Curse of Billy Penn

Where will McNabb play next season?

After each passing season, the big question is, where will McNabb be playing next season?  So far the Answer has been in Philly.  Hell come up short, and then we write him off.  "It's time to turn it over to Kolb," we always say.  Each year, however, he always stays put!  

Naturally, after a first round elimination, the question has come up again.  Will he be back?  With Kolb as ready as he'll ever be, you have to start believing McNabb's days have got to be numbered.  Take that into consideration with a couple of openings around the NFL, and you have to wonder if he will really be back this time.

With the retirement of Kurt Warner and the possibility of Brett Favre retiring, there could be two playoff caliber teams looking for a starting quarterback.  Could McNabb be their solution?  Whether McNabb is the right guy for Philly or not, you have to honor the possibility that his departure could be beneficial to everybody.  It just might be time to turn the page.  A change of scenery could be good for both parties!

Favre runs up score against Cowboys. Gotta love it!

Brett Favre: You either love him or hate him!  When he's playing the Cowboys, however, it's safe to say Eagles fans love him!

With two minutes remaining, the Vikings led 27-3.  I didn't think it could get any better!  Then, Favre threw an unnecessary touchdown pass to give the Vikings a 34-3 lead. 

Was it inappropriate?  Was it tasteless?  Is it something you just don't do?  The answer to those questions would usually be yes, however, those rules don't apply to the Cowboys!  It was frigging awesome!

You may be tired of Favre and his "gonna retire/not gonna retire" shenanigans, but he earned some points on this one!  

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Cliff Lee or Jamie Moyer? The best and worst $9-million you can spend!

Cliff Lee is gone!  They could have had him for $9-million.  They tell us it's because they couldn't lock him up, and that he was going to walk at the end of the season and test the market.  They tell us it's because they depleted their farm system, and needed to acquire some prospects.

To address the first statement, Lee said he expected to finish his career in a Phillies uniform.  Not the sign of a guy that's gonna walk!  To address the second statement, the Phillies would have acquired two draft picks in the event that he walked, replenishing their farm system!

It doesn't add up!  Could it be a salary dump?  They tell us no, but then again, they told us they weren't going to get Roy Halladay either!

If it was a salary dump, we have to question the singing of Jamie Moyer.  If they don't have Cliff Lee right now because they handed a 46-year old pitcher a 2-year $13-million contract, what else can you say but...WOW!

If that is the case, then Jamie Moyer, you better have one heck of a season!

Vote: Is it time for McNabb to go?

Can you consider McNabb's career in Philadelphia a success?  Reaching the playoffs in eight of the past ten seasons, playing in Five NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl, I guess you can.  Important that it may be, however, it is somewhat irrelevant regarding their future. 

Michael Vick will almost certainly be leaving.  Do you stick with McNabb?  I think it may be time to move on!

Donovan McNabb:  Though McNabb's history is impressive, there are a lot of Eagles fans that feel he has failed us.  He has taken us to many Championship games, but still hasn't won a Super Bowl.  Every time they are eliminated, he takes the brunt of the blame.  Deserved or not, Eagles fans are losing their patience!  

Vaughn Hebron said it best during the Eagles post-game show, saying the relationship between McNabb and the fans has gone as far as it can go.  Whether he has been successful in Philadelphia or if he is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, is no longer a factor.  Year in and year out we get the same result.  Though successful, it is stale.  It's just time for a change!

Time for Kolb?  It is time to give Kolb his shot!  Some say he doesn't have what it takes to be an NFL starter, but there has to be a plan for him somewhere.  If they feel he is not capable of being an NFL starter, then they should move on.  Otherwise, he is their No.1 pick.  They have money and time tied up in him.  If he is your future, you can't let him sit on the bench for years!  Give him his shot and let him grow with this core of young receivers. 

Is it that tough of a decision?  What's the worst that can really happen?  McNabb has gone down before, and it hasn't been a setback for the team.  In 2002 they won five of their last six games when McNabb broke his foot.  It was Koy Detmer and A.J. Feeley that helped the Eagles finish 12-4.  In 2006, McNabb left Jeff Garcia a 5-5 team when he went down for the season.  They ended up 10-6!

With the right team, and a solid quarterback, you can easily make the playoffs!  Do we really think Kolb can't take this team to the playoffs?  If you think about it, that's all McNabb has ever done.  You can argue that Kolb will never win you a Super Bowl, but guess what, McNabb has never won you one either!     

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Another Eagles' season ends in disappointment!

There's so much to say about the Eagles early exit from the playoffs.  Where do we being?

Coach: It was another disappointing big game coaching performance from Andy Reid.  He always changes his strategy in big games, steering away from what got him there in the first place!  They won six straight before their Cowboys' match-ups.  In those games they averaged 28 running attempts.  Against the Cowboys, they attempted 10 last week and 13 this week.  

