Passings,...

Director Sidney Lumet Dead at 86

NEW YORK -- Sidney Lumet, the award-winning director of acclaimed films such as "Network," "Serpico," "Dog Day Afternoon" and "12 Angry Men," has died. He was 86.

Lumet's death was confirmed Saturday by Marc Kusnetz, who is the husband of Lumet's stepdaughter, Leslie Gimbel.

Lumet was nominated for Academy Awards four times as a director. He never won, but he did receive an honorary lifetime achievement Oscar in 2005.

"Network," a scathing view of the television business, proved to be his most memorable film and created the enduring catch phrase, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!"

Many of his films, including "Serpico" and "Dog Day Afternoon," showed the grittier side of New York City.

His movie directing debut was 1957's "12 Angry Men," starring Henry Fonda.

"12 Angry Men" is STILL on of my favorite movies,too!

Manny Ramirez at Peace With Retirement Despite Failing Drug Test

NEW YORK -- Manny Ramirez walked away from baseball on Friday, abruptly ending the mercurial career of one of the most talented -- and tainted -- hitters to ever play the game.

The slumping Tampa Bay Rays slugger tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug during spring training, sources told ESPN.com, and informed Major League Baseball that he would retire rather than face a 100-game suspension.

"I'm at ease," Ramirez told ESPNdeportes.com via phone from his home in Miami. "God knows what's best [for me]. I'm now an officially retired baseball player. I'll be going away on a trip to Spain with my old man."

Ramirez served a 50-game suspension for violating the drug policy in 2009 while he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and second-time offenders get double that penalty.

This is why I support my beloved Phillies - they don't bring attention to themselves off the field, they play by the rules and they steer clear of the law.  Is it any wonder why they win every year??

Harry the K Starts the Year Smiling!

Mayberry caps big rally as Phils win opener

By Todd Zolecki / MLB.com | Friday Apr 1, 2011 4:09 PM ET

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies entered their season of World Series championship expectations Friday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park with their Cy Young Award winner on the mound, a packed house and a chill in the air.

The bats showed up late, but they showed up big in a dramatic 5-4 comeback victory over the Astros, capped by John Mayberry Jr.'s walk-off single.

Astros closer Brandon Lyon allowed singles to Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard to start the bottom of the ninth inning. Raul Ibanez popped up for the first out. Rollins stole third to put runners at the corners, and Ben Francisco singled to left-center field to score Rollins and cut Houston's lead to 4-3.

Carlos Ruiz crushed an 0-1 pitch foul before he singled to left field to load the bases.

Wilson Valdez, who replaced Chase Utley in the lineup, followed with another single to center to score Howard and tie the game.

The Phillies were on their way.

Mayberry, who made his first Opening Day roster, followed with a long single over drawn-in center fielder Michael Bourn's head to bring in the winning run.

The late rally made up for not taking advantage of a good start from Halladay. Halladay leads one of the greatest starting rotations ever assembled (on paper, anyway). And he pitched well. He allowed just five hits and one run and struck out six in six innings. But the Astros forced him to throw 101 pitches, which forced him from the game.

The Phillies didn't make Astros right-hander Brett Myers work nearly as hard. He threw just 85 pitches through seven innings, keeping hitters off balance the entire way. In fact, Myers did not get one Phillies hitter to swing and miss at a pitch until Francisco swung and missed at a ball in the seventh inning.

Halladay left the game trailing 1-0, and the Astros tacked on three runs in the seventh. J.C. Romero allowed a leadoff single to Brett Wallace to get things started. David Herndon then allowed a single to Humberto Quintero and a triple to Bourn to make it 3-0. Bourn scored on Angel Sanchez's sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.

The Phillies cut the lead to 4-2 in the seventh. Placido Polanco walked and Rollins singled with nobody out. They moved up a base on a passed ball. Polanco scored on Howard's sacrifice fly, and Rollins scored on a fielder's choice.

Suck It, Spankees, Suck It!!

Cliff Lee Agrees to $100M Deal With Phillies

NEW YORK -- Cliff Lee is returning to the Philadelphia Phillies, turning down an extra $50 million from the New York Yankees to rejoin the team that traded him a year ago.

The free-agent pitcher reached a preliminary agreement on a $100 million, five-year contract with the Phillies on Monday night, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.

The agreement is subject to the 32-year-old left-hander passing a physical, the person said on condition of anonymity because the agreement was not final.

