With the free agency period under way since yesterday, the 76ers have been relatively quiet, other than to temper everyone’s enthusiasm in regard to bringing back Andre Miller. They are looking for other options, however and have targeted a few players who could be A.) Andre Miller’s successor and resident mentor to Jrue Holiday and B.) bench players who can score or defend. Some names to consider : Read the rest of this entry »
A Few More Names To Add To Phils Trade Watch
2 07 2009Christmas in July officially came yesterday for all Americans, and especially Major League Baseball teams seeking an upgrade over their current roster. Some moves will be nondescript, but can prove to be fruitful down the stretch. Such moves as acquiring Joe Blanton or Matt Stairs can prove to be very valuable down the stretch run in a long season. Now that we’ve gotten to July, here are some more names the Phils have been linked to in recent weeks: Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Paul Maholm, Dan Haren, Lou Marson, Joe Blanton, Kyle Kendrick, Carlos Carrasco, Matt Stairs, Pedro Martinez, Greg Dobbs, Jason Donald, Brad Penny, Sergio Escalona, Ben Sheets, Jake Peavy, Antonio Bastardo, Joe Savery, Jason Marquis, Matt Cain, Kyle Drabek, Roy Oswalt, Doug Davis, Michael Taylor, Vance Worley, Drew Carpenter, Bronson Arroyo, Miguel Batista, Clay Bucholz, Gil Meche, Brain Bannister, Chin-Ming Wang, Richie Sexson, Adrian Beltre, Ian Snell, Zack Duke, Jonathan Sanchez, Joe Saverey
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Now and Later: Flyers Acquire D Pronger with eye towards 2009-2010
26 06 2009by John Ryan
While the Philadelphia 76ers were still celebrating their drafting of Jrue Holiday, the Flyers made a strong move 
towards making a Cup run in 09-10 by acquiring stout defensemen Chris Pronger from Anaheim. The move was a cost cutting move for Anaheim who had to contend with defensemen Scott Niedermeyer deciding to return next season with the Ducks. The move was costly for the Flyers, however, as they had to give up Jofrey Lupul and Lucas Sbisa and two first round draft picks (2009 and 2010).
PCP Analysis: While I don’t profess to be an expert in hockey, I do like the move. Sbisa is going to be a terrific defensemen in the league for a long time in my opinion, but they sorely needed a guy like Pronger who can score, hit, and intimidate. Lupul also was a key loss. He has scored 49 goals the past two season. Some other ramifications to consider: The move leaves the Flyers approx. 2.5 million under the NHL salary cap. They still need a backup goalie, and maybe another defensemen and maybe another winger. They also stand to lose Mike Knuble, as some are speculating that Knuble will get his desired long term pact from the Penguins. He will be hard to replace in a lot of ways. They are closer to a cup, though. They still run forwards out there such as Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne, Danny Briere, Claude Giroux, and Scott Hartnell. Key this year will be, as always though, the play of the defense and newly acquired Ray Emery. I still see a few missing pieces before they dethrone the Penguins. Meanwhile, the 76ers still seem a few years away from even cracking the top 4 in the suddenly “Beast” of the East.
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Tags: Chris Pronger, Claude Giroux, Daniel Briere, Jeff Carter, Jofrey Lupul, Lucas Sbisa, Mike Knuble, Mike Richards, NHL Draft, Philadelphia Flyers, Ray Emery, Scott Hartnell, Simon Gagne
Categories : Flyers, Hockey
Some Sixers Solutions For Thought
23 06 2009by John Ryan
With the annual NBA draft just days away, here are some of my thoughts on what the 76ers should be doing to fix their current roster. As it’s currently constructed, the 76ers have a glut of power forwards (Elton Brand, Maurresse Speights, Jason Smith), their two best players playing the same position (Thad Young and Iggy both are 3’s), and have no legit point guard on the roster. Side Note: Louis Williams is NOT a point guard, but he will start there if not better option is found in the draft or free agency.
1.) Trade Samuel Dalembert at all costs: Yes, even if it means taking the talked about rumor of Radmonovich and Nazr Mohammed’s corpse. It adds money in the short term, but it fixes a few problems: 1.) It gives you another shooting option besides Jason Kapono. Vlad Rad has always been a good shooter, it’s just that recently he is an over paid shooter. 2.) It gives you a back-up big that can still block shots (think about Theo Ratliff’s role on the team last year) and a back-up plan in case Brand just can’t perform as a starting center. 3.) It moves you up 5 slots in a weak draft that is said to have 12 sure fire players, albeit players with no real high upside. The pick they’d get? 12. 4.) While it adds short term money like Kapono did, it doesn’t matter. All the contracts end in two years when Dalembert’s would have ended, and they have no cap space until then anyway. 5.) Dalembert can’t be popular in the locker room: he talks about every coach he has, he’s lazy, and is pretty much ineffective for a team that favors to his playing style. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Philadelphia 76ers, Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, Andre Miller, Boston Celtics, Ed Stefanski, Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte Bobcats, Marreese Speights, Willie Green, Kirk Hinrich, Nazr Mohammad, Vladimir Radmanovich, Rajon Rondo, Jared Bayless, Jordan Farmar, Ricky Rubio, Jrue Holliday, Acie Law, Johnny Flynn, Brandon Jennings, Mike Conley Jr., Tracy McGrady, Jason Kapono
Categories : 76ers, Basketball
Favre Pondering Another NFL Comeback?
