Game News and Notes: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Atlanta Hawks

Okay guys, sorry it has been so long since I have blogged but school work has taken up most of my time and I haven't really just been able to sit down at my computer and share my thoughts. Well, now I've got a bit of time and after watching tonight's Sixers game, I thought of a new idea to use in this blog and one I'll try to implement as much as possible throughout the season.

I call it game news and notes and it will just be a little recap of the game as seen through the stat sheets. Now, I know what you are probably thinking, stats are boring and not fully telling of the story of the game. While I do agree with you I think there is a lot to be learned in looking at the stat sheet and then giving a bit of analysis based on what I saw by watching the game. So time to relaunch this blog with the inaugural installment of News and Notes.

Note #1 - Big Contributions from the Starters
For the 13th time in 15 games, the Sixers had at least five guys scoring in double digits. Let's look at the scoring line of the starting five:

              Jrue Holiday (6 REB, 11 AST, 16 PT, 3 ST) 

             Andre Iguodala (6 REB, 6 AST, 11 PT, 2 ST)

             Elton Brand (16 REB, 3 BL, 10 PT)

             Nikola Vucevic (7 REB, 8 PT)

             Jodie Meeks (3 REB, 12 PT, 4-8 3FG)

With all of the starters scoring in double digits with the exception of Vucevic, tonight was one of the rare nights where the bench players actually didn't contribute to a lot of the scoring. Off the bench, Thaddeus Young (3 REB, 20 PT), was the only player to score in double digits but as I said at the beginning of this post, the game on the court is more than just the numbers that appear in the stat sheet. Despite only scoring 5 PT with 5 REB, Evan Turner was a big part of a lot of the fastbreaks in tonight's game. Turner has greatly improved since last year in more than just his shooting. His knowledge of how to play the game has gotten much better and he has become a better passer and better shot creator, which is something important to have coming off of the bench.

Point of note: With tonight's game, seven Sixers - Iguodala, Brand, Holiday, Turner, Young, Spencer Hawes and Lou Williams - are all averaging double digits in scoring averages, a mark that is best in the NBA for players in the double digits.

Note #2 - Refocusing for the Second Half
In the first half of the game the Sixers shoot absolutely poorly at a season low 34%. Their defense was still solid but with eight first half turnovers, the only thing that kept the Sixers close was that they attempted and made a lot of free throws (16-19 for the game). Most of the 19 FTA occurred in the first half and served to keep the Sixers down by only eight at the half. Coming out of the half, the Sixers were like a new team. They shot around 50% in the second half and only committed four turnovers to match their NBA best average of twelve a game.

Note #3 - The NBA's Best Defense Strikes Again
Although a bit of a sluggish start, the Sixers defense also improved greatly during the second half. They managed to cause the Hawks to commit twelve second half turnovers and to lower their 50% shooting to 34% for the second half. The turnovers often led to fastbreak points and of course the crowd-loving dunks. All of this contributed to a solid fourteen point win, holding the Southeast Division leading Hawks to only 76 points, keeping the Sixer opponents below their NBA best, 85 points a game.

Note #4 - Milestone for Andre Iguodala
Andre entered the game two steals away from 1,000 on his career and ended the night having reached that mark.With the two steals, Iggy reached the 1,000 mark putting him fifth on the Sixers list now only seven behind Charles Barkley and having him sit sixth out of active NBA players. Iggy also leads the Sixers in SPG averaging about two.

Note #5 - By the Numbers
Elton Brand had 16 rebounds in the game including nine off the offensive glass. These rebounds came at key times and helped the Sixers in scoring second chance points.

Jodie Meeks shot 4-8 from three point range including a pair of key threes to cap a Sixers 14-0 to give them their first lead of the game midway through the third quarter.

10 points - that was the amount scored by the Hawks in the third quarter including a buzzer beating three by Willie Green.

Note #6 - Previewing the Next Match-up
After beating the first really good team this season, the Sixers are starting to establish themselves as a contender in the Atlantic Division. Currently sitting at 11-4, (7-1 at home) and first place in the division, the Sixers wins have come mostly against sub .500 teams and their four losses have come against the NBA's better teams. Winning this game was important for their confidence and the belief that they can beat the good teams. It couldn't have come at a better time as the Sixers face the Miami Heat tomorrow and winning this game will show the league that the Sixers best NBA bench and defense really are as good as their record indicates.


