The NFL Draft is in the Books. How did the Eagles do?

As with most drafts, we probably cannot truly assess its effectives for a minimum of three years. After all, this is the same event that had all Eagle fans, including yours truly and the now governor of the state, booing mightily at the selection of Donovan McNabb instead of Ricky Williams. Well, it turns out that the Eagles administration was smarter than the masses then, and has been right far more than they have been wrong under the Banner/Reid regime.

The Eagles were successful in upgrading both lines in the draft, actually getting two guys they would have been happy with on the 14th pick, DT Brodrick Bunkley and OT Winston Justice. This was not that big of a surprise, since in addition to being need areas, we all know Andy Reid likes lineman almost as much as he likes a good cheese steak. They then attempted to upgrade the linebacking corp with a converted DE out of Cal Poly, a 1-AA school. In the fourth round, they continued to address need areas with Max Jean-Gilles, an OG out of Georgia followed by Jason Avant, a possession type WR (i.e., SLOW) out of Michigan.

It is very interesting to note that the first two picks, Bunkley and Justice, are both guys whose stock fell due to some off the field problems. These are two of the types of guys that the Reid/Banner duo has typically stayed away from. I wonder if a 6-10 season makes you think that sometimes those character issues are not so important. It will be interesting to see if those decisions comes back to haunt them at all.

In general, championships are won in the trenches, and both lines had become needs areas for the Birds. They have a big question mark at left tackle which they addressed with Justice and Gilles (the OG from Georgia) will provide some depth and competition on the interior line. Bunkley is more multi-dimensional than Haloti Ngota, the DT from Oregon who went two picks earlier, in that he can stop the run, but also led the country in tackles behind the line last year at Florida State. If Bunkley can start along the line with 1st round choice from last year Mike Patterson, it enables Darwin Walker to float and provide depth at both tackle and end. The defensive line, if it stays healthy, seems very strong, which will in turn make the secondary look a lot better than it did last year. The offensive line should be adequate as well, although OC and RG are still question marks.

Finally, the Birds made what on paper feels like a great pick-up in the 5th round, getting return specialist (and maybe wide receiver) and Olympic skiier Jeremy Bloom. I watched this kid play at Colorado, and he just looks like the kind opf player that will make 2-3 huge plays that could help alter games next year. This is the kind of kid that will have more impact on the team's winning and losing next year than anyone else they could have possibly gotten at this spot. It also filled a need area, as there are no guarantees J.R. Reid (not the Tar Hell hoops player from the '80s) will return from a bad leg injury. Great pick here.

The Birds still have some holes which they may or may not be able to fill before the season kicks off. They have no wide receiver, and were outbid for the only one left with start quality when Denver gave up a second round pick to the Pack for Walker (#37 overall). It is hard to blame the Birds for not paying a higher price than this for Walker, who has had one great year only and is coming off a torn ACL, suffered in last year’s opener (trust me, I know, he was on my fantasy team!). It still would have been great to make Walker an Eagle, but you can’t get it all. The brass keeps saying that Reggie Brown can be a #1 this year. Let’s hope they are right. Brown, Pinkston, Gaffney, Avant, and McMullen (hopefully not Greg Lewis) are certainly better than the receiving corp of Thrash, Pinkston, and Lewis that took then to a couple of championship games before the mercurial one arrived two years ago.

The Birds could also use a big power back that can be a reliable converter at the goal line and in short yardage situations. It was tough to watch LenDale White drop into the mid second round when he would have been a perfect fit, but again, you cannot get it all so it is tough to argue. I am still not sold on their depth and talent at linebacker, and do not understand why they did not at least try to bring Lavar Arrington in.

Overall, the Eagles have done a good job at putting themselves in a position where they can compete in the NFC next year. They just better get off to a huge start as their last six games are very difficult. Hopefully they are playing well into January this year based on their offseason efforts. Time will tell.

One more note on the draft. When did this become a bigger event that a Presidential election? Do we really need a month of wall-to-wall coverage that attempts to identify who each team may take in the 5th round, or what a second rounder likes to eat on Wednesdays when it is raining? It is especially maddening since the teams are less honest than the politicians involved in said presidential election, so you know that at least half of the stuff you are reading is smoke screens and lies. Let’s go back to when we start honing up on our football in mid-August, learning just enough to be dangerous when we draft our own teams for fantasy football. I am almost sure that knowing that Vernon Davis likes to escort little old ladies across the street in his hometown is not going to help me know whether I should pick him or a wide receiver in the 5th round of my draft come Labor Day……

Note: pictures courtesy of philadelphiaeagles.com

Great Day at the Park: Whiffle Ball Triumph, South Philly Babes, a Cecil Martin (sort of) Sighting, and Even a Little Baseball.

My main man Grossy took my two cousins, J.B. and Tommy, and me to the Phillies game yesterday. It was a shame that it was a day game (3:00 pm start time) which unfortunately meant we had to leave work early. Because of the notorious Philadelphia traffic, we left at noon just to be safe. After listening to a Bob Marley medley on the way down, we arrived at 12:15, shouting E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES!!!!!

When we pulled in the parking lot, we spotted four guys playing whiffle ball. We immediately told them we could beat them like a drum, and the game was on. Two innings, some clutch hitting (Grossy’s majestic home run, otherwise known as a four base error that got through the shortstops legs and rolled most of the way to the Linc), and one scraped elbow later (if you see J.B., ask him to see the raspberry he got on a beautiful diving stop to end a rally in the bottom of the second), the good guys emerged with a 8-5 victory. With our taste of winning satiated, we move inside McFaddens to quench our thirst for the Captain.

Opting for a table in the beautiful sunshine at McFaddens, we ordered three beers and a Captain and 7. When my Captain arrived, it was mixed with Coke instead of 7. I told the waitress that I needed 7 because I was off caffeine. She informed me that she was from South Philly and would kick my ass if I gave her any trouble. I informed her that Coke would be just fine. Mmmmmm, Coke. Several rounds later, J.B., Tommy, and I decided it might be a good idea to line our stomachs with food. Grossy decided that he could intensify his buzz if he in fact went without anything to eat. Needless to say, when it was time to head to the stadium, Grossy stumbled just a bit.

After wandering through two VIP areas that Grossy somehow had finagled tickets to, and of course picking up new drinks at each stop (in one of the clubs, we saw Tom McCurdy, our Controller from the office, who apparently got the memo that nobody was working yesterday!), we managed to get to the seats before the first pitch but after the National Anthem, thereby avoiding what was increasingly becoming a difficult task for Grossy, standing.

