The700Level.com - Philly Sports & Minutiae

/sheds tear

I... *sniff* *sniff* miss you.. A.I. [nh]

Kevin Eubanks is a Weak Fan, Terrell Owens Moonwalks on Tonight Show

Tonight Show sidekick Kevin Eubanks is a well known Eagles fan and was sporting a number 81 Eagles jersey when Owens appeared on the program Friday night.  When T.O. came walking out, he took off Eubanks' Iggles hat and replaced it with a Cowboys cap.  Eubanks then proceeds to agree to be a Cowboys fan "for a night."  Blasphemy!

via FH

Dan Steinberg Does the Ickey Shuffle

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post's D.C. Sports Bog has outdone himself this time.  In front of a frightened Stacey Keibler, Agent Steinz performs the whitest version of the Ickey Shuffle ever.  (Apparently she does something with the WWE?)

Also, Donte' Stallworth eats at Panda Express and McNabb gets on the runway.  And another Westbrook video after the jump.  Westbrook's a Wizards fan.  Trade him!

Aaron McKie Will Earn His Check As a Player-Coach This Time

So we noted yesterday that it was funny the Lakers included McKie in the trade of Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol but what we didn't realize is just how much McKie is rolling in the dough.

According to an NBA source, McKie will be guaranteed $750,000. He signed a three-year contract with the Lakers yesterday in a sign-and-trade move. Only the remainder of this season is guaranteed.

That's not the half of it: "Even though McKie was a volunteer coach, he was being paid $7 million this season by the Sixers as a part of the NBA's one-time amnesty agreement."

Not bad for a Temple alum.

We had guessed McKie was just included in the trade to make the numbers match up and that McKie would never actually play in Memphis.  Turns out they want to use him as a player-coach.

>>McKie back on the court [Inquirer]

Johan Gets Paid, Set to Haunt Phillies Fans Dreams

It's a done deal.  Johan Santana is set to give Phillies fans nightmares for the next six seasons as a member of the New York Mets.  I'm hearing 6 years at around $150 million.  WFAN in New York is talking about the Mets having additional interest in former Phillies starter Kyle Lohse.

Video: Donovan McNabb Interview from Arizona

"You definitely want to see action."  That's Donovan McNabb's response when asked about his thoughts on the commitment the Eagles organization has to winning.

It's a lengthy interview where McNabb talks about the typical state of the Eagles and later about the game on Sunday.  As someone earlier in the week stated in the comment section, McNabb would certainly make a fine analyst when his playing days are done in Philadelphia.  Let's hope we have to wait a while for that.

Watch the full interview with Donovan McNabb from Arizona here.

Wing Bowl: Not Safe For Work

Here we have LIVE footage of the WingBowl courtesy of Philly's own Fox 29.

Around the :30 mark, you see a young woman cheering on a mohawked contestant when all of a sudden...  OOPS! I see a titty!  A nanosecond after the goods are unleashed, you hear an unintentionally hilarious *GASP!* coming from what I imagine is someone in the Fox production booth. 

Again, there are two oddly shaped breastasists in this clip, so don't watch it in the vicinity of your boss or you may get fired.

WATN: Aaron McKie Got Traded!

In a move that will likely make the Lakers a team to reckon with, the Grizlies sent Pau Gasol to L.A. for ... Aaron McKie! (and some other guys).  Anybody know what McKie is up to these days?  Random: my buddy Ralph used to deliver pizza to Aaron's crib in Drexel Hill.  Good tipper.

Quick Links: The People's Champ Layin Low

• Freddie Mitchell's name coming up a lot this week. [Daily Examiner]
• UKEEEE! and the Phanatic. [B&C]
• Here are some Wingette photos from today's Wing Bowl.

Here is the coverage from the Super Bowl I've been enjoying the most: Chris Mottram of The Sporting Blog, MJD of Yahoo!, MDS of FanHouse.  Any other good coverage out there we may have missed?

