Each year, I usually spend the final few weeks of December reflecting back on all the exciting, rewarding and positive (and sometimes not so positive) sports moments in the RCN viewing area. We try to come up with some new “awards” each time to keep it fresh and to touch on several different levels of competition of interest to those in our coverage area.
Here are some of our top teams and stories from this past year, and we’ll have more reflections, in addition to a look ahead, in next week’s “SportsTalk Shop” as well.
Biggest Surprise: The Nationals NOT winning the division…let alone the pennant.
There are no “sure things” in sports but the Nats certainly seemed like—on paper—they were one of the best two teams in the National League. But injuries, chemistry, managing and then Jonathan Papelbon “happened,” and the team didn’t even qualify for a wild card berth. We’ll have more on what to expect from Washington coming up in next week’s blog entry.
Nicest Team: Nazareth Blue Eagles Girls Basketball Team
While Easton might have the best girls’ high school basketball team in the District XI (PA) region this winter, the Blue Eagles had the best team on the court during the 2015 scholastic season. We had the opportunity to speak with a number of them on “RCN SportsTalk” this past year, and the ladies were as classy and well-spoken as they were talented. Don’t rule out another Nazareth/Easton meeting in a championship matchup again in 2016.
Biggest Enigma: 76ers
One of the largest amounts of emails I received this past year was when I made a comment that I had “reservations” about the Sam Hinkie plan—to lose games in order to increase the organization’s chances of drafting top-quality picks and improve the club a few years down the road.
The comment came after news that previous top draft pick Joel Embiid was hurt more seriously than thought—and he might not play again—ever!
While I didn’t say that I was against “The Process” philosophy, I had some questions if it was proceeding in the correct fashion. After the show I received a TON of complaints about my statement, virtually everyone saying that they thought the losing was great, they’re completely on-board with everything going on and that they were excited about this team’s direction.
More on the future of the 76ers in next week’s blog, but for now, (which, by the way, is “year three” of this endeavor) we saw the worst point-total loss in the franchise’s history and a near-record number of losses to start a year. That streak, combined with the way the team finished last year, resulted in a record number of losses by a professional sports team—EVER.
If people think this is the way to go…so be it. But, in my opinion, my reservations and cautions have not been reduced by what I saw in the final months of 2015. And judging by the December hiring of Jerry Colangelo as a “special advisor,” the Sixers have some reason for pause as well.
Best Comebacks: Saucon Valley & Notre Dame-Green Pond HS Football teams
By definition, there can be no better turnaround than the Crusaders bouncing back from a 0-10 season in 2014 to setting a school record with 11 wins in 2015. This year’s team also captured the school’s first ever pair of District XI playoff victories. They also reached their first ever PIAA state playoffs before falling to a very talented Dunmore team. However, many of this year’s players’ accomplishments and their records will probably stand for quite some time.
The Panthers—a comeback story? Didn’t they win the Colonial League last year and get to the District Championship game? Yes, they did, but they wanted more. Not only did they avenge last year’s painful loss to Bethlehem Catholic, but they went about their goals in a very workmanlike approach. They also kept their focus—something often lost among the modern- day athletes. They didn’t hang their heads and sulk about how last season ended, but they sought out a higher set of goals—and achieved them. A District XI 3A championship and state playoff victories over Selingsgrove (a perennial state playoff program) and Scranton Prep were achieved as this year’s Panther team became the greatest football team in Saucon Valley history.
Most Impressive Performance: The Philadelphia boys/girls basketball state champions
Back in March, we talked about the dominance of the Philly schools in the scholastic basketball circles. They had representatives in each championship game and won most of them, which speaks volume to both the talent level of the players, but also the coaches in the Southeastern PA region. It’s one thing to have a great team on paper (see the Nationals—above), but to keep teenagers’ focus—and to have so many programs from a small area (distance-wise) achieve this—was clearly the standout performance that I witnessed in our viewing area.
Late this past fall, we began covering the Washington, DC area football teams more closely and I was impressed by the limited amount of teams that I had a chance to see in November and early December. We will continue our coverage of high school sports in the DMV region in 2016 and I look forward to featuring more of those schools and players on both our television show and here at the “Shop” next year!
More “awards,” as well as some predictions for the new year coming up in next week’s blog.
While we hope you enjoy the holiday season, a quick note that we’ll return with new editions of “RCN SportsTalk” (seen live, Thursdays, 7-8 pm on RCN-TV) and our podcasts resuming on January 7th. Among our scheduled discussion topics include George Washington, Georgetown and American University basketball, local high school basketball and wrestling, the NFL playoffs and other pro sports teams in the Philadelphia and DC regions and more!
Last but not least, a very Happy New Year to everyone…and thanks for reading!
