The World Series is over and Phillies spring training doesn’t start until late February so I’ll try and get all the baseball out of my system to last the hiatus.

First off congratulations are in order to the 2007 Boston Red Sox. They get my praise not so much for winning the fall classic but for being the lesser of two evils between them and the Colorado Rockies. Had the Rockies not demolished the Phillies, or thought that Todd Helton’s lord and savior willed the team to postseason berth I would have sided with them. To read about how the Rockies’ clubhouse turned spiritual click here. By the World Series I half expected to see Jesus hitting clean up in their batting order.

Clearly the topic of baseball cannot be adequately covered without saying something about the New York Yankees (at least ESPN can’t do it). Reports surfaced yesterday that Joe Girardi, former Yankee catcher, will be the new skipper. He beat out bench coach and hitting instructor Don Mattingly who promptly decided he was not going to return to the team in 2008 after hearing that he didn’t get the nod.

Alex Rodriguez is going to opt out of his Yankees contract (hey we get to talk about them twice, yipee), but the bigger news may be how he did it. His agent, Scott Boras has apologized to Major League Baseball as well as the teams competing in the World Series for breaking the news during Game 4. I see no reason to apologize. The only interesting thing about the series was to see whether or not someone would steal a base, winning tacos for all baseball fans; and Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury said “lunch is on me” in Game 2.

The A-Rod hype is sure to be one of ESPN’s top stories everyday until some general manager convinces all his fans to re-mortgage their homes so they can all pitch in to afford the third baseman. Until that happens I urge Phils’ fans to IGNORE IT. It’s not gonna happen here. That being said, Torii Hunter filed for free agency yesterday. Now there’s a more reasonable off-season pick up.

I think football has become America’s favorite pastime. It’s overwhelming how popular it is, it’s very remarkable (I’m one of those football freaks myself. People still love the original pastime as well: baseball. There’s nothing like it, and it’s our game. Throw in college football and basketball- 2 more immensely popular sports. What are we left with…let’s see…hockey (gets television ratings worse than bowling), soccer (you gotta be kidding), and the NBA. What happened to the NBA? While growing up, basketball was probably my favorite sport, and for good reason. You had Michael Jordan and the Bulls dynasty: a high scoring, ridiculously talented dynasty. You had big centers that you knew were destined for the hall of fame in their primes: Ewing, Olajuwon, and Montross. Everything was great. I’m not sure what happened, but the NBA has taken a nose dive. Television ratings are down, attendance is down, and general popularity just isn’t the same as it used to be. Maybe it’s the referee scandals. Maybe it’s the unlikeable players. Maybe it’s that the dynasty is the Spurs: the most “boring” team in years. Sure they do everything right, but they score 80 points a game. Maybe it’s a foul being called every 5 seconds; they don’t let the players play anymore. And maybe it’s the blatant showboating and individuals yearning for personal achievement and praise (yes, you Kobe).

So the baseball season is officially over, and hockey is an afterthought for much of the country. The only professional sport going right now is football. But when we aren’t watching 9 hours of games on Sundays, and then when the season is finally over in February, what the hell are we supposed to do? I guess…we watch the NBA? Well, if you’re gonna watch, you might as well know what the outlook is. Here’s how I see the 07-08 NBA season unfolding…

EASTERN CONFERENCE (aka: junior varsity)

( in order of predicted finish)

Atlantic Division

1. New Jersey  - Kidd, Carter, Jefferson. Even with a coach who looks like he’s a pudgy child, they’ve consistently won and won in big games. If their big 3 stay healthy for the most part, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t win this division again. Let’s not forget, this is the team that went to the finals 2 years in a row just a little while back.

2. Boston - I hate putting them this high because you just don’t know how well 3 huge players who shoot as much as they do will mesh (Garnett, Allen, Pierce). But adding KG and Ray Allen can’t hurt a team. Not even Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge can screw this season up with that starting lineup. I don’t think they’ll be outstanding, like some people are hinting, but they’ll be a very good team.

3. Toronto - This team is young and well coached. They showed a lot by turning a franchise on the decline completely around to a playoff team last year. With Bosh on his way to another All-Star season, they should have a nice year. But will Bargnani step up and make a big leap to become a great compliment to Bosh? Will the addition of free agent Jason Kapono have a big impact on the perimeter? All questions that we will see answers to in the first month.

4. Philadelphia - People seem to be overlooking the fact that this basketball team was over .500 without Iverson last year. Was that a flash in the pan? It’s certainly possible. Mo Cheeks has a very, very young team to mold, Miller and Iguodala need to lead this team each and every game. With a big question mark at center (Sami Dalembert), they might finish around .500, but nothing better. The process of rebuilding continues.

5. New York - The Knicks have had quite the lead up to the season opener, with the media all over Isiah Thomas’ court hearing. Will that have any effect on the team? No, but the lack of talent will. This team isn’t rebuilding, they’re not good enough, and will finish dead last.