The Yankees and Texas Rangers had been considered the front-runners
, but the Phillies wound up with the most-prized free agent of the offseason, reaching a deal that gives them a dominant rotation that likely is the strongest in the majors.

Lee, the 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner, joins reigning NL Cy Young winner Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels in a fearsome foursome.

Suck it, Spankees! Suck, it!

Four straight NL East Division titles,.....2 straight NL Pennants,...and a World Series.  What do you Bronx Bums like to call that?  Oh, yeah,..that's right:  A DYNASTY!!!

Goodbye, Godspeed, Farewell and Good Luck!

Oswalt goes to Phils for Happ, two prospects
Ace waives no-trade clause; set to pitch for Philly on Friday

HOUSTON -- Roy Oswalt, one of the greatest pitchers to wear an Astros uniform, is headed to the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Astros and Phillies finalized a deal on Thursday that sent Oswalt to the two-time National League champions in exchange for left-hander J.A. Happ, Minor League outfielder Anthony Gose and Minor League shortstop Jonathan Villar.

"It's exciting for sure," Oswalt said. "I think it works out for both of us. Houston's getting good prospects and another pitcher, and I'm getting to go to a great team. I'm happy for both sides. From the very beginning, I said I wouldn't accept it unless it worked out for both of us, and I think it worked out."

Oswalt cleaned out his locker at Minute Maid Park on Thursday afternoon and was scheduled to fly to Philadelphia later in the day and will start for the Phillies on Friday in Washington against the Nationals.

J.A. Happ was a good kid caught up in some bad luck and a numbers crunch. Here's hoping for a long career ahead of him.

Why Not Everyone is Cut Out for Major League Baseball

Baseball Fan Falls From Upper Deck
Man tries too hard to catch a foul at Rangers game

A Rangers-Indians game ground to a terrifying halt in Texas last night when a man flipped over the upper deck railing and plunged 30 feet to the seating area below. The fan was sitting in the front row, and reached out too far trying to catch a foul ball, witnesses tell MLB.com. He was still conscious when carried off on a stretcher, and is currently in the hospital. Four other people sustained minor injuries.

“Crazy. I looked up and saw him start to come down,” said left fielder Trevor Crowe. “He hit the luxury box, and then came down. It was the one of the scariest things I've ever seen.” The incident delayed the game 16 minutes. “We were going to wait as long as we possibly needed,” says team president Nolan Ryan, who added that the fall was a freak accident, and not a result of a railing malfunction.

Not to make light of this incident, but if you're going to go all out, do it right and make it count! Right, Aaron Rowand?

And Now: The Story behind The Story,.....

What you didn't hear about this incident last week,....



This tool being chased by Philly's Phinest is really a Mutts fan and, of course, deserved to be tased.

HT to Wyatt for the pic,....

Play Ball!

Phillies head into home opener on roll
Another National League pennant to be raised Monday

(Something that won't happen @ S**ti Field any time soon!)

By Todd Zolecki / MLB.com

04/12/10 12:15 AM ET

HOUSTON -- The Phillies returned to Philadelphia on Sunday night already in a pretty good routine.

It could help them Monday.

They are 5-1, which is their best start since they started 7-1 in 1993. Roy Halladay has delivered in two starts. Everybody in the offense seems to be hitting. The bullpen has shown promise. It has been a good first week on the road.

Now it's time to play at home.

"We have a good feel on our team right now," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "I think we're ready to go get 'em."

The Phillies play their home opener Monday afternoon against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park, and Manuel said he believes his team is ready to handle the festivities. That wasn't the case last season when he thought the 2008 World Series championship celebrations became a distraction, contributing to their 6-8 start.

Comings and Goings,....

Hello,....

Polanco happy to be back in Philadelphia
Gold Glove-winning second baseman will move to third

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies brought back an old friend to give their lineup a fresh look in 2010.

They announced Thursday that Placido Polanco has signed a three-year, $18 million contract to play third base.

"I always wanted to be here," Polanco said. "I never wanted to leave."

Polanco joined the Phillies in 2002, when they traded Scott Rolen to the Cardinals. He left in '05, when the Phils traded him to the Tigers for Ugueth Urbina and Ramon Martinez.

Polanco is back because the Phils declined the $5.5 million club option on Pedro Feliz, who played third base the previous two seasons in Philadelphia. In a free-agent market that included Chone Figgins, Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa and Miguel Tejada, the Phillies focused on Polanco, DeRosa and Beltre, before pushing hard for Polanco.

and Goodbye,....

