*Apter Hours Special* - ESPN's Jayson Stark on the 2011 Phillies

"Jayson Stark has been a senior baseball writer for ESPN.com since 2000. His regular contributions include the newsy Rumblings and Grumblings column and his tilted look inside baseball's numbers and quirks, the Useless Information Department. Stark also makes regular television appearances on "SportsCenter," "The Hot List" and "Baseball Tonight." He is a regular ESPN Radio guest of "Mike & Mike in the Morning" (Wednesdays), "GameNight" (Thursdays) and the "Sports Bash" (Tuesdays), as well as numerous other shows on the network. Before arriving at ESPN, Stark worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer for 21 years. He was twice named Pennsylvania's sportswriter of the year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association." (ESPN.com) 

Let me first start off by saying how thankful I am to Jayson for returning my e-mails over the past few yearss and agreeing to answer some questions for all you Phillies fans and Philly Sports Port readers. Just a background on how I got to met Jayson. When I interned in 2009 with the Reading Phillies, he appeared at two games to hold a signing for his book about the 2008 World Champion Phillies entitled, "Worth the Wait: Tales of the 2008 Phillies". I got lucky and was assigned to assist Jayson at his table to help sell books, take money, etc. When the lines were shorter, he and I got to talking and I realized that he is one of the most down to earth journalists I have met. Given, I may not have met too many so far, but it is a fair judgment. Sitting with someone who writes about the team I love and just listening to his passion about it is fascinating. Throughout the time I have known him, Jayson has been very responsive with any e-mails I send him about the Phillies or anything sports. He is very good at what he does and I advise all of you who have yet to pick up a copy of "Worth the Wait: Tales of the 2008 Phillies"...to pick one up because it is a great read. I have read it twice already and reading through it gives me goosebumps. We all know that team in '08 was special. They made it back last year...but what does 2011 hold for our Fightins?...Let's see what Jayson Stark has to say about some of the Phillies topics for 2011...

1. First off, the Phillies rotation is stacked. But do you think their offense is good enough to lead them to another playoff run?

They'll be challenged offensively unless they get some pleasant surprises along the way, or they make a big deal or both. They were down 120 runs and 50 homers last season from their peak in 2007. Jayson Werth is out the door. Chase Utley may never be the same, even if he does come back at some point in the next couple of months. And the league has learned how to pitch these guys. So a team that was once built around its lineup is now clearly built around its rotation. But if those four starters get to the mound 30-33 times apiece, they'll win a ton of games.

2. With Brad Lidge likely done after the season, who do you think will be the closer next year?

I honestly don't think they know at this point. Had Lidge had a healthy and productive season he'd have been in the mix. At this point, I see almost no chance of that. So given how much uncertainty there is about where they go from here, I find it very surprising they aren't at least looking at Ryan Madson in that role, since theoretically, based on stuff and service time, you'd think he'd be the heir apparent. Bu obviously, they don't trust him, either. Hard to imagine Jose Contreras as a long-term option, but he has closer stuff. You just wonder how hard they can possibly ride him. So I'd say stay tuned on this front.

3. When Raul Ibanez's contract is up, Francisco, Mayberry and Brown will all be vying for a starting job...who will be the odd man out?

Domonic Brown is going to play every day for this team at some point. People were way too quick to assume this spring that he's some kind of bust. He was No. 4 in the whole sport in Baseball America's top-100 prospects list, so his future is still bright. He just needs to relax, play, find his swing again and get in a rhythm, and he'll be back. As for the other two guys, this year will tell that tale. The book on Francisco going into this year was "fourth outfielder." And the book on Mayberry was "platoon player." They'll get some opportunities now to prove they're more than that. They need to take advantage of those opportunities, or they'll have only themselves to blame.

4. Is Chase Utley's injury likely the end of the success of the 2nd basemen in his career?

Too early to say he'll never be a successful player again. But given how serious this injury is and how uncertain the treatment options are, it's very feasible he'll never be the same player. He probably will never be able to run again the way he did. And if he can't generate power from his lower half, he may never drive the ball the way he always has. But Chase is as tough a guy as you'll meet. If this is just about toughness and pain management, he'll be back. What happens after he gets back will be very interesting to watch.

5. With Roy Oswalt's contract up after the season, do you think the team will opt to pick up his option?

It's a mutual option, so it's up to Oswalt as much as it's up to the team. And Roy is a different kind of guy. He's talking about retirement, so you never know what he'll decide. My guess is, he'll be back. But that's a tough one to read.

Philadelphia 76ers: Can Andre Iguodala and Co. Catch the Atlanta Hawks?

With only nine games left, the Philadelphia 76ers are 4.5 GB of the fifth place Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

This past week, the Sixers have had a chance to gain some ground on the slumping Hawks, who have gone just 6-8 in March. However, Philly has not taken advantage of Atlanta's recent struggles—they have played just .500 ball themselves in March.

The Sixers currently stand as the No. 6 seed in the East and would play the Miami Heat in the first round if the season ended today.

There will be a significant difference between the No. 5 and No. 6 seeds in the East.

The Sixers' finish will determine whether or not they play Orlando or either Boston or Miami. The difference will be between the Sixers advancing to the second round or possibly getting swept in the first.

The Sixers have shown that they can play with the Magic and they still have one more game against them to prove it.

The big question though is: Can the Sixers catch the Hawks in the final two weeks of the regular season?

With both teams struggling, the door is open for either team. The Hawks control their own destiny to the No. 5 seed, but Philadelphia has a chance.

The Sixers have seemed to play well in spurts: One week, they beat Boson; another week, the Sixers could not even hold off teams like Milwaukee, Utah and Sacramento.

The problem with the Sixers lies with its late game struggles. Sixers fans have grown used to the fact that even with a five point lead and less than two minutes left, no game is safe for Philly until the clock hits double zeros.

The latest example comes from the Sixers' most recent game against Sacramento: Leading by five with two minutes left, the Sixers failed to hold on to their lead and ended up having to hit a last second three pointer in order to force overtime.

If the Sixers are going to catch the Hawks, they have to improve on their 3-8 record when the game is decided by three points or less.

In order to do so, they must play better in the fourth quarter.

The Sixers are ranked 21st in fourth quarter scoring. Their fourth quarter margin is currently -.1, but that number lies. How many times have we seen the Sixers blow a big third and fourth quarter lead?

Philadelphia enters the final nine games with six must-win games over teams with less than .500 records. They also are going to have to win another two over Chicago, Boston and Orlando in order to have a chance at catching the Hawks.

The Sixers are going to have to have one more two week run in order for them to catch the Hawks. It may be the difference between a first round exit and a Cinderella run.

Philling in the Blank: Washington Beats Philly in a Shootout: Can the Flyers beat the Caps in a 7 game series?

In a battle of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 in a shootout finish.

Alexander Semin put the puck in the back of the net for the Caps' third goal in the shootout. Flyers' goaltender Brian Boucher failed to make a save, or even a good attempt at stopping Washington's extra shooters.

