Sports & Entertainment
By Pete Thompson
Home of the Henry Doorly Zoo, the College World Series for baseball, railroads, breweries, and ME for a period of five years.
From 1998-2003, I lived and worked in Omaha at KPTM Fox 42 and I’m out here for a reunion with those folks, and enjoying some Midwestern hospitality…
Since I last wrote, the Flyers have continued to change their roster through what can only be described as a “go for it” summer makeover. They still need a backup goalie though. The Phillies are approaching the trade deadline proclaiming to be “buyers” and they did win in walk-off fashion most recently as I write this. The Sixers are getting ready for the NBA draft, but it doesn’t have the same hype and hoopla as some years in the past. The Eagles are just starting training camp. Finally, on the local front, we’ll check in with a local baseball pitcher who’s continuing to shine at the minor league level. Plus, three high school basketball legends meet up at a hoops camp in Richland.
From entertainment, since I’m out in Nebraska, I watched a big budget movie on the hotel TV that I guess was considered a flop, but I enjoyed it. I’m also reading a book by an actor that many adore, as he continues to struggle with Parkinson’s disease. As always though, we begin with sports, and my thoughts:
For the second straight week, I have no choice but to start with my beloved Flyers as GM Chuck Fletcher continued to “wheel and deal” as he tries to retool the roster. Say “hello” to Cam Atkinson and Rasmus Ristolainen. Say “goodbye” to Jake Voracek, Shayne Gostisbehere, Robert Hagg and a bunch of draft picks. Folks, this is a MAJOR overhaul of the roster, and it will be interesting to see if Fletcher’s moves ultimately pay off.
Let’s try to unpack these moves one at a time as the Flyers gained $2.375 million — for each of the next three years — in cap space when they dealt Jake Voracek for Atkinson. That money will come in handy as they try to add a backup goalie who is durable enough to play at least 30 games. I liked Voracek’s game, but HATED his contract, so I’m okay with this move. Atkinson is a scorer with an “in-your-face” mentality where many times Voracek sort of “disappeared” when things got rough & physical. Again, I’m all on board with this one.
Rasmus Ristolainen is a veteran defenseman who plays with an edge. In case you missed it, HALF of the defense will be new next season as Ryan Ellis, Ristolainen and most likely Cam York are IN, while Phil Myers, Ghost & Robert Hagg are out. I don’t think it was just those three guys fault. The Flyers’ defensive collapse – which saw them go from seventh to 31st in the league in a one-year span that coincided with Matt Niskanen’s retirement — was truly a team effort, but changing the defensive corps was KEY.
Finally, the draft picks. Sam Carchidi in the Philadelphia Inquirer described it best writing, “For better or worse, Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher last week threw away draft picks like people tossing rice at newlyweds as they leave the church. Here’s a first-rounder, there’s a second-rounder. Here’s a second-rounder, there’s a seventh-rounder.” Now, draft picks in hockey are often long-range bets. Some pay off, some don’t. But Ron Hextall always liked to stockpile those picks, and now Fletcher is taking the change on improving the team quickly. Fletcher even said he was trying to change the team’s culture and change a locker room that had gone stale. Hey, major props from me to him for at least taking a chance! Let’s see if it all pays off now.
Fletcher and the Flyers do have one last piece of business they need to wrap up, and that’s to find a backup goalie to Carter Hart. Former Kings and Red Wings goalie Jonathan Bernier makes a lot of sense as he played for Flyers senior adviser Dean Lombardi when Lombardi was the GM in Los Angeles.
After they sign restricted free agents Hart and Travis Sanheim, the Flyers are expected to have about $4.7 million in cap space. Most of that will go toward a No. 2 goalie. They are also interested in a penalty-killing forward and a depth defenseman, but they need them to be inexpensive unless they trade a player and lose his cap hit.
By the next column, I predict I’ll be able to tell you who the new Flyers backup goalie will be. Man, two weeks in a row of leading off with my favorite team. I just LOVE it!
Let’s switch to baseball now as the Phillies won in walk off fashion over the Washington Nationals and continue to try and catch the Mets in the N.L. East. Andrew McCutchen saves the day for the Phils. They are now 30-19 at home as I write this and just 20-30 on the road. Their run differential is still a minus-22, but let’s see what moves Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski makes by Friday. It’s been a decade since the Phillies reached October. They need to add some pieces before the trade deadline this week to have a shot at the postseason.
McCutchen is the third active player in the majors with 250 career home runs and eight career walk-off homers, joining Albert Pujols and Ryan Zimmerman, per Elias. Also per Elias, Monday was the first time the Phillies won a game in which they trailed by at least four runs through five innings since Aug. 15, 2019. These cardiac comebacks are too MUCH for my blood pressure!
On the pitching front, Zach Eflin is going to miss at least one more start with a lingering knee issue. Vince Velasquez has struggled (again), but manager Joe Girardi says he’s going to stay in the starting rotation (for now).
And here’s a good time to sneak in some Mike Adams news. Adams continues to pitch well at Triple-A Lehigh Valley as at last check, he had a 0.93 ERA in nine and two-thirds innings of work.
In 21 minor-league games, he was 1-1 with a 4.43 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 20¹/³ innings.
