Yet, This Phillie Fan Goes Un-Tased

(via VUSports.com)

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From BwB Blog: The Localization of Online Sports Media & The 700 Level Goes Corporate

Yesterday, Enrico announced what can probably be seen as the inevitable:

Today, I’m excited to announce that The700Level.com has entered a new stage in its history. We have officially partnered with Comcast SportsNet and CSNPhilly.com. The700Level.com will retain editorial independence, while tapping into the unique access, technology, and resources of Comcast SportsNet in Philadelphia.

View full post here.

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Is There Anybody Alive Out There?

When Howard Eskin gives you the business, you know you're a tool. Rightfully so, Hollywood John Clark hears it from the Burger King...

From NJ.com:

"On Sunday night, the sportscaster in question NBC10's John Clark got raked over the coals for the vid by Philly sportscaster Howard Eskin."



At least Clark can sleep at night knowing he's not Mad Dog Russo.

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Have You Gotten Your BlogsWithBalls Tickets Yet?

Whatchagonnadobrother When John Clark Runs Wild on Yooooouu?

Sure, we had some fun at the Bruce concert the other day. But clearly not as much fun as NBC 10 Philadelphia Sports Anchor John Clark.

From phillyBurbs.com (Video via The Fightins):

Busting out the Hulkster's hand-to-ear move during "Born to Run" or "Prove it All Night" is one thing. Doing it during some late-era throwaway track is poor judgment, John. I'd expect this out of a Billy V. or Tim Lake, not you.

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Have You Gotten Your BlogsWithBalls Tickets Yet?

Harry Kalas Calls Springsteen's Grandslam Last Night at the Spectrum

Photo: Ron Ring

As much as we tease Bruce on this site, HHR cofounder Chris Illuminati and I are big fans. (It must be the Jersey in us.)

We attended the Boss' 32nd show at the soon-to-be-defunct Spectrum last night, and were, simply, blown away. You can read CI's recap here.

True fans will tell you there were many memorable moments last night, that featured several songs in which Springsteen dug deep into the playbook for.

One that was totally unexpected was his Thunder Road tribute to recently-departed Philadelphia icon Harry Kalas, that was (even more unexpectedly) preceded by the following Kalas tribute to Springsteen:



Audio from Philly.com via PhillyEDGE.

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Have You Gotten Your BlogsWithBalls Tickets Yet?

RIP

1936-2009

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Have You Gotten Your BlogsWithBalls Tickets Yet?

There's No I in Team...Or Rado

C'Mon 950 ESPN. You're never gonna "outclass" WIP this way...

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Have You Gotten Your BlogsWithBalls Tickets Yet?

I Marked Out.

Mark Out: "To temporarily forget that wrestling is fake because something cool happened."

I haven't followed wrestling in about 8-10 years. Last night might have changed all that.

To say the opportunity to go backstage at a WWE Raw show was one that brought me back to my youth, is an understatement. The Fed reeled me in big time.

A friend of mine, JD, is a South Jersey lawyer who represents one of the WWE's on-air talents. (Don't worry, nothing criminal). JD scored four 6th row seats just above floor level and backstage passes for himself, me, Dr. Oppo and Twa.

We were told to arrive around five and to meet him at the Wachovia Center's loading docks. For 3 hours, we "broke bread" with WWE wrestlers, agents, alumni, referees, divas and crew alike - not to mention, World Champion Jimmy Rollins, whom I personally thanked on behalf of all Phillie fans and saw drive away later that night in a brand new Bentley with Florida plates.

Below is a quick chronology of the highlights of my pre-show night as documented through my giddy e-communications with the HHR staff, including some of my notes and their responses.

It was the best I could do. Shortly after actually entering the backstage area, our hook-up leaned in and asked told us to keep our cameras and camera phones away. Not wanting to immediately ruin the connection (or get a steel chair across my skull), we begrudgingly obliged.

5:39pm mysterio, hacksaw and jim ross. smoking

After parking and seeing tailgaters - Yes, tailgaters. With a tent and grill at 5:30on a freezing December night for a Philadelphia wrestling show - we made our way down the loading ramp to the service entrance, where we met our hookup, his buddy, and what I thought from a distance was his buddy's 10-year old son. Turns out that wasnt his son, but Rey Mysterio, sans mask. We were introduced, bullshitted briefly, and walked inside saying "Holy shit, he's even smaller than we thought." Very welcoming and down to earth.