It should not have even headed to overtime and a shootout though. The Capitals jumped out early to a 3-0 lead just two minutes into the second period. The Flyers then proceeded to pull starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. After that, the Flyers woke up.

The Flyers, along with the fans, got back into the contest with about 12 minutes left in the second period. For about eight to 10 minutes, it was shot after shot on goal. For the most part, Capitals goaltender Michael Neuvirth was up to the task.

For the Flyers, it was a tale of two halves. The first 30 minutes, the Flyers seemed slow and not into the game. Bobrovsky especially did not look comfortable in the playoff atmosphere at the Wells Fargo Center.

Once Brian Boucher came into the game, the Flyers seemed inspired to play better.
Philadelphia finally broke through halfway through the second period when Kris Versteeg centered a puck that went off a Washington defender into the net. The tides were turning. Momentum had shifted, both on the ice and in the stands.

The Flyers continued their onslaught into the third period. They scored their four goals in the last 30 minutes of the game.

They did not finish out the game though, as their defense broke down with less than four minutes to go in the game. Marcus Johansson scored on a one-timer that tied the game at 4-4.
All the momentum that Philly had built up over the last two periods seem to be all for naught.
In overtime, the Flyers were out shot 4-1. Washington then made the shootout look easy by scoring three straight times to get the two points.

The Flyers got a well-deserved one point tonight, after they were down 3-0. They have to look at the big picture as well. The next 10 days will decide how good the Flyers really are as they face Boston and Pittsburgh twice.

With Washington and Philadelphia both comfortably in as the No. 1 and 2 seeds in the East, this may be a matchup of the Eastern Conference Finals. That begs the question...Can the Flyers beat the Caps in a seven game series?

In a game where the Capitals were without Alex Ovechkin and their starting goaltender (Semyon Varlamov), Washington still beat Philly and outplayed them for close to half the contest.

If Philadelphia is going to contend for a Stanley Cup, they need to get their goaltender situation under control. Bobrovsky has had the better last couple of weeks statistically, but looked horrific in net tonight in a big spotlight.

Boucher came in and played well. His experience in the playoffs probably gives him the edge to get the call come game time. Regardless, one of the two net minders has to step up for the Flyers.

The Flyers can keep up with the Capitals offensively and will be better defensively with the return of a healthy Chris Pronger.

A series between the two teams will come down to the goalies and special teams. The Flyers were once again held scoreless in six minutes of power play time.

Tonight was a great game and one of the best of the season. I can only imagine what a seven game series between these teams will hold.

Apter Hours: Phull Steam Ahead

The temperatures are warming and spring is right around the corner. The Phillies are well underway in spring action and already have some worries. The Sixers continue their strong play and have gone 8-2 in the last ten. On the other side of the Philly sport spectrum, the Flyers have hit their annual slump. Losers of their last four, fatigue and illness has plagued the orange and black.


Brown goes down; Utley needs cortisone

The most intriguing battle going into spring training this year was the fight for right field. The decision has come earlier than most had expected as Dom Brown suffered a broken bone in his right hand after fouling off a pitch against the Pirates. Brown later got his first hit of the spring in that same at bat but came out of the game. Surgery was performed to remove that bone earlier today and Brown’s timetable on his return is likely 4-6 weeks. This gives Ben Francisco the advantage to win the right field job. John Mayberry Jr. was also a dark horse to win the job but it seems Ben will be the opening day right fielder. He is hitting .320 in 25 spring plate appearances and is tied with Ryan Howard and Mayberry with two homers to lead the team. Placido Polanco (.333) and Howard (.304) are also having good luck in the exhibition games to this point. The other concern is Chase Utley’s knee. Utley recently received a cortisone shot for his tendonitis issue that he had an MRI on last week. Utley has not seen too much action this spring and this injury has fans thinking that the 32-year old is fading. On the pitching side, Cole Hamels has been the story. He looks to be in midseason form through six innings of Grapefruit League action without allowing a run. Doc has also thrown very well with five scoreless frames while Cliff Lee rebounded from a shaky first start to throw four scoreless this past week, striking out five. The Phillies are currently 5-6 this spring and have games coming up against Baltimore, Detroit and the Yankees.

Sixers continue strong play; Strong schedule awaits

Standing in the same place they did the last time around, the Sixers sit seventh in the East with a record of 32-30. I always make sure to remind everyone out there that this team started off 3-13, which means they are 29-17 since. This young squad continues to show that they can hang with the big boys. Although they lost to the Mavs, the team stuck around the entire game and through the past two contests, Andre Iguodala has posted triple doubles. Despite his low scoring numbers, Iggy is having one of his best seasons thanks to his strong defensive play. Although a lot of the recent victories have been over teams with losing records, the Sixers can prove their worth these next two games. They will play host to Kevin Durant and the Thunder tomorrow and the East leading Celtics on Friday. Matchups with Miami and Chicago will also come before the end of the month. The Sixers are the prototypical version of a team that has a bandwagon. Everyone at the beginning of year thought this team would suck, and they did. Now that they are in playoff contention and keeping up with good teams, people are starting to jump on the bandwagon. Every city has a team like this at some point and although they havent climbed all the way to the top just yet, the Sixers are on their way. The Penguins sucked for a long time then won the cup, could the Sixers surprise the NBA in the coming years? Why not jump on the bandwagon and see.

The Other Championship Team

The Phillies won the World Series in 2008. But there was another team in Philly that brought home a title. After shutting down following the ’08 season, Arena Football returned in 2010 without its reigning championship team. Now, in 2011 the Philadelphia Soul are back in town and ready to take back what is rightfully theirs. The Soul kicked off their inagural season in 2004 and it took them only four seasons to take home the ArenaBowl Championship over San Jose, 59-56. The Soul were 13-3 in 2008 and many people questioned why they were not brought back last year when the league returned. Unfortunately, many fans may be disappointed as Jon Bon Jovi will not return as a partial owner. Instead, Ron “Jaws” Jaworski along with Craig Spencer, Pete Ciarrocchi (owner of Chickie & Pete’s) and Cosmo DeNicola, the owner of a now disbanded Arena Football 2 team. Soul fans can look forward to seeing some familiar faces as well. Mike Brown and Larry Brackins both return to the Soul after being a part of the 2008 Championship team. The Soul open up their season this Friday against the Pittsburgh Power and will return home for the first time since 2008 on April 15th to host the Tampa Bay Storm. The Soul will have their rematch of their 2008 title game in San Jose against the SaberCats on April 23rd.

5 Ways for the Phillies to Replace Utley

News surfaced in the past weeks that Phillies second baseman Chase Utley has patellar tendinitis in his right knee. Utley received an MRI disclosing the cause for him being out for the first couple Spring Training games.


Before the MRI, Utley's sitting was said to be due to leg soreness.

Now with the news of Utley having mild tendinitis, Phillies fans are worried about Utley and his status for the season.

