Sports & Entertainment
By Pete Thompson
Hello Readers and welcome to 2021…! It seems like forever since I’ve written, and thanks to the holidays, I have so much to write about from both the worlds of sports and entertainment.
Since I last wrote, the Eagles lost in Arizona, lost at Dallas, and then lost at home to Washington. Oh, and they fired Doug Pederson. I know right? Way to “bury the lead!” The Sixers started the season red hot and have fallen slightly off the pace of late. Plus, now that teams are playing “outside the bubble”, COVID has become an issue for some, including the Sixers. The Flyers are just about to start a shortened regular season, and will play a unique schedule that’s designed to limit travel and potential COVID exposure. In baseball, a big signing by one NL East rival might mean good news for the Phillies and their ability to re-sign a key free agent. Finally, on the local high school level, the winter sports season is underway. Vastly different than in years past, but at least it appears there will be some form of a season for winter sports.
From the entertainment world, I had the holiday break and more to watch a bunch of things, including a documentary on a famous musical group that I’ve been wanting to see. Season Three of a very popular Netflix series dropped on New Year’s Day and it was epic! Lastly, the final episode for Alex Trebek has come and gone. I’ll share my thoughts on the first guest host they are using. As always though, we begin with sports, and my thoughts:
I must start with the Eagles because what a wild 2-3 weeks since I last wrote. In order, they lost in Arizona, lost at Dallas, and then lost at home to Washington to close out a 4-11-1 season. And then they FIRED their Head Coach Doug Pederson. Where do I begin with all this?
Let’s just jump right to the Washington game as that was a big story when Pederson elected to go for two, rather than kick a field goal and tie the game in the 4th quarter. Then, when he pulled starting QB Jalen Hurts in favor of career backup Nate Sudfeld, social media blew up with folks saying the Eagles were “tanking” and losing on purpose to get a higher draft pick. They did lose the game 20-14, and will select #6 in the next NFL draft in April. However, that’s not what got Pederson fired in my opinion.
What I think got him fired is that someone had to be the scapegoat for a 4 win season, and it wasn’t going to be Carson Wentz, because of his contract situation. For some, inexplicable reason, owner Jeff Lurie is loyal to GM Howie Roseman, so it wasn’t Roseman either. Instead, just three short years after winning Super Bowl LII, Pederson is out of a job and the Eagles seem more messed up than ever!
Listen, the Eagles need more than a new head coach. They need better players. I was hoping they might be able to land Alabama WR DeVonta Smith, but then he went and won the Heisman, and blew up in the national championship game, lighting up Ohio State for 215 yards and 3 touchdowns in the first half alone! I’m not thinking Smith might go at #3 to Miami and a reunion with Tua Tagovailoa, his old college QB. If that’s the case, I might be okay with Ja’Marr Chase, the wide receiver from LSU, or maybe my girlfriend’s son Michael has the right idea and the Eagles should trade DOWN because they need more help than just one high pick can fix!
I’m getting ahead of myself though, because with the Eagles needing a new head coach, I have to write about who I’d like to see come in and be the next leader of the football team. On 97.3 ESPN, I offered up my “Top 5 Candidates”, so I’ll offer them here as well. In order from 1 to 5, I’ll go with:
Greg Roman, Baltimore Ravens
Duce Staley, Philadelphia Eagles
Brian Daboll, Buffalo Bills
Eric Bieniemy, Kansas City Chiefs
Lincoln Riley, University of Oklahoma
Just one more word on my choices. I’d love Greg Roman, the Ventnor native and Holy Spirit High School grad to return “home”, but if he does, I’d love it even more if Doug Colman joined him as the new Special Teams Coordinator. Colman is an Ocean City alum who has played in the NFL, and coached around here in high school, at several major college programs and for the last 7 years in the NFL. He’s currently a special teams assistant in Cleveland. Let’s see him come home to the Eagles as the main guy.
In basketball, the Sixers jumped out to a 7-1 start to the NBA season. The best in the league. And then, COVID reared its ugly head when guard Seth Curry tested positive for the virus during a game in Brooklyn. The Sixers immediately went into quarantine, and while they have resumed play, they have done so at times with only seven players available because of either injuries or COVID-19 protocols.
This is a major issue for the league now that they are playing games outside of “the bubble”. The NBA has announced new protocols that will prohibit non-team guests in hotel rooms and require players to wear masks on the bench. They’re going to clamp down on player and staff movement too, as until at least Jan. 26, when teams are in their home markets, both players and staff must remain at home unless they are going to a team-related activity, exercising outside, performing essential activities or “as a result of extraordinary circumstances.”
Let’s hope these new protocols work and the NBA season doesn’t go “off the rails”. Especially since the Sixers appear to be much-improved when they have all their players healthy and ready to go. I’m definitely watching.
Up next is the Flyers, as by the time you read this, they will have played their season opener at home against Pittsburgh. The Flyers will play a 56-game shortened season, with limited travel as they will compete in what’s being called the NHL East Division. Their seven divisional opponents include Pittsburgh, Washington, New Jersey, the Islanders, the Rangers, Boston and Buffalo.