When we got inside, Jim Ross was off to the right puffing away and Hacksaw Jim Duggan in his garb (drab blue shorts, shirt, knee pads and boots) walks past us with two American flags in tow.

5:52pm Golddust

We are lead down a hall that is taken over by the costume and props crew. I chuckled at a sign that read "HBK Chaps Pants." And we are told to grab something to eat. As I grab my plate, I am in line right beside Dustin Rhodes sans facepaint.

The buffet was astounding. I had about 3 plates of terryaki ribs, sloppy joes, salad and cheesecake. We are told the caterers actually travel with the crew.

Rhodes later appeared for more grub in full Golddust regalia. I don't actually recall seeing him perform later that night, so I guess he just dresses up for fun.

6:04pm Steamboat schooling Santini.

We are introduced to Santino - who turned out to be our favorite in-ring performer of the night with his Eye-talian accented shtick and "scrotuitous" injury. Nice Italian boy from Toronto we learn.

As he is eating a shorter, stockier, grayer, bespectacled Asian man walked over and started chatting him up. Ricky the Dragon, you've actually aged well.

6:18pm 5 ft from John Cena watching film and he claims he can't see me.

Not to rumor monger, but I get a note back from a gay friend: "He may or may not play for my team, sources tell me =)." Cynic: "Hit him with a steel Chair. I dare you."

Cena propped himself in front of a flat screen with all sorts of high def video equiptment and starts reviewing his matches. We are told he is more into "watching film" than most athletes in any sport.

6:27pm I am done. pack it up. edge, teddy long & arn fckn anderson.

Double A looks as old as he did in the 80's. Hasn't changed 1 bit.


Edge seemed to hold court with a lot of the younger guys.

I send this note in a follow up to staff: "Told teddy long I was a "big fan" from his nwa days. That I loved Doom. He gave me a shake/shoulder bump, said that was long ago and ron simmons was here, thanked me and wished me a happy holidays. Slaughter is eating with hacksaw. Both are in garb. Are they fighting?"

I resisted calling Theodore R. "Peanuthead."

Dunbar: "I get the feeling that rens smiling muscles are going to be sore tomorrow."

Willard: "this is what they call in the wrestling biz 'marking out'"


6:44pm I am 3 feet taller than Dean Malenko and know more holds.

"You'd change your story if he got you in the Texas Cloverleaf."


I asked if Malenko was a trainer. He's an "agent." Whatever that means.

7:09pm just got a "thumbs up" from Tommy Dreamer.

Not only gave me a thumbs up, but winked too. This made my sister extremely jealous.

7:34pm Am in the company of world champion jimmy rollins.

While, with the exception of Teddy Long, I resisted approaching talent unless introduced, I couldn't resist walking over to J-Roll as he scooped out some salad and whisper in his ear how happy he made me.

One additional note:

Twa saw Hornswaggle ironing his pants while looking for a place to drop anchor. Didn't know he was a wrestler and came back telling us that the WWE hired midget costume people.


He was also amazed by the size of Khali's hands and I am certain the gargantuan overheard him not-so-quietly reveling over it. Twa, not a fan per se of sports entertainment, only knew Khali from his appearance in the Longest Yard remake.

He has a thing for pituitary problems, apparently.

---
Here's a map, as best I can remember of some of the WWEers we saw in relation to where we ate. Directly above us was a table of newer guys I didn't recognize.

Alright. On to the scavenger hunt.

I'll tell you flat out, I failed miserably. Had I been among the common folk more, I'm sure my story would be different, but we essentially went from backstage to our sweet-ass seats.

Austin 3:16 or 'Smell What the Rock is Cooking' t-shirts

Sadly, I think this time has passed. Now, I am old. Everyone seemed to rock the Cenawear.

Luchadore Masks
A legitimately hot chick with all her teeth

The masks were everywhere. Mostly were of the Mysterio variety.