           

Down But Still Not Out- What is It Going to Take For The Eagles to Finally Be Eliminated?

I crossed playoffs off of the list for the 2011 Eagles when they had embarrassing 4th quarter loss after 4th quarter loss. Hope was still seldom alive because of the Cowboys losing and the expectation that the Giants would collapse second half of the season like all New York teams seem to do, but I wasn't betting on the Eagles going to the playoffs.

With hope still alive, I definitely nixed playoffs from the conversation after the horrible loss to the Chicago Bears and to the Arizona Cardinals, where the Birds let two teams have fourth quarter comebacks to win the games. In my opinion, the Cardinals loss being the worst all season, because the defense just shut down and let a young and inexperienced QB lead a game-winning drive.

After that loss, I thought to myself there is no way Eagles can make the playoffs now, no way. The Cowboys had been heating up and their schedule was more favorable than the Eagles.

From the Cardinals, the Eagles faced the Patriots in what was probably considered the 4th or 5th "must win" game of the season and lost horrendously. Vince Young did lead a 4th quarter comeback to beat the Giants to give the Eagles their 4th win but after that the loss to the Patriots and almost as horrible, the loss to the Seahawks, the Eagles HAD to be mathematically eliminated. I mean they had four wins and best they can finish with is 8-8. It still turns out though by some miracle or maybe by the grace of God, the Eagles are not out of the question to not only make the playoffs but to win the NFC East as well.

Let me repeat: The 4-8 Eagles who have had almost no continuity all season can still win the NFC East.

Do you believe it? I don't. I didn't, until I saw the numbers.

Typically one of the best and strongest divisions in football, the NFC East has faltered this year. The best team is the Cowboys at 7-5 and then the Giants are 6-6 and both the Eagles and Redskins a miserable 4-8. It is a good thing the Eagles aren't in the NFC North because if they were they would have been mathematically eliminated about four Packers wins ago.

Before I explain how winnable this division actually is at this point, I'll present the scenario the Eagles need to win the NFC East:

In order to win the NFC East, the Eagles have to win their remaining four games and finish with a record of 8-8. The Cowboys need to lose three of their remaining four and the Giants have to lose two of their remaining four. If all of this happens all three teams will be 8-8 but the Eagles will have the head-to-head against the Cowboys, a tie with the Giants and the best divisional record of the three making them the NFC East Champion.

Considering the team is 4-8, this scenario is actually a heck of a lot more probable than it could be. The fact that a playoff situation even exists is still mind-boggling to me but it isn't out of the question. It is quite possible the Cowboys only win one more game and the Giants two especially since they play each other twice more before the season ends. These games will very well make or break the Eagles chance at playoffs.

Looking at schedules, the Eagles still Miami on a recent hot streak, Dallas, Washington and the NY Jets. This is not an easy schedule by any means. As I mentioned Miami has been hot as of late and while the Jets may not looks as good as in past years they are still a force to be reckoned with. Even the Redskins and Cowboys could cause the Eagles some trouble. That said, all of these games are winnable if the Eagles can play like the superbowl caliber team they are on paper. With Vick hopefully back taking snaps, McCoy having a career year and Maclin and Jackson catching passes, the Eagles offense should have favorable match-ups in all of these games. Look for the Christmas Eve game against Dallas to make or break the Eagles season as I think they beat both Miami and NY before their final match-ups against Dallas and Washington.

For Dallas, their toughest remaining games are two against the Giants and the Eagles can take solace in the fact that one of these teams has to lose. If all works out for Philly, the Giants and Cowboys will split this series. In that case Dallas would have to lose against Tampa Bay which could happen, the Eagles and the Giants. The Giants then would have to lose one of their two remaining match-ups against either the Jets or the Redskins.

So if by some miracle all of this happens,  the Eagles are going to the playoffs and that, well that in and of itself would be some sort of minor miracle and it would certainly be a season to remember. And if they don't, well no one is expecting them to make it anyway so it won't make much of a difference.

First NFL Head Coach Fired, Is Andy Reid Next?