How can you expect to win big games running the ball 10-13 times?  Reid believes throwing the ball 80-percent of the time is the way to win - though he has proven it is not - but he is unwilling to accept reality.  It is his way, and he will make it work...so he thinks.  This arrogance have prevented the Eagles from winning a Super Bowl!  That, along with his inability to make decisions during games.  He can prepare well for a game, but can't adapt during the game when things don't go as planned.

Defense:  You can argue that Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb are proven, having played in 5 NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl over the past ten years.  Don't forget defense played the biggest role in that then they did!  We have been spoiled, having one of the best defenses in football over the past decade.  We have lost some key players over the past couple of years, along with the best defensive coordinator in football.  The impact has been dramatic!

The Eagles defense has allowed an average of nearly 20-points per game throughout the season.  That number is over 30-points per game against teams that reached the playoffs.  You're not going to go far when you let teams run all over you like that!

I'm still trying to figure this out...Brian Dawkins?  It's a shame he will not be wearing an Eagles helmet when he takes the field at the Pro Bowl, as a starter no less.  But the Eagles know best, he's too old!  

Quarterback:  McNabb is the first name thrown out there when the Eagles are eliminated from the post-season every year.  McNabb takes the brunt of the blame!  You cannot blame McNabb for their loss Saturday night, as the team was beat in just about every aspect of the game.  Regardless of that, however, he has to show up!  Blame aside, McNabb has a history of crumbling when it counts.  It counted Saturday, and McNabb was nowhere to be found!  His biggest play was an interception that was fumbled for a relatively large gain in yards for the Eagles.

I'm not going to say he's a bad player.  He's not!  But at this point in time, I would have to argue that he can't get it done...because he hasn't!  Say what you will, he's had enough opportunities to prove that wrong!

Don't expect change:  Was it disappointing losing back-to-back games to the Cowboys that led to a first round elimination?  Sure!  It was also disappointing when they lost NFC Championship games to the Rams, Buccaneers, Panthers, and Cardinals!  It was disappointing when they lost the Super Bowl to the Patriots!  

The common factor binding those losses...Reid and McNabb!  Generally, when something is not working, you make changes.  Reid just got a three year extension, and said McNabb is his quarterback.  They don't appear to be making any changes, so don't expect any changes in results!

Could Saturday be McNabb's last game as an Eagle?

The big question going around: if the Eagles lose to the Cowboys on Saturday, could that be McNabb's last game as an Eagle?

This is the same question that comes up every season!  Just a week ago, there were huge hopes for the Eagles.  We had a chance to finish off the season with a victory over the Cowboys to win the division, earning a bye week in the playoffs.  Now it looks like they are going to get knocked out of the playoffs in the first round, by none other than the Cowboys!

Have the fans reached a breaking point with McNabb?  Are they ready to move on?  You can argue that McNabb has had ten years now, and just might not be the guy to get it done!  You can also argue that the Eagles have enjoyed much success under McNabb, reaching five NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl, and that their success would have been absent without McNabb.

Which of these statements are true?  Maybe both, maybe neither!  Maybe he was the guy to get it done, but never had the right weapons.  I have often been critical of McNabb, and I don't personally feel he is a big game quarterback, but I would pin most of their failures on Reid.  

Over the past ten years, the Eagles have reached the playoffs seven times, but I'm not convinced that success would not have been there without McNabb.  In 2002, the Eagles ended up 12-4.  McNabb missed 6-games, in which the Eagles went 5-1 without him.  In 2006, when McNabb was lost for the season, Jeff Garcia took over a 5-5 team, leading them to the playoffs with a 10-6 record.  The eventual Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts were the only team to beat the Eagles in a game that McNabb did not play in.

The real question is, how valuable is McNabb?  You can argue they would never have had the success they did without him, but it looks like they very well may have.  Nobody really knows the answer to that question.  One thing we do know, however, is that McNabb has never won the big one.  How many chances do you need before it's time to move on?

So if they lose...

Is it time for McNabb to go?  Here is something to consider: Kevin Kolb has been here for three years now, and is suppose to be the teams future.  Michael Vick is scheduled to make $5.2-million next year.  McNabb is set to make $11.2-million, possibly $11.7 if he plays all 16-games.  There is a decision to be made!

I'm not sure what to do with Vick, or exactly what their intention was in the first place.  If Kobl is your future, when do you take that next step?  The Packers eventually decided it was time.  Rodgers was their future, and they parted ways with Favre, who not only won them a Super Bowl, but had them in the NFC Championship game just months before.  

Whether you are a McNabb supporter or not, we all understand that this decision will one day come.  Getting knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by the Cowboys, when there was great hope they could go deep...this might just be the right time!

Should Saturday's game warrant that type of decision?  Considering all the circumstances, I would have to say yes.  After ten years of "almost," your "supposed" future quarterback ready to go (as ready as he will ever be), blowing their chance to win the division on the final day, getting knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by their arch nemesis, and considering the amount of money McNabb is scheduled to make next season...I think this is the type of game that warrants that type of decision!  

