Bleacher Report - Articles by Anthony Williamson

Being a Philly Sports Fan Keeps Getting Harder and Harder

Anthony Williamson — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:10:46 -0400

Kermit was right; it ain't easy being Green. It also ain't too easy being Orange. Or red. Or whatever color the Sixers are wearing this year. For those that didn't grow up Philadelphia this may be hard to understand, so bear with me. You see I made a horrible mistake once when I was an impressionable lad of six years old. My father took me to Modells and said I could pick out any baseball cap I wanted. Excited I grabbed a dark blue baseball cap with a large "A" embroidered on the front. His reaction... was priceless. "The Braves??? The Atlanta Braves?? What is your mother teaching you???" Mind you I didn't know it was a Braves cap. Blue was my favorite color at the time and it was pure ego that made me want a cap with the initial of my first name on the front. But needless to say the lesson was learned: P-H-I til I die. Nowadays though, being a Philly sports fan ain't a ride through Fairmont Park in fact it's hard work. And even the most staunch supporter can on occassion find it difficult...

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To The Angry Philadelphia Eagles Fans a Few Things To Consider

Anthony Williamson — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:46:16 -0400

Dear outraged fan,

As an animal lover, I understand your anguish over the signing of Michael Vick. It is often difficult when we are confronted with someone who engaged in acts we find appalling and disgusting.

Growing up in North Philly, I've seen my share of evil things and it can be easy to say; that's just the way it is.

Man's inhumanity to man, to children and to animals is not something I ever want to become desensitized to so I do my best to pursue peace whenever possible and whenever impossible.

I also prefer to be well-informed before I make any type of decision regarding an individual and because of that I offer the following to you:

First, there is no evidence that Michael Vick himself did anything to those dogs himself. There is also no evidence he ever placed a bet on any dog fights, nor derived any pleasure from it.

It seems popular to say that Michael Vick is a sadist who loved torturing and killing dogs, yet if you read the court reports on his case you'll see that all he did was buy a house.

A house for truly sadistic individuals he thought were his friends and he gave them some of his money to live off of.

Yes they used that money to operate a dog-fighting ring and they killed those dogs whenever they didn't need them anymore. When his "friends" tried to pin those injustices all on him in the beginning, he confessed his knowledge of the dog-fighting and it was his testimony that put them behind bars and they're still in a jail cell as we speak.

So yes he does bear the weight of what they did with his money, although he didn't share in their activities. We can speculate all we want as to whether he did, but that's all it would be is speculation.

For simply knowing about the dog-fighting and not reporting it Vick was sentenced to two years in prison and served 20 months, plus another three on house arrest, the longest sentence ever served by anyone convicted of that crime.

He didn't seek an appeal or try to tie the case up red tape and minutia as so many other celebrities do. Nor did he claim innocence to the charges he was faced with, in some people's eyes that may mean nothing, but the facts are the facts.

Secondarily Humane Society of the United States president Wayne Pacelle met with Vick in federal prison in the spring about how the quarterback could help.

"He has an opportunity to make some amends for his past behavior," Pacelle said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. "We think he should seize it with gusto. I don't think the public is going to be pleased if he just gets back into football and puts aside the anti-dog fighting activities."

That someone privy to more inhumane animal treatment than any of us would want to be would speak about Vick could make amends for his behavior is substantial.

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals president Ed Sayres praised Commissioner Roger Goodell's ruling.

"While his decision to reinstate Mr. Vick undoubtedly will be met with cheers by some and derision by others, it is clear that the commissioner has been particularly thoughtful and has weighed every factor in his deliberations," Sayres said in a statement. "The ASPCA can only offer him our gratitude for the gravity to which he has lent the issue of animal cruelty.

"Opportunities for redemption are rare—but that is exactly the opportunity that awaits Mr. Vick. We hope that he rises to the occasion and proves worthy of the rare second chance commissioner Goodell has granted him."

This is exactly what Vick has in front of him: an opportunity for redemption. Some may think it unfair that he gets to make millions (actually after taxes, fees and money he still owes it's closer to thousands) while in pursuit of this redemption, but that's a separate issue isn't it?

Football is all Vick knows how to do well, and even that is debatable. Convicted felons are allowed to pursue employment after serving their time and no one but the perspective employer can say what job their allowed to have. In fact before his signing with the Eagles, many of those professing outrage were among those in agreement with Goodell's ruling.

That could seem hypocritical to some, but all of us are subject to that flaw.

The decision to sign Vick was not made lightly by those involved, and Jeffery Lurie was exceptionally candid in what drove his decision.

"The question became somewhat, for me, 'Could this man I don't know, Michael Vick, become an agent for change?' Could one be counterintuitive here on my part, take away the hatred for this kind of behavior, and say, 'Going forward, can this human being, Michael Vick, like some that deserve a second chance, could he become a positive force in our community, Philadelphia, nationally?' Could that be, or is this just a method to reinvigorate a career and not really have both the remorse and the commitment?"

These are the questions that Lurie asked himself and as the signing indicates the answer to them was satisfactory for him, although the decision itself still pained him.

To close, I'm not asking you to hide your pain, or to change your opinion.

I'm not asking you to give Michael Vick your forgiveness, because frankly it isn't to you he owes an accounting and you are not the one to provide forgiveness for his actions.

I ask simply that you exercise patience.

For those assuming to know the heart of a man they've likely never met by stating that Vick is not sorry for what he did and is only remorseful about losing money I ask patience.

Under the scrutiny of the media, any false contrition on his part will come to light in due time if that is the case. Truly reformed individuals maintain good behavior well after release, so if Michael Vick is truly seeking to repent he should be allowed time to do so.

For those that believe the Eagles organization is condoning his actions (which took place in the past and which he has been penalized for) by signing him... well honestly that's just dumb. The Eagles have been more active in the community of Philadelphia in the last decade than any of the other three major sports franchises have been in the past century. And always in a positive way.

Understand I am actually not a fan of Vick the player, which has nothing to do with the crimes he's committed. I thought he was lazy well before he admitted as such to James Brown and I have issue with wasted talent. I am however a huge fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, have been since the tender age of 5 and will continue to be as long as there is a franchise in the city I grew up in.

I am also a believer in the possibility of atonement, because it means that I too have an opportunity to right the wrongs I myself have committed if I sincerely wish to.

And who are any of us to deny anyone that opportunity regardless of how we personally feel?

Sincerely,

Just a fan

Moving Forward: How Will the Eagles Use Michael Vick? (Humor)

Anthony Williamson — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:42:40 -0400

Now that I've gotten my disappointment out of my system regarding the reaction, I can focus on the future.

Just how will the Philadelphia Eagles use Michael Vick once he's able to return in Week 7?

I'm reminded of when the Coyote FINALLY caught the Roadrunner, only the bird was now a few stories tall. The Coyote turns to us, the viewer, and asks, "You always wanted me to catch him, now what?" Philly fans always wanted this team to have more weapons so...now what?

The two words I keep hearing tossed around are "slash" (a la Kordell Stewart) and "wildcat." But that hardly lets the fan know how Vick is going to be a playmaker for this offense.

Since Madden is out today, I have a few plays I'll be adding to my playbook and I won't be putting Vick's speed up to 99 like the '04 version.

Play No. 1

Deceptively Vick

The Eagles LOVE screen passes and I love the way they execute them, most of the time, so here's an opportunity for Vick to shine. Vick and DeSean Jackson are spread out as receivers on the right side of the formation. DeSean Jackson then goes in motion to the left past Westbrook, who in the backfield split left.

The defense reacts to the two explosive players on the their right and shift the coverage figuring Vick is a decoy. At the snap, the ball is pitched to Vick, who is behind Stacy Andrews and Nick Cole, and he proceeds downfield.

Play No. 2

Vintage Vick

Brian Westbrook has a career 158.3 QB rating. Yes, I know he threw one pass way back in 2002 for a 25-yard touchdown to a player I don't even remember (was it Pinkston?) but if he can do it, why not Vick?

Vick lines up behind beastly Leonard Weaver in the I-formation with Donovan faking the hand off to Weaver and pitching the ball to Vick the opposite way.

This sucks up the safety, which allows Vick to do what he does well, which is throw the deep fly. Whether it's Jackson or Curtis who settles under the pass, it should go for 30+ yards easily.

Most secondaries are too disciplined to fall for this play, so it's best used against a team with weak/overly-aggressive cornerbacks.

The Redskins would be a perfect team to execute this play against.

Play No. 3

WildVick

The direct snap play works best here. You have Vick lined up as a halfback on the strong side.

The center snaps the ball directly to Vick, who then can run, throw the ball himself or throw to Donovan, who can launch it downfield. This may take time to develop, so I'd save it for when the Eagles play a team with really slow linebackers, like the Giants.

Play No. 4

Mag-vick

You put in your "fast" package of three wide receivers: Maclin, Jackson, and Curtis. Then you put Westbrook in the backfield and Vick as the tight end.

It starts as a fake draw to Westbrook, followed by the pitch to Jackson, who then fakes the pitch to Maclin. Maclin gives it Vick, who uses the blocking from teammates to head upfield.

This is not likely to gain much yardage unless Vick makes a few people miss, something that he was once very good at. If he can get a solid block or two, the rest will be seen on SportsCenter.

This is a high risk-high reward play, so I'd save it for when the Eagles play a more mentally handicapped team, like the Cowboys.

Play No. 5

Hines Vick

College quarterbacks who become receivers normally have some key advantages. They read coverage better, have strong hands and are normally deceptively elusive.

Considering all those things, it's easy to picture Vick running routes. Physically, he's stronger than most corners in the league and we know about his speed.

These are a couple ideas I had but I'm sure the Eagles have even more.

Any offensive coordinator would be salivating at the thought of using a guy like Vick. Especially if he's as willing as reports indicate to be a team guy and do whatever is asked of him.

One thing is for sure; I wouldn't want to have to come up with a defensive game plan for the Eagles this year.

*Note to Cowboys, Redskins and Giants fans if you can't take a little joke don't bother commenting!*

Michael Vick Signs with the Eagles and I'm Disappointed...in the Fans and Media

Anthony Williamson — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:11:59 -0400

The Philadelphia Eagles played a preseason game against the New England Patriots last night, so the post game topic should have been about their performance on the field, right?

