driveway workout for example. But you cannot deny that he is well worth spending five dollars on for my team, as he is the best player on the board. Plus, with a guy who contains the character of Wentz throwing him the ball compared to Donovan, I have the utmost confidence that everyone on the team will get along.
Well that’s my list, Let me know in the comments who you would put on your Eagles team for 10 dollars.
The whole city of Philadelphia, as well as any standard NBA fan, recognizes how lethal the 76ers could be while playing at full potential. Sure, we may have a killer lineup on paper, but any athlete can attest that a coach plays a vital role in winning. I’ve been denying this thought since the post-season of the 2017-2018 Sixers season, but it is time the Sixers bring in a different head coach.
The phrase “Trust the Process” has been a mantra here in Philadelphia since before the 2013-2014 season. This phrase relates to the three-year era where Sam Hinkie, the former general manager (GM) of the team, made the decision to do something rarely many GM’s did in the NBA at the time. Hinkie planned to build a very below-average lineup, and lose as many games as possible so Philadelphia would retain higher draft picks in following year’s drafts. Before the 13-14 season began, Brett Brown was brought in from San Antonio where he was involved in many positions since 1998, most notably serving as assistant coach to Greg Popovich for the majority of his time on the Spurs bench. During his time with Popovich, Brett Brown contributed in paving the way to four NBA championships.
It’s not every day that you see an NBA assistant with four rings on his resume be given the position as head coach on a purposely losing team, but this move was a piece in the supposed “process”. Fast forward to the 17-18 season, which was viewed as the end of “the process”. As a result of this losing stint, the Sixers now had Joel Embiid, a Hakeem Olajuwon-esque dominant center, Ben Simmons, a skilled point forward with a style like Magic Johnson, and Markelle Fultz, well, who now gives any Philadelphia fan a headache at the thought of his name. The city was ready for the hype that was built to be proved on the hardwood.
Coming into the 17-18 season, ESPN projected the team to win 33 games. Throughout this first season with what seemed to be a complete lineup, Philadelphia finished third in the Eastern Conference, winning 52 games. Not only was our fan base shocked, the rest of the league was too. There was much credit due to not only our team, but to our coaching staff as well. Come the spring of 2018, it was playoff time. The playoffs are where a team’s true resilience is tested. A team could, I don’t know, have a record of 73-9 while breaking all sorts of records, make it to the Finals, and blow a 3-1 lead against LeBron James and the Cavaliers. How would a team like that be remembered? Not for their historic record, but for blowing a 3-1 lead in the Finals. The point I’m trying to make is, in retrospect, the story a team writes in the 82 game stretch of the regular season does not guarantee anything in the postseason.
In the first series in the Spring of 2018, we managed to eliminate the Heat 4-1. With the feeling from blowing out the Heat, the Sixers moved on to play Boston in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The head coach of the Boston Celtics, Brad Stevens, showed that he is a mastermind of a coach regardless of his lineup. Aside from this, the Celtics had beaten us 3-1 in the regular season series. Brown and his players had to think outside the box if they wanted to prove Philly had the better squad. Unfortunately, we lost the series 4-1. But hey, we won 52 games, right? With some offseason adjustments the Sixers should be able to bounce back and manifest a different narrative for the following season.
October 16, 2018: We’re set for a redemption game against the Celtics to kick off the start of a fresh season. The team has shaken off the supposed jitters and have had a full offseason to build that chemistry we lacked, along with the coaching staff having to work to fix what we lacked. Being blown out in the season opener, doubts were already forming in the minds of the fanbase. Were we simply outplayed? Was our coaching staff out coached? What are we lacking? The franchise had the next 81 games to prove who they really can be on the court. Making early season adjustments that consisted of trading Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless, and a 2022 second round pick for Jimmy Butler and Justin Patton. Jimmy Butler was the addition the team needed, right? There was now a real hope of making a championship run. We make it to the Finals, get a ring, re-sign Butler and it would be the start of a dynasty. Brett Brown had the keys to success, and all he had to do was put the key in the door. With a record of 51-31, the 76ers once again finished third in the conference. Brown did not show what the fan base was expecting with a lineup of Simmons, Butler, Fultz (I guess) and Embiid. This was alarming, but not acknowledged because we made it to the playoffs again. Everyone who follows the NBA knows how the story ended in Game 7 of the ECSF, so I’d rather not talk about it. What went wrong? We added the player with the mindset and attitude who acted as the glue to the success. Naturally, eyes went to Brown and his staff.
Something about Brown’s demeanor angers me. He seems as if he is afraid to confront the players or even discipline them when they are lacking on the court. Simmons was quoted during a post game interview saying “He [Brown] called me out a few times and yelled at me…love seeing that side of him b/c it motivates me.” (Jeff Skverskey, ABC) This proved to me it is on rare occasions that Brett yells at his players when necessary. How will your players take you seriously if you can’t even yell at them? Regardless of these observations, Jimmy Butler stated on JJ Redick’s podcast, “Hell yeah it was difficult, it was so different. On any given day, me as a person, as a player, I didn’t know who the f— was in charge. I think that was the biggest thing. I didn’t know what the f— to expect whenever I’d go into the gym, whenever I’m going to the game. … I think I was lost as the next motherf—er.” (NBC Sports Philadelphia)
Lacking leadership among other traits, this solidified in my mind that it is time Brett Brown finds a new team to attempt to coach. Don’t get me wrong, the man seems like a great person, just when he is far, far, away from the Wells Fargo Center.
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