But this is the Eagles we are talking about.  They don't think the same way!  Team President Joe Banner once commented about doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.  Donovan McNabb will be back next year!

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Donovan McNabb has a lot to say; Blames team for loss

"We showed our youth.  In situations where everyone began to look around to see who was going to make the play instead of stepping up and making the play, and that's something that comes with the territory when you have a young group."

-Donovan McNabb, on losing to the Cowboys

That's an interesting take on McNabb's part!  I'm a little confused, if his receivers had more experience, would they have caught passes that were nowhere within their reach?  DeSean Jackson may be young, but the potential six points that sailed over his head had nothing to do with youth!

McNabb addressed the comment, saying he was not blaming anybody for the loss, took responsibility for his own level of play, and that he would never throw anybody under the bus.  I don't care how much responsibility he took for himself, he completely threw the team under the bus!  In fact, this isn't the first time he has done that. 

Following their 2008 NFC Championship game loss to the Cardinals, McNabb had this to say: "We were up, 25-24. (The Cardinals) drove down 72 yards by running the ball, probably, what, eight times?  And it reminded me so much of (the 2001 NFC Championship game) St. Louis where, coming back in the second half, they ran the ball nine times with Marshall Faulk to keep our offense off the field.  Because they were terrified of us going back out and scoring more points." 

His comments naturally didn't sit well with teammates.  Jeremiah Trotter had this to say about it: "(McNabb) hasn't done anything in big games.  When you look at championship games, the super bowl, he hasn't produced in big games.  He had plenty of time to go down the field and score and tie that thing up but he didn't get it done."   Hugh Douglas, who played on the 2001 team, also took exception.  "Some people will say it's not a big deal, but it is.  I know Donovan, I respect Donovan, in his mind, he didn't say wrong."  Douglas went on to say, "a leader thinks before he speaks.  That would never come out of a leader's mouth.  Every year, Donovan says something that's inflammatory, then he doesn't explain himself.  Explain yourself.  When you alienate people who have your back, I need to understand why.  I need to understand how he thinks.  right now, I don't." 

Could the young guys have played better?  Sure, but so could the veteran!  For a guy that is so critical about youth, McNabb's experience did very little to help him!  The only player to criticize his teammate that was correct was Terrell Owens, saying he was not the one that got tired at the Super Bowl, referring to McNabb.  You can hate T.O. all you want, but he was right.  T.O. wasn't suppose to even play in the Super Bowl, but he did, and played well!  It was McNabb that didn't show up!  

Eagles/Cowboys rematch - What's up Reid's Sleeve?

Last week, we thought the Eagles would finish 12-4, ending the season with a victory over the Cowboys, earning a bye-week for the first round of the playoffs.  It could have been so nice!  Now, it looks like it's going to be flat out awful!  The Eagles are in danger of losing back-to-back games against Dallas - in Dallas - to end the season.  Could you imagine?  Not only going home after one round of the playoffs, but losing to Dallas three times!

Maybe Andy Reid has a plan up his sleeve.  Is it possible that...

1. He didn't want to show his cards against the Cowboys, saving it for next week?
2. They are going to do something unexpected, like having Michael Vick play quarterback instead of McNabb?

No, I don't think that's very possible!  Rocky Balboa may have switched from being a lefty to a righty in an attempt to fool Apollo during their re-match, but I don't suspect the Eagles have anything like that up their sleeve!

Unfortunately, this is what I do expect...

With Dallas coming off back-to-back shut-outs, including a three-game winning streak that includes a victory over the previously undefeated Saints, the Eagles are in trouble!  If the Eagles had shown any signs that they could do something last Sunday, I would maybe have a little hope.  They showed nothing, however, and that is what I expect from them on Sunday...nothing!

On the flip side, somewhere you have to think there is no way the Cowboys can beat us three times in a season.  Also, how often do you see a team dominate another team, then lose in their next match-up?  We looked pretty solid against the Cardinals last season, beating them 48-20 on Thanksgiving day.  Their NFC Championship re-match told a different story!

We'll see, but don't cross your fingers!  

Eagles Lose Division in Sloppy Game to Cowboys

What time did you turn the game off?  After the Cowboys took a 17-0 lead?  After McNabb overthrew a wide open DeSean Jackson by about 10-yards?  After they decided they weren't even going to try to get any points at the end of the first half?  After they attempted a 53-yard field goal on a 4th and 2 in the third quarter and missed?  Should I go on?  

The Eagles can be in the playoffs every year and spend half the decade in NFC Championship games.  Unfortunately they showed why that's just about as far as they can go!  When this team gets in big games, they look like they're playing for the first time; both the team and coaching staff.  Nobody knows what's going on!