It is official, Jack Del Rio is out as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. This means that on November 29th, the first head coach firing of the NFL season has occurred and it also means, let the frenzy begin!

Typically head coaching vacancies open up in drouths and with more than a handful of friable candidates, it is time to really evaluate who will be the next coach to go.

I think it is a safe bet to say that most people in Philadelphia are ready for the Andy Reid era to come to an end. Sure he has led the team to division championships, NFC Championships and a Super Bowl, but that is it. It is partially the fact that he has only gotten them to the Super Bowl and not won it that has had fans pining for a new coach for some time, even before this debacle of a season. It is fair to say that Reid is a good coach but to a great one. He is still a good coach but hopefully next season he will be a good coach on some other team.

Andy Reid is probably public enemy number one in the city of Philadelphia right now and as a result he is in line to be thrown to the den of wolves that is the Philadelphia media. Hoping to be one of those wolves one day, I still do not change what I said. Just like the fans can be, the Philly media is vicious. More than reporters most of them are passionate fans and they do not like to see the Eagles or other Philly teams fail. Unlike fans who can just take the losses and forget about it, the media has to actually analyze those losses and pinpoint what exactly their favorite team is doing to lose so many games. Reid has been of some help though to the media, as he constantly puts blame on himself. Sure, it all starts with the head coach but if Mike Vick throws an interception or Desean Jackson drops a pass, that isn't Reid's fault, or Marty Morningwheg's either. They may be the guys calling the offensive plays but if a QB doesn't have a good read and throws a pick, it is his fault and his alone, not yours Andy. Reid might have helped himself out if he had just put the blame where blame was due. Instead of always blaming himself, Reid should have given blame to some of the players or other coaches too. At least then, he could have led the media to believe that he actually knows what the problem is and is not just copping out and seeming uneducated about his own football team.

So for those who want Reid gone, I am with you. Before this season I thought he was still doing a good job. He finally had the talented players and core to have a monster season. I mean considering what Reid was able to do with teams in the past, I was extremely optimistic of what he could do with Vick, Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Lesean McCoy and Steve Smith just to name a few. Optimism still high after the Nnamdi signing, the Eagles really did look like they could win a super bowl. Then Reid made longtime offensive line coach the defensive coordinator and although it is not entirely Juan Castillo's fault, it seems the Eagles trail of decline in 2011 starts there. Promoting Castillo to DC may have been the nail in Reid's head coaching coffin. If it worked out Reid is a genius but it didn't and that is a big part of the reason everyone is calling for his head.

Fans can be fickle at times and may not see past wins and losses. Since the Eagles are 4-7, fire the head coach. Normally I would disagree with this but the proof is in those seven losses. Looking back the Eagles should have won at least five of those games. The offense played pretty well and continue to be one of the NFL's highest scoring teams but in the 4th quarter it is almost as if the entire team takes a break.   Most of the blame has been squarely put on what was supposed to be an unstoppable secondary with CB Nnamdi, DRC and Asante Samuel. The trio that was supposed to be lights out has been anything but and have seemed to struggle the most in the game's most important moments. With leads in the fourth quarter in six out of seven losses, you would think the record would be different. Unfortunately however it isn't and due to horrible defensive breakdowns, it has the Eagles with a losing record.

Plain and simple, Juan Castillo has to go and Reid who made the decision to promote Castillo to DC should pack his bags and go right along with him. Do I think it will happen before the end of the season? No, and here's why. Most if not all fans, myself included have given up on the Eagles making the playoffs. At this point they would be lucky to just finish as a five hundred team. However, and statisticians will probably eat this up, the Eagles are not mathematically eliminated. If they win their remaining five games against the Dolphins, Jets, Seahawks, Cowboys and Redskins and if the Cowboys (7-4) lose three of their remaining five including one against the Eagles, that would put the Eagles in a tie at the top of the division but because they beat the Cowboys head-to-head, they would make the playoffs and not Dallas. However all of this is still dependent on the Giants (5-6) losing two of their remaining five games. The Giants still face the Packers and Cowboys twice and surprisingly enough the two games the Giants-Cowboys play could determine the Eagles fate. So mathematically, yes the Eagles can still make the playoffs and mathematically, Andy Reid can still win the remaining five games and mathematically, if all of this happens and the Eagles make the playoffs, it is a safe bet that in a "what have you done for me lately" league, Reid will not be going anywhere.