We made it through the 4th inning, watching the Phils build a 3-1 lead. At that point, we decided that due to the damaging nature of the sun, we would be best served by getting out of the sun. So purely for the health benefits, we left our seats in the sun, and headed back into McFaddens. During that 4 minute walk, the Phils squandered their lead, and the score was 3-3. Because we like to think of ourselves as testosterone-filled teenagers, we spent the next half hour debating how we could get a picture of this girl whose thong was showing without getting caught. This entailed me to walk up behind her, pretending I was talking on the phone and watching the game on TV while simultaneously pointing the phone at her butt. As you might guess, this did not work all that well. On the bright side, I think I pulled a muscle in my back just attempting the stunt. Just to show you the effort was there, here was my best shot....

All of a sudden, Grossy looked like he was about to die, and said that he was indeed going to die if he did not eat something fast to soak up the couple of, er, 13 or 14, beers that he had imbibed to that point. So off he went, while J.B., Tommy and I continued to strategize over the thong picture while debating which of the cocktail waitresses was cutest.

Grossy finally came back a new man, and we decided we should get back to our seats and watch the last two innings. Again, we headed back on our brief journey for the Top of the 8th, only to discover that we had somehow missed two more Colorado runs. 5-3 Rockies, still nobody out in the top of the 8th (so, we missed a pitching change and two runs but no actual outs).

Heading in the bottom of the 9th, Grossy was so blistered that he agreed to bet me $8 (only getting 5-to-2 odds) that the Phillies would rally to win the game (it was now 6-3) despite the fact that David Bell, Sal Fasano and the pitcher were scheduled to hit. I am telling you if I could make bets like these more often, I might be retired. As you might guess, the Phillies went down 1-2-3 in the 9th. With my $8 secured, we decided that we would head back to McFaddens, as it would be unwise to leave then and battle all the traffic.

When we went back to McFaddens, we saw the one and only remaining Cecil Martin jersey left in circulation, with autograph and everything. We had to celebrate this with another round of drinks. When we went inside the bar, the waitresses were all standing on the bar pouring instant margaritas down patrons throats for free. At this point, I actually checked my drivers license to make sure I was not actually 21 and on spring break. Damn, still 38.

Since the boys I was with had to get home for dinner, we headed out after about an hour and, despite my incessant and some might say annoying pleadings to change course and go to Atlantic City or head out for dinner, we headed home. Overall, a great day at the park, thanks to Grossy for making it a reality, and if anyone wants to get in future blogs, just entertain me at a business person’s special.

Oh, and remember what I wrote yesterday about what a great day and the Philly teams were all winning. Well, after this 6-3 loss, let me re-phrase. the Phillies suck!

One final thing for those of you following these things closely. Remember my last trip to the dentist in January (one of my most popular posts, click here and scroll to the January 24th post if you need a reminder or did not see it click here . Well, I went back to the dentist this morning, complete with Captain Morgan seeping through my pores, and I got my second straight glowing report from a disappointed hygienist, who was hoping for a TKO. Gotta love the water pik….

What a Beautiful Morning! Josh McRoberts is Staying, Kate Smith is Singing, The Flyers and Philles are Winning. Life is Good. For Today.

The sun is shining.

Was there any doubt that the Flyers would win last night and bring the series back to a competitive 2-1 deficit? If there were any questions, they should have been erased before the game when the orange and black brought out the recording of Kate Smith, the all-time good luck charm, singing God Bless America. (Note: if they lost last night, they would have had to resort to really major stuff, and brought her back live!). Of course, when you combined that with the crazy fans, there was one great home ice advantage. Which lasted all of 2 minutes and 37 seconds, when Buffalo scored the first goal of the game. Then 5:00 minutes into the game, the Flyers got a penalty called against them, and the next two minutes would probably determine if there season were over. After surviving about 90 seconds of a blistering Buffalo attack, Brian Savage saved the season with a brilliant shorthanded goal, and it was all good from there. It’s a series now, so let’s see what happens Friday night in Game 4…..

Josh McRoberts pulled the biggest upset of all and he is returning to Duke for his sophomore season. People that just watched Duke casually will say that this is not a big deal, and that he was not ready for the NBA, and he was not that good last year and will not make a difference for Duke, who lost Redick and Shelden after last season. I am telling those people that they are wrong. Josh McRoberts is going to be a stud. He is going to be an All-ACC player next year, and possibly an All-American. This kid has a great low post game, can handle the rock, is one of the best passing big men I have ever seen, and very athletic. This kid is the difference between Duke making a potential deep run in March and maybe not being good enough to make the Sweet 16 for the 10th straight year. If Duke can pull the April double and get Lance Thomas to go there (he is a 6’9” McDonalds All American), the Devils will be reloaded and young but talented.

Even the Phillies won last night, moving into second place in their division. Sure they are 4.5 games behind the Mets, but does anyone really think the Mets are going to continue to play great ball, with Glavine pitching like he is Cy Young? Now if they could just get consistent starting pitching, better hitting, and their manager gets broadsided by a us, this team can make a run at the World Series. When the news is this good this morning, I find myself dreaming!!!

Speaking of the Phils, I will be making my initial appearance of the season at Citizens Bank Park for today’s matinee, so I will have some comments on that trip in this space tomorrow. But until then at least,

The Sun is Shining.

Let’s see if the Phils, Flyers, and the Eagles with the draft can keep the warm rays flowing…..

Brett Favre is Coming Back For One More Year, and You Should be Happy about it

I am glad that Brett Favre is coming back to play one more season with the Packers. As a sports fan, I would say that Favre is one of my top 10 favorite non-Philadelphia professional athletes of my lifetime. First of all, he is great. He has been a superb quarterback in this league for a long time. We all know that. There is no reason to spout on about how many yards or touchdowns he has, we all know that. But what makes him special to me are the intangibles. The fact is that he is unlike so many professional athletes because he wears his emotion on his sleeve. He actually cares about winning and losing. He smiles. He cries (note: at appropriate times, not when outcomes are still in the balance like Adam Morrison).

I do not think he is going to turn down a paycheck to play this season, but I do not think this season is about the money to Favre. I do not think it has ever been about the money to Favre. He is one tough S.O.B. He has never missed a sport. His ironman streak of consecutive starts is even more impressive than Cal Ripken’s when you consider the beating that all quarterbacks take, and the fact that he obliterated the old record by a lot higher percentage than Cal beat the Iron Horse. Who doesn’t remember Favre getting decked by Warren Sapp and getting up and laughing and head slapping Sapp as if to say “Atta Boy, but I am still here. Bring it Again.” All of us have probably watched some of these ungrateful, arrogant, obnoxious pro athletes, and say that they do not know how good they have it, and how lucky they are. I would guess nobody has ever said that about Brett Favre.

