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 There's a lot of consternation over two Week 10 calls. One didn't work; Bill Belichick's decision to go for it on fourth-and-2 from his own 28. One did; Maurice Jones-Drew's kneel down on the one-yard line down 23-22.
Here's the thing about both: the possibility that a decision might fail does not make it the wrong call. Belichick didn't suddenly become a bad coach when Kevin Faulk bobbled the ball; had Josh Scobee missed the chip shot field goal to beat the Jets, MJD's play would not have become stupid. ... Read More
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 So ... I got your rankings. And before you dig in, let me say this. The Cowboys are getting a bit screwed here. They are winning tough games, Tony Romo is playing within himself, and the defense is both making big plays and stopping big plays.
But Dallas still can't crack the top 6. Here's the thing to take heart in Dallas fans. Right now, the NFL has an eight-team elite tier, and you're part of it. After the top 8, there's such a chasm that I had to move the Eagles up a spot into the nine-hole, even though they just lost a game at home to "yous guys." ... Read More
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 So I’m standing on the Yankee Stadium field, watching Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada celebrate … and I feel like I’m going to throw up.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. The Phillies were supposed to beat down these overpaid prima donnas and show that city to the north that the town down the turnpike can play some ball.
And yet here we are. The Yankees are World Champions … again. For the 27th time. ... Read More
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 I’m in NYC covering the World Series (read: partying with Jay-Z). So the rankings will be short and sweet this week. I promise to make it up to you next week by bringing some extra funny. ... Read More
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 You knew the Phillies weren’t going to make it easy. Not on the Yankees … and not on the Phillies fans. That just hasn’t been their way. They work hard, they make their opponent fight for all 27 outs and they make their fans sweat through their drawers, even with the chill of autumn in the air.
Why should the World Series be any different? ... Read More
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 As a writer you look for irony in every situation. It’s second nature.
So when Pedro Feliz gave the Phillies new life with his game-tying eighth-inning home run, and a revitalized Brad Lidge came triumphantly marching onto the field with the score at 4-4, I knew exactly what was going to happen. ... Read More
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 Why all the long faces, Philly fans? Philadelphia beat New York Saturday night. It was a great battle; both teams fought hard. But in the end, the Sixers put up 141 points and took down the Knicks in OT.
Take that New York.
What? There was a World Series game, too? Cole Hamels was on the bump?
Uh oh … That can’t be good. ... Read More
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A Yankees fan, fellow Comcast.net Sports Editor Jordan Raanan, comes to my blog space and tries to debate his side of the World Series? He never had a chance. ... Read More
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 Let’s Go Home, Holmes
Depending on the type of Philly fan you are, you’re feeling one of two ways after A.J. Burnett shut down the Phillies in a must-win game for the Yankees. ... Read More
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 Cliff Lee is going to get a ton of praise today. And deservedly so. He now owns the lowest career postseason ERA (0.54) in the history of baseball (minimum 3 starts). Yea, you read that right. But I’ll get to Cliff.
I want to start this column with my favorite Louis Pasteur quote (just bear with me, it’s late):
“Chance favors the prepared.”
The quote is my favorite because (a) it’s the only Pasteur quote I know; but more importantly (b) it applies to every facet of life.
Including baseball. ... Read More
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Baseball’s biggest stage against the sport’s winningest franchise. Does it get any better than this? Phillies fans wanted New York. We begged for New York.
Not because we thought the Yankees would be an easy opponent. We’re not foolish. We know this Yankees team is a juggernaut. We know it won an MLB best 103 games. We know all about A-Rod and Jeter and CC and Mo.
And we wanted them anyway. Why? Is Philly masochistic? Do we enjoy pain?
Well, yes. But that’s not why we wanted New York either. ... Read More
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 The image to your left is a screengrab of Mark Sanchez, scarfing down a hot dog at the end of a 38-0 whipping of the Oakland Raiders. That's how bad the bottom third of the league is this year. If you find yourself playing any of the dreadful dozen, you can go ahead and schedule your lunch for the fourth quarter. The game will be over (unless you employ a starting MLB with the knee strength of Alan Arkin).
The buzz word in the NFL has gone from parity to putridity. Exciting, right? ... Read More
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 Now that was something. That was a new adventure for the City of Brotherly Love.