By the Numbers: Looking at How Making the Playoffs Increases Your Chance to Win the MVP Award

With the MVP voting coming out it was almost shocking to see that both Halladay and Phillies slugger Ryan Howard finished in the top ten. Halladay was in 9th place, while Howard took 10th. Curious enough however was that the Cy Young winner of Kershaw finished below both Howard and Halladay in the voting. When I saw these results I asked myself, "how does the best pitcher get less MVP votes than the 2nd best pitcher?"

I thought maybe it was based on offensive stats but those are so insignificant for a pitcher. Both guys must have been judged on their pitching skills mainly if not solely for voting purposes. Looking at the results left me with only one possible option and that is that the voters of the MVP care more about making playoffs then do the voters of the Cy Young.

Qualifications seem to be different in order to win these awards based on the results. To win the Cy Young you just have to be the best pitcher in the league. Sounds simple enough. To win the MVP however it is almost as if you have to be on a playoff team. That is unless your stats are incredibly better than the field. Look at the results from the past six years:

2005: Alex Rodriguez NYY/ Albert Pujols STL
2006: Justin Morneau MIN/ Ryan Howard PHI (.313 avg/ 58 HR/ 149 RBI)
2007: Alex Rodriguez NYY/ Jimmy Rollins PHI
2008: Dustin Pedroia BOS/ Albert Pujols STL (100 runs/ 37 HR/ 116 RBI/ .357 avg)
2009: Joe Mauer MIN/ Albert Pujols STL
2010: Josh Hamilton TEX/ Joey Votto CIN

Out of this list only two players, Howard and Pujols were not on playoff teams at the time of their award, but looking at the stats it is hard to see how anyone else could have won the award. This goes in with my argument that only if stats are that much greater than the rest can a player not on an playoff team win the MVP.

Need more proof? Look at some of the basic comparisons between player A and player B.

Player A: .332 avg/ 33 HR/ 111 RBI/ .397 OBP/ .597 SLG/ 109 R/ 33 SB
Player B: .324 avg/ 39 HR/ 126 RBI/ .399 OBP/ .586 SLG/ 115 R/ 40 SB

Player B finished in the top three of all major offensive categories including leading the NL in HR, RBI and R and finishing 2nd in SB, SLG and OPS and 3rd in batting average. Player A was 1st in SLG and OPS, 2nd in batting average and runs scored and 4th in RBI, 6th in HR. There really isn't that much separating Player A and B other than the fact that Player A helped to lead his team to their first division title in 30 years and Player B did not make the playoffs.

Proving the point that the Cy Young can be won by non playoff pitchers, Clayton Kershaw of the LA Dodgers was this year's recipient. Kershaw's stats were comparable to Roy Halladay's but ultimately Kershaw had the edge shown in his almost unanimous winning of the award. Just like Player A and B, Kershaw and Halladay were very close in stats. Unlike A and B, the Cy went to Kershaw despite his being on an 82-79 Dodgers team. The other Dodger who if you haven't guessed already is Matt Kemp as Player B, did not win the MVP. Ryan Braun, Player A, did.

Now, I am not saying with certainty that Braun won the MVP because his Brewers made the playoffs, but it is a factor that couldn't have hurt and that based on past voting cannot be ignored. It has become clear to me that being on a playoff team is thing to push a player over the edge. You could look at Kemp and think that he should have won and likely I agree that he should have. But it seems that according to the voters, it is harder to prove yourself as baseball's Most Valuable Player when you can't get your team to the playoffs. That being said, Kemp was in a Dodgers line-up where he was really the only offensive threat. Braun was aided by hitting behind 3rd place NL MVP finisher, Prince Fielder.

This can be said as true for the AL too. This year Justin Verlander of the Tigers won both the Cy Young and MVP. It is certainly odd for a pitcher to win an MVP but the overlooked candidates were on the Red Sox and Blue Jays, both teams that didn't make the playoffs.