One thing that has been a terrible consequence of pro sports as salaries have continued to rise, separating athletes in economic stature from the vast majority of the general public, is that there is not the same bond that existed between the fans and their players that was there 30, 40, 50 years ago. The public resents athletes, and athletes could not care any less about the public if they tried (just ask Allan Iverson and Chris Webber if you do not believe me). Brett Favre is the rare exception. Somehow, we have all watch as he as battled personal demons (remember he overcame a painkiller addiction in the middle of his career). We have also seen him face personal tragedy, losing his father suddenly just before a Monday Night game a couple years ago, helping his wife face and overcome breast cancer, and learning that his hometown and the house he grew up in were decimated by Hurricane Katrina. We have seen that this is a real guy with real emotions and real crises, just like all of the rest of us. It is somebody that can throw a football as well as anyone who has ever done so, but yet does not cast an arrogant shadow over the rest of us who cannot. He is a real person, with real passion and emotion that happen to be coupled with talent that have enabled him to do the thing he loves best at one of the highest levels in history.

Yes, I am glad Brett Favre is going to come back and do it for us all one more time. Unlike many out there, I think he still has more ability than last year’s stats would suggest. I think he can get out there and lead his team to at least a .500 season while throwing more touchdowns than interceptions. And I, for one, will be rooting hard for him to have a great year so we can remember him going out near the top of his game. Well, at least in 15 of his 16 games nest year. I will be booing him mightily when he leads his club into the Linc for a Monday Night battle with the Birds on October 2nd.

Flyers Game 1 was Tremendous, albeit with the Wrong Result; this is Why the Hockey Playoffs are the Best

Standing on his head was not enough for Robert

Esche and the Flyers on Saturday night.

I do not follow hockey in the regular season to anywhere near the degree that my brother-in-law, who is kind enough to educate the blog readership on this topic, does. I watch and attend a few Flyers games, and read enough on an ongoing basis to be a little dangerous. Not Jack Bauer dangerous. Not J.J. Redick dangerous. More like Chollie Manual dangerous. Anyway, after watching the Flyers game on Saturday night, which they lost in double overtime 3-2, it reminded me why the Stanley Cup Playoffs are a better event than any other playoff system, with the lone exception being the NCAA basketball tournament, which of course stands above all else. Sure the Super Bowl in itself is a great event, but the hockey playoffs overall are unbelievably exciting. Here is why, as manifested in the Sabres/Flyers game from Saturday night.

The intensity in a hockey playoff series is incredible. You are sitting on the edge of you seat for two and a half straight hours, or in the case of Saturday, four straight hours, as you wait for that one penalty that might lead to that one odd-man rush that might lead to that one goal that might make the difference in that one game which could be the difference in the entire series. It is unlike soccer, in which a goal could decide the game but is slow moving plus most people do not understand it so it’s boring. It is not like the NBA where a 10-0 run in the first quarter is virtually meaningless. It all hinges on every play. Because of that, there is unbelievable emotion and intensity that every player on every team brings to the ice.

The NHL playoffs are also where one player, a goalie specifically, can carry you on his back to the Stanley Cup. Robert Esche, although he was not the winning goalie on Saturday night, was simply sensational between the pipes, keeping the Flyers in the game single-handedly, despite being outshot by some 30 shots. In fact, if Sami Kapinen could have, for once in his life, made a big play and hit a wide open net instead of the post, the result would have been a 3-2 Flyers win. This same phenomenon does not exist in basketball, where the league’s best player (Kobe) will likely lose in the first round, or baseball, where a pitcher likely only can get two turns in a seven game series (maybe three if he can go on short rest).

The hitting in hockey is great too. R.J. Umberger just got laid out flat on a clean but vicous hit by Buffalo defenseman Brian Campbell. It was the biggest hit I have seen since that fraud Eric Lindros played his last game in the orange and black and got absolutely demolished by Devil Scott Stevens. I love the fact that Umberger’s teammates went right after Campbell for the hit. There is honor in this game! Players get their teammates backs. They play together. And all that matters is that silver cup. Not the money. Not the fame. Just the Cup. Campbell, even though his hit was clean, will surely take one back at some point later in the series.

Hockey playoffs are filled with great traditions too. Most of the players, you will notice, will not shave during the duration of their team’s run in the playoffs. Superstition. In addition, after beating the crap out of each other for seven games and wanting nothing more than to beat the other team and beat the other team up, both team’s line up at the end of a series and shake hands and congratulate each other on a series well fought.

There is nothing better than the hockey playoffs, at least not in the professional sports rank. Let’s hope for all the Flyers fans out there that this is not a one-and-done spring for the Flyers. It has been 31 years since the Flyers beat these same Sabres to win their last Cup, and 23 years since any professional team in Philly won a championship. We have some catching up to do. Let’s knot this series tonight and take it one game at a time from there.

Note: picture courtesy of www.flyers.com

The Price is (Mostly) Right: Ted's Snapshot of the NHL Season

My brother-in-law and hockey guru Ted Price, who has written several columns in this space, is back with his look back at the HNL season that just concluded, and his look ahead to the first round of the playoffs. I, as you migh6t guess, have a comment or two along the way.
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Wow. I mean, WOW! What a finish for the NHL regular season. I must admit, living on the West Coast, I don't pay that much attention to the Eastern Conference, but you gotta love how the season came down to the last games on the last night. Only one team - the Buffalo Sabres - were guaranteed their position in the playoffs (4th). The other seven had to play out and wait of other results to see if they were 6th, 3rd, 1st, etc. And fittingly for the NHL, the battle for the Atlantic Division crown came down to the New York Rangers, the New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Rangers limp into the playoffs loosing their last 5 including a stinker on the last night against the eventual number one seed Ottawa Senators. This left the door open to the Flyers who took care of business against the NY Islanders. And it seemed for a while that they would walk away with the division and the #3 seed. The Devils were losing 3-0 in the 3rd to the Montreal Canadiens. But then, the Devils remembered they were the Devils and proceeded to score 4 unanswered to take the Atlantic and the #3 seed - leaving Philly at #5 and the Rangers at #6. All of this happened in the space of about an hour. ESPN actually led with the NHL Tuesday which hasn't happened all season - unless you count the gambling ring investigation (which incidentally turned out to be nothing). So, some really good momentum heading into the playoffs.

