Phillies Fans Getting Some Brotherly Love

Philadelphia sports fans are used to having others question their actions. Their passion and deep devotion for their city, and their teams, are often been misinterpreted as ignorance and anger. They've booed their own players, cheered at injuries ,and most notably, thrown snowballs at santa

But this week, Phillies fans deservedly gained back some respect from the media and their many critics.

"I don’t like to give Philadelphia fans too much credit. But they got this one right," said Mets third baseman David Wright.

Wright is referring to ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball game that featured the Mets and Phillies. In the top of the ninth, announcers told viewers to turn to ABC for a special news broadcast from President Obama in which he announced the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Within a few minutes almost everyone in Citizens Bank Park had found out via cell phones or word of mouth.

In the top of the ninth fans began to chant U-S-A. In a night with an already electric sold-out crowd, the fans became even louder with a true sign of patriotism.

It was a night that will be remembered for a long time. "I think it was a symbol of how much they love their country," Charlie Manuel said. "It put the game, and life, in perspective."

Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino said the players didn't know why the fans were chanting until they eventually heard the news from a trainer in the dugout. "I was sitting in the dugout and didn't understand what was going on for a minute," Phillies starter Cliff Lee said

But Phillies fans didn't stop there.

On Tuesday Jayson Werth's made his return to Philadelphia. And just like last year, when Donovan McNabb's return, the media wanted to know how fans would react.

His announcement was marked by boos and jeering, but quickly turned to cheers when Werth stopped on his way to the plate to tip his helmet. He received an even louder applause when he returned to longtime home out in right field.

It was a good week for the Phillies who posted a 5-2 record since Sunday's game. But it was a bigger week for their fans. Phillies Skipper Charlie Manuel said it best about the killing of bin Laden, "It just go to show that justice wins out."

It's a fitting quote for the whole week.


Phuck The Media Love Philly

J

HYPE hype Hype HYPE

Your Philadelphia Flyers start round two tomorrow.

Less than a week ago, I wasn't sure we would be saying that. After a hard fought comeback against Buffalo, the Flyers are storming into another round two matchup against them Baaahstin Broons.

Even Ben Affleck hides his hockey alliances.

That's all I'm gonna bash the Bears for. Let's talk Fly Guys.

Rough start to that series, but you knew they weren't going down that easy. I think the series MVP clearly goes to James Van Riemsdyk. JVR played with more heart, drive, and intensity the entire series. He and Danny Briere really picked the team up, especially when closing out the series. Such a domination in game seven. Thank Jesus we didn't go to OT. Watching the Canadiens and defending Stanley Cup Champions go down in game seven OT was nerve racking, and I kinda hate both of them anyways.

Goaltender issues are obvious. But I think Boosh did an excellent job when we played well in front of him. Challenging every shot, throwing bodies in front, and not letting anyone gain the zone easily. We gotta do this from the first whistle. All game, all series. Go hard to the net, get Boston frustrated, and pepper Tim Thomas. He's vincible. He's a great post-to-post goaltender, probably the best in the league. I say get him moving post-to-post, but fake him out. Or just keep being badasses.

I'm lookin' for JVR to keep it up, Boosh to silence the critics, and Richards and Giroux to play big roles in this series (NOTE: Giroux played really well all series, albeit in the shadows. But that's his style. And Richie was weak at points, but I think he was playin' like a true captain late in the series, especially game seven. Pressuring the net, playing physically, and leading the team.)

That's it for now, game one goes down tomorrow afternoon, 3pm on NBC. We'll be in the heat of a Beer Olympics, but trust us, the game will be on the television the entire time.

Go Team USA

<3 sean

Game 5 Woes

Damn that was a tough loss. It's always so sudden in when it goes into overtime. One second you're playing and the next it's over. Even if you outplay the other team throughout they still only have to sneak one by you. And that's exactly what happened.

The first period was goddamn awful. We were on our heels the whole time. Buffalo passed it around us like a basketball team swing passing. Even when we had the puck we weren't finding players' sticks. Or we were trying to do too much and just turning over the puck.

But still I couldn't believe those first two goals they scored. One from that angle is fine. But the second was too much. I think Lavi should have pulled Bouche right there. All he had to do was stay on the post. Two goals from practically behind the net.
Once Leighton was in we seemed to get our groove back. I thought the Zherdev, Giroux, and Van Riemsdyk line gave the best effort. Zherdev was flying up and down the ice, playing defense for once. He's the player that stood out to me. Lavi knew exactly what he was doing by scratching hi from the roster most of the season. He has some fire now and he has a lot of energy left. Giroux has been doing his thing. Sometimes I don't know how the fuck he gets through defenders and gets an open look. Him and Leino have amazing puck control. No one touches them. And JVR is blossoming like many of us thought he could.