Jose Bautista: .302 avg/ 43 HR/ 103 RBI/ .447 OBP/ .608 SLG/ 105 R
Jacoby Ellsbury: .321 avg/ 32 HR/ 105 RBI/ .376 OBP/ .552 SLG/ 119 R
Justin Verlander: 2.40 ERA/ 24-5 W/L / 250 SO/ .92 WHIP/ .828 Winning %

Now, looking at these stats it is clear Verlander had a phenomenal year. He led the AL in all major pitching categories and finished 4th in CG. Also looking at these stats though it is easy to make a case for why 2nd place finisher Jacoby Ellsbury should have won the award. Verlander was the best pitcher but considering he played only 34 games to Ellsbury's 158. I am a firm believer that a pitcher only going once every five days should not win the MVP unless they truly were baseball's most valuable player and I don't think Verlander was. That being said it is quite possible Ellsbury was hurt in the voting by the fact of the Red Sox epic collapse to end the season resulting in missing the playoffs.

So for guys like Kemp and Ellsbury missing out on the playoffs began the uphill battle for them to win the MVP. As I said, it can't be guaranteed that making playoffs decided why Braun and Verlander won the awards, but as the past has dictated, it is definitely helpful when the voters make their decisions.

Gone But Not Forgotten

It has been a long couple of weeks for me as far as school and homework and commitments go. I know there aren't any excuses but I haven't had time to sit down and blog about my opinions and reactions. It is not that there was nothing to blog about because in the sports world, trust me there is always something going on, but just that i didn't have time. That being said I am officially as on 2pm on break until next Monday. After that it is only a few weeks that seperates me from winter break which means more blogging, more posting and more sports following.

As far as what has happened I have missed so much. In my blogging absense as my last post came on the 6th of November, a lot of sports adventures have occurred. I know it is useless to talk about them now but it is worth recapping just a little of how the last month has gone.

Let's start with the football season. In short Green Bay is still undefeated and Indianapolis is still winless. Aaron Rodgers is in the midst of one of the greatest seasons ever by a QB and he and both Drew Brees and Tom Brady are on pace to break Dan Marino's passing record of most single season passing yards. Devin Hester continues to run back kicks for TD for the Bears and leaves every NFL coach kicking themselves for choosing to kick to him. Nothing else major I would say, but wait, it is worth mentioning the Eagles won a game.

After a disappointing and almost unbeleivable loss against the Cardinals, the Eagles were literally on death row as far as making the playoffs. The team without Vick and Maclin, looked even bleaker when they faced up against the Giants Sunday night. Something weird happened however. Without Maclin and Vick, the Eagles actualy won a game. Lesean McCoy's touchdown per game streak did come to an unceremonious end but with it the Eagles losing streak. Vince Young who looked awful for most of the first half managed to be the QB the Eagles actually needed, one who could finish in the 4th quarter. The defense was electric and with Young's nine minute game winning drive, the Eagles beat the Giants.

This game resulted in two things. Not only did the Eagles win put them at 3-1 in the NFC East as they now hold the tiebreaker against both the Cowboys and Giants if the division were to end in a tie, it also showed that with six games left, winning out is not at all out of reach. They still have a tough matchup against the Patriots but after that, all winnable games. The Giants on the otherhand have Green Bay and New Orleans left on their schedule and a matchup with the Cowboys which can only serve to help the Eagles. The Eagles still have one against the Cowboys which very well might determine who wins teh NFC East, because even if the Eagles win out, they need the Cowboys and Giants to lose two more games a piece to make the playoffs.

Baseball has been interesting. Winter meetings didn't even start before Ruben Amaro made the biggest and so far only marquee free agent signing of the offseason in giving Jonathan Papelbon a cool 50M, making him the highest paid closer of all time. While this did mean parting with Madson, it was according to Amaro, the guy they wanted all along. The Phillies also traded for utility man Ty Wiggington and re-signed back-up catcher Schneider to a one year deal. Amaro even mentioned that the Phillies have payroll flexibility, so a big name December free agent signing may not be too far away.

I could go on and on about these moves but the time has passed just like Hip Hop's time as 76ers mascot. rest assured I will back to give my sports input throughout the remainder of the year and beyond.

What I Learned!

Wow, I mean WOW! What a week it has been for both the good and the bad of the sports and Philadelphia world. I cannot believe that in a week that saw absolutely no Phillies or Eagles or Sixers games, that there was still so many wonderful things to happen, but they did. Again, Wow!

