World Cup 2014: Knockout Stage

June 28, 2014

By Steve Bohnel
@SteveSportsGuy1

Well, after a record 136 goals were scored and 16 teams were eliminated, the 2014 FIFA World Cup is now on to the knockout stage.  Here are the eight match-ups set to take place in Brazil beginning on Saturday:

PHILLIES: 65 Games In, Phillies Should Blow It Up

June 14, 2014

By Steve Bohnel
@SteveSportsGuy1

Just when the Fightin' Phils give you a reason to believe, they give you yet another example of why GM Ruben Amaro Jr. should be looking to trade whoever he can before the MLB trade deadline on July 31.

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FLYERS: Pens' 'Hulk Hogan Guy' example of why being a fan is awesome

June 11, 2014

By Nick Tricome
@itssnick215

Hockey has plenty of characters.

Many are the players themselves, with their humorous personalities going hand-in-hand with their performance on the ice. Guys like Jeremy Roenick and Scott Hartnell to name a couple from Flyers history.

But then there are the fans who manage to find their way on to jumbotrons and TV screens, and almost become a staple of their favorite team. There are the Vancouver Green Men, and one that both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia know well, Cy Clark, a.k.a the 'Hulk Hogan Guy.'

Sadly, Clark passed away last week due to complications from cancer. He was 53.

Clark is probably best known for taunting the Flyers during their 6-4 win over the Penguins at the Consol Energy Center on April 1, 2012.

The Flyers had a secure 6-3 lead with just over a minute left in the third, when the Penguins sent their checking line out and Joe Vitale laid out a hard open ice hit on Danny Briere.

The hit led to a brawl on open the ice, while Peter Laviolette stood atop the boards and yelled furiously at Penguins coach Dan Bylsma. And throughout the whole thing, was a Penguins fan, a Hulk Hogan look-alike, dawning an Evgeni Malkin jersey and a bandanna that read "Malkamania," jawing at Laviolette and the rest of the Flyers' bench.

Scott Hartnell took notice and responded with his own Hogan impersonation...
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EAGLES: Five options at 22

May 6, 2014

By Michael Guise
@MikeG2511

With the draft just a few days away the Eagles will look to build off their strong 2013 draft. The class of 2014 is deep, and the Eagles will look to take advantage with their six total picks. The Eagles have the 22^nd pick in the first round, and there are five guys that could hear their named called by commissioner Roger Goodell when the Eagles are on the clock.
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PHILLIES: Home plate rule needs further review

April 21, 2014

By Steve Bohnel
@SteveSportsGuy1

The Phillies were in the second of a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies. In the bottom of third inning, a play at the plate illustrated one of the key additions to the MLB this season: expanded instant replay.

But this play was different. Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, who had singled to start the inning, was on his way home trying to score the first run of the game. Chase Utley fired the ball home. Ruiz blocked the plate, and Arenado was out...for a few minutes.
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76ERS: Phase one, complete

April 18, 2014

By Greg Frank
@g_frank6

We all knew what we were signing up for with this year’s Sixers.  But the long-term plan Sam Hinkie has been trying to implement is more exciting than anything anyone in the Sixers front office has attempted to do in the post Allen Iverson era.

So here we are on the eve of the NBA playoffs, with the Sixers having completed a 19-63 regular season.
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FLYERS: Back in the playoffs, but missing something

April 17, 2014

By Nick Tricome
@itssnick215

After a one year absence, the Flyers are back in the playoffs and will take the ice against the rival Rangers Thursday night. But something will be different this time.
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PHILLIES: An emptying bank

April 16, 2014

By Steve Bohnel
@SteveSportsGuy1

Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons had just smacked a hanging slider from Phils reliever B.J. Rosenberg into the left field bleachers at Citizens Bank Park.  Droves of fans departed from their seats with the score now 5-1 in favor of Atlanta in the eighth inning.

Not that it was exactly a sell-out crowd in the first place.  The attendance at the Bank on April 14 was 26,516—far short of the full capacity of nearly 44,000. 

This isn’t a new thing that has been happening just this year. Ever since 2010, when season attendance peaked at an all-time high at 3,777,322, the Phillies have seen a decline in the category, dropping down to 3,012,403 in 2013.
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Big 5 Recap: Villanova exceeds expectations

April 9, 2014

By Michael Guise

@MikeG2511

Villanova exceeded all expectations this year and finished with 29 wins and a lengthy stay in the top 10.

