The700Level.com - Philly Sports & Minutiae

Penn State Out to Earn Some Respect

If you need any proof that college football isn't fair, look no further than this year's Rose Bowl.  Penn State doesn't deserve to be playing for the BCS Championship, but the fact that USC are both heavily favored and ranked ahead of the Nittany Lions doesn't make a whole lot of sense either.

That's not a knock on the Trojans, who for my money have hands down the best program in the nation.  They might win on Thursday, perhaps rather easily, and based on that theory alone you could make the argument they deserve such high regard.  On the other hand, with so much being made about what happens on the field, that idea doesn't fit with the one that chose Oklahoma and Florida to represent the sport.

It's simple.  Penn State beat Oregon State.  Oregon State beat USC.

Most Visited Posts of 2008: Part II

The Internet is often mysterious and other times it's very predictable (read: scantily-clad women = popular) so with that, we bring you the most visited pages on The700Level.com for the calendar year 2008.

• Harry Calls It and Today, We All Love Wheels
• Perhaps Forgetting Paucity of Championships, J-Roll Calls Philly Fans "Front-Runners"
• Your 2008 National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies!!!
• How Riley Cote Prepares for Big Games
• Quotable: An Unnamed Phils Pitcher Says What You Might Be Thinking
• This. Is. Awesome. Eagles DESTROYING Cowboys
• Felisha Terrell Picture
• Rodney Carney & Dwayne Wade Trade Facials, Sixers Beat Heat
• Canadiens Fans Have No InHABitions
• Randy Moss to Eagles Still A Possibility

Gagne's Injury Not Serious, Should Be Back in a Week

Panaccio has some good news after the scare we got with Gags last night:

Simon Gagne appears to have suffered nothing more than a mild, right shoulder strain and is expected to miss about one week.

Barkley Gets DUI Out of the Way Before New Year's Rush

Charles Barkley, a perennial favorite character of ours, is in a bit of trouble again. Seems the Round Mound had a few cocktails, ran a stop sign, and got himself arrested.

I'll echo the sentiment of Spencer Hall of The Sporting Blog... Let this be a reminder as you head out tonight, and find some patsy to stay sober and drive you home.

Lidge, Phils Sweep Daily News Sportsman of the Year Voting

Capping an outstanding year that saw the Phillies return to prominence in this town, the Daily News has announced that Brad Lidge was voted Sportsman of the Year. His manager and teammates rounded out the top spots, as you might imagine following a World Series win.

He received 13 of 35 first-place votes and 133 points in a list that, not surprisingly, was dominated by the Phillies. Manager Charlie Manuel (12 first-place votes, 100 points), lefthander Cole Hamels (7, 93) and first baseman Ryan Howard (26 points) rounded out the Top 4. The only other candidates to receive first-place votes were Jamie Moyer and Pat Burrell.

After Lidge's perfect season without a blown save, the team's juggernaut run through each playoff series, and the parade down Broad Street, maybe this award will finally help us cope with the loss of Michael Bourn, Geoff Geary, and Mike Costanzo.

Bernard Hopkins was the top non-Phillie on the list (5th), and Dawk was the highest Eagle (6th), tying with Paul Holmgren of the Flyers. Ed Stefanski and Mo Cheeks received the only Sixers votes and came in at a five-way tie for 17th with two votes apiece.

Gags Hurt, But Flyers Win

The two points earned by the Flyers on Tuesday night came with a price—how heavy, we don't know yet.

Simon Gagne was hit from behind, away from the puck, by Kevin Bieksa. No call. Maybe we should hold our breath for Toronto justice though, right? Mike Richards didn't, going right after Bieksa, who got the better of him. Richie made a statement though, and he continues to prove himself a worthy captain at every opportunity.

Late Night Hockey: Flyers Vs. Canucks

This Disney On Ice-induced road trip isn't going so well, eh? Two losses and three banged up players have put a quick halt to the Flyers' December hot streak. Tonight at 10, they'll face the Canucks up in BC, where Mats Sundin is now not scheduled to make his debut with the team, as previously reported. It's been awhile since he played, but one less impact player is always good news.

Not Good: Mets Offer Lowe 3-Year Deal

The New York Times reports, "The Mets have offered the free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe a three-year contract for about $36 million, according to people who have been briefed on the discussions."

Most Visited Posts of 2008: Part I

The Internet is often mysterious and other times it's very predictable (read: scantily-clad women = popular) so with that, we bring you the most visited pages on The700Level.com for the calendar year 2008.

