By Pete Thompson
Hey, this is my first Extra Points column that will be sports-only. If you’re looking for my entertainment perspective, check out the debut of that new column called “That’s Entertainment”.
As the headline alludes to, since I last wrote, the Sixers rallied to tie their playoff series up with Miami at two, but ultimately were eliminated in six games by the Heat. The Phillies went to the West Coast and won two series, while finishing a very solid road trip at 5-2. The Eagles news revolves around the fact that the 2022 schedule is now out. Despite not playing, the Flyers managed to get hosed by the New Jersey Devils again. On the local front, there’s a bit of a C.A.L. reunion going on with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Phillies Triple-A affiliate. Plus, the ShopRite LPGA classic is set to return next month in Galloway.
I’ll start with the Sixers as what a disappointment it was to see them do all that work to rally and tie up their playoff series with Miami, only to ultimately lose in six games. Obviously, missing Joel Embiid for Game 1 and Game 2 hurt, but the Sixers rallied to win Game 3 and Game 4, and I really thought they had a chance to advance. Sadly, it was not meant to be.
My biggest frustration probably lies with James Harden as he was so good in Game 4, but disappeared in Game 5 and Game 6. In Game 6 specifically, he scored 11 points in the first half, but only took two shots in the second half. That’s pathetic! I do hope he chooses to opt-in and stay with the Sixers next year, but I think we are seeing Harden more in a facilitator role now, and less as a scorer.
This is the first chance that I get to write about Joel Embiid getting passed over for the MVP award. Once again, it went to Nikola Jokic, and while I think the “Joker” had an outstanding season as well, just where would the Sixers be without Embiid? Props to the big guy for playing through a thumb injury and a broken orbital bone near his eye.
My last Sixers item is about Doc Rivers as there was a lot of talk that he might leave Philly and go to the L.A. Lakers if he was let go. Well, Sixers Team President Daryl Morey has already said that Rivers will return as Sixers coach next season. So, that puts an end to that.
Up next, the Phillies were probably at their lowest point of the season back on May 5th when they blew a 7-1 lead going into the Top of the 9th inning against the New York Mets and ultimately lost 8-7. Since then, the Phillies have won six of their last nine (as I write this) and won a series at Dodger Stadium for the first time since 2014. The Phillies were trying to sweep a series in Los Angeles for the first time since 1985, but that didn’t happen as the bullpen blew the final game on Sunday and they only could manage to win 3 out of 4.
One last Phillies item, and that’s about David West. The key part of the Phillies 1993 World Series team has passed away from brain cancer at just age 57. West is the sixth former Phillie to die of brain cancer since 2003 following Ken Brett (2003), Tug McGraw (2004), Johnny Oates (2004), John Vukovich (2007), and Darren Daulton (2017). Very sad.
In football, the Eagles schedule is out for 2022. My take on it is this. Last year, they started off with difficult games and finished up easy. This year, I think their easy games are early, and the schedule gets tougher late.
Here’s another quirk of a 17-game schedule as the Eagles have 9 home games this season, instead of the usual 8. Four of their games this season will be in prime time, as their home opener will be on Monday Night Football with the Minnesota Vikings on September 19th. They also have prime time games on Sunday October 16th with Dallas, Thursday November 3rd at Houston, and Sunday November 27th with the Green Bay Packers.
The Eagles have the 30th ranked schedule in the NFL, which means they’re close to having the easiest schedule. I think their easiest portion is their first four games (at Detroit, Minnesota, at Washington, Jacksonville). I think their most difficult portion is the stretch starting on November 20th when they play at Indianapolis, then return home for games with Green Bay and Tennessee.
I just have one Flyers item as they somehow lost to the New Jersey Devils again, despite not playing a game. The Flyers were projected to get the 4th pick overall in the NHL Entry Draft Lottery. Well, bad luck as they dropped to five, while the Devils moved all the way up to two! Ugh.
On the local front, Mike Adams, who I’ve written about before, has joined two other ex-CAL alumni on the pitching staff for the Phillies Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley. Adams, 27, made his IronPigs debut on May 12th, allowing a hit and a walk in a shutout inning in relief.
Adams, a Holy Spirit grad and Margate Hurricanes ACBL alum, joins a pair of St. Augustine Prep grads and pitchers — lefty Zach Warren and righty Joe Gatto. Obviously, best of luck to all three and it would be great to see all three up with the big-league club at Citizens Bank Park at some point.
My last local item is about the ShopRite LPGA classic as they held Media Day for the event that runs from June 6-12 at Seaview in Galloway. Defending champion Celine Boutier was on hand as well as Amanda Blumenherst from the Golf Channel and Megan Francella who gets a sponsor’s exemption to play in the event.
The ShopRite LPGA Classic is back to the traditional June dates, and I urge you to go to shopritelpgaclassic.com for more information on tickets, etc. I will say this, you can get a pair of tickets for FREE just by showing your ShopRite Price Plus card, so I hope you’ll get out and watch some of the golf as tournament play takes place on Friday June 10th through Sunday June 12th.
Once again, if you’re looking for entertainment news, I urge you to check out my new column called “That’s Entertainment” elsewhere in this issue of Shore Local.
I remain very thankful for your readership and hope you will patronize the businesses you see in the pages here. The LOCAL in Shore Local comes from the support of those businesses, so please support them!
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” 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 and Friday on 97.3 ESPN at 5:30pm, and if you see him out & about in the community, he requests that you please say “Hi”. Send comments to PBrooksT@aol.com
