The Flyers will enter the St. Pete Times Forum tonight to try and win their first game this year against the Tampa Bay Lightning. This is their last chance in the regular season, the Flyers are 0-for-3 so far, including a 4-0 shutout just two weeks ago coming off the All-Star break.
We may not have beaten the Lightning anytime recently, but after hearing what I’m about to share with you, I’m confident in saying that we have them beat in one category.
At the Wells Fargo Center, the folks controlling the audio always seem to know which song to play to get the fans out of their seats.
In Tampa, though? Not so much.
First mentioned on WIP minutes ago, Anthony Gargano caught wind of this “electrifying” Tampa tune while listening to a local Tampa sports radio station last night.
I suppose you can’t control an ice storm, but that wasn’t the only issue in Dallas this week, as The host city of Super Bowl XLV (that’s the number 45 in roman numerals, folks) encountered a number of problems. It was enough to prompt someone to create superbowlsuit.com, a site designed for disgruntled attendees of last night’s game to share their grievances.
So let us recap what went wrong:
A major ice storm hit the Dallas/Fort Worth area early in the week, forcing the temporary close of their international airport. It also caused intense travel problems. Here are some photos of the storm, to paint a better picture for you. However, Super Bowl Media Day did go on as planned, so all was not lost. Whose fault was it?: Mother Nature – she’s been a pain in everyone’s ass this winter. Thank God that groundhog stepped in… he just better follow through.
Six people were injured when ice fell off the roof of Cowboys Stadium just two days before the Super Bowl. A new round of snow and ice led to the incident. The six injured were all contractors for the event. Whose fault was it?: Jerry Jones – he’s the guy who wanted this all this to happen. He built the stadium for this very purpose. With the snow and ice being a threat for the majority of Super Bowl week, the necessary precautions should have been and needed to be taken. Ultimately, he becomes responsible.
Injuries on the Cowboys turf: Steelers rookie wide receiver Emmaunel Sanders was carted off the field in the second quarter after injuring his foot. Donald Driver sprained his ankle. Charles Woodson broke his collarbone. Bryant McFadden and Flozell Adams suffered less serious injuries and returned. You could argue it was the icing on the cake of a terrible week, but you have to ask honestly Whose fault was it?: Football. Blame football, and the NFL, where injuries happen. I hate the Cowboys, folks. But this one wasn’t on them.
The Seating Issues: About 1,250 fans were relocated after temporary seating areas in Cowboys stadium were deemed unsafe. Now, the Dallas Morning News is reporting that the NFL and the Cowboys both knew that the temps could have been unusable. Wowsah. This is the icing on the cake, folks. Eric Grubman is the NFL’s executive vice president of business ventures. He said, “The attendance record was not the goal. The goal was to use this great building in a way that showcased the NFL, showcased North Texas and showcased the great players we have in the NFL.”… bullshit. Whose fault was it?: The NFL and the Dallas Cowboys. You can’t go out on a limb with something like this. And refunding those affected with three times what they paid for their ticket doesn’t really make it better.
Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star reflected on some of the other issues, including rolling blackouts and canceled events. The length of cab rides between Dallas and Arlington was apparently 45 minutes long, too. He also claims that Indianapolis will be plenty more prepared for the Super Bowl in 2012 (if there is one).
It’s just nice to see Dallas have a terrible season, and then flounder as the host of the 2011 Super Bowl.
It makes being an Eagles fan a bit more tolerable this time of year…
Other observations from this weekend:
And he's good at Wii?! This guy!
It’s really hard not to like Aaron Rodgers. Congratulations to the Packers
I had no idea in September that we were playing our first game against the Super Bowl Champions.
Nine catches for Jordy Nelson, but don’t forget about those drops.
Greg Jennings looked good last night
So did Mike Wallace. That kid’s future is nothing but bright.
Was it me, or did Ben Roethlisberger look like a completely different quarterback after his first interception? My confidence in him faltered from that point forward, even after 14 unanswered.
I was in bed last night when this Jon Gruden fiasco began, and I had to get out of it to share it with you. I initially wasn’t happy about it.
The Sixers-Knicks game was frustrating to watch. They fought like hell and got close several times in the second half, but Amar’e Stoudemire is a freakin’ beast.
Glad to hear Anthony Gargano back on the radio after a bout with pneumonia. I’ve been through that before and that is NOTHING you want. We missed ya, cuz.
A source is reporting that the Rangers Michael Young wants to be traded. H’es been moved three times on the field in his 11-year career in Texas and now is slated to be the team’s designated hitter. I think Young is right in wanting to part ways. Their captain should have been treated better.
The Super Bowl had the most viewers of all-time. In other news, no shit.
Six days away from pitchers and catchers reporting and it feels longer than it did when we were 60 days away.
Had a great time seeing LeCompt twice on Friday. Once at Wing Bowl and once at The Buck Hotel in Feasterville, PA.
I actually feel bad about everything that has happened to the New York Mets. I don’t even consider them a rival anymore.
Watching the Flyers on Saturday night was actually relaxing. I never was under the impression that the team lost control of the game.
With Malkin out for the season, and no definitive timetable for the return of the concussed Sidney Crosby, I have to just say… HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Howard Eskin is really making an ass out of himself lately. First, he attacks Roy Halladay, and then he attacks Paul Domowitch from the Philadelphia Daily News in an accusatory fashion. The link will send you to Crossing Broad, where you can read all about it.
Kolb can keep the visor, but the Eagles will probably want the helmet back.
According to a league source, the Philadelphia Eagles will apply the franchise tag to Pro Bowl quarterback Michael Vick next month. The move will ensure that Vick remains an Eagle for the duration of the 2011 season, and conventional wisdom suggests that in that time frame, the Eagles will work to sign Vick to a long-term deal.
In the meantime, I’m sure Vick will be pretty happy making approximately $20 million next season, which is about the average salary of the five highest-paid players at his position. That’s what a franchise tag entails, so I’m sure Vick’s debtors are smiling right now. View full article »
Is this man the future of the Phillies in right field? Find out what the folks at MLB Network think tonight.
Another Sign That I’m Completely Desperate for Baseball
I’ve been watching the MLB Network religiously. Their “Top 10 Right Now” series is nothing short of awesome, if for nothing else, its ability to spark endless debate between my friends. “MLB’s 20 Greatest Games” has been a pleasure to watch as well. Last night’s episode featured #17, game four of the 2004 ALCS between the Yankees and the Red Sox… an instant classic, and one of the most exciting games I have ever seen. And don’t even get me started on “Hot Stove”… never has a network been able to make their sport so interesting when games are literally not being played.
Tonight, they continue to deliver the goods, baby.
MLB Network will debut it’s list of “Top 50 Prospects” tonight at 9:00 pm, and look for Domonic Brown to be featured on the higher end of that list. It’ll also be interesting to see where any other Phillies may fall and prospects from division rivals.
I will certainly be watching, and I’ll provide you with some info on the show and Phillies-related news some time late tonight or tomorrow morning.
This is the longest winter of my life… I can’t wait anymore. The anticipation for my fantasy baseball league doesn’t help to calm me, either. If you’re as in much pain as I am, take a listen to Anthony Gargano and Glen Macnow’s lunch with Charlie Manuel yesterday. Get your fix.
Webb Chevrolet in Oak Lawn, Illinois is a sponsor of Chicago Bears radio broadcasts. John Stone, now a former employee of the dealership, refused to take off his Packers tie when asked by his boss. The boss then gave him an ultimatum and asked him to choose between wearing the tie or keeping his job. Stone chose the former.
Jerry Roberts, the “boss” in this situation, is justified in his actions. Wearing a Packers tie the day after the Bears NFC Championship loss wouldn’t necessarily rub customers the right way. That, combined with the fact that they have a sponsorship deal with Bears? Eh, not good for business.
So I take it a bow tie wouldn’t have gone over well either?
Laviolette Keeps Flyers on Toes
Flyers coach Peter Laviolette doesn’t want to see his team perform the way they did on December 20th against the Florida Panthers.
The 5-0 loss to a dismal Panthers team was the team’s final game before their one-week break over the holiday season. They Flyers will get another week off for the All-Star break after tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Wells Fargo Center.
This time, “Lavs” will not let the Flyers falter in their second “getaway game” of the year.
Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News wrote a piece on Laviolette who held a full practice yesterday, despite the fact that the team played two days in a row against New Jersey and at Chicago.
The coach, who is all business, had this to say.
“We didn’t do very well last time we had a break,” Laviolette said. “We talked about it briefly. All you can do is address things and bring it to [their] attention. It’s a big game and an important game. We want to make sure we end it the right way.”
Do you love this coach? Or do you love this coach? C’mon…
“Blurb Sauce!” is a quick look at some of the stories floating around the world of sports today. It was also Ron Burgundy’s sign off in Anchorman until the evil folks from editing got their hands on it… jerks. “I’m Ron Burgundy… blurb sauce.” Do you see how epic that could have been?!
Danny Briere is Awesome and All, but… Seriously? (Pun Intended)
The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) is holding a contest called the Ultimate Flyers VIP Experience, where winners will receive round-trip airfare from Toronto to Philadelphia, a hotel stay, and tickets to the March 3rd Flyers game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Not enough, Canadians? How about this pitch from Flyers all-star Danny Briere? He even teaches you a little bit of lingo that “Philadelphians use” so you can get comfortable here when you win your little contest! View full article »