You might remember that the Holy Spirit High School graduate and Egg Harbor Township resident was signed by the Phillies in January after he impressed scouts with his 98 mph fastball during a tryout. He started the season with high single-A Clearwater Threshers. He was also gracious enough to let me use a picture of him in a sweet Iron Pigs throwback maroon jersey with his lovely girlfriend Sam Lavrich. Way to go Mike! Keep making us proud and I can’t wait until you’re at Citizens Bank Park buddy!
In basketball, it’s a big week for the Sixers as the NBA draft is going to be held on Thursday. Right now, the Sixers have picks in the first round (No. 28) and second round (50) in Thursday’s draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. During the early years of “The Process,” the atmosphere in Philadelphia leading up to the NBA draft was once equivalent to the Super Bowl. It doesn’t appear to be like that this year. Especially with a lot of the focus surrounding the team’s quest to trade Ben Simmons and what’s going to happen once free agency begins at 6 p.m. on Aug. 2.
The Sixers have to figure out if they’ll bring back Dwight Howard in free agency. If not, they’ll need a backup center. If they’re successful trading Simmons, the Sixers will need a ball handler. Even if they keep him, the Sixers are going to need a true point guard. They have Tyrese Maxey, but he’s not a pure point guard. If Danny Green doesn’t come back, the Sixers are going to need to add a solid shooting wing who can defend via free agency. They also have figure out what to do with sharpshooter Furkan Korkmaz, who becomes a free agent this summer.
Let me reiterate that I’d love to see Kyle Lowry in a Sixers uniform. He might be too expensive though as Lowry’s asking price is $90 million over three seasons. And he’ll have plenty of suitors outside of the Sixers, including the Knicks, Lakers, Mavericks, Pelicans, and Heat.
Finally, I have to mention the Eagles and football right. Pretty soon, they’ll lead most of these columns, but as I write this, they are holding their first official practice of training camp. All eyes should be on Jalen Hurts as the Eagles try to figure out whether or not he’s the long-term answer at quarterback. Remember, I’m in Omaha right now, and a long-time newspaper columnist out here, who has covered college football for 40 years, says NO. File that one in your memory bank.
Of course, the other big story is will the Eagles make a move for Deshaun Watson. That story kicked up again this past week as reports are that Houston is ready to deal, but at what price? And with his legal troubles, what team would actually make a move for Watson right now?
After being the last player to walk off the field and crying at his post-game press conference, Zach Ertz is expected to be at training camp for the Eagles. Hey, the penalty for missing is $50,000 per day, so I suppose this makes sense. Maybe now the Eagles are waiting to see if another team has an injury at tight end and they’ll move Ertz when someone will actually pay a better price for him.
Finally, I’m intrigued to see what new coach Nick Sirianni brings to the table. My thought is that at the bare minimum, the wide receivers will be better because Sirianni played that position himself and coached that position in Indianapolis. It’s going to be interesting!
I just have one more sports item and that’s on the local front as very quietly, three boys basketball coaching legends gathered in Richland for a basketball camp. Paul Rodio and Bob Hurley joined forces to organize a summer camp for boys and girls ages 10-18. I caught wind of this by seeing a picture that Atlantic City basketball coach Gene Allen put on his Facebook page, and immediately knew I had to include it in the column here. Bob Hurley is in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He’s the winningest coach in New Jersey history. Rodio is number two. And Gene Allen is no slouch either! Trust me, these three are like basketball ROYALTY and it was great to see the three of them in the small Spina gymnasium on Prep’s campus in Richland. Hurley, who has a state-best 1,185 career victories, and Rodio, who boasts a South Jersey-leading 968 wins, called the camp one of the most anticipated of their careers.
I suppose I should put something in about the Olympics right? Are you watching? I can’t lie, I’m really not, but a lot of that has to do with being on vacation. Hey, they’re on everywhere I go, but they’re not grabbing my attention in the way they have in the past. Maybe that’s because the U.S. is struggling? Simone Biles is out in gymnastics. The U.S. Men’s Basketball team looks shaky. The U.S. softball team gets blanked by host Japan. Naomi Osaka is ousted in the 3rd round of the Olympics. Hey, maybe the golf will suck me in, but for me, these games so far have been a snooze-fest.
As always, I’ll close with a few items from entertainment as I caught the 2012 movie “Battleship” on the hotel TV the other morning. It was considered to be a box office flop, but I enjoyed it. Maybe it’s because I like Peter Berg’s style of directing. Maybe it’s because he reunited Friday Night Lights co-stars Taylor Kitsch and Jesse Plemons. Hey, maybe it’s because Brooklyn Decker is one of the most beautiful women on the planet! I’m just saying I liked it, and if you like anything to do with the Navy, you’ll like it too I bet.
Lastly, I’m on vacation, so you have to have a book on the plane, right? I am reading “No Time Like the Future – An Optimist Considers Mortality” by Michael J. Fox. This is Fox’s third book since he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and like the first two, I love his relatable stories about his life and career as I continue to root for him and his family. Who doesn’t love Marty McFly or Alex P. Keaton?
I’ll close with a personal note and prayer for my mother. On July 26th, it would’ve been her 80th birthday. She passed away in 1993 at the way too young age of 51. I’m now 50 and it’s hard to believe that she’s been gone so long. I’d like to think she would be a regular reader of this column each week and my best supporte and advisor!
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