The Phillies organization is saying they are just taking Utley's injury very cautiously. He recently received a cortisone shot because the condition was not improving.

Even if the injury is not serious, fans should be getting worried about Utley in the long term.

Utley has been hobbled by injuries for the past few seasons. The 32-year-old had his worst full season with Philadelphia last year.

The Phillies offensive stars are growing old and fragile. Their window of opportunity is closing fast.

With the news of the Chase Utley injury, here are five players the Phillies could use to replace Utley if he were to miss significant time this season.

1. Wilson Valdez

To start, we should start by looking at internal replacements. They are the most realistic options for the short term.

Wilson Valdez would be the immediate replacement if Utley went down for a long period of time.

Valdez filled in for the injured Phillies infielders last season and did a very good job at doing so.

Valdez had career highs in AB, Hit, HR and RBI in 2010.

He is also a capable defensive player who can make the everyday plays and has shown the ability to turn double plays with Jimmy Rollins.

Valdez proved he can be a reliable replacement for the Phils and would be the No. 1 option for this year.

2. Michael Martinez

The Phillies grabbed Michael Martinez from the Washington Nationals in the Rule 5 Draft this past year.

The 28-year-old 2B has shown ability to play shortstop and even the outfielder positions.

He has speed and the defensive skills to play at the Major League level.

However, his stats show he is not the greatest hitter. Martinez has a career .263 average in five minor league seasons.

Utley's replacement is not expected to step into the No. 3 spot in the order, but he should be able to hit, especially in key situations.

3. Josh Barfield

A former No. 1 prospect, Josh Barfield is a candidate to possibly take over for Utley for the long term.

Barfield started off his career in the Padres organization and then played one full season in Cleveland.

After a terrible start, Barfield was benched in 2007 and never was an everyday player again.

In his only Spring Training action so far this season, Barfield went 2-for-2.

Barfield has the potential to be a steal and can be a great backup to Chase Utley.

If he regains his No. 1 prospect form, he could even be Utley's successor.

4. David Eckstein

Let's look outside the organization for one possibility.

David Eckstein believe it or not does not have a team for this season.

Eckstein is a career .280 hitter who has been platooned or even been a backup for the past couple of seasons.

He is a player that everyone wants on a team. He brings energy and solid defensive skills.

He brings a winning edge, having won the World Series and the World Series MVP.

The Phillies should sign Eckstein to a minor league deal immediately.

The only problem I see with Eckstein is his power. Where would he hit in the lineup? My guess would be seven, but that is leaving a huge hole in the middle of the lineup.

5. Cesar Hernandez

Cesar Hernandez is another long term, down the road type of option for the Phillies.

Hernandez is an extremely raw prospect. He is ranked as one of the top 10 second basemen prospects in the MLB.

He had a good first season as a professional, hitting .325 in Williamsport.

Hernandez is likely to start out in either Clearwater or Lakewood this year, but with a good start, he could quickly move up to Reading.

Hernandez is a dark horse to even replace Utley this season if he were to go down for a long time.

Apter Hours – A Wintry Mix of Sports

Well the past few days in the sports world has been full of exciting stuff. In Philly sports, the Phils had their first full squad workout and they set their spring rotation. The Sixers, with the exception of Jrue Holiday who participated in the rookie vs. sophomore game, got some time to rest over the all-star break. The Flyers have continued their strong play, winners of six of their last eight, and also acquired a Stanley Cup Blackhawk from last season. Also, the Philadelphia Soul are back in town as they began camp this past week. They also brought back a few members of their 2008 Arena Bowl Championship team. This past weekend also marked history for NASCAR and Blake Griffin put on quite a show to win the Slam Dunk contest. Oh, and Carmelo finally got his wish and is now a New York resident. Let’s take a look at this mix of sports news that has happened in the past week.

Phillies prepare for first exhibition

After two days of great weather last week here in the northeast, Phillies fans are beginning to gear up for the first spring training game. After the media made a bigger deal out of Cliff Lee’s minor arm strain, he states he is 100% and ready to go. Lee will see his first action against Detroit next week in Grapefruit League action. The Phils begin their schedule with an exhibition game against Florida State University on Thursday. Prospect Drew Naylor will take the hill for that contest. After a day off on Friday, the Phils will take on the Yanks in Tampa for their first official spring game. Cole Hamels will get the nod on Saturday for the opener. Vance Worley will also see some time out there against the Yankees. The Phils also have a ‘B’ game against Toronto on Saturday. Minor leaguers Brian Bass and Dan Meyer will see action in that game. Sunday, the Phils will host the Yanks in Clearwater with Joe Blanton on the mound. Top-pitching prospect Justin De Fratus will follow Blanton in Sunday’s game. 2010 Cy Young winner, Roy Halladay, will take the mound on Monday against his former team, Toronto. Tuesday’s matchup against Detroit will feature Cliff Lee in Phillies red for the first time since 2009. Kyle Kendrick will also get the ball for some innings in that contest. Roy Oswalt is likely to get the call March 2nd against Baltimore at home.

Sixers looking for momentum after All-Star break

After starting the year 3-13, the Sixers have gone 24-14 since. Sitting in the 7th spot in the East, Philly has been opening eyes around the NBA with their competiveness. The have gone 6-3 in February and have come out victorious over the Atlanta Hawks and the NBA’s best team, the Spurs. There is no doubt that the Sixers have the talent. Not many people see it because of their below .500 record. With a young corps of players, they are bound to succeed in the coming years. I expect them to finish no worse than 7th and I believe they can finish as high as fifth in the playoff standings. Although Andre Iguodala will never live up to what Allen Iverson was, his consistent defensive play gives this team a chance to win every game. The recent emergence of Jodie Meeks and the coaching style of Doug Collins have also contributed to the success of the Sixers. Give Evan Turner a year to get the NBA under his belt and I believe he will do better. Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams have provided great numbers off the bench and Spencer Hawes has shown signs of being a dominant big man. Will the Sixers compete for the NBA Championship in the next few years? Probably not. But, they have plenty of chances to show the NBA’s best that they are not one of the laughing stocks of the league.

Flyers stay on top of the East, acquire Versteeg

With 83 points, the Orange & Black are atop the Eastern conference and trail the Canucks by two points for the NHL lead. With four, 20-goal scorers, the Flyers have shown no signs of slowing down at this point of the year as they notched a crucial win over Tampa Bay this past week. They were in national spotlight this past Sunday during “Hockey Day in America” and took care of the Rangers, 4-2. The Flyers played a penalty-free game against the Rangers, their second of the year, but have yet to record a shutout. The two-headed monster of Bob and Bouch are holding their own throughout the crucial parts of the season and have been making very acrobatic, spectacular saves. Bob had the save of the week by far in a game last week where he had to do a split to get to the other side of the crease to keep the puck out of the net. Coach Laviolette has continued his great work ethic and is never hesitant to call a timeout when he believes the team is slacking. The Flyers also acquired Chris Versteeg from the Leafs, a member of the 2010 Blackhawks who won the Cup. Versteeg has an assist and a goal so far in a Flyers uniform. In order to get him, the Flyers surrendered a 2011 first and third round pick. Originally, the Leafs wanted JVR involved in the trade, but the Flyers refused. Toronto then took the draft pick offer. The Flyers believed that Versteeg was a better bet than someone they would get in the draft. He is under contract until the end of next season. The addition of Versteeg may mean the departure of Villie Leino after the season. Leino, a big part of the Flyers Stanley Cup run, has been flying under the radar this season with 13 goals.

