An Epic Win Streak Will Face A Tough Test Tonight

On Saturday night, December 11, near the hour of 10:00, St. Joe's lost to Creighton. Why is that event in any way remarkable? It's the last time a Philadelphia team lost when facing a team outside of Philadelphia (that footnote is needed because on Sunday Villanova faced La Salle; that game is not counted in the series of events I am about to present.) Since that seemingly unremarkable moment, no Philadelphia sports team has lost. Professional, college, it does not matter. The city of Philadelphia is currently riding an 8-game win streak. Since Saint Joseph's lost to Creighton on December 11, all Philadelphia sports teams, including college basketball and college football, are a remarkable 8-0 in actual games with 1 epic Cliff Lee deal to boot. Here is a break down of what has happened since then, and what the future may hold tonight.

Sunday, December 12
Sixers 88, Hornets 70
Villanova 84, La Salle 81 (a win for the team I support, though it does not count toward the streak as both teams are Philadelphia schools)
Temple 82, Akron 47
Eagles 30, Cowboys 27

Monday, December 13, minutes before the stroke of midnight
Clifton Phifer Lee

Tuesday, December 14
Flyers 3, Penguins 2
Sixers 82, Nets 77
Drexel 52, Louisville 46

Wednesday, December 15
Sixers 105, Clippers 91
Flyers 5, Canadiens 3

There were no games or big acquisitions on Thursday, but this epic streak will face one hell of a test tonight. Three teams are in action, and two of them are facing extremely tough competition. Here is tonight's schedule.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. 76ERS 7:00
Bucknell vs. LA SALLE 7:00
FCS Semifinals: VILLANOVA vs. Eastern Washington 8:00

If all 3 prevail, the Sixers will have beaten one of the best in basketball, La Salle will have added a win heading into A-10 conference play, and Villanova will be playing for a Division I football championship.

(Hat tip to Philadelphia Sports Daily.)

VIDEO OF EPICNESS: Japanese Players Can Make Great Catches

If I said the name of "Masato Akamatsu," most people not from Japan, would stare blankly and wonder "who?"  It is natural.  After all, he is an outfielder for the Hiroshima Carp and the Nippon Baseball League is not exactly big in the United States.  But despite that, Masato Akamatsu has likely just turned himself into a YouTube sensation with this fantastic home run saving catch.



Dayum. I want to go to Superman's Lair with Masato Akamatsu.

Dan Gilbert Is The Greatest (Or Most Foolhardy) Owner Ever

As if this whole LeBron James circus could not get any crazier, this popped up tonight. In case you have been living under a rock, LeBron James said he was going to South Beach (someone tell him South Beach is not Miami) tonight to play with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, and in the process, and unnecessarily took a complete shit on his hometown and fans who supported him diehard through thick and thin on national television on a show so full of awfulness that it needed to be seen to be believed. But it only took a few hours for the Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert to respond to LeBron James leaving. From the Cavs official website.

Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE"

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....

Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers

If my city was cursed like Cleveland and one of the biggest sports stars just took that dump on you on national television, yeah, I think I might do the same thing as an owner of the team. It shows the fans that you still have a passion, will propel forward without LeBron and will try to win a championship without him, regardless. And even if he can't, at least he can successfully create delusions that the team will be successful in order to save some of the surely falling ticket sales now in Cleveland.

Most. Dramatic. Jersey Unveiling. Ever

This video is every bit of awesome as Simon Gagne, Danny Briere, and Braydon Coburn unveil the Flyers jersies for the 2010 Winter Classic.



Personally, I think that the retro Flyers jersies are one of, if not the, best jersies in Philly sports (aside from that homage by the Eagles to Team Sweden, of course). Last year, they debuted the orange version of these as an alternate jersey and will be using them as their home jersies for this coming year, but the white ones have not been worn in this era until now. Thanks to Puck Daddy, here are a couple pics.


Puck Daddy does not like them, but as a Flyers fan, I think they are every bit of epic win!