Wrong.

During the post game, all Ray Didinger, a reporter whose work I enjoy, could focus on, was his disbelief over the signing of one Michael Dwayne Vick. For Didinger, the move made no sense in his eyes and he went on as if his opinion was the only one that mattered.

He went on to rattle off Vick's lackluster numbers: 53.8 Completion percentage, 75.7 percent quarterback rating, etc...

Well at least he kept the conversation to football, which at the end of the day is what should matter most. What bothered me is that Didinger had nothing positive to say about the man who was once the most feared athlete in football.

Nothing about his cannon of an arm or about the running ability second only to Barry Sanders. Nothing about the athleticism that any coach would try to take advantage of.

Nope. Just, "Vick is not a good fit for the West Coast Offense."

Well knock me out with a feather, seriously?

I didn't know that!

Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting his claim from when the Atlanta Falcons tried to run a similar version and all the game film showing Vick's inaccuracy, I had no idea!

Say it with me now: Duh!

I'll give Didinger a pass since he was ill-prepared to address this situation properly.

Then came the fan reaction and I have to tell you, I was a little shocked.

This is the same town that gave Brett Myers a second chance after publicly beating his wife. Sure it was only the first time...he got caught, but there was hardly a murmur of public discontent when he returned from counseling.

Here, Michael Vick had his life and livelihood completely destroyed in a very public manner. He received death threats, lost millions of dollars, served time in jail, and was put on house arrest thereafter.

And the popular opinion was that Vick served his time and thus deserved another chance.

I guess that meant only if he played for someone else's team.

The reaction varied, but the majority of it seemed angry.

Not upset, or surprised, flat out angry.

Fans uttered statements like; "I'm no longer an Eagles fan!" or "I'm selling my tickets!" even "What kind of message does this send my kids?"

Well I imagine it let's them know that if you do something horrible, but pay the penalty for that act, you have an opportunity for a second chance. Isn't that what all of us are taught by our parents? That if we do something bad we should own up to it and yes, we'll be punished, but once that's over we'll be forgiven? Isn't that one of the themes, to drag greater wisdom into sports, of the Bible itself?

I was frustrated last night, but I felt confident that given time to sleep on it, the public would come around.

Wrong!

This morning the talk is centered on two stories, the overall disgust by the Philadelphia fans and the media speculating the end of the Donovan McNabb era (after this upcoming season).

The latter was postulated by Sal Paolantonio, another reporter, who until this signing, I enjoyed on Mike and Mike the popular ESPN radio show.

Here, he concluded that this move, more than the drafting of Kevin Kolb meant McNabb would be done in Philly after two years. I'm not sure how he could have drawn such a conclusion given what we know about Andy Reid and what we know about the West Coast offense, but apparently the one-year deal Vick received (with the second being a team option) is tantamount to a changing of the guard in his eyes.

Again, no talk about how defenses will be pulling their hair out trying to account for Brian Westbrook, Desean Jackson, LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin, Donovan McNabb, and Michael Vick.

Nope.

He chose to focus on the fact that there is only one football.

Again: Duh!

He made this statement to illustrate how someone will be the odd man out and that man will likely be McNabb. Wow.

Never have I seen the signing of one player cause such unadulterated stupidity. This is truly unprecedented.

The fans of course are blowing up the phone lines at WIP and as any real fan knows this is not the most intelligent collection of Eagles Nation.

These tend to be the guys on their third "Irish coffee" by 8:00 AM, so you can imagine the commentary.

As an Eagles fan since the tender age of five, I've seen a lot in my time.

From bounty bowls to Kotite blows.

From making Lomas Brown frown to 10 yards to go on fourth down and everything in between.

I can truthfully say I've never seen anything like this.

Vick is not O.J. Simpson; he wasn't on trial for murder.

He's not even Donte Stallworth, who recklessly caused the death of someone, paid the family off, and didn't serve any time in jail.

The Humane Society has assured the Eagles organization that they have been working with Vick and that they are pleased with his commitment to right his wrong.

The Mayor has assured the Eagles that while he doesn't agree with Vick's actions, (and honestly who does?) he has no issue with the signing.

Two of the most respected men in Philadelphia sports; Reid and McNabb have expressed that Vick has paid his debt in society and this is a fresh start.

So why the outrage?

I honestly don't know.

I just know that we're taught from an early age that we are imperfect. We will make mistakes, we will offend and hurt people we love, intentionally, as well as unintentionally.

We're also taught that the measure of any man, woman, or child is what we do next.

What we do after we've made that mistake.

How many of those crying out in righteous indignation have atoned for all of their mistakes in life?

The silence says it all.

Sky Falling for Philadelphia Eagles? Perhaps Not, But There Is Cause For Concern

Anthony Williamson — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:34:30 -0400

When the smoke cleared after the 2009 NFL Draft, no fans were more optimistic than the Philadelphia Eagles fan base.

The loss of Brian Dawkins still stung, but the flurry of moves made by the Banner Crew had Philadelphia buzzing. All signs indicating sunny skies in the forecast for the fellas in Midnight Green.

Then the rain began to fall.

First came the news that Brian Westbrook, the most irreplaceable player on the Eagles not wearing the No. 5, would miss time after having a "clean-up" procedure done on his ankle. This meant a heavier load would be placed on the rookie LeSean McCoy and the questions began.

Will this hurt or help McCoy's progression?

Should the Eagles bring in a veteran back? Someone like Warrick Dunn?

During the OTA's it seemed the answer to this question was clear, as McCoy proceeded to impress all in attendance. In fact, nearly everyone looked good; rookies were well ahead of the curve, injured vets were progressing steadily.

Of course there was no hitting and football players always look fast in shorts, but the ingredients were there to improve on last seasons' impressive post-season run.

Then we saw Jason Peters and Shawn Andrews get injured during the conditioning run on the first day of camp. Considering the importance of the positions they play, this sent up another red flag. Bad enough McNabb's most explosive offensive weapon was out, but now the bookends for (on paper) the Eagles most talented offensive line were banged up too. All before any hitting actually took place.

Shawn Andrews went out with back issues (unrelated to his previous injury) which kept him off the field all last year.

Adding insult to injury, is the fact that this camp was supposed to provide Andrews the opportunity to fill the void left by Jon Runyan's absence. Anyone that thinks that Andrews would simply slide one spot over and have no problem is sorely mistaken. Reps are needed, especially in Andy Reid's offense, to be successful.

The NFL Suffers a Huge Loss As Jim Johnson Succumbs To Cancer

Anthony Williamson — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:24:47 -0400

When the story broke last night I was gearing up to watch the Phils play the D-Backs; football was the furthest thing from my mind.

Jim Johnson was even further.

Not because I didn't care about his battle, or about his family. No, it was because I just assumed he'd pull through.

You see as an Eagles fan I, like many, have had the privilege of learning a great deal about the 68-year-old defensive coordinator the last 10 years. The foremost of which being that the strength of Jim Johnson has always been the strength of his defensive scheme; perseverance. So my belief that Jim would overcome this latest challenge was due to his already established record.

When he came to Philadelphia, his impact was immediate. If you weren't going to hustle every play, if you weren't going to give everything you had every play, you weren't going to be here very long.

And simply being a high draft pick or a coveted free agent didn't mean you got a pass on this, as many can attest. Because he'd just take some late round pick or undrafted player, put them in your place and have them be in Pro Bowl discussions until you got your act together.

In fact, guys like Quintin Mikell, Joselio Hanson, Derrick Burgess owe their entire careers to him. As talented as Brian Dawkins is, there's no doubt in my mind he'd be less of a household name if he played for any other coach these last ten years. Dawkins would attest to this by saying:

"He was an absolute blessing to me with the way he used me on the football field and allowed me to show my God-given ability. His confidence in me meant so much —he looked to create new defenses each week to utilize my talents"

Each week.

Johnson would develop entirely new schemes and packages to install for Dawkins to reek havoc in.

How many quarterbacks in this league have been quoted as saying; "I didn't know where they were coming from..."?

How many times have we as fans watching the game seen an Eagle player make a tackle and have to wait for the third replay to finally figure out where he came from?

The tendency in life, unfortunately is to take for granted what you have until it's gone.

Every off season the topic around the Eagles is what, if any, offensive players the front office is bringing in. When Asante Samuel got here a year ago the response was somewhat lackluster and when T.O. first came everyone was excited.

That's largely because week after week the one thing Eagles faithful could count on was Jim Johnson was going to have the defense ready to play. We expected them to make big plays, get sacks, fumbles, and interceptions. The only time we noticed is when they didn't.

Johnson never had the talent on D like a Buddy Ryan had. He was constantly changing out a starter or two each year due to injury or free agency which makes his resume even more impressive.

During his 10 years his defenses have forced the third most turnovers during that span and are in the top five in points allowed. When Johnson came here in 1999 he said:

"We're going to be a defense that gives up the fewest points and causes the most turnovers."

In a world where a man's word has increasingly little value, Johnson stood by his and delivered every week, every season.

And yet we really didn't know enough about Jim Johnson the man off the field.

How much he loved spending time with his grandchildren, how much he loved his wife. How little the gruff man on the sidelines who could cower grown men with glare resembled the man his family knew. When he was asked about his wife's statement that he's a softy at home he, without an ounce of shame or hesitation confirmed it.

His defense could have shut out the Patriots in a Superbowl win and it still would not be as endearing to me as that simple admission. Close, but not the same.

His loss will be especially felt when the Eagles do finally win a Superbowl ring. Because no one is more deserving, or been more crucial to the Eagles success and he won't be here to enjoy it.

Even though Andy Reid gets a lion share of the acclaim for the Eagles success, the best thing he did for this team was hiring Jim Johnson.

Reid first met Johnson when Reid was a young assistant with the Green Bay Packers and Johnson was the defensive coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts.

Johnson got Reid's attention when his winless Colts pulled a stunning upset of the Packers in 1997. The win impressed Reid so much, two years later when he was asked about potential defensive coordinator candidates the first and only name Reid gave was Johnson's.