McNabb looks great throughout the season, but all of a sudden, he's either over-throwing/under-throwing his receivers by miles or throwing behind them.  Tons of false starts and wasted time-outs are just a glimpse of how unprepared this team looked.  You can squeeze through the season with this type of preparation, but will never win a Super Bowl. 

They had their chance and they blew it!  They were on a six-game winning streak, first in their division, with a chance to take second seed and get a bye week.  They looked like they couldn't have wanted it any less, posting zero points, losing 24-0!  They didn't get the bye week and they don't deserve it!

They will get a chance to redeem themselves next week, playing in Dallas once again.  I should be excited about that, but quite frankly, I'm not so confident!

McNabb vs. Romo: Who will come up big?

Are you ready for some football?  With the division on the line, Sunday's Eagles/Cowboys' match-up is the biggest game of the year for either team so far.  With two quarterback's known for folding in big games, it should be an interesting game!

Tony Romo: I don't care what he has done over the past few weeks, Tony Romo is not a big game quarterback!  The Cowboys were expected to be Super Bowl contenders for a few years now, but Romo has failed to even land them in the playoffs.  The best was when he botched up the hold for a 19-yard field goal attempt that would have put the Cowboys in the playoffs for the 2006 season!  He has had a chance to redeem himself in the years to follow, but come up short every time.  They are always right there, but slip away at the end.  I would not want Romo quarterbacking my team!

Donovan McNabb: You could argue that Donovan McNabb is a big time quarterback, putting the Eagles in five NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl.  Obviously you need to win big games to reach a Championship game or Super Bowl, but you could also argue that he is a combined 1-6 in his NFC Championship games and Super Bowl appearances.  Those are big games!

Who has the edge?  I would have to argue McNabb has the upper hand.  He may have come up short in some key moments, but he knows how to make the playoffs.  Romo has finally made the playoffs, but with the division on the line, can he pull it off?

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Curt Schilling at NHL Winter Classic in Bruins shirt; What a loser!!!

Everybody was showing up for the 2010 NHL Winter Classic match-up between the Bruins and Flyers at Fenway Park.  The Dropkick Murphy's and James Taylor were musical guests while members of the 1980 USA Olympic team were there in hockey spirit.  Sure enough, Curt Schilling weaseled his way into the spotlight too!

 

We all know that Curt Schilling knows where the camera is!  He has to be in the middle of everything and always has an opinion; remember the towel over his head during the 1993 World Series or the bloody sock?  When he popped on camera to talk about the match-up during the first intermission, you could only say one thing: "that figures!"

Having played in both Philadelphia and Boston, Schilling has a common tie that links him to the Classic.  Other than that, why is the baseball player sticking his nose in hockey's biggest event of the year?  If that wasn't inappropriate enough, he showed up wearing a Bruins shirt.  I understand the game was in Boston, and he last played for the Red Sox.  I also understand that he also played for the Phillies.  In fact, he was in Philly more than double the time he spent in Boston!

It would have only been appropriate for him to wear a Bruins sweater if he had never played in Philly!

Decade in Review: 10 Best Philadelphia Sports Moments

Here's a look at the ten best Philadelphia sports moments over the past decade...

10. Phillies sign Jim Thome

The Phillis locked up Jim Thome to a 6-year $85-million contract prior to the 2003 season.  Thome hit 47 home runs in 2003 and 42 in 2004.  He missed the majority of the 2005 season due to an elbow injury, allowing Ryan Howard playing time at first base.  Howard proved to be one of the best first baseman in baseball, forcing the Phillies to trade Thome.

Thome may have only played three seasons in Philly, but he was a fan favorite!  More importantly, he was the first step to a World Series team.  It had been over twenty years since the Phillies won a World Series, and quite frankly, no attempts had been made to make them a winner in the meantime.  Thome was their first move!  

The Phillies had not acquired a top level player of that caliber since Pete Rose in 1979.  Excitement surrounded the possible acquisition of Thome, and when they got him, the town went nuts.  The Phillies finally had a player that was considered to be one of the best in the game.

The Phillies have since won three Division titles, two NLCS Championships, and a World Series.  It is exciting to sign big name players such as Cliff Lee or Roy Halladay, but with a team full with stars, we almost take it for granite.  That was not the feeling when Thome arrived!  If you were 30-years old or younger, you probably never saw a player like that in a Phillies uniform until they signed Thome.  It was a big deal! 

 

9. Phillies win 2007 Division on final day of season

In 2006, the Dodgers beat out the Phillies for the wild card spot by three games.  The Phillies seemed to be improving with each passing year, but always came up short of the playoffs.

In 2007, they were behind in the wild card hunt, and their only hope would be to win the Division.  The Mets were in first, and had a 7-game lead with seventeen games remaining.  It looked like another year of, "almost!"    

It all came down to the last day.  The Phillies won their final game, and the Mets - who had suffered the largest September collapse for a leading team in baseball history - lost their final game to the Marlins.  It put the Phillies in first, and in the playoffs.  They had won the Division!