EAGLES: Where does D-Jax's departure leave the Eagles?

April 5, 2014

By Greg Frank

@g_frank6

Say what you want about the decision made by the Eagles to release DeSean Jackson, there’s no denying he was an explosive playmaker in the Eagles’ offense. While the Eagles re-signed wide receivers Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin, they now lack that explosive vertical threat in the passing game that Jackson provided. 

With Jackson now residing elsewhere in the division with the Redskins, twice a year the Eagles may have a constant reminder of the vertical threat that he is.  

So what now?
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Big 5 Season Recap: St. Joe's clinches A-10 Title after rough start

March 31, 2014

By Michael Guise

@MikeG2511

Eight games into St. Joe’s season, the Hawks looked like they were headed for another disappointing season. 

They were 4-4, with blowout loses to Louisiana Sate University and Villanova on their resume. But Phil Martelli’s squad wouldn't go down without a fight. The Hawks won nine of their next 10 games and finished the season winning 20 of their final 25, which included a run to an Atlantic 10 Tournament Title. 

The team that hoisted the championship trophy in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center wasn't the team that walked off the floor dejected after a 30 point loss to Big 5 rival Villanova. 

Big 5 Season Recap: Temple's rough debut in the American

March 30, 2014

By Michael Guise

@MikeG2511

Calling the 2013-2014 season a disaster for the Temple Owls would be an understatement.

PHILLIES: Week in Review 3/17-3/23

March 23, 2014

By Andrew Sifari

@Wild_Sifari

Record: 2-2-1

                   3/19                           3/20                   3/20                        3/21                          3/23

                     L                               W                      L                              T                             W

Games:  PHI @ TOR           PHI @ HOU      PHI vs.  TOR            PHI vs. BOS            PHI vs. MIN 

                  6     -   11              6    -      3           1       -    3                 2     -    2                  5   -      1      

Rollins on the hot seat, Asche wins out, and more injuries.
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PHILLIES: The Rollins situation mirrors that of McNabb's in Philly

March 20, 2014

By Nick Tricome
@itssnick215

Donovan McNabb will forever be regarded as one of the better quarterbacks in Philadelphia football history, but even he was forced to deal with fledgling fan support during his final years as people grew weary of his attitude and personality.

McNabb overstayed his welcome in Philadelphia and it seems now the same can be said of Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins.
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March Madness: Previewing Nova's Tournament Prospects

March 20, 2014

By Greg Frank

@g_frank6

Villanova is one of two Big 5 teams in the field this year and could very well meet the other, St. Joseph’s, in a third round matchup in Buffalo.  

Villanova went the entire regular season as the clear cut best team in Philadelphia. However, the Wildcats are coming in off a tough loss in the Big East tournament to Seton Hall.  

It’s never good to enter the NCAA Tournament off of a loss to an inferior opponent in a conference tournament.  Such begs the question, could this be more than a one-game bump in the road for Villanova? Might they exit early? Or will the Wildcats go deep in the east region?

March Madness: Previewing UConn vs. St. Joes

March 20, 2014

By Michael Guise

@MikeG2511

When 7 seed Connecticut and 10 seed St. Joseph’s face off on Thursday night, two senior guards will be looking to continue their regular season success and carry their team to a second round victory.

PHILLIES: What to look for from Gonzalez

February 15, 2014

By Andrew Sifari

As Spring Training begins, one of the big question marks for the Phillies entering camp is Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez. The Cuban right-hander, signed to a three-year, $12 million deal last August, has been the subject of much speculation in the time since teams began scouting him in earnest last April.
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PHILLIES: Bats a question heading into Spring Training

February 13, 2014

By Steve Bohnel

Spring Training is just around the corner,with the Phillies' pitchers and catchers already reporting.

One of the biggest problems for Philadelphia last season, however, was probably their offense. Finishing in the bottom half of the Major Leagues in batting average (21st at .248), runs (26th at 610), and on-base percentage (24th at .306). The Phillies have some work to do once April rolls around.  
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PHILLIES: Spring Training brings optimism, but questions

February 13, 2014

By Nick Tricome

February is a special month for all baseball fans.

As pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training, it's a time of optimism, as fans begin to wonder if maybe this is the year for which ever team they follow.

That optimism is still there for the Phillies--the first signs of baseball coming back are hard not to get excited about--but at the same time, there is a lot about this team that makes you think.
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