Wing Bowl Wrap: Down Goes El Wingador

We pretty much ignored the hype surrounding this year's Wing Bowl but I felt we should at least mention it happened.  A.J. over at the Philly Mag blog has a real nice wrap up of what he says was a weak Wing Bowl.

The show? Timid this year. There were no horrifying evacuations (there was one competitor who was disqualified after “snotting” a piece of chicken out his nose), and although crowd was praying for a triumphant Bill “El Wingador” Simmons upset, reigning champion Joey Chestnut’s professional jaws were just too formidable. Simmons placed third, behind another professional eater, the sinewy, mohawked, Patrick Bertoletti.

So the evil Chestnut won and El Wingador will put the wings down and walk away from the... table?  We've yet to find any real good photos from the event.  If you know what I mean.  Philly.com has all sorts of coverage as well.

Video report after the jump.

Ryan Howard, Man In Tights

Not long ago we learned that Ryan Howard would grace the cover of MLB Live: The Show, another proud moment for Philly's top slugger. As is the custom with sports games these days, Howard had to slip into the motion suit, and  Meech has located a snapshot of the Big Guy in what we hope will not be the next Phillies road uniform.

Fortunately, the pic cuts off at the hips. The cover image they're using is pretty cool.

>>Ryan Howard wasn't meant to wear tights

[Bugs & Cranks]

Can't Blame Niitty for This One

If you weren't able to catch the Flyers' 4-0 loss to the Rangers last night (and, lucky you if that's the case), a look at the box score would show that Antero Niittymaki was chased from the net after giving up 4 goals before the game was even half over, while his counterpart, Henrik Lundqvist's backup, notched a shutout of one the NHL's hottest teams. Both of those things happened, but in all fairness, Niitty didn't play all that poorly; he just had to endure a number of breakdowns in front of him and was left out to dry.

The highlights after the jump show a turnover that led to a long outlet pass, with the Rangers' Nigel Dawes faking a shot as Niitty challenged high, and finding a small angle to beat him. Petr Prucha was untouched as he gathered a rebound and slammed it home for the 2-0 lead, and although Chris Drury's goal came from about 70 feet out, it went through a three-man screen, two of whom were Flyers. Brendan Shanahan finally chased Niitty to the bench on a perfect 2 on 1 play, and it was clear that the Flyers were changing goalies not because of any fault on Niitty's part; they just needed to do something to try and gain some momentum. Marty Biron slammed the door after that, not allowing a single goal, but the Flyers could muster only 20 shots and obviously no goals.

Some Eagles Made it to The Super Bowl

While most of the Eagles are probably off planning their vacations to Punta Cana, Brian Westbrook and Donovan McNabb are in Arizona enjoying the media blitz.  Former FanHouse pal of mine, MJD now writes exclusively for Yahoo! Sports and was lucky enough to spend the day at Donovan McNabb's Yardbarker party surrounded by Hooters girls.

Below, you can watch video of Brian Westbrook treating a moron rather kindly

Forsberg Will Return to NHL

Peter Forsberg has officially informed Modo, his former Swedish Elite club, that he won't be re-signing with them, instead setting his sites on a return to the NHL this season. The former Flyer's agent will now begin negotiating with NHL teams, and Philadelphia is sure to be high on their list. Foppa has previously said he'd lean toward signing with one of the clubs he's already played for, and also that he only wants to come back to a team that has a good chance to make a Stanley Cup run. The Flyers meet both criteria, and they're currently ahead of both Colorado and Nashville in points. Also, GM Paul Holmgren has been very public about his desire to reacquire Forsberg if possible.

Sixers Win By 43 Over Milwaukee

You read that right.  The Sixers beat the Bucks last night by a whopping 43 points.  It was the most the squad has ever beaten another team by at the Wachovia Center and their biggest win anywhere since 1982.  The Bucks were without their injured stars, Michael Redd and Desmond Mason, and as their coach put it, "there wasn't much fuel in the tank."  I'll say.