Flyers fire Stevens, hire Laviolette as coach
POSTED: December 4, 2009

By Sam Carchidi

Paul Holmgren is a grizzled sort, but the Flyers general manager's eyes filled with tears last night as he described visiting with John Stevens earlier in the day at the Skate Zone in Voorhees.

"It was a hard walk for me today to walk to John's office. A hard walk," Holmgren said. "It might have been the hardest thing I've ever had to do."

What he did was fire Stevens, the gentlemanly coach whom detractors thought wasn't emotional enough - or tough enough - with his team. The Flyers, picked by the Hockey News to win the Stanley Cup in the preseason, are 13-11-1 and have lost six of their last seven. They have not scored in the last eight periods and have suffered back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 2003.

Sticks and Stones May Break Our Bones,...

But World Championship rings make everything feel better,...

More Left Coast whining over last night's emasculating of the Dodgers:

T.J. SIMERS

In closing, the Dodgers are set up for an unhappy finish

Meanwhile, the Phillies have momentum, home-field advantage for the clincher, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee.
By T.J. Simers

October 20, 2009

Bow-WOW!

I thought we were past this, but now we've got the Choking Dogs showing us a new trick, rolling over and playing dead.

The Phillies have the momentum, the home-field advantage for the clincher, last year's World Series MVP Cole Hamels on the mound, and Cliff Lee ready to go next if needed.

OK, so things are looking a bit bleak.

"They'll show up," Manager Joe Torre countered, and if he's talking about George Sherrill and Jonathan Broxton, forget it, the Dodgers are goners.

The Dodgers had only one chance to win this series, get the most from their second-rate starters, stay close and then mow down the Phillies in the late innings with Sherrill and Broxton.

(snip)

Halloween, as well as the two days that follow, would have been World Series Games 3, 4 and 5 played in Dodger Stadium.

You get this far with the best record in the National League, the home-field advantage and now everyone in the country has good reason to be ticked.

As you know, Fox will be broadcasting the World Series and it likes to put the camera on the face of every single fan sitting in the stands, these fans as ugly as any in the country.

Nowhere in America are people more angry than those living here. During Game 3 they had their humorless furry mascot put on boxing gloves and take on someone who was supposed to be an L.A. fan, sunglasses, cellphone and all.

The furry mascot punched him out, much to the delight of the folks here who love a dash of violence with their sports entertainment.

During Game 4 the furry mascot took a small Dodgers blue helmet, placed it on the ground and then pulverized it, much to the delight of the locals. Same tired skits, by the way, they employed a year ago. (And we beat your sorry, granola-fed asses a year ago, too!)

But this is considered entertainment here, the only bright spot if they draw the Yankees now, getting a look in the mirror at fans who might remind them of themselves.

Waa-aa-aa-aa!!!

And the Class Act Award Goes To,...

Phillies claim NL East crown
By Bob Ford

Inquirer Sports Columnist

As with everything else about the 2009 season, it wasn't easy or predictable as the Phillies clinched the National League East title last night with a 10-3 win over the Houston Astros.

If that description seems too dramatic for a season in which the Phils led the division since late May and secured their third consecutive title with a cushion of four games to play, you weren't paying attention.

Even though their division championships in 2007 and 2008 weren't assured until the final weekend and required them to catch and overtake a front-runner, this title might have been even more of a struggle.

And the class acts?

- Other then the automatic bragging rights that come with winning the World Series, no posturing from the players this year.

- Charlie Manuel showing his faith in Brad Lidge by bringing him in for the last out of the game

- The team spraying the "HK" sign in the outfield with champagne in memory of Harry Kalas

Good-Bye, God's Speed and Fare-Thee-Well

(Sigh),...another sports "good guy" leaves town:

Phillies activate Ibanez from DL
Club loses Coste to waivers to make room for slugger

By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com

07/10/09 4:52 PM ET

The Phillies activated outfielder Raul Ibanez from the 15-day disabled list on Friday, designating catcher Chris Coste for assignment in order to make room on the 25-man roster.

Coste was then claimed off waivers by the Astros.

Before landing on the DL with a groin injury, Ibanez was scorching at the plate, batting .312 with 22 home runs and 59 RBIs in 62 games. The 37-year-old left fielder has not played since June 17.

Ibanez, slated to start in the All-Star Game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 14, is sure to give a boost to a team that already leads the National League in runs scored with 444.

