Brady’s bunch

Yes, I know that I will rile Philadelphia fans, but I am a huge fan of the New England Patriots. I have been so since 1989, when, as a 10-year-old, I began following football. I definitely took to the local teams, but the Patriots, who happened to go 1-15 that year (I hope that suppresses any bandwagon claims) just appealed to me.  Through the ensuing 26 years, I have experienced many highs and lows, but Super Bowl Sunday certainly counts as my best experience as a fan of the Foxborough-based athletes.

Like any reasonable follower of any team, I went into the game thoroughly respecting the opposition. Because of my regard for the Seattle Seahawks, I wanted to celebrate a win that much more, and, yes, since I know how skilled the NFC representatives are, I supposed they would score late to take a 31-28 lead with virtually no time left. Call me Doubting Joseph for not believing the defense could prove as clutch as the offense! Thanks to Malcolm Butler’s interception, quarterback Tom Brady can revel in his fourth Super Bowl title since 2002 and I can fend off criticism for another season. It’s good to be king.

Bird watching

I am a diehard Flyers fan, but with marginal interest in the Phillies and Sixers and absolutely no enthusiasm for the Eagles, nobody can count me as a “homer.” However, I respect those who root for the other three local squads and, sad to say, have come to pity those who adore the Birds.

Even with minimal interest in the franchise, I fully expected the Eagles to destroy the Redskins Saturday. I had other obligations for most of the game, so when I was able to catch action for the first time, I found myself stunned to see the 3-11 Skins up 24-14. As quarterback Mark Sanchez and tight end Zach Ertz proved a potent tandem, I believed they would ward off an upset and claim their 10th win. Then I remembered that I live in Philadelphia, and Philadelphia sports teams have a wonderful legacy of choking. No unit seems immune to this malady, and Sanchez showed he is in a sharing mood this Christmas season by tossing a late interception. Thanks to Redskins kicker Kai Forbath and the Dallas Cowboys’ 42-7 annihilation of the Indianapolis Colts yesterday, the Birds, despite having the ability to finish four games over .500 should they beat the Giants on Sunday, will be making January golf plans.

Knowing fellow Philadelphians’ passion for the Birds, I deep down wish the players and coaches could concoct a remedy for their perpetual assault on fans’ sanity. What will it take to produce a winner at Lincoln Financial Field? Maybe the front office can resolve to find answers in 2015.

Training camp training

Review Intern Joseph Fontanazza weighs in on his trip to the Novacare Complex.

Jordan Matthews and I have little in common. The Vanderbilt alumnus is a world class athlete looking to be a part of one of the most explosive offensives in recent memory. Then there is me, a writer with a sub-six 40-yard dash and currently debating if I should have that fourth slice of pizza. But in the summer of 2014, we both attended our first training camp likely with the same type of early jitters.

Walking through security Aug. 4, I had the fear of denial creeping into my subconscious. “Who is this kid? Somebody get him out of here,” security personnel wondered as I almost tiptoed to avoid attention. The paranoia subsided with every passing checkpoint. I was able to receive my media pass from Eagles Public Relations Coordinator Anthony Bonagura and Public Relations Intern James McDonald. If I didn’t have to show a semblance of professionalism, I would have passed out on the spot from sheer excitement. As South Philly Review Editor Bill Gelman, fellow Intern Joe Tressa, and I walked through the entrance to the practice, I remembered why I wanted to be a writer. The future pressure of finding a job, short deadlines and interacting with multiple millionaires may be anxiety-filled, but I have an opportunity to write about sports for a living. Some people have to wake up at 5:00 a.m. to go to jobs that they hate, but this is what I do. Sometimes we forget how blessed we are.

The Eagles’ field was a football junkie’s dream and a cavalcade of player interaction. To the left, giant bodies struggle for five-second supremacy. Straight ahead, defensive backs deny adversaries any notion of breathing room. To the far right, wide receivers float above earth’s surface plucking leather out of the sky from their quarterback companions. After taking in the sensory overload, I realized the same thing that held me back from a below average football career is the same thing holding me back from being an above average writer: Me, a common folk around behemoths, could not see over the players to observe the action. I spotted an unimpeded view and made a dash like Chip Kelly’s personal invite to the team depended on it… Alright, I’m getting dramatic…I briskly walked to the open view point. The wideouts were running fade routes while working on attacking balls at the highest points. Jeremy Maclin barreled through the sideline as he toe tapped for the touchdown. After Maclin, wide receivers Benn, Murphy, and Pratt all were given the opportunity to work one of the NFL’s staple routes.