Despite their struggles in the last few weeks, you have to give credit to any team that goes out and wins a game by 43 points. 

Comcast SportsNet highlights of the game below.

One more thing worth discussing: on the NBA.com highlights of last night's game, the analyst suggested that it could be Andre Iguodala rather than Andre Miller who could be on the trading block.  They mentioned the fact that Iguodala turned down the lucrative offer before the start of this season and may have an inflated sense of self worth.

How Riley Cote Prepares for a Big Game

In the days between games, some players scan tape to see an opposing sniper's go-to move. Others look to see if a goalie gets beat high glove side or gives up low-shot rebounds. Riley Cote goes to a venue like hockeyfights.com and watches the youtubes of the opposing team's enforcers, then works on his game plan with his mixed martial arts instructor. Can't wait to see him in the octagon with Colton Orr tonight.

Pretty Much the Best John Kruk Moment. Ever.

Wood paneling, cheerleader-on-mascot porn, Mets fans throwing batteries, bisexual explorations with sports heroes, a random vampire involved in real estate, severed nipples, peepshows, a vocal John Bonham solo "from the live album," and a superior, billowing mullet can only mean one thing: John Kruk has joined the cast of Aqua Teen Hunger Force in an homage to Sirens of the Odyssey.

Part 1 here, Part 2 after the jump. (some adult content)

Donovan May Want Playmakers But Westbrook Just Wants a Tasty Smokehouse Bacon Triple-the-Cheese Burger

Brian Westbrook will make you eat cheeseburgers.  His cheeseburger brings all the girls to the... uh, Chili's Restaurants.

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook will each represent one of three new Chili's Smokehouse Bacon Burgers in the name of their favorite charity. Available now, guests are encouraged to visit their neighborhood Chili's to taste these new burgers, because the player with the best-selling burger at the end of the 60-day promotional period will receive $10,000 from Chili's to donate to their charity of choice.

Ah yes, nothing like an NFL football player representing a cheeseburger for charity.  Westbrook's Smokehouse Triple-the-Heart-Attack Burger "features extra-thick applewood-smoked bacon seasoned with jalapeno spice and fire-grilled. It's triple-layered with flavorful cheeses -- sliced smoked Cheddar, Swiss, and Provolone -- and is made with sauteed onions and jalapeno-ranch dressing."

Check out the menu.  Delish.

>>Trio Of NFL Players to Add Sizzle to Chili's New Smokehouse Bacon Burgers [CNN] image via

Philly Hoops Still Worth Watching

A writer from the Washington Post recently took a trip up to Philadelphia to take in a Penn/La Salle game at the Palestra followed by the Temple/Xavier  game the following night up on Broad St.

Sugar Shane Thinks It's Real

Philadelphia Phillies token Hawaiian was at a wrestling match. [Bugs & Cranks]

Soccer Stadium a Done Deal?

We're often enticed by headlines showing encouraging progress for the soccer stadium deal in Chester, and usually, a paragraph or so into the article, we read that just a few more hurdles stand in the way, and by [insert next month], we should have a final resolution.

So when we saw today's Daily Times, we were waiting for the "yeah, but..." paragraph. However, although it's still not set in stone, it appears the state is finally ready to agree to provide $45 million in funding for the stadium, which has been the final hurdle for some time now. The Times states that "According to multiple sources, a formal announcement of a letter of intent from the state is scheduled for Thursday in Delaware County."

Understandably, Civil Negligence and the Sons of Ben are excited. Hell we are too.

>>Chester stadium closes in on state funds [Daily Times] (h/t: Gootman; Civil Negligence)

Harry the K Would Like to Call a Super Bowl

From an interesting find over at Scout.com, famed Cubs broadcaster Pat Hughes has gone out and made CDs featuring the audio highlights of some of the best to ever call a game.  He started with Harry Carey and recently put together a CD for the Phillies own Harry Kalas titled "Harry Kalas: Voice of the Phillies."  The CD runs the entire career of Harry.