Central Division

1. Chicago - Assuming the trade for Kobe doesn’t happen, this is a fantastic basketball team. They have young talent that are all blossoming at the same times. Heinrich, Deng, and Gordon are an unbelievable trio, and Ben Wallace cant possibly be as mediocore as he was last season. This team was a playoff team last year, but with young guys they struggled against experience. Expect them back in the mix and to go farther this year.

2. Detroit - Shocked by Cleveland last year, this team will be back and again hungry for a Finals run. You just can’t argue with the talent they have in Richard Hamilton, Chauncey Billups, and Tayshaun Prince. Their bench is probably the deepest in the conference. This is a seasoned team, and the regular season should be warm-ups for another deep playoff push.

3. Cleveland - After reaching the NBA finals last year thanks to LeBron and LeBron alone, I see a big step downward for the Cavs. LeBron could end up looking like Kobe: the only player doing anything on the team. They haven’t resigned 2 key players, including Varejao, who brings energy to the court day in day out. Big Z is getting too old to compete against the versatile big men of this league too.

4. Milwaukee  - This is the Michael Redd show. Although Redd is a great player, an All-Star, he doesn’t have the same command to take over a game like LeBron or Kobe can. Bogut has been incredibly underwhelming, and the bench isn’t very deep or very good for the Bucks. It should be interesting to see Yi Jianlian get into the flow of things though.

5. Indiana - This is the same team that traded away Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington to Golden State for Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy, Jr. Ouch. While that might have been necessary with their off court problems, they didn’t get a hell of a lot back. This team is lacking in chemistry, scorers, and they gave a great coach the boot. The Pacers are going to have a lot of problems this year.

Southeast Division

1. Miami - Let’s remember that this team, which has stayed mostly the same since, won the NBA finals a few years ago. As long as Shaq and Wade can stay relatively healthy, they should own this division.

2. Washington - I love how Gilbert Arenas plays; full of confidence, bordering on cockiness, but he still gets his teammates involved. I love the play of Caron Bulter, whether he’s starting or coming off the bench. But that’s about all I love. They have no great big man, and we all saw what happened in the playoffs when they didn’t have the 2 big guns.

3. Orlando - Dwight Howard could easily average a double-double, heck, he’s gonna have some triple-double nights too (blocks or assists for that third one). What a player. But Orlando never seems to have the firepower to put away a Detroit or a Cleveland in a tight game. They’re good, but they just aren’t as talented or athletic as division and conference foes.

4. Atlanta - It still boggles my mind why Joe Johnson left the Suns for the Hawks. Playing for the Hawks is a guaranteed ticket to sitting out of the postseason. They haven’t gotten much better. Most people can’t even name 2 players on this team. That’s never a good sign.

5. Charlotte - Unlike their cities’ NFL expansion team, the Carolina Panthers who went to the playoffs after just a year in the league, this basketball team will continue to play like a first year expansion team. They have good players, but with Morrison out for the year already, they’ve taken a big hit. Okafor can’t score like Dwight Howard despite his dominance on the glass, and the entire team plays defense on seldom occasion.

WESTERN CONFERENCE (aka: the real teams)

Northwest Division

1. Denver - After the team traded for Iverson last year, they struggled getting into a flow. But they did reach the playoffs on a bit of a streak, only to be handed the Spurs in the first round. Carmelo and AI should be able to put up big numbers again, and with the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year (Camby) and up and coming star guard Steve Blake, this should be a good season for George Karl’s bunch.

2. Utah - Wow, nobody saw that run last year coming. Losing to San Antonio is something a lot of teams do, so they should take pride in the huge steps they made. Kirilenko or not, this team has the weapons to compete in an ultra competitive conference. Deron Williams has become a star.

3. Portland - Yes, the number 1 pick Greg Oden is out for the year. But these guys aren’t going to fold. They made some good moves like getting rid of Zach Randolph who was an unproductive problem of a player. Brandon Roy, reigning Rookie of the Year, will continue to improve his game, but without much more around him, they will really struggle against the big teams in the west.

4.  Minnesota - Garnett is out: the all-time Minnesota leading scorer, rebounder, blocker, etc etc etc. You take a guy like that out of the mix, on an already mediocore team like the Wolves are, and they have nowhere to go but down.

5. Seattle - They might as well move to Oklahoma City now. The owner wants the team to move. They don’t have a new stadium. They don’t have Ray Allen anymore. Kevin Durant is the big attraction, but once fans realize how bad this team is overall, they’ll wish they didnt even have a pro team.

Pacific Division

1. Phoenix - Steve Nash makes this team go, and no matter what players have been plugged into their system the past 3 years, they have continued to excel. They need to make the leap past the Spurs, the only team in the west that has their number. But with a lineup featuring Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion, Steve Nash, Raja Bell, and Leandro Barbosa, well…you can’t expect to stop these guys. If their defense is even slightly improved, they have a real shot at the Spurs. But they’re also fine with their usual up and down the floor, fast paced style.

2.  LA Clippers - The Clippers made the playoffs! Yea, that trend lasted for just the one year, as last year they returned to usual mediocre Clipper form. But this team has talent in Brand and others, and should rebound well enough to fend off the other LA team.