This year's Stanley Cup playoffs are set up to be really exciting - with no clear-cut favorite and plenty of intriguing story lines (and I may add, unlike another league that shall remain nameless - but it's initials are NBA - no teams under .500 are in). I love the NHL playoffs - there truly is nothing else like it in sports. The games that go 5 overtimes, the team from nowhere with the hot goalie going all the way, watching local sportscasters jump on bandwagons like they've been there all along and mis-pronounce every name on the roster - good times!
And so, because you demanded it, here are my post-season predictions and awards:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Ottawa vs. #8 Tampa Bay
The Lightning are the defending Stanely Cup champions (still doesn't sound right), but they have the "just happy to be here" vibe and no Khabibulin between the pipes (boy, he sure did light it up in Chicago this year, didn't he? Maybe someday, the NHL will put a team in Chicago - it's a shame the nation's number three market doesn't have a professional hockey team). Besides, many think this is Ottawa's year.
Ottawa in 4

#2 Carolina vs. #7 Montreal
Carolina had dibs on the number one seed until Ottawa made a late-season run, and they are the trendy pick out of the East. Besides, I think the new collective bargaining agreement states only one Canadian team from the east can go all the way.
Carolina in 4

#3 New Jersey vs. #6 New York Rangers
THE marquee matchup of the first round. I guarantee if NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was as strong as NBA commissioner David Stern, he would mandate this series be for the conference crown. Each team really has only one effective scoring line (Elias for the Devils - Jagr for the Rangers) - so whoever can shut down the other team's one line will take this one. Like I mentioned above, the Devils are hot - 11 wins in a row hot and they have Martin Brodeur.
New Jersey in 5

#4 Buffalo vs. #5 Philadelphia
This one could be a lot of fun depending on which Flyer team Ken Hitchcock has available to him. And the Sabres have to be the quietest 52 win 110 point team in the League. Buffalo is the proverbial "team no one wants to play." And so, even though this is Dils blog, I'm going...
Buffalo in 6
(Dils note: Ted talks about the schizophrenic Flyers, but what about Buffalo? This is the team that won 8 in a row, then lost 6 in a row, then won 5 in a row to close out the season. This team has had more ups and downs than Oprah's battle against the bulge. I think the key to this series is special teams. If the Flyers can play Buffalo, who I think led the league in power play and penalty killing, to a draw, they can beat this team. Another unknown is Buffalo's goalie who has never played in a playoff series before. Forsberg's health is of course key for the Flyers, and Esche's ability to play as well as he did two years ago in the playoffs is the other key for Philly. Buffalo has had a great, great season, but I think this Flyer team has been waiting for the playoffs to turn it up a notch. Sometimes teams cannot do that, I say in this case they can. The score will be identical to 1975 when the Flyers beat this Sabres franchise for their last Stanley Cup. Philadelphia 4, Buffalo 2).


WESTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Detroit vs. #8 Edmonton
124 points, only 16 losses, Steve Yzerman's "final" season, it takes a braver man than me to pick against the Red Wings
Detroit in 4

#2 Dallas vs. #7 Colorado
Three years ago this would have been the marquee matchup in the West. But now... the Avs still have Sakic, but he won't be enough. And even though I hate, hate, HATE the Stars...
Dallas in 5

#3 Calgary vs. #6 Anaheim
This is the only first-round series I think has the potential to go seven. Kiprusoff vs. Giguere should be a classic. Both teams can score, both teams can play stifling defense. Gut check time
Calgary in 7

#4 Nashville vs. #5 San Jose
Thornton, Cheechoo, Thornton, Cheechoo, Thornton, Cheechoo, Thornton, Cheechoo, Thornton, Cheechoo, Thornton, Cheechoo, Thornton, Cheechoo, Thornton, Cheechoo, Thornton, Cheechoo, Thornton, Cheechoo, Thornton, Cheechoo, Thornton, Cheechoo. When it comes to the Sharks, I throw all reason out the window and route unabashedly for my boys. Besides, the Predators are without their starting goalie and did I mention the league's points leader and the league's leading goal scorer on the same line?
Sharks in 5

FINALS
Carolina vs. Detroit

CHAMPION
Detroit
(NOTE: I reserve the right to change my choices as the tournament rolls along - Dils set the precedent already)

POSTSEASON AWARDS

Hart Trophy (MVP)
Who Will Win: Jaromir Jagr - New York Rangers - second in the league in points and scoring and fourth in assists. Jagr took an inept franchise in the largest market in its back and led them to the playoffs with a legitimate chance to win it all.
Who Should Win: Joe Thornton - San Jose Sharks - led the league in assists and points. Before the Joe trade, the Sharks were the most disappointing teams in the league, and in the midst of a 10-game losing streak. After the trade, the Sharks are a strong #5 seed in the playoffs and have the label of the team no one wants to play. Plus, he made everyone on the team (especially Johnathan Cheechoo) better.

Norris (Best Defenseman)
Who Will/Should Win: Nicklas Lindstrom - Detroit Red Wings - Detroit was supposed to be a team in transition under the new CBA with a purging of salaries and an influx of new players. Lindstrom probably had his best season anchoring the blue line well on his way to his 4th Norris Trophy. In fact, they should rename it the Lindstrom when he retires.

Vezina (Best Goaltender)
Who Will/Should Win: Miikka Kiprusoff - Calgary Flames - I can't believe this guy was third on the depth chart for the Sharks. Anyway, Kipper led the league in shutouts and goals against average - hands-down winner. But I must give a shout-out to Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils. Just having him between the pipes means you have a chance to win every night. And with a low-scoring offense, he is the main reason the Devils are coming into the postseason on a 11-game win streak and the main reason they have a chance to go all the way.

Calder (Rookie of the Year)
Who Will Win: Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins - Well, the kid lived up to the hype. 19 years old, more than 100 points on a team that had absolutely nothing to play for since November. The future is bright for this franchise no matter where they move to.
Who Should Win: Alexander Ovechkin - Washington Capitals - third in the league in points and goals and the winner of the Dils "Best Goal I Have Ever Seen" award, what more does a kid want?
(Dils note: I disagree with Ted here; I think Ovechkin will win this award over Crosby)

Jack Adams (Coach of the Year)
Who Should/Will Win: Lou Lamoriello - New Jersey Devils - The Devils have a knack of replacing a coach in the middle of a season and turning things around. And it's even less likely that you can replace your coach mid-season with the GM and go from out of it to a #3 seed in the playoffs. Imagine if Matt Millen went to the sidelines after firing Mooch. Amazing.

Game On!!!

Can Donovan McNabb, Andy Reid, Darren Howard and Brian Westbrook Lead the Eagles Back into contention: a mid-offseason snapshot of the Eagles

When we last left the scene down at Lincoln Financial Field, the Philadelphia Eagles were finishing up a 6-10 season that made them closely resemble a Philadelphia professional sports franchise, but was dissimilar to what we have come to expect from the Birds in the previous 5 years, when they won at least 11 games in each season, reaching the championship game four straight times and the Super Bowl once.

Now that we have completed half the offseason and the draft is quickly approaching, let’s take a look at what the Birds did so far and what they should do next weekend in the draft.

Overall Analysis entering Offseason:

The Birds have fallen a long way in the 12 months since their Super Bowl appearance and entered the off-season with more holes than swiss cheese. On offense, assuming McNabb comes back healthy, they still need to plug major holes. They need a major upgrade at back-up quarterback, a power running back to compliment Brian Westbrook, a #1 wide receiver, and offensive line help.

Defensively, their front seven needed a major overhaul. They have no depth or discernable pass rush from the line, and they desperately need playmakers in the linebacker corp. Their secondary, arguably their biggest asset of any position, looked vulnerable last year based on no consistent pressure from the line and backers.

On special teams, they are good to go at kicker, but as far as I can tell, need a punter.

Free Agency:

Signing Jeff Garcia as a back-up quarterback is a huge upgrade over Koy Detmer and Mike McMahon. It was evident quickly after McNabb’s injury last year that those guys cannot play for any extended period and give the team a chance to win. Garcia can do that if need be. As an added bonus, as if T.O. does not hate the organization enough, the Eagles then went and signed the other player that he hates just as much as any Eagle. This should guarantee T.O. scores about five touchdowns in his debut at the Linc in a Cowboy uniform on October 8th.

Re-signing John Runyan was also a critical move. Tra Thomas and his bad back are questionable at left tackle, so losing the right tackle, especially one like Runyan who never misses a game, could have been disasterous. They did not, howver, address their need for help on the interior line (Cleveland offered LaCharles Bentley more money) nor for depth on the line. Now, assuming Thomas can play and stay healthy, which is no slam dunk, they need to get two starters from Artis Hicks, Hank Fraley, and Jamaal Jackson for the left guard and center spots. If everything holds together and the line stays healthy, they will be adequate but not special.

As far as receivers go, we are back to where we were pre-T.O. with the coach/GM saying that the receivers he has are good enough. They did sign Jabar Gaffney in the off-season. I am sure he will put up numbers similar to T.O. this year. To think Reggie Brown is ready to be a #1 receiver in this league is a stretch at best. Pinkston who is barely an adequate #2 is coming off a major Achilles injury, and Greg Lewis proved last year he is no better a wide receiver than I am. So, in other words, their receivers are not good enough, and Gaffney certainly is not going to make them good enough.

Again, they did nothing in free agency to bring in a big, bruising running back to give Westbrook a rest, and play short yardage and goal line situations. Do you thibnk they will re-sign Dorsey Levens, even though he might be eligible for social security before the system goes belly up? Maybe they will surprise us by taking LenDale White in the draft. I doubt it.

Defensively, they signed Shawn Barber, who has proven he fits their system well, but is coming off yet another major injury. And for a team that needs playmakers, and one is sitting out there in Lavar Arrington who is from Pennsylvania and said he would love to play in the NFC East, why have the Birds not made an offer to this guy. He has as good of an upside as anyone out there, he wants to play for you, would be motivated to prove the Redskins wrong (and beat them twice a year), and it fills a need. Their reaction: not interested.

Darren Howard was a good signing on the defensive front. He should take some pressure and maybe some of the double teams from Kearse. They still desperately need help in the interior of the line, both with a top notch player and some depth.

What they Should do in the Draft:

The Eagles still have some major holes to fill before next season kicks off: offensive line, power running back, wide receiver, defensive tackle, and linebacker. The players that could help them out in the general vicinity of where they pick are Justice, the tackle from USC, and a pair of defensive tackles, Ngota from Oregon and Bunkley from Florida State. The problem with the two defensive tackles is that they will both likely be gone by pick #14 and it is expensive to move up. There have also been knocks on Justice and his work ethic.

Based on the plethora of needs that the Birds have, and the lack of a great player who can make an immediate impact at #14, I would recommend trading down into the latter stages of the first round and get an additional pick or two. Then I would use my 7-8 picks in the first four rounds (they have six as of now) to fill as many of these holes as possible. And I would probably use that latter first round pick to take Santonio Holmes or Len Dale White.

Overall, I think the Birds have an awful lot of work to do before they can say they are a legitimate contender in the NFL, NFC, or even the NFC East. Maybe they can make some stride over the next couple weeks to get there. It will be interesting to watch. If they do not make significant improvements, and do not get off to about an 8-2 start, their last six games are extremely brutal, so the rioters could be out in December in Philly!

Why has the case against the Duke Lacrosse players not been dropped yet?

I think the Duke lacrosse situation is about to get really ugly. No, not for the university or any of the lacrosse players. Rather, I think the Durham D.A. and the accuser are about to really regret that this situation ever happened. Here are some of the things we learned in the last days and weeks:

• The D.A. is Mike Nifong, who is up for re-election this year in a blue collar community that has always has a rocky at best relationship with Duke and what they perceive as an elitist student body that does not give back to or care about the community. The D.A. was extremely quick to point out that he was “very confident” that a rape occurred.
• DNA samples that were taken from every member of the lacrosse team except the one African-American player showed no match between any of the players and anything found on the alleged victim or any of her clothing.
• The D.A. in my opinion further buried himself by saying that this did not affect his case and that he was proceeding and that for years DNA analysis did not even exist. Well, then, why even bother with the test. If it doesn’t give you the results you are looking for, you just ignore it? How has this guy not been forced to resign yet?
• The alleged victim has a criminal past. Not that this by itself automatically means that she is not telling the truth, but it is one more thing that adds to the questionable credibility of her assertions.
• The alleged victim, according to police reports, was “passed out drunk” when the police responded to the 911 call.
• Speaking of the 911 call, there are clear inconsistencies in what the police were told at that time.
• A security guard who was the first person to see the alleged victim after the alleged attack says there were no signs of sexual assault that he could see, nor was it mentioned by the alleged victim.

I am not a lawyer, but it is amazing that the D.A. is continuing to pursue this case. Let’s take a look at some of the results that we have seen to date:

• Duke University, which is a place that myself and almost all fellow alumni I know, has suffered a blow to its pristine reputation.
• The lacrosse team had its season cancelled and its players have I imagine been through a month of extreme hell.
• The coach of the lacrosse team, who took his team to the NCAA finals a year ago, and as far as I know has no blemishes on his resume, was forced to resign.
  Very fragile relations between the Duke and Durham communities have been irreparably damaged.
• I am spending time and effort writing about this on the most read blog on the planet.