Throughout his 14-year career, Ibanez sports a .287 batting average and 204 home runs.

Hawaiian Flyin' to St. Louis!

Victorino victorious in Final Vote
Thanks to fans, Phils outfielder a St. Louis-bound All-Star

By Todd Zolecki / MLB.com

07/09/09 5:15 PM ET

PHILADELPHIA -- Shane Victorino is headed to St. Louis.

The Phillies outfielder won the National League's All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote at MLB.com for the final roster spot on the NL All-Star team. Victorino beat Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval in a close vote that seesawed since they were named two of the league's five candidates on Sunday. Detroit's Brandon Inge, Victorino's partner in their "Bran-Torino" push, won the final American League spot.

Victorino took the lead from Sandoval earlier on Thursday.

Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, D-backs third baseman Mark Reynolds and Nationals shortstop Cristian Guzman rounded out the NL candidates.

Victorino made a big effort to win. He campaigned throughout Philadelphia, even knocking on doors with Mayor Michael Nutter in South Philadelphia. He appeared on local and national TV and radio. He appeared in commercials. The Phillies promoted him heavily throughout the ballpark, including having ballgirls wear Hawaiian shirts.

He's Outta HE-E-E-RE!

Phils broadcaster Kalas passes away
Long-time announcer collapsed prior to Monday's game

By Jeff Seidel / Special to MLB.com

04/13/09 1:40 PM ET

WASHINGTON -- Long-time Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas passed away Monday afternoon after collapsing in the broadcast booth prior to Philadelphia's game at Washington. He was 73.
Team president David Montgomery announced the death. His voice was cracking as he said that "we have lost our voice."

Kalas, the 2002 Ford C. Frick Award winner, was found by Phillies director of broadcasting Rob Brooks and was immediately taken to George Washington Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He had been broadcasting Phillies games since 1971 and was known for his distinctive "Outta here!" home run call.

Before his stint with Philadelphia, Kalas was an original member of the Houston Astros' broadcast team from 1965-70.

Jeff Seidel is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

It won't be the same listening to them on the radio,....Say "Hi!" to WHitey when you see him Harry!

Officially, We Are THE Team to Beat!

Phillies' title defense officially kicks off
World Series champions return almost entire roster to camp

By Todd Zolecki / MLB.com

The Phillies' roster remains mostly the same, with the notable exception of Raul Ibanez replacing Pat Burrell in left field.

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Shortly after they assembled, they scattered across the Carpenter Complex.

On one field, pitchers took fielding practice.

On another, they stretched.

And in between fields, pitchers threw bullpen sessions with front-office staff watching closely from the side.

"It's great to get back here and see everybody," Phillies closer Brad Lidge said.

The Phillies officially opened Spring Training on Saturday with pitchers and catchers reporting to camp. The full squad reports Tuesday, but players like Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are already at Bright House Field.

Utley, who is recovering from surgery on his right hip, has been taking fielding practice and jogging. He also has been taking "dry swings" in the batting cage. He remains on target to be in the Phillies' lineup on Opening Day on April 5 against the Atlanta Braves. Howard, who said he is 20 pounds lighter than last season, is in good spirits after signing a three-year, $54 million contract extension last Sunday.

What the FuCC??

And the horse they rode in on,....

FCC gets complaints on Utley's on-air F-bomb
By Michael Klein
Inquirer Staff Writer

It was the F-bomb heard round the world . . . or at least the Philadelphia area.

And Phillies second baseman Chase Utley's use of the colorful adjective during the team's World Series victory parade on Oct. 31 has landed in the lap of the Federal Communications Commission.

The FCC reports it received 26 complaints from the public about Utley's language, which was heard live, in the late afternoon, on at least five television stations and one radio station, KYW (1060). Nielsen Media Research estimated that more than 825,000 local viewers saw part of the parade on CBS3, 6ABC, NBC10, Fox29, or Comcast SportsNet.

Whether any of the stations will face sanctions is not clear. An FCC spokeswoman said Tuesday that the agency does not comment on open issues.

The complaints - copies of which were requested by The Inquirer under the Freedom of Information Act - assign equal blame to Utley and the stations. The identities of the complainants were redacted.

"If they didn't want such words to be broadcast, they should have aired [it] on a delay to catch any obscene language," wrote a viewer from Philadelphia. "Pull their license to broadcast."

Another viewer wrote: "He should be disciplined for his lack of respect towards his fans and in particular the children exposed to such vulgarity. . . . The broadcasters are not at fault. Chase Utley is."

