Philly Sports Quick Hits

Just wanted to clean up some things that have been on my mind the past couple of weeks as the Phillies prepare for game 5 of the NLDS.  When we got our playoff tickets and I saw that we had game 5 I didn’t think there was any chance we’d see the game, now we will be there.  While it’s only the NLDS it still will be pretty cool to see an elimination game.  Let’s just hope it’s the Cardinals that get eliminated.

Eagles Fans

At last week’s game I witnessed why some Eagles fans get a bad rep for being jerks and starting fights.  First let me preface this by saying that I do like to go back and forth and bust balls with opposing team’s fans.  I did this during the 49ers game.  I had some fun ribbing the Niners fan with the old school Starter jacket and his friend “Jerry Rice” (the dude looked like Jerry Rice’s brother).  They loved it as well and gave it back to me as the Eagles were in the midst of blowing a 20 point lead.  They both agreed that it’s part of the experience.  After it was over we shook hands, I told them congrats and I walked to the subway station.  No harm no foul, it’s all a part of the game.  I do see some fans take it to the extreme.  I’ve seen fans throw things, pour beer, and get into actual fist fights.  To me this is insane.  I pay way too much for my tickets to risk losing them.  I do have to say that things like these do not happen as often as the media would like you to think.  For the most part the games aren’t that bad.  It’s just the media hyping it because some guys much older than my dad booed Santa Claus.

Ho, Ho, Boo

Back to last week.  This is the second week in a row that I saw opposing fans instigating fights with Eagles fans. (the week before was against the Giants).   These opposing fans were doing a lot more than “friendly” banter. I did see fans of the Niners and Giants get the shit kicked out of them after egging the fan on.  I’m not condoning violence but whether at a game or not if you start messing with someone that has been drinking all day you’re pretty much playing with fire.  You know what to expect.  The media doesn’t report this though.  All you hear is about how bad Philly fans are and how they go looking for fights.  Not always the case.  Say what you want but nobody in Philly has ever thrown a banana peel at a black player, never attacked an umpire, or a base coach for that matter.  We get judged for the actions of a few idiots.  Every team has those assholes as do we.  Just do me a favor and don’t judge us all on the actions a few.

 Ryan Howard

The Big Piece

I still don’t get the hatred of Ryan Howard in Philadelphia.  He is a power hitter which means he will strike out a lot.  The guy is a great player.  I’ll agree that it’s annoying sometimes when he strikes out with men on base but you take the good with the bad.  This all stems from his play in the past couple of games.  Wake up people.  The man’s stats are sick.  Is he the best hitting first basemen in the league?  No.  Is he the worst?  No.  He is one of the best though so back off of him.

Jimmy Rollins 

Shhhh....

I love Jimmy Rollins.  I think he is a good player and is the spark that makes the Phillies go.  The one problem I have is that he constantly is on Phillies fans.  His latest comments were that the fans were pretty quiet on Sunday night (game 2).  First of all Jimmy, maybe if you guys had focused more on not blowing a 4 run lead and perhaps scoring more runs instead of the fans we would have been louder.  Let’s see, the Phils were up 4-0 after 2 innings with Cliff Lee on the mound.  It already was a long day in Philly.  The game started at 8:30 (thanks to the Yankees…enjoy the off season).  We had to deal with the Eagles blowing a 20 point 2^nd half lead.  Sorry if we were a little tired and thought that when you give Cliff Lee a 4 run lead we could relax a bit. Here’s a news flash Jimmy; fans don’t play the game.  How loud we cheer will not score runs or get outs.  If it did Philadelphia would have a hell of a lot more titles than we do know.  So tonight at Game 5 I promise to be loud Jimmy as long you promise to win.  Deal?

Reggie White/Jerome Brown

Where's Troy?

The NFL Network has a show called A Football Life.  Last week they did an episode on Reggie White and Jerome Brown.  After watching it made me realize just how great those players were and how amazing that defense was. How they never won a Super Bowl is insane.  That 1991 team would have been great had Bryce Paup not crushed Randall’s knee.  Maybe they win it in 1992 if Jerome Brown wouldn’t have died.  I’m not sure.  Those great defenses played in one of the toughest divisions ever.  The Redskins and Giants were winning Super Bowls and the Cowboys led by Aikman, Smith and Irvin were just starting to get good.  While I’m glad Reggie did get to win the Super Bowl, it still kills me that it was with Green Bay.  Who is the greatest player to play in Philadelphia to win a title with another team?  I say Reggie.  Thoughts?

