We've moved to www.phillysportsrunning.com

The title says it all folks! In order to offer you more, we've moved to www.phillysportsrunning.com. We'll still offer the same array of Philadelphia themed sports blogs, running articles and other great stuff. See you there!

Birthday Wish List!

I was originally going to take loyal reader and darn fine distance runner Rick Clendanial’s advice and take today off from blogging in honor of my birthday, but I decided to do a special birthday themed blog instead. So for my birthday, I’m going to share a list of some things that are on my birthday wishlist:

1.       With my wife ready to burst any day now, I need to start the list with a healthy bouncing baby boy and mother of course.

2.       That 2012 is merely a bump and not an end of an era for the Phillies.

3.       If Ruben Amaro goes into full seller mode and it is truly the end, I hope that Philadelphia fans look back fondly on what has been the greatest run any Philadelphia team has ever had and not only on the wouldas, couldas, and shouldas.

4.       That the Men’s 100 Meter Final lives up to what should be the greatest 100 Meter race of all time with Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, Yohan Blake, Justin Gatlin and Asafa Powell all doing battle.

5.       Zero positive drug tests in London. (It is a wish list.)

6.       That Philadelphia teams realize that full teams are needed to succeed, and don’t put all their eggs in one basket. (See Sixers and 6’7 swingmen, Phillies and $20 million dollar starting pitchers, Eagles and cornerbacks and Flyers and offensive players)

7.       A healthy year of running for myself and all of my running friends!

8.       Tom Cruise, Bill Cosby, or Will Smith to buy the rights of Chasing Ghosts and make into a Hollywood blockbuster-or if any of our loyal readers would like the rights to make the movie, please make me an offer!

9.       The chance to star in said movie opposite Scarlett Johansson.

10.   A better understanding of this judo match I’m watching.

11.   A year-long membership to the East Falls table tennis club s I can begin preparing for Rio.

12.   Multiple medals for the US in distance running events.

13.   Dwight Howard to accept a trade to Philadelphia.

14.   A young, power hitting third baseman who can catch.

15.   Michael Vick to be correct in his “Dynasty” prediction.

16.   Not to wait twenty-five years for another Philadelphia title.

17.   When I’m ninety-two years old, to be coaching an Olympic medalist, like the coach of Olympic bronze medal winning judo competitor.

18.   A rec league football title. Wooo!


19. Piece #3 in the Acme Sweepstakes

             20.   Millions of web hits for Philly Sports and Running.

21.   A happy, healthy year for all of our fans!


Happy reading and running my friends!

What's Hot in Sports this Weekend?

Here at PSR, we aim to serve you. With that in mind, here's the lowdown on what's hot in sports this weekend. But remember, just because it's hot, doesn't mean you have to be. Curl up with your favorite Flavored Ice, grab the remote and enjoy them from the comfort of your couch. If like me, your couch is occupied by your dog and a dog your "babysitting", then the floor may double as not only something you walk on to get to the kitchen, but as a perfectly acceptable seat.

Over in London, a little something called the Opening Ceremonies will be.....opening up the Olympic Games. Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle of Slumdog Millionaire fame will be running the show so you know it's going to be a good time. The action heats up in the pool tomorrow with a matchup between Michael Phelps and his chief rival, Ryan Lochte in the 400-meter individual medley. Upset alert, watch for Lochte to take down Phelps. There's also a big showdown between Team USA and Australia in the women's 400 Freestyle Relay. Tennis and Men's Gymnastics will also be part of the action tomorrow.

Down in Hot-lanta, it's make or break time for the suddenly smokin' Phillies.  Sweep the Braves and the run may be on. Get swept and expect to see Shane Victorino, Joe Blanton, Juan Pierre and maybe more be on the next train out of town. Somewhere in between and.... With the Phillies having ended the Braves playoff hopes the past two years, the Georgian Tribe is going to be looking to end the Phillies reign. My pick is that the Cole train takes down the comebacking Ben Sheets, Joe Blanton keeps it close enough for late game heroics to capture Saturday's matchup with Mike Minor and that the good  Doctor is improved on Sunday, but Tim Hudson comes up big to prevent the sweep, keeping the Phightins' 8.5games back in the wildcard chase and leaving Ruben Amaro saying ....hmmm.

With an expected high of 96 degree, it's guarnteed to be HOT up at Lehigh for Eagles training camp. Today's the first day the full squad will practice and expectations are high for the 2012 Birds. Unlike past years, there is no controversy surrounding the team, unless you count the fact that Mike Vick uttered the word dynasty before uttering the words "I won a playoff game." Either way, with an improved defense and a happy DeSean and LeSean expect Andy's squad to be a contender.

There you have it.....stay cool as you watch what's hot.

Lee to Texas, Part 2???

With yesterdays announcement that over the next six years Cole Hamels will make more coin for each start than I will make over the next 10 years (literally), there is a strong belief that some prized possesion is making its way to this weekend garage sale.  It could be Shane Victorino, but that would leave the Phils' outfied even thinner than it already is.  Placido Polanco? Well, the Orioles wanted him, but his back doesn't seem to a fan of the idea of relocating down 95.  Maybe Joe Blanton ... no, of course not - nobody wants Joe Blanton.  So who fits the Phils need for sacrificial lamb?  Who is high paid, locked up for multiple years, and has valxue to other teams?  Clifton Lee.

But I digress for a moment.  A few Cole Hamels stats.  No, not baseball stats.  For the following examples, I will use Mr. X as a contrast to Hamels.  Mr. X works hard everyday to make his $50,000 a year that he uses to pay his mortgage, feed his kids, and make an occational trip to Citizens Bank park.  Obviously this isn't the way the finances of the world work, but this is just for fun, so please now comments explaining tax brackets....

