The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company. 

I know it’s not big-time baseball. I know it’s not even minor league baseball.  Heck, it’s actually just a bunch of guys who get together two, three, sometimes four times a week to play the game of baseball.

The Blue Mountain League has been around now for 73 years (finally, something older than I am). And it has lasted this long because of the love of the game.  No one has loved it more than O. R. Pacchioli as a player, a president of the league and the primary sponsor of the Martins Creek franchise.  He has been part of the league since its beginning.

The rosters are made up of teenagers and forty-year olds. Most players normally put in a full days’ work either before or after the game.  Some work to 5:00 and then rush to the various fields to play a 6:00 game.  Some run home and shower and then work the third shift.  Most have families and children and they are able somehow to balance their vocational life, their love for the family and the love of baseball.

When I was playing Legion baseball and then college baseball, I wondered where I should go to improve my pitching in the summer. My college coaches never hesitated when they suggested the Blue Mountain League.  They said you will face players who are on their way up in the game and players who are on their way down from professional baseball.  They were right.  There was no better training ground.

Sure enough, many of the batters I faced had been to the major leagues and because of a veteran catcher, I was taught how to pitch to them. You didn’t just throw the ball, you learned how to work the plate, work the count, and mix your pitches. It was like a post-grad class on pitching.

I will never forget facing pitcher Craig Anderson, who had just been released from the Mets. I was undefeated; he was undefeated and I was somehow able to outduel him for the win in a 2-1 matchup.  This Moravian College pitcher had just gotten a win against a former New York Met.  As far as sports competition was concerned, it couldn’t get much better than that.

The league was a little over 20 years old when I played. Not much had changed from its inception back then and not much has changed since.  The rosters still consist of the top high school prospects and plenty of wily veterans.  You not only play against the best in the area; you learn by playing with the best.  I found out early that veterans have no qualms about telling you HOW to play the game.  And when they say it, you know it has history, knowledge, and tradition behind it.  So, you listened and you learned.

My connection with the League is now on the TV side. RCN TV has now been doing Blue Mountain League baseball for over 10 years. The games are highly competitive; the managers and players are extremely cooperative.  There are 11 teams and over 200 players, coaches, and managers involved this season.  They will play 30 games and crown their 73^rd champion in August.

Check out their outstanding website :

http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=Thebluemountainleague&s=baseball&t=c

Better yet, check out the Blue Mountain League Game of the Week on RCN TV Tuesday nights at 9:30.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. Are the Phillies for real? It appears they might be, sitting in second place behind the Atlanta Braves and fresh off a 3-1 series against the Nationals. However, the ESPN pundits don’t think so. They rank the Phils as the 14^th best team in the majors right now. They do not have much respect for the NL East either. The Braves are ranked #10 and the Nationals are #12.
2. Analytics has taken over baseball. Technology now determines line-ups, pitching changes, defensive alignments, etc. As an old-school former player, I do find it interesting how some of the baseball truisms are now changing dramatically. I find the game a little more interesting now by comparison. You just don’t know what a manager will do these days.
3. Will you watch the new edition of the XFL?. The WWE’s Vince McMahon is going to bet $500 million that you will. The XFL is scheduled to return in 2020.
4. Saquon Barkley bought a home for his family in Whitehall. He used his endorsement money from Nike, Pepsi, and Panini America. It has been reported that he wants to set aside his football earnings for his future and live off his endorsements. Smart!!

Enjoy a safe and happy 4^th! Our next Blue Mountain League Game of the Week will be on July 10 when the Orioles host the Bulls. Both teams are hovering around first place with the Giants.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

By now you know I am a sports person.  Give me a sport with a ball (basketball, football, baseball, golf, volleyball, bocce [okay, maybe not bocce] and I can enjoy the competition.  And then there is soccer.  I just do not like soccer.

Maybe it’s because I have had bad luck when it came to doing soccer broadcasts.  I have had to do a LIVE 75-minute pregame because an all-star game was delayed by a preliminary game.   I have had to do a 15-overtime match for a state title only to have the event called for darkness with two champions being named state titlists.  It “only” took six hours to NOT determine a winner.   I have suffered through a District XI championship where someone thought putting gold numbers on a green and white striped shirt was a good idea. (It was not – I could not read the numbers at all from the press box).   I have broadcast professional soccer in the Lehigh Valley where expectations for financial success were very high and almost no one showed up to watch.   I have prepared to cover soccer by memorizing positions and responsibilities before realizing, upon arrival, that the positional names in professional soccer had changed.  Talk about tap-dancing through a broadcast.  Wouldn’t one think that a game that has continuous action, unlike football and baseball, would be a more exciting game?  One would think that, but one would be wrong.  Dare I say it – to me, soccer is boring.

It is boring (to me), because there is so little scoring and there is so much insignificant action. I watch the World Cup only while going around the dial and I see crazed fans from other countries revved up for the entire ninety minutes of “action” or, for me, inaction.  Most World Cup games end with one goal scored or no score at all after regulation time has expired.  Nil-nil is just NOT enjoyable.  How can anyone possibly maintain a sense of rabid devotion for that long when almost nothing of significance is happening?

