Thoughts on the Phils

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Well, folks, here we are, just a little over a month left to go in the season, and in the midst of a pennant race we all thought we’d see back in April. This season has not been as enjoyable as last. The players have seemed surlier, Ryan Howard’s average continues to plummet, Chase Utley looks like a poor man’s version of himself, and Jimmy Rollins has had an absolutely abysmal year. With their superstars reeling, the team has been lifted by the likes of Shane Victorino, Pat Burrell, and Jamie Moyer. And somehow, here we are, in the midst of a pennant racethat we all know is going to come down to the last week of the season. And it will be for all the marbles, as neither of these teams will make it as a wild card.

I was at the game last night, and it was awesome to see Jimmy Rollins play like, well, Jimmy Rollins. When Brett Myers went down to the minors and then got shelled there, I thought he’d never pitch in the Majors again. But he’s come back and been awesome. Sure, we all wish we had gotten CC Sabathia, and it’s frustrating that our ownership TOTALLY F****** BLOWS, but Joe Blanton has been a decent if not spectacular acquisition (read: he’s better than Adam Eaton). And Jamie Moyer, wow, has been nothing short of phenomenal. But I think the bottom line is this: If J-Roll and Utley get hot in the last month of the season then the Phils win the pennant. If they continue to hit like they have the last three months, the Mets take it. I really think it’s that simple. Your thoughts?

Scoreboard, Brought to you by Smoking Hot Paraguayan Javelin Thrower Leryn Franco

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O’NEALS

  1. Young Old and Restless 114*
  2. Why’s the Rum Gone? 114
  3. Dorksided Fingers 110
  4. L. Ron Hubbard’s Diabetics 109
  5. Altar Boys 100

BARDS

  1. Sofa Kingdom 113
  2. Narcotyzing Dysfunktion 109
  3. Hurtin Bombs 98
  4. Touch Dicks 90
  5. Yu Wa Chinese Foo? 82

LOCUST RENDEZVOUS

  1. The Jams 112
  2. Susan’s Peters 93
  3. 1022 89
  4. Transexual Taser Fight 77
  5. Budweiser over me! 52

BLACK SHEEP

  1. CatDog 99
  2. Duane’s World 95
  3. Mark Spitz Phelps Swallows 91
  4. Doc Eison’s Leisure Time Products 89
  5. Buffer Zone 82

GOOD DOG

  1. Lamda 77
  2. Karaoke Afterwards Everyone? 72
  3. Zimas 4 Everyone 70
  4. Cornbread Mafia 66
  5. The Right Stuff 65

BARDS

  1. Sofa Kingdom 93
  2. Diego’s Panties 88
  3. Spanish Pantalonies 83
  4. Everybody Gets One Dead Hooker 78
  5. Western Omelette 74

*WON IN OVERTIME

Buzz Bissinger Speaks to Our Class

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As some of you know, I helped out with a summer school program at the Marian Anderson Center for the past 6 weeks. We took 10 teenagers from our basketball program and had them do schoolwork for two hours in the morning and then they would do civic stuff in the afternoon (getting people registered to vote and doing a leadership program with Kenyatta Johnson, the recently elected State Rep. from South Philly.) There were also several field trips, which included a trips to Harrisburg, City Hall, Constitution Center, and even the Fox Studios. We had our share of challenges, but all in all it was a pretty big success, as all ten of the kids who started the program finished it.

I recruited the teachers from the quizzo ranks, and they were AWESOME. I want to give a special shout out to Laura (Satan’s Minions), Bret (Western Omelette), Erin, and Garbo (Sofa Kingdom), who were fantastic and who all put a tremendous amount of time and effort to this program.

We had our graduation on Monday. In English, the kids had read Friday Night Lights, and I decided, “What the heck, why not try to get Buzz Bissinger come and speak to the class?” I figured it was a long shot, but it was worth a try. So I tracked him down, and sure enough, he agreed to do it.

After the teens gave their closing speeches, Bissinger walked to the front of the crowd of about 35 people and launched into an emotional spiel about sports and education. He railed against how seriously we take sports in this culture (“They’re putting in instant replay at the Little League World Series! Little League!”) and then drove home his point: without an education, these kids don’t stand a chance. “I don’t want to crush any dreams here, but the odds of you making it to the NBA are infinitesimal. But your odds of being a doctor, or a lawyer, or an accountant are not.” He railed on about Boobie Miles, the most tragic figure in Friday Night Lights, whose career came to an end with a knee injury, and who now, 20 years later, spends time bouncing from menial job to menial job and going in and out of jail for petty crimes. “I wish Boobie was here tonight, so that he could tell you how much he wished he had taken his education seriously.”

All in all, it was an awesome speech, and when it was done, the kids all went over to Bissinger to thank him and ask for his autograph. Buzz signed the books, told the guys that he would be back to see them play when they start back this October, and headed out. Pretty sweet way for us to wrap up the summer. And keep in mind, I’m probably going to be looking for volunteers to help us out this fall.