Buddy Ryan vs. Andy Reid

I'd beat Andy in a fight

Speaking of those late 80s early 90s Eagles teams, what is the deal with Philadelphia’s love affair with Buddy Ryan?  I’ll admit that I loved him as a coach and still have love for him.  The man had one of the best, most feared defenses ever yet never won a playoff game.  I say it’s his personality.  This guy just didn’t care who he pissed off.  He told the media exactly what he was thinking and most of the time it was what most fans were thinking as well.  An attitude like that goes over well in Philly.  Andy Reid is hands down the most successful coach in Philadelphia, yet doesn’t have near the amount of admiration that Ryan still has.  Why?  It’s his standoffish, holier-than-thou attitude.  While as a logical fan, I agree that it’s not really that important for us to know what he’s thinking.  However, don’t treat us like we’re idiots.  Give us something Andy.  We pay good money for tickets, apparel, parking, concessions, etc. Show us some emotion.  Maybe Andy could take a page out of Ryan’s book.  Maybe you should do a better job than that.  Hmmph…time’s yours…..

Eagles

Time's Yours

Finally while I’m on the subject of Andy Reid, I finally think the time has come.  It’s been 13 years and it’s still the same shit.  After an Eagles loss we all know what he’s going to say and it never changes.  (I’ll take responsibility for that, I have to put the players in a better position, I’ll take a look at that, It’s tough to win in the National Football League, etc.)  The time has come for the Eagles and Reid to part ways.  Who takes over?  I have no idea but it’s been 13 years and no Super Bowl.  His time management is suspect.  He feels linebackers are not important yet teams run all over us and tight ends have career days against us.  He doesn’t make 2^nd half adjustments.  It’s the same shit every game.  If I made the same mistakes at my job for 13 years and didn’t achieve the ultimate goal of the organization, I would have been gone.  They say the definition of insanity is continually doing the same thing but expecting different results.  13 years and no Super Bowl?  Insane.  Hmmmph….time’s yours.

That’s all for today.  Hopefully I’ll have some positive news about the Phillies to talk about next week.  Keep following us on Facebook and Twitter and look me up on LinkedIn.  Until next time this is Jimbo saying after all this time, it’s finally time to Bring it Home for Jerome.

R.I.P.

Them Belly Full but We Hungry.......

For all you Bob Marley fans out there you know how the rest of the lyric goes…..”A hungry mob is an angry mob.”   If you have been following the news recently, flash mobs are causing a number of problems in the city of Philadelphia.  They have been for a few years now.  The problem is now so bad that Mayor Nutter has imposed a 9 p.m. curfew on anyone under the age of 18 in certain parts of the city.  As expected this has caused a ton of backlash.  For all of our loyal readers you know what that means; it’s time for Jimbo to weigh in with his opinion.  

First let’s start with what a flash mob is defined as.  Dictionary.com defines a flash mob as; a large group of people mobilized by social media to meet in a public place for the purpose of doing an unusual or entertaining activity of short duration.  Key words being “unusual or entertaining”.  What’s happening in Philly as well as Maryland earlier this week could be described as unusual but entertaining?  Who would be entertained by this?  Certainly not the business owners who are getting robbed and looted.  Definitely not to the innocent people who get hurt.  So entertaining to whom?  The first thing that needs to change is the name.  These “gatherings” are not flash mobs.  Just because they are started through social media does not mean they are flash mobs.  Let’s call them what they are; riots.  According to dictionary.com (damn, all these free plugs, you’d think they’d plug Obstructed Views????) a riot is - a disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons acting together in a disrupting and tumultuous manner in carrying out their private purposes.  If you’ve watched the news and have seen the aftermath of these so called “flash mobs”, you know then that they need to be reclassified as a riot.  Period.