Johnson is the reason John Harbaugh and Steve Spagnuolo are head coaches and why Ron Rivera could have been a head coach but decided to be one of the highest paid defensive coordinators today.

Johnson is also the reason why for the first time in a decade there are questions about the Eagle defense. Questions that will remain unanswered well past opening day.

My prayers and thoughts go out to his wife, his two children, and four grandchildren as they cope with the void he leaves behind.

Leave it to Dawkins to sum it up best:

"Jim was tailor-made to coach in Philadelphia. He was a tough coach who wasn't afraid to let you know how he was feeling, but at the same time, he cared about us deeply."

He will truly be missed.

Building a Superbowl Champion using the NFC East: Offense Edition

Anthony Williamson — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:56:39 -0400

The NFL is full of stories of teams, players and coaches overcoming adversity to achieve the ultimate goal; a Super Bowl ring. Some stories have become slightly nauseating, like Kurt Warner going from bagging groceries to taking an incredibly talented Rams team to the confetti showers. Others have stood the test of time like the Joe Montana drive, complete with John Candy sighting. The Antithesis of this stories are the heartbreaking variety; Scott Norwood's wide right, Kevin Dyson's stretch that came up a yard shy... They speak of a team poised on the precipace of greatness, only to be pushed out of the way to make room for someone else. None of that would happen if I could pillage the toughest division in football, NFC Beast, for my offense, defense and special teams. Taking who I think are the best players from the Cowboys, Eagles, Giants and Redskins here is my offense...

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Unfortunately, Kobe Bryant Will Never Be Embraced Like Jordan Was

Anthony Williamson — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:33:31 -0400

Let me begin by saying that no one should shed a tear for Kobe Bean Bryant.

He is a world famous athlete, with championship rings, million-dollar endorsement deals, a beautiful wife and two wonderful little girls. Hard to feel sorry for the guy.

Still, never have we had a player that's had to face as much criticism as he has. Whether fair or unfair, since coming into the league, he's been under the microscope.

Kobe didn't come into the NBA saying he was going to be the next Michael Jordan. In fact Kobe didn't come into the league saying much except how happy he was to be here. Yet from the time he first came off the bench for Eddie Jones, he's been constantly compared to the only man in Chicago more famous than Walter Payton.

When the Lakers first traded Shaq, the heat on Kobe intensified and everyone looked to Bryant to lead the Lakers to a championship, sans the Big Aristotle. The rumor was Kobe forced Shaq out, because he wanted to be the man and the 7'2" part-time rapper was in his way.

Thus the murmuring began.

When success didn't come and all of a sudden the word became that Kobe couldn't win without Shaq and now his "legacy" (ugh...) was in question. After all, Shaq won again without Kobe, all Shaq had in Miami was some guy they called D-Wade.

No one held it against MJ that he couldn't win without Pippen, or that in Orlando Shaq couldn't win without Bryant. In fact, Shaq's teammates in Orlando, Neal Anderson and Penny Hardaway, both scored more points than Kobe did during his first Lakers title run, and the Rockets still swept the Magic.

No, we don't remember that, because we like Shaq. We like him in spite of (or perhaps because of) his horrible movie, video game, and rap career. We like him when he throws players and coaches under the bus, because you see, Shaq is "keeping it real".

When Kobe says anything negative about a player or a coach, he's just being an arrogant prick.

As usual.

We call Kobe to task when he is belligerent to teammates instead of being encouraging, but we simply shrug when numerous players that played with Jordan say they hated playing with him. That he was a bully in practices and intensely driven and critical during games.

That's just MJ's desire to win.

When Kobe does it, it's a manifestation of his huge ego, which will not allow him to look bad.

If the 24-hour media drip every sports fan has plugged into his veins existed in the time of Jordan, would he still be as revered?

Probably.

I mean, Jordan was obviously much more discreet in cheating on his wife than Kobe was, and his gambling issues were for the most part ignored. Which gave us the unique opportunity not found in today's game:

We were able to judge Michael solely on his play on the court.

When we think about Jordan we think about the shot over Craig Ehlo.

The shrug as he torches the Portland Trailblazers.

The tears of winning a championship after the painful loss of his father.

The gentle push he gave Bryon Russell as he drained the game-winner to collect his sixth ring.

And even on the rare occasion when we think of Jordan off the court, we think of the movie Space Jam.

Michael Jackson teaching him how to Moonwalk.

Or more recently, his indifference towards Charlie Sheen in those Haines commercials.

We love Michael Jordan, because we've really been given no other alternative.

With Kobe, we've been given plenty.

If you don't hate his cocky attitude (which all the great NBA players had and have) then you can choose from any of the following:

His Colorado infidelities.

His getting Shaq booted out of LA.

His demanding a trade not long after.

His assertions that Andrew Bynum needed to be traded for Jason Kidd.

The apparent perception that none of his teammates like him or like playing with him.

That he is a bad or ineffective leader.

My favorite probably had nothing to do with him, but those ridiculous puppets made me want to put a foot through my television set...

There are probably more that people list as their personal favorite reasons of hate, but the bottom line is, nothing he's done hasn't been done before.

And it's been done by the greats.

People forget Barkley's penchant for bar fights, or his calling players soft on the court. Getting into it with opposing players and teammates.

Nobody thinks about Magic's constant cheating on Cookie.

We've forgotten Larry Bird's hard-nosed (some called it dirty) play or his foul language on the court. He was known to get in his teammates face during games, and I doubt he was yelling "You still bringing the kids over to my house this weekend?"

None of it mattered when they played, and few even think of it now.

So why so much animosity thrown Kobe Bryant's way for his mistakes? Why are his missteps seen in a darker, harsher light?

Maybe because Jordan didn't have to carry the torch of players before him, because he was unique unto himself. Jordan had no one to live up to.

Maybe because it was a more forgiving time then. With steroids tainting baseball, referees fixing NBA games and illegal video tapes in football, it could be the American sports fan demands more from its elite players.

The standards of acceptable behavior have changed.

Then again, no one batted an eye when LeBron James cursed at his mother court side.

You can't feel sorry for Kobe Bryant the man, but the player just can't seem to do enough.

On the night that he finally does what the media and critical fans have said he has to do in order to be considered "great" some were still moved to say:

Well, he still needed a seven-footer to win a championship—it just happened to be Pau Gasol instead of O'neal.

His MVP stat line of 32 points seven assists and five rebounds weren't good, enough I guess.

Make no mistake, Kobe is not Michael Jordan.

He may well be by the end of his career, but that's not something any of us can say with any certainty.

What we can say for sure is for a player who has accomplished as much as he has he deserves a little more respect than being called overrated

Creating the Perfect NBA Player

Anthony Williamson — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:13:52 -0400

After watching Kobe's performance in Game One of the NBA Finals, a Jay-Z song went through my head: "If you haven't heard, I'm Michael, Magic and Bird all rolled into one, cause none got more flows than young." They're the measuring stick of greatness, each brought something unique to the game of basketball and if you could meld their skills into one person... whew! Thinking about those players abilities combined into one super player made me think of the "create-a-player" option of video games. It's the only way you could ever see a player that skilled. Not because you can set every attribute to 99 (which is not only cheating but lame as well) but because you create a balanced player with no dicernable flaws. So I thought I'd give it a try here using past and present NBA players.

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Dear LeBron James: Thanks For Finally Ending the Debate

Anthony Williamson — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:34:35 -0400

Going into this year's playoffs, there was one thing that was constantly talked about—almost regardless of what teams were actually playing:

Who's better: You or Kobe?

Your regular season numbers were off the charts:

28.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, and 7.2 apg

Then, you increased your scoring for the postseason to 35 points and grabbed two more rebounds a game. Not only that, but you cut your turnovers in half for the first two rounds, too.

Still, some said Kobe out-did you, because he was doing it against "better" competition.

Like it's your fault you had to play hopeless Detroit and that immature AND 1—I mean Atlanta Hawks team—while Kobe did battle with the Jazz and the Rockets. Everyone knows that most of the Eastern Conference wouldn't be an eighth seed in the West.

But when the Orlando Magic overcame the depleted Celtics, I said, "Finally a real challenge for LeBron. A chance to show off your greatness."

You did not disappoint.

In Game One, dropping in 49 points on a very efficient 20-30 from the floor along with six boards and eight assists. I mean, yeah the Cavs lost, but that loss can't be put at your feet. No sir! Your teammates combined to only hit three more shots from the floor than you did by yourself!

The next game you cashed in 35 points and again your teammates failed you, but this time you were able to hit an incredible three-point shot. No, it was not better than Jordan over Craig Ehlo, don't be silly. But it was still a great shot.

When Game Three in Orlando came around, it was clear that your teammates were determined to head home for the summer. How else can you explain them making you take 28 shots that game? You did manage to collect nine assists, but it was clear from the opening tip that your teammates were scared of the Magic, which is why you go into Game Four down two-games-to-one.

Another game, but the same story. Not only are you forced to jack up 29 shots, but you commit eight turnovers as well—all because the other Cavs players simply refuse to be where they're supposed to be! Now you're down 3-1.

Which leads you to desperation in Game Five, and I guess the only way the Cavs can win is if you get a triple-double every night. At least Mo finally learned how to knock down an open shot. The series is now 3-2 and I start thinking maybe this is the turning point...

Or maybe not.

You're obviously exhausted from carrying this team for so many games. That's the only reason for going 8-20 in a game like this. It also explains the fact that—despite being known as an excellent sportsman—you neglected to shake the opposing team's hands at the end of the game. You were just tired and wanting some rest. I understand completely.

Despite the fact you won't be in the Finals, I think you've proven without a doubt that the whole "you vs. Kobe" thing is a stupid debate.

Because you're still an obvious second.

You deserved your MVP award this year, no one would guarantee the Cavs a playoff spot without you on the roster, but being the most valuable doesn't make you the best player.

The most exciting? That I think you've got.

But the Orlando series was an illustration of the gap between you and Kobe.

Maturity.

You led, but did anybody follow?

Say what you want about Kobe, he gets guys to believe. So did Jordan—another guy considered the best at his time. Don't get me wrong, Kobe isn't Jordan anymore than you are Magic. Nor are either of you better than those that have come before, each era is time unto itself. But Kobe is the better product now.