I have two easy solutions that no one will take seriously, but I am used to that.

1. Make the field smaller.  All of that insignificant action occurs because the field is so big.  Reduce the size and every player is now closer to his objective – putting a ball in the net.
2. Eliminate off-sides.  One of the most exciting plays in any sport is a great pass and a one-on-one opportunity (a fast break in basketball; a wide receiver versus a defensive back in football).  What is wrong with a great pass to a streaking teammate who has gotten behind the defense?  It is now one-on-one with the goalie.  This would create the most exciting play in soccer and, I bet, nil-nil would not be the result.

I know Europeans think they have the perfect game of sport in soccer.  And a true soccer fan would suggest I don’t like the sport because America struggles with being successful in the world matches.  But, to me, instead of capturing my interest, I lose all interest when I can watch all the scores in a soccer match in less than one minute on ESPN SportsCenter.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)

1. Around here, where most of the baseball interest falls to the Phillies, Yankees, or Red Sox, the Houston Astros are probably the best incognito team in baseball.  They are winning 66% of their games, the same as the Yankees, and look ready to repeat as World Series Champions.
2. Did you pay attention to the five-game home run streak by Odubel Herrera of the Phillies?  Not only did he hit five home runs, but he batted .591, had eight RBI’s, and two doubles.  Frank Howard and Barry Bonds both did it twice in their careers.  The Major League record is eight consecutive games shared by Don Mattingly and Dale Long
3. Emmaus, Central, Beca, and Freedom all had a good showing at the Bash at the Beach summer tournament in Allentown.  Berks Catholic won the championship for the second year in a row, but the EPC, once again, had a strong showing.  The winter season could be very exciting.
4. Carson Landis of Emmaus will try out this summer with hopes of becoming the Penn State place-kicker.  Local high school graduate, Emmaus coach, and former Penn State quarterback Matt Senneca, contacted Penn State and, after watching film and live kicking, they offered Carson preferred walk-on status. On Sunday, Bethlehem Catholic senior place-kicker Anthony DaSilva also committed to Penn State as a preferred walk-on the following year.  It’s always great to have local players on the Penn State roster.
5. The Blue Mountain League takes a brief respite during the 4th of July week.  We will, too.  Our next Game of the Week will be on July 10 when the Orioles host the Bulls.  Have a safe and happy 4th!

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

I received an e-mail on Saturday morning offering me a ticket to the final round of the US Open. And I do love golf.  But I weighed my options:

1. Take one of the worst drives I have ever experienced and go to Long Island (I covered a sports story on Long Island at Hofstra University a few years back and thought I would never see my family again) or take a pleasant drive to the Poconos in the morning with no traffic.
2. Walk the course in what was forecast as sweltering heat and seeing very little of the actual competition or sit at home in air conditioning seeing every minute of the tournament.
3. Spend the day being pushed around in crowds of people I do not know or see my whole family at my daughter’s house and celebrate Fathers’ Day (I even got in nine holes of golf in the morning with my grandson, daughter, and son-in-law).

As you might have guessed, I chose the latter of all of those choices – I played golf, ate a great meal, opened some Father’s Day gifts, and watched the US Open on a large screen TV.

And I had plenty of time to think about the Open itself:

It is no fun watching the best players in the world at the mercy of an unfair golf course. In this day and age when computers are able tell us everything, the USGA was not able to anticipate what the wind would do to Shinnecock Hills during play on Saturday.  I felt, even on Thursday, that the rough was pretty much unplayable and the greens because of the pin placements took away the pleasure of watching the best perform at the highest level.  A four-foot putt, if missed, became a twelve-foot putt.  Saturday was the epitome of bad decision-making by the USGA when only three players shot under par and none in the afternoon.

Saturday became SOOO painful that one could almost understand when Phil Mickelson “cracked” and did something only your friendly playing partners do at the height of frustration with their game – break a rule! Mickelson shot an 81 that day and has thrown himself into a rule interpretation fiasco among all golfers as a result.

Jordan Speith, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, and Tiger Woods never made it to Saturday, so many of the stars of the game were gone. I am one of those viewers who, when Speith or Woods are in a tournament, devote more time to TV.  Tiger tripled bogeyed his very first hole and, just when it looked like Spieth would make the cut, he bogeyed the last two holes.  Even local golfer Cole Miller of Northwestern High School and Penn State kept my interest on Thursday and Friday, but, he, too, was not around the weekend.

The FOX coverage was much better than the previous two years, but it just does not seem the same without the familiar voices we are used to hearing, particularly Nick Faldo and Johnny Miller, and especially David Feherty (imagine the fun he would have had with the conditions).

But instead, I watched from the comfort of my home for three days and in a mountain setting on the final day. I did not for one millisecond regret saying “No, thanks” to the offer of a free ticket to Sunday’s round.