When hunting the black Hulk Hogan, I accosted this fella who claims to work for local radio station Q102, along with his buxom companion. Apparently they were on a scavenger hunt of their own and fell short of making it backstage. The guy cleans mics for all we know.

I'll count the lady-friend as a "legitimately hot chick with all her teeth" if for nothing more than her "Lady Andreas." (Give me a break. It's the WWE...in PHILLY.)

Homemade Championship belts

I am giving myself a push on this one. Today's kids have no creativity. It's bad enough their parents shell out the big bucks for the tickets, but most had souvenir belts around their wastes that sell for $250 at the gift stands.

Of course, grown-ass men also waste their hard-earned money on such novelties as well as throwback jerseys...

I give myself the push because in a John Cena bio video on the Titan Tron, he was holding one.

"I'd Rather Be In Chyna" sign (bonus if held by Triple H)

Again, its time has passed. I think I saw a few "I'd Rather Be In Cena" signs held by men, women and children alike.

A grown-ass woman.

A mullet (bonus points for torn sleeves to go with it) - not on a wrestler

Plenty of these. I opted to snap one on a legitimately unhot toothless chick.

Picture of wrestler pointing directly at me

Cena winding up to give me a two-armed, over-the-head, Razor Ramon point?

Picture of me putting a random kid in a headlock

This should have been the easiest. But it was my timidness that prevented it. Mainly I was scared they'd: 1. kick my ass; or 2. have their mulletted, drunk, Cena-loving parents do so.

"That black guy that dressed up as Hulk Hogan at every ppv event, provided he is not dead"

This guy was glad handing everyone in sight. We believe he's deaf. Real showman though, and very friendly.

An NWO poster

Does a t-shirt count?


If not, I'll do you one better, the Blue World Order was repped:

Dynamic Dave

Word is he doesn't leave the Jersey Shore much nowadays.

Stone/acid washed jeans

Was on the lookout. Had to settle for light-colored pegged cargos.

Jorts

Mother nature finally got the best of Philly's Phinest. Even the cheese-steak fattened legs of the City of Brotherly Love are no match for her elements.

Philly's own "ECW Hat Guy"

Sadly and suprisingly, MIA.

Dudleys

Not one tie dyed shirt in the entire Wach. Disappointing.

Local Athletes

I patted J-Roll on the back.

Spanish Announcers' Table Being Destroyed

No longer exists. I guess it can only be destroyed so many times.

---

Finally, I don't know if this was broadcast on USA last night, but I'd like to congratulate Chris Jericho on being named "Jerk of the Year."

WWE Slammy Award Scavenger Hunt

Tonight I will be heading to the Wachovia Center to relive a bit of my youth after being offered tickets (and possibly a backstage pass) for tonight's WWE Raw in Philly, which will feature the Fed's first Slammy Awards in over a decade.

Slammy Awards 1987 Vince McMahon sings !
by marshal99

I really haven't followed sports entertainment since the demise of ECW. So, to keep me on my toes, the HHR staff has compiled a to-do list of things to be on the lookout for and photographically document. Feel free to add your own in comments.

• Austin 3:16 or 'Smell What the Rock is Cooking' t-shirts
• Luchadore Masks
• Homemade Championship belts
• "I'd Rather Be In Chyna" sign (bonus if held by Triple H)
• A legitimately hot chick with all her teeth
• A mullet (bonus points for torn sleeves to go with it) - not on a wrestler
• Picture of wrestler pointing directly at me
• Picture of me putting a random kid in a headlock
• "That black guy that dressed up as Hulk Hogan at every ppv event, provided he is not dead"
• An NWO poster
• Dynamic Dave
• Stone/acid washed jeans
• Jorts
• Philly's own "ECW Hat Guy"
• Dudleys
• Local Athletes
• Spanish Announcers' Table Being Destroyed
  

Wing Bowl Changes Rules: Stay home Chestnut

Photo: SI

Leave it to an eating contest to worry about fair play.

Wing Bowl, Philadelphia's annual gluttonfest, the biggest celebration of heavage and cleavage since Rome's gladiator smackdowns, "the biggest annual promotion in radio in America," will be a local-amateurs-only event once again, WIP (610 AM) sports yakker Angelo Cataldi proclaimed this morning.