He understands the game better.

You score more points, but the points he scores are more important because of when he does. When a team is trying to pick itself off the mat, Kobe is ready to deliver the uppercut that says emphatically: "Stay down!"

You have more assists, but his assists not only get teammates points, but it gets them looking for their own shot. He is perfectly content to let the game become the Trevor Ariza show—or Pau Gasol tonight. He knows when to be a play-maker and when to let other guys make plays.

You still try to dominate the basketball, of course it doesn't help that some coaches and others think that's what you should do.

I could go on but the Conference Finals made things abundantly clear. So much so that we don't need to see a Kobe/LeBron NBA finals to know who's better, no matter how much Stern and his boys wanted it.

And for that I thank you.

Now hopefully we can resume the debate in 2013.

The Top Eight NFC Teams Capable of Making the Trip to Super Bowl XLIV

Anthony Williamson — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:46:59 -0400

If you're a fan of football, this is the WORST time of the year for you. The Draft is over, training camp is months away and the NBA and NHL playoffs are getting all the pub. So to satisfy my football jones I put together a list of the 8 teams I think could represent the NFC in the 2010 Superbowl. Coming up AFC top 8! Enjoy!

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Sports Misconceptions: "Clutch" Football Players

Anthony Williamson — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:48:38 -0400

It was my junior year in High School when I learned the true definition of the word.

May 7, 1995.

I know I'm dating myself, but I'm trying to make a point.

In Game One of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinal series, the Pacers trailed the Knicks by six points with 18.7 seconds to play. Not being a fan of either team I watched impartially as Miller hit a three-pointer with 16 seconds left.

So what? That's what Reggie does; he hits three pointers there's still not enough time left to-

"... And a steal! Miller retreats to the three point line... and hits again! Reggie Miller has tied the game with 13 seconds remaining!"

After Knicks guard John Starks missed two foul shots, Miller grabbed a Patrick Ewing miss, was fouled and calmly sank his two free throws (not surprising, as Miller shot .888 from the line for his career).

Miller scored eight points in 11 seconds to end the game, shocking Spike Lee and the rest of Knicks fandom.

Basketball is full of stories like this, where individuals step into the moment and make clutch plays. So is baseball, with its bottom of the ninth heroics and its "Struck 'em out! The Phillies are World Champions of Baseball!"

Sorry, I love that call...

Anyway, the prevailing theme in each of those moments is that it's an individual effort.

Reggie Miller hit that three-point shot.

Miller pushed Greg Anthony to the floor.

Miller stole the ball.

Miller dribbled behind the three point line and Miller drained another shot.

In my opinion a player can truly be called clutch when: "A player individually leads his team to victory in extreme circumstances."

So: The Miller situation qualifies; "The Catch" does not.

Joe Montana led the game winning drive, yes. He made some amazing throws, yes but is it fair to call him clutch when he didn't do it on his own?

His offensive line has to block, or the game is over.

The coaches have to read the defense to call the correct plays or the game is over.

The wide receivers have to run the right route and catch the ball or the game is over.

Even if Montana had run 89 yards (the 49ers started that drive on their own 11) for the touchdown, there still would have been another player involved in that play. A key block down field for instance.

I say this not to take anything away from Montana, who was arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks ever, but instead to show that in the sport of football a quarterback simply cannot be "clutch". Contrary to the opinion of another writer.

If on a game winning drive a quarterback gets sacked? Is it:

A) He held the ball too long?

B) The line failed to protect him?

C) The receiver didn't recognize the blitz?

D) The coaching staff called a play with routes that take too long to develop?

E) The QB just crumbles under pressure?

The problem with the question is that either one of these answers could be argued as correct.

What if the rest of the quarterbacks' team fail him? Suppose the QB lives for the big moment and everyone else gets tight? Guess what? It doesn't matter how good the player is; in football you need everyone to believe.

Some won't see this as correct. After all, if a quarterback makes a bad throw at the most inopportune time isn't that considered choking?

I would say even a bad throw can be made into a good one under the right circumstances.

Take this past Super Bowl. The catch made by Santonio Holmes was a great one, maybe the best in a long time, but consider:

He catches the ball and the announcers say Roethlisberger puts the ball in a place where only Holmes can make a play on it. Translation: He came through in the clutch!

If he had dropped it, Roethlisberger threw an uncatchable ball. Translation: He did not come through in the clutch.

Yet both situations depend on more than just the throw by the QB.

If a baseball player gets a game-winning hit with the pressure on, it's him against the pitcher.

If a basketball player nails a game winning shot with the pressure on, it's him against the defender.

One on one.

A kicker could have the strongest most, accurate leg in the league, but if the snap is bad, the hold is bad, the wind picks up, the protection breaks down...

Then Tom Brady might have two less rings and suddenly not be clutch. The inverse of that is if Scott Norwood doesn't push the kick wide, guess who suddenly is?

Football is the consummate team sport; the only time it's one on one is during training camp.

That means in football, "clutch" is at least an eleven man responsibility, maybe even 13 if you consider the head coach and the coordinator as part of the equation.

You can't succeed by yourself and it takes a team to choke.

Ask Jim Kelly.

(It's my hope that this opens up debate, so feel free!)

Welcome to the NFL 2009-2010 Hot Seat!

Anthony Williamson — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:58:23 -0400

This is the point of the NFL offseason when expectations are the highest. Teams have completed the first Free Agency period, the Draft and most teams have had their first mini-camp by now. Optimism is at its peak, but for every franchise there is always one guy or group of guys who have just a little more riding each season. These are the ones who'll be under the microscope either by the media or by management. Some might be looking to rebound after a bad season or performance. Some might need to justify a questionable decision. Others just need to step up to their potential. This has the makings of a very entertaining football season Join me in welcoming the following to the NFL Hot Seat!

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Sports Misconceptions: The Typical Eagles Fan

Anthony Williamson — Fri, 08 May 2009 16:45:20 -0400

The general consensus is that they're an unruly bunch.

Their stories are legend.

They've chucked foreign objects at everyone from Jimmy Johnson to Santa.

They cheered as Concrete Charlie stood over a seemingly lifeless Frank Gifford and when Michael Irvin suffered a career ending injury.

They've booed the Easter Bunny and booed a young quarterback on what was supposed to be the best day of his life.

And who can forget the famous "Eagles Court" in the stadium's basement?

The National Media and even some former Eagles players deem the fans as being "front runners" and have further commented "they only love you if you win".

Is the above commentary fair though?

Do they tell the whole story?

What if I were to tell you that the cheering was not elation over Irvin's injury, but over an 0-4 team showing signs of life.

Yes, it seemingly continued as he was carried off the field, but fans knew that without a weapon like Irvin the Eagles had a chance to actually win.

Was it ill-timed? Sure.

Was it inappropriate? Absolutely.

Was it malicious? Not in the least. after the Irvin injury many Philadelphia fans sent get well cards to both the hospital he was taken to and to the Dallas Cowboys home office?

What if I told you that Santa merely caught the brunt of fan frustration with Joe Kuharich and Jerry Wolman and Norm Snead after a 2-12 season? And that Frank Olivo, the man in the suit that day, thought it was funny?

No one booed the Easter Bunny; it’s a Bob Uecker joke that’s taken on a life of its own and the fans that booed McNabb on draft day were hired guns. They were sent there to boo any Eagle pick other than Ricky Williams.

You know, the running back more known for wearing a wedding dress on an magazine cover and smoking pot than for leading his team to victories? For all we know, they may not have even liked the Eagles!

And I don't know about you, but if I saw Jimmy Johnson now, with his smug attitude and Florida tan, I might pelt him with something too...

Still, even though all of the above can be found by any six year old with Internet access and knowledge of the word "Google", the perception remains.

The majority of Eagles fans are knowledgeable about the sport of football.

They know the success rate of a play action on second down as well as they know the quickest way to get from the 9th street entrance of the Gallery to Penn's Landing.

They are also fiercely loyal.

The American City Business journal, which conducts a regular study to determine the most loyal fans in the NFL, evaluates fans based primarily on attendance related factors and ranked Eagles fans third in both 1999 and 2006.

The 2006 study noted that they filled 99.8 percent of the seats in the stadium over the previous decade.

As of August 2008, the team had sold out 71 consecutive games and even with a 6-10 record in the 2005-2006 season, the Eagles ranked second in the NFL in merchandise sales, and single game tickets for the next season were sold out minutes after phone and Internet lines opened.

Not the mark of a "front runner".

And if they "only love you when you win" then Ron Jawarski wouldn't be able to walk the streets of Philly, given his performance in the 1981 Superbowl.

True, while you're draped in Midnight Green, chances are if you screw up you're going to hear about it, but who among us hasn't given someone a hard time for under performing?

Whether it's getting on your younger brother or the starting quarterback the reason remains the same:

You know they can do better.

Donovan McNabb has a nationally recognized standing as being the most maligned Philly athlete in the last ten years.

Really though, is it the majority that hates McNabb? If you read the local papers and listen to local talk radio it sure seems to be the case.

Still, I challenge you to walk the streets of Philly on a Sunday afternoon during the regular season and count the No. 5 jerseys you see.

If you can do that and not lose your mind, I'll hire you to do my taxes next year.

As is often the case in life, it's the minority that mistakenly get's tabbed as the majority, so allow me to set the record straight on a few things:

If you go to an Eagles game and cheer the opposing team you will NOT get beaten within an inch of your life.

Now if you're being a jerk, you're writing your own ticket and it just may get punched.

Eagle fans do not go into a suicidal rage after a loss.

No one likes to lose and some recover from a loss faster than others but people do not wrap their entire reason for being on the win-loss column.

There are drunken idiots everywhere not just at Lincoln Financial Field.

I can't stress this enough, you go to any bar, stadium, or other place of sports viewing and you are bound to find someone who's mission it is to be a complete tool. And despite popular opinion the vast majority of those exist outside of Philadelphia city limits.

The majority of Eagles fans are nothing like you think.

Most of us not only have all of our original teeth, but we enjoy an intellectual conversation regarding opinions other than our own.

We drink in moderation and we do our best to adhere to generally accepted social standards regarding hygiene.

In short, we're not much different than any other football fan...