It was the first time the Phillies won the Division or reached the playoffs since 1993.  It was awesome, but the best part is how they got in.  The Mets had the Division all wrapped up, and not only did they lose that, they failed to make the playoffs altogether.  It was wonderful!

8. Sixers reach NBA Finals

The Iverson/Coach Brown team had reached the playoffs in consecutive years during the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons, but came up short each time.  2000-01 was their season!  

Iverson had probably his best season, averaging 31.1 points per game, won the NBA scoring title, and won the All-Star game MVP.  The Sixers finished with a 56-26 record, the best in the Eastern Conference, and sailed to NBA Finals.

In game-1 against the Lakers, the Sixers pulled out an exciting overtime victory 107-101 with Iverson scoring 48-points.  It was exciting!  Unfortunately they were unable to hold off Kobe Bryant, Shaq, and crew.  The Lakers took the next four games, winning the 2001 NBA Finals.  It was nice to be there!

 

7. Matt Stairs home run & Jimmy Rollins walk-off double; Both game-4 NLCS winning hits of Jonathan Broxton

2008 NLCS, Game 4, Phillies lead series 2-1:  The Phillies had the series lead, but it was starting to get scary.  The Dodgers headed into the 8th inning with a 5-3 lead.  It looked like the series would soon be tied! 

In the eighth inning, Shane Victorino came up huge, hitting a 2-run home run to tie the game.  Jonathan Broxton - the Dodgers star closer - was then brought in after Carlos Ruiz reached first on a single.  Matt Stairs had recently joined the Phillies, and had very little impact to that point.  His next at-bat would be one to remember, crushing a towering home run halfway up the right field stands. 

The home run gave the Phillies a 7-5 win, putting them up three games to one.  Matt Stairs immediately became a fan favorite in Philadelphia!   

  

2009 NLCS, Game 4, Phillies lead series 2-1:  Once again, the Phillies had the series lead, but were in danger of losing it.  It was the ninth inning, and the Dodgers were winning 4-3, and Broxton was coming in to close it out.  We got him last year, could we really get him again?  It seemed to be wishful thinking!  

Ironically, Matt Stairs came to the plate, but Broxton gave him nothing to hit.  He walked him on four straight pitches.  The Phillies were down to their last out when Jimmy Rollins came to the plate with two men on.  On a 1-1 pitch, Rollins drilled the ball to right-center, scoring Eric Bruntlet - who was pinch-running for Stairs - for the game-winning run.

They had done it again! 

6. The Eagles playing in five NFC Championship games, and a Super Bowl

The Eagles may not have won a Super Bowl yet, but you can't complain too much about the decade they had.  They have played in half the NFC Championship games over the past ten years, reaching the Super Bowl on one occasion.  Win or not, it's always exciting when your team is in a Championship game.  We have been lucky enough to have that opportunity on five occasions now...and counting! 

 

5. Brad Lidge has perfect season

When the Phillies got Brad Lidge, everybody wondered what they were getting.  He clearly struggled with confidence problems following a massive home he gave up to Albert Pujols in the 2005 NLCS.  He had surgery to repair his knee prior to the start of the season.  It was...iffy!

He quickly proved the skeptics wrong.  It was immediately clear he was dominant; nobody could hit him!  When he entered the playoffs without blowing a save yet, it was in the back of everybody's mind...surely he would be perfect all year and blow one that counted!  

Amazingly, it didn't happen.  He was perfect the whole way through, saving 48-of-48, giving the Phillies a World Series Championship.

 

4. Keith Primeau scores in 5/OT to end longest game ever

On May 5, 2000, Keith Primeau ended the longest NHL game in modern history with his game-winning goal in the fifth overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

It is important to remember the significance of the goal.  It was game-4 of the Conference Semi-Finals, and they were down 2-1.  Had they lost the game, they would have gone down 3-1.  The win tied the series up 2-2, and they went on to win the series, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals. 

You would expect a game like that to end on a cheap goal, but it ended in style!  Primeau beat Penguins' goalie Ron Tugnutt on a shot from the circle that sailed over his shoulder.  The game lasted 152-minutes and 1-second. 

3. 4th and 26

On January 11, 2004, the Eagles hosted the Green Bay Packers in a Divisional Playoff game.  With 1:12 remaining in the game, the Eagles were faced with a 4th & 26 from their own 25 yard line.  If they were going to win, they would have to convert it.  If they failed, their season was over.  It would take a miracle!

Donovan McNabb threw a perfect pass to wide receiver Freddie Mitchell for a gain of 25-yards.  It was enough for a first down.  It set up a field goal by David Aikers to send the game into overtime.  The Eagles went on to win the game, advancing to the NFC Championship.

2. Phillies Worlds Series Parade

It was the perfect day!  After waiting 25-years for another championship to come to Philadelphia, we finally got it.  Millions of fans lined Broad Street to watch the Phillies parade go by.  The sun was shining, the weather was perfect, and everybody was happy.  Philadelphia was a sea of red!

