Philly Sports Fans Need Shades for Future
I was thinking about the future of Philadelphia’s four major sports teams today and I just had to put a pair of sunglasses on. That’s right, that’s how bright the future is.
Union fans, I know I’m indirectly dissing your squad. I’ve been to Union games, I like the sport, the team, and the stadium, but the MLS just hasn’t reached the level of major sport–yet.
I know, I might be an optimist. I hope to be. Things seem to go smoother for optimists. However, as far as our sports teams are concerned, they are much better off than they were a year ago.
The bad is that Holmgren is still the GM and Ed Snider remains the controlling force. However, the Flyers seem to finally have a young goalie that they can actually build around. Steve Mason has given fans every reason to believe that he can be the solid and consistent presence the Flyers haven’t had between the pipes since the days of Ron Hextall. Speaking of Hextall, he’s also back in the organ-eye-zation’s front office, hopefully to assist Holmgren. Hextall is one of the up-and-coming front office people in the NHL, working his way up through the ranks from entry-level scouting.
Joe Banner is gone. Howie Roseman is here. Chip Kelly is here. Nick Foles is here. The past two drafts have proven to be productive drafts, unlike most under Andrew Walter Reid. Chip Kelly turned around a 4-12 squad in one year. He shows a high level of football intelligence. He can get too fancy and struggled with some NFL rules, but I think those things will work themselves out as he gains experience. He seems a keeper. So, the Eagles have one of the better, younger coaches in the game, the best RB in football, the best punter in the game with Donnie Jones, and a young Pro Bowl quarterback. AND…the front office is signing and extending it’s veterans. Did anyone actually think Riley Cooper would sign anywhere else? I hardly think he wanted to walk into a new locker room where 68% of the players would be African-American and have to start from ground zero proving that he’s not the racist that he appeared to be in that concert video.
Sam Hinkie has imploded the team so they can begin from ground zero and rise from NBA mediocrity. I have to also applaud ownership for sacrificing a year of attendance and dealing with humiliating losses. Brett Brown is a good basketball coach. If you can’t tell from the way he talks about players and the game, then you don’t know hoops. So the team has a good coach locked down. The potential rookie of the year in MCW and another potential young stud in Nerlens Noel and a ton of draft picks. The 76ers should get one of the top four franchise-changers in this year’s draft (Embiid, Wiggins, Randle, Parker) and another lottery pick. In case you didn’t notice, the 76ers DIDN’T WIN A GAME IN THE ENTIRE MONTH OF FEBRUARY!!
AJ Burnett was a good addition. From all reports, Ryan Howard is healthy. He hasn’t been healthy in over two years. Chase seems healthy. Cole “should” be okay. Chris Wheeler is still with the organization, but not with the broadcast team. Those are positives. There are negatives such as age, Ruben, bullpen, etc. However, there is one intangible that I think goes in the Phillies’ favor. The one thing that has me overly optimistic is that everyone has counted them out before the season has begun. That is the kind of situation which brings out the best in this aging core of players. When this core is backed against the wall, they tend to respond well–just like when no one gave them a shot to catch the Mets in 2007. Jimmy Rollins had a little bit of swagger back, due the lack of respect for the team, while he addressed questions about his bad season last year and people predicting 69 wins. Jimmy, Chase, Howard and Cole never played well while ahead of the pack. They like the role of coming from behind. As far as the “experts” are concerned, the Phillies have no chance and are way behind the Braves and Nationals. Wildcard, here they come!
Get on board. Join me in a sea of shiny, bright optimism. Here’s the classic Timbuk 3 video for the next year in Philly sports:
