Back in 1983, the last year that the Phillies would torture the National league for many years, they had a man step to the mound in the closing innings that would strike fear in batters the way Mr. T would strike fear in the eyes of Adrian Balboa (Rocky’s Wife).

Alfred (What choo talkin’ ’bout) Willis Holland, born August 16th 1952 made his first appearance with the Phils in 1983 and had a year to remember.  Possibly his only year.  That year, as the Phillies raced to the National League Pennant, Holland served what could have been the first year of a great career that was later interrupted by cocaine allegations and suspensions that left the intimidating relievers career in a muck.

Acquired in the trade that sent Mike Krukow to San Francisco and brought over Joe Morgan, Holland was a throw in that helped to complete the trade.  The Phils had hopes for him, but no one, …

Last night, Phillies All Star Second Baseman Chase Utley, while being introduced before the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium, gave New Yorkers a standard Philly salutation in return for their warm welcome.

“Boo? *uck you!”

It is unfathomable that Utley got away with such an act of blatant disregard for all Phillies fans. Utley has been given complete immunity for his recent slump by Phillies fans, but last night was the final straw for me. I hate to be a Monday morning quarterback but Utley should have played this much differently. Here’s how.

Picture Utley as the Puerto Rican guy in the Dave Chappelle movie “Half-Baked”. Remember the scene when he got fired and had a Jerry Mcguire type “flip out”? That’s what we here in Philly expect from you Chase. So when you walked into the locker room last night and saw Milwaukee’s Corey Hart sitting in what should have been Pat Burrell’s locker, you should have immediately punched him …

He saw his first action as a Phillie during a September call up during the 1980 World Series season. A blond haired skinny kid that used to run onto the field, normally to pinch-run for a slower footed teammate in the later innings of a close game, often sprinting from first to second base like a deer running from headlights. He didn’t get his first regular action until 1982 when he was called up from Double A Reading and played in 122 games. The following year cementing his place in the Big Leagues, helping the Phillies reach the World Series once more. His name was Bobby Dernier.

At age ten, all professional athletes seemed old to me, but there was something about Bobby Dernier that made me feel as if he was the older neighborhood kid, that would take time out to play catch with me. He seemed like a kid at heart, quick with a smile …

This is the first installment of a weekly review of former Philadelphia athletes who have passed through town.  However, this won’t be your normal look back at players like Mike Schmidt, Julius Erving, or Ron Jaworski.  Instead, I would like to focus on some players that made an impression with me, either good or bad, that for whatever reason have become a part of my memory and my desire to search them out and relive some of their great moments.  Players like… Steve Jeltz.

The greatest French born Major League Baseball player of all time spent parts of 7… yes 7 seasons playing shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies starting in 1983 and ending, mercilessly, in 1989, when he was traded in the off-season to Kansas City for Jose Dejesus.

What most people recall about Jeltz was that he was born in France… and he didn’t give you much too remember either.  A career .210 hitter with only 5 homers to his name and …

As is the case with many professional athletes, this is not where the story ends, but Curt Schilling announced the other day that he will need another surgery on his oft repaired shoulder, which will keep him out of baseball until the midway point of next season at best. Schilling didn’t say he was retiring but a 41 years old pitcher isn’t likely to comeback after a yearlong layoff and be able to pitch effectively. And he knows as much.

So then begins the talk of Schilling’s legacy. Where does he stand among the all time greats? Is he a Hall of Famer? To be honest, this may not be the most objective post. I loved Curt Schilling as a player who not only spoke his mind, but also backed it up. Simply put, Schill was money. If you needed a win in a high stakes game and could choose any pitcher in history, I have …

The 2008 NBA draft is quickly approaching, and the Sixers would love to land a big man. It’s no secret that the Sixers covet a Power Forward, and although there is some potential in getting a potential free agent stud (Elton Brand), they are more likely to fill the spot through the draft this year. Quite frankly, even if they were to pick up a Power Forward through free agency, drafting a front court player would add needed depth at a position where the Sixers are seriously lacking.

There are several players that should be around when the Sixers choose 16th, but they are most likely going to have to trade up to get the player they covet, but are in a unique position of possibly trading down and still getting a player that could step in right away and contribute, at least defensively.

Over the weekend the Sixers brought in Donte Green from Syracuse. The 6-9 221 pounder is listed as a small …

As we sleep tonight the dust will settle and the seemingly bizarre events that transpired over the weekend will clearly show that the Philadelphia Eagles made some interesting, if unspectacular, moves.