Richards had an amazing assist, no denying that. I actually don't know how he did it. But he still needs to step up. He has had good chances but hasn't finished. He's the captain, he's our spark, and I don't see it.

Zac Rinaldo was brought up to take the place of Carter. I thought he did an alright job of filling in, but I look for Carter to help our team in the next game. I'm predicting that Richards and Carter (if he's back) to have big games in Buffalo.

As usual our defense was pretty solid. Timonen made a few mistakes but he always makes up for it. Luckily the didn't score on them. Mezaros is our best defender at this point. He's big, strong, and has good awareness on offense. He has a great slap shot that seems to always end up on net. Pronger has to come back for this game. He's such a good distributor in the offensive zone. And we have to make sure they don't score on their powerplay opportunities.

It's all or nothing here. If we bring the series back to Philadelphia I think we'll take the series. But we still have to get through game six. Ryan Miller has been stellar. Everyone knew he was the key to the Sabres, but I don't think anyone thought he would be THIS good. You can't just take shots from the point and expect them to go in. We need to get him moving and get on every rebound. The save against Briere in game four shows just how cool he is under pressure.

On a lighter note, the Phillies shut out the Padres for the second time in two games. Hamels was dominant and the Big man came through. Were playing like the team we are. Utley's still out but Valdez has been great. I think if we decide to not resign J-Roll, Valdez will be a great replacement. Game three of the series is tonight at 8. Let's sweep those Dads.

Phuck Swords Love Philly

J

An absurd look at technology in sports

Fuck smart phones. I mean I see the appeal, the usefulness, and the convenience. But you don't need to post a photo to Facebook of everything you do. Some blurry photo of stage lights and a crowd of other people holding up their cell phones with the caption "WIz Kalifa concerttttttttttttt" is not necessary. Nobody likes Wiz Khalifa, and nobody likes you. And don't even get me started on extraaaaa letterssss at the endddd of the wordddddddddddd.

But smart phones could be so much bossier if they had more sports capabilities. Right now, you can basically get live scores and updates, even watch the television/listen to the radio broadcast live. Stats, interviews, analysis, yada yada yada. I thought these phones were supposed to be smart. So far, they've given me nothing that Amy Fadool and Michael Barkan can't. Plus, they do it with such finesse and style, I get chat roulette chubs when I watch Daily News Live or SportsNite.

(Sidenote: The Sixers' newish sideline reporter, Meredith Marakovits, is pretty cute. But I think she's like 6'4", cause when she interviews people she towers over them.)

So I've come up with some new sports apps that blow ESPN's pussy shit outta the water. Yeah, some of these are impossible, illegal, and probably immoral. But when have any of those three words gotten in the way of a true Philadelphia sports fan.

1. Virtual Boo/Cheer

I love screaming at my television. Nothing is better than waving goodbye to the opponent's fans as they hit the aisles after an empty netter, or calling the pitcher a bitch after we go yard on him. My father is the best at it. The minute the other team's running back gets the hand-off, screams of "KILL HIM" fill our living room. So basically, when your team is at home, you scream into your phone, joining the Phanatics in a chorus of boos, "CROSBY SUCKS" chants, or singing "High Hopes" after a victory. It's definitely illegal to pump in artificial crowd noise, but maybe if they paid for the app it would be a different story. Probably not.

2. Reid the Play

Everyone knows Andy Reid isn't the best play caller in the world. Especially on third/fourth and short, on the last drive, or pretty much any other time ever. So what if we voted on this app for a play for him to call. At least suggest something LOGICAL. Or he could just keep trying that slant over the middle to Brent Celek in triple coverage, either one.

3. The Sin Bin

I love the theory of the penalty box. Break the rules, and you have to sit in a closet for two/four/five minutes. You can't move much, there's noone to talk to except some old dude, and you have to watch as the other team tires your linemates and gets easy scoring chances. All because you misbehaved. So why not take the punishment a step further? Send written messages to the player through your phone, and they have to read them while they serve the penalty. There'd be no way to force them to read the messages, unless you put screens over the glass and surround them with hate mail. Fahrenheit 451 style.

I still love my Envy 2 so fuck smart phones. I got a full keyboard mother fucker. And a calculator.

Sean

Claude Jr-Oux Holiday

This one goes out to all you Flyers and Sixers fans out there. Enjoy the day off from both playoff series with Claude Jr-oux Holiday. Shitty photoshops are back. Flyers are back out against the Sabres on Wednesday night at 7:30 in Buffalo, with a 2-1 series lead. Sixers return home down 0-2 to the Heat, with game 3 on Thursday at 8 at the Wells Fargo Center. Holla at ya playoffs.


Hope that didn't freak you out too much. Stay on the lookout for more regular posts (MWF).
Peace,
Sean

Bobby Boucher...