Knicks finally acquire Carmelo; Griffin leaps car

After weeks and weeks of speculation, Carmelo Anthony has finally ended up where he wanted to be. In a blockbuster deal involving three teams, Anthony heads to New York to join All-Star starter, Amar’e Stoudemire. Here are all the details. The Knicks are set to acquire Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman and Corey Brewer, the Nuggets receive Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, NYK's 2014 1st + other picks + cash, while the T-Wolves pick up Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry. This trade is the second largest one in NBA history. While Melo adds more of a scoring threat to the Knicks, they now lack the depth they had. Sure, Chauncey Billups will be a great addition but the losses of Gallinari, Felton and Chandler are going to be noticeable. Chandler and Gallinari were two of the Knicks big three-point threats. As of right now, the Knicks starting lineup looks to be Chauncey Billups, Landry Fields, Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire and Ronny Turiaf. The players that the Nuggets gave away provided 47 points per game for them as they try to stay competitive with the loss of their superstar. Melo will not be as hated as LeBron by any means, but I am sure some Nuggets fans will be angry. He never really seemed too happy these past few years and like LeBron, leaves the team that drafted him without winning a title. The Nuggets will have to do some restructuring and the Knicks will have to deal with some lack of depth which will not get them too far in the postseason.

Before the news of Melo going to the Knicks came out, Blake Griffin stole the spotlight during All-Star Saturday by winning the Slam Dunk Contest with a dunk over the front of a car. The jam was epic and there was no question that Griffin would take home the trophy. As for the NBA All-Star game, the West held off a furious rally by the East to win the game. Kobe took home the MVP award with 37 points. He looked to be at the top of his game as he dunked over LeBron for two of his 37. This past weekend’s All-Star events drew the most viewers since 2003.

History strikes Daytona to kick off the 2011 NASCAR season

With the 10-year anniversary of Dale Earnhardt’s death on everyone’s mind this past weekend, NASCAR brought its updated points system to the newly paved Daytona International Speedway. With the new points system, drivers are awarded points based on their finish in the 43-car field on a 43-1 system. First place gets 43 points, second gets 42 and it goes all the way down to last place with one point. This system makes the points easier to grasp for those who didn’t understand it. The new system was a burden for a lot of the 2010 Chase drivers as Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton and others were involved in a 14-car wreck at the beginning of the race. Although the star drivers from Hendrick Motorsports were knocked out of contention early, it didn’t stop the other drivers from making the race one of the most memorable Daytona 500’s. With Daytona’s new surface, two-car drafting was the strategy during the 53rd running of the Great American Race. Earnhardt Jr. drove the wheels off of his car as he was up front for the majority of the race but a late wreck ruined Dale’s hope to honor his father with a win. With drivers like Mark Martin and Tony Stewart competing for their first Daytona 500 victory during their long careers, 20-year old Trevor Bayne stole the spotlight. Bayne held off Carl Edwards to the checkered-flag to become the youngest driver (20 years, 1 day) to ever win the Daytona 500. If that doesn’t impress you, the 2011 Daytona 500 was Bayne’s second career start. He gave the Wood Brothers organization its fifth Daytona 500 win. The Woods’ last victory came in 1976 with NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee David Pearson beating Richard Petty in a legendary last-lap battle. Bayne became the seventh driver to earn his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory in the Daytona 500. The race set records for lead changes (74) between 22 different drivers. There were also 16 caution flags, another record, for a total of 60 laps. Don’t look now, but the start to the 2011 NASCAR season was just what the sport needed coming into the year. Plenty of wrecks, three-wide racing and lead changes led to an extremely exciting race. These cars will be back on track next this Sunday at Phoenix for the Subway Fresh Fit 500.

Philling in the Blank: 6 Reasons Why The Philadelphia 76ers Are Improving

Eric Casperson

The Eastern Conference is very top heavy with multiple power house teams at the top including Boston, Miami and Orlando. Once you pass the top five, you start to see the records start to go well below .500.

One team that looks to crack that top four this year are the 76ers.

The Sixers are closing in fast and rapidly moving up the Eastern standings. They currently sit in the seventh seed, only one and a half games back of New York. The way they are playing, they could easily finish the year as high as the fifth seed, after going 27-55 last season.

After a 3-13 start, the Sixers have gone 23-15.

The Sixers have risen up the standings thanks to many factors. Here are some reasons why the Sixers can, and will, continue to rise up the Eastern Conference, and potentially turn heads come playoff time.

1. Doug Collins

Doug Collins, in his first year with the team, arguably has been the most influential factor so far.

Collins has brought some much needed stability to the coaching position in Philadelphia. After having three different coaches the past three seasons, Collins looks to stay for awhile longer.

Collins has turned this young team into a legitimate contender. They feel like they can beat any team on any given night.

The players play for Collins, which may be the biggest thing to look at.

Also, the Sixers team defense has improved vastly under the coaching of Collins. The Sixers are giving up more than five points per game less than last season's team.

Opponents are also shooting three percent lower from the field as well this season.

2. Balance

Five Sixers are averaging more than 10 PPG. Jodie Meeks is right there averaging 9.7 PPG as well.

The Sixers have no go-to-guy, which can be a problem sometimes, but for the Sixers, their balanced lineup is working just fine.

If their leading scorer has an off night, then one of the other four starters can pick his teammates up.

Collins has the ability to use a very deep bench. The Sixers, at times this season, have gone 10 or 11 deep in games. This allows players to stay fresh and save their legs for the fourth quarter.

3. Elton Brand

Elton Brand is finally living up to the team's expectations that were set for him when he signed an $80 million deal three summers ago.

One thing that has held Brand back has been his health. He played only 95 games in his first two seasons in Philly.

He has only missed one game so far this year.

Brand is finally healthy and he's proving that he can help this team out still. He is averaging over 15 PPG and shooting near a career-best 52 percent from the floor.

4. Jodie Meeks

Since Jodie Meeks became a starter in December, he has provided a much needed three-point threat to the lineup.

The Sixers have been looking for a new threat ever since they had to trade Kyle Korver due to cap concerns. They traded for Jason Kapono last season, but that has not worked out at all.

Meeks is averaging 10.7 PPG as a starter and shooting over 40 percent from behind the arc. Those stats are in games in which he is only averaging 26 MPG too.

5. Jrue Holiday

Holiday, at only 21-years of age, is turning into the franchise PG he was drafted to be two years ago.