As Mitch Williams would say, "not even God could rain on this parade!"

 

1. Phillies win World Series

For many, they had waited a quarter of a century to witness a championship in this town again.  For others, they have never seen one!  Would it ever happen again?

The longer you wait, the more special it is!  Not only was it special, it was perfect!  Winning at home, on a swinging strike out, with Harry Kalas making the final call.  When game five was delayed because of rain, we all felt short changed.  It seemed like they waited for the Rays to tie it up before they halted play.  

Everything happens for a reason!  We may have lost our ace Cole Hamels because of the rain situation, but we got one heck of a three-inning game!  On a crystal clear night, Brad Lidge struck out Eric Hinske for the final out, making the Phillies World Series Champions.  Because the game was being resumed from the sixth-inning, the game was over by 10 pm, allowing fans to celebrate all night long.  

It was perfect!  

 Click here to check out the worst Philadelphia sports moments over the past decade

Click here to check out the most memorable Philadelphia sports moments over the past decade

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Decade in Review: 10 Worst Philadelphia Sports Moments

Here's a look at the ten worst Philadelphia sports moments over the past decade...

10. No 2004/05 hockey season due to lockout

Due to a dispute between the NHL and the NHL Players Association, a lockout began on September 16, 2004 and lasted 310 days.  

• The entire 2004/05 season was canceled.  It was the first time a complete season was canceled in any of the major North American sports because of a labor dispute.
• It was the first time the Stanley Cup was not awarded since 1919.

The Flyers played in the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2003/04 season, but lost to the Tampa Bay lightning in 7-games.  Could the 04/05 season have been their year?

The real killer is the loss of interest in hockey following the lockout.  To this day they have failed to recover!

9. Matt Geiger gets absurd contract

Matt Geiger was never a superstar player, but the Sixers decided to give him a guaranteed six-year $52-million contract in 2001.  Knee problems - that existed before they signed him - frequently kept him off the court, and forced him to retire in 2002.  Wonderful!

8. Trading Placido Polanco for Ugueth Urbina

On June 8, 2005, the Phillies sent Placido Polanco to the Detroit Tigers for Ugueth Urbina.  The Tigers were looking to get rid of Urbina because his temper problems became a distraction to the team.  He was fighting teammates on the plane and stuff like that.  The Phillies said, "that's our guy!"

Urbina would finish the 2005 season with the Phillies, but wasn't able to return in 2006 due to legal obstacles.  Urbina's temper got him in trouble again!  Back home in Venezuela, Urbina found the need to go after five farm workers with a machete, and attempted to throw gasoline on them.  That little stunt landed him a 14-year prison sentence.  

Meanwhile...while Urbina was incarcerated, the Tigers enjoyed nice production from Polanco!  He won two Gold Glove Awards, an ALCS MVP Award, a Silver Slugger Award, and made an All-Star appearance.  He hit .341 in 2007 while going the entire season without committing an error.

Who Knew?

 

7. Eric Lindros gets knocked out by Scott Stevens

On May 26, 2000, the Flyers played the New Jersey Devils in Game-7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.  They were one win away from the Stanley Cup Finals!  

Eric Lindros had missed 10-weeks due to a concussion, but made his return for the game.  The excitement of having their best player return for their most important game yet went away when Lindros was leveled by Devils' defenseman Scott Stevens, leaving him unconscious on the ice.

That was the final time Lindros wore a Flyers uniform!  His career in Philly was surrounded by criticism and controversy, and many considered him to be a disappointment.  Disappointment or not, when he was playing well, he was the best player in the game!  It's a shame his tenure in Philly went the route it did.  What could have been!

6. Phillies reach 10,000 losses

This is the type of achievement we get in Philly!  On July 15, 2007, the Phillies lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.  It was their 10,000th career loss.  They became the first professional sports team to reach such a milestone! 

Based on a 162-game season, it would take 62-years to reach 10,000 losses losing all 162-games per season.  Think about that!

5. Flyers blow 3-1 Eastern Conference Series lead to Devils

During the 1999-2000 season, the Flyers finished first in their division and found themselves in the Eastern Conference Finals against their nemesis, the New Jersey Devils.  Ideally, they took a 3-1 series lead.  You had to believe they were going to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The saying, "it's not over til it's over" couldn't be more true!  The Devils came back, winning the next three games, and advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals.  They went on to win, beating the Dallas Stars 4-2.

Typical!

4. Donovan McNabb throwing up in the Super Bowl

The Eagles had never won a Super Bowl.  They lost in their only appearance in 1980, and had recently lost three consecutive NFC Championship games.  2004 was their chance!  They headed down to Jacksonville to take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX.

They came up short, but had victory within sight!  Losing 24-21, they were criticized for running too much time off the clock on their final scoring drive, forcing them to blow their remaining time-outs when New England got the ball back.  More critical, was Donovan McNabb, who appeared to be sick on the field, unable to get the plays off quickly.