However, using a straight ratio (for Mr. X, $5 is 1/10,000th of his gross yearly salary.  1/10,000 of Cole's annual income... $2,400.) ... here's what it's like to make that type of scratch.....

ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL ...

- Cole can afford $2,400 for a coffee and breakfast sandwich
- "Yes, I'd like a number 1 combo ... for $2,400"
- On his average trip to the ACME, Hamels can afford to drop $24,000-$48,000
- According to how much it costs to fill my gas tank, Cole's new budget calls for a gas guzzler to the tune of $19,000 PER FILL-UP!!!
- Hamel's electric, cable, and cell phone bills should run him about $48,000 each
- Finally, my personal favorite.  How much should Cole leave in the "take a penny/leave a penny" tray? ............. 5 bucks

Back to Lee.  He can be moved.  His winless first half was more an oddity of statistics than indicative of his performance. He has eight winless starts of 6 or more innings pitched and 2 or less runs given up.  Recently he stinks, but in baseball, available quality left handed pitching is equivalent to finding a bag of money on your front door.  The issue:  he makes about a billion dollars.  So, if Lee goes to Texas, Mike Olt is not coming here unless the Phillies pay Lee's salary - and if that were the case ... he wouldn't be leaving.  So the Phillies have to decide whether they want quality returns, or salary relief.  For the Phillies, that's an easy decision.

Solution: Move Lee in the off season when everyone is a contender.  Send him to a team who misses out on signing the ace through free-agency.  Ride this roster out through October ... Go Phils!

The Real Impact of Howard and Utley's Return

Much was debated about the true impact of the return of aging superstarts Chase Utley and Ryan Howard to a struggling Phillies. "You can't expect them to play like themselves." "They've been on a downward slide for years." "It doesn't matter who comes back. Superman couldn't save this team."

After three straight victories earned on their final at bat, the true value of Utley and Howard is on display. A team that had zero wins when trailing after the 8th inning before Monday, has suddenly done it in dramatic fashion the last two nights. A ballpark that often resembled a mausoleum had life last night. Utley and Howard's handwriting was all over each comeback. Monday the pair smashed back-to-back homeruns in the first inning to keep the team within striking distance, before the 9th inning rally, fueled by an Utley walk and a two run single by the Big Piece.

Last night, it was a pair of two out walks that helped fuel the 8th inning comeback from a 6-1 deficit. This gave MVP candidate Carlos Ruiz and outfielder Hunter Pence an opportunity to get the big, game tying, and lead giving hits. Sliding the pair down to the five and six spots in the line-up make the offense formidable once again. Skipper Charlie Manuel said that the mere prescence of Utley and Howard allow everyone else to slide into their natural roles and contribute, not just Ruiz and Pence, but role players like John Mayberry and Mike Fontenot.

More than stats, more than their impact on a line-up, the most important thing that Howard and Utley bring to the table is belief. Belief that no game is over until the 27th out has been recorded. Belief that this golden era of Phillies baseball still has life. With Howard's vocal cries for the team to get it done and Utley's relentless hustle, how can the rest of the team do anything but follow? Two of the greatest players in franchise history are back and the Phillies are winning. The question now is, does general manager Ruben Amaro share the clubhouse's new found belief?

A day of hope for Eagles fans

For most Americans, five days of the year are met with unbridled optimism. They are either the first, or the last day of the school year, depending on whether you are a child or a parent, Christmas morning., the glorious February day, when despite the frosty weather we may be facing at home, down south, pitchers and catchers report, and of course, the opening of NFL Training Camp.
For children, the first day of summer is full of potential adventures and long days filled with bike rides, ball playing, frog catching and other great activities like facebooking and tweeting how awesome the last twilight movie was. Just past Labor Day, parents get excited about the prospect of little Johnny returning to school, and with it, a return to normal bed times, bagged lunches and maybe, just maybe, this being the year that he makes honor roll. Christmas morning is ripe with anticipation of not only opening the perfect present but of watching our loved ones open the gifts we found for them on the clearance rack at Target.
The first day of Training Camp, like its cousin, "The Day Pitchers and Catchers Report" is also a day of hope. Everybody is a contender in July. There are no first round busts, no schedules too tough, no red zone disasters. Injuries have not yet decimated your favorite team's roster. Enjoy the moment, Eagles fans for they'll be plenty of time to evaluate the "dynasty" the Birds are about to become.

Why do we run?

A scene from Rocky ran through my head yesterday as I lay prone on the track after a grueling track session, unable to move for fear of vomiting what felt like was a year's worth of food trying to get out. Heck, even if I wanted to actually stand up and cool down the way I should have, the fact that they sky was spinning up above made such a proposition daunting. "Why am I doing this?" I wondered for the umpteenth time. I thought of Rocky and Adrian's first date. "Why do you fight?" asked Adrian. In classic Balboa style, Rocky answered "Cause I can't sing and dance." As I made the slow trek around the track, I couldn't think of a better reason why I was out there prepping for another all-comers meet and my annual assualt on the 2-minute barrier.
Any of us who have run have faced the same question. "Why do you run?" If you're like me, the answers are various and complicated. I run for my health, I run with friends, I once ran for my school, I run away from my problems, to burn off stress and calories at the same time and sometimes I run 'cause I have nothing else to do. But mostly I run 'cause I can't imagine myself not running. For me, I can't run without the challenge of competition on the horizon, even if I only seriously compete a handful of times all year. Over the years I've internalized my competition, and while I still hate losing , I now compete against myself, or rather an idealized version of myself. I run for the possibilites, to test myself in a manner impossible elsewhere, for the chance to be better than I've ever been before....I run 'cause I can. How about you? Why do you run?