Maybe one day they will play the US Open at Northampton County Country Club in Bethlehem Township and I will walk the three blocks from my house and watch.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. Speaking of Father’s Day, Tom Housenick of The Morning Call wrote a really nice article on Saturday, June 17, about current Iron Pig, former Liberty High School and Lehigh standout, Matt McBride and his father, George. Both seem to have the perfect father-son relationship. Give it a read:
   http://www.mcall.com/sports/baseball/ironpigs/mc-spt-fathers-day-matt-mcbride-0616-story.html
2. Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said the most interesting congratulatory text he received after sweeping Cleveland for the NBA championship came from Tiger Woods. Like Woods did, Kerr now suffers from excruciating back pain and the two formed a bond over it. Woods congratulated Kerr with a text. Kerr did not send a text to Woods after Tiger shot an opening round 78 at the US Open.
3. Pre-season college football poll has Big Ten schools Ohio State ranked #3, Wisconsin #7, Michigan State #9, Michigan #10, and Penn State #13. Penn State hosts Ohio State on September 29. This is the start of the Big Ten conference games. The winner of this game has won the conference title the past two years.
4. It was a beautiful night for football this past Thursday when the McDonald’s Lehigh Valley All-Star Football Classic was played. Despite the lopsided score, plenty of fans turned out so plenty of money was raised for the McDonald’s charities. RCN was proud, once again, to sponsor the All-Star banquet the night before. It was the 20^th year of RCN’s sponsorship.

• RCN-TV will travel to Curt Simmons Park in Egypt next Tuesday to bring you the BML match-up with the Steel taking on the Orioles. Watch at 9:30pm.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

I think it is always fun to dream a bit, especially if you are a sports fan. Every sports fan loves to second guess, loves to complain about decisions made during a game, and loves to be a “Monday morning quarterback”.

It seems like it’s innate in a sports fan to think they know more than the coach or the general manager when it comes to making decisions about trades, the roster, play-calling, substitutions, and strategy. It’s just who we are.

So, if you are so inclined, I invite you to have some fun. Imagine if you are the general manager of the newly formed RCN Roundballers of the NBA and money is no object.  You have the opportunity to take any two of the following NBA players:

1. LeBron James – Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Kevin Durant – Golden State Warriors
3. Steph Curry – Golden State Warriors
4. James Harden – Houston Rockets
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks

Whom would you select? Let’s go in reverse order.

Antetokounmpo might be the least known to you, but the 23 year-old might just be your best investment. He is 6’11” and averaged 26.9 points during the regular season and 25.7 in the playoffs.  He averages 10 rebounds per game.  He has a huge learning curve and is pretty much a guarantee to be a dominant force for many years to come.

James Harden certainly could have led the Rockets to the NBA championship final if he had some help in games 6 and 7 in the semis against the Warriors. Chris Paul was out with a hamstring injury so he had to carry the team, unlike the support that Curry and Durant get every night.  He averaged 28.6 points in the playoffs.

Is there any fan (unless your team is playing the Warriors) who is not impressed with the play of Stephen Curry? He is the engine that runs the Warriors and his 3-point shooting borders on phenomenal (nine in game two of the Finals was a record), not to mention his ability to take it to the basket against much taller players.  And, if you are looking for someone to run your offense and who is a proven winner (three championships and two MVPs), Curry might be your man.

Kevin Durant WAS the MVP of the 2018 NBA championship. He shot 65%, led his team in scoring (28.8), rebounds, blocks, and was second in assists.  If you watched the playoffs, he made big shot after big shot throughout.  The Warriors were not better when he was on the bench (-26 points), but they were much better when he was on the floor (+86 points).  But remember with the likes of Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson, no player had more support.

And then there is LeBron. Individually, in the NBA today, there is no better player.  His team lost, but his supporting cast did not come close to those the Warriors had.  He averaged 32.3 points (51 in one game) after suffering an injured hand after game one.  I’m not sure anyone would argue that he is the most dominant player in the NBA.  Bear in mind, however, that he is 33 years old.

So there you have it – dream a bit. Start your team with two picks.  You will need a large payroll, for sure.  Do it among others so you can defend and argue for your choices.  Who will it be?  And remember – no matter whom you choose, someone will second guess you, anyway.  Welcome to the front office.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. Oh, no! Ohtani is on the disabled list for the Angels. Shohei Ohtani, the pitching and batting phenom for the LA Angels, has a grade two sprain of his UCL. He was trying to do what Babe Ruth was able to do – pitch and bat in the majors. He was 4-1 on the mound and was batting .289 with 6 HR and 20 RBI’s.
2. It was nice to see the Washington Capitals win their first ever NHL Stanley Cup this past week. Alex Ovechkin was the MVP and the franchise won for the first time in 43 years. The Redskins won the last DC title when they won the NFL championship in 1992. The Bullets last won an NBA title in 1978 – 40 years ago. Are the MLB Nationals next?
3. There is plenty of speculation about where LeBron James will play next year. Some notes on the situation: he can become an unrestricted free agent if he opts out of his contract by June 29. By July 1, other teams can bid for his services. He has played for Cleveland, Miami, and Cleveland again. Watch for a feeding frenzy on July 1, if no decision is made by James until then.
4. The Golden State Warriors will not be invited to the White House following their NBA championship. Unlike the Eagles who were disinvited, President Trump said he will not invite the Warriors.
5.  RCN-TV will travel to Dimmick Park next Tuesday to bring you the BML match-up with the Yankees taking on the Royals. Watch at 9:30pm.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

I was somewhat amused when I read that Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, while playing in a charity softball game, took a line drive off his face and suffered a broken nose. He will require surgery.