Except our team doesn't SUCK!

Making the Philadelphia 76ers Contenders Again Can't Be That Hard, Can It?

Anthony Williamson — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:12:01 -0400

It seems like such long time ago, but there was a time when the Philadelphia 76ers were considered an elite team. Of course at that time most of us were more interested in Thundercats than thunder dunks. We've heard the stories: The "Beat LA" chants at the Garden of Game 7. There was the promise of "Fo, fo, fo" from league MVP Moses Malone. Up until the '92 trade of Charles Barkley to the Phoenix Suns, the Sixers were perennial playoff participants. Then came a couple of seven foot punch lines in Manute Bol and Shawn Bradley and some really bad teams overall. Allen Iverson managed to pull the Sixers out of the muck but was not able to duplicate the success of his MVP season. All bringing us to today. After a disappointing Game 6 loss, everything we thought we knew about this team has proven to be "less than accurate" much like their three point shooting. Here are some tips for your offseason plans Ed!

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What Have We Learned so far Class? My NBA Observations After One Round.

Anthony Williamson — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:10:07 -0400

I feel you Ray, I can hardly believe it either! But it's true the Celtics made it to round two sans the Big Ticket, Kevin Garnett. Will the run continue? Hard to say, but I have learned not to doubt the Green Machine. I've also learned that collectively the Van Gundy's (Stan and Jeff) make a halfway decent announcer but a lousy coach. I've gained a great deal of respect for guys named Vinny, despite Joe Pesci's horrible accent. What other knowledge have I gained? Let's see...

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Do I Think I Can Do Better? Absolutely! How I Spell D-y-n-a-s-t-y with the Eagles

Anthony Williamson — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:26:36 -0400

As I told fellow writer Curt today: "Nobody plays the "What if" game better than Eagles fans" Then another writer listed the Eagles as an Almost Dynasties which as badly as I wanted to I could not argue against. That got me thinking. Could I have done a better job of guiding the Eagles than Andy Reid has done? Don't misunderstand Andy Reid is a very good coach and I've enjoyed the success he's brought to this city in his tenure. However I would be remiss if I weren't a little jealous of what I consider "lesser" teams winning Superbowl with the Eagles forced to watch. In the slide show I've compiled critical moments where a change here or there would have shifted the Eagles fortune. This would be an absolutely exhausting article to write from then to now, so I'm going to cover 2001 to 2007 only. If anyone wants to map out the final two years I'd love to see it!

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Looking Back at the Philadelphia Eagles' Entertaining Offseason

Anthony Williamson — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:16:26 -0400

Andy Reid is smiling. But that's because he knew all along. He knew the Eagles Front Office had a game plan to get better, younger, more talented players in midnight green for another Superbowl run. He knew that the tight-lipped, close to the vest style of management, although ridiculously annoying to fans and media, would yield positive results. I just wish he would have clued the rest of us in on the highs and lows of this offseason.

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On the Cusp of Being Elite, Andre Iguodala Is Still a Work in Progress

Anthony Williamson — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:29:40 -0400

Elite.

What really makes a player qualify for that distinction?

Is it popular opinion?

Favorable comparison to another elite player?

Is it success at the highest level, i.e.; championships?

Kobe Bryant is widely recognized as the closest thing to Michael Jordan there ever has been.

With no disrespect intended toward Harold Miner, most tend to agree. After all with three rings, various player awards there's no argument against Kobe's elite status.

LeBron James' game has been compared to Magic Johnson, a fact the Hall of Famer himself politely agrees to. That is still up for debate as LeBron has yet to acquire any jewelry of note, but there is no denying his status as one of the NBA's premier players.

Something both of these all-star players have in common.

Both have also been defended by Andre Iguodala. And they both have come away respecting the 6' 6" Small Forward for the 76ers.

And the rest of the league is beginning to take notice.

During the regular season, Andre averaged nearly 19 points per game along with six assists and six rebounds. To some, that's a modest stat line of a good player.

Of course the only other players to fill out the box score in that way are the two players constantly vying for the title of "League's best".

By virtue of that fact, then, does Andre Iguodala deserve to mentioned in the same breath as these two?

Not quite yet.

When Iguodala came into the league he had a teammate with the same initials alongside of him. This stunted his growth, but not in the way people automatically think.

When you have talent that dynamic on your team the humble player's naturally inclination is to defer to him.

Great as Kobe is, humility is not a dominant quality of his. At least on the court.

When LeBron came to the Cavs, let's face it; they sucked. It's the reason they were in a position to draft him in the first place. Even if he wanted to defer to someone else who would that have been??

So both these men, whether it be by circumstance or personality, decided to be the man for their respective teams early.

Iguodala had been used to giving the ball up. He was the guy who took on the opposing teams' toughest cover night in and night out, not the guy who takes the game winning shot.

It wasn't until the AI trade and subsequent release of Chris Webber, that we began to really see flashes of the player Iguodala could be.

Slowly he began being more vocal on the floor, shouldering more of the offensive load, he was on his way to becoming known as more than a great defender and finisher.

In the summer of 2008 Ed Stefanski attempted to locate a compliment to Iguodala's game. He came up with Elton Brand; a post presence to open up the shooting space for Andre.

Only one problem.

Although he is light-years ahead of where he was with his jumpshot when he entered the league, it's still not the most consistent part of his game. He has yet to develop a true post-up move or a mid-range jumper.

A fact evident while Brand was on the court.

Plus, Brand no longer commanded a double team as he had in times past, so now the lane was occupied by two big men. Forcing Iguodala to roam the perimeter where teams knew he could not hurt them as much.

It's no surprise that when Elton Brand was shelved for good this year that Iguodala's game began to round back into shape.

Even his jumper was finding twine more often than not, due to the additional space the fear of his dribble penetration creates.

But it's more than stats that make a player elite. The mark of an elite player is to want the ball when the game is on the line.

Everyone from the moment we pick up a basketball know the scenario. We practice it in drive-ways, backyards, courts, even at our desk jobs we shoot balled up paper into trashcans with the same mantra;

"3, 2, 1... (insert your team here) wins!!!"

It's another thing altogether to step into that moment, knowing that there are 11 other guys counting on you to make the shot and still take the shot.

With an entire stadium rooting either for or against you, there aren't many guys that have the fortitude to hold up in that situation. How many times have we seen guys pass up open looks for that very reason?

It requires a high level of confidence, a certain swagger, something markedly absent from Iguodala's game until recently.

Some Sixers fans may want to make the case for Iguodala being an elite player now and while I'd understand, I wouldn't agree.

There are still holes in his game; his jump shot is still not smooth, his left hand finish still needs a bit more polish, he needs more offensive moves in his arsenal, his overall aggressiveness is not yet there, don't get me started on the free-throw shooting...

Still these are all things he can improve, things that if he does work on he'll continue to slide up the scale. This is a player with tremendous upside:

He's a tenacious defender

He not only has to play the Kobe's, Pierce's and LBJ's of the world, he enjoys it. Much like great defenders in the past, there's nothing he enjoys more than frustrating an opponent.

He also is the trigger for the Sixers fast break offense, since his defense often ends up in a bad shot, defensive rebound and outlet to one of the Sixers streaking players.

He's a solid passer

The other night Orlando tried to make him a passer and take away his scoring. He responded by dishing out 11 assists. If not for some missed opportunities by teammates, that number could have been higher and the Sixers could have been up 3-1.

Passing is part vision, part desire to see other players score. Iguodala has both. As his game develops and he demands more attention, he will have more opportunities to be a facilitator and still get very good scoring numbers.

He is excellent off the dribble

Being able to create your own shot is a must in today's NBA. Guys are fast in getting through and over picks, so very few obvious mismatches occur in the half court offense.

For Iguodala, because of his speed and strength going to the basket most opponents are a mismatch on him. This means that if the opponent doesn't trap him forcing a pass, he's going to get what he wants out of most match-ups.

He's a fierce competitor

Some guys just like playing basketball and it's fun. Wins and losses matter very little to them as long as they're still getting paid. Those guys tend to end their career as a footnote, making no impact on the game itself.

Other guys, best guys, have a desire to win. As Larry Brown was fond of saying; "Play the game the right way, play hard, kick the other guy's butt." There's no question that Iguodala plays hard and plays the right way.

The potential is there and it is staggering sometimes, but all the potential in the world is nothing if that's all it remains, right Mr. Dalembert?

It's up to Andre to take that next step in his development.

The question now is: Will he?

Better Than Advertised: Celtics vs. Bulls

Anthony Williamson — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:34:19 -0400

This was supposed to be the warm-up series for the Celtics on their way to the inevitable clash with the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Unfortunately, nobody informed the Bulls about that.

The teams split two tight games in Boston. After the game two win the Celtics Paul Pierce stated that the defending champs had yet to play their "best game."

Like many, I took this as pure bravado. Surely anyone could see that the Celtics were trying as hard as the could in this series. They were just being out-worked by a younger, hungrier Bulls team who had had been capitalizing on the absence of one Kevin Garnett.

Then in Game 3, the Celtics blew the doors off the hinges and in effect made the Bulls look every bit their age on the way to a 107-86 win.

Led by Rajon Rando (quickly becoming one of the leagues top point guards) and Pierce himself, the game was never really close. Most gave the Bulls little chance to get up off the mat after such a convincing beat down. The Celtics appeared to be on their way to establishing themselves, after all they had zero road wins in the first round last year.

So the question hanging in the air before Game 4 was whether that blow out was the exception or the rule.

In Game 4 the Bulls provided a clear answer for the world: The defending champions are going to have to earn their chance to move on.

Despite Rajon Rondo collecting his second triple-double of the series (25 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists) and the Pierce/Allen combo dropping in 57 points of their own, the Bulls refused to back down.

In fact every Bulls player who appeared in the game scored in double figures. The balanced attack kept the Celtics from being able to simply force other guys besides the dynamic Rose to make shots, a strategy that worked so well in Game 3.

The true hero in this game may end up being John Salmons, who scored 20 points and also hit four clutch free throws in the final 26 seconds. He also was the one who blocked Paul Pierce's potentially game tying 3-pointer.