He has to be on the list of most improved players for the year. He is averaging 13.7 PPG, a 5.7 point increase from last year, and 6.2 APG, up from 3.8 last year.

At 21, Holiday has already turned into the team leader along with Andre Iguodala. The Sixers have a franchise PG for the first time since Eric Snow left the team.

6. Team Chemistry

The Sixers do not have the most talented team in the conference. They do not even have a team that should be in the playoff race right now, at least on paper probably.

However, the young and athletic Sixers love playing with each other. They play every night like they have nothing to lose...and they really don't.

No one put any expectations on this team at the start of the season. Now with their good play as of late, those expectations might begin to rise.

I believe that the Sixers can continue the streak they are on and make the playoffs as a fifth or sixth seed. The Sixers have a good young core that should become a legitimate contender if they find another scorer.

Philling in the Blank: The Top Ten Coaches in Philly Sports History

Eric Casperson

Philadelphia is one of the greatest sports cities in the United States. Each team that plays between Broad and Pattison has a rich history of its own.

Each franchise has had it shares of successes and failures. The Phillies and 76ers are notoriously known for having one of the worst seasons in league history. The Eagles and Flyers are better known for their annual run to either the Super Bowl or the Stanley Cup.

Philadelphia is also home to the Big 5, the city's historic college basketball schools.

Philly has been home to some historic teams. We may be in the midst of one right now (2011 Phillies).

Behind every great team is a great leader, a great coach who knows how to get the most out of his players.

Here is a list of 10 of the top coaches in Philadelphia sports history.

10. Philadelphia Flyers: Peter Laviolette

One phrase will always stick with Peter Laviolette when you think of him as the Flyers Head Coach...Time Out.

It was the famous time out last year that sparked the Flyers incredible come from behind victory in game 7 against the Bruins on the road.

Laviolette eventually led the team to the Stanley Cup Finals where they lost to the Blackhawks.

9. Villanova Wildcats: Jay Wright

Since Jay Wright has come to Philadelphia, Villanova has become a household name for college basketball powerhouses.

Wright is 203-98 in nine seasons with the Wildcats.

His best season came in 08-09 when the Wildcats won 30 games and went to the Final Four.

8. Philadelphia Phillies: Dallas Green

Dallas Green coached the Phillies to their first ever World Series Title in 1980.

He went 169-130 in three seasons.

He is a member of the Phillies Wall of Fame.

7. Philadelphia University: Herb Magee

Herb Magee, during his 43 years as Philadelphia University Head Coach, has become the all time winningest coach in NCAA history with over 900 wins.

Magee may be the best coach in Philly history that mainstream media has not heard of.

6. Philadelphia Eagles: Dick Vermeil

Dick Vermeil came to the Eagles in 1976 after they went 4-10 the previous season. In 1978, he took the Eagles to the playoffs for the first time in 18 seasons.

He hosted open try-outs for all Philadelphians in his first year. That is where Vince Papale came from.

He led the Eagles to Super Bowl XV.

5. Philadelphia 76ers: Larry Brown

Larry Brown had some up and down years with the Sixers. He had losing seasons and he had some good ones. A 2001 NBA Finals appearance tops the list.

Brown in 5+ seasons was 255-205.

Brown put together a team in 2001 that included Allen Iverson...the rest, many people probably forget.

The starting lineup that year was Eric Snow, AI, George Lynch, Tyrone Hill, and Dikembe Mutombo.

Brown somehow managed to get that team to play together well and they won the Eastern Conference.

4. Philadelphia Eagles: Andy Reid

Whether you like it or not, Andy Reid is one of the best coaches in Philadelphia Eagles history. He has no championships to bolster that argument, but he has plenty of other awards and trophies in his case.

In 12 seasons as Head Coach, Reid has gone 118-73, only have two losing seasons. He leads the Eagles in All-Time Wins as a Head Coach.

During his reign, he led the Eagles to five NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl appearance.

3. Temple: John Chaney

John Chaney isn't just a legendary coach in Philadelphia. He is a legend across the Nation when it comes to college basketball.

Chaney is 741-312 in 34 years at Cheyney State and Temple.

Most of his success came at Temple where he made a postseason appearance in all but one season there. He made the Elite 8 five different times.

Chaney was a very enthusiastic and outgoing coach who captured the hearts of Philadelphia sports fans. Sometimes he got a little out of control though...you know the stories.

2. Philadelphia 76ers: Billy Cunningham

Cunningham had by far the best winning percentage of any of the major league sports coaches on this list.

From 1977-1985, he led the 76ers to a 454-196 record. The last 76ers championship was won by Cunningham and Dr. J.

1. Philadelphia Phillies: Charlie Manuel

Charlie Manuel is not only at the top of this list because of his record. It is also because he has made his mark in Philadelphia as a man of the people. He is one of us.

Managerial-wise, Manuel developed a decent Phillies team to perhaps a dynasty.

He has led the Phillies to four straight Division Titles and two straight World Series appearances.

His 2008 World Series Title brought the city back to life. It was the City's first major sports title since 1983. Charlie put the Phillies back on the map and looks to continue so this season.

(Didn't quite make the top 10....#11 Jack Ramsey-Sixers, #12 Buddy Ryan-Eagles, #13 Harry Litwack-Temple Men's Basketball, #14 Fran Dunphy-Penn/Temple, #15 Alex Hannum-Sixers, #16 Phil Martelli-St. Joe's, #17 Buck Shaw-Eagles, #18 Eddie Sawyer-Phillies, #19 Doug Collins-Sixers, #20 Fred Shero-Flyers)

Apter Hours: New Years Resolutions Part III - Sixers

I know it's getting later and later to do these new year's things but the Sixers are actually worth writing about at this point in time. After their blowout win on the road against Atlanta last night, 117-83 to be exact, the Sixers stand at 24-27. That record is good enough for the seventh spot in the East. Although 24-27 may not be impressive to many viewers, remember this team began this season 3-13. Stingy defense and a more consistent offensive attack has been the reason for the recent success and is making this Sixers squad more exciting to watch. Winners of seven of the last nine, the Sixers are rolling right along. What is it they have to keep doing to stay on track though. Here are my interpretation of their New Years Resolutions from a team and fan standpoint.


1. Bury the Iguodala trade talk: For the past 2 seasons and this season, the hype surrounding the Sixers has been how Andre Iguodala has not lived up to expectation and needs to be dealt. Whether you want to believe it or not, I think this has been cause for distraction. When fans view the game, they pay most attention to the scoring aspect. I do that too. You also have to pay attention to the defensive side of the ball. Iggy may not put up consistent offensive numbers, but his defense is spectacular and is proving to be a leader for young guys like Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner. Andre has not been shown any love since he started playing here. Given, he has to live up to being the star in a very tough city. Remember, Allen Iverson was the big name for the Sixers when Iggy first got drafted and he never got the chance to adjust and sharpen his game before Iverson was dealt. He was shoved into the spotlight because management didn't want to deal with Iverson anymore. Iggy was not quite ready to take the reigns but has shown signs of a superstar player before. The combo of Andre and Elton Brand is finally starting to work and now that younger players are beginning to take their role, the team is starting to click. If this keeps up, expect the Sixers to end up anywhere from fifth to seventh in the East.