The buzzer for the next activity sounded, and I had to find a new spot. Stuck in the same situation that I hastily escaped, I surveyed the surrounding area looking for a new viewpoint. Subsequently to appearing like a lost child looking for his mother, I had a vantage point on the far bleachers become available. For the first time of the day, I could see what was going on, and just in time for one-on-one drills. Oregon alum Will Murphy impressed with a catch in traffic on an out route, but Kadron Boone stole fans’ gaze through a diving catch on a deep ball. Rookie Matthews displayed his aggressive nature, as he attacked a pass over a flailing cornerback. Chip Kelly’s fast paced practice was truly a test on my writing speed as the Eagles quickly sojourned to the next task. During the Seven On Seven, the offense appeared crisp. Nick Foles connected on every pass during his first three repetitions connecting with Maclin, Matthews and McCoy while Mark Sanchez worked his short passing game connecting with multiple buttonhooks and flat routes. Foles continued his chemistry with his assortment of skill position talent finding a corner route to Maclin flaunting exquisite ball placement to his number one wide out. Former USC quarterback Matt Barkley also was given a chance to impress during a Two Minute Drill situation. He found Matthews then Darren Sproles to get into scoring position but on a forth down Barkley and Zach Ertz were unable to connect. Ertz made an extravagant effort over stretching for the ball with one hand but because he was unable to stay inbounds the pass was ruled incomplete. With practice going to a close with a couple more drills, I looked back on this whole experience.

Going to my first training camp practice was a crazy experience that left me in awe. I sat close to Eagles’ writer Les Bowen, while I struggled to get out a word just listening to him talk to some of his colleagues was an education in itself. I tried to stay on the line of professionalism being this close to players and writers that I admire truly changed my prospective on the future. I’m looking forward to the next time I make a venture to the Novacare Complex now that I somewhat-kind of-almost know what I’m doing.

Attending an Eagles Press Conference

By South Philly Review Intern Joseph Tressa

I never dreamed of the day where I would have the opportunity to sit in on a press conference done by an athlete. On Monday, Aug. 4, I got that special opportunity by being allowed to watch the Eagles practice and the chance to attend the press conferences of linebacker DeMeco Ryans and quarterback Nick Foles.
It was a surreal experience to say the least. Sitting around media members from such affiliates as Comcast Sportsnet, 6 ABC and Channel 69 News gave me my first real look at the world of sports reporting. Just to be in the same room as some of these people gave me the chills.
While walking around the playing field, I also caught glimpses of a few 94 WIP radio hosts. Howard and Spike Eskin, along with Michael Barkann, were in attendance to take in the practice. Howard even said “Hello” to me (not the greatest person in the world to get a “hello” from, but I can now say that I interacted with the man to some degree). I was also inches away from 6 ABC’s sports anchor, Jamie Apody. Going from seeing her almost every day on the news to being in her presence was another humbling experience.
That’s enough with the media personalities. The fact that two actual NFL players were standing about 20 feet from where I was sitting in the press conference tent topped everything else from that day (well, maybe getting a free Rita’s water ice was the best). But, seriously, having Nick Foles looking in my direction and answering questions asked by the media was an awesome experience. The man who threw seven touchdowns in a single game, the man who led the Eagles to the playoffs with his spectacular play was just feet away from me.
Now, for the actual press conference. One of the big topics addressed by the media members was NBC’s Cris Collinsworth stating the Eagles were Super Bowl contenders.
“It’s too far away right now to say, since we have many things to work on,” Ryans said of Collinsworth’s estimation.
“I already knew those expectations were there the minute that I first stepped on the field here,” Foles noted.
Ryans was also pleased with how hard some of his teammates have been playing during the team’s training camp.
“Some guys are naturally gifted, and you can see that during practice,” he said.
With many rookie receivers on the roster, Foles was asked if his chemistry with these players is improving.
“Me and the young guys are getting better with our chemistry,” he said. “It’s not necessarily a hard experience. It’s fun for me because I like improving chemistry with all my receivers.”
With the first Eagles preseason game being this Friday against the Chicago Bears, Foles noted how important this time is for rookies and young players.
“The preseason is very beneficial for the young guys. It gives them a chance to experience an actual game and feel what it’s like to be out there,” he said.
With the recent news of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton getting a $115 million extension, Foles was asked his opinion on the subject.
“Andy’s a great player and I admire the way he plays, but I don’t worry about things like that,” he said. “My job is to go on the field and make it work.”
Foles will look to improve on an impressive 2013 season, where he went 9-2 as a starter.
The day that I took in at the NovaCare complex will one that I will surely not forget for a while. Being that close to the players and media members gave me a true sense of what it means to be a sports journalist. Thanks to my editor Bill Gelman and others who made this trip possible.