The so called, "game of the century" between #1 LSU and #2 Alabama clearly did not meet up to the hype, well that is unless you enjoy watching defensive standoffs.

It is possible to hold a team to 49 total yards in a four quarter game - this actually happened last week where Texas held their opponent but I forgot to mention it before and I think it needed to be said. Really? 49 All Purpose Yards?!?! This without a doubt goes with the theme: WOW.

More college kickers miss the extra point attempt than you would think. Courtesy of: college kickers everywhere.

The strategy of having two FG kickers, one long and one short, doesn't pay off when you miss more field goals than you attempt. Courtesy of: Alabama 2-5 in FG including a key one in OT.

It is possible to have eight different players score nine goals. Courtesy of: Flyers offensive attack!

Claude Giroux is awesome. I'm kidding. I didn't learn that this week, I've known it all along.

The Flyers rookies and Richards/Carter replacements are doing better than most previously expected.

A fundamentally important 2% in revenue sharing is the only thing separating the players and owners from ending the lockout.

Based on the above information, the players and owners really have no desire to end the lockout.

Winter Classic Tickets are astronomically expensive.

The Phillies never wanted to get rid of Jim Thome, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The Phillies re-signed Jim Thome as part of a bigger plan. Courtesy of: my crazy speculations. Enter Michael Cuddyer.

Baseball is full of irony: Phillies trade Thome to make room for Howard. Six years later, Phillies sign Thome to possibly replace Howard because of injury.

The baseball off season is the craziest time of year.

Baseball trade/free agent rumors are more popular than Lady Gaga on twitter.

The Braves and Mets have no desire to win in 2012. Courtesy of: Braves parting with Derek Lowe and entertaining offers for Jurrjens. Mets entertaining offers for Wright and not trying to re-sign Reyes.

The Braves and Mets are strategizing for the future. As the Phillies get older, these teams get younger. The NL East is going to get a lot more difficult in the future.Courtesy of: my crazy speculations again.

As much as it pains me to say it, and believe me, it PAINS me to say it, but Eli Manning is actually capable of leading a game winning drive.

Eli Manning is spending time learning from Peyton. Lesson #1: How to actually be a QB.

Andrew Luck is the most draftable prospect in a long time. Courtesy of: his stats.

You have to spend money to make money and Ruben Amaro seems primed to want to make money. Courtesy of: a hunch.

The Packers are the 2008 Patriots and look to stay that way all season.

The Eagles have a tough road ahead of them to make the playoffs. Courtesy of: the Giants aren't going down without a fight.

The 49ers are 8-1. Let me repeat, the 49ers are 8-1...

The Colts won't win a game in 2011-12.

Peyton Manning literally IS the Colts team.

These are just some of the highlights I learned this week. Comment and let me know if I missed any and let me know your favorite highlights of the week that was. As always- have a good week and learn something!

What I Learned... Halloween Edition!

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Hope all of you have your costumes ready and are enjoying the holiday which allows all of us to step out of our comfort zone and be someone who we always wanted to be. In addition to it being the weekend before Halloween, it was also an amazing sports week all over the country. Stanford won in a 3OT shootout against USC, the Baltimore Ravens came back from sure defeat to take a close one, the St. Louis Cardinals, America's miracle team, won the World Series, the MLS Playoffs began and the Flyers keep on scoring goals. The only bad thing to happen is the NBA cutting another two weeks of the season.

All that being said these events are only some of the great ones that marked an overall great week in sports. Now grant it, it probably wasn't that great if you live in Texas watching both the Rangers and Cowboys fall and the rest of the games all depend on where you live but all in all, what a week!

So for this week in honor of the great sports we had and those awaiting us the rest of the season, that and Halloween, I decided to do a super special what I learned segment for this week. So, without further ado I present: What I Learned, the Most Popular Costume Choices.


