The Flyers snapped a two-game losing streak Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. Unfortunately, it came at the expense of one of their best players.
Just fifteen seconds into the game, winger Simon Gagne was blindsided on a hit by Vancouver defenseman Kevin Bieksa.
Gagne, coming off an impressive recovery from a series of concussions suffered last season, appeared to injure his right shoulder and did not return.
Immediately after the hit, Gagne went down and Flyers’ captain Mike Richards went after Bieksa.
“He hit Gaggy. I kind of saw it out of the corner of my eye. I felt it was kind of a cheap hit, a late hit and from behind,” Richards said. “So I felt I had to do something about it. I thought it was a hit that should have been a penalty and there wasn’t a call.”
It’s that kind of action that can win a team over for a captain.
Gagne went into the game with 18 goals and 22 assists. He led the Flyers with a plus-18 …
Former 76er star and self-proclaimed non-role model Charles Barkley was arrested early Wednesday morning on suspicion that he had been driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Gilbert police Lt. Eric Shuhandler saw the Hall of Fame forward blow a stop sign around 1:30 AM while conducting a law enforcement task force that targets drunk driving. When pulled over, Barkley reportedly refused a breathalyzer test. He was given a blood test however, but the results were not immediately available.
After being cited and processed, Barkley was released and left in a cab, according to Shuhandler.
“There was nothing unusual about how he was taken into custody,” Shuhandler said. “He was treated exactly like we treat anybody else.”
The one-time Phoenix Sun was arrested in the Old Town area of Scottsdale, a very popular spot in the Phoenix metro area.
No comment has yet been obtained from the former star.
Barkley played 16 season in the NBA, including his first eight with the 76ers. He then went on to …
Responding to a question asking him to assess his play this season during his weekly press conference Wednesday, Eagles’ quarterback Donovan McNabb responded that he feels he’s played great.
“I think I’ve played great,” McNabb said. “I don’t look at the stats aspect of it, but if you do, then it is better than it has been in years. Offensively, we’ve been able to do some good things, and some things, obviously, we would love to change. I don’t regret any of the things that I’ve done this year. I’d love to do better in this game coming up … Certain things are just an inch away, not getting a first down here, or whatever it may be. Obviously, if we were able to get that done. we wouldn’t be sitting in this spot right now.”
Huh? Great? Really?
To be fair, McNabb has been much better than his critics have claimed this season, and over his career for that matter. But the leader of a team who tied the Cincinnati Bengals, lost to a Washington Redskins team with the …
The Phillies have signed pitcher Gary Majewski to a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training. Majewski was the backbone of the Nationals bullpen in 2005 when he 4-4 with a 2.95 ERA.
In 2006 he started the season strong for Washington going 3-2 with a 3.58 ERA, but after being dealt to the Cincinnati Reds at the trading deadline, he developed shoulder problems and went on the disabled list after only 19 appearances. This fueled speculation that Nationals general manager Jim Bowden knew of Majewski’s shoulder injury at the time of the trade, but made the deal anyway. Bowden has denied these accusations.
Since Majewski’s shoulder problems he hasn’t been the same pitcher. Over the past two seasons he’s gone a combine 1-4 with a 7.14 ERA at Cincinnati and 3-2 with a 3.88 at Louisville (the Reds Triple-A affiliate).
This obviously an impact move. At best it’s rolling the dice on a pitcher who’s struggled with injuries, but if healthy has …
After starting the Tony DiLeo era 2-0, the Sixers had a major setback Thursday as they learned that star forward Elton Brand would be out for a month with a fracture of the humeral bone and a tear of the labrum.
Sixers team doctor Jack McPhilemy said he does not think the injury will require surgery at this time.
Brand suffered the injury after coming down hard in the third quarter of Wednesday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Brand left the game clutching his right shoulder and the initial diagnosis was that he had suffered a dislocated shoulder.
Brand did not travel with the team to Washington, where they will face the Wizards on Friday. He will be made available to the media on Saturday before the Sixers’ home game against the Indiana Pacers.
The injury comes at a poignant time for the Sixers, as they have been reeling from a worse then expected start to the season that ultimately resulted in the firing of popular head coach Maurice …
First I have to start off by saying I feel bad for Sean Avery. Yes, the player that everyone loves to hate is getting a raw deal by both the NHL and now the Dallas Stars. All for making comments to the media that were intended to hype up a game that no one outside of Dallas or Calgary really cared about.
Gary Bettman’s initial six-game suspension was shameful, but comments he made at a luncheon on Tuesday were even worse.
“To be perfectly honest I wouldn’t want to have to explain to my 12-year-old daughter what he said,” the commissioner said.
It’s actually laughable. First off Gary, you’re 12-year-old daughter probably knows what the term “sloppy seconds” means (don’t be so naive), and second off, what do you say to that same daughter when people like Todd Bertuzzi, Marty McSorley, and Chris Simon use their sticks as weapons?