Think about that. Four out of the eight teams will not be invited to the postseason. The margin between making and missing the playoffs will be razor thin. Also, with eight games against each of their seven divisional opponents, a short memory is critical. You almost can’t go on a losing streak, as every game is practically worth four points — two for you or two for your opponent.
The Flyers roster seems improved so far too. Center Nolan Patrick seems poised to return to regular season play after his long absence with migraine headaches. Forward Oskar Lindblom is showing no ill-effects from his battle with cancer. Joel Farabee, who’s now sporting #86, is bigger and has put on a few pounds. On the blue line, Erik Gustafsson has come in as a free agent from Chicago and might get paired with fellow Swede Robert Hagg in the early going. The retirement of Matt Niskanen after last season was a surprise, but there’s no question the Flyers “D” corps is strong. Goalie Carter Hart says he wants to be the best goalie in the NHL. He’ll have Brian Elliott as his backup again.
Some ice shavings here to close out my Flyers items include the fact that the team will wear an advertisement on their helmets this season. Tata Consultancy Services will have a “TCS” logo on the helmets for all the games this season. TCS is an international IT firm. And, while fans are not allowed inside the Wells Fargo Center at this point, the team has received a waiver from city health officials to invite a front-line worker and their family to each home game. Very nice! Oh, and Gritty will be there to!
The big news around the Phillies really revolves around the fact that the New York Mets made a huge splash by signing Francisco Lindor away from Cleveland. Lindor will likely bat atop an order that features Michael Conforto, Pete Alonso, Dom Smith, Jeff McNeil, and recently signed catcher James McCann. Carlos Carrasco has also come over from Cleveland to the Mets and will join a rotation that includes two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman, and eventually, rehabbing starter Noah Syndergaard, and be backed up by relievers Edwin Diaz, Jeurys Familia, and Trevor May. This is a long way of me saying that the Mets appear to have spent new owner Steve Cohen’s money. Which hopefully means that catcher JT Realmuto might be inclined to return to the Phillies!
Two players who are officially coming to Philadelphia are left-handed reliever Jose Alvarado, as he comes in from Tampa Bay as part of a three-team trade. They’ve also picked up reliever Sam Coonrod in a trade with the Giants. So far, the Phillies have acquired five new relief arms as new president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski continues to try and fix the bullpen.
A moment of silence for Dodgers legend Tommy Lasorda who passed on January 8th at age 93. I was lucky enough to interview colorful and upbeat Lasorda, who despite his long association with the Dodgers, never forget his Norristown, PA roots. Baseball was better with Tommy Lasorda in it, and I’m thrilled I got to interact with the Hall of Famer.
My last item before I get to entertainment is from the local high school sports scene as practice for the winter sports season has officially begun. For basketball, The COVID-19 shortened season starts Jan. 26 and ends the first week in March. Wrestling has moved to March and possibly outdoors for the state tournament. Swimming and indoor track are happening, but short seasons that run from February to the end of March. Hey, at least everyone should get some games in. That’s something.
I’ll close with three items from entertainment as I finally watched “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” the fantastic documentary on HBO Max on the Bee Gees. I’m a little too young to really remember their explosion on to the scene with “Saturday Night Fever”, but I remember their music well enough to really appreciate this great film. Both informative and poignant, I highly recommend you watch this one if you’re of a certain age…like me.
My best holiday gift was when season 3 of “Cobra Kai” dropped on Netflix early. On New Year’s Day I binge-watched all ten episodes and was pleased as punch! I know I keep writing about this great reboot of the classic film “The Karate Kid,” but I’m amazed at how the creators of this new series continue to honor the past, while advancing the story now in a relatable & funny way.
Finally, I have to admit, I got choked up watching the final “Jeopardy” episode that Alex Trebek taped before he passed away. Since Trebek always planned on returning, they didn’t have him give a speech or anything, rather they managed to work in a quick montage of some of his great moments at the end. I also enjoyed guest host (and previous champ) Ken Jennings as he took over the hosting duties in the first “new” episode since Trebek’s death. As I write this, there’s word that Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is going to appear as a guest host at some point, so it seems like “Jeopardy” is going to do something similar to what the Cubs did when the legendary Harry Caray passed away. Used a rotation of guest announcers until they decide which one seems to be the best fit. I’m cool with that.
Keep wearing those masks please. Vaccines are starting to be given out in New Jersey starting with front line medical workers and such. I’ve signed up at covid19.nj.gov and urge you to do the same. Hopefully “normal” is coming soon in 2021!
Pete has been the local “sports guy” at the Jersey Shore since 2004. After a decade with TV 40, he joined 97.3 ESPN radio to talk Eagles, Phillies, Sixers & Flyers with Mike Gill on “The SportsBash” each day from 2-6 p.m.
Pete is proud to be a “voice” for the annual ShopRite LPGA Classic each June, and does emcee work for groups like the National Football Foundation, The Old Grad Awards, and The 200 Club of Atlantic County. You can hear Pete each Tuesday on 97.3 ESPN at 5:30p, and if you see him out & about in the community, he requests that you please say “Hi”. Send comments to PBrooksT@aol.com