The series now shifts back to Boston where the Bulls have proven they can win, and if the C's are not careful they could be coming back to Chicago down 3-2 without their emotional leader to will them to a win.

Coming into this series the Bulls were winless against the Celtics in the post season and that includes the Jordan era. On Tuesday night they get a chance to do what his Airness never could; head back to Chicago with a win and a chance to oust the defending champs.

What was supposed to be a laugher is turning into the first round's most entertaining series so far.

Chauncey Billups Proves to Be a Better Fit for the Nuggets than Allen Iverson

Anthony Williamson — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:51:17 -0400

Being an Allen Iverson fan, watching his career since leaving Philly has been both painful and sad.

Now Chauncey Billups is adding to my anguish.

When the trade was first made to swap the two players, it wasn't clear to me or anyone else who got the better end of the deal.

Their numbers for the regular season were eerily similar.

Billups 17.9 ppg 6.4 assists compared to Iverson 17.4 ppg and 4.9 assists. Still everyone kept pointing to the record of the team pre and post trade. Which I thought was unfair considering that the Nuggets are vastly more talented than the Pistons.

When Denver locked up the No. 2 seed in the West, it still seemed like anyone could come out of the West to match-up against the Lakers in the West Finals. Especially since the Hornets team sports, in my humble opinion the best point guard in the league right now in Chris Paul.

Then came the ol' fashioned pasting the Nuggets put on the Hornets in Game One. This was Alex English, run the other team out of the gym basketball. No way can they play this way in Game Two. This series is going back to N'awlins 1-1.

Wrong. Wrong!

So far this series the Nuggets have Nuggets have outscored the Hornets in all eight quarters of play, which in itself is impressive—but they also hold the edge in the major statistical categories:

Rebounding- 85 to 78.

Assists- 51 to 37.

Three point FG- 54.3 percent to 49.6 percent.

Field Goal- 50.4 percent to 41.5 percent.

Of course, it's not like Billups is responsible for all those stats, but he's a major contributor.

Averaging 33.5 ppg on 60 percent shooting (including a ridiculous 80 percent from three and 19 for 19 from the charity stripe) doesn't hurt the cause.

But that's not the reason he's a better man for the job than Iverson was. After all, Iverson never had a problem scoring.

It's the fact that Billups, whether people realize it or not, is the coach of the Denver Nuggets.

I know in the press guide it has that distinction going to George Karl, but all anyone has to do is look at the development (or lack thereof) of Carmelo Anthony to see the kind of "coach" he is. He may run the practice sessions, make the speeches, hand out the playing time, but Billups is who these players listen to.

And Billups has them playing their best basketball at the right time.

For whatever reason, be it his own choice or circumstance, it's the one thing Iverson was never able to do.

He was always able to elevate his game at the right time, take the crucial shot, but for all his abilities, getting the other four guys on the floor to do the same was not a strength of his.

Billups is doing the same thing for the Nuggets he always did so well for the Pistons, leading by example and leading by instruction. How else do you explain how the seemingly disinterested Pistons were able to turn it on in the playoffs year after year?

He lets guys know if they take a bad shot, or aren't hustling. Directs them to where they should be on floor offensively and defensively. He's the firm hand of guidance that neither Iverson or Coach Karl could be.

It's how the Nuggets went from being the best And-1 team in the NBA, to being a NBA team on the path to being a serious contender.

So sit back and enjoy the show.

Sheldon Brown and the Philadelphia Eagles: Drama Unfolding

Anthony Williamson — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:07:28 -0400

Since first hearing about Sheldon Brown's ultimatum on Friday, I've learned two things:

First, the chasm between the average fans' perception of money and the average professional athlete's is grown into the Grand Canyon.

In response to the critics, myself included who think that Sheldon Brown is paid well for the player he is, Brown was quoted as saying:

"Everybody is saying this is only about the money and that I don't know what's going on in the world. Don't you think I have family members who live in the real world? Don't you think I have family that has struggled in this recession? I'm not worried about how people feel about me. When I'm done playing football, I'm going back to South Carolina and I won't have to listen to 610 or Joe Banner. Everybody has the right to their opinion, but if you think it's about the money, you're crazy."

The only intelligent morsel I can glean from this is the fact that he hates WIP 610, an opinion I share and I'm proud to be a loyal non-listener since 1995.

The rest I find condescending and insulting. There's not a person on the planet who's family is not affected by this current economic situation. Rather than take on the burden of lifting the entire family out of their situation, we help where we can and we pull together as a unit.

If so many of us thousandaires are doing their best to make it and succeeding, I find it difficult to believe that Brown is starving.

But for the sake of being objective let's say he is. He has several things going for him that many do not. He has a current job with a salary. He's also a professional athlete, a somewhat popular one at that, he could get his hustle on as the kids say.

He could do Mall appearances and the like. He could auction off memorabilia. He could (gulp) simplify his life as many of us have done.

Who ,reading these words, hasn't had to give up some of the things we want in order to keep the things we need?

Well?

"When I did the deal, I knew it was a good deal. Nobody could anticipate that the CBA was going to go up 40 to 50 percent. Nobody wants to talk about the owners being billionaires and how they won't open their books."

I thought that was why contracts increased year over year? So when you spend up your bonus money for signing, you salary is increasing each year to compensate.

Most of us get a similar increase and it's normally between 3-12 percent not the 40-60 percent most players see.

We know the owners are billionaires and most of us really don't like the fact they are, but players aren't broke. And none of us get paid anywhere close to what the owners of the companies we work for make. We make the money, they spend it. You want to change that, you'll have to change the entire capitalist system the economy is based on. Although I'd support that, I don't see it happening.

Second, I've learned that managing a franchise is nowhere near as easy as Franchise mode on Madden would have you believe it is.

Often my favorite part of playing a Madden game is not the regular season or that weak celebration of winning a Superbowl. For me nothing beats going through the process of retired players, restricted free agents, the draft; all that stuff is fun for me.

I guess that's why it's called a video game huh?

Since going to the Superbowl, the Eagles have had to deal with: T.O. aftermath, McNabb's knee injury, the drafting of Kolb fall out (well they brought that one on themselves), Andy Reid's personal problems, Westbrook's new deal, Lito's whining, the benching, Jim Johnson's health issues, B-Dawk's departure and now this.

Joe Banner said:

"DeMarcus Ware had 20 sacks this year, led the NFL, right now he's making a million dollars next year. Have you heard anything from DeMarcus Ware?"

"Tom Brady's gonna make $14 million over the next two years. That's $7 million a year. The top-paid quarterback in the league's making 16 (million). Have you heard anything from Tom Brady? By the way, Tom Brady's got two years left on his deal. DeMarcus Ware has one."

"And I could give you example upon example. He (Sheldon Brown) has four years left on his contract, received a very sizable signing bonus as part of the deal. That has to be factored into the value of the two years he's played under the contract this coming year, whatever it was. And that's the only reasonable way to look at it."

Among my circle of friends I've often compared Joe Banner to Mr. Burns of Simpson’s fame. There's an episode in particular where Burns is claiming to be broke and his ceiling caves in to reveal a flood of gold coins and jewels that land on him.

While in the midst of all this money he says: "See the place is practically falling apart."

That's good comedic timing.

However in this situation and so far only in this situation I agree with Banner.

It's not like two years ago Brown was some naive kid out of college just looking for a paycheck. It's Not as if he didn't have an agent right there trying to get the max.

Paul Domowitch for the Daily News tries to paint Brown as the team first guy who does everything he's asked and has never missed a day of work. He does a fine job of it, but that's not the thing in question.

What happens if his deal gets restructured and he plays lights out next year? Will he want to re-visit the contract he just had redone?

What if he breaks his consecutive streak and misses some games or the whole year? What effect is redoing Sheldon's deal gonna have on guys who've just signed or don't like their own deal? You think the rest of the guys on this roster aren't watching this play out and waiting to see what happens?

Banner went on to say:

"The thing that distressed me was I heard today that he had said that anybody who thought this was about the money was crazy. He needs to tell his agent that because we have had no conversations with his agent that have been about anything but the money."

"Now only two years into the deal with four years left, you know...James Harrison was the defensive player of the NFL last year, probably almost single-handedly responsible for the Pittsburgh Steelers winning the Super Bowl. He made less than one-and-a-half million dollars last year."

"And now in the last year of his contract, the Steelers stepped in and gave him the adjustment. We're talking about somebody with four years left in their contract. I don't believe there's a single player in years with that much time left on his contract that any team, including the MVP of the league, went to, so you have to have some perspective on this."

And yet most of us are so quick to criticize, myself included.

The bottom line is: you could say that Brown's body of work deserves a pay increase and you would not be wrong.

Conversely, you could say that he had his opportunity to sign a shorter deal, or become a free agent and capitalize on his worth and he didn't, so tough tamale,s and you wouldn't be wrong either.

The one thing you know for sure is that this will not end well at all, and that is a shame.

Ten things I've learned watching the playoffs so far

Anthony Williamson — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:45:16 -0400

Normally around NBA playoff time I'm vaguely interested. Baseball has just started so I wanna make sure my Phils get off to a good start. The NFL draft is looming so I wanna absorb all the analysis I can so I can see if who the Eagles pick is a good player. And the NHL playoffs are in swing and if I'm honest, the Flyers always have a much better chance of advancing than the Sixers do. So I give the playoffs a glance here and there but you normally know who's gonna end up at the Finals and it's normally two teams I could care less about. This year though has been different. Dare I say that Basketball is getting fun to watch again?

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Let's Make a Deal... Or Else! Why I Hate Player Demands

Anthony Williamson — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:28:50 -0400

I want to conduct a little social experiment.

I want all the readers out there to walk into their bosses office and demand more money or else.

Done? Good. Now give me your job location and requirements so I can apply for your old job.

Ah, don't you wish you lived in the same world NFL players do?

You know the one were you can make any demands you want, never suffer the consequences of your arrogance and get someone to give you exactly what you want?

Let me make it clear; I like Sheldon Brown. He's a solid corner, hard-working, never missed a game and guess what? Before stories of his contract dispute broke, I wanted him to get a new deal. Not because he played particularly great last year, (only one interception for a starting corner just ain't cutting it) but because he's been dependable.