McNabb has denied that he had thrown up, but it was reported that Freddie Mitchell had to call a few plays because McNabb was incapable of doing so.  McNabb said he was just tired.  

What's the difference?

3. Phillies lose World Series to the Yankees

Everybody was on a year long hight following the Phillies 2008 World Series victory, but that ride finally came to an end on November 4, 2009 when they lost to the Yankees in game 6.  

Giving the city their first championship in 25-years, nobody can be upset the Phillies didn't repeat.  It's a lot to expect from a team, but we all know this team was capable of beating anybody, including the Yankees!  After the Phillies won game 1 - with Cliff Lee looking like the man - the idea of a second consecutive world series victory became a reality.

Unfortunately it wasn't meant to be!  The Yankees took the next three games, eventually winning the series 4-2.  It's not too disappointing considering they won the previous year, but to lose to the Yankees...ugh!

2. Eagles play in 5 NFC Championship games, and lose 4 of them

When the Eagles reached the NFC Championship game in 2001, everybody was excited!  They lost to the Rams, but we were all happy they made it that far.  They reached the Championship game the next two seasons, but appreciation turned into disappointment!  Losing to two teams they should have beaten - Buccaneers and Panthers - everybody wondered how many more chances could they get.

Finally, in 2004 they jumped the hurdle.  They beat the Falcons in the Championship game only to lose the Super Bowl.  Four straight years on top with nothing to show for, did they miss there chance?  It turned out they didn't!  In 2008 they found themselves in a Championship game against the Cardinals - a team they crushed earlier in the season - but lost again.

What a decade for the Eagles.  5 NFC Championship games and 1 Super Bowl appearance.  1 NFC Championship victory and 0 Super Bowl titles! 

1. Losing great people 

At the end of last season, Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson was not on the field for the final games.  He was sitting up in the box because of health issues.  He was battling cancer!  Before the season began, it was announced that he had passed away.

Following a World Series Championship - the first in 25-years - everybody was in good spirits!  Just a few days after receiving their World Series rings, Harry Kalas passed away.  The World Series title that had everybody flying high, had all of a sudden become an after thought.

Unfortunately, the list goes on!  Tug McGraw, Paul Owens, Reggie White, and John Vukovich...the list goes on!  

In a town where we live and die sports, these people become a part of our lives, and we are never ready for them to go away!  Really, what is baseball without Harry Kalas?  It is much worse than losing any game!  

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Decade in Review: Top 10 Memorable Philadelphia Sports Moments

Here's a look at the top ten most memorable Philadelphia sports moments over the past decade...

10. August 13, 2001: Eagles/Ravens pre-season game canceled due to turf

The original AstroTurf at the Vet had just been replaced with a softer surface called NextTurf.  The Eagles and Ravens were scheduled to play the first football game on the new turf, but Ravens head coach Brian Billick had something to say about that.

The turf was improperly installed, leaving the seams exposed.  Billick would not allow his team to take the field for warm-ups when he discovered there was a trench around the third base area of the field.  The field crew were unable to repair the problem and the game was canceled.

Only at the Vet!    

9. February 10, 2002: Kobe Bryant booed at the All-Star game in Philadelphia 

Philadelphia native Kobe Bryant did not get such a warm welcome when he came home to participate in the 2002 NBA All-Star game at the First Union Center.  The Lower Merion graduate was booed from the time he hit the floor until he left.

Bryant had one of the best All-Star performances ever, with 31-points, 5-assists, and 5-rebounds.  His performance earned him the game MVP, and helped the Western Conference wrap up a 135-120 victory.

Welcome home!  

8. March 21, 2004: Veterans Stadium comes down

Veterans Stadium was considered to be "state-of-the-art" when it first opened in 1971.  It was part of a new wave of stadiums known as "multi-purpose stadiums."  They allowed football and baseball teams to share the same building, despite differences in dimensions.

Thirty years later, our "state-of-the-art" building would be outdated!  Construction began on the Linc in early 2001 and Citizens Bank Park in 2002.  The Vet would soon be history!  The Eagles were the first to leave, opening the Linc on August 3, 2003.  As soon as the Phillies wrapped up their 2003 season, the Vet was done.  On March 21, 2004, the Vet was torn down.

It was old, it was dull, it was smelly, but it was the home to so many memories.  It was somehow awesome!  

7. July 8, 2007: Phillies' save grounds crew from tarp in Colorado

The Colorado grounds crew was taken by surprise when they found themselves trapped under the tarp, the result of out of control winds.  They were attempting to cover the field during a seventh-inning delay when the wind caught the tarp, trapping many of the crew underneath.

The Rockies' players had already retreated to their locker room, but the Phillies were on hand to save the day.  In a heads-up move, they ran out to help, getting the grounds crew out of danger and securing the tarp.  