Where is the human interest story? Where is the drama? Where is the reason for casual observers to pay attention for that 'Rocky-like' underdog story. Which would be more interesting; watching a major league pitcher strike out Ryan Howard or watching the guy from your fast pitch team who works as an auto mechanic try and strike out Ryan Howard (trick question, they both could). If you take away the professional eater you take away the chance of the Joe-nobody taking his crown.

Personally, this turns wing bowl from a must-see event into...well..a bunch of fat bastards eating wings as fast as possible. If I want to see that I can stick around next time my wife hosts a purse party.

Taylor Swift Gets Her Balboa On

From our friend Joe Student at Philly Edge:

Taylor Swift runs the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum

Crazy 8's

Today, our buddy Joe Student at PhillyEDGE asked some are bloggers to choose their favorite #8 in Philly sports history: "We’re going to get all WIP and ask a few notable (read: some people we know) to blog about their choice of the Philly athlete they feel has been the greatest to wear jersey No. 8 for a Philly team. (There are more than you think – the Sixers alone have several guys we’ve completely forgotten.)"

Forgettable, indeed.

I would have loved to have gone with Juan Samuel. He was one of my favorite players growing up.

But when Joe hit up Bully Dave Schultz as his pick, I knew I not only had to step up my game, but to tap into some championship nostalgia.

So with that, ladies and gentleman, I give you my nominee, from the University of North Carolina and YOUR Philadelphia 76ers #24, Robert Clyde "Bobby" Jones.

#24?

Naturally.

2x4=8.

Crazy, right?

Gets better.

According to NBA.com, with the 76ers, he totaled 6,585 points and 2,942 rebounds.

6+5+8+5 = 24.

And as we've already calculated, 2x4=8.

Crazy.

But wait.

2+9+4+2=17.

Unless my abacus is malfunctioning, 1+7=8.

Craaaaaaazeeeeee.

What isn't crazy though is the intensity and integrity with which Jones played the game.

One of the greatest defenders of his era, and a member of the city's last major championship team, Jones was NBA Sixth Man Award winner in that magical year of 1983, an 8-time NBA All-Defensive first team, NBA All-Defensive second team in 1985, a silver medalist in the '72 Olympics and a 4-time NBA All-Star.

He also is in the all-time top 5 leaders on the Sixers in PLAYOFF games, minutes, offensive boards, defensive boards, steals and blocks.

Making him, in my mind, one of the best players the city had seen in the woeful decade of the 19...wait for it...80's.

Alycia Lane's co-anchor officially charged

This was immenient and now it's official.

Feds: Philly ex-anchor hacked colleague's e-mail

Federal prosecutors say former KYW-TV anchor Larry Mendte gained access to
Alycia Lane's accounts from home and at work — about 537 times between January and May alone — and shared some of the information he found with a reporter. Lane's attorney said the motive was jealousy, but authorities were silent on Mendte's motive and his method.

What does this have to do with sport? Paaaa-lenty

Lane's attorney Paul Rosen said he believes Mendte also was behind other leaks that got his client into the gossip pages, including one last year in which she e-mailed photos of herself in a bikini to NFL Network anchor Rich Eisen. Eisen's wife intercepted the pictures.

Chances are Mendte will plead guilty and get a minor slap on the wrist because of his past philantropic efforts. He will end up in an anchor desk somewhere by years end.

Punching the fake tan off former major leaguers, slapping cops, hijacking emails...you can't argue Philly has some interesting news personalities. Something has to keep people tuning in every day and the constant shootings are getting old.

Philadelphia Fans Celebrate

Congratulations to Ren and Ariel on the birth of their daughter last night. We look forward to seeing her in these pages in 18 years.

Get Along 76ers

Charles Barkley dissed Larry Bird
Get along 76ers
Dr. J! Moses Malone

Get along 76ers
Jerry Stackhouse and Iverson...