Now the backlash.  Everyone has an opinion on these riots, but in reality who has done anything to stop them other than Nutter?  You see the same people on the news getting interviewed that you always do, and they’re claiming it’s the city’s fault.  Huh?  They claim that if more rec centers were open then the kids wouldn’t be bored.  Seriously?  What time are these riots happening?  Most of them well after the rec centers would be closed for the day.  So if you open the rec centers later, does this mean they couldn’t or wouldn’t just start a riot after they closed?  After all, they’d have more time to plan them with each other.    Also, for you idiots that say opening rec centers later would solve the problem, let me remind you that the city has huge financial problems.  Keeping the rec centers open costs money.  I don’t see any of you knocking down the Mayor’s door to volunteer to man the rec centers.  Remember when you bitched about having to pay the soda tax?  Oh yeah, some of that money could’ve gone to the rec centers.  You made your bed, now sleep in it.

Going back to the second part of the previous statement, these kids are bored and this is why they act out?  Get real people.  So if I get bored I can go and rob a bank?  Using your own logic it’s ok because I was bored.  I’ve said this a million times, where are the parents?  I usually don’t agree with a lot that Nutter does or says but in his rant he made some good points.  First of all, it’s not only embarrassing for black people; it’s embarrassing for everyone that lives in the city.  We are known as the city that can’t control our youth.  Everyone said that he said it in the wrong place (a church).  I say no way.  It’s the perfect place.  Some of these church goers are the same ones that bitch about the problem, so say it in front of them.  Challenge them to step up.  I’m sure a lot of them complained about the soda tax.  You want to bitch?  Step up your game.  Volunteer.  If not, shut up.  You’re just making the problem worse.

Nutter imposed the curfew.  Kudos Mr. Mayor.  Make it a crime for these rioters to be on the streets.  What’s that you say?  That violates these kids’ rights?  Bullshit.  Minors do not have full constitutional rights.  What’s that?  You’re punishing all for the acts of a few?  Well, maybe so but this is an epidemic. (A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time….thanks once again Dictionary.com now help a blogger out).  These rioters are an infectious disease.  You don’t like it?  Move out of the city.  These kids need to learn that this is how real life goes.  If you’re working at a place where people constantly show up late and the boss makes a rule that if you are late you get docked pay, guess what happens if you show up late for the first time?  Such is life.  Not fair?  Life isn’t fair.  These kids and their parents need to learn that now.

Finally I want to talk about the parents.  Not only should the kids be taken into custody and held until their parents come and get them, the parents should be punished.  You have to know that there is an epidemic of riots in this city.  Where are you?  Step up and be a parent.  Know where your kids are and what they are doing.  Obviously if they are out rioting you’re not doing your job.  Fine these parents.  Take the money from the fines and use it to help pay some of these business owners’ insurance deductibles.  You can’t pay the fine?  Go to jail.  You have to work?  Make sure someone is watching or at least keeping tabs on your kids.  Don’t like it?  Move out of the city.  I’ll be glad to help you pack.  Your poor parenting is a burden on me and all the other residents of the city.  Peace out.

Is there an easy answer to controlling the flash mobs?  Yes.  Set the rules/laws and strictly enforce them.  I’m sure if you make a couple examples out of people it’s a start.  This has nothing to do with kids being bored because rec centers are closed.  That’s laughable.  It, much like many things, comes down to parenting.  Where I grew up there wasn’t shit to do.  You want to talk about bored?  I didn’t start riots.  I found something to do.  I suggest all the parents of these “mobsters” teach their kids the same.  If not, I fear for the city of Philadelphia.  I started off with a Bob Marley lyric.  What are these kids hungry for?  Their parents.  Step up people.

Wednesday Evening 4-Pack plus a bonus

Trashy

While I’m on the subject of people in the city of Philadelphia, let’s talk about trash.  Philadelphia is known for being a dirty city.  There have been a few articles recently in the Daily News talking about it.  The same people that bitch about the soda tax and the rec centers inevitably are also the ones that bitch about Philly being dirty.  Here’s a thought, THROW YOUR TRASH IN A TRASHCAN!  I don’t know how many times, no matter what section of the city I’m in, I see people tossing trash on the ground.  Newsflash people…..IF YOU THROW YOUR TRASH ON THE GROUND, YOUR CITY WILL BE DIRTY.  YOU HAVE NOBODY TO BLAME BUT YOURSELVES!  It’s not that hard of a thing to do.  Why do I care?  This directly affects me.  Where I live in Roxborough, no matter how many times I clean up the trash, there is always more that blows into my yard and driveway.  I couldn’t tell you the last time I had Burger King so I know it’s not mine.  Hell, there isn’t even a Burger King close to my house.  Until you learn to dispose of your trash the right way, Philly will be dirty.  Use some of the energy you have to bitch and clean up some trash.   Or move out of the city.