3. LA Lakers - This team has 1 player; Kobe. He’s selfish, he’s a ballhog, he brings a lot of baggage too. Assuming he doesn’t get traded, expect more of what you saw last year out of this team: one guy playing and 4 teammates watching him. It’s painful to watch as a fan, seeing how the Lakers have some talent in guys like the little Walton.

4. Warriors - Sorry, but I just don’t see last year happening again. The west is too tough a place to pull off miraculous runs 2 straight years. Re-signing coach Nelson was a big move, he’s the best asset they have, but it won’t be enough.

5. Kings - One of their few stars, Mike Bibby, is out with a fracture in his hand to start the season. Not a good omen for a team with a new coach, a fading fan base, and John Salmons starting. A long season ahead for the Kings.

Southwest Division

1. San Antonio - What more can you say than what’s been said already? This is the NBA dynasty of our times and they haven’t lost anything from the meat of what made their championship teams. Duncan is getting better and better with age surprisingly, and the role players are incredible. Tony Parker, Manu Ganobili…the list could go on, but no matter who you put in, this team plays smart, sound basketball. They won’t lose much at all.

2. Dallas - Embarrassing. That’s the only word to sum up their season last year. What a fantastic regular season, again with 60+ wins, but gone in the first round of the playoffs to the 8 seed Warriors. This team has weapons, weapons, and more weapons. They can score almost as much as the Suns can, and their defense continues to improve. They should be hungry for success throughout the season after last year’s debacle of an ending.

3. Houston - This team has the right role players for all the right positions. With Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming playing healthy, this team becomes pretty tough to play. They were injured off and on last year, but if they can stay in the lineup for most of the season, expect a good playoff run.

4. New Orleans - They had a nice draft taking Julian Wright, and he’ll fit in nicely with this athletic team. Chris Paul has truly become a standout player in this league, and he’s the reason they’ll win games. But nagging injuries and inconsistency on the defense proved killer last year for this team, and I don’t see them going anywhere in the western conference with pretty much the same team.

5. Memphis - The Grizzlies made their former Vancouver hometown proud last year, losing the most games of any team in the NBA. What changed? Not much at all. This team is gonna be pretty bad, again.

So, there you have it: here’s how the playoff picture will look:

East:                                             

1 - Chicago                
2 - Miami
3 - New Jersey
4- Detroit
5- Boston
6- Cleveland
7- Toronto
8- Washington

- 1 Chicago over 8 Washington
- 2 Miami over  7 Toronto
- 6 Cleveland over  3 New Jersey
- 4 Detroit over 5 Boston

- 1 Chicago over 6 Cleveland
- 2 Miami over 2 Detroit

- 1 Chicago over 2 Miami

West:

1 - San Antonio                 
2 - Phoenix
3 - Denver
4- Dallas
5- Houston
6- Utah
7- LA Clippers
8- LA Lakers

- 1 San Antonio over 8 LA Lakers
- 2 Phoenix over 7 LA Clippers
- 6 Utah over 3 Denver
- 4 Dallas over 5 Houston

- 1 San Antonio over 6 Utah
- 2 Phoenix over 4 Dallas

- 1 San Antonio over 2 Phoenix

FINALS: 1 San Antonio over 1 Chicago

Sure its cliche to pick the Spurs to win again, and kind of annoying. They’re a boring team. But, if you’ve watched the past 6 or 7 years of NBA basketball, it’s pretty dumb not to pick them in the preseason. Tracy McGrady will unfortunately lose in the 1st round again, while Phoenix comes oh so close yet again. And the bottom line again, of course, is that the East stinks.

Actually, that might not be such a bad idea. The Flyers haven’t appeared to be within the same zip code of each other during their first two games in Florida. A 4-3 loss to the Panthers was ugly enough Wednesday night, but the Flyers followed it up by dropping one to the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2.

The defense just hasn’t been there as of late. The Flyers surrendered 42 shots to the Florida Panthers (being outshot by 19) in a game where Marty Biron proved he was human allowing two soft goals. The chemistry left the orange and black as Simon Gagne went into the locker room with dizziness. The only two players who have kept up the intensity on the road trip have been Mike Richards and Jeff Carter. The puck seems to constantly be in the Flyers defensive zone and it begins to look like they’re killing a penalty despite playing at even strength.

In order for the Flyers to regain their early form they’ll have to step it up on defense and not rely on the so far stellar play of Biron to save them. The breakout passes look just as ineffective as they did last year and once they enter the offensive zone the Fly Guys play dump and chase instead of looking for an open man.

The next test for the Flyers is Boston at 4pm instead of 7pm, forcing the world to listen as Joe Buck and Tim McCarver provide meaningless commentary on a boring World Series. Excuse me for getting a little excited about the two game winless streak but the season the Flyers made me endure last year is still haunting me. They stand in first place in the Atlantic Division (even after losing two straight) and for the love of all that is orange and black let it stay that way.

This a great time of the year for sports. The