SIXERS ASK FANS TO PROPERLY CALL “SCHUYLKILL” BY IT’S REAL NAME (“I-76”) AND ADD “ERS” TO THE END FOR FIRST WEEK OF PLAYOFFS

From Sixers.com:

As the Philadelphia 76ers continue their National Basketball Association Playoffs series against the Detroit Pistons, the team is requesting that travelers in the Greater Philadelphia Region refer to the Schuylkill Expressway by its proper name (I-76) and add "ers" to the end. The team hopes this will spread and people will immediately begin calling the popularly traveled highway "I-76ers."

Click for link to vid.

It's a Bloggy Blog World

Racist, womanizing fraud Howard Eskin manages to call former Eagle (and reliable insider) Gary "G." Cobb a liar and mentions a variation of the word "blog" 72 times in a single 2-minute rant about the dangers and shortcomings of blogging, blogs & bloggers.

BLOG!

The Rocky Myth: Dethrowning the Champ

For over 30 years, Americans, particularly those in the Philadelphia region in which I live, have had an infatuation with Rocky Balboa. We tout the 6-part movie series as a triumph of the American and underdog spirit.

But in reality, Balboa was a disrespectful bum, a common thug, borderline stalker and an overall underachiever.

He caught a lucky break, was deemed a paper champion by his own trainer, got his best friend killed, was a dead beat dad and was a suicidal megalomaniac.

He was a quitter, a whiner and a sham.

In Rocky I, we find our "hero" breaking thumbs on the docks for a low-life gingaloon (Gazzo). Before we go any further, right there...BANG. Rocky should have been sweeped up in a RICO sting and saved us all from Rockys IV-VI.


Mick wants nothing to do with him when he wants to train, and acknowledges that the Rock is a big, fat, lazy bum. When not drinking and shaking down deadbeats for the mob, he spends his time harassing a pet shop clerk (who may be mentally impaired), who makes it clear she wants nothing to do with him.

He gets his "shot" for no other reason than Creed thought he could exploit his ethnic nickname. So, Rocky finally - FINALLY - does something with his life and starts working hard. And good for him. He wins the "special" gal and goes the distance with the champ.

Big whoop. Know why? Rocky II.

As soon as the going gets tough, he quits again. Rocky II would be my favorite if not for Balboa spending half the flick moping around, pleading "whoa is me."

Adrien should have followed "Win Rocky Win" with "...and act like a man instead of a whiny bitch."


But then...Hey and here comes our bipolar friend! Working hard once again.

He wins the strap!

And what does he do?

Rocky III.

James Brown. Living in America.

Mr. South Philly goes Mr. Hollywood. Mickey sets him up after he beat Apollo with matches consisting of patsies who, as if this were even possible, were worse than him. Yet, his ego has him training in casinos, while Clubber T prepares to show Adrien what a real man is.

And he does. Crushes him.

Here comes the 'tude again. This scene sums up Rocky III and Rocky himself better than any...



This guy is not a hero but a damn train wreck.

I mentioned Rocky's on again, off again hard work. But rarely ever mentioned is his obvious abuse of performance enhancing drugs at this time. Or, more accurately, image enhancing. Rocky goes from a dumpy slugger who could take a punch in Rockies I & II to a chiseled ginker in Rocky III.

Fast forward to Rocky IV. The Rocky when he aledgedly thaws (just a wee bit) the USA-USSR Cold War tension. Oh yeah, and his years of brain damage prevent him from not killing his old buddy Apollo. Rocky does what any hero would do. Travels thousands of miles to avenge his own mistake instead of staying home and raising his impressionable kid.

Negligence that, coincidentally, ended up being a major theme in Rocky V.

Another major theme was Rocky being such a moron that he squandered his millions and drove his family back into the ghetto he "fought" so "hard" to escape. Yet, he was so blinded by his own way of doing things, a way that put him in that very situation, that he failed to bend or compromise when his protege showed every sign of needing to be handled with flexibility. So he blew that one. And his kid should have just left town for good.

Instead everything comes out smelling like roses. Just like the audience's reverence for this guy. I'd go into "Rocky Balboa/IV" but I never felt the need to see it.

Rocky was only an underdog because he was lazy and made himself one. And whenever he found success, he was still a zebra couldn't shed his stripes.

AI's Return Not All Warm & Fuzzy

Despite the thunderous ovation for the return of Allen Iverson to the City of Brotherly Love, not all fans were happy to see the All-Star guard back at the Wachovia Center. Or at least the weren't happy to see his mother.