• Phils Clinch Second Straight NL East Crown!
• Surf Fishing With Dean Ween
• Harry the K...with accompanying video
• The Philadelphia Eagles Appear to be Hypocrites
• "Philadelphia: This One's For You"
• Flyers Get Wise to Whiny Washington Post Column
• Video: Philadelphia's Collective Breath
• Andy Reid's Play Chart REVEALED
• Samuel Dalembert on Hockey: 'I'm Just Watching the Little Ball, Man'
• Obligatory Hot Female Olympic Athletes Post
• Eagles Cheerleaders Get In Touch With Nature
• Debunking Myths: Eagles Receivers
• Donovan McNabb Didn't Know You Could Tie in the NFL
• Stark on Mets-Phillies: There Will Be a Brawl
• Josh Smith "Impressed" with Philly

NBA Refs Cracking Down on All the S&M

Apparently, a friendly spanking between opposing players is something frowned upon in the NBA. Reggie Evans learned that the hard way, when after a good cheek-palming of former Sixer stroker Kyle Korver, he got T'd up.

Combined with the Thad Young video Enrico posted earlier, this is all you really needed to see from last night's loss. [Via Ballhype.]

Shocker: Former NFL Stars Think T.O is a Cancer

Former Denver Broncos stud, Terrell Davis, says T.O. must go, "The first guy that's got to go is T.O...T.O. I'm sorry you are a cancer. You got to go."

And former Eagles star wideout, Cris Carter, had a violent solution, "If it was me, I'd get rid of T.O. T.O. got to go from the beginning. Right from the giddy up. I take one bullet and put it right in him. Bam!"

And here I thought all Cris Carter did was catch touchdowns. Little did we know he's into shooting people. Okay, so maybe he was speaking figuratively.

Video: Thad Young With the Fake and Slam

The Sixers play last in night was bad, one might even say awful. They hung around for the first quarter or so and then the game just went downhill after the Jazz went on a run in the second quarter. Deron Williams was nailing threes while the Sixers were wishing they had a shooter who could hit a single three ball. (Maybe the Jazz will trade us Kyle Korver back?)

The Sixers outside shooting is attrocious and last night they didn't make a shot from beyond the arc until Thad Young finally put one in with two minutes left in the game, otherwise known as garbage time. Granted, the Jazz are nasty at home but last night was ugly. There was, however, a lone highlight when Thaddeus Young did a sweet little behind the back pass deak before slamming it home on a drive to the hoop. [video below]

Even Eli Manning Mocks Tony Romo

Typically we reserve our posts about Giants QB Eli Manning to the bashing variety but this we had to share. Eli had this to say about his off week:

"I am just going to have a pretty relaxing week up here," said Manning, who quarterbacked the Giants to the NFC's top seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. "No plans to travel or do anything. My plans to Cabo fell through, so I am going to sit here. That is a joke, by the way."

Eli was likely referring to Romo's trip to Cabo last year with gf Jessica Simpson before the Cowboys lost in the playoffs.

Minnesotans Not Wild About Playoff Football?

Yesterday, we received a flurry of comments, emails, links, and IMs about the ticket situation for the Eagles playoff game against the Vikings this Sunday at 4:15. Most were shocked at the number of tickets available (20,000 yesterday), as well as the prices. I guess it's been a long 4 years since the Vikes were last in the playoffs, but I figured that'd be all the more reason that these things would disappear quickly. What in god's name else do you have to do on a 3º day in Minneapolis than sit in a dome and watch your team play meaningful football at home for the first time in years? You can bet that number of available seats is dropping today, but it's likely the Eagles fans taking them; playoff tickets can be had for as little as $50. I don't remember the last time I paid that little for a regular season game.

So is anyone headed out to Minny, or thinking about it? Sounds like a great road trip, with limited ticket expense for people on break from college. Shame on those Vikings fans though—it could be pretty green there on Sunday.

Maybe they're not so confident they're division-winning team can beat a squad that put up 44 and didn't allow a TD against the Cowboys?

Sixers In Utah to Dance With Jazz

Elton Brand and Carlos Boozer will not be in action this evening as the Sixers continue their left coast swing. The Sixers take on the Jazz who are 11-4 when playin on their home court. Must be all those maniacal Mormons in the stands! And Kyle Korver is deadly in states that start with the letter 'U'.

Pop Quiz: In what facility do the Utah Jazz play basketball in?