Lesean McCoy: If there was any doubt in my mind that the Eagles would make the playoffs, it is all gone now. After the Sunday night beat down of the Cowboys, I am 100% sure the Birds will be flying well into 2012. Leading the way of the Eagles surging attack is RB Lesean McCoy. In plain terms, McCoy has been a godsend to the Eagles. Although the team is immensely talented at the QB and WR positions, it is McCoy who is the biggest difference maker on this team.Without him, the Eagles wouldn't be able to climb out of their early season hole like they are starting to do now, going from last to second place in the NFC East. In addition to being absolutely vital to the team, McCoy is the only player in the NFL to score a TD in each of his team's games played. Even in fantasy football, the young star is ranked either second or third in most leagues. Move over Brian Westbrook, because McCoy has, if he hadn't already, worked his way into the hearts of Eagles fan everywhere as the next great RB. Seriously, who doesn't want to be McCoy this Halloween?




Andrew Luck: "And with the first round pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts/ Miami Dolphins/ Insert Team Here select Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford University." Remember this because come draft time, it is exactly what you are going to hear Commish Roger Goodell say. It is with utmost certainty I can say and agree with analysts and sports writers everywhere, that Luck will be selected first overall. It is almost a foregone conclusion that NFL analysts aren't saying when so and so team gets the first pick, they are just  saying, so and so team is in the running to win the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. Typically getting the first overall pick isn't exactly winning, but with Luck, it is a coveted prize for both the 0-8 Colts and 0-7 Dolphins as well as the 1-6 St. Louis Rams and 1-6 Arizona Cardinals. With Luck, he is NFL ready by many scouts estimations. He has so much raw talent and instinct that just can't be taught. He is doing it all this year leading his Stanford team to a perfect 8-0 on the season including beating USC and QB Matt Barkley in what was touted as the best QB duel that was going to take place this season. So much for being a police officer or superhero, your kids are going to want to be Andrew Luck this Halloween.


Jaromir Jagr: If the words, 'old' and 'washed up' come to mind when you think of Jaromir Jagr, then clearly you haven't been watching Flyers games lately. In the past five games the 39 year old, former first round draft pick, has been lighting up the ice and helping the Flyers to key victories. He has scored all five of his season's goals in these games and added two of his six season assists. Averaging about sixteen minutes of ice time, Jagr has shown that the longer he is out there, the more productive he can be. Considered a long shot when signed because of his age and recent absence from the NHL, Jagr has been a blessing in disguise so far this season for the Flyers. 


David Freese: Did you believe the Cardinals were the team of destiny? I didn't, especially after they unceremoniously ended the run of the Phillies (still too soon to talk about). But even the non-believers must have changed their tune a little bit when the Cardinals won the 2011 World Series, led by the offensive production and somewhat unexpected production of David Freese. Freese proved that heroes come in the unlikeliest of places as he, not Albert Pujols and not Lance Berkman, helped lead the Cardinals to the title. Freese's production was more than just getting hits, it was getting them at just the right time. The World Series MVP was clutch under pressure and his game winning home run in game six gave the Cardinals another chance which they did not pass up. With the glove and with the bat, Freese was electric for the miracle Cardinals who only barely made the playoffs. Coming back from the deficit they faced and then to beating the World Series favorites, the Phillies and then the team of Fielder and Braun in Milwaukee, the Cardinals completed it all in one thrilling series  and thrilling game six for the ages. Cardinals fan or not, anyone who watched this series has to admit, it was one of baseball's finest.


David Stern: Finally if the hero theme is not for you and you prefer to go as a villain this Halloween, try out your luck with this costume as it is sure to be scary especially for all the NBA fans out there. That's right, Stern and his team of owners and league presidents after three straight days of negotiations in which players and media alike were optimistic a deal could get done, the negotiations broke down. With disputes over money and revenue sharing at the forefront of the disagreements, Stern announced that another two weeks of games would be cancelled and that as a result, "a full NBA season cannot be played under any circumstances." Now I know all of this isn't Stern's fault, but as the Commish he is taking the heat. In the early going he seemed convinced there wouldn't be a season and had even planned for that reality as he and the owners had money stored away for this possibility. So thanks to David Stern and the disagreements of players and owners, the Dallas Mavericks might have to wait until 2013 to defend their NBA title and the NBA superstars might have to find work elsewhere. The sign on the lockouted door reads, "Basketball players need not apply," and that doesn't look to change anytime soon.


So with Halloween being tonight, it seems certain that all of these costumes will be sold out considering their popularity. That being said, I hope all of you have great costumes or your kids have great costumes.

Stay safe, get some candy and have a great Halloween!