From my vantage point, which admittedly is blurred from 500 miles away and from my lack of spending all my time analyzing case facts, Duke University and its administration has handled itself extremely well in a brutal crisis situation. Second, if this woman made this story up, which is my guess from where I sit, she should go to jail for a very long time for all the damage she has done. Finally, no matter what happens, th D.A. should resign immediately for putting Duke and Durham through this unfortunate situation and fueling the fire with his ill advised, possibly (very possibly) incorrect, and irresponsible comments. If he does not resign, the citizens of Durham, I would hope, will elect his opponent in this year’s election.

The sad thing that this series of events shows us is that we still have very real problems revolving around race and class in this country. Until the hatred subsides amongst most or all of us, we will continued to see sad and avoidable incidents like this continue to occur.

As most people, when this story broke, based on media portrayals, I was horrified that this type of thing could happen at a place I love so much. I wanted my university to take whatever actions were necessary to get rid of the problem and restore our image. Now that many facts have surfaced, I am backing our university, our lacrosse team and its players, and I am looking forward to their vindication. I also am hopeful that, if the story plays out the way I expect it to, the victim and the D.A. are punished severely.

Ritterbusch's Take: What It's Like Being a Mets Fan

Jim Ritterbusch, who contributed to the blog with several Villanova takes throughout the college hoops season, is back with his take on the New York Mets. My comments are listed at the bottom.
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The Frustrations of Being a New York Met Fan

When newly signed free agent closer Billy Wagner struggled during the season’s first home stand, it was of no surprise to me to receive a giddy email from my friend Felbs, your typical obnoxious Yankee fan who takes extreme delight in any NY Met failure (be it on field or at the negotiation tables). “That four year contract sucks” cackled Felbs, “It might be good for the first two years, but after that they will regret it”. The email exchange, combined with the ever-brewing fans-against-Carlos Beltran-situation, got me to thinking about how and why it is so frustrating to be a New York Met fan.

Every major league baseball player knows that playing in New York City is a different kind of animal. The impossibly high expectations of fans, the win-now attitude, the overwhelming media scrutiny; it takes a certain type of psyche to handle it all in stride and succeed. For every David Cone and Paul O’Neill, you have a Vince Coleman and a Bobby Bonilla (who famously dared the NYC media to try to knock the smile off his face – it did not take too long). Given all of the aforementioned pressures, I don’t think it a stretch to say that most MLB free agents who are willing to consider the Big Apple generally look at the Bronx well before they consider Queens. When players look at the prestigious Yankee tradition, the potent line-up and strong team that annually offers a legitimate shot at post-season play, the deep pockets of Steinbrenner, the Bronx is always more appealing than Queens. I cannot say that I blame any player for this mindset. As a Met fan, you just accept that this is the reality of the situation. Given these realities, the only way for the Mets to sign big-name free agents is to overpay. They overpaid for Pedro’s contract, Wagner’s contract, Beltran’s contract and likely Delgado’s as well. That is what the Mets have to do to compete in the free agent world – extra years and higher dollars.

Given the difficulties noted above, it is amazing how harshly the NY Met fans treat newly signed players. Granted Carlos Beltran put up sub-par numbers last season, but has it really been necessary to boo him at every single plate appearance since AB number three this season? When Beltran finally did hit a late inning homerun against the Nationals to put the Mets ahead in a tie ballgame, these same fans who have been mercilessly booing him now gleefully cheered him and chanted his name demanding a curtain call. Beltran was pissed and did not want to acknowledge the fans. I could not blame him for feeling the way he did. Finally, after much cajoling from teammate Julio Franco, Beltran gave a very subdued, half-hearted wave to the Shea Stadium crowd.

I am not saying fans do not have the right to boo a player. They do. But I just wish fans would take a moment to think about what they are (or are not) accomplishing. Are they helping the slumping player? Other than letting out some of their own frustrations, what is the purpose of the booing? Is the objective to “break” the player and perhaps see him cry in frustration at a post-game press conference? Are they making the NY Mets situation in any way more attractive to other future free-agents?

Each new marquee player that comes in and gets off to a slow start receives this treatment. If you recall, Mike Piazza was roundly and routinely booed for about a solid month during his first year at Shea. Some players manage to keep their composure, perform at, or above, the expected level and ultimately win the fans over. Many do not. The list of those who have failed is a long one. Will Beltran be the next one to be swallowed up and spit out? I do not know the answer. As it sits, it is self-propagating cycle and a conundrum for which I have no answers, just extreme frustration.

Prognosis for the Season:
The Mets have managed to put together a strong line-up that should allow them to score runs with anybody. New signees Carlos Delgado, Paul LoDuca, and Xavier Nady have all gotten off to hot starts and thus far have avoided the wrath of the Shea faithful that has me so frustrated. The two keys factors that will dictate the team’s success are the following:

Starting Pitching – the Mets starters have a lot of miles on them and you just don’t know much these guys have left in the tank. Is Glavine going to the guy who kept us in games throughout the second half of last year, or will continue to lose velocity and appear very hittable as he did in the first half? Will Pedro’s toe get better? Will Trachsel’s back hold up? Like so many teams in baseball these days, so much hinges on the health of the aging, veteran starters

Middle Relief – this was the biggest Achilles heel on last year’s team. Part-time starter Aaron Heilman lost the 5th starter job this spring to rookie Brian Bannister (Floyd’s kid) so the hope is that he can eat up innings. However, he is a junkball guy and that is never all that appealing out of the pen. The other big question is Jorge Julio (received in trade for Kris and Anna Benson). The guy appears to be Armando Benitez reincarnated – big fastball that can often look overpowering. The problem is the big fastball is all too often without movement and this can lead to bigger, mammoth home runs at the most inopportune times.

My feeling is that the Mets will win somewhere in the neighborhood of 92 games and make the post-season as the NL wildcard.
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Dils' reaction: As a Phillies fan, it has been fun to watch the Mets spend hundreds of millions of dollars and flouder as badly as the Phillies over the pst 15 years (I think they both have one losing appearance in the Fall Classic). However, at least as a Mets fan, you can look at the brass managing your club and say with certainty that they are at least trying to win. They spend whatever money they have to to bring in players to try to get them over the hump. So management may be incompetent as evidenced by poor decision making, but at least they try. The Philberts are led by a management group that is only concerned with spending enough money to be competitive (not win) but not too much that it will affect the bottom line. The bottom line is that both clubs should be ashamed of the fact that they are in big markets but that neither has won the division since Atlanta came over from the NL West in the early 90s. Ugh.