Another: "This was not a casual slip. This was an intentional misuse and abuse of the public airwaves. . . . How am I to explain such profanity to my child?"

And another: "It was embarrassing that he was allowed to do that and if there are no ramifications I will be furious. Is there no platform that is sacred anymore?"

Utley, who would not face sanctions himself, addressed his language Monday during a news conference about his surgically repaired hip: "I tell all kids not to use that word. If they're 29 and they win the World Series, I think they can say that. But I definitely would say to all the kids out there, 'Kids, it's a bad word. Don't say it. And I'm dead serious.' "

Anchors on most stations apologized after the speech, which was not subject to the delays common in talk radio. The stations themselves this week recalled receiving few if any complaints. The stations either declined to comment or did not respond to inquiries this week.

The case - the uttering of a fleeting expletive in a live setting - may become part of a battle between the FCC and broadcasters.

The audio and video in Citizens Bank Park, at the end of the parade, was provided by Comcast SportsNet under a pool arrangement to local broadcasters. SportsNet would not face sanctions because it is a cable network, not a broadcaster, and is not subject to FCC indecency rules.

SportsNet, which has made the parade video available through Comcast On Demand, recently edited out Utley's comment.


Here's the unedited version - NSFW - will curve the spines of Vestal Virgins and cause autism in small children (/snark!)



The TrekMedic sez:

For cryin' out loud, we haven't won the Big One in 28 years. Chase rarely gets in front of a microphone. He was probably still half-lit from all the champagne. Cut him a f**king break.
Oh, yeah,...and we're Philadelphia sports fans! We throw snowballs at Santa!!

Goodbye and Fare Thee Well,...

Over the weekend, the Pat Burrell era of Phillies baseball came to a quiet end with the signing of LF Raul Ibanez.

The Philly-area sportwriters are calling the departure "bittersweet."

The TrekMedic isn't having any mixed feelings.

I'm glad he's gone. Sorry, gentle readers, but that's how I feel. I'm an old-school Philadelphia sports fan: I support players that work everyday. Pat Burrell will be remembered as a steady force in Phillies history. True, he never complained about the media or fan derision heaped upon him every year. He never asked for a trade. He never made a big ass of himself in the media, either.

But,...for the past few years, he constantly needed a kick in the rear to produce. In the 2007 season, his bat only came alive after Charlie Manuel benched him for a fwe games. This season, it was only the outside hope that a stellar season would earn him a new contract that seemed to motivate him to produce on a consistent basis. And when it appeared that he had worn out his usefullness in Charlie's eyes, Burrell slacked off again.

So, while I'm not asking for the door to hit him in the ass on the way out, I'll offer him a handshake and a thank you.

BTW New Yawk Mutts - we're STILL the team to beat, despite what K-Y-Rod has to say about it!

You Can't Make This Up....

Only the NY Mutts could pull this off:

Mets get Putz as set-up man

LAS VEGAS -- The New York Mets overhauled their much-maligned bullpen with two big moves Wednesday, obtaining J.J. Putz from Seattle as part of a three-team, 12-player trade that gives them a setup man for new closer Francisco Rodriguez.

Bad Ph***in' News, Phils!

Phillies' Utley to have hip surgery
By Todd Zolecki

Inquirer Staff Writer

Chase Utley tried fiercely to conceal the severity of his right-hip injury throughout the Phillies' championship season.
It was not an issue, he maintained. Just normal bumps and bruises.

But the hip bothered him much more than he let on.

Utley, the Phillies' all-star second baseman, will undergo surgery next week in New York that will keep him from baseball activities for three months. A full recovery is expected to take four to six months.

The surgery is described as "an arthroscopic evaluation" that could treat "any labral [cartilage] or bony injury." In other words, it remains to be seen what exactly needs to be done.

Phillies officials sounded optimistic yesterday that Utley will be available to play most of the 2009 season, which begins April 5 against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. They also were optimistic that Utley will be the same Utley, the one who famously plays with reckless abandon, when he returns.

"I don't look to change the way he plays," said Scott Sheridan, the Phillies' head athletic trainer. "That's certainly not the goal of surgery. The goal here is to promote his health for the long term.

Yup, We're STILL Philadelphia Sports Fans!

HT to Wyatt:



I don't quite agree with Wyatt's sentiment, but it IS a classic "Snowballs at Santa" moment for Philadelphia!