But in the nine to five world that doesn't get you a raise. It's get's you an "Attaboy" and you keep your job. So why do we expect it to be differently in the NFL?

It's true the contracts aren't guaranteed, but as long as you're consistent you can keep a job. How long has former Eagle, James Thrash been on an NFL roster?

As much as I loathe bringing stats into these kind of debates, Lito Shephard played in 19 fewer career games (93 to Brown's 112) and still had more interceptions (18 vs 14). If Lito wasn't given a new deal, what's the basis for Sheldon's supposed ultimatum? Sheldon's not the only one—this offseason has been full of disgruntled employees.

Not only do players make demands when they feel they're underpaid, but also when they don't like the team they're on. It's like a guy is saying: "Hey I know you guys are the reason I'm a millionaire as it is and you've invested a lot of time and energy into helping me develop, but you guys suck so can you trade me to a winner?"

Now guys are even wanting off a team if they feel the management and or fans aren't as in love with them as they are themselves. Braylon Edwards comes to mind: "Hey guys I know you drafted me to be a part of this organization's future but the media and everybody is getting on me too much. I need to be traded where I'll be showered with the affection I deserve."

It's these reasons that as a fan I don't want my team to pick up a Boldin, or a Gonzalez or a whoever. The attitude of a lot of these NFL players is that they're owed something by just showing up and if they aren't compensated in the way they deem fair they make their demands. Even worse is that nine times out of 10 they get someone to meet those demands.

There's a particularly funny exchange in a movie called Mr. Deeds that I always fall back on at times like this. It's between the team's starting quarterback and the new owner of the team. It goes something like this.

"I figured since I played good I could get a new contract and ya'll could pay me more money."

"If you didn't play, could we pay you less money?"

"S#^! No! I mean no."

That exchange encapsulates the lopsidedness of the typical player hold out. If you cut a guy you normally still owe them mone. If you trade them you rarely get back what they were worth to your team and if you pay them everyone else will have their hands out.

I know no one is shedding a tear for the poor billionaire who these things affect, but it affects the fans too. If it didn't, T.O. might still be an Eagle...well I guess there is a good side to it but still...

I'd love it if at the end of a year NFL teams could say, "Well (insert name) in reviewing your game footage last season, your stats do not reflect your pay, so we're gonna go ahead and reduce your salary by $700,000 next season."

That wouldn't be fair though, because a contract is a contract right?

Philadephia Eagles 2009 Season Preview

Anthony Williamson — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:40:31 -0400

With the new schedule out and about everyone is talking about the same thing. T.O.'s new home. Brady's return. Cutler in a Bears Uni... Honestly who cares except Bills, Pats and Bears fans and what's that make up? 6 maybe 7% of the NFL fan populace? I kid... Still I thought it would be fun to take the schedule and run with it. After all every team plans on winning every game at the start of the season right? Does any team look at the schedule and go: "Man we're losing this game that game..." But let me make this clear to anyone reading this: I'm not superstitious in the least bit. When I see black cats coming I stop to pet them. I step on cracks all the time and my mother is excellent health. I don't knock on wood unless the person doesn't have a doorbell. So I have no hesitation or apprehension about talking about how my (and your) Philadelphia Eagles could pull a clean sweep of the regular season. I would do the post-season too, but after last year, I have no idea who's gonna end up where. So enjoy! .

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Philadelphia Eagles' Best (and Worst) Draft Picks

Anthony Williamson — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:19:09 -0400

Let's face it, all of us have at one time or another played armchair GM. We read dozens upon dozens of Mock Draft articles, player profiles all with the hopes that our team will draft "our guy". Then when Tagliabue or Goodell as it stands now, approaches that podium to reveal our teams selection... Well it almost never is the player we expected. Sometimes we angrily spout off combine stats, wonderlic test scores anything to prove the idioacy of the franchise for picking the player they've selected. The Draft is won by how smart General Managers are with their low round picks. Guys who aren't expected to do much but surprise and exceed their late round drafting. So I've accumulated the best of the late round selections by the Eagles and the worst of the high round choices. Enjoy!

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The Stench That Lingers: The Annual Philadelphia Eagles Wide Reciever Debate

Anthony Williamson — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 10:56:15 -0400

You know it's April when...

The Mets are talking about winning the division, because, well April is the only time they can talk.

Mel Kiper Jr. is getting way too much air time, because, well what else does he do at ESPN?

Jeff Van Gundy is riding the jock of the hot NBA team, almost guaranteeing that team a first round exit, because, well he's great at being wrong.

And the Philadelphia Eagles faithful are talking about wide receivers.

Again.

When the Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Carolina Panthers in the 2003 NFC Championship game, it was obvious that Todd Pinkston and James Thrash (Lovingly referred to by fans as Stinkston and Trash) were below average wideouts. So obvious in fact that the second most famous set of initials in sports was brought to town.

T.O.

That year, the Eagles swept their way through the NFC East, the NFC (albeit sans the aforementioned initials), and were within four points of taking home a Lombardi trophy.

The aftermath of that has been documented to death as has the recurring nightmare of internet articles posing the same question:

"Do the Eagles need a No. 1 WR to win a Super Bowl?"

Andy and the front office always give the same answer though; N-O. But since T.O., the Eagles have brought in Dante Stallworth, Jabar Gaffney, Bethel Johnson, Kevin Curtis, and even tried to lure Randy Moss away from NE.

Every time there's news of a disgruntled WR somewhere, the Eagles are apparently interested in making a trade. They even, very briefly, entertained the idea of Lito Shepherd playing both ways.

Hardly the actions of a team supremely confident in the WR corp.

Add that to the inability to duplicate or even come close to the success of 2004, until the incredible run last year, and the debate never has a chance to die.

But it's time for it to do just that.

When it comes to the "West Coast Offense," which Andy Reid runs a variation of, the first thoughts that spring to mind of any football fan worth his face paint is the San Francisco 49ers.

The Originators.

So it's only natural to look for the John Taylor's or the Jerry Rice's on the Eagles' roster. At least the Eagles have a "Brent" in Celek, but he's still a ways from drawing comparisons to Jones.

Believe me, I understand, because I've been guilty of it too, but there is no comparison. That era is dead and gone.

In fact, nowadays in order to even assemble a team like that, you have to either be really bad for a long time (see: Cardinals, Arizona) or really fortunate (Wes Welker we hardly knew ye).

The Eagles, at least in the Reid era, have never been quite bad enough to crack the top five of the draft order, but hey, Brian Westbrook did practically fall in their lap, so it's hard to complain too much. Still, that leaves the Fitzgeralds, Rogers, and Crabtrees of the world just out of reach.

The fact that they have been so competitive for so long seems to poke holes in the debate, as does looking at the most recent Super Bowl winners.

None more glaring than the fact that Larry Fitzgerald put in one of the single best performances by a wideout in the big dance only to watch little known Santonio Holmes make the catch people are still talking about.

The Ravens, Patriots, Bucs, Colts, Steelers, and Giants all won with defense, and only the Colts had a premier tandem of wideouts. The Giants had Burress, but it was Tyree who made the most important catch of the game.

So why all this talk about needing a No. 1 WR?

The winners of this decade didn't. In fact, the Raiders had the two best wide receivers in NFL history and lost! Badly! The Patriots went 18-0, had Randy Moss and Wes Welker, and still lost!

Still, everywhere you turn this time of year all you hear is, "Man, if the Eagles got McNabb (insert uber talented and disgruntled WR's name here) then they'd win the Super Bowl!"

I say it's time to put that argument to rest.

The Eagles will win the Superbowl if the sum of their parts is better than the sum of the other teams.

If the Eagles' defense can stop the other team when they need to.

If the Eagles' offense can score points when they have the chance to.

If the Eagles' special teams wins the field position game.

Believe me, as good as Chad Johnson, Anquan Boldin, or whoever else may be, they can't sack quarterbacks or kick field goals. And recent history has proven that having a Larry Fitzgerald isn't as vital as having a James Harrison.

Plus, you know what?

For the first time in years, actually ever, I can honestly say that this is the most talented group Philadelphia has ever had.

I'll pause to let that sink in.

Back from laughing or staring in disbelief? Good. Now let me explain.

In the past, the Eagles have had one dependable wide receiver and a bunch of substitute teachers. Guys good for a standout game or two, but essentially not particularly good.

There are four guys on this current roster who deserve more respect than they're getting.

DeSean Jackson, though a rookie, is the standout. Fast, agile, and like another favorite little Philly guy, tough. He's only going to get better as long as he stays committed to being the best, which he seems to have the drive to do.

He's the vertical threat that Pinkston was, with the exception that he actually knows how to get off the line against press coverage.

Kevin Curtis may be the most complete receiver in that he may not be as fast as Jackson; he is fast. He's not as sure handed as Avant, but he's got very good hands. Plus, he is definitely the best route runner right now of the group.

Now that he's fully healed from his injury look for McNabb and him to develop even greater chemistry.

Jason Avant has become the Robert Horry of the group. He's the guy that you don't even notice until he's making a clutch third down grab in the middle of your zone defense. He may be the best at reading the opposing teams coverage and finding the soft spot. Something Mr. Owens has yet to master himself.

I'll be the first to admit that Hank Baskett is a bit of an enigma. At times, he'll be absolutely brilliant, then at other times disappear completely. Though not known for his speed, his size and physical play make up for the lack of fleet feet.

With Greg Lewis and L.J. Smith gone, look for the Eagles to work him out in the red-zone more. I expect a break out year for the young receiver.

So, even though I would not be opposed to bringing in a top flight player at the receiver position for the right price, it's no longer the need that it was in past offseasons. No longer a glaringly weak position on the roster.

I know the debate will rage on and most will probably have compelling arguments as to why I am so very wrong in my assessment:

"They're not big, fast, clutch, talented enough..." blah blah blah

I've got to say it feels good to look at the Eagles' WR depth chart lately.

Real good.

