Eagles Will Beat Dallas: Roll On, Super 5, Roll On

As my four regular readers know, I met Donovan McNabb, or as he is referred to in this space, Super 5, three weeks ago. He is my favorite athlete is the history of Philadelphia sports.

Today, Rich Hoffman of the Philadelphia Daily News wrote a piece saying that Super 5, barring a run to the Super Bowl, will not be back next year.

I am a big fan of Rich Hoffman. He is the best Philly columnist since the legendary Bill Lyon. I happen to agree with him here. I have said, repeatedly since April, that the Eagles will not bring Super 5 back without at least a conference championship.

Here’s where Rich and I differ: I believe that the Birds get it done this year. And it starts Saturday.

Yeah, I know. The Cowboys have exercised the December Demons.

They finished the season 3-2, including beating number one seed New Orleans.

They swept the Eagles, including a 24-0 shelling in the final week of the regular season. In 19 third meetings involving teams with a regular season sweep in NFL history, the team that swept has won the third game 12 times.   

Tony Romo dumped that bad luck heifer Jessica Simpson.

The Cowboys got this, right?

Wrong.

Because we have Super 5.

Look, 3-2 is nice, but the Eagles were 6-1 down the stretch, a fact everyone seems to be forgetting. Andy Reid has never (AND THE ROCK MEANS) ever lost his first playoff game. Wade Phillips has never won his first playoff game.

Tony Romo is playing well. He has never won under the playoff crucible.

Super 5 has won nine times in the playoffs. He, also, has never lost his first playoff game.

The Cowboys haven’t won a playoff game since 1996, but, really, that is more a function of circumstance. They had some really bad teams in there, and some really bad coaches too, so we’ll throw that one out. The bottom line is, this game will come down to one thing:

The play of Donovan McNabb.

Here’s the thing. He wasn’t very good last week. There has been an enormous amount of negativity around him and the team this week. There is some sentiment that it is time to move on. His back is against the wall.

Every time – every single time – Donovan McNabb has been backed into a corner, he comes out fighting. Last year, he played seven of the worst quarters of football I have ever seen from any player, at any position. He was benched at halftime of that brutal Baltimore game. How did he respond?

Oh, all he did was light up Arizona for 260 yards and four touchdowns to kick off a stretch where the team finished the regular season 4-1 to make the playoffs and go to the NFC Championship for the FIFTH time in his career.

Speaking of NFC Championships, let’s go to the 2004 game. The Eagles were in their fourth one in a row, and there was talk that McNabb should be traded because he was going to lose AGAIN. Mike Vick and the Falcons, fresh off beating Brett Favre in Lambeau, were going to come to the Linc and beat the Eagles too. What did McNabb do then?

Well, he didn’t lose there, either, winning 27-10.

At the end of the regular season that year, the Eagles sat their regulars for the last two games, and there was talk that they would be rusty and McNabb would lose the first playoff game. McNabb was so rusty that he outdueled Daunte Culpepper for the win, 27-14, throwing for 286 yards and two touchdowns.

Earlier that year, the Eagles lost to the Steelers, and all the focus was one the “argument” that McNabb and Terrell Owens had on the sidelines. All week, the talk was about McNabb’s lack of leadership, Owens’ lack of respect, and how the team would come apart. What happened?

He had 345 yards and four touchdowns. Against the Cowboys. In Dallas. Including a 14.1 second, Playstation-esque, if I hadn’t seen it and you told me about it I wouldn’t have believed it scramble.

And now we have Tony Romo. The up and coming Dallas superstar is going to pass McNabb by, right? He will shred the Eagles defense, right? McNabb will struggle and choke, just like he always does, right?

When I met McNabb, he had a friend with him. I told them what a big fan I was, about the article I wrote calling him the greatest player in Philly sports history of my lifetime, and how I was so sick of the haters. His reply?

“We love the haters. They make us stronger.”

So count him out. Write him off. Call him a choker. I won’t. Not now, not ever.

Eagles 38, Dallas 24.

Stone Cold Lead Pipe Lock.

Review of Wachovia Center, Home of the Philadelphia 76ers

Review originally published on Stadium Journey.

 

The Wachovia Center is the home of the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers. Built near the soon to be demolished Spectrum, it is part of the massive Philadelphia Sports Complex, which includes Lincoln Financial Field, home of the NFL’s Eagles, and Citizens Bank Park, home of the two time defending National League Champion Phillies.

 The first of the three to be built, the Wachovia Center is all glitz and glamour, but it lacks the Spectrum’s soul.

Here is the FANFARE rating for WACHOVIA CENTER:

Food & Beverage: 5 (out of 5)

Wow. You name it, it’s here. You like cheesesteaks? Check. You like good BBQ? Check. You like Chickie’s and Pete’s crab fries? You better, because if you don’t, you and me are gonna fight. It’s all here. Tremendous selection in food and beer, including a gluten free beer, reasonably priced at a little over seven bucks on average. There are two full bars, PJ Whelihans, no food served but full bar service and the AT&T Pavilion.

 The Pavilion has Campo’s (Cheesesteaks) and Chickie’s and Pete’s (sandwiches and crab fries. Just get some, trust me.) It also has a full bar which serves, for the outrageous price of $11, a hand cut roast beef sandwich with sides. I mean, it’s probably the best roast beef sandwich you’ll ever have, it is literally hand cut before your eyes, but I have a hard time justifying paying eleven bucks for a sandwich. The Pavilion is open two hours before and after each game which makes it a great place to hang out.

Atmosphere: 3

 The Spectrum was intimate. You and 19,000 of your closest friends would go and get behind the Sixers and will them to victory sometimes.

 The Wachovia Center is nice. It’s very pretty. It has lots of fun stuff to do. But it won’t ever scare anybody. The Spectrum used to intimidate people, especially in the eighties. (Wow. Getting old.) Not here. It’s too nice. Wouldn’t want to mess anything up. I mean, you look up in the rafters, and the same banners hang, along with a couple of new ones, but it’s not the same. You got your pop-a-shot basketball games and your air hockey tables and hockey-in-a-bubble style foosball games, all your modern arena doodads and hoohah, but it just ain’t the same atmosphere. And that’s kinda sad.

Neighborhood: 1

Um, yeah, see, there really is no neighborhood, per se. The arena is part of the Philadelphia Sports Complex as mentioned above, which consists of three full sized sporting venues (four, if you count the Spectrum, now closed and soon to be demolished) and parking for each. There is a run of the mill Irish pub attached to Citizens Bank Park (yawn) and one attached in the hotel behind Citizens Bank Park (YAWN.) The closest neighborhood bar, Chickie’s and Pete’s is a 20-30 minute walk, which is tough to do after a Sixers game. But it might be worth it. More on that later, but not close enough to really be considered part of the stadium’s neighborhood. Special mention to the Chickie’s and Pete’s Taxi Crab, which will drop you off before and pick you up after games if you valet park with them for ten bucks.

Fans: 5

Philly fans have a certain reputation. During my visit, which was during the teeth of the soon to be legendary Blizzard of 09, they did not disappoint.

Even with over a foot of snow on the ground (and another foot coming) when the game started, a few thousand people showed up. One guy in the upper level never – never – stopped yelling at LA Clippers guard Sebastian Telfair. I am a huge fan of hecklers; I have done it myself many times. You could hear him clear as day. At one point during a pair of free throws, he said this:

“HEY TELFAIR! YOU SUCK!” Silence. “I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME!” Raucous laughter from the crowd. “DON’T IGNORE ME, TELFAIR! YOU SUCK! WHY DON’T YOU GO BACK TO BROOKLYN?”

He later expressed his thoughtful views on Clippers center Chris Kaman’s struggle with male pattern baldness.

“HEY KAMAN! YOU HAVE MORE POINTS THAN HAIR ON YOUR HEAD!”

Classic. Bonus for so many people showing up in a blizzard.

Access: 5

This arena is right off I-95, the main interstate on the East Coast. It is easy to find. There is more parking than you will know what to do with, and it starts at $15. Like with most of the new arenas, bathrooms are plentiful, with family changing rooms in select locations. They were surprisingly clean.

Return on Investment: 3

You’ll have fun here; there is a lot to do. You can even watch a basketball game if you want. Bars and games abound; tickets and food are decently priced

Extra Points: 5

Chickie’s and Pete’s (www.chickiesandpetes.com) gives this the full 5 points here, in fact, if I could give more, I would. Not really close enough to walk (and not really feasible, either, you WILL be towed if you park here and go to the game), it really can’t be included in the neighborhood. (Its website claims to be walking distance. It’s not. To quote the comedian Steven Wright, “Everything is within walking distance if you have the time.”) But it is absolutely part of the whole picture. As mentioned above, you can valet park your car here for $10. The Taxi Crab will drive you to the Wachovia Center, then pick you up and bring you back after. The Crab Fries must be eaten to be believed. If you like seafood, this is the spot. If you like bar food, this is the spot. If you like giant TV screens almost one and a half stories tall, this is the spot.

How about video game playing pods? The new addition, PLAY2, has Amusement Pod Entertainment Centers, or apecs. You can reserve an apec and play PS3, Wii, or Xbox 360 games with your friends or against groups in other apecs. Or you can just hang out at the bar and watch people play in the apecs, or listen to the DJ. Seriously, this is a crazy great place.

It was rated “Best Sports Bar on the East Coast” by ESPN, and it lives up to it. They have “Beer Towers,” a three foot (or so) tall container of beer with a tap on it. It holds 120 ounces for $25 (domestic) or $30 (imported). It is ESPNZone without all the annoying glitz. It is your neighborhood bar with lots of makeup on, looking all hot at the club on a Friday night. You have to come here. Forget the arena. Just come here.

FANFARE Total: 27 (out of 35)

The lack of a neighborhood notwithstanding, the Wachovia Center is an overall fun place to see a game. Is it worth a special trip to Philadelphia just for that? Not even close. But if you are in town, it is a must stop. Well, Chickie’s and Pete’s is, anyway.

Review of Wachovia Center, Home of the Philadelphia Flyers

Review originally published on Stadium Journey. 

The Wachovia Center is the home of the Philadelphia Flyers and 76ers. Built near the soon to be demolished Spectrum, it is part of the massive Philadelphia Sports Complex, which includes Lincoln Financial Field, home of the NFL’s Eagles, and Citizens Bank Park, home of the two time defending National League Champion Phillies.

The first of the three to be built, the Wachovia Center is all glitz and glamour, but it lacks the Spectrum’s soul.

Here is the FANFARE rating for WACHOVIA CENTER:

Food & Beverage: 5 (out of 5)

Wow. You name it, it’s here. You like cheesesteaks? Check. You like good BBQ? Check. You like Chickie’s and Pete’s crab fries? You better, because if you don’t, you and me are gonna fight. It’s all here. Tremendous selection in food and beer, including a gluten free beer, reasonably priced at a little over seven bucks on average. There are two full bars, PJ Whelihans, no food served but full bar service and the AT&T Pavilion.

The Pavilion has Campo’s (Cheesesteaks) and Chickie’s and Pete’s (sandwiches and crab fries. Just get some, trust me.) It also has a full bar which serves, for the outrageous price of $11, a hand cut roast beef sandwich with sides. I mean, it’s probably the best roast beef sandwich you’ll ever have, it is literally hand cut before your eyes, but I have a hard time justifying paying eleven bucks for a sandwich. The Pavilion is open two hours before and after each game which makes it a great place to hang out.

Atmosphere: 3

The Spectrum was intimate. You and 19,000 of your closest friends would go and get behind the Flyers and will them to victory sometimes.

The Wachovia Center is nice. It’s very pretty. It has lots of fun stuff to do. But it won’t ever scare anybody. Teams used to be afraid to play the Flyers in the Spectrum. Not here. It’s too nice. Wouldn’t want to mess anything up. I mean, you look up in the rafters, and the same banners hang, along with a couple of new ones, but it’s not the same. You got your pop-a-shot basketball games and your air hockey tables and hockey-in-a-bubble style foosball games, all your modern arena doodads and hoohah, but it just ain’t the same atmosphere. And that’s kinda sad.

Neighborhood: 1

Um, yeah, see, there really is no neighborhood, per se. The arena is part of the Philadelphia Sports Complex as mentioned above, which consists of three full sized sporting venues (four, if you count the Spectrum, now closed and soon to be demolished) and parking for each. There is a run of the mill Irish pub attached to Citizens Bank Park (yawn) and one attached in the hotel behind Citizens Bank Park (YAWN.) The closest neighborhood bar, Chickie’s and Pete’s is a 20-30 minute walk, which is tough to do after a Flyers game. But it might be worth it. More on that later, but not close enough to really be considered part of the stadium’s neighborhood. Special mention to the Chickie’s and Pete’s Taxi Crab, which will drop you off before and pick you up after games if you valet park with them for ten bucks.

Fans: 5

Philly fans have a certain reputation. The Flyers fans, like hockey fans in most towns, have their own special twist. During opening introductions for the opposing team, when the arena announcer says the player’s name, the fans all yell “SUCKS!” after. So you get this:

Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist SUCKS

Center Vinny Prospal SUCKS

And so on. Childish? Maybe. Awesome? Definitely. The arena and the atmosphere might be different, but the fans are the same.

Access: 5

This arena is right off I-95, the main interstate on the East Coast. It is easy to find. There is more parking than you will know what to do with, and it starts at $15. Like with most of the new arenas, bathrooms are plentiful, with family changing rooms in select locations. They were surprisingly clean.

Return on Investment: 3

You’ll have fun here; there is a lot to do. You can even watch a hockey game if you want. Bars and games abound; tickets and food are decently priced

Extra Points: 5

Chickie’s and Pete’s (www.chickiesandpetes.com) gives this the full 5 points here, in fact, if I could give more, I would. Not really close enough to walk (and not really feasible, either, you WILL be towed if you park here and go to the game), it really can’t be included in the neighborhood. (Its website claims to be walking distance. It’s not. To quote the comedian Steven Wright, “Everything is within walking distance if you have the time.”) But it is absolutely part of the whole picture. As mentioned above, you can valet park your car here for $10. The Taxi Crab will drive you to the Wachovia Center, then pick you up and bring you back after. The Crab Fries must be eaten to be believed. If you like seafood, this is the spot. If you like bar food, this is the spot. If you like giant TV screens almost one and a half stories tall, this is the spot.

How about video game playing pods? The new addition, PLAY2, has Amusement Pod Entertainment Centers, or apecs. You can reserve an apec and play PS3, Wii, or Xbox 360 games with your friends or against groups in other apecs. Or you can just hang out at the bar and watch people play in the apecs, or listen to the DJ. Seriously, this is a crazy great place.

It was rated “Best Sports Bar on the East Coast” by ESPN, and it lives up to it. They have “Beer Towers,” a three foot (or so) tall container of beer with a tap on it. It holds 120 ounces for $25 (domestic) or $30 (imported). It is ESPNZone without all the annoying glitz. It is your neighborhood bar with lots of makeup on, looking all hot at the club on a Friday night. You have to come here. Forget the arena. Just come here.

FANFARE Total: 27 (out of 35)

 

The lack of a neighborhood notwithstanding, the Wachovia Center is an overall fun place to see a game. Is it worth a special trip to Philadelphia just for that? Not even close. But if you are in town, it is a must stop. Well, Chickie’s and Pete’s is, anyway.

The Not Quite As Hot Little Sister: M and T Bank Stadium

Review originally published on Stadium Journey.

Remember that super hot girl from high school that everyone was in love with? You know the one. Always had the huge crowd around her locker, and she was a nice person to boot. Remember her little sister? Remember thinking she might eventually get to be like her big sister, only she never quite measured up? Oh, she was alright, I guess, but standing next to her sister, boy, not even close.

            Oriole Park is the hot girl. M and T Bank Stadium is the little sister. It would be better off in another part of the city, or, even better, in another city to avoid the comparisons.

Here is the FANFARE rating for Baltimore’s M AND T BANK STADIUM:

Food & Beverage: 4 (out of 5)

In a word: eh. I mean, it’s alright. One extra point is given for a few specialties, the obligatory Maryland Crab cakes, veggie burgers and burritos, a decent BBQ stand and gluten free pretzels, which is a neat trick. They have a stand from Attman’s deli where you can get a decent, not great, pastrami sandwich. They have a full bar inside the stadium called the Talon Pub. Beer there, as well as throughout the stadium has a good, not great variety for a good, not great average price of around eight bucks on average. There is nothing in the stadium I’d say you have to try, but anything you do try will be better than average. Like I said, in a word, eh. In three words, good, not great.

Atmosphere: 5

The atmosphere here is terrific. The sightlines are amazing, and the giant TV screens at either end are a sight to behold. The seating is second to none, not a bad seat anywhere. It has a remarkable history for such a young stadium. Part of that may be from the grand history of football in Baltimore. NFL, USFL, Super Bowls, all won in this city. The vibe is here and is palpable. Adding to it on the way into the stadium from Oriole Park is RavensWalk, games, food and fun.

Neighborhood: 5

Space does not permit the description of the greatness of this area, as long as you walk towards Oriole Park and turn RIGHT, not left when you pass it. (Turning left can put you in a shady part of town.) The stadium is a 15 to 20 minute, leisurely stroll from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. But before you get there, you have to pass Pickles. If you are a Ravens fan, or like to be with hometown fans, or just like $2 draft beers on game day, Pickles is the spot. The food is generic pub food, but, come on, $1 a beer, who cares about the food? There are a number (a large number, I stopped counting at 10) of bars also very close to the ballpark, so if you need something fancier than Pickles, you have lots of options.

I feel compelled to also mention the ESPN Zone at the Inner Harbor. Great place before, during or after any sporting event.

Fans: 5

Baltimore fans, as a rule, are intelligent and involved. They were a solid four points here, with my thinking that a five point score would require more of an edge. A little touch of crazy, if you will. Then I met this guy:

Raven Head Man

 

That is not a plastic raven attached to his hat, it is a stuffed raven.

The man has a dead, stuffed bird attached to his hat.

Five points.

Access: 4

This stadium is right off I-95, the main interstate on the East Coast. It is easy to find. Parking is plentiful but not at all cheap. You will pay a minimum of $20 to park. The closer you are, the more you will pay, as much as $50. There are plenty of clean bathrooms.

Return on Investment: 3

This is a great stadium in which to watch a football game, but not much else. I mean, you can eat and drink and be full while you do it, but the best thing going on here is the view from your seat. Not a lot to do inside other than that. Outside is another story.

Extra Points: 1

In a word, OK. If you want to watch a football game and then hang out at the harbor later, this is a good place. If you are looking for the full, interactive, all inclusive game day experience that many other parks offer, this is not the place. Great neighborhood, and great sightlines though.

FANFARE Total: 27 (out of 35)

 

Good, not great. It pales in comparison to its big sister, Oriole Park at Camden Yards. It is miles better than Memorial Stadium was, and way better than that disaster to the south in DC. But I left feeling like I needed more. If my team was playing, I would go back, but only if my team was playing.

Two Venues. Three Games. Twenty Three Inches of Snow. Twenty Four Hours.

As a correspondent for Stadium Journey, a website dedicated to being the premier sports venue review spot in the United States, I get to do a lot of fun things. I get to go to sporting events, which I love. I get to write, which I love. But this past weekend, from Saturday, December 19th, 2009 to Sunday December 20, 2009 offered a unique opportunity.

As the Mid-Atlantic correspondent living in Northern Virginia, I am assigned to Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC. My original plan was to review Lincoln Financial Field for the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday the 20th. I would drive up Sunday morning, catch the 1pm game, then drive back.

Easy, right?

Then, I saw that the Sixers were playing the Clippers Saturday night. So I figured I could kill two birds with one stone by driving up Saturday afternoon, review the Wachovia Center for the Sixers, stay with family, then catch the Eagles and go home.

A little more effort, but certainly doable, right?

Then, seeing that the Flyers were playing the Rangers at one on Saturday afternoon, I decided I would go for the trifecta. I would go up Saturday morning, catch all three games in 24 hours, then be back home to VA in time to see Russell win Survivor. Easy, right?

Wrong. And not just about Russell winning Survivor.

Towards the beginning of the week there was talk of a little snow. Only 2-4 inches were expected in DC, with a dusting in Philly. No problem. Well, as everyone knows, that went from a dusting to calls for up to a foot in DC and 6-8 inches in Philly within a matter of days.

So I adjusted my plans to go up to Philly on Friday. I’d beat the storm, and 6-8 inches of snow is nothing to deal with, really. Cake.

I went to sleep Friday and dreamed of scenes from the movie “The Day After Tomorrow.” The forecast had been adjusted to over a foot in Philly. I woke up to several inches on the ground already. They were now talking about a couple of feet of snow.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say I thought about bagging the whole thing and going home. But the forecast for where I’d be driving to was even worse. So I cleaned off the car, went and bought some sweatshirts for warmth and headed to Chickie’s and Pete’s.

When I got there, I spoke with the manager, Tom, and told him what I was doing. He was extremely accommodating. I valet parked my car with them and took the Taxi Crab over to the Wachovia Center. I exchanged numbers with the driver. My plan at this point was to stay at the Center all day and take the Taxi Crab back after the Sixers game.

This is where it gets interesting.

I have no tickets. For any of the games. So I begin looking for a, uh, broker. By this point, it is wicked cold and snowing like crazy. I am walking around the Philly Sports Complex looking for tickets. It is clear that I do not have on enough layers. Soaked to the bone, I walk around for almost an hour before I find a ticket in my price range (read: as close as possible to “free”).

I get inside and it is well worth it. I am sitting four seats left of the Flyers bench. I am so close, I can hear Flyers Head Coach Peter Laviolette ripping into his team after an early Rangers goal. I can see the spittle land on Danny Briere’s nose.

This is my first ever Flyers game in person, and my second NHL game in person. I am a big fan, but never had a chance to go before. I’d always argued with people who said that hockey cannot be truly appreciated as well on TV. My argument was always that I had never been to one, and I love hockey.

I was wrong.

Go see a game. Now.

So with about 90 seconds left in regulation, I get a call from Bob, the driver of the Taxi Crab. He tells me that the weather has deteriorated to the point that they are shutting down operations. He will be picking me up after the Flyers game, which they lost.

I go outside, and it is even colder, and windier, and it is snowing so hard, I swear it was coming up from the ground, which had around nine inches of snow on it.

I wait for Bob for what seems like three days. Soaked, and not a little annoyed at the weather, I climb aboard.

The time is 4:00 pm.

I get back to C & P’s and retrieve my keys from Tom. I go outside and begin digging my car out (I brought a shovel.). While I am digging, a couple of guys walk by in the snow, and I could swear that one of them sounds like Donovan McNabb. I look up, and it kinda looks like him, but it’s hard to tell, seeing as how we are in near blizzard conditions.

So I say, “Hey, is that Don?”

He says, “Yeah, man.”

If you want to know how big a thrill this is for me, see here.

Donovan was gracious enough, in a driving snowstorm, to chat with me for a few moments, pose for a picture with me, and even take my card, saying he would check the stuff I write.

Totally worth digging my car out of what is now eleven inches of snow.

I drive to the Wachovia Center and park. The time is now 5:00. I go to the box office and buy a $10, upper level ticket. I really am tired now, thinking, this is the Sixers, I don’t want to be here now.

I take a nap in my car. When I wake up at about 6:00 (the game starts at 7:30), there is a guy stuck next to me trying to get his car out. I get out and dig and push and dig and push and dig and push. A few other guys come over and push and we get him out. They walk away, he stops and gets out of his car and asks if I have a ticket. When I tell him I do, he says, “Well, here’s a better one.”

Turns out he works for the Sixers, and he hands me a ticket 10 feet from the Sixers bench, eight rows behind the basket. Allen Iverson is taller in person than he seems on TV. He later tells me, after we exchange cards and stories, that any time I am in town and need tickets, to give him a call.

There are, approximately, and this is just a rough guess, twenty-seven people there, what with there being well over a foot of snow on the ground and no signs of it letting up. One of them never – never – stopped yelling, from the upper deck, at Clippers guard Sebastian Telfair.

“HEY TELFAIR! YOU SUCK!” Silence for two seconds. “I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME!” Raucous laughter from the crowd.

I love Philly fans. It helps that I am one. I yelled at Sixers Head Coach Eddie Jordan not to put Samuel Dalembert back in, because he sucks. I figured he was new, maybe he didn’t know. Fortunately, Sammy fouled out quickly between getting lit up by some dude with male pattern baldness named Chris Kaman. (The Telfair guy said, “HEY KAMAN! YOU HAVE MORE POINTS THAN HAIR ON YOUR HEAD!” Awesome.)

Shockingly, the Sixers lost. I met up with my boy Dennis, who I hadn’t seen since high school twenty years ago, and made a great contact with the Sixers. Overall, a good night, I’d say.

The drive back to my cousin’s place was dicey. When I got there, I had to dig out a parking space. There was twenty inches of snow on the ground, and it was still coming down. It took me almost an hour.

It was midnight. I collapsed into bed.

The Eagles game was pushed back to 4pm, so I had time to rest up and dress properly. I had hand warmers in my pockets. I can’t wear gloves because I need my hands free to take notes and pictures for Stadium Journey. I find a, uh, broker and buy a standing room ticket, because who sits at football games anyway?

This is my first time at the Linc. (See the review on Stadium Journey when it posts later this week to see what I thought.) The 49er fans are vigorously heckled, but nothing too bad, unless you count the drunk guy who screamed, fifteen times, at the top of his lungs, two inches from a 49ers fan’s ear, a seven letter word that rhymes with “glass bowl.”

I don’t. That’s mild. Here is the harsh stuff, especially in the comments.

I leave at halftime. I have nearly four hours of driving, and I don’t know what the roads are like, plus I want to listen to Merrill Reese on the radio.

I hesitate to say that this was the greatest weekend of my life because I am married (that was a pretty good weekend) and have three kids, who have given me years of great memories. I’ve been to a Daytona 500 and a Super Bowl. I’ve had some great weekends.

This one was up there.

I have to sleep now.

Tiger Woods’ Wife Hires Drew Rosenhaus To Renegotiate Pre-nup(SATIRE)

In the wake of her husband Tiger’s admission of infidelities, Elin Woods has hired super agent Drew Rosenhaus to renegotiate her pre-nuptual agreement.

“EW has out-performed this contract,” said Rosenhaus, holding up a copy of the agreement at a press conference in the Woods’ driveway. “She has more than lived up to her end. Tiger has not.

“We only want what’s fair for E-Dub. And her kids.”

Behind Rosenhaus, Mrs. Woods was seen doing sit ups in the garage when he was asked if this was a bit unusual.

“Not at all,” he replied. “Yes, typically, we like to do this behind the scenes. Do you think Kobe just came up with the idea of the ‘house on a finger?’ That was me. I am not a publicity hound. I am simply trying to get my client fairly compensated.”

Rosenhaus was asked why, if he wasn’t a publicity hound, was he holding a press conference to discuss personal family matters.

“Next question,” he said.

Tiger Woods, after promising to speak to reporters three times, released the following statement on his website.

“I will not be bullied into negotiating in public. The Spouse signed this agreement, and the expectation of the Tiger Woods Empire is that The Spouse live up to her agreement.

“Oh, and Katy in Virginia, Annie in San Francisco, Sarah in Chicago and Rhonda in Philly, can you do me a huge favor and take your names off your voice mail? You gotta do this for me. Huge. Quickly.”

Rosenhaus insisted that Elin wanted to keep this private, but she was forced to go public when Tiger insisted that she stick to the cockamamie “accident” story.

“Look, Tiger has to face reality,” said Rosenhaus, disconnecting from a phone call from his partner, Lucifer Mephistopheles. “No one was buying that garbage. People just want truth and honesty. That is what I am all about. Truth and honesty.

“What are you laughing at?” he asked.

Rosenhaus was then asked if he was licensed to practice family law.

“Next question,” he replied.

Other celebrities were quick to pass judgement.

“Yeah, she should renegotiate,” said singer and actress Beyonce Knowles. “She could have another him in a minute. He needs not to get to thinking he’s irreplaceable.”

“He did what? That’s just wrong,” said talk show host David Letterman. “I hope she takes him for all that he’s worth. Guys like that are just terrible.”

Kobe Bryant was unavailable for comment.

It could not be confirmed at press time whether or not Mrs. Woods yelled “Fore!” before she hit Tiger in the grill with a 4-iron.

The Most Important Position In Professional Sports: Fan

I was talking about the Phillies chances in the World Series last week at work. I told a co-worker, “I think we have a good chance of sweeping the Yankees.” (Obviously, that was wrong, but that isn’t the point here.) His reply was, “We? What position do you play?”

“I play fan,” I said.

I used to think the same way. People who say “we” when talking about their sports teams are a little too attached. It is not “we.” We are not a part of the team.

Or are we?

I now say that fan is the most important position in professional sports. I am not naive enough to say that we directly pay the players’ salaries. But without us, how much do you think FOX would pay Major League Baseball to for national television rights?

If we don’t watch, how much do you think Bud Light would be paying FOX for commercial time? If we don’t watch, how much do you think Citizens Bank would have paid for naming rights for the Phillies’ new stadium?

If we don’t watch, Alex Rodriguez is selling ladies shoes at Neiman Marcus.

If we don’t watch, Chase Utley is selling cars.

If we don’t watch, Cole Hamels is a barista at Starbucks. Maybe he should be anyway.

You think teams don’t listen to the fans? They do. Oh, don’t misunderstand, Andy Reid is not listening to Vinny from Palmyra (“Yo, dat McNabb is a bum, youse need to sign Tom Brady!”), but he knows that the fans want to win. Thus, he does what he thinks is best to achieve that goal. We may not always agree with his method, but he is trying.

We all want to win. Owners know this. They know we will buy less merchandise, and, in some cities, stop coming to games if they don’t win. (Hello, Jacksonville and Cincinnati.) The fans will hit you in the pocketbook if you continue to put an inferior product out.

Are you listening, Dan Snyder? Probably not. But he is, I’m sure, aware of the discontent of his fans, because they are not coming to the games, which is costing him money. We know he is aware because he banned signs at FedEx Field, because, he says, they mar the experience of other fans.

Sure, Danno, not because of what they will say, but because they negatively influence the fan experience.

Teams fight all season for home field advantage. Why? Because we are there. We push them. We encourage them. We give them that extra burst to make that last  pitch, or shot, or save, or pass.

The emotional outpouring after the Phillies World Series win last year was because of the fans’ long suffering drought. Player after player, coach after coach, executive after executive thanked the fans. Why?

Because without us, there is no game.

Not quarterback. Not goaltender. Not pitcher. Not point guard.

Fan.

Fan is the most important position in professional sports.

We win and lose, live and die with our teams. Yes, the players and coaches and owners care. But long after they are all gone, we will still be here.

We are the fans.

 

Reiview of Citizens Bank Park

Citizens Bank Park

            Citizens Bank Park is the home of the 2008 World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. Built near the former spot of the not at all missed Veterans Stadium, it is part of the massive Philadelphia Sports Complex, which includes Lincoln Financial Field, home of the NFL’s Eagles, and the Wachovia Center, home of the NHL’s Flyers and some minor league basketball team.

 

The last of the three to be built, The Bank is a vast improvement over the Vet.

 

Here is the FANFARE rating for CITIZENS BANK PARK:

 

Food & Beverage: 5 (out of 5)

 

It is hard to find fault with the selection here at Citizens Bank Park. You have all your ballpark classics, along with standard Philly classics like hoagies, cheesesteaks (Tony Luke’s? One word: overrated. Plenty of other choices though.), and water ice, which is like the best Italian Ice you’ve ever had, only better. They offer veggie burgers and Vegan hot dogs. There is a lot of variety to be had in Ashburn Alley, named for Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn. Running behind the outfield, you’ll find there the aforementioned Tony Luke’s, Planet Hoagie, Campo’s (more cheesesteaks), Alley Grill (any type of grilled sandwich you can imagine, including a vegetarian black bean burger) and Bull’s BBQ. If you’ve been to Baltimore, Bull’s is almost as good as Boog’s. Almost. But Bull’s variety is better.

 

There is a surprisingly good sit down restaurant in left field called Harry the K’s, named for the late, great Harry Kalas. Terrific selections include pork tacos, Basil Fettuccine and Steak Spring Rolls. Beyond that it is standard American fare. There are two levels, full restaurant downstairs, full service bar upstairs.

 

Do not, under any circumstances, leave the park without getting an order of Crab Fries from the mini Chickie’s and Pete’s. You will regret it for the rest of your life. Unless you go to the big Chickie’s and Pete’s after the game. More on that later.

 

The beer selection is decent, not great, but well priced, around seven bucks for 21 ounces.

 

One warning: Arrive early, and eat early, or you might be in line for the whole game. There are a lot of people here every night.

 

 

 

Atmosphere: 4

 

In a word, electric. As mentioned above, this place is packed to the gills every single night. The view below is from the standing room only section on the third level.

  

The rally towels are crazy in person; TV does not do them justice. The Bank gets an extra point here for being the site of a final game of a winning championship. The stadium is not old enough to have a deep history yet, though Phillies fans would argue that the 2008 World Title was pretty historical, and then push you down a flight of stairs for disagreeing.

 

Neighborhood: 1

 

Here’s the thing. There really is no neighborhood, per se. The stadium is part of the Philadelphia Sports Complex as mentioned above, which consists of three full sized sporting venues (four, if you count the Wachovia Spectrum, scheduled to be closed in October, 2009) and parking for each. There is a bar attached to the stadium called McFadden’s, which is just your run of the mill Irish pub. They do have live bands play before and after home games, which is cool if you like that sort of thing. The closest neighborhood bar, Chickie’s and Pete’s is a 20-30 minute walk, which is tough to do after a Phillies game. But it might be worth it. More on that later, but not close enough to really be considered part of the stadium’s neighborhood. Special mention to the Chickie’s and Pete’s Taxi Crab, which will drop you off before and pick you up after games if you valet park with them for ten bucks.

 

 

 Fans: 5

 

The fans are loud and rowdy, but actually much better behaved than they were at the Vet. Of course, I was rooting for the Phillies, so no one bothered me. I have seen fans of the opposing teams hassled a little here; however, there was nothing over the top. Again, though, I am a Phillies fan, so over the top might be a matter of perspective. Say what you will about us, we know the game, and we show up, win or lose. Oh, there’s heckling and booing too. Phillies fans are a passionate bunch. There was even a guy with his face painted. In the third deck. At a BASEBALL game. Who paints their face for a baseball game?

 

And contrary to legend, there is no jail in the stadium. That was at The Vet.

 

 

Access: 5

 

This stadium is right off I-95, the main interstate on the East Coast. It is easy to find. There is more parking than you will know what to do with, and it is only $12. You are not allowed to tailgate in The Bank’s lots, which I thought was a silly thing to even have to say (who tailgates at baseball games?) until I saw people tailgating in Lincoln Financial Field’s lot across the street. Oh, yeah, Philly fans tailgate at Bingo, I forgot. Like with most of the new ballparks, bathrooms are plentiful, with family changing rooms in select locations. They were surprisingly clean.

 

Return on Investment: 4

 

An excellent stadium, as evidenced by the fact that 45,000 or so people come to it every night. The food is a hair overpriced, but not for a ballpark. They will sell standing room only tickets at a discount three hours before game time if they are available. If you need to sit down, find a friend who doesn’t need their tickets, or you will be paying a broker a lot of money. They sell out virtually every game.

 

 

Extra Points: 5

 

 

 

Chickie’s and Pete’s (www.chickiesandpetes.com) gives this the full 5 points here. Not really close enough to walk (and not really feasible, either, you WILL be towed if you park here and go to the game, and The Bank’s lots close about one hour after the game), it really can’t be included in the neighborhood. (Its website claims to be walking distance. It’s not. To quote the comedian Steven Wright, “Everything is within walking distance if you have the time.”) But it is absolutely part of the whole picture. As mentioned above, you can valet park your car here for $10. The Taxi Crab will drive you to the stadium, then pick you up and bring you back after. The Crab Fries must be eaten to be believed. If you like seafood, this is the spot. If you like bar food, this is the spot. If you like giant TV screens almost one and a half stories tall, this is the spot. It was rated “Best Sports Bar on the East Coast” by ESPN, and it lives up to it. They have “Beer Towers,” a three foot (or so) tall container of beer with a tap on it. It holds 120 ounces for $25 (domestic) or $30 (imported). It is ESPNZone without all the annoying glitz. It is your neighborhood bar with lots of makeup on, looking all hot at the club on a Friday night. You have to come here. Forget the stadium. Just come here.

 

 

 

FANFARE Total: 29 (out of 35)

 

The lack of a neighborhood notwithstanding, Citizens Bank Park is an overall great place to see a game. Is it worth a special trip to Philadelphia just for that? I wouldn’t go that far. But if you are in town, it is a must stop. Forget the Liberty Bell, come to The Bank. And Chickie’s and Pete’s.

 

 

For more stadium reviews and information on the FANFARE rating system, go to www.stadiumjourney.com.

Week Four NFL Picks Against The Spread plus Two College Picks

No coin flip picks this week.

The good news is that I was 9-7 versus the spread in the NFL last week and 1-0 in college. The bad news is I missed my first STONE COLD LEAD PIPE LOCK(tm) and UPSET SPECIAL. From now on, maybe I’ll just stick to one SCLPL per week, as I got cocky with the Steelers, who are one more loss away from being dead to me.

The coin flip option is still available.

As usual, the following picks are for recreational purposes only. Don’t gamble on my advice. I’m just an idiot with a computer. Home team in CAPS:

Oakland(+9) at HOUSTON: There will be a lot of death threats this week. We will start with Houston, who should have pounded Jacksonville last week. Take the Texans and give the points.

Houston, if you don’t cover, you are DEAD to me.

Tennessee (-3) at JACKSONVILLE: I don’t like Jacksonville. I don’t like the team. I don’t like the coach. I don’t like the city. I don’t like the fact that they lead the league in guys with hyphenated last names. Titans get their first win of the season and cover the three. STONE COLD LEAD PIPE LOCK(TM).

Baltimore (+2) at NEW ENGLAND: So I spent the last week in Baltimore trying not to get shot in broad daylight, and everybody thinks the Ravens are like the second coming of the 72 Dolphins. Look, the Ravens are a fine club. They are probably going to win 11 or 12 games. This will not be one of them. Patriots giving only two points at home? That’s like stealing. Take the Pats, give the two, and despite an earlier promise that I would stick to one per week, I am making this one also a STONE COLD LEAD PIPE LOCK(tm).

Ravens winning in Foxboro. Pssh.

Cincinnati (-6) at CLEVELAND: Cleveland is going to Derek Anderson at QB. I don’t care if they start the ghost of Joe Montana (insert laugh track here), as long as Eric Mangini is coaching there, I will NEVER pick the Browns to win anything, except the worst team ever championship. Take the Bengals and give the six. Whoa, did I just say take the Bengals minus six? Wow. The Browns must really suck.

NY Giants (-8.5) at KANSAS CITY: The Giants are the quietest 3-0 team ever. The Jets are getting all the press in New York, while they Giants just go out and pound people every week. Kansas City is horrible, yes, but great teams pound horrible teams, and that is what the Giants will do here. Take the Giants, give the points, repeat until January.

Detroit (+10) at CHICAGO: I cannot, cannot pick the Bears. I’m sorry, Jay Cutler just makes me nauseous. I can’t do it. No logic, just don’t like the guy. Take the Lions plus ten.

Tampa Bay (+7.5) at WASHINGTON: Jim Zorn. Dead man walking. Take the Bucs plus the points, UPSET SPECIAL OF THE WEEK.

Seattle (+10) at INDIANAPOLIS: Seneca Wallace, you are not quite dead to me, but that’s only because I remember how great you were at Iowa State. Having said that, you have no shot this week. None. Indianapolis wins and covers the ten.

NY Jets (-7) at NEW ORLEANS: In a battle of unexpected 3-0 teams, the Saints are somehow favored by a touchdown. Really? Jets cover the seven. They might even win.

Buffalo (+1.5) at MIAMI: Everybody who had the Dolphins at 0-3, raise your hand. Liars. Miami gets it done at home this week, take them minus the points.

Miami, last chance. You lose this week and you are DEAD to me.

St. Louis (+9.5) at SAN FRANCISCO: The 49ers would be 3-0 if they hadn’t gotten Farved last week. They played well enough on the road to beat a very good Minnesota team. I shudder to think what Mike Singletary did to them this week. They will take it out on the Rams, who seriously may not win a game this year. Niners win big, take them, give the points.

Dallas (-3) at DENVER: No love for the 3-0 Broncos? They are an inexplicable home underdog to the Cowboys here. Why is everyone so in love with Dallas? I don’t get it. I think that Denver, somehow, goes to 4-0 here, but even if they don’t, they will cover the three, take them plus the points.

San Diego (+6) at PITTSBURGH: Man, I don’t like this one. Not one bit. I think the Steelers win a close one, even without Willie Parker. Like a Republican voting for John McCain, hold your nose and take San Diego plus the points.

Green Bay (+3.5) at MINNESOTA: Despite what ESPN will tell you, there is really not that much juice for this game. Now, Farve at Green Bay? That will be Must See TV. This is just a big divisional game. Vikings win as AP goes for 250 and three touchdowns, take Minnesota minus the points.

COLLEGE DOUBLE DIP:

Florida State (-3.5) at BOSTON COLLEGE: FSU’s wild inconsistency will pay off this week. After getting manhandled physically at home by a South Florida team that is better than people think, FSU bounces back with a teasing beatdown of Boston College. Then they will revert to the mid-major they have become again the next time that they play. Take FSU minus the points.

Virginia Tech (-13.5) at DUKE: It’s funny, but if I’m Virginia Tech, I take being favored by only 13.5 at Duke as an insult. I think Frank Beamer’s boys will too. VT beats Duke like they stole something, take them minus the points.

LAST WEEK: 9-7 NFL, including 1-1 STONE COLD LEAD PIPE LOCK(tm), 0-1 UPSET SPECIAL. College, 1-0.

OVERALL:

NFL 24-23-1.

STONE COLD LEAD PIPE LOCK(tm): 3-1

UPSET SPECIAL: 2-1

COLLEGE: 1-1

Week Three NFL Picks Against the Spread, Plus One College Pick

So I’m thinking I may just start flipping a coin.

I mean, after an 8-8 week (plus missing on the college pick), it can’t be any worse, right?

Well, I did hit on both the UPSET SPECIAL and STONE COLD LEAD PIPE LOCK(tm) again, so I’m still perfect, 4-0 on the season there. Maybe I’ll save the coin for next week if things don’t improve.

As usual, you are an idiot if you gamble with my picks. They are for recreational purposes only. Home team in CAPS:

Kansas City (+9) at PHILADELPHIA: I’m telling you right now, if the Eagles don’t beat Kansas City by three touchdowns, there will be riots in the streets. I don’t care who is starting at quarterback, I don’t care if Brian Westbrook doesn’t play. The Chiefs are an awful football team. I would take the University of Texas minus nine over Kansas City on the road. Eagles win big, STONE COLD LEAD PIPE LOCK(tm).

Tennessee (+2.5) at NY JETS: Rex Ryan gave a game ball to Fireman Ed (that one dude who sits on that other dude’s shoulders and leads the “J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS” chants) last week on behalf of the fans. It will be insane in the Meadowlands Sunday. Tennessee absolutely, positively HAS to win this game. They won’t. Buddy’s boy’s boys go to 3-0, take the Jets, give the points.

Jacksonville (+3.5) at HOUSTON: OK, Houston, which is it? Are you the team that beat Tennessee or the team that got worked by the Jets? What’s that you say? You’re playing Jacksonville this week so it doesn’t matter? Oh, alright, cool, we’ll check back next week, Houston beats J-ville by a WHOLE lot, give the points.

Cleveland (+13) at BALTIMORE: Only Kansas City prevents the Browns from being the worst team in the AFC. For the second time in three weeks, I’m gonna say something I rarely say: take the Ravens and give the THIRTEEN. Wow, that is a lot of points. Fortunately for me, Eric Mangini coaches the Browns, and he’s an idiot.

NY Giants (-6.5) at TAMPA BAY: Byron Leftwich. Cadillac Williams. Kellen Winslow Jr. OK, there, now I can name three guys on the Bucs. They still suck. Take the Giants, give the points.

Washington (-6.5) at DETROIT: Detroit has to beat somebody at some point, don’t they? Yeah, and it may even be this week. Take the Lions plus the points.

Green Bay (-6.5) at ST LOUIS: Look, don’t get me wrong here, the Rams are awful. AWFUL. But why is everybody so in love with the Packers now? They were 6-10 last year. I don’t get it. Take the Rams plus the points.

San Francisco (+6.5) at MINNESOTA: San Francisco is for real. Will they beat Minnesota in a battle of the NFC’s two best running backs so far? Well, let’s not go crazy here. But they will cover the nigh-touchdown spread, take the Niners and the points.

Atlanta (+4) at NEW ENGLAND: The Pats need to get it in gear. Losing to Atlanta at home will not sit well with Lord Vader, er, I mean Bill Belichick. Pats win and cover the four.

Chicago (-1.5) at SEATTLE: Really? The Bears? Jay Cutler? Really? Seattle, with Seneca Wallace at QB, beats the Bears. UPSET SPECIAL OF THE WEEK.

New Orleans (-6) at BUFFALO: It is getting harder and harder to pick against The Greatest Show On Turf: Part Two, This Time, It’s Personal. But I am a sucker for home underdogs getting six or more. Grit your teeth and take the Bills to cover in a shootout.

 Miami (+6) at SAN DIEGO: Two teams that are real close to being dead to me square off here. Miami needs this game badly. So do the Chargers. I believe the Chargers win and cover. I think. Yeah, take the Chargers. I think.

Pittsburgh (-4) at CINNCINNATI: So I’m listening to the NFL radio channel today, and everybody and their mom is picking the Bengals to not only cover, but beat the defending world champs. Uh, what? Mike Tomlin is 8-1 all time in the regular season the week after a loss. Those eight wins are by an average of nearly two touchdowns, and include two shutouts. This is what we call a “trend.” Take the Steelers to lay the smackdown on the Bengals, give the four. In fact, make it a bonus second STONE COLD LEAD PIPE LOCK(tm).

Denver (-1.5) at OAKLAND: The Raiders made me sweat it out against Kansas City last week. Is it possible that Josh McDaniel goes to 3-0? It sure is. It’s not LIKELY, but it’s possible. Equally unbelieveable, the Ray-dizz go to 2-1, take them plus the points.

Indianapolis (+2.5) at ARIZONA: Uh, is that a misprint? Peyton Manning is getting points? Against ARIZONA? Colts win big, people, stop with this Arizona nonsense, come on. Get a grip.

Carolina (+9) at DALLAS: The day I give nine points with the Cowboys is the day I wear a Cowboys Jersey to Lincoln Financial Field. Not happening. Plus, Carolina is gonna win at least one game this year, why not here? Take the Panthers plus the nine.

COLLEGE SPECIAL:

Washington State (+45) at USC: Washington State is a bad team. They have lost 16 of their last 19. They haven’t beaten USC since 2002. They won’t beat them this week either, but 45 points is just a little ridiculous, don’t you think? Me too. Take the Cougars to lose by SIX TOUCHDOWNS and still cover. That’s just silly.

LAST WEEK: 8-8 NFL, including 1-0 STONE COLD LEAD PIPE LOCK(tm), 1-0 UPSET SPECIAL. College, 0-1.

OVERALL:

NFL 15-16-1.

STONE COLD LEAD PIPE LOCK(tm): 2-0

UPSET SPECIAL: 2-0

COLLEGE: 0-1