To take it a step further, now the Dallas Stars have become the morality police and have forced Avery …
With the 2009 World Baseball Classic only three months away, rosters are beginning to assemble and rumors and grumblings are starting to be heard when it comes to who on the World Champion Phillies will be representing their respective countries. So far there has only been one confirmation and that is that pitcher J.C. Romero will be taking the hill for his native Puerto Rico.
On the U.S. front there have been no confirmations, but some declines and rumors. Chase Utley would be a no-brainer to be Team USA’s starting second baseman, but due to his recovery from hip surgery, he’s unavailable. Brad Lidge was extended an offer, but declined due to the birth of his child. Cole Hamels was also asked to be part of the team, but after throwing 227 innings in 2008 he decided to rest his arm. Ryan Howard has also been tabbed as a player, but has yet to notify manager Davey Johnson of his intentions.
That brings us to shortstop Jimmy Rollins. …
The Deroit Free Press is reporting that the Phillies are one of the final five teams in the hunt for free agent pitcher Derrick Turnbow. Turnbow got baseball’s attention in 2005 when he went 7-1 with 39 saves and a 1.74 ERA for the Milwaukee Brewers. Since then Turnbow struggled with control and had horiffic seasons in 2006 (4-9, 6.87 ERA), and 2007 (4-5, 4.63), before being sidelined with a muscular imbalance in his throwing shoulder after appearing on only 8 games in 2008.
Turnbow did not have surgery on his shoulder, but it’s said he’ll be 100% by the start of spring training.
The other four teams in the Turnbow sweepstakes are the Tigers, Pirates, Marlins, and Rays.
A healthy Turnbow would be an excellent addition to already one of the National League’s best bullpens. I’m just not sure if the Phillies are a legitimate home for Turnbow. Prior to his injury, Turnbow expressed the desire to close again, and with Brad Lidge cemented as the …
Perhaps returning Cole Hamels’ intial volley in the ongoing Phillies-Mets war of words, newly signed New York closer Francisco Rodriguez said Saturday that now the Mets are clearly the team to beat in the National League East.
“Of course, we’re going to try to win the division. Of course, we’re going to be the front-runner. Of course, we’re going to be the team to beat.”
K-Rod’s comments were made just four days after signing a three-year, $37 million contract. The new Mets’ closer was fully confident that his team would reign supreme despite two straight late season collapses with a Phillies team that just won the World Series in their way.
“I don’t want there to be a controversy or the other ball clubs in that division to take it personally or take it in a bad way,” he said.
No, K-Rod, there’s no controversy. The Mets are unequivocally NOT the frontrunner; not the team to beat. Yes, they have improved their bullpen by adding Rodriguez …
With the news Monday that the Phillies reached a two-year agreement with pitcher Jamie Moyer, and the signing late last week of Raul Ibanez, resolving the question of who will replace Pat Burrell in leftfield, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. should now focus on sowing up the rotation and signing a fifth starter.
I know that sounds a bit aggressive, especially for the usually play it safe Phillies, but if they can sign someone like Derek Lowe or Ben Sheets, it will give them arguably the best rotation in the National League. Picture this: Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Lowe/Sheets, Moyer and Joe Blanton.
Adding a fifth starter would ensure that Kyle Kendrick, J.A. Happ, and Carlos Carrasco will be able to spend more time developing in the minor leagues. It would also ensure that Adam Eaton has no shot at starting for the Phillies, and would make it very unlikely that newly acquired Chan Ho Park gets a shot at the starting rotation either. As much as I like …
It took a little longer then expected, but Jamie Moyer is once again a member of the Phillies. The 46-year-old pitcher agreed to a two year deal this afternoon, finalizing the Phillies 2009 rotation. Moyer will join Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, and Joe Blanton for the top four spots in the rotatation with J.A. Happ, Kyle Kendrick, Carlos Carrasco, and the newly signed Chan-Ho Park battling for the rotation’s final spot.
Moyer was big for the World Champions in 2008 going 16-7 with a 3.71 ERA. It wasn’t just what he did on the mound. Moyer’s knowledge was critical in mentoring Hamels, Myers, Blanton, Kendrick, and Happ.
The 76ers fired coach and former fan favorite point guard Maurice Cheeks Saturday. Senior Vice President and General Manager Tony DiLeo will serve as interim head coach.
The 9-14 Sixers have lost eight of their last 10 games and are in last place in the Atlantic Division, despite being considered a favorite to contend for the Eastern Conference championship. After making it to the playoffs last season and taking the Detroit Pistons to six games, and making several key acquisitions during the offseason, including the signing of Elton Brand, the Sixers were expected to be one of the top teams in the east this season.
The Sixers late season success was a big reason why GM Ed Stefanski decided to extend Cheeks’ contract another year during the offseason, despite his being a Billy King hire.
“I feel comfortable with Mo, but it’s only been a couple of months,” Stefanski said at the time. “I feel that I need more time to see …
