Staff Blog
Morning Rounds, December 4th
On the subway back from the game I ended up sitting near an
Italian writer who had been to the game to see Kobe Bryant pick apart a
76er team that isn’t yet ready for primetime. We had a lazy conversation, starting on the
Sports Complex (the other one) platform and ending at my Lombard/South exit. That’s the first time I’ve seen the man at the
Wachovia Center, and chances are it’ll be the
last, and neither of those facts surprised me in the least. Kobe Bryant was
back in Philly last night, and with Kobe comes
the Kobe
circus.
Bryant started the night by being booed loudly, ended it
with an effortless interview in Italian, and dropped an easy 32 in between. He brought Earl Monroe, Sonny Hill, Jimmy
Rollins and 19,000 fans (still not a
sellout) to the Wachovia
Center, and all night it
was easy to see why. Maybe it’s because
this is his hometown, maybe it’s because the Lakers look epically good, but
when Bean Bryant goes the masses follow – it takes a special talent to get a
road crowd to chant ‘MVP’ – and he handled it all with ease.
Postgame, in the visitor’s locker room he practically held
court: reporters filled an entire wall trying to get their questions in and
those that had sat back and mused, “he remind you of Pete Sampras?” casually
mused one as Pearl Monroe asked 24 for a picture. Needless to say, that isn’t the type of thing
that was happening down the hallway.
There are a lot of dudes in the NBA who can become the story
of a game, whose or personality can takeover and demand headlines. There aren’t a lot of dudes who are the story
the minute the game is put on the schedule. In a star’s league, Kobe
is still Kobe.
 |
| A Young Kobe, rocking someone else’s jersey (he was 33 for three years, and 23 for the first) |
| SI |
“There were a lot of Lower Merion alumni here. We’re deep.” – KB24, making light of the crowd
Three lines on their world:
- A recent contract extension wasn’t enough to save the job of Raptors’ coach Sam Mitchell
- Behind a Rajon Rondo triple double the Celtics got their revenge on the Pacers
- and the Red Sox locked up Dustin Pedroia through 2014
Three lines on ours:
- The Sixers dropped one to the Lake Show
- Family life may have been affecting Donovan McNabb’s play on the field
- and Elton Brand went down with an injury
Phillies, Birds, Sixers, Flyers and what everybody is talking about, after the jump
EAGLES
Ashley Fox says the strain of what sounds like it was a complicated childbirth had to be affecting McNabb’s play. SKIP
Rich Hofmann dives into the question of distraction and McNabb’s closed book personality. READ
Les Bowen tackles the whole McNabb situation. SKIP
Ed Barkowitz writes that Brian Dawkins understands better than most what the Eagles-Giants rivalry means. READ
When Brian Dawkins lines out at safety on Sunday it’ll be his 180th game in Eagles’ green (well, 179 if we count the yellow and baby blue throwback game, but bear with me), tying for with Harold Carmichael for the Eagles’ all-time lead. Bob Brookover looks at what that means to Dawk. READ
Sam Donnellon says the Giants aren’t distracted by the Plax-shoots-himself-in-the-leg-with-an-unregistered-gun-he-left-in-his-sweatpants-in-the-middle-of-a-nightclub incident at all. Heh. SKIP
Ray Parrillo’s notes focus on Brian Westbrook’s health, Chris Patrick’s promotion, Asante Samuel’s promotion, and more. SKIP
Les Bowen’s notes look at Brian Westbrook’s health, Lito’s inability not to suck, and more. READ
Ray Parrillo talks to the Eagles who started off as unsigned free agents. READ
SIXERS
Kate Fagan’s game report reports that Elton Brand left the game with a strained hamstring. SKIP
John Smallwood talks with Ed Stefanski, who does not make it seem like everyone’s job is safe. READ
Kate Fagan’s notes focus on Stefanski’s desire to “tinker” and more. SKIP
Bernard Fernandez looks at Speights‘ development. READ
Tom Moore says Ed Stefanski is unhappy with the Sixers results to date. READ
PHILLIES
For the first time since last winter, no one wrote about the WFC Philadelphia Phillies.
FLYERS
Sam Cardichi reports that Danny Briere will miss four-to-five more weeks after reaggervating his groin. READ
Ed Moran does the same. SKIP
*if you still care about hockey after the NHL suspended Sean Avery for getting to Elisha Cuthbert and Rachel Hunter before the rest of the NHL and can only read one Ed Moran writes about how Scottie Hartnell has changed the Flyers’ demeanor, and about how he’s the man. READ
Sam Cardichi’s notes say the Flyers support the NHL’s decision to suspend Sean Avery and looks at some injuries. SKIP
TODAY and MORE
We’ll have notes from Tuesday’s Big Five Opener, last night’s Sixer loss, a theory on Elton Brand’s injury, and plenty more. There is a catch though – I left my wireless mouse at the Wachovia Center last night, and until I pick up a new one I’m going to be handicapped by this godforsaken touchpad. It may really slow me down.
As always, feel free
to email
with any questions, suggestions, comments or complaints.
whoa, wait a minute – that’s gonna have to be Bean Jr.
Joe Jellybean Bryant, LaSalle class of ‘75, is till holding down the “Bean”
Sweet to have the Big 5 back up and running – and sweet to have the Palestra still standing
Kobe Bean Bryant
Jellybean made his kid’s name official.
who knew? I sit corrected!