Sure, the Phillies did this last season. This team was here and beyond less than a year ago. But this one is different. This one is special.
It’s special because for the first time since the 1983 76ers, a Philadelphia crowd came to a postseason game knowing its team was going to win. ... Read More
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 Find my anyone -- anyone -- who foresaw an 0-6 Titans team at the start of the season and I'll pay him whatever I have in my wallet... which isn't much at the moment... considering I rode Tampa's +3 into a five-team parlay (for recreational purposes, of course) and watched the Bucs squander the game away.
Hey, you can't win 'em all, unless you're the Saints. How about that 48-27 drubbing in the Bayou? We all knew Drew Brees was money. But 369 yards and 4 TDs against the league's top-ranked defense? That's G.
Here are your Week 6 power rankings: ... Read More
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 Breathe Phillies fans. Remember to breathe.
Playoff baseball is exhausting, isn’t it?
But it sure is fun … especially when your team has a flare for the dramatic. ... Read More
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 It was set up to be a day of revelry in Philadelphia. The Eagles were in Oakland, where the Raiders head coach was more likely to be arrested than lead his team to victory. And the Phils had Cliff Lee on the mound, set to wield his 1.10 playoff ERA at the Dodgers and halt the Phillies losing streak at one.
It was going to be a banner day.
But then the unthinkable happened. ... Read More
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 You can’t say you didn’t expect this. You can’t say the Phillies didn’t warn you all season … this is exactly who they are.
The eighth and ninth innings are going to be a roller coaster every time. Every time.
You had to know the postseason wasn’t going to be any different. ... Read More
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 The NFL used to pride itself on parity. The fact that any given team could beat any other on any given Sunday gave the league it's week-to-week appeal. Which would be great, if it still existed.
There has never been a wider gap between the haves and the have-nots. Look no further than Antonio Pierce's "scrimmage" rant about the Oakland Raiders for proof. The problem isn't talent. These have-nots have enough players to compete. The problem is mismanagement. The bottom 10 teams are so poorly coached, and have such a ridiculously poor attitude, that none of them may win again ... ever ... even if they play each other. ... Read More
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What a difference a year makes.
Last year, when the Phils took a lead into the seventh inning, the game was over.
Over.
This year … not so much. ... Read More
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 Do not go gentle into that goodnight.
Rage. Rage! Against the dying of the light.
– Thornton Melon ... Read More
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 If Rush Limbaugh ends up an NFL owner, count the Giants' Mathias Kiwanuka, the Eagles' Donovan McNabb and the Jets' Bart Scott among the players who would not play for him. ... Read More
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 OK, we have one day of playoff baseball behind us. What have we learned, class? Anyone? Anyone?
Forget the Laffer Curve, the main lesson is one we should have known before these playoffs began:
Momentum is nice … but momentum doesn’t mean jack when you’re opponent has an ace. ... Read More
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 Four weeks into the NFL season and three things are clear: 1) Jessica Simpson was never the problem in Big D; 2) Peyton Manning is still one of the best QBs to play the game; and 3) the ’09 Redskins may be the worst 2-2 team ever.
And how about Steve Smith? No, not that Steve Smith. "The Other" Steve Smith. The Steve Smith the Chiefs' secondary couldn't find with a refractive telescope last week in K.C.
Here are your Week 4 Power Rankings: ... Read More
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 It seems the Jets have finally landed that No. 1 receiver they've been coveting since missing out on one in the 2009 draft.
According to ESPN's Adam Shefter, the Jets have traded for Braylon Edwards. The terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed. ... Read More
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 When he tryin' to get a trophy for his chest...
Anyone who has watched any of the 2009 Phillies understands exactly how hard it is for a champ. The season has been a textbook example of why it's nearly impossible to repeat. ... Read More
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 Charlie Manuel is known as a loyal guy. But he's going to the mercenary for Game 1 of the Phillies-Rockies NLDS. ... Read More
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 As if the Raiders' 1-3 start wasn't bad enough, it now is looking more and more likely that Oakland's head coach is on the verge of being arrested. ... Read More
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 Who's NFL is this? New York has two undefeated teams, the Lions actually win a game and the Super Bowl champions lose to Cincinnati ... At least Peyton Manning is still great. What do you think those two (on the right) are talking about? My guess: How good Elin looks in a bikini.
Here are your Week 3 Power Rankings: ... Read More
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