Summer Sports Depression

Musings from Intern Joseph Fontanazza

Summer Sports Depression hit me in full effect over the last week. The 76ers won the Orlando NBA Summer League and advanced to the Second Round of the Vegas League, which gave a small alleviation to the blackness.

The summer leagues are over, and Philly Sports are submerged in nothingness. The baseball abominations that reside in Citizens Bank Park hold no happiness. Mediocrity engulfs the once powerful Flyers as they watch the West Coast edition of the team begin a dynasty. The Eagles still have a month before opening day, and the 76ers do not take the court until the end of October. Also, the coming year doesn’t hold much hope of a parade down Broad Street.

Optimism for the future Sixers runs high with the drafting of Joel Embiid, Dario Saric and a gaggle of talented second-round picks. While very talented, the 76ers’ first round selections will not take the floor for the coming year, and the current roster will likely manifest itself into another year of hoping for ping-pong balls. Adding onto the distress, having to watch the prize of the 2014 NBA draft, Andrew Wiggins, go to the basketball wasteland, Cleveland Cavaliers, is enough to drive me into the insane asylum.

(Cavaliers rant coming) Cleveland! The place made so many horrible decisions while it had the best player of my generation that he decided to leave is now the best situation in the NBA. It sickens me that a front office comprised of David Griffin and the ever-annoying Dan Gilbert is seen as a collection of geniuses after lucking into three of the best talents of this era. Now rumors swirl around that Wiggins may be traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, to quote Interstate-76 writer Anthony Capelli “Neither the Cavs nor the Wolves deserve Wiggins at this point; this is like seeing David Spade and Jeff Foxworthy fight over Ariana Grande.”

Before I break this computer screen, let me get off the subject of basketball. The Sixers’ situation infuriated me because they did everything right then got shafted (last basketball thing I swear), but the Phillies continue to do everything wrong. The most frustrating thing about them is they don’t know the direction of the franchise. While their record over the past couple years indicates they should be a seller, they continue patching up their roster with veterans. While Marlon Byrd has been the Phillies’ most consistent player besides Chase Utley, Byrd’s signing contradicted everything. If Philadelphia’s MLB team looked to get younger, farm system players should have received a look. If the Phillies looked to get back into the playoffs, why didn’t they make more of an effort in the free agent market? Again, everything the Phillies do is a contradiction. Besides the general managerial mistakes, the on-field product is exacerbating.

The Phillies are appalling on all levels to the simple eye testers and Sabermatric fanatics. The way Ben Revere and Dominic Brown constantly misjudge fly balls and the lineup’s 28th-ranked on-base-percentage sicken the hardcore observes of the sport. While the math- consumed fan remains troubled by the Phillies starting multiple players with negative wins-above-replacement numbers, with Dominic Brown posting a team low -1.6.

The one thing offering me solace for the Phillies is the MLB operates in cycles. I remember the days of the late 90s-early 2000s Philadelphia teams. The days of trotting out mediocre players and being dominated by the Atlanta Braves still live in the deepest vaults of my subconscious. That period did not seem like a championship team would rise from it, but that happens in Major League Baseball. Teams get bad, they stockpile young players and then some of those players become good major leaguers. Those young players grow old together, then the team becomes bad again… lather, rinse, and repeat. The only teams that don’t follow the ideology are the Yankees and Red Sox.