Now, don’t think I took great pleasure in this event; it’s just because of all the ways NFL’er Clay Matthews might be injured in athletics, I would not have thought it would be playing softball in a charity game.

But I can certainly relate. Allow me to first offer a little background.  I grew up playing football, basketball, and baseball.  From the time I started Little League baseball, there was really no down time as one season merged right in with the next and after finishing up a high school baseball season, summer baseball and summer basketball followed.  It was sports all-year round.

I then went on to play college basketball for two years and college baseball for four years. I bring this up only to make the point that I was never injured.  Sure, I had sore muscles and some aches and pains along the way.  I injured my elbow once while pitching, but never missed a game.

After college, I continued to play summer basketball and Blue Mountain League baseball. Again, I never got injured.

Greater responsibilities (two daughters) finally caught up to me and my playing days, for the most part, were over – except, of course, for the one team sport that awaits all over-the-hill athletes – slow-pitch softball. I dug out the glove, joined my friends, and signed up for two nights a week.

The camaraderie was great; the juices flowed; and the love of competition came back. But so did physical vulnerability.  During my tenure as a shortstop, I pulled a groin muscle running to first base.  I suffered heat stroke during a softball tournament and was rushed to the hospital after suffering excruciating cramps.  An intravenous potassium drip helped me recuperate, but it took hours.

The last straw came when I was chasing a pop fly into the outfield during a fall tournament. Our left fielder weighed about 250 pounds and was coming in to catch the ball as I was going out to do the same.  He made the catch, but also wiped me out.  I knew I was hurt. The naked eye revealed a broken collar bone.  Off to the hospital again!

The bone was popped back into place and I was forced to wear a harness and sleep in a recliner for about two weeks. I missed five days of school as a teacher (the only sick days of my career, mind you) and was in quite a bit of pain.  I was also unable to perform my duties as a PA announcer for the one and only time.

So, to recap – I played around fifty football games, 200+ basketball and 200+ baseball games in my career and was never seriously injured. Slow-pitch softball led to three major injuries: a broken bone and two hospital visits.

So the moral to this story (if indeed there is one) is for all the “jocks” who want to continue the glory days, think more seriously about how to do it.

Because, when it comes to softball, let me offer up the same advice given by the police captain every week on the TV show Hill Street Blues before the officers were sent out into the streets – “Let’s be careful out there.”

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. In my last blog, I made mention that the Phillies were in first place. I believe the day I wrote that was the last time they were in first place. Now they are three games out of first and have lost seven of their last 10 games. And, some disgruntlement is setting in among some of the players. This could be a critical time for the season as they finish up their road trip.
2. The NBA playoffs are showcasing unbelievable basketball talent. LeBron, KD and Steph are just beyond description. I don’t think they need to be compared to anyone in the past (LeBron and Jordan, for instance). Just sit back and marvel at what they can do in today’s age.
3. Congratulations to the Freedom Patriots baseball team who won only their second district baseball championship and their first in 20 years when they beat Parkland 2-1 last week. Both teams are in the state playoffs and we wish them great success.
4. RCN was once again proud to be a Silver Sponsor for the Gala in the Garden benefitting Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Emily Howatt Pliskatt Pediatric Unit. Over $315,000 was raised in a record-setting year. It is gratifying to be around people who perform miracles every day.
5. RCN-TV is happy to bring you Blue Mountain League baseball again this summer. It all starts on Tuesday, June 12, at 9:30pm when we bring you the Easton at Berlinsville game. Watch men who play because they love the game.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

After a week of preparing for a Tuesday doubleheader of baseball, postponed to re-preparing for a Wednesday doubleheader, postponed again to re-re-preparing (probably not a word) for a Thursday tripleheader, only to have all the preparation in the end mean nothing.

On Friday the baseball games were moved to the University of Scranton because they had a baseball field with an artificial surface, a necessary requirement after a week of downpours. Other commitments did not allow us to go north to bring the EPC baseball semifinals and finals. The crew had to go fetch all the wire they had laid and the scaffolding that they had constructed and I could tear up all the research done during the week.

And, the weekend continued the bad weather pattern so outdoor activities were non-existent. So what’s a person to do?  Well, luckily, my wife was attending a “sprinkle” (I guess that’s a “shower” for a second child) for our niece, so my TV viewing was unencumbered.  I could watch what I wanted without guilt.

Obviously, that meant watching sports. There was plenty to choose from – baseball, golf, NHL hockey, and NBA basketball.  I had no true rooting interest in any, so I decided, thanks to my 6-tuner TIVO, to simply hop around from sport to sport.  This led me to analyzing the announcing challenges of doing various sporting events at the professional level.