Their good deed paid off!  They went on to win the game 8-4.  With 9,999 career losses, they avoided their 10,000th loss.  Unfortunately, the Rockies would knock the Phillies out of the playoffs that year.

 

6. Ryan Howard wins Rookie of the Year

Jim Thome had been a huge acquisition for the Phillies, but Ryan Howard got his chance to show what he was capable of when Thome was lost for the 2005 season due to an elbow injury.

Howard's numbers: 22-Home Runs, 63-RBI's, and a .283 batting-average in just 313 at-bats.  It was enough to earn him the 2005 Rookie of the Year award.  The Phillies had a new first baseman!

5. Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard win back-to-back MVP Awards

The after winning Rookie of the Year, Ryan Howard showed he was worth the fuss.  In 2006, Howard hit 58-Home Runs and 149-RBI's with a batting average of .313, earning him the NL MVP Award.

The following season, teammate Jimmy Rollins would show off what he was capable of.  In 2007, Rollins had 30-Home Runs, 20-Triples, 94-RBI's, and 41-Stolen Bases, with a batting average of .396.  He also won the Gold Glove Award that year.  It was enough to make him the Phillies' second consecutive NL MVP Award winner!

4. Terrell Owens and Drew Rosenhaus press conference; Next Question...

Everybody was excited when the Eagles acquired wide receiver Terrell Owens!  The team that played in three consecutive NFC Championships without a top quality receiver was now in position to take the next step.  Sure enough, they ended up in the Super Bowl that year.  

The following season, Owens hired agent Drew Rosenhaus and sought to restructure his contract.  He also created a feud between himself and quarterback Donovan McNabb, commenting that "I wasn't the guy that got tired in the Super Bowl."  

The Eagles refused to rework the contract and Owens continued to voice his displeasure with management.  The Eagles suspended Owens for four games without pay, and then deactivated him for the remainder of the season.  

The suspension was to begin on November 6, and on November 8, Owens held a press conference with Rosenhaus.  Owens issued an apology to the organization and to McNabb, but the circus began when Rosenhaus took over.  He answered almost every questions with, "next question."  Hilarious!  The best question was, "what have you done for T.O. besides get him suspended?"  His response, "next question!" 

3. March 5, 2004 - Flyers and Senators brawl, set NHL penalty record

The ultimate hockey fight!  It began when tough guys Donald Brashear and Rob Ray engaged in a routine fight, with Brashear getting the better of Ray.  The situation escalated after the fight ended, when Ray's teammates went after Brashear, a hockey no-no!  What started out as a normal hockey fight, ended in chaos...

• Five consecutive brawls, including a fight between the two goalies
• 419-penalty minutes issued, an NHL record
• 20 Players were ejected for their role in the brawl     
• It took 90-minutes for the officials to sort out all the penalties
• Flyers General Manager Bobby Clarke had to be restrained from going after Senators head coach Jacques Martin following the game.

I have never seen anything like it before, and will probably never see anything like it again.  Naturally, a team that was once referred to as "The Broad Street Bullies" would have be involved in a game like that!

2. September 28, 2003 - Veterans Stadium closing ceremony

After 32-years of service, Veterans Stadium was closing.  The Phillies played the final game at the Vet, losing to the Atlanta Braves.  The ceremony following the game was memorable!

Paul Owens and Tug McGraw made their final public appearances at the ceremony.  Both men would pass away that winter.  Mike Schmidt reenacted his 500th home run, and was greeted by their current slugger Jim Thome at the plate.  McGraw reenacted the final pitch of the 1980 World Series, the only one they had one at that time. 

The great Harry Kalas announced the final broadcast from the Vet: "And now, Veterans Stadium is like a 3-1 pitch to Jim Thome or Mike Schmidt.  It's a looong drive, IT'S OUTTA HERE!" 

They made us remember that there were many memories in the place we were so eager to tear down!

1. May 7, 2002 - Allen Iverson Practice Rant

When the Sixers were eliminated from the first round of the 2002 NBA playoffs, coach Larry Brown criticized Iverson for frequently missing practice.  When asked about the topic, Iverson went on his famous rant.  Check it out...

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The Nationals can get worse, they now have Bruntlett

The Washington Nationals were the worst team in baseball last season.  At 59-103, they were the only team to have less than sixty wins and the only team with a hundred losses.  If that wasn't bad enough, they just signed Eric Bruntlett.

Bruntlett was given a minor league contract for 2010.  Who knows, maybe he can help.  They have to believe he will hit better than he did last year, although .171 is tough to top.

The Nationals committed more errors than any other team in baseball with 143.  They committed 19 more than the next highest team.  Maybe they saw a replay of Bruntlett's unassisted triple play and said, "that's our guy!"  

How do you have a season like the Nationals did last year, and tell your fans you just got Eric Bruntlett?  I'm not sure if that is the solution to filling all those empty seats down there!