Slut Walk

Last weekend in Philly there was a “Slut Walk”.  This was to raise awareness for rape.  I agree with the cause.  No one under any circumstance should be raped.  The reason was because some idiot cop in Toronto said that in order to remain safe, women should avoid dressing like sluts.  Basically saying that if you dress like a slut you’re inviting someone to rape you.  Ridiculous.  That makes no sense and I agree with their cause.  However, (you knew it was coming) I do have a problem with some of the thinking of these women.  Again, no one ever deserves to be or asks to be raped.  That’s stupid.  My problem is with the women who wear tight, scantily clad clothing, and then get mad because guys gawk at them.  Seriously?  You knew your tits were hanging out of your shirt when you left the house.  You knew your ass sticks out in those tight pants.  You knew your shorts were half up your ass crack when you put them on.  You knew your pants were low-rise and you wore a lacy thong.  If you didn’t want men to look, why then would you wear them? You know me and most other men are going to look.  I’m not saying you should be raped.  That should never happen.  You know that men are going to look.  If you didn’t know, I’m telling you now and now you know.  If you don’t want to be gawked at, cover your shit up.  Is it fair?  Probably not, but like I’ve said before; I don’t make the rules.

Ryan Howard

Ryan Howard is the most underrated and underappreciated athlete in Philadelphia and possibly the country.  I’m so sick of everyone bitching that all he does is strike out or hit “meaningless” RBIs.  To those people I have one question; “Do you even watch the Phillies?”  Sure, Ryan strikes out a lot.  He is a power hitter.  That’s what they do.  In case you haven’t noticed Ryan is quietly (I say quietly because the idiots that complain about him, obviously aren’t watching) having yet another strong season.  He leads the league in RBIs.  As the calendar is creeping toward September, Mr. Howard is once again starting to heat up.  Sure, he struck out looking to end last year’s NLCS, but we wouldn’t have been there without him.  Not clutch?  Did you see the Dodgers game last week?  Did you not pay attention down the stretch in ’07, ‘08, ‘09, and ’10?  His postseason numbers are .278 with 7 HRs and 27 RBI in 41 games.  Not bad.  We have one of the best first basemen in the game.  Appreciate it fans.  I’ll leave you with this; other than Pujols, what first baseman would you want?  Yep, that’s what I thought. 

So Long Nitwit

Speaking of Howards, longtime WIP host Howard Eskin is giving up his evening drive shift after 25 years.  Eskin is far from the most popular man in the city.  I used to listen to him every day (then I got another Howard; Stern on Sirius) and most of the time I didn’t agree with him.  He called listens morons, nitwits, idiots, etc.  He’s been accused of having his head so far up Andy Reid and Joe Banner’s assess.  He was a know-it-all who actually knew very little.  One thing you can say about Howard is that he was never afraid to speak his mind.  As a writer who isn’t afraid to speak my mind as well, I say good for you and good luck Howard.  I admire that no matter how bad a beating you take you speak your mind.   Keep on doing what you do chief. 

JoePa must go

Finally tonight I have to say it.  I’ve been saying it for years.  Let me preface this with I’m not a Penn State fan.  Joe Paterno must go.  Seriously.  He just got jacked up standing on the sideline during practice.  This isn’t the first time he’s been hurt on the sideline.  For your own safety Joe, step away.  We all know you haven’t really been coaching for some time now.  (I personally think you died 10 years ago and the PSU coaching staff is pulling a Weekend at Bernie’s with you but I digress)  You’re hurting the program.  I wouldn’t want to go to Penn State knowing that at any moment you could drop dead or decide to retire.  I wouldn’t send my kid there either.  You are a legend.  You were a great coach.  Key word, were.  You’ve done a lot for Penn State and college football.  For the sake of the program, hang ‘em up Joe.  Look what happened to Temple basketball when another legend, John Chaney, hung on too long.  The time is now.  Get Urban Meyer in there.

That’s it for tonight guys.  Please leave feedback because as always we love to have discussions.  Like us on Facebook and be sure to tell your friends about us.  Don’t forget we are on Twitter @Obs_Views_Blog  again; I leave random thoughts throughout the week.  Until next time this is Jimbo saying “if your body ain’t banging, cover your shit up.”