Saturday, April 13, 2013
The Philadelphia 76ers expected a season of promise with a big off-season trade. Now the franchise is on the verge of collapse.
We interrupt the start of the baseball season to report that another Philadelphia sports team won't be making the playoffs this year. So much for your Philadelphia 76ers. After a past few years of exciting new ownership, promising playoff victories and high-profile trades, the Sixers have sunk to the lowest depths of the four Philly sports franchises this year. The finger pointing is endless. This has been one disaster of a season. In the beginning of the year, the possibilities and promise were endless. The team, with numerous free agent signings and trades in the off-season, appeared prime to take off. With rising stars Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner leading the way, the Sixers added a dominant force in the middle that would allow them to …
Friday, April 12, 2013
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month; maybe sticks would help.
It’s always a rough ride for me when I’m forced to drive my wife’s car — a delightfully reliable, cute, sea-foam green front-wheel drive appliance from Korea. For the first few blocks it must look like the car is missing the “student driver” tent. The car shudders and stops short as my left foot keeps mashing the left side of the brake pedal … thinking there’s a clutch pedal there. I’m no scientist, but it might be a muscle memory thing, as I log tens of thousands of miles per year on a car with a manual transmission. I love driving my manual-equipped car (Is there anything better than a perfect rev-matched downshift?) and I know I’m in the minority. In fact, it took me months to find my current car, as most people don’t want to be …
Saturday, April 6, 2013
The question of whether the Philadelphia Phillies have a successful 2013 is up to the top three pitchers, not the hitters.
They are the Big Three. But we're not talking about Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins for the Philadelphia Phillies. We're talking about Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee. And it's that Big Three—as opposed to the Big Boppers—who will decide whether the Phils will have success in 2013. From the first two games, we all should worry. Hamels—the former World Series MVP with the big start who was pitching his first Opening Day—got shelled by the Atlanta Braves. Maybe it was Opening Day jitters or the chill in the air, but we Phillies fans expect Hamels now to perform like Steve Carlton when he takes the mound. In other words, we expect nothing short of perfection. That didn't happen Monday night as Hamels was sent to the showers…
Friday, April 5, 2013
A 1951 Chevrolet Bel Air Coupe gets a rare distinction from Guinness World Records ... and somewhere a man from Wisconsin is probably bummed out.
It’s got to feel strange when you show up to an event and your other car — the one with vintage tags — is parked prominently at your destination … blocked off by traffic cones. “I suppose the guy who stole my car likes to eat here too. At least he’s taking care of the car,” one might think. James C. Rees Sr., of Collegeville, probably had a feeling like that last Saturday. Rees arrived, along with his wife, to the Collegeville Italian Bakery. The reason? Well, his granddaughter, who’s on the Methacton High School swim team, had just something-or-othered relating to the team, and the family decided to celebrate. Actually, the party was for Rees and his car — a 1951 Chevrolet Bel Air Coupe. For about five months, Rees’ family members have…
Saturday, March 30, 2013
The Philadelphia Phillies open 2013 on road against rival Atlanta Braves with lots of questions.
They're calling this the possible Last Waltz. It's the title of the last performance by the late great The Band, which decided to retire from the road and end its successful run. But is this the end for the band of Philadelphia Phillies still left from the World Championship team of 2008? Big Boppers Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are finally healthy and they join the aging Jimmy Rollins and Carlos Ruiz as the core of champions past. Throw in Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee as staff anchors and Jonathan Papelbon and Mike Adams as bullpen stabilizers and you've got the makings of a strong nucleus. But can these Phils—who are wealthy—can also be healthy and wise too? Do they have what it takes to take on the rising Washington Nationals and the always…
Friday, March 29, 2013
Let's keep it stock, or close to stock, people.
My car celebrated its ninth birthday last November. While that’s not quite old enough to qualify for classic tags, it isn’t exactly new. But, for the most part, my car looks like it did when it rolled off the assembly line on Nov. 17 … a Monday. (I’m planning a big birthday party next November.) Aside from some minor changes — European/clear lighting with corresponding amber bulbs, and the occasional use of a Car and Driver “Save the Manuals!” magnet on the deck lid — my car’s exterior is stock. No decals. No wings. No fake badging. Stock. Lately I’ve noticed a trend that should have gone away after Vin Diesel first drove off into the sunset in an Orange Supra. More and more people are adding faux vents and air scoops to their cars. The…
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Some players like Domonic Brown have proved that they belong on the Philadelphia Phillies after showing signs of life this spring.
First comes spring. Then March Madness. And after that, baseball. Opening Day is right around the corner—less than two weeks away—and teams like the Philadelphia Phillies are trying to figure out who is going to make the 2013 roster. Each team carries 25 players. For manager Charlie Manuel, some of those selections for roster spots are simple. Count on shortstop Jimmy Rollins, first baseman Ryan Howard, second baseman Chase Utley and third baseman Michael Young as your starting infield. (So those are four spots.) Carlos Ruiz will have a place as catcher but he is banned for the first 25 games of the year. For now, backup Erik Kratz will get the nod, so Humberto Quintero will get a job for at least a little while on the Major League roster …
Friday, March 22, 2013
A look at what's powering those new police cars you're likely seeing.
My driver’s license just turned 16 last week. It’s something of a milestone — the thing I most lusted after when I was 16, turned 16. Man, I'm getting old. After 16 years of motoring, I — and I’m sure everyone else — have developed a Pavlovian response to three things: red lights, school zones and Crown Vics. After seeing one of these three, my brain and my right foot work in harmony to find that middle pedal as quickly as possible. Now I've got to change my habits. Several municipalities in my area have started to phase out the Ford Crown Victoria for both government and police use. I’ve noticed local officials driving around in everything from Ford Fusion hybrids to Chevrolet Sonics — which makes sense, by the way, as the Crown Vic …
Saturday, March 16, 2013
The free agent signings so far by the Philadelphia Eagles are very low-key and don't appear to return the team to stardom.
The Denver Broncos sign wide receiver Wes Welker. The Detroit Lions get Reggie Bush for their backfield. And the New England Patriots ink rising slot receiver Danny Amendola to replace Welker. The Philadelphia Eagles signed a bunch of free agents during the first day of NFL free agency late Tuesday too. But you probably never heard of most of the players. Such is the case maybe for how new Coach Chip Kelly is putting together the team's roster for next year. He seems to be focusing more on developing a unit—like a team of college players—than building a group of All-Pros and Dream Teamers. There's not much star power in these signings. It's nice, though, to hear Isaac Sopoaga, the new defensive tackle from the San Francisco 49ers, state at…
Friday, March 15, 2013
Stripping cars of their names, one luxury model at a time
It’s funny how industry-wide memos seem to fall from the sky. In the end, every automaker usually gets on board. Say I’m a 50-year-man looking for a high-end luxury car to replace my poor-decision-of-an-SUV that I purchased five years ago. The criteria? It has to be powerful, have a Roundel/Three-pointed star/Mt. Fuji badge (or any other logo that will make my neighbor envious on the hood), and it has to be pretty. Oh wait … its name also has to sound like it was derived from a robot from the future. How about a BMW Z4 sDrive35is? (I’m pretty sure someone fought with — or against — a Z4 sDrive35is in a “Terminator" movie at some point.) For the past 20 years or so, luxury brands have been phasing out cars with actual names in favor cars…
John
12:53 pm on Wednesday, April 17, 2013
This is a terrible draft, and the sixers will likely have th 12th pick or so. The only saving grace is that they aren't tied to major contracts, which is great. However, the free agency crop isn't that great either. Sure, Chris Paul is great, but he's not leaving LA. We will suck again next year. more ›