2. Give Evan Turner some time: As I mentioned before, Iggy was put into the spotlight in a very tough city to win over quickly. Because the staggering Sixers fan base is getting impatient, they are getting tired of seeing the #2 pick in the draft go through his ups and downs. With an average of 7.4 points per game, Turner has yet to really "WOW" the fans in Philly but I think the guy just needs a year under his belt to adjust. On nights when his shooting is off, he helps out with rebounds. On nights his defense is a little sluggish, he will rack up the assists. It seems coach Doug Collins has been putting Turner into more situational plays to get his confidence up. As a young player in the league, it is tough to stay confident is you have three or four bad games in a row. In the last three games, he has shot 9-for-15 from the floor and looks to be getting into a good shooting groove. He has a great chance to prove his worth here in the next two games as the Sixers will play host to the Magic (33-20) and the NBA leading Spurs (43-8).

3. Make the playoffs: This one is obvious for anyone on the team. I am using this as one to focus more on the fans. I have found that a lot of fans that do not follow the team as much anymore would rather the team lose and get a better draft pick. I think that is a horrible idea. As a dedicated Philly fan, I cannot stand to see a team lose, whether I pay attention to them or not. The fact is that first round knockout or not, the Sixers need some postseason experience to get better. With the speedy, defensive squad they have now, they may be able to take down a team like the Hawks or the Magic. What do they have to lose? We got Evan Turner at #2 and he hasn't really done too much. Players like Thaddeus Young have contributed a lot and are picked in the middle of the first round. There is still a chance of securing a good pick even if the Sixers make the postseason. They have played top teams very hard and there is no reason anyone should think that they can't put on a good show in the postseason. I am not saying they are going to win the Finals, but they definitely have the opportunity to win a few games in the first round to advance if it's the right matchup.

The bottom line for the Sixers is this. They aren't very good recordwise so not many people give them too much attention. At 24-27 I can't blame some people. Avid Sixers fans such as myself should be excited they are playing well at this point in the year. They should not throw their season away for a draft pick, they should try and make the playoffs to get the experience they need. They aren't selling out but there is still time to jump on the bandwagon for those who are thinking about it.

Apter Hours: Superbowl XLV--No Longer in the Shadows

Aaron Rodgers has finally emerged as a championship quarterback and no longer has to worry about living in the shadows of Brett Favre. A 31-25 victory over the Steelers brought Green Bay their first championship since 1997. There are many aspects of this game that were great and some that weren't. For me, seeing the Penguins and Steelers lose on national television in the same day, was a dream come true.


Let's just start off by saying that Cowboys Stadium did a pretty terrible job with everything here. Part of the structure injured six people earlier in the week and the sound system for most of the performances were horrific. According to multiple sources, there were more tickets sold than there were seats and that a few hundred fans would be turned away. Thanks Jerry Jones. It gets worse. Christina Aguilera skipped a line in the National Anthem and sung it to her own melody. If I didn't know the words, I would have no clue what she was singing. The Black Eyed Peas need to stay in the studio with their voice enhancers/auto tuners because that halftime show was terrible. All of the performances were pretty bad and the commercials didn't really make up for it either. With the exception of some Doritos and E-Trade ads, the commercials lacked the humor and cleverness they normally have. The overall viewing experience of everything besides the game was a disappointment to say the least. Oh, and how can you forget A-Rod getting fed popcorn on national television.

Now on to the game. For the record, this matchup on paper had to be one of the best in Super Bowl history with two extremely sharp quarterbacks and stingy defenses. The first half was all Green Bay as they took full advantage of Steelers miscues to score 14 points in under 30 seconds. Aaron Rodgers looked at the top of his game and showed to the world that he is going to be the next Green Bay quarterback legend. He looked that way throughout the entire postseason making quickwork of the Eagles, Falcons and Bears. The Pack jumped out to an early lead and just seemed to "want it more". I am no fan of the Steelers but I feel like they lacked the intensity you should have in this game. It seemed like it was just another Super Bowl for them.

Many postgame stories arose about both teams. Did the Steelers miss out on a dynasty? I don't think so. At least not completely. As much as I dislike the western PA football team, they have dominated for a majority of the decade along with the Patriots. The made it to the Superbowl this year without Big Ben for the first part of the season and have the veteran experience to drive them to success. Players like Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu are just two seasoned vets who have brought this team to the brink of a dynasty again this year and will definitely be a contender to do it again in 2011-12 if there is no lockout.

Another thought is about the Packers. They beat the Steelers 31-25 with Charles Woodson, Donald Driver and others hurting on the sideline. Next year they will be even more of a threat. Currently the second youngest team in the NFL, the Pack will have key components return to the field next season including linebacker, Nick Barnett and running back, Ryan Grant. With Grant back, the green & yellow have a better chance at establishing the run which will make their passing game all the more deadly. The return of Barnett will solidfy an already impressive defense. There aren't too many times where the Superbowl champs come back as "the team to beat" in my opinion. That isn't the case here. I think the Packers have an extremely good chance at a repeat. Aaron Rodgers is just starting to become one of the league's best and he has many great years in front of him. The Pack have a definite chance to create a dynasty with the team they have assembled.

Super Bowl picks for next year anyone?...I am going to go Packers vs. Colts.

Well the ending of football season means two things. It is just about time for Spring Training...but more importantly, the Flyers are one of the NHL's best teams. There is a lot of things to be excited for in the upcoming months.

The Flyers Achilles' Heel is still goaltending

Well everyone, it’s been a while. Since my schedule constraints are finally cleared up, it’s back to normal for the Weekly Flyer.

Ironic enough, it’s been a year since I started covering the Flyers for Philly Sports Port, and what a year it’s been.

This time last year, the Flyers lost Michael Leighton for 6-8 weeks with a high ankle sprain, and it seemed like the Flyers were headed for a downward spiral.

A year later, and it’s Michael Who? Oh, that guy on the Phantoms?

It’s rather moving that the Flyers are not suffering from a Stanley Cup Final hangover. Most teams who lose in the Final are rarely consistent the year after.

That hasn’t been the case for Lieutenant Laviolette’s troops. The Flyers have been the epitome of the word “Consistency.” It has been something they had been unable to find since the Legion of Doom era.

Most of that can be attributed to the depth that this team has. When a couple of players slump, others pick up the slack. It’s been a full-team effort this season.

Despite all of the good things coming out of this season, there is still one major concern.

It has been the proverbial Achilles’ heel in Philadelphia over the past 20 years. We all know what it is…*sigh*

Goaltending.

Every year it seems after Ron Hextall left town in the Lindros trade, the Flyers have always had goaltending questions going down the stretch.

This year is no different.