The CD takes you back to Kalas' beginnings with the Astros and features the one inning of work that he did in an Astros and Yankees game that featured Mickey Mantle, Bobby Richardson and Roger Maris all stepping to the plate. The cuts detail events in Kalas' career from the opening of the Astrodome to the closing of Veterans Stadium and everything in between, including his time with Richie Ashburn. Phillies fans will be interested to know that even though he opened the Astrodome, it wasn't Kalas' most memorable opening. "The current one [Citizens Bank Park] is more exciting. I have many fond memories of my years at Veterans Stadium, but the days of multi-purpose stadiums for baseball and football have passed, so even though I have great memories of being at The Vet."

One of the things I found most interesting was Harry's desire to call an NFL Super Bowl:

The Roulette Wheel of NHL Suspensions Continues

Don't count us among the fans of the NHL's new predilection for suspending players for infractions that not too long ago were disciplined simply by sending them to the penalty box. Our dislike of this trend may be because we liked things fine the way they were, but really, I think it has more to do with the NHL's inability to apply these suspensions with any type of consistency.

Five Flyers have been suspended this year, for a total of 52 games. When Steve Downie was handed the first letter from Toronto after a nasty hit on Ottawa's Dean McAmmond in the preseason, it was debated whether he should have been suspended at all, let alone 20 games. The hit was away from the boards, and didn't involve a stick, but it was perhaps unnecessarily excessive. In any case, it was clear the league wanted to send a message that these hits wouldn't be tolerated in 2007-2008. Just a few games into the season, Jesse Boulerice took a horribly stupid shot to the face of the Canucks Ryan Kessler, and got a deserved 25-game break.

And after that, the Flyers have worn a target on their backs, while others have gotten away with playing the game just as roughly.

Now There's A Man Who Knows When He's Got Something Good In His Mouth

The Inquirer's David Aldridge brings us perhaps the most WTF story we've read in quite some time.  It's the tale of New York Giants linemen Gary Ruegamer who "castrated lambs - with his, um, teeth."

Lamb fries!

Aldridge explains further:

Ruegamer, speaking with the East Valley (Arizona) Tribune, said he was "hesitant" to geld the animals, and only did so at the request of a friend, who owned a ranch in Nevada, where he grew up. The castration technique is a Basque tradition, and the rancher was a Basque.

"But it is what it is," Ruegamer was quoted as saying. "She [the rancher] needed help. There was beer. Good times. It was worth it. . . . You pull them out with your teeth, spit them in a bucket, next one. There was other work that had to get done, so we had to hurry with that and move on to the next thing. It's just a little lamb. It's not a big animal. I have pictures. The blood on your mustache is the worst part."

What's for lunch!

>>Scrutiny depends on level of fame [Inquirer]

Eagles.com Inflating Stats?

We all know Dave Spadaro can be a bit of a homer when it comes to his "coverage" of the Eagles, which is understandable considering he gets paid by them. But reader Keith Pizzi sends us a philadelphiaeagles.com article that we hope is just laden with numerical typos (or perhaps there's an element of tackle stats we're completely overlooking?):

Omar Gaither and Chris Gocong – progressed into full-time starters for the first time in their career. Gaither led the team with 170 tackles and 14 quarterback hurries, while recording 14 knockdowns in the pass game. Gocong totaled 92 tackles, including seven behind the line of scrimmage, while posting one sack. In addition, veteran Takeo Spikes tallied 139 tackles in his first season in Philadelphia.

Pizzi points out that NFL.com has different tackle numbers entirely for the Eagles linebackers: Gaither, 102; Gocong, 66; and Spikes, 86. The stats given by NFL.com are total tackles, combining solos and assists, so it's hard to imagine something is being left out here. The NFL.com league leader in tackles was Patrick Willis, who is listed with just 4 more tackles than Eagles.com lists for Gaither.