Sopranos Jumps the Shark, Fire Charlie Manuel Today, Mickelson is the Best, and Fran Dunphy is the New Sheriff in North Philly

I usually pride myself on my ability to “suspend disbelief.” That is why when I watch certain things, I can make myself believe that it is possible. For example, when I watch ‘24’, I believe that the President is a traitor and that Jack Bauer will single-handedly overthrow the most powerful man in the world and his army. Likewise, when I watch a Phillies game, I believe that Chollie Manuel actually messed up an obvious move here or there and that it is not just a poorly written television drama. But I have to draw the line at what I saw on the Sopranos last night. Did I really see Tony Soprano, who is an out of shape, fat slob who just got out of the hospital and could not even bend over to take his shoes off without collapsing, beat the crap out of a 25-year old stud muscle head? Come on. I find that as believable as all the Florida guys actually coming back to school next year. What? They are? Never mind…..

Speaking of Chollie Manuel, if I were “Stand Pat” Gillick, I would use this 1-5 start (at home no less) as a chance to blow out Chollie. I mean, does anyone on the planet think this guy is even an average manager? Let’s fire him, hire someone else (I am available) and use it as a chance to kick start this team and get a better guy in there calling the shots.

Unfortunately, Lefty was just too damn good yesterday. The Masters was setting up as potentially the greatest golf ending ever, with about 7 guys tied for the lead or one back yesterday, and then Phil separated from the field faster than Secretariat in the Belmont 33 years ago. Just great golf. And for me what made it so special, especially coming from the artist formerly known as the Choker, is that he did it by avoid mistakes, not by spectacular shotmaking. Phil, after going winless in his first 42 majors, is now 3-for-9 in the last two years and a week. I believe that as of right now, he is the #1 golfer in the world, and that Tiger is a step behind, and Singh, Els, and Goosen are just behind him. Knowing Tiger, even though I do not actually know Tiger, this will not sit well with him. Because of that, all the guys should get ready to enjoy a fun Father’s Day, as I predict we will see a focused Tiger battle it out with Phil for “Best Golfer in the World” status. I am already pulling for and predicting a final pairing of those two guys….

Even though he is on my Nascar fantasy team, is there a bigger jerk in the sports world than Kurt Busch?

It seems like the momentum is shifting from the plaintiff to the defense in the Duke Lacrosse situation. I will withhold my comments until more information comes out hopefully in the next couple days, but it seems that a) the alleged victim has a criminal past, and b) the defense attorney seems to be getting more bold in his proclamations that his clients will be vindicated. I wonder where the D.A. is now. He seemed pretty eager to condemn these players a week or two ago. If he was wrong, he should resign immediately. Let’s see what the next few days bring.

Temple is hiring Fran Dunphy, the coach at Penn who has taken his team regularly to the NCAA tournament, as head coach. My first choice for this hire was Bobby Knight. There is no way Knight would be any more outrageous than Chaney, and in that environment, Knight may have been able to compete with the big boys Nationally. He is also one of the best coaches ever. Philadelphia would have embraced him. He may have welcomed the chance to put together a Final Four team, which he may not believe is attainable at Texas Tech. Why more AD’s do not think out of the box like that is beyond me? Outside of bringing in Knight, I thought Dunphy was a good choice. Dunphy has strong ties in the city, he clearly knows how to coach, so it was a safe alternative to the more combustible Knight.

I hope they let Ricky Williams play football next year. Besides him being good for the game, I have no confidence that the NFL drug testing policy is accurate. Based on what I have seen and heard, this test was not for marijuana, but rather some herb that is part of his holistic deal, and not an illegal substance. As they said to the Bad News Bears….Let Him Play, Let Him Play.

Rest in Peace Maggie Dixon, the Phils continue to Suck, J-Roll Streak is Done, and the Eagles brutal schedule

J-Roll’s streak is over. 38 games, 8th longest in major league history (post 1900, I think), longest ever by a shortstop. It is too bad because the Phillies are off to an 0-3 start, and at least Rollins streak was something for the fans to root for. It seems as though the time to turn this around is now or never. The Philberts better take at least 2 of 3 from the Dodgers this weekend or, and I know 6 games does not a season make, they are D-U-N, DUN!!!!

Speaking of the Dodgers, news is worse for them this week as Gagne seems like he may be out for the year. As a baseball fan, there is nothing more depressing that feeling like you had a good winter and are in a position to compete for a postseason spot, and then have your season taken away from you in the first few days.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Jamie Dixon, Pitt’s hoops coach, and his family, for the loss of his sister Maggie, the head coach at Army who took the Black Knights to their first ever Men’s or Women’s NCAA Tournament berth (yes, that includes when the greatest coach ever, Coach K, was there). How can a seemingly healthy 28-year old just die? Not working out, presumably no drugs or alcohol involved, I guess sometimes it just happens. I am learning that as you get older, these deaths tend to hit you a little harder (even if you do not know the person) as it represents your own mortality. The other unfortunate thing is that as you get older, you see more and more or it up close and personal. Anyway, another topic for another day, but I just cannot stop thinking about Maggie Dixon today.

My fantasy Masters team is officially eliminated thanks to dumb K.J. Choi going +8 in the first two rounds, which will not be good enough to make the cut. Par for the fantasy course. Look for either Kasey Kahne, Carl Edwards, or Kurt Busch to hit the wall early in this week’s Nascar race.

The Eagle schedule came out yesterday. Two things I noticed. First, the schedule is BRUTAL in the second half of the season. The last six games of the season are AT Indy, Carolina, AT Washington, AT Giants, AT Dallas, and Atlanta. Are you serious? How can they give them three straight road games against their division rivals? Just appalling. Second, the game that everyone will want to be at is when T.O. comes to town. Dallas visits the Linc on October 8th in what is sure to be the best crowd in many years. The problem is that my daughter turns six that day, so I will definitely choose to spend the day with her instead of the lunatic fringe. But oh how the joint will be jumping. Abby and I will have to watch on TV.

Have a good weekend. Let’s hope the Phils are 2-4 or better when I check back in on Monday. Enjoy the Masters.

Jimmy Rollins is 18 away, the Phillies may be 18 out of first by June, Maryland may have a Women's Hoops Dynasty, and Teeing Off at Augusta

Let me start by saying that I am bitter because I typed this up once today, and somehow the web site deleted it before I could get it posted. So, hopefully second time is the charm…..

Jimmy Rollins has started the season by getting hits in his first two games, extending his hitting streak to 38 games. If he is successfully extending it through next week at this time, look for an angry Stitzer to start ranting and raving about how it should not could because it extends over two seasons. Well, if that is the case, I guess Hank Aaron’s 755 should not count because it extends over 20+ seasons. So, to Stitzer, I proactively say, it counts, go J-Roll!

