Staff Blog
Morning Rounds, October 8th
With none of the big four on TV the sporting world turned its
collective attention to the debate. I’ll
keep my political views out of this forum for now, but I will say that in
general sports may be an apt lens to view a debate. I’m sure I’ll draw some heat for this, but it
seems at this point in a campaign what the candidates say (both candidates …
all candidates) is less about what they actually believe, less about what they
think it right, and more about what they think is effective, more about what
they believe is right for the moment.
This isn’t necessarily a knock – I’m not
suggesting that the candidates are lying,
rather consciously picking their topics with their audience in mind. Last night, and right now, politics is more
about winning than policy.
I can see this becoming a rant, or a slant, (or a book) so I’ll
stop short, but before I do I want to ask – now, in this day of insta-polling
and meta-analysis, in an era where debates, campaigns and legislation are
referred to in terms of wins and losses, and at a time when the physical
behavior of the candidates is constantly scrutinized and judged (41 lost an election by twice
checking his watch, 43 won one by turning aside Gore’s awkward attempt to prove
he was taller) - with stakes aside, hasn’t
politics become a sport?
 |
| via the times |
“The voters have spoken. The bastards.” – Mo Udall’s
post-election declaration. Udall ran for
the democratic nomination in 1976 (Carter’s year). Obviously, he did not win.
Three lines on their world:
- Elgin Baylor is out at the Clippers VP
- the Wizards lost another all star
- Elite XC tried to fix Kimbo Slice’s match?
Three lines on ours:
- Dwight Dixon, the guy who Marvin Harrison may or may not have shot, just sued the wideout
- Rudy Seanez may replace J.A. Happ on the LCS roster
- and the starting rotation remains unchanged
Phillies, Birds, Sixers, Flyers and what everybody is talking about, after the jump
PHILLIES
Bob Ford looks at the Dodgers’ General Manager Ned Colletti’s deep Philly connections. READ
David Murphy basically says that while the Phillies have had success in the past, there is no good way to prepare for Manny Ramirez. SKIP
Murphy’s notes say that Seanez could replace Happ for the series, the rotation and more. SKIP
Zolecki’s do much of the same. SKIP
Mike Jensen checks in with Fox announcer Tim McCaver and talks Manny. SKIP
Todd Zolecki says the Phillies are focused on getting that chip. READ
Rich Hofmann appreciates Rich Dubee’s relationship with his staff. READ
Mike Jensen notes that Shane Victorino is brushing off everyone’s questions, and is focused solely on the future. SKIP
Ed Barkowitz says that Chooch is what he is, and in October that isn’t half bad. READ
Paul Hagen looks at Utley’s route around the Dodgers to the Phillies. SKIP
Al Campbell thanks the mets, makes bad jokes at headlines and more. SKIP
Randy Miller looks at all of the Phillies’ LA connections. READ
Ed Kracz says that Victorino doesn’t hold a grudge against the team who let him go. SKIP
EAGLES
Paul Domowitch pines for Felix Jones. This is obviously a reoccurring issue, so let me state again: if the Birds had gone with Jones, the Cowboys would have likely gone with DeSean Jackson - the guy the Birds picked up with the extra second rounder. SKIP
Ashley Fox tells Donovan McNabb to fix the problem, now. SKIP
Pamela Browner Crawley is the Birds new senior VP. SKIP
Gonzalez/Ford/Sheridan. SKIP
David Gambacorta reports that Dwight Dixon, the guy who Marvin Harrison may or may not have shot, just sued the wideout. READ
Reuben Frank points out just how a big of a whole the Eagles have gotten themselves in. READ
SIXERS
Kate Fagan says that tonight’s preseason opener isn’t about winning, just getting on the court again and looking like a team. READ
Phil Jasner looks at Royel Ivey’s role and growth. I’m totally in the tank for both Ivey and Rush, so … READ
Tom Moore predicts tonight may answer some lineup questions. READ
FLYERS
Sam Carchidi writes that Mike Richards is going to be a hell of a captain. READ
The Phantoms knocked off the Flyers in a game about history. SKIP
Wayne Fish grades the team. SKIP
Fish reports that Parent is out up to three months. SKIP
Fish identifies five things that can go right, and five that could go wrong. READ
TODAY and MORE
Fighting off a cold and gearing up for the Phillies series, we’ll try to keep you as many quick hits as possible, but probably no heavy lifting until the LCS kicks off.
As always, feel free
to email
with any questions, suggestions, comments or complaints.
[...] Morning Rounds, October 8th By James Beale Udall ran for the democratic nomination in 1976 (Carter?s year). Obviously, he did not win. Three lines on their world:. Elgin Baylor is out at the Clippers VP; the Wizards lost another all star; Elite XC tried to fix Kimbo Slice?s … The Sports Complex – http://sportscomplex.blogs.citypaper.net/blogs/mu [...]
nice rant-tease..
for sports- the win ends it though -in politics, its just the start.
may the Good Guys win, in all cases.
Maybe – I’d argue that the win is more important to the pols than anything that comes after it.