Despite Paul Holmgren’s brilliant move to have the best depth (and most expensive) blue line in the NHL…those six men cannot cover the gaping 4x6 cage that will have every Flyers fan biting their nails in April.

So far, Sergei Bobrovsky and Brian Boucher have been nothing short of miraculous. Both have save percentages just a shade under .920, and they have given the Flyers a chance to win every single night.

But can their superb regular seasons carry this team into soon?

Let’s start off with Boucher. Last year in the Quarterfinals vs. New Jersey, Boosh was nothing short of spectacular. He put his poor-regular season behind him and rode his hot streak at the end of the year to propel the Orange and Black past the 2^nd seeded Devils.

However his game tailed off after a Game 1, overtime loss to the Bruins in the semi-finals. He didn’t play as well, and it seemed like his confidence had floored once again. I can honestly say, if he didn’t get hurt in Game 5, the Flyers would have likely never made history.

That’s not a knock against Boosh, it’s simply because of how the team played more confident in front of Leighton. They rode Michael Leighton to the Finals, until the sudden collapse in his play eventually cost the Flyers Lord Stanley.

Now I know what you’re thinking…”Wait a minute…that was last year!”

Yes, it was last year, but one thing that’s hard to change once you obtain it, is a reputation.

Boucher has had the reputation of being an extremely streaky goalie over the years. And yes, while he has been pretty consistent so far this year, you never know how his game will change once his confidence is kicked (i.e. Martin Biron).

The last thing this team needs is its veteran goalie to suddenly fall off the face of the Earth. Especially when a Bruins team that has a habit of eating up #33 is chomping at the bit for a re-match in the playoffs.

Statistically throughout his career, Boosh’s worst months are February and March. That’s not exactly a time of the year where you want to get cold.

Boosh had a bit of a cold spell towards the end of January, but seemed to rebound after a strong performance against Dallas on Saturday.

Now this could be Boucher’s “Final Run.” He is 34, and in a contract year. While I am sure he thinks he has a few years left in the tank, there are simply not enough jobs in the NHL to guarantee he’ll be wearing a uniform next year.

Simply put, a “Final Run” for a goaltender is when they put a team on their back and ride into the sunset. Win or lose, everything goes on the line. If you look back over the past 15 years, you’ll see goalies that were in their mid-30’s take a team on a deep playoff run. It’s not always successful, but let’s take a look at some “Final Runs” since 1996.

1996 – 32-year old John Vanbiesbrouck took the Florida Panthers to the Stanley Cup Finals in their 3^rd year of existence, however, they were swept by the Avalanche.

1997 – 34-year old Mike Vernon carried the Detroit Red Wings to a Stanley Cup by sweeping the Flyers, and also won the Conn Smythe Trophy.

1999 – 34-year old Ed Belfour led the Dallas Starts to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

2001 – 35-year old Patrick Roy won his fourth and final Stanley Cup vs. the New Jersey Devils, and also won his 3^rd Conn Smythe Trophy.

2002 – 37-year old Dominik Hasek was a major factor in why the Detroit Red Wings won the 2002 Stanley Cup.

2006 – 36-year old Dwayne Roloson took 8^th seeded Edmonton to the Stanley Cup Finals, before an injury in Game 1 ended his season. The Oilers lost in 7 games to Carolina.

2008 – 35-year old Chris Osgood carried Detroit to its fourth cup in 10 years.

2009 – 36-year old Nikolai Khabibulin led an over-achieving Blackhawks team to the Western Conference Finals.

Every year it seems there is that older goalie who just goes on a tear. The problem is, Boucher isn’t the only one this season. He’s got heavy competition with Boston’s Tim Thomas, whose stats are making NHL history.

Well what happens if Boucher’s play declines come April? Does Laviolette go with a rookie goaltender that has never played a minute in the post-season?

As per Lavy’s track record…Absolutely.

After Martin Gerber’s poor play in Game 2 of the 2006 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, Laviolette, then coach of Carolina, pulled Gerber in favor of 22-year old rookie Cam Ward.

Eight weeks later, the Hurricanes were the Stanley Cup Champions, and Cam Ward captured the Conn Smythe Trophy. He is now a perennial all-star.

Most people who know of Laviolette’s decision, envision Bob as the next Cam Ward. The pieces just fit. A 22-year old rookie coming in and stealing the show, along with the Stanley Cup. Seems too good to be true, right?

Wrong.

It’s not that the ability of Bobrovsky that is concerning, it’s his experience. Cam Ward went through the motions by gaining valuable playoff experience. He played in two-straight WHL Memorial Cup Finals, but lost both. He also picked up playoff experience in the AHL.

Bobrovsky has played 1 playoff game in the KHL, and allowed 4 goals.

Not only that, Russian goaltenders have not met much success in the NHL playoffs.

Evgeni Nabokov put together three 40-win seasons, but has never played in the Stanley Cup Finals. Seymeon Varlamov, while young, has given up back-breaking goals to cost the Capitals a series in back-to-back years.

The only Russian goaltender to ever have much success was Nikolai Khabibulin, when he won the Cup with Tampa in 2004. That was still after years of disappointment with Winnepeg and Phoenix.

Most of the team knows what it takes to get as far as they did last year, and it’s not known if Bob has that capability yet.

Does he have that will to lay it all on the line? The sense of urgency and desperation?

Those questions can’t be answered until April, but still, it’s a concern when you ride two possible question marks into the playoffs. Michael Leighton will not be wearing a Flyers uniform again this season, so you can count that option out.

Goaltending has been the Achilles’ heel for this team for over 20 years, and no matter how well either have played, the questions of who guard the 4x6 cage will remain.

That is, until one of them hoist Lord Stanley over their heads.

Until next week, keep your stick on the Ice!

Photo of the week:

Who will be the hero?

Apter Hours: New Years Resoltions Part II - Flyers

The team to watch now that the Eagles postseason is over is the orange & black. Currently, the Flyers lead the NHL with 69 points and are 9-2-0 in their last 11 games, including wins over the Capitals, Red Wings and the Blackhawks. All of this teams' lines are a threat to score and Danny Briere (25 goals), Jeff Carter (22 goals) and Claude Giroux (18 goals) are leading this team to quite a memorable season thus far. A fun fact...the Flyers are 26-1-2 when leading after two periods. That brings up the question, what do the Flyers need to think about as new years resolutions?

1. Improve the power play - All Flyers fans get pumped at games when they go on the "PEEEEECCCCCOOOOOOO POWER PLAY". It is tough to say that the Flyers carry their fans momentum into their man advantages, because they struggle to score. Ranked 20th in the league, the Flyers score on about 16.6% of their power play opportunities (31 goals on 187 opportunities). They have the playmakers to score but it seems like they take forever to set up their offense. One of the things this team is known for is shorthanded goals. They lead the league with seven on the year, which is also a big part of their league leading 119 goals. Richards and Giroux each have three. It goes without saying that the orange & black would be even more dangerous than they already are if they get their power play together.