Baseball is a game with plenty of non-action. After a week of preparation for games that were never played, I appreciated the necessity of baseball announcers to fill in the long gaps between pitches, pitching changes, visits to the mound, etc.,  with somewhat interesting stuff.  Plus, there is no clock in baseball, so, at times; a game can seem like an eternity.  The challenge here is to have things to talk about.

Golf is full of completely new challenges – who will talk, what’s the distance to the hole, what club is being used, what analysis needs to be made, what human interest story can be recalled during a lull, how to make plenty of inaction interesting – the list is endless. The salvation is that you have plenty of announcers you can rely on during play.  The key here seems to be organizing what the viewer will see and choreographing the crew of people who want to describe the scene to you.

I noticed with NHL hockey, the challenges are so different from the previous two sports. Here the action is constant.  The puck is always moving at a very rapid speed and the ability to memorize every player on the ice is essential.  There is no hesitation in calling passes, defensive plays, penalties, rule violations, etc.  Everything happens instantaneously and the announcer must be completely focused and well-versed on rosters and tactics.  The color analyst gets in and out when he can, hoping to add a piece of interesting information.

My final sport on Saturday was watching the NBA playoff game between the Celtics and the Cavaliers. This turned out to be a rout.  The Cavs won by 30!  The game was over early with the Cavs leading by 15 after one period and 20 at the half.  So what do the announcers talk about?  There’s nothing worse than a game where the outcome is pretty much a foregone conclusion early on. The announcers talked about anything and everything, including a rather lengthy discussion of the royal wedding that morning. Their knowledge of the British monarchy was sketchy at best, but you need to talk about something. When the game doesn’t warrant much analysis and the scoreboard is your enemy, you better find a way to earn your money and that means keeping the viewer somewhat interested.

So, in a week, where my announcing duties were taken away by Mother Nature, I spent one afternoon and evening analyzing the craft. I learned what I already knew; every sport presents different challenges to the crew and to the announcers.  The one constant is preparation.  I have some unused baseball sheets for you if you are interested in unused preparation.

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. Believe it or not, there is a move afoot in western Pennsylvania to look into separating boundary (public) and non-boundary (private) schools for state athletic competitions. The New Castle superintendent is polling schools across the state to see if there is interest in changing the current playoff system that pits public and private schools together into a single competition. Early reports indicate that something needs to change and public schools want change. The PIAA says legislatures need to change the system; legislators hint that it is strictly a PIAA decision. Interesting.
2. I usually watch one auto race a year – the Indy 500. I especially enjoy the race when I have a rooting interest and, once again, Marco Andretti and Sage Karam – both of the Lehigh Valley – will be racing. I’ll be watching.
3. Another week, another school shooting. Ten people, nine students and a teacher, were killed this week at Santa Fe High School. Houston Texans’ defensive end J. J. Watt said he will pay for the funerals of those killed. He is the same J. J. Watt who has raised more than $37 million for those affected by Hurricane Harvey.
4. As I write this, the Phillies are in first place. In case you missed it, the Phillies are in first place.
5. Lafayette had their yearly Pardees (a takeoff of the ESPYs) this week, thanking and honoring their senior athletes for four years of classroom and athletic dedication. Their achievements are quite impressive. It has become a really fun night for parents, coaches, and student-athletes. Congrats to all involved. 

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

I ended last week’s blog with a “Go, Phillies!” sign-off. Well, they are indeed playing well. As teams approach the completion of the first quarter of the season, they are, unexpectedly, rising in both the standings and in admiration.

But, I digress. The team that was really expected to do very well was the Yankees and they have not disappointed. They are tied with the Red Sox for the best record in baseball. They have won 19 of their last 22 games; average six runs per game and are carrying a team ERA of 2.88 which happens to be the third best in baseball. With those stats, they win most games by three runs!

Everyone expected them to have one of the best, if not the best, offenses in baseball, but I do not think fans expected their pitching staff to be this good. If the pitching and the bats continue as they have, they can certainly claim to be one of the best teams in baseball history.

The Phillies, on the other hand, were not expected to be one game out of first place and winning 60% of their games at this point or at any point in the season. They still trail the Braves by a game, but have been winning 73% of their home games and have won seven of the last 10.

Odubel Herrera is batting .360 and leading the National League in hitting. And that is a shock! The last Phillie to lead the NL in hitting was Richie Ashburn 60 years ago! Manager Gabe Kapler seems to be pushing the right buttons (the three-run homer by pinch-hitter Nick Williams in the sixth inning on Sunday to beat the Mets is a good example).

Last year, they were 6-22 in May and ended up losing 96 games. With the additions of Rhys Hoskins for a full season, Scott Kingery from the minors, Carlos Santana, and Jake Arrieta via the trade route, they are greatly improved. Aaron Nola’s ERA is 1.99. It is a team with good starting pitching and an adequate offense. Their bullpen remains suspect with two saves blown last week.

Talent-wise, the Nationals and the Braves could stand in the way of the Phillies making the playoffs. The Nationals look like the best team in the division and are making their climb to the top. The Braves are obviously in first place as I write this. But the Phillies ARE sandwiched between the two.