Eagles Camp starts July 26; please let these days go fast…or I need a life, maybe a girlfriend.

Requiem for a team

How vivid are my memories of those summers when professional baseball captivated the residents of South Philly! I gained a sense of the dwindled glory Friday when watching the Phillies defeat the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park, especially pondering the glory years as Jimmy Rollins smoked two home runs and orchestrated a first-inning double play with his fellow 2008 World Series-winning peers Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. All champions eventually go through mental and/or physical distress as their gifts wane, and the last two seasons in our proud city have been filled with anguish for the local nine’s supporters, as also-ran status has begun to creep in for a franchise that had really begun to become not only relevant but dominant.

I have summer sports staples and used to count on the Phillies to wow me. Despite their winning on Friday and making my $65 ticket worthwhile, I do not expect much from them. To be honest, I have always expected them to plummet because, hey, I am a Philadelphian, but they have hit a point where I do not even care about their record or their roster. Speaking of the latter, I looked at Friday’s program and had no clue who some of their players are. If management is truly considering parting with mainstays, I fear lean days will become copious and the fan base furious. I know time waits for no man, so I will not expect it to spare the Phillies from their decline. I just hope they take the steps to start a new countdown for capable players. In the meantime, mindful of my minutes, I thank them for their hard work. Age is cruel, gentlemen.

“To Embiid or not to Embiid”

South Philly Review Intern Joey Fontanazza weighs in with his NBA Draft analysis:

The daze of another noontime wake up time greets me. I shake off the “sleep” in my eyes and look outside. Clear skies but the appeal of the air conditioner is too much to pass up. I lazily check my phone hoping that I passed somebody’s mind throughout the night: no messages. Twitter is next on my agenda. “Don’t Care, Don’t Care, Don’t Care and Shut up”, but the next 150-character dagger fills my heart with the anxiety of a junior prom. “Joel Embiid injures foot”. “No, this can’t be,” I scream, yet this is very real. The draft was going to be so perfect. “Embiid, Parker, Wiggins” was all that played through my mind for the previous days. The Cavaliers get the big man that every team desires. The Bucks get the scorer they desperately need, and the 76ers get the long and athletic wing that would be so ideal for their up-tempo style. All of the past anticipations were erased in a haze of Greg Oden and Sam Bowie comparisons.

Then the worst of all, “Andrew Wiggins takes over as favorite for 1st overall pick”. Why does God or whatever controls this crazy universe hate the 76ers so much? The Sixers have been cursed every step of the way through these past years. “Oh, you get a center that you think can finally be the guy well he is not going to play a game as a Sixer. “You lose 25 straight games but guess what; the Sixers still aren’t the worst team. And last but not least “The Sixers have the second highest chance of the first pick, but we are going to give that pick to the worst franchise in the NBA that lost the best player of a generation”. The Basketball Gremlin’s power in Philadelphia is all encompassing.

I have to take a step back, for a minute I forgot there are people in the world with real problems. But how dare he, how dare Embiid get hurt before the draft. How selfish of him.

I passed through the first four stages of grief in about five minutes. Yes, I know, I take sports too seriously but this is what happens when you have no other hobbies, damn it. It was now time for the fifth stage, “The Upward Turn” (thanks recover-from-grief.com). Scenarios flashed through my subconscious. “Well, I do really like Exum, or maybe we could trade up”. They were comforting but Sam Hinkie is the radical behind the Sixers’ iron curtain. Anything that he does will likely come completely out of nowhere. His silent but powerful manner could spawn a whole new set of “Chuck Norris Joke” rip-offs. Hinkie was the last factor that soothed my sports’ anxiety attack. This is the first time in my life that I trust the people in the 76ers’ front office to make the right decisions. So when the June 26th draft happens, I will sit with my newly-legal-for-me beer and let Mr.Hinkie do his job. Let the players fall where they may yet have visions of the 2019 NBA Champion, Philadelphia 76ers.

Their (Carpenter) Cup runneth over!

This blog has not seen any activity in a small eternity, so my eager interns have convinced me to end this hiatus. For your viewing and cerebral pleasure, I present the musings of Joe Tressa and Joey Fontanazza, who took in some great Carpenter Cup action. Look for an upcoming post from me concerning the NBA Finals (Thank you, San Antonio!!!) and the World Cup. For now, though, I am letting the young bucks have their say.