It is a good thing Phillies fans can look forward to Jimmy Rollins exploits, as their team accomplishments are looking remarkably like, well, the Phillies, through the first two games of the season. Last night, the Fightins scratched their way back against St. Louis, and were tied at 3-3 heading into the 9th. Then Pujols went from 1st to third on a steal when Lieberthal threw the ball into center field, before they averted disaster when the anti-Christ himself, Scott Rolen, hit a ball right at Rollins for a force out at home. Then with two outs and a man on first, our new closer extraordinaire, Tom Gordon, walked a rookie then gives up a go ahead run on a single by the catcher of all people. By the way, in like three years, will a representative of the Molina family be catching for all 30 major league teams. I bet the odds on that in Vegas are like 3-to-2. Anyway, the Phils loaded the bases against the Cards closer before a completely overmatched Lieberthal grounded out weakly to end the game. So, to summarize: 1) the Phillies signed an 87 year-old closer who has not closed in about two decades, 2) Mike Lieberthal is still the everyday catcher, and he can hurt you offensively and defensively, and 3) Chollie Manuel is still the manager, and he evidently did not realize that he still had a left handed pinch hitter and a back up catcher on the bench to pinch hit and take the field if a 10th inning were needed, respectively. And you wonder why I predicted a sub-.500 season in March.

Congratulations to the Maryland Terrapins for winning the Women’s National Hoops Championship. I learned three things from watching their win over Duke on Tuesday night: 1, The game was actually entertaining and exciting to watch, even as a Duke fan. 2, whether it is a Men’s or a Women’s game, how many times do I have to say the following: IF YOU ARE AHEAD BY THREE POINTS WITH UNDER TEN SECONDS TO PLAY AND THE OTHER TEAM HAS THE BALL, FOUL!!!!! How many teams will lose games by not doing this before teams change their strategy. I firmly believe we will watch ESPN Classic re-runs in 20 years with the same bewilderment over this strategy that we have now when we see the short shorts that they wore in the ‘80s. And 3, Maryland is very good, and their freshmen could win multiple additional titles before they are done. After all, isn’t it nice in the Women’s game when you know that all your players will stay four full years? At least Kevin J. Marvel and Michael J. Kalinock will have something good to cheer for as the Men's team continues to disappoint!

Today, the Masters has teed off in Augusta. As a moderate golf fan, I would still argue that the Masters is one of the Top 10 sporting events of the Year (others include Kentucky Derby, Belmont if there is a triple crown contender, Indy 500, Daytona 500, Super Bowl, Duke/Carolina, Men’s Championship game in football and basketball, and Game 7 of the World Series, if applicable). Of course, I entered my buddy Kmart’s pool, in which you take five guys and have to fit them under a salary cap, low four day total wins. My team consists of “Fat Boy” Mickelson, Adam Scott, Mike “yes, that was me who won this tournament only three years ago” Weir, Trevor Immelman, and K.J. Choi. Of course, my first guy on the course, Immelman, carded a 75, and is unlikely to make the cut, which pretty much dooms me before most of my guys even tee off on Day 1. Well, at least I have J-Roll.

Check back in tomorrow……

Will it be the Gaotors or Bruins Tonight? Why Maryland will hate Duke even more after Tuesday. Duke Lacrosse comments. And Opening Day for the Phils.

After my dazzling 0-2 performance on Saturday in the Final Four, I am guessing that you are tuning in to see who you should bet against today. Billy Donovan and Ben Howland have each offered substantial sums asking me to pick against their respective squads in tonight's match-up. I, of course, in the spirit of integrity, declined, and have come up with a pick based on my wealth of knowledge.

Florida has clearly looked like champions all tournament long. They will have the best player on the court tonight in Joakim Noah, and the most versatile, athletic player in the game in Corey Brewer. But UCLA plays the better defense, and in my opinion (I recognize that Billy D. has his share of supporters out there too), I think Ben Howland is the better of the two coaches. When you combine those factors with an edge in the backcourt with Jordan Farmar and Arron Afflalo, and a versatile swingman in Cedric Bozeman, I expect the Bruins to cut down the Nets in the Hossier Dome. UCLA 68, Florida 61.

On the ladies side of the brackets, the Lady Devils did what their counterparts in the men's tourney could not: beat LSU. With the win, the Lasy Devils advance to the finals to play a young, talented Maryland team. This should just feed the Terp fans with more venom and hatred toward Duke, when Monique Currie and the Lady Devils win the first ever National Championship in Women's Basketball.

Speaking of Duke, the University is getting lambasted by all sides for how they have handled the Duke Lacrosse situation. As an alumnus who is very concerned about this situation, I am proud of the way my school has handled this terrible situation. I am not sure what more people would like to see the University do proactively. We do still live in America where people are innocent until proven guilty, so they cannot exactly just start throwing people out of school. In the meantime, they have suspended the lax season indefinitely pending the investigation and what it yields. I applaud President Broadhead and how he is handling a very delicate situation.

As for the claims of poor relations between the Duke and Durham communities, that is in fact true now, and it has been true for the past 20 years at least. But if you examine Duke's commitment to the community and what it has done to support Durham, I feel confident that you will find that there has always been a strong level of support. Could it have done more things to supoport the local community? Of course. There are always more ways that an entity can help the commnuity. Has Duke always acted in a responsible and supportive manner? Absolutely. I would proudly put Duke and its record as a good local citizen against any other universities out there.

Any time you get two distinct groups from different socio-economic classes (Duke costs as much per year as the average household income in Durham is), there are bound to be natural tensions. No matter how many initiatives Duke develops, no matter how much the students and faculty reach out to the community, there will always be tensions. Duke and Durham have managed to co-exist despite these very real differences, but when a heinous crime such as this allegedly occurs, the house of cards that has been in place for a long time can come crumbling down in an instant.

I am hopeful that the lacrosse team will be exonerated, but my guess is that will not happen, based on all the information we have seen on the case. If there is guilt, Duke will need strong leadership to manage the many complex issues that it will face in the immediate future. I, for one, am confident that we have the right administration in pace to deal with these delicate and difficult issues. Stay tuned....

And, finally, baseball starts today. The Phillies had a great spring, led by better than expected performances from Gavin Floyd and Ryan Madon as the 4th and 5th starters, along with a huge sign from Ryan Howard that there will be no sophomore slump. If those three cogs hold up, and everybody else statys healthy and does what they are supposed to, they could win this division and make some noise this season. Let's hope so! And let's hope Jimmy Rollins gets it all started with a hit today, extending his streak to 37 straight.