We have to be missing something here, right? Seriously, we hope we are.

Breaking: Mets Land Santana, Pending Extension

USA Today is reporting that the Twins have traded ace Johan Santana to the Mets in exchange for four prospects. I guess we knew this was coming, as the Yankees and Red Sox cooled considerably in their interest in trading for Santana, but it's still a little jaw-dropping. Johan Santana. Is going to be a Met. 

In exchange, the Muts gave up outfielder  Carlos Gomez and pitchers Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra, and Kevin Mulvey. The only thing that could have made us feel a little better were if they lost the likes of Jose Reyes in the deal, but we're just not that lucky. The report states that once an extension is reached and Johan gets a once-over from the docs, the deal is as good as done.

The deal is pending the Mets and Santana reaching agreement on a six- or seven-year contract extension and that Santana passes a physical; they have been granted a 48 to-72-hour window to do so. Santana has a no-trade clause that he will waive if agreement is reached on a contract extension.

So get ready for six or seven years against the perfect solution to the Phillies dangerous lineup. But hey—Pedro Feliz, right?

>>Twins agree to deal Santana to Mets for prospects [USA Today]

Audio: Geoff Jenkins Says All The Right Things

Jenkins with the homer!, originally uploaded by Robb884

It's not going to be easy following in the footsteps of a guy who would run through a wall for your team.  That's the task Geoff Jenkins, the Phillies new right fielder, will face this season.  Jenkins was a guest on Glen Macnow and Ray Diddy's Saturday show on 610 WIP.  You can listen to the entire segment right here.

Jenkins says all the right things including complimenting Philadelphia fans for being a passionate bunch.  He's looking forward to being part of a winning team after 10 years in Milwaukee.

If you stick through the entire 8 minute segment you will get rewarded with a wonderful jab at one of our favorite writers in Philadelphia.

In continuing with Jenkins interviews, Todd Zolecki tells us a bit about Geoff's penchant for poker.

>>Previously: Aaron Rowand: Instant Fan Favorite [The 700 Level]

Jimmy, Charlie, and Pat Cast Votes for Pedro

Jimmy Rollins was caught off guard at the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association dinner, where he found out at the podium that the Phillies had signed 3B Pedro Feliz. He does a good job of quickly focusing on Feliz's defensive skills before alluding to the good ol' Rolen days, but overall, he seems confident in the infield situation.

The Best News You Will Read All Day

It looks like Terrell Owens owes the Eagles about $800,000 from that awesome season he had in 2005. [FanHouse]

A Possibly Injured Tom Brady in Super Bowl XLII, Starring Donovan McNabb

With many questions swirling around the embattled quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, we were interested to hear what Donovan McNabb would have to say on his SportsCenter appearance tonight. We tuned in just in time  to see ESPN ask #5 one brief query regarding where he'll be in 2008, another on "weapons," and then... they went to the field of truth. You know, that little green painted turf and hashmarks where they insist on four to six grown men acting as if they're entire teams, expertly showing how to blitz, pick up blocks, and throw under pressure.

After wondering with anticipation what Donovan might say at this year's Super Bowl regarding his rocky 2007 season and the mystery that lies ahead, we got to see him drop back in slow motion and pretend to be an injured Tom Brady. Yep. The face of our franchise received the esteemed honor of being typecast as the "QB at less than 100%" in a Brady dream sequence. Oh, and they brought up the time he got sacked 12 times by the Giants earlier this season. Awesome.

Glad we tuned in to see this traveshamockery. But yo! Check the 'stache!

Report: Phillies Sign Pedro Feliz

 According to ESPN's Jayson Stark, the Phillies and Pedro Feliz have agreed to a two-year deal.

