Although it’s been known for some months now, the official announcement of the Spectrum’s demolition came down today which Ed Snider called “one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make.” From today’s Comcast-Spectacor press release, the word is the building will be torn down following the 2008-2009 Kixx and Phantom’s seasons, meaning some time after May 2009 probably. Since there was such a buildup to the implosion of Veterans Stadium in 2004, you have to imagine there will be even more hubbub around the demolition of the Spectrum since it arguably held more significant sporting events through the years … or at least more championships.

The plans for the area where the Spectrum now stands are pretty exciting, although do we really have to call it “Philly Live!,” really? But still, losing a building that has been part of Philadelphia sports for over 40 years is going to be tough … even if the place is a dump. In anticipation of the months of reminiscing, Comcast-Spectacor has set up a website, Remember the Spectrum, which has photos throughout the years of the …

The “Final Vote”ends today at 5:00 and Pat Burrell still finds himself in third place behind Corey Hart of the Brewers and the David Wright of the Mets.  While Burrell is still in third place, there’s no doubt he still has a shot to win this, but he needs our vote.

You can vote at many times as you ‘d like here. 

You can also vote by text message.  Simply text “N1″ to 36197.  MLB isn’t charging any fee, just whatever standard text fee your provider charges.

Get out there and vote!  If anyone deserves to make the All-Star team this season it’s Burrell.  It’s frustrating enough Ryan Ludwick was chosen ahead of him as a reserve.  It’s up to us to send Burrell to the Bronx.

 Get out there and vote!

Phillies’ second baseman Chase Utley has been named to his third straight all-star team, while closer Brad Lidge has been named to his second, as the lone two Phillies name to the squad this year. Utley is this year’s top vote getter in the National League, the first Phillies to do so since fan voting began in 1970.

“It’s pretty surreal to be honest with you,” Utley said of being the NL’s top vote-getter. “I never thought that would happen. The fans here in Philadelphia have always supported me, ever since I’ve been here. I do appreciate that.”

Utley leads the league in home runs with 24 and is tied for fourth in RBIs with 67. Lidge, on the other hand, has converted all 19 of his save opportunities this season, with a ridiculous 1.00 ERA.

It was a good day for Lidge on Sunday, for in addition to being named to the All Star team, it was announced that the Phils have signed the closer to additional three years worth $37.5 million.

Both Utley and Lidge received a standing ovation when the All Star roster was announced during the fifth inning Sunday.

Notable snubs for the Mid-Summer Classic were Phillies Pat Burrell …

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 the gall to not even be a good fielder left most Philadelphians with a bad taste in their mouth.But Jeltz’ glimmering, although drippy, mane made him a topic of …

So last night the rumor came out that Alex Rodriguez’s wife is leaving him for Lenny Kravitz and the Internet almost blew up. Who would have thought any story could take away from the “Brett Favre Returns” story from Favre fellatist Chris Mortensen? A quick look at google trends shows that five of the top 10 searches on google involve Rodriguez and his wife (although my favorite trend comes in at #52 - watermelon viagra). I’ll grant you this is a pretty big story (I’m writing about it, right?) but if ARod still played in Seattle or Texas would this be this big of a story? Clearly if he played in Philadelphia it wouldn’t.

New York is the biggest city in the world, I get it. But for god’s sake just because they’re the biggest market doesn’t mean ESPN, and in turn the rest of the sports media world, has to cover them so much. When the Mets finally fired Willie Randolph two weeks ago it was the biggest story in the sports world. Remember, the Mets were in third place at the time of his firing. If the Phillies were in third place and fired …

Lenny Dykstra. Nails. The Dude. You have to love him right? I still remember when he showed up for spring training in 1993 all jacked up and proclaimed he had taken some “good vitamins” during the off-season. Oh that Lenny, what a kidder. So when you found out he had become some kind of stock genius, you basically had to pick your jaw off the floor didn’t you? Well, it might all be crashing (like a car into a tree?) around him as evidenced by the listing of his SoCal home for $25 million. Get out while you can Dude!

The house, which is on the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, CA, used to be the home of Wayne Gretzky and is - technically speaking - ginormous. So if you’re looking for a little spot for you and the wife and kids, consider this place with it’s 12,713 square feet, eight bedrooms, seven baths located on seven acres next to a GOLF COURSE! But don’t let me sell you on the place, let’s look at what Sotheby’s says (yea, I said Sotheby’s):

This timeless estate, designed by architect Richard Landry, sits atop a secluded …

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Astros pitcher Shawn Chacon got to do something most Phillies fan dreamed of for years.  Choke Ed Wade.  It all stems from the former Phillies General Manager wanting to meet with Chacon and manager Cecil Cooper. The supposed reason was to to discuss with Chacon his unhappienss from being removed from the Astros rotation and requesting a trade.  The story directly from Chacon (courtesy of espn.com).

“I sat down to eat and Ed Wade came to me and very sternly said, ‘You need to come with me to the office,’” Chacon said. “I said, ‘For what?’ I said, ‘I don’t want to go to the office with you and Cooper.’ And I said, ‘You can tell me whatever you got to tell me right here.’ He’s like, ‘Oh, you want me to tell you right here?’ And I said, ‘Yeah.’ I’m not yelling. I’m calm.”

Judging by the start, you know this can go anywhere good.  Maybe Chacon just should have went to the office.

“He started yelling and cussing,” Chacon said of Wade, according to a story on the Chronicle’s Web site. “I’m sitting there and I said to him very calmly, ‘Ed, you need to stop yelling at me.’ Then I stood …

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This was a bad week for the Phillies, who won only one game and were swept over the weekend by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The flailing Fightins scored 21 runs all of last week, with 8 of those coming in the first game of the week against the Boston Red Sox. That’s 13 runs in the remaining five games.

In 15 at bats last week, struggling second baseman Chase Utley had one hit, a double on the weekend series finale against the Los Angeles Angels. Overpaid one-dimensional first baseman Ryan Howard had three hits in 19 at bats, with an astounding two RBIs. Streaky outfielder Pat Burrell is running neck and neck with Utley for the title of Most Struggling Phillie after going one for 19. Shane Victorino managed to get four stolen bases last week while only getting two hits.

The point is that the Phils have hit an offensive wall. They are just not scoring runs. Many people have pointed out that this week was interleague play, so naturally the Phillies, who play in the National League, are going to struggle against the vastly superior American League. Their self-righteous indignation notwithstanding, the Phillies were …

It’s safe to say Javon Kearse’s time in Philadelphia was disappointing to say the least, so it wasn’t really shocking when the Eagles released him earlier this year. Now the word coming out of Tennessee is that Kearse was arrested and charged with DUI early Sunday morning after being stopped near Vanderbilt University by campus police. You’re telling me with all that money he stole from the Eagles he couldn’t hire a driver?

Reportedly, Kearse took a field sobriety test but refused to take a breathalyzer which is a violation of Tennessee’s implied consent law. When he was pulled over the officer reported he “exhibited slurred speech, red eyes, and smelled of alcohol.”

Well I guess that’s one way to get your career back on track.