2. Establish a number one goalie - Although many people may disagree with this, I believe that this season needs to be used as one to establish a #1 netminder. Both Sergei Bobrovsky and Brian Boucher have had great seasons to this point and their numbers prove it. Bobrovsky, also known as just 'Bob', has been a huge surprise this year and has had games that make Flyers fans believe he is the goalie of the future. With a record of 20-6-3, Bob holds a .919 save percentage in 31 games. Brian Boucher has also surprised fans with a solid season so far. In 20 games, he is 11-6-2 with a .916 save percentage. From the games I have watched this year, Bobrovsky is more flexible and has quicker movement from post to post. Boucher does hold a slight advantage in goals against average but Bob looks to be the favorite to eventually emerge as the #1. Head coach Laviolette has the habit of sticking with the hot hand, which is a good strategy but come playoff time, I believe a #1 goalie needs to be chosen. It makes sense to give each netminder a rest and during the season, it is easier to switch from Bob to Bouch regularly. I believe if this trend continues in the postseason, it will be a disadvantage. Having one goalie get in a groove is extremely important during the playoffs and I think Bob has proven that he deserves that chance. I will back the team either way, but I think the nod should go to the Flyers goalie of the future.

3. Hold the lead & keep the momentum - This one is pretty obvious for every team. Although they are 26-1-2 leading after the second period, the most recent game against the Capitals and another game against the Bruins worries me in the third period. With 50 goals against in the final period, the Flyers are among the league's worst in that category. Given, the team is leading the league with 69 points, but holding the lead in big games during the final period is huge. The Capitals are a very dangerous team and to see this Flyers team collapse in the third to give up a two-goal lead was not something any of us want to see. The bottom line is that the Flyers have the capability to win a championship with this team and as long as they keep playing the way they do, good things will happen.

Make sure to keep your eyes open for Part III of this New Years Resolutions special as the Sixers are next on the hot seat. How will I be able to pick just three resolutions for the city's forgotten franchise?

Apter Hours--Lock Haven University: Pathetic Athletics

As a college graduate, many alumni have stories to share about their football and basketball teams. Whether it be Division I, I-A, II, or even III, athletics are a huge part of admissions for both athletes and spectators. I didn't go to a big name school by any means. Lock Haven University, a school in central PA, is the home to 5,000-6,000 students and offers a lot of great majors and programs for students to continue their education. I had the best four years of my life while I was there and was a part of many activities on campus, most notably as a sports reporter for the Eagle Eye (campus newspaper) and Lock Haven's marching band. Although I was not a student athlete, my activities were directly involved with football, basketball and softball for the most part. I was also a sport administration major and completed many hours of service for the athletic department.

Let's get to the main point here. Lock Haven's athletic director was involved in an article in USA Today in 2010 that accused her of being sexist against men's sports and men's coaches. Seems a little crazy, right? Wrong. Here are some facts. Throughout my four years, the LHU Softball team won two Division II Championships, the field hockey team went to four national tournaments and the women's soccer team has been more successful than the men's team. On the men's side, the basketball team has won only 13 games since November 2007 (including a 154-48 loss this season), the baseball team nearly got cut, and the football team has the longest running losing streak in Division II football at 32 games. Their last win...a 17-14 victory in 2007 against Clarion, also 0-10 at the time, in overtime.

This year, most remains the same. The football team went 0-11 and the men's basketball team is currently 1-10. I don't mean to sound sexist but the football and men's basketball programs are normally the main attraction for student spectators...it's just the truth for most schools. Lock Haven has failed to put together a successful football team since the 1980's and the men's basketball team's best season as of recent was in 2005-06 when they missed the playoffs by a game, going 12-15 on the year. The continued horrfic performances are taking a toll on the student body and now the administration.

A recent statement released by Lock Haven's interim president has put the university football team's future in jeopardy.

“Athletics is an essential component of Lock Haven’s mission and is integral to the university’s academic program offerings. Historically, student athletes have been major contributors to campus life and to the greater Lock Haven community. Our student athletes enjoy a wide array of opportunities, ranging from participation in intercollegiate sports to preparing for careers in fields such as athletic training, physical education and coaching.

“As we already have done with our academic offerings, athletic programs are being reviewed within the context of very challenging budget conditions. Over the next several weeks I will be soliciting input from key constituents and will weigh all options regarding the university football program. In this, as in all cases, decisions must be in the best interest of our students and the university. We will not act in haste, especially while the search for a new permanent president is in process, but will take the necessary time to determine our best course of action.”

The head coach of the team, John Klacik, recently "submitted his resignation" and has taken a job as an offensive line coach at Miami (Ohio) University. Many students involved with the athletic department claim that he was fired but it was said he resigned. Klacik, a Lock Haven graduate, went 5-60 in six seasons as the Bald Eagles head coach. He leaves a team that never showed any signs of consistent competitive play. The football team is an important part to a university's athletics and something here needs to change. Klacik has left and a new coach needs to be brought in that has an attitude to help improve the team and the recruiting aspect.

The atmosphere at the football games is also horrific. The stands are always empty, with the exception of homecoming, and most of the people are fans from the other school. It is a great stadium on a nice day and was recently resurfaced with turf. There are other athletic teams that use the field but to get rid of the football team would be a waste of a lot of the money spent to resurface.

My personal issue with this is the effect the loss of the football program will do to the music department. Lock Haven has recently added a music education major and still takes pride in their music performance major. It is not the best department by any means, but student enjoy participating in the ensembles. Here is the bottom line...if the football team goes under, the marching band goes under. The band consists of many students with different majors but a lot of musicians involved are majoring in performance or education. The loss of the football team would also push prospective music students away because there will not be a marching ensemble in the fall. Keith Miller, the most recent full-time Lock Haven president, loved the band and the football games are usually highlighted by the enthusiasm the students in the ensemble provide. I still have friends and fraternity brothers that participate in the band and this potential loss could be a huge hit to not only the athletic department, but the music department as well.

The athletic director, involved in a USA Today story, has been accused of being sexist and possibly even racist against the LHU Men's Basketball coach. In that article it is pointed out that "Women's teams at LHU have won nearly 70% of their contests in the last 10 years. Men's teams have won nearly 37% of theirs — and the football team hasn't won since 2007."

She has also been sued, along with LHU, by the men's basketball coach in federal court.

"I don't feel I get the same level of support from the athletic director as white coaches or coaches of women's sports," Wilson says. "It would make Sharon happy if I went 0-26."

The very well-written article by Erik Brady can be found here in its entirety: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2010-07-21-colleges-lock-haven-lawsuits-taylor-titleix_N.htm

Whether the athletic director gets fired or the recruiting gets better, something drastic needs to be done. The records of the women's and men's sports can be compared to show that there is a favoritism in the department towards women's sports. It may not be intentional, but USA Today noticed it. I am not holding anything against the university that gave me my education and some of the best times of my life. You can see the facts yourself. I am just an alumni hoping for a change so I don't have to feel embarassed whenever I talk about my alma maters football and basketball programs.