As much as I wish Bobby Boucher was a real person who knew how to play goalie, played for the Philadelphia Flyers and was currently in my house to bring me a desperately needed glass of H2O it will not happen. So in his stead we are left with his two halves---the young and streaky Sergei "Bob" Bobrovsky and the reliable and understated Brian Boucher.

As much as I hate the incessant bickering and who-sucks-more-finger-pointing the annual Flyers goalie controversy brings, Bobrovsky's performance on Saturday was down-right atrocious and vindicates the conversation. Especially if he is going to be our Number one goalie through the playoffs.

When you let in three goals on seven shots and your idea of stopping a 3-on-1 is simply to get as low as possible and beg the shooter to go high, then there is something wrong. Maybe he is blinded by the playoff light, maybe he doesn't care about the playoffs and wants to return to Russia, maybe he just doesn't have the stuff. The list goes on. While he could easily come back and be brilliant in game 3, I think there is something to be said for how the team and Boucher played after Bob was pulled in game 2. When Boosh is in net he never looks overly spectacular and, to be honest, can look pretty awkward at times. But the truth is, the team played differently after he was in net. It wasn't until he was between the pipes that I saw the same team that went to the finals last June. Maybe it was the fact I was 7 hours into drinking at Bloomsberg Block Party or maybe it is my incredible hockey insight but I really think that Boosh is best for this team. While Bob may be able to make some great saves and steal a game our team is built on defense and consistent play. If the Flyers are allowing too many odd-man rushes and open shots then the Flyers are not playing their game and will most likely lose. If they are succeeding they are playing solid defense and getting consistent goaltending. In my opinion that consistent goaltending is going to come from Brian Boucher. I mean come on, fucking Michael Leighton was our goalie in the finals last year. We dont need Bob or Boosh to play spectacularly, we simply need our defense to play to its potential. Chris Pronger wouldn't hurt either.

Well now that I wrote this entire post, Philly.com has just confirmed that Boosh will get the nod for the Flyers in game 2. I should be Lavvy's consultant. Just saying.

Tim Johnson

Frank Seravalli Profile

Opening day tomorrow! But for now, a piece from one of my classes on Frank Seravalli, the Flyers beat reporter....
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No journalism degree? Well, that’s no problem for Philadelphia Daily News’ Flyers beat reporter Frank Seravalli.

A Penn State graduate and English major, Seravalli spent most of his college years interning and writing for newspapers instead of mastering his craft in the classroom.

“Very little actual journalism training,” Seravalli said. “The whole time I [was in college] I free lanced for a bunch of newspapers. Bucks County Courier Times…Delco Times…All just to get the name out there.”

“Basically made a lot of connections making a decent amount of money doing it. Covering pretty much every sport in high school from bowling to women’s volleyball.”

It may seem strange to Biology and Business majors on campuses across the country, but Seravalli’s story speaks volumes to the necessity of experience and connection in the journalism field. It’s not all about what you know but also whom you meet in the process. In the fall semester of his senior year at Penn State Seravalli was offered an internship at his future home---The Philadelphia Daily News.

There he had opportunities that most interns dream of as they listen to the steady buzz of a coffee maker, like covering Flyers’ games and the 2008 World Series.

After the internship ended Seravalli completed his English degree at Penn State. He was then accepted into Columbia’s graduate journalism program and moved into a new apartment in New York City.

Then the Flyers beat reporter at the time unexpectedly left his job right before the start of training camp.

And the Daily News came calling, again.

“I was lucky I hadn’t paid my tuition for Columbia,” Seravalli said. “We all know how expensive that is.”

It was a dream come true for Seravalli, who grew up playing the sport and calls himself a ‘hockey guy’.

“I was open to covering everything. I covered a lot of sports, just so many different things that Id be open to anything. This just happened to luck out,” Seravalli said.

He has not looked back since, covering the Flyers through its Stanley Cup Finals run last spring and a 2010-2011 season that has had the team at the top of the Eastern Conferences for most of its season.

That doesn’t mean the job comes with difficulties. Seeing a team at every practice, home and road game makes it difficult to find new angles and fresh perspectives.

“More often than not it’s about being creative,” said Seravalli. “After a while those stories can get a little monotonous. If there’s a long stretch of nothing happening you gotta find a new stat [the reader] wouldn’t find anywhere else.”

“There’s a lifestyle part to this job. Always checking twitter and media sites to catch up the news. I really enjoy it. “

Unlike a lot of the sports media Seravalli doesn’t want the use of social media sites and the 24-hour news cycle to overwhelm his first responsibility to the Daily News and his blog at Philly.com, Frequent Flyers.

“It’s not always important to be first, but to be right. So many people go out there and try and get it first and end up messing it up. Ill save info to keep it in the paper to give them a reason to come to philly.com and read the newspaper,” said Seravalli.

Still without an official journalism degree Seravalli covers a professional team in a top-five market.

Columbia is still waiting.