The Vet during a rain delay.

Do you remember those awful 90′s teams?

Teams that you never expected to win.

Teams that had a very few bright spots.

Years of being on the bottom and the laughingstock of the National League.

Do you remember when you learned about “addition by subtraction?”

When Scott Rolen was traded,

And the entire city seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

The Phillies started to play under a lot less stress.

» Continue reading “Do You Remember?”

Over the past two nights, I have watched the Phillies and Reds play and I always knew when Scott Rolen was up to bat.  There is no detective work involved here: Rolen walks to the plate, the fans boo. 

When this happened, I looked at my dad and made a comment that most people had no idea why they were booing Rolen.  He said they did, but mom and I don’t think most of them have any idea.

So I thought I would remind everyone why Scott Rolen is booed every year.

Scott Rolen was a product of the Phillies farm system.  The Phillies drafted Rolen in the second round of the 1993 draft, straight from high school.

He quickly made his way up the organizational ladder, while winning every minor league position award the Phillies give out.

He made his big league debut on August 1, 1996, just 3 years after he was drafted.  He was 21 years old.  (I was at that game and it has major significance for me, but that’s a story for the offseason.)

Rolen quickly earned the right to be the everyday third baseman.  However, his first year was limited to about 6 or 7 weeks because when a hit-by-pitch sent him to the DL.

» Continue reading “A Phillies Booing Primer: Scott Rolen”

I grew up in a sports family.  I am the youngest of three and the only girl.  I was truly Daddy’s Little Girl all the way.  

At the same time, it was a goal in my life to prove that whatever my brothers could do, I could keep up.  I had to keep up with them.  My dad always pushed and encouraged me.

He was there at my t-ball practices, baseball games, softball games.  He cheered me on at tennis matches, swim meets and (to his great horror) showed up at football games where I was a cheerleader.  Cheerleading was the one activity that he did not want me to do.

My parents took me to games as a kid.  We would sit in the 700 level of the Vet and I would read the latest book that my mom picked up for me earlier that day.

Dad would have the game on TV on Sunday afternoons and I would fall asleep.

My brothers would watch the games, both on TV and at the ballpark.  They cared and loved it.  I did not.

» Continue reading “Baseball With My Dad”

Wednesday night’s episode (Part 4) of Philaldephia Comcast Sportsnet’s Philly Villains show continued with numbers seven through four, with a dishonorable mention thrown in for good measure.

Matthew Barnaby - greatesthockeylegends.com

Villain #7 – Former Buffalo Sabre (and other NHL teams) Matthew Barnaby.  The words used to describe Barnaby were punk and gnat.  He wasn’t a real big guy but he played like he was.  He also had an colorful personality that the panel described as cartoonish. And supposedly he rather enjoyed playing in Philly against the Philadelphia Flyers and would be extra pumped up hours before the game.

Many hockey players have lost their front teeth at one time or another, but Barnaby decided to replace his with silver ones that were adorned with the Sabres logo (see image on right). Watch the clip here.

Barnaby was arrested and charged with a DUI back in December 2011.

Villain #6 – the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  And why would the Bucs be a villain when they aren’t even an NFC East rival?  Well what was slated to be one of if not the biggest game in Philadelphia Eagles history, and to be the last Eagles game to be played at Veterans Stadium turned into one of the worst.

It was the NFC Title Game and the Eagles were picked to take it all.  There were many reasons why the Eagles SHOULD have won that game, because basically the Eagles had everything working in their favor.  Right down to the cold weather where it was possibly hyped a little too much that the Bucs were NOT a cold weather team.  Something I always tell my son when he’s about to play a baseball game, do not ever take a team too lightly or underestimate your opponent.  And I think that is what happened to the Eagles.  Because what started off as amazing with the Eagles jumping to a 7-0 lead, 52 seconds into the game, turned into a complete disaster.

The Buccaneers went on to win 27-10 and found themselves Superbowl bound, while the Eagles lowered their heads and disappointed the 66,000 + fans at the Vet as well as the rest of Eagles fans.  Watch the clip here.

Dishonorable Mention – Former 76ers owner Harold Katz.  He was responsible for signing Shawn Bradley (Villain #15) so that is a HUGE reason why he got the nod here.

» Continue reading “Philly Villains – Part 4″

Last night Philadelphia’s Comcast Sportsnet aired the third part of Philly Villains.  And for those who are unaware of what the show is, check out my recaps of Part 1 and Part 2.  For the third installment I’m going to call it the BOOING episode!

Villain #11 – Cincinnati Red Scott Rolen.  Let me just throw it out there right now, I don’t hate Rolen.  I know I’m supposed to, but I just can’t.  I definitely am not one of the fans booing him when he returns to Philly which probably puts me in the minority on that.  So why is Rolen loathed to the core?  Because he did an even bigger NO-NO than Billy Wagner badmouthing Philly…Rolen actually wanted OUT of Philly.  And even worse, he made sure everyone knew about it.  Rolen is a great 3rd baseman and when he was a rookie, the expectations of him in Philly were huge.

But Rolen was aloof and hated dealing with the media, which is another Philadelphia NO-NO.  He made no apologies for it either, many on the panel repeated what Rolen used to say to them if they wanted to interview him, “Sorry about your luck!”  And when he didn’t get along with Phillies manager Larry Bowa and felt the Phillies organization weren’t putting out the money to get better players, Rolen said, “I want out!”  So he headed to St. Louis and has since played for the Blue Jays and currently the Reds.  Have the boos lessen the more times he comes back to Citizens Bank Park?  HELL NO! Watch the clip here.

Villain #10 – Pittsburgh Penguin Sidney Crosby or as he is affectionately known to Philadelphia Flyers fans as CINDY Crosby.  I’ve heard it before, that if he played in Philly, we Flyers fans would adore him.  Its possible.  I mean we have all accepted Jaromir Jagr and heck even love the salute that most of us detested when Jagr was a Penguin or Ranger.  But getting back to Sid the Kid, something tells me Flyers fans will NEVER like him.  Is he a terrific player?  Sure he is, there is no question about it, but he’s the referees’ chosen one.  Meaning, if an opposing player gets within five feet of him, it’s an automatic penalty.  Okay I may be exaggerating just a tad, but it just seems that way.  I will say I do wish Crosby well and hope he can recover fully from his concussion and whatever back/neck thing he’s dealing with.  Only because he’s too young and talented to see his career end.  Watch the clip here.

» Continue reading “Philly Villains – Part 3″