10 Reasons the 76ers Will Be Competing for a Title Soon

Anthony Williamson — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:58:15 -0400

It's the Philadelphia Phillies fault. Once they won the World Series, every other Philly sports fan was put on notice. The message a simple one; win now! Even though any journalist worth his keyboard will tell you that's an unreasonable request, in the case of the 76ers, that could very shortly be a reality. The NBA playoffs are around the corner and as much as I'd like to tell you they'll be contending this year, that just isn't true. But I can guarentee you this will be a team to watch out for and here's why:

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With Questions About His Future, Fans and Iverson Are Looking for the Answer

Anthony Williamson — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:56:27 -0400

I'll never forget when it happened to me.

It was two years ago at Princeton University Gym and no matter how hard I pushed I couldn't do it. I couldn't catch my younger brother and stop him from making the game winning lay-up. That's when I first began to wonder if the game had passed me by.

For the 33 year old two-guard that time may have come and gone.

After missing 16 games with a back injury, Coach Michael Curry brought Iverson off the bench for the past few games. Iverson, obviously frustrated hasn't really embraced his new role.

Going so far as to say that next season if he has to ride the pine, he'll just retire. The silence was deafening.

Five years ago, when I was still stride for stride with little bro, this would have been a huge story. There would have been a retrospective of Iverson's highlights, focusing on the tough shots he's hit, the punishment he's taken, the amazing plays he's made.

How the generously listed 6'0" guard is pound for pound the best player in the game and he deserves to start.

Instead the general consensus is that Allen needs to learn to be a "team player" and do what's best for the team. The underlying message in that statement is that Iverson starting is not what's best for the team.

Adding fuel to the fire is the All-Star is being made into the scapegoat for a team with other glaring issues (age, no bench, no leadership, bad coaching, uninspired players...)

So coming to the end, I wonder if Allen finds himself looking back. I know I do.

"With the first pick in the 96' NBA Draft the 76ers select..."

Now I gotta be honest, back then I was not watching the 76ers. I had written them off and focused my attention on Dykstra and Schilling and of course on the pairing of Lindros and Leclair that had everyone painting their faces Orange and Black.

Needless to say I could care less about some Point Guard from Georgetown of all places.

He won me over with one crossover move against a legend. Not because he made Michael Jordan stumble and then drilled a jumper in his face, but because he wasn't afraid to. Here was this tough little guy from VA looking the titans of the NBA in the eye and daring them to blink first and I was loving every second of it.

Not that long ago someone in the Sixers brain trust thought rail thin, athletically challenged Shawn Bradley was a lottery pick. And not long before that traded Charles Barkley for a bag of nickels and a Slinky.

So for them to finally make the right choice, after so many bad ones, I can't describe how it felt, but I'm sure you get the idea.

Back then it seemed like the best thing for the team was Allen Iverson and then the question was could teammates adapt to playing with such a dynamic player.

Still he and Brown constantly clashed which nearly led to the unthinkable. But for the greed of Matt Geiger Iverson would have been a member of the Detroit Pistons, eight years ahead of schedule.

Then the amazing happened, Iverson promised all who would listen that he turned the corner and that marriage and being a father matured him. His words seemed prophetic as that year was his best as a pro; All Star MVP, League MVP, Scoring champ and finally Eastern Conference Champion.

Brown and Iverson were co-existing, winning, and you couldn't walk anywhere in the world and not see an Iverson Jersey.

Iverson kept leading or being in the top three in scoring, which by nature of the team Brown created around him was a necessity. He was one of the most feared players in the NBA and when you came to play the 'Sixers he was the one guy you had to focus all your energy in stopping.

Teams put big guys, long guys, fast guys their best defenders on Iverson. For the most part it didn't matter, he was virtually unstoppable. Iverson carried The 'Sixers to the playoffs on his thin shoulders, but they were bounced without much fight each time. First by the Celtics and then by the Pistons.

That's when the honeymoon ended. After the much referenced "practice speech" Larry Brown left Allen to go to...the Pistons.

Whether Larry Brown knew it or not, he'd effectively destroyed the Sixers and Allen Iverson by the move. None of the many coaches that followed were ever able to recapture the success of the Larry Brown teams though and Iverson never respected another coach like he did Brown.

Still given his immense talent and passion for the game you have to wonder how it is he was never able to duplicate that 2001 playoff run.

I guess the simple answer is that though his skills never left him, everyone else got better. When he came into the league he was special. A ridiculous combination of speed, agility, fearlessness and talent.

Now with guys like Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade, Deron Williams, Tony Parker and others, guys who have all those attributes with a more polished floor game and a less erratic jump shot, Iverson has become a face in the crowd. One often obscured by his more successful clones.

Brown may have known how to get the best out of Iverson, but it seems he never prepared him for this day. Today you still see Iverson fire in a hard chest pass when a bounce pass is needed. He still gets caught in the air too often and misses open teammates in favor of his own shot.

Although if the coach that he respected the most couldn't get him to go to practice it's doubtful he could've gotten him to work on his fundamentals.

All of which means, despite the highlight reel that is his career, we ever saw the best of Allen Iverson, which is both sad and infuriating.

Being glued to the Pistons bench probably leaves him more time than he'd like to think, to wonder, to doubt. The last few years he's averaging nearly half his career scoring average, seen his minutes steadily decline and his role in an offense go from first, to second, to third...

How can the player that has brought such fun and joy to the NBA reclaim his place among the elite? Will he ever be mentioned in the same breath as Bryant, James and Wade?

Has the window closed on him ever holding up that well deserved NBA Championship trophy? Will he start to be included in the company of Chris Webber as a player never able to reach his full potential?

I don't know the response to any of those questions. All I know is that The Answer, won't be found on the Pistons' Bench.

Love Him or Hate Him, You Have To Respect Donovan McNabb's Resilience

Anthony Williamson — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:01:56 -0400

31,950 Passing Yards.

3,459 Rushing Yards.

212 Passing TDs.

28 Rushing TDs.

Nine Playoff wins.

Five Pro-bowl Appearances.

One Problem:

To some in Philadelphia that and 85 cents gets you a Butterscotch Krimpet from the corner store and guess what? The Krimpet is way more satisfying.

Ouch.

Personally I'm not a numbers guy, but in any other city in any other part of the world, except maybe New York, the above would get your own day or at the very least a street named after you.

In Philly, all it get's you is angry bloggers calling for you to be run out of town in favor of another player. The flavor this month being Jay Cutler. You know the Denver Broncos quarterback known more for offseason whining than postseason victories?

Funny old world isn't it?

Now before the angry blogging starts, it's the minority that count themselves among McNabb detractors; most have backed him these last 10 seasons. Unfortunately between local print and radio media it's the minority that's normally given a voice.

So even when the topic is something not directly related to McNabb it's somehow spun in his direction.

When the defense or special teams allow a late score and the Eagles lose, detractors will say, "McNabb should've thrown more touchdowns."

When the coach calls for a run play on third and inches and the offensive line doesn't get the push it needs to get the first, angry fans believe McNabb should have audibled into a quarterback run or a sneak.

When a wide receiver drops a pass that would've led to a score, you can almost hear the "haters" saying, "Why did McNabb throw such an uncatchable ball?"

No wonder McNabb sports the bald look these days. If I was him I'd pull out my hair too!

Not even Allen Iverson has been a greater lightning rod for heated debate and criticism in Philadelphia than No. 5 has become.

From draft day boo's to Rush Limbaugh, to T.O. to, "And with the 36th pick in the NFL Draft, the Eagles select University of Houston quarterback Kevin Kolb..."

With all the other slights in between:

"Inaccurate"

"Injury prone"

"Choke artist"

"Regurgitator..."

No one seems to remember a leaky defense that made Bethel Johnson look like Randy Moss and a creaky knee Corey Dillon look like Emmit Smith in his prime. Or LJ Smith's fumble.

Or coach Andy Reid completely abandoning the run in the second half, a tendency he still has all these years later. Ask anyone what they remember about that Super Bowl and the answer is the same—"McNabb puking in the huddle."

That little fact leaked of course by the premier narcissistic, Prima Donna wide receiver, Terrell Owens. It was further confirmed by Freddie Mitchell who called out the New England Patriots defense and subsequently was a non-factor in the big game.

He's since been a non-factor in the NFL altogether.

Well with reliable sources like those...

Okay. Rant over.

In spite of all the above and more, with all eyes on him, McNabb manages to rise above it, preferring to take the higher moral ground, rather than slinging mud of his own. This is no matter how much some of us may have wanted him to.

Now that's not to say he's not affected. No one could call themselves human and not be affected. I don't care how big your salary is, money doesn't cauterize your emotions. It doesn't shield you from the very natural need to be appreciated for the job you do, the preparation, the sacrifice.

How many of us would still go to work if we had to face questions from people who at no point in their lives were EVER skilled enough to do our job? How many of us have quit jobs just because we didn't like the morning commute?

Yet, McNabb shows up to work every day, smile on his face, cannon in his arm. Ready to face 300 pound men who get paid to inflict pain on him, reporters paid to antagonize him, and a bunch of armchair quarterbacks (who get winded walking to the mailbox and couldn't throw you the remote) poised at their keyboards anxious to push their poison across the Internet.

After Pat Shurmur, not Andy Reid, told McNabb he was going to be benched in the second half of a winnable game against the Ravens, some were calling for Kolb to be given the chance at the starting job full time.

By comparison, Peyton Manning throws six interceptions in a game against San Diego and it's by all accounts an off day for Manning. McNabb throws a couple incompletions in the first half of the Ravens game and he's benched.

Later, when it became known that McNabb would be the starter, Donovan said:

"I was told by the janitor. You know, me and him have a pretty good relationship around here. It's a pretty good conversation we had."

Classic McNabb.

For the man who's resume is full of superhuman feats: playing on the broken ankle against the Cards, the scramble against Dallas, the juke at Washington, 4th and 26, take your pick.

It would be easy to just point to his past performance and say he deserved better. It would be justifiable to throw the head coach under the bus along with all the other guilty parties in that late fall skid. After all there was plenty of blame to go around.

Whether due to his upbringing, his business savvy, or some combination of the two, he shrugged his shoulders and cracked a joke.

McNabb has his faults (the low balls, the reluctance to trust his receivers, holding the ball too long...) and unless you choose the "Create-a-Player" option on you video game system, every quarterback does.

In my opinion there's not another guy I'd want playing the position for the Eagles than him.

And more importantly given all that means, there's not another person that could.