According to ESPN's Chris Sheridan, some fans took to heckling Mrs. AI, which lead to an altercation followed by a "very large, very angry man" being ejected:

It was a night when Iverson played for the present but opened up about the past, expressing his regret and embarrassment over some of the episodes that discolored his 10-plus years in Philadelphia. And the night included a little extracurricular Iverson-related excitement, too, as a scuffle broke out involving Iverson's friends who were sitting along the second row of the baseline seats near the Denver bench.

The altercation appeared to begin when someone pushed or jostled Iverson's mother as the game was in its final minute and the entire sellout crowd was on its feet. Iverson's friends refused security guards' orders to leave the arena after the fight, which resulted in one very large, very angry man being escorted away with a very large tear in his shirt. But it was all over in time for Iverson's friends to see him get a chance to tie the game or win it.

Lesson learned. You want to get rid of AI's posse, you heckle AI's mommy.

4 fkngw/mypeeps

Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images via 700 Level

Get a THXPHILA shirt while they last.

Women's Hoops Rivalry Goes South Philly

It's the classic Geno vs. Pat rivalry. Personally, I prefer Tony Luke.

From FanHouse: Geno Auriemma on Pat Summitt: 'She's Not Playing Us Because She Hates My Guts'

Geno: "I think she should just come out and say she's not playing us because she hates my guts. And I think people would buy that. Then everyone [who seeks a reason] would be happy. She should just say that [Geno is] a dope, a smart-ass and then everyone could say that they agree with her."

Cougarville, USA

Last night, like any good New Jersian should, Ariel and I spent the night at a Bon Jovi concert celebrating Dr. Jon's 46th birthday, albeit we did so across the river in Philadelphia. We joked about how many Soul references the AFL owner would make, and needless to say, he was right on cue early on welcoming fans to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania..."Soulville, USA."

While stuck in traffic I noted that if I were single and looking, an Bon Jovi concert is certainly fertile grounds for prowling. And it's not just the cougars. As a guy pushing 30, I realized something I coined the 8-year cougar/co-ed window. The age range of screaming women nicely bookends my current age.

The outfits above were only the beginning. Sitting directly in front of us was a 40-something year old man mimicking Jovi's every move. Directly to his right was a 115-pound dude wearing an Under Armor shirt who was sitting next to one of the many women wearing a Tony Graziani jersey.

Opening act was solid. Not knowing what to expect from Idol alumnus Daughtry, the guy and his band can flat out rock. Hard too. Totally unexpected, but it worked, even if he teased about going back to the 80's only to sing the opening verse to "Home Sweet Home" before breaking into "I'm Going Home."

Visibly, Jon is showing his age. His feathered, darkened hair looked, well, contrived. He had a black vest on that was eerily reminiscent of the Springsteen Human Touch/Luck Town era and his preachiness is straight out of the Boss' Gospel of Rock 'n Roll. Sambora, wearing his finest wine-colored velvet pants and purple leather 3/4 coat, looked like a poor man's Little Steven Van Zandt. Tico Dice Clay looked tough as ever but Ariel noted she was waiting for him to reach his arm around his head and take a puff of an unfiltered smoke. David Bryan and his JT-inspired mane hasn't changed in 25 years. Nice to see Asbury Juke Bobby Bandiera touring with the boys.

Show it self was a lot of fun. Jon, celebrating his birthday and coming off a big Soul win, seemed exceptionally inspired. Ariel noted he was playing all my favorites (with the exception of "Saturday Night"). Big highlight was Daughtry coming out and doing a fantastic "Blaze of Glory" (rock on, Young Guns).


And as if him referring to the crowd as the "brothers and sisters of Soulville" and promising to bring Philadelphia a championship (what, do the Kixx not count?) weren't enough, the inevitable happened. Out came the Soulmates and a handful of players to sing happy birthday.

FB/LB Wes Ours, WR/KR Mike Brown, DL Gabe Nyenhuis, et. al.

See the players and Soulmates yucking it up here:

Only thing missing was Jaws.

Photo: buffalosportshallfame.com