Sure, the fans and so called draft “experts” will pan the Eagles for their decision to trade out of the first round for the second year in a row, but when you consider everything as a whole, do any of us know one way or another?
Felix Jones, Rashard Mendenhall, Limas Sweed, Mario Mannigham, Jeff Otah,  and Kenny Phillips remained on the board (along with many other highly rated prospects), when the Eagles decided to trade their first round choice with the Carolina Panthers, for the Panthers second round choice and a fourth rounder, (which they also traded away) and Carolina’s first pick next year.

Once Eagles fans wipe their tears and calm themselves, a look at the big picture may not be of comfort, but has to be realized before making any rush to judgement.

At the end of the first day of …

The Detroit Pistons took 24 minutes before delivering their message to the Philadelphia Sixers tonight, but it was received loud and clear nonetheless. Nearly doubling their point output of the first half, the Pistons overtook the Sixers early in the third quarter tonight and kept their proverbial foot on the Sixers throat the rest of the way.

Philadelphia was outscored 34-16 in the decisive 3rd quarter, after taking an impressive 10 point lead heading into the break. Lou Williams, Jason Smith, and Andre Iguodala led a fired up Sixers team during the second quarter, when their lead reached as many as 15 points at one point, but the Pistons came out fired up themselves and seemingly sank every shot starting in the second half, on their way to a 93-84 win

Looking at the stat sheet, the Sixers held their own against the Pistons, shooting better from the floor and keeping pace with them in the rebound department. But the Pistons had 6 more offensive rebounds on the offensive end, and prevented the Sixers …

The first round series begin the Philadelphia Sixers and the Detroit Pistons is shaping up like a classic Championship fight where the two combatants keep getting knocked down and coming back for more.

Last nights 95-75 surprising beat down by the Sixers gave them a 2-1 series lead that no one could have predicted in their wildest dreams.

The win further secures the Sixers in the realm of legitimacy that they do indeed belong in the playoffs.   No longer can the critics, myself included, say that the Pistons were caught off guard or played apathetically.  This was as thorough a win as has been seen all year.

The sixers bloodied the Pistons into submission early and completed the onslaught with a 22-9 run to end a third quarter marked by fastbreak and alley-oop dunks that exposed and embarrassed the visitors from Motown, and left them with a broken nose, both figuratively and literally; Antonio McDyess left the game in the third quarter, thanks to an Andre Iguodala elbow.

McDyess’ status is unkown for Sunday’s game, …

The heart of a Champion truly lies in how they fight back, and the Detroit Pistons showed last night that they still have a knockout punch in their arsenal.  With their decisive 105-88 win over the Philadelphia Sixers, the Pistons put to rest any upset talk, at least until game 3 on Friday in Philly.

Thadeus Young’s  hot start and nice contributions from Lou Williams and Reggie Evans (again) off the bench, were not enough to overcome the less then stellar performances of Andre Iguodala, Samuel Dalembert, and Willie Green.  The three starters were a combined 4-23 from the field, and 18% shooting will not do much to get you a win, let alone keeping your team close.

In the end, this is what you had to expect after the Pistons got embarrassed  on their home court in game 1 of the opening round series.

In game 1 the Pistons relied more heavily on Rasheed Wallace in the post one-on-one against Dalembert, which effectively took the Pistons away from their strength, which is normally …

We’ll probably forget this a few months from now, but for young players like Thadeus Young, Rodney Carney and Lou Williams the memory may last a lifetime. For these players, it was their first taste of the playoffs, and first win in the post season as well.

When we read the papers tomorrow morning or listen to the radio, we may read or hear the commentary on how the Pistons played poorly down the stretch and the Sixers were fortunate enough to capitalize. They may point out (as I did in my Sixers preview), that Detroit may be prone to a let down because they;ve rested their players for so long. They may point out D-Town played apathetically in the fourth quarter (actually for the last 18 minutes), and lost the game more then the Sixers won it.

But this win is more then the x’s and o’s on the chalk board. It’s more than a 1-0 lead in the first round of the playoffs. This victory is a moment. It is a …

I would truly like to think that the Sixers have a chance against the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the playoffs, which begin in Detroit tomorrow.  However, my mind won’t let me get to wistful in dreaming of an upset.

The Sixers have put together an amazing season, and despite their late season swoon (losses in 5 of their last 6 games), they have nothing to be ashamed of as players like Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert proved they were worth more than people gave them credit, and youngsters like Thadeus Young and Lou Williams showed amazing maturity and provide hope going into next season.

But this season is still going strong, so let’s not close the door on the chapter just yet.  The Pistons have about 400 more games of playoff experience (and 1 more Championship) then the Sixers, and that only takes into account their starting 5.  However the Sixers are young and the Pistons have the look of a team that’s been going through the motions the last …