*** Joe Tressa

The Philadelphia Catholic League played its first game in the 29th annual Carpenter Cup Classic this past Saturday against Tri/Cape. This game was originally scheduled for Thursday, June 12, but was pushed to Saturday due to inclement weather. The game was played at Ashburn Field inside of FDR Park in South Philadelphia.

Speaking of South Philadelphia, five Neumann-Goretti players were picked to play for the Catholic League in this game. Charlie Jerla, Justin Curtin, Nick D’Amore, Bay To and Ethan Pritchett were in uniform, with Cardinal O’Hara, Bonner/Prendie, Lansdale Catholic, LaSalle, Archbishop Wood, St. Joe’s Prep, and Archbishop Carroll having representatives, as well.

Jerla had the honor of starting this game. He had a solid outing, going three innings and allowing one run. This was the maximum that the lefty could have pitched, as the Carpenter Cup rules restrict a pitcher to pitch more than three innings per game. To also got the start for the team, as he was the starting right fielder. He went 1-3 with a double and scored a run on a Tri/Cape error in the sixth inning.

D’Amore did not start this game, but he did contribute by driving in a run on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the ninth inning. He also reached base on a single in the seventh inning. Curtin did not start this game either, but got an at-bat in the seventh, in which he was retired on a flyout. Pritchett, who is a pitcher, did not get a chance to make a relief appearance in this game.

Although Tri/Cape won this game, the Catholic League was in contention for most of the contest. It would have had a decent chance if it hadn’t given up two runs in the top of the ninth on an error made by the catcher attempting to throw out the runner at second base and then a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 6-2. The Catholic League boys added two more runs in the bottom of the ninth, but it was not enough for the win. One thing to take away from this game was the Catholic League’s failure to take advantage of Tri/Cape’s bad defense, which led to six errors throughout the contest.

The Carpenter Cup is a single-elimination tournament, so the Catholic League was officially eliminated with the loss. The Philadelphia Public League was also eliminated from this tournament when it was defeated by Delaware County on Sunday afternoon. It was a tough Carpenter Cup for the two Philly teams, but hey, there’s always next year.

*** Joey Fontanazza

The Philadelphia Public League entered the 2014 Carpenter Cup with an embarrassing record of 1-29 since the Philadelphia Phillies’-run series began. A .034 winning percentage greeted the Pub All Stars with the draw as the Delaware County, but past statistics meant little to the players participating. A second Carpenter Cup win was what the Public league strove for yet history would repeat itself.

Delco’s starting pitcher, Rob Brown from Penn Crest made quick work of the top of the Public League lineup retiring South Philadelphia natives and Prep Charter juniors, Keegan McKoskey and Joe Suppa then Science Leadership Academy’s Kevin Courtney. GAMP’s Jacob Kurtz looked to keep pace with his counterpart but surrendered a run on a Ben Faso fielder’s choice RBI knocking in Ryne Orgen.

Brown continued to impress through his three innings of allotted play. He bobbed and weaved pitches within the strike zone and mixed velocities. Prep Charter’s Christian Coppola supplied the only hit on Penn Crest’s all- star pitcher on a ground ball up the middle.

While Brown frustrated the Public League’s hitters, Kurtz valiantly tried to keep the game close. He worked through some defensive miscues to only allow two runs on two hits. The second run coming from Kevin Mohollen’s RBI groundout that sent Liam Bender home.

Delco started to pull away in the 4th inning, locking into the Public League’s new pitcher, Colin Yeager. Three hits from them began to chip away from the collective confidence of the players and two errors followed. Yeager was able to escape the inning with only three runs surrendered, though the damage was done.

Ashton Rains led off where Brown left as he entered the game and quickly retired his opponents’ hopes of gaining any ground. Heading into the top of the fifth, Yeager again ran into trouble. He retired the first two batters of the inning; however he would be unable to secure the third out in the fifth.

Yeager’s day came to an end after two straight walks, as Anthony Devito from Central entered the game. Devito’s inherited base runner, Jimmy Pasini, took it upon himself to get into scoring position with a wild pitch then stealing third base. Delco’s Nick DiGregoiro would send Pasini home with a single earning his first of two RBIs. Devito was able to strike out the next hitter, James Kanter, to end the inning. Rains kept his dominating pitching from the forth inning as he went to mound for the fifth.