30 04 2009by John Ryan
He just couldn’t resist, could he? After retiring (again) this past winter from football, there is once again speculation (created by, of course, Favre himself) that Favre is indeed contemplating a return to the NFL. The reason this all started is becuase Favre had his agent relay to the Jets that he insisted he be removed from their reserve/retired list. My question is: WHY? If your retired and plan to stay retired, why even bother? Well, here’s where it all gets interesting. Through a statement he released, this is what Favre had to say, “Nothing has changed. At this time I am retired and have no intention of returning to football.” That sounds about as definitive as a weather man saying there’s a fifty percent chance of rain. To end any speculation, he could have a.) not requested such a move (apparently weeks ago he insisted on the move) and b.) said, “I’m retired and I’m not coming back.” But that wouldn’t be Favre’s me-first style. He once again has gotten people who dislike him (me?) to talk about him. Truth is,. I have no problem with Favre on any kind of personal level, but I think he is as bad as a Chad Ocho Cinco. He always wants the attention on himself, and is very much a self made martyr.
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Tags: Brett Favre
Categories : Football
Eagles Wheeling and Dealing + Draft Notes
26 04 2009Well into Day 2 now of the draft and the Eagles still have yet to make a selection. Hold on for your hats with this explanation: The Eagles had pick #85 (3rd Round) which they traded to the New York Giants for an additional 6th rounder and their pick (#91, 3rd Round). They then traded that pick to Seattle for yet another fifth and a seventh, and a third rounder next year which is great value, unless you consider the fact that Jared Cook and Chase Coffman (both TE’s) were selected in that range of picks. Now the Eagles will own nearly 1/5 of the fifth round (six overall selections in that round) and two sixth rounders. Let’s see if they trade into the 4th round. Read the rest of this entry »
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Categories : Uncategorized
Eagles in the mix for Brady Quinn?
25 04 2009Although it has not been reported anywhere, and this is PURE SPECULATION on my part, but the Eagles could be interested in Browns starting QB Brady Quinn. Consider the following:
1.) The Browns have a new coach
2.) They have Derek Anderson, and his ugly contract
3.) Quinn has gotten injured and still has not proved himself to be a front line starter
4.) Quinn would be ideal in Andy Reid’s West Coast Offense
5.) He would be learning under a master of QB teachers
6.) Donovan is close to being done
7.) Kevin Kolb may not be the answer.
In terms of adding depth at QB, i’m for it. The Eagles are clearly almost done with Donovan and have no clear cut favorite to replace him. AJ Feely is not the answer, and Kolb has not shown enough either way. With the Browns primed to trade him, why not the Eagles?
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Categories : Uncategorized
Quick Reaction: Eagles Select Maclin in 1st Round
25 04 2009The lesson as always boys and girls is don’t trust strangers and don’t trust Andy Reid around the time of the draft. In a surprising move, the Eagles not only picked a WR in the 1st round, but traded up to do so. With speculation running rampant all week about Knowshon Moreno slipping to number 21, the newly hated Broncos squashed that when they made the young man pick number 13. My immediate reaction is that I like the pick, but not love the pick. I’m glad they did not select Robert Ayers, or the pick the Eagles likely leaked out earlier this week, Vontae Davis. I’m also glad they didn’t trade out of the first round (which, as luck would have it, would have made the most sense this year). In the end, the Eagles selected a top-10 talent and all the gave up was an extra sixth round pick. For the 2nd round and beyond I would like to see the following positions addressed: RB, CB, TE, S, OL, DL, and yes, QB depth.
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Tags: Philadelphia Eagles, Andy Reid, Knowshon Moreno, Vontae Davis
Categories : Eagles, Football
My Favorite Harry Kalas Story
14 04 2009by John Ryan
When Harry Kalas passed yesterday, my mind raced with thoughts, and memories. I felt like I had just lost a memeber of my family, but was wistful of all the great calls and times I shared with him in my living room, my car, and all of my family and friend’s houses. When you had a bad day at school or work, Harry was there. When you missed him, you could just invite him in. For three hours a day, almost 9 months a year, you had a friend in him.
My first memories of Harry Kalas was when my grandfather and I would watch games at his house in Margate, NJ. I remember fondly Saturday or Sunday games with Harry and Whitey making the calls. I always knew it was summer when I heard his voice, and I was excited because even though I didn’t know him, I felt like my friend was back for the summer. When I was a teenager, I got the chance I had always wanted; I got to meet Harry Kalas. At the time Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Ed Wade, Harry K, Harry Kalas, Philladephia Phillies, Ruben Ama
Categories : Baseball, Phillies
It’s a Ramblings Miracle! (They’re Back!)
29 12 2008by John Ryan
Before we start with the last edition of Rambling’s 2008, let me first apologize for my month long hiatus. My “day job” has been busier than usual lately, and well Christmas season can get crazy in the Northeast. Anyways, away we go…….
1.) First, the shameless shout out to my alma mater, as is custom. If you haven’t already picked up on this from reading anything I’ve ever written, I attended Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fl. The ironic part is that there’s a blossoming college with a new football stadium about to erect right in the heart of retirement country. The great part is: 1.) It’s 20 minutes from Lauderdale, 45 from South Beach (hence my sometimes used nicknames “The South Beach Guy,” The Notorious S.B.G, and “Johnny Ry the South Beach Guy) and about 3.5 hours from Key West, 2.) The women are gorgeous and there’s great variety (blondes, latins, haitians, dominicans, etc.) 3.) The school is rapidly expanding, including its athletics, and 4.) The school consists of mostly transplants from Philly, New York, and Boston leading to GREAT e-mails with friends, bitter Madden and fantasy outcomes, and enough ball breaking to fill up a dozen Don Rickles comedy shows. ANYWAYS……..They now have won 2 straight bowl games in a row, which happened to be there first 2 in their 8 year history in football (only 3 of which they were bowl eligible). Great stuff all around, especially in 2 games in which they were underdogs and the de facto road team, as they played Central Michigan in Detroit this year, and Memphis in Tennessee last year. Congrats, Owls. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia Phillies
Categories : Uncategorized
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