The Yankees, on the other hand, appear to be, as expected, the best team in baseball. However, it is always exciting to look forward to the unexpected – Go, Phillies!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)

1. New York Giants QB Eli Manning will be in court this week defending himself against a lawsuit that says he sold fake helmets to collectors. The plaintiff wanted “game-used” helmets and claims the ones he received were “bogus” and Manning knew they were. Interesting case. Stay tuned.
2. This might make Ripley’s Believe It or Not, but some sportswriters are claiming that the NFL Cleveland Browns may have improved the most through the draft. Of course, if the Browns win three games, the writers can claim that they were right. The bar is not set very high here.
3. It was obvious the Yankees were probably going to have the best offensive team in baseball. They have not disappointed. For the first time in their exulted history, they had four players hit 10 or more home runs by the 40^th game. They had never had that distinction in 50 games before! By the way, the Texas Rangers did it in 2003.
4. The Celtics crushed the Cavs by 25 points in the first game of the NBA Eastern Finals and held LeBron James to just 15 points. Despite not receiving one Coach of the Year vote from his peers, Brad Stevens has shown in the playoffs that he is already one of the top coaches in the league. It was his formula that stopped Ben Simmons and the Sixers in the Eastern semifinals.
5. Speaking of the NBA, I unexpectedly have really enjoyed the playoffs. There is plenty of defense, intensity, and some spectacular offense. I have become a fan!

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

My hope is that by next Monday you look back on this blog and happily point out what a pessimist I was. My hope is that everything you read here about the 76’ers is all wrong.  My hope is that by the time you read this, the Sixers have come back from a 3-0 deficit against the Celtics and have moved into the Eastern finals.  My hope is that the ecstasy every Philadelphia fan felt when the Eagles won the Super Bowl would reemerge as the Sixers fought for an NBA title.  My hope is that the amazing run by Villanova in winning the NCAA basketball championship would just continue to carry over.

But, alas (I like using this word), I believe the Philadelphia Karma may have quickly come to an end. I only have to look at the Philadelphia Flyers who took some of the luster off the city when they lost four of six to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the playoffs.  To be honest, they just looked awful.

The Flyers gave up six goals per game in the four losses and an average of 4.7 goals in all of the games. The defense was bad and the goal tending just as bad.  During the regular season, the Flyers gave up just 2.9 goals per game.  They could not come close to matching the speed and offensive skills of the Penguins.  I am sure the fans thought this could be a charmed playoff for their beloved hockey team, but it was not to be.

But, all was not lost. The Sixers were coming off a terrific regular season. They did away with the Miami Heat in a very physical series and looked very strong doing it. The Celtics were coming in to the second round with a number of injuries to key personnel. Everything looked good for the home team.  But, after a long layoff after the first round, they looked like they were in a funk in game one and were beaten soundly.

Game Two was a winnable game, but Philly cannot win if Ben Simmons scores one point. Simmons was the goat in Game Three, also, when he made mistake after mistake down the stretch which cost the Sixers the game.  Poor passes and poor decision making (shooting when he should have pulled the ball out late in the game), along with missing an uncontested dunk have exposed weaknesses which were not apparent during the regular season.  All year, he played like a veteran, but, in the playoffs, he looks very much like a rookie.

I am convinced that the 76’ers are better than the Celtics. But, I am also convinced the Celtics’ coach Brad Stevens has figured out how to beat them.  A major part of their strategy is to let Ben Simmons shoot, but not let him pass.  Simmons is reluctant to do that and his passes have been defended.

I hope I am completely wrong and the next four games (if there are four) belong to the team from Philadelphia. Otherwise, go Phillies!!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. It’s good to be a quarterback in the NFL. Matt Ryan of the Falcons reportedly signed a contract that guarantees him $100 million and gets him $30 million a year. He joins Kirk Cousins ($28 million), Jimmy Garoppolo ($27.5 million) and Matthew Stafford ($27 million) as the highest paid NFL quarterbacks.
2. Speaking of making a good living, Saquon Barkley signed with the Giants for @ $31 million, the second best ever by an NFL running back (Adrian Peterson got $36 million). Barkley’s agent, by the way, was Roc Nation which was founded by Jay-Z.  Saquon will make the Giants offensive line much better and offer Eli Manning a great receiving option out of the backfield.
3. The Yankees are as hot as everyone thought they would be. Their lineup is just awesome and they have won 15 of their last 16 games. But the Red Sox look like the second best team in baseball. The two teams play each other this week. The Phillies are 18-15 and faltering a bit. But, they are in a weak division unless the Nationals start putting it all together.
4. No Celtic has caused more problems for the Sixers than Terry Rozier. When Kyrie Irving went down with a knee injury that necessitated surgery, Rozier not only stepped into the vacated position, but he also stepped into Irving’s shoes (and not just figuratively). Irving gave him eight pairs of sneakers and Rozier is wearing them in the playoffs. Rozier is filling Irving’s shoes literally.
5. I want to thank Scott Barr and John Leone for “blogging away” while I was on vacation. 