The "meh"s echo throughout the Delaware Valley.  It certainly gives the Phillies a little more depth at the hot corner.

Donovan McNabb on Tom Brady's Slipper

Donovan McNabb is intelligent.  Skip Bayless is not.

Update: Look for Donnie Mac on SportsCenter tonight at 6:00 p.m.

DJ Sweet Louis Williams

Sixers guard Louis Williams is getting behind the microphone for a new show on 100.3 The Beat.

Beginning Feb. 10, Williams can start showcasing his skills and voiceon [sic] 100.3 The Beat, when he launches his own radio show called "The Louis Williams Show."

"My main goal is just to go out there and promote myself, my teammates and the Sixers' organization and just try to get some more fans in the seats at the Wachovia Center," Williams said.

He will have a 4-hour show every Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. According to 100.3 The Beat program director Colby Colb, Williams will have full creative control over his show.

Did you know one of the "rap" stations in Philly has a blind DJ?  They do.  And he's the "world's #1 blind DJ."

>>MC JAMMER! [Daily News]

Go Tanning With Dave Spadaro

You've been saving up your hard earned paychecks for years in order to take that dream holiday and now thanks to Apple Vacations your day has finally come.  For four nights in April you can play "beach and pool games" with Eagles talking head Dave Spadaro in Punta Cana!

Marco.  Polo.

Eagles alumni Mike Quick and Harold Carmichael will also be in the Dominican Republic.  Now if I were part of the Apple Vacation marketing team, I'd think I would hire Kathyrn to run the pool games instead of Spud.

>>Four Nights from $899.99 [Apple Vacations]

Quotable: Mike Richards Will Win a Stanley Cup with the Flyers

"I have no doubts that before he's done, Mike will win a Stanley Cup in Philadelphia," DeBoer said.

Told that similar predictions were made about a 19-year-old kid from London, Ontario, named Lindros, DeBoer backed up his prediction.

"I'm so sure, I'd bet my house on it," said DeBoer.

DeBoer is Mike's old coach.

>>A leader from the start [Delaware News Journal]

Extras: Super Bowl Week!

Eric and Aldo at Super Bowl XIX, originally uploaded by darsys

Many of you may or may not be fans of the crew over at KSK.  Their style isn't for everyone.  But their recent KSK Celebrity pick series has been truly outstanding.  If you don't feel like doing any work this morning, get your cup of coffee and read these picks.  (beware foul language)

Barack Obama, The Federal Reserve, The Cloverfield Monster, Stephen Hawking, Michael Cera, Tom Cruise (my fave), Dan Steinberg, Bill Murray, Herschel Walker and Herschel Walker and Herschel Walker.

If that's not your bag, FanHouse is running 42 stories about the Super Bowl.

Also, who are you rooting for on Sunday?

More Monday Extras afte ther jump.

Can Any Self Respecting Eagles Fan Root for the Giants on Sunday?

I pose the question over at FanHouse whether Eagles fans can, in their right mind, cheer for the Giants on Sunday.  I say no.  What say you?

Sports Can Still Mean A Lot to People

Rich Hoffman has a piece this morning about a Philadelphia sports fan who passed away recently.  It paints a picture of a Philadelphia fan, a fan who sticks with her team through all the ups and downs, a fan who buys a green Dodge Neon.

"The sports teams in Philadelphia added 5 years to her life, I'm convinced," Berko said. "She just lived it. Until 4 or 5 years ago, she could tell you anything about the teams. They kept her going. She bought a green Dodge Neon when she was about 80 years old because it was the Eagles' color. That's the kind of thing she did. She could have lived in Guam and they still would have been her team.

"She had been a widow for a long time and sports filled a huge void in her life. It made up for a lack of money, a lack of companionship, maybe even a lack of happiness sometimes. It really meant so much to her."

>>Goldie the original Phillie Phanatic [Daily News]

DA's Bargain-Basement Wish List for the Sixers