He swiftly retired the side, blanking the Public League for yet another inning. The Public League’s nemesis, Liam Bendo, did his last dose of damage against his adversaries, as he scored the last of his three runs and earned his last of three hits. Bendo’s run gave Delco a 7-0 led over Philly’s Public League and another wild pitch sent Kevin Mohollen home for an 8-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Delco’s trio of pitchers Tyler Knight, Sean Correli and Dave Moore would hold off any hope of a comeback from the Public League with a continued shutout through the pitchers. Delco’s offense also wasn’t finished, as Kanter collected his one RBI and his second hit on a single to right field that scored Andrew Turner. Hope dwindled for a come back but the Public League still would not silently take the loss. Its offense finally showed signs of life in the bottom of the ninth. Nick Houser from Abraham Lincoln worked that count to get a walk.

Delco’s closing pitcher, Will Carey, struggled with his command as he was substituted into the game. Carey lost control of a pitch and hit Xavier Sanchez giving the Public League two rare base runners. Carey’s woes continued as he threw a wild pitch to advance both runners then another to allow Nick Houser to cross home for the Public League’s first run.

Frankford’s Edgardo Bernard Jr. added two more runs, knocking in Alex Blanco and Xavier Sanchez scored. The Public League refused to give in but with two runners on base, Will Carey was able to get Thomas Edison’s Michael Garcia to pop out for the final out of the game.

While Philadelphia’s Public League lost, its roster members played commendably against a team that featured many college prospects, and seniors can be proud to say their final high school game was played at Ashburn Field for the Carpenter Cup. Delco will go on to face Philadelphia’s Inter-Ac on June 17, 2014.

These Birds are bird feed

People too often punish themselves for pondering what they chose not to do and rarely congratulate themselves for what they elect to execute. The latter serves as the inspiration for this entry, as I decided Sunday not to watch one second of the Eagles-Cowboys game. Upon seeing the 17-3 final score in favor of the Texas troupe, I nodded my head to applaud my decision, knowing I spared my eyes and brain a wretched display of football. I hear so many fans note that Chip Kelly will revamp the roster next season and that this one will definitely continue to have its share of frustration. I cannot comment on the first part, but the second shows sheer brilliance. Long live subpar efforts!

Speaking of futility, do the Flyers think they are playing soccer, where one-goal performances are often enough to win? I am celebrating my 25th season as a fan and am starting to fear they will score 25 goals the whole year to match my rooting tenure.

Never a huge fan of the Phillies, I have always valued individual performers, and Shane Victorino frequently won my praise for his play. I hated losing him last year but loved watching his grand slam help my Red Sox (yep, they are mine!) to reach the World Series. May the Flyin’ Hawaiian earn another ring this fall!

 

 

As the world Foles down

Numerous endeavors kept me from watching most of the latest failure by the miserable millionaires known as the Philadelphia Eagles. I have not subjected myself to a full contest since Donovan McNabb’s stomach ruined a fantastic run to Super Bowl XXXIX nearly eight LONG years ago. I know the team has never lacked talent, but it has wasted it, something I learned from viewing “The Bronx Tale” many times in its entirety is the worst thing in the word (Thank you, Robert De Niro).

I have become so sour on this squad that I rooted for rookie quarterback Nick Foles only because he and my one-year-old son share a first name. Talk about pathetic reasoning, though not as foolish as the defense’s thinking it would stifle fellow first-year signal caller Robert Griffin III and help Andy Reid to lift his rump off the hot seat with a win against the Redskins.

The Eagles’ 31-6 humiliation seals plenty. Say goodbye to a double-digit win total (laughing like me over people who actually believed they would run the table and end up 10-6?), prepare to say farewell to most of this year’s defense, and plan to give Andy Reid a Christmas gift synonymous with his fate, a well-done goose. As I refrain from eating meat, I cannot bring myself to duplicate that offering. Instead, I will send him chocolates sure to melt away as quickly as his future in the NFL.

Welcome to Philadelphia, Nick Foles. Produce or perish.