 BEHIND THE MIKE: (With John Leone)

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

The old Syracuse “Parochial League” of the late ‘60s and ‘70s has long since faded into nostalgic veneration. But once upon a time, ten vibrant high schools representing neighborhood enclaves separated by various Catholic parishes and sometimes ethnicity dotted the city. These schools – too small to field football teams – spawned basketball rivalries that became year-long affairs, extending well throughout the summer on the city’s playgrounds and across the demilitarized boundaries that separated them during the school year. Personal rivalries often became friendships, the former combatants ultimately bound by the shared experience of that unique time and the emotional investment they made in such a consequential part of their youth.

With all apologies to Robert Fulghum, I think everything I ever really needed to know I learned as a teenager growing up on those summer courts. Those fortunate enough to have grown up in a similar time and place know what I mean.  The summer months spent on the playground were as important as the long winter season itself. Every park had its regulars – a core group of maybe 15 guys who seemed to live there. Our parents would certainly agree, but never seemed to mind. From one night to the next, we found a way to construct teams among ourselves in a fashion that, as I recall, would make today’s professional GMs proud. “Next” needed no further clarification as the universal term for the random group of five waiting to take on the winners of the game in progress. The increasingly large group surrounding the court who watched the games also waited. There were nights when “next” went two and three games deep.

There were no coaches to choreograph plays and patterns or to distribute playing time. Being on time was mandatory if you wanted that first game, and even then it wasn’t guaranteed. The six o’clock church bells would tell you if you were late. And you were late if you weren’t there early – especially if you were unsure of your skill level. If 11 guys showed up and you were the one left off of one of the two teams “choosing up” sides, you had two choices: work on your game or work on your personality. Your peers delivered the message in a way that seemed to be perfectly natural – so matter-of-fact and without malice or judgment. And it was understood and accepted by all. Besides, as the 11^th man sitting out, you’d have the pick of the best of the new arrivals to join you for “next.”

There was a beautiful balance to that basketball community. The occasional “outsiders” were tested but given their chance. And if they happened to improve the quality of play, all the better – it could only help the reputation and regard for the “home” park. “Did you hear, so-and-so was at Sunnycrest last night. Let’s go there and play.” Some rules were universal, but like different languages, there was always nuance and you adapted to the rules of the home park for good order.

But for the most part, a typical evening brought back the regulars. Team compositions would change from night to night, and one night’s fiercest competitor would be the next night’s closest teammate. Not only were sport-specific skills developed, but more importantly, athletic instincts were honed. On a successful night, a team would learn to play to its strengths and compensate for its weaknesses. On the tougher nights, a loss could mean a wasted opportunity and an early walk home. It was almost too painful to stay and watch, knowing that your night was over.

I don’t remember – ever – asking about anyone’s politics or religion at the park. If a guy could shoot it, there had to be a spot for him; if he could rebound, all the better. We came to know who was selfish, who was smart, and who was steady. Some guys made their mark as dependable role players, though we never referred to them that way. Such terms were far too sophisticated and complex. We seemed to know things instinctively, even if we couldn’t define them – at least those of us who had a sense of what we were after.

And what we were after was pretty simple at the time – a win and a chance to hold the court and play on. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve gained perspective. Perhaps what we were really after was something altogether more important, more valuable, and more substantive, though we couldn’t have known it at the time.

As I look back now, I realize what an education that park provided. Leaders emerged. Rules were developed – sometimes on the fly – to create some level of equity, not in outcome, but in opportunity. The only prize from evening to evening was the honor of being part of a team that would hold the court after a win. But eventually, you lost. And those of us lucky enough to realize it began to discover something about ourselves in the way we reacted to losing. The very first vestiges of self-awareness may well have emerged on those courts. After all, the pain and frustration of having to wait three games – or worse – a whole day for another chance had to be dealt with, and how we did so was like holding a mirror to our faces. But tomorrow, we’d be there again. And the next night, and the next. The park gave you the test first and the lesson later.

I think that by and large, the evolution and growth of competitive youth sports has been a good thing. Today, there are better facilities, better equipment, and indoor spaces. Bleachers are full of parents, families, and friends – some, albeit, with less-than-healthy rooting interests. But the structure and organization afforded to kids today comes at a price beyond just the hit to mom and dad’s pocketbook. On some level, we seemed to have stripped the game of its ability to impart lessons that are best discovered and not necessarily taught. Tell a kid something, and he or she may forget it. Show them, and they may remember it. Get them involved, and they will learn it. But have them discover it, and they will own it. The park games were organic. They had an equilibrium that could only be understood and managed by us – the players.  And though we didn’t know it at the time, we were forging and shaping much more than our basketball skills.

Summer programs now are engineered to ensure structure and visibility. Referees are always present to adjudicate disputed calls, removing the need for the spontaneous and bristly negotiations we’d conduct on our own. There is no need to listen for church bells. Schedules and game clocks determine start times, and no one has to keep score; there are scoreboards to do that. Very little is missing or left to chance. Everything, that is, except for the experience of having young people create something of consequence completely on their own and outside of the constraints of teachers, parents, and coaches. On those summer courts of Syracuse, it was ours, and we owned it.

To this day, my 95-year-old mom recalls those days when I’d come home from the park. She knew immediately what kind of night it had been from my demeanor. “It’s only a game,” she would say. Now, in her later years and after all this time, we look back and laugh. And having raised three sons who attended “summer school” on those city courts, I think she’s finally coming around. Still, whenever I hear someone say “it’s only a game,” I think of those parks, those courts, and those kids who created and represented something so much more.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

I just returned from vacation. I was on a cruise.  My wife and I love to cruise.  There’s plenty of great food whenever you want to eat, high-level entertainment, comedians, bumping cars, rock-climbing, surfing, simulated sky-diving, and beautiful weather.  You wake up when you want; a room steward cleans up your room and bathroom three times a day; and there is even a spot on the ship away from all children to relax by the pools and hot tubs.  So what’s NOT to like?

I’ll tell you what’s not to like – Cruise ship television!

There are @ 20 channels to watch – five or six are for children, 10 are basically cruise ship commercials selling jewelry, tours, and future cruises. One channel simply reminds you to constantly wash your hands by playing a consistently annoying song and one channel is a live shot of the front of the ship (I’m not sure why).  That leaves MSNBC and FOX as a way to get any news and ESPN for “sports”.  The problem is all sports are SOCCER!!  That’s right, soccer.  My room steward thought it was a nice gesture to leave soccer on our TV every time he finished up his work in our room.

But I do not like soccer (apologies to all the soccer fans). I have just had too many bad experiences over the years with the game.  As an example, allow me to relate to you my very first soccer broadcast:

In the summer of 1975, I received a phone call from the station manager of Twin-County TV asking me if I knew the game of soccer. I surmised, since this was the middle of summer, he was asking because we were going to do some local youth soccer.  Who else played in the summer?  So I said, “Yes”.  Truth be told, I had never actually watched a game of soccer – oh, I knew that the object of the game was to put the ball into the net and I knew that did not happen very often, but that was the extent of my “Futbol” knowledge.  I was told the game was the next day and it was at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.

It turns out the station acquired the rights to do the Philadelphia Atoms games. The Atoms were part of the North American Soccer League, the highest professional level of soccer in America and I was going to do the play-by-play of a game I had never watched.  To add to that pressure, the opponent was the New York Cosmos and that night after the game they were going to sign Pele, the greatest soccer player of all time, to a contract.  He was there and interest in this game could not have been any greater.

Being a teacher, I decided to take the advice I gave to my students – before taking on a task, do your research. I went to our high school library and took out all the books they had on soccer (there were no computers yet).  There were three.  I was also teaching speed reading at the time so it was not hard for me to devour the three books, take notes, memorize position responsibilities, and do my best to understand the rules.  After a day and a half of study, I left for the Stadium confident I could get through this.

When I got to the Stadium, I was led to the press area where a nice full-course meal was served. I talked to some of the reporters about the strengths and weaknesses of both teams.  Twenty minutes before the LIVE broadcast I ventured up to the booth on the 50-yard line.  Leather reclining chairs were there for my comfort.

However, discomfort set in as soon as I was handed the starting lineups. When I left my house, I knew positions and their roles.  When I got the starting lineup, the names of the positions I had learned had changed.  Except for the goalie, every position had a different name.  Defenders became fullbacks, wing-backs and sweepers.  Forwards were now midfielders and forwards.  There were wingers and strikers.  What there actually was – was confusion.  I was lost.

I did the game; did the best I could. When I finished, the owner of Twin-County came on the headset and in his heavy Chinese accent said, “You do god job!  You do good job!”  I figured he didn’t know anything about soccer either.

I could tell you more career soccer horrors (15 overtimes that took 6 ½ hours to play and still ended in a tie; a 1 ½ hour pre-game due to a youth preliminary match that would not end; a high school game with green numbers on a green shirt that were impossible to distinguish, etc., etc.)

So no one was happier to return to the RCN TV lineup than I was on Saturday. Cruising IS wonderful; cruise TV is not!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS) 

1. Finally, after all the hype, predictions, and recommendations, the NFL draft is this week starting on April 26 at 8:00pm on FOX. We will finally find out where Saquan Barkley will play. The Eagles have the 32^nd and last pick of the first round and not again until the 30^th and 32^nd pick of the fourth round.
2. I will continue to remind you to keep your eyes on Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese sensation, who is now part of the LA Angels roster as both a pitcher and hitter. He is currently hitting .342 with three home runs and 11 RBIs and is 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA. He’ll be fun to watch all season.
3. With all the talk of speeding up baseball, someone needs to talk to San Francisco Giant first baseman Brandon Belt. He had a 21-pitch at bat on Sunday, fouling off 16 two-strike pitches. The time at the plate – 12 minutes and 45 seconds. It is believed to be a record. By the way, he lined out to right. He later homered in the game.
4. The NBA playoffs are mean, nasty, and ugly. I thought hockey was vicious, but the NBA may be getting worse. The saying now should be, “I went to a mugging, and an NBA game broke out.”
5. Next week’s blog will be guest-written by our basketball nut, John Leone. His blog will relate to anyone who grew up playing basketball on the summer playgrounds. It’s terrific reading.