Flyers lose to Capitals in D.C.

False start: Flyers fall to Caps in Emery's return - Tim Panaccio, CSNPhilly.com
After first period, Flyers just a snack for Capitals - Frank Seravalli, Philly.com

I'm sure by D.C. blogging friend Will is happy about this one today. I did not watch the game so feel free to fill me in down below. I was watching football and doing grocery shopping instead. I am interested in the Mike Richards news that followed the game though.

Flyers' Richards critiques the media - Frank Seravalli, Philly.com
Air it out: Flyers' Richards still angry with the media - Tim Panaccio, CSNPhilly.com
Media takes another shot at Richards - Geoff Detweiller, Broad Street Hockey

It is not exactly something new to have a captain, or player, that does not get along with the media, but judging purely on what I have read, it doesn't seem right for Richards to be the captain of this Flyers team at this point in time. He seems to lack the maturity, and leadership, needed to take charge of this team. And honestly, relating with the media should be a priority when wearing the "C".

AP photo

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Sportscaster George Michael dies

George Michael
March 24, 1939 - December 24, 2009

One of the most famous and influential sportscasters in the industry passed away this morning. George Michael, out of Washington D.C. lost a battle with cancer at the age of 70. I may not know too much about Michael from a personal angle but I do feel a bit saddened by his loss. I stayed up late Sunday nights to watch Michael's nationally syndicated sports highlight show on NBC 10 in Philadelphia for a long time, even though it was on at 11:30 at night. Philadelphia sports fans may know that local sports radio host Howard Eskin had a featured segment on the George Michale Sports Machine in which he discussed various rumors in the sports world.

Little did I know how ground breaking Michael was in the sports media world. Michael was one of the first to use clips from around the nation in his sports show and he paved the way for shows like Sportscenter and Comcast SportsNite.

I imagine that I can relate to loyal D.C. sports fans who may have grown up with Michael in their lives through the television airwaves. Earlier this year we in the Philadelphia area said good-bye to beloved local sports anchor Gary Papa, who lost a battle with cancer. To those who mourn the loss of Michael I send my sincere apologies for your loss.

George Michael, famed D.C. sportscaster, dies - Adam Bernstein, Washington Post

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Name Your Philadelphia Sports Media

How many of these sports reporters, from yesterday's Pedro Martinez press conference with the Phillies, can you name?

Click here for a larger version.

Honestly I can only name two, and Pedro Martinez (in the red hat) does not count.

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Say What Now???

T.J. Simers, a lazy columnist for the Los Angeles Times, has been putting out some absolute filth focusing on Philadelphia fans during the NLCS. It's the same old junk that we have all heard before and as I said it is just lazy to rehash the same stories over and over and over again.

It is a long winded trend to criticize Philadelphia fans for their ill-advised behavior on a number of occasions. The booing of Santa Claus, batteries being thrown at players, cheering for injuries of opposing players, booing Donovan McNabb on draft day and any other flat out nonsense you want to pick. But T.J. Simers, in a cowardly act, somehow blamed Philadelphia fans for the unruly behavior of Dodgers fans in the NLCS games in Dodgers Stadium this past week.

From today's column in the LA Times [link];

SEVERAL DODGERS fans e-mailed complaining about the fan experience in the stadium for Game 4.

"I am not sure I will take my son to another Dodger game any time soon," wrote Ken Gowey. "It makes me absolutely ashamed to be a Dodger fan."

I was afraid of this, knowing some folks born in Philly have probably moved here and become Dodgers fans over the years.

The thing is, you just can't take the Angryville out of them, which obviously explains all the problems in Dodger Stadium.

Yes, "Angryville" is his clever moniker for Philadelphia. And yes he just completely dismissed the behavior of Dodgers fans and blamed it on Phillies fans or natives of Philadelphia who for whatever reason abandoned their team and switched allegiances to the boys in blue.

I have news for you Mr. Simers. Philadelphia is quite the opposite of "Angryville" today. Perhaps you would have known that if you were responsible to do some research, but I suppose it is easier to whip out the old file with a stock column about Philadelphia being unpleasant and obscene.

But in all seriousness, Simers has the gall to say that Philadelphians and their behavior "obviously explains all the problems in Dodger Stadium"? It has been well documented this week that Dodgers fans are not the angels that Simers seems to think they are.

Mr. Simers, I invite you to read any of the following posts;

• Bloodthirsty Dodgers fans - Evan Brown
• Fans are different in La la land - Delaware Online
• Dodging Abuse - No Joshin'
• Dodgers fans: The most classless fanbase in America - Somewhat Opinionated
• In the Belly of the Early Departing Beast - The 700 Level

Ready for the video evidence Mr. Simers? Observe...

Seems to me that the Dodgers fans are the only ones to blame for unruly behavior. Now as for the old tired Philly fan bashing by regional and national media...enough already.

Santa Claus? That happened in 1968. Once.

"And no event has been as exaggerated, misconstrued and inaccurately recalled."
The Great Philadelphia Fan Book, by Glen Macnow and Anthony Gargano

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Brady Quinn Endorses Sarah Palin; Fox News Rant

It has been far too long since I last talked about this guy.

Former Notre Dame pretty boy quarterback, and current back up to Derek Anderson on the Cleveland Browns, Brady Quinn formally endorsed the John McCain-Sarah Palin ticket for President of the United States.

I am almost positive that Charlie Weiss would also tell you that McCain-Palin were mentally tough and how they would take care of business and let their actions in the oval office speak for themselves. Ironic considering both men's history with Michigan...

If Notre Dame is behind McCain and Palin then you can write another reason on my list of reasons to NOT vote for them!

Speaking McCain-Palin, they sat down for an interview with Sean Hannity on the Hannity and Colmes show on Fox News. Lately in the morning I like to get my political fix by watching CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News. I like to get a view from all sides I suppose. Perhaps that is the inner media junkie speaking. What caught my ear was when Brian Kilmeade, after watching a clip from that interview sounded pleased that Fox News had the first interview with both McCain and Palin. He then said to Steve Doocy and Gretchen Carlson that this was the first interview with both sitting down. Doocy and Carlson agreed and seemed pleased and sent an open invitation to either candidate and their running mate to come in for their show sometime.

First time both sat down for an interview?

Excuse me Fox and Friends, did you forget about this?

You betcha!

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Why I don't like Fox News #2,924

At the gym this morning I watched Fox News while ESPN was on a commercial break. It was whatever show they have with Steve Forbes. Now, anyone who knows my news of choice knows I prefer ABC News and CNN and it's not even close. Simply put, Fox News sucks.

Want an example of why? Ok, then read on.

They were talking about the congressional hearing with Roger Clemens from earlier this week. Comments were made about how it was a waste of tax payer's dollars (agreed) and how no progress was made (agreed). Then the genius who is Steve Forbes makes the asinine comment on how if they wanted to get anything done then the commissioner (Bud Selig) and/or the player's union director (Donald Fehr) should have been there and questioned why they weren't there.

I kept working on the elliptical waiting for someone on the morning show panel to point out to Steve that both of those men had in fact been in front of the same committee not once, but twice. Not a single person commented on it.

If this is the kind of research Fox News puts into their programming and opinions, then I will continue to stick with CNN and ABC News for as long as I can foresee. I thought it was outrageous to let Forbes get away with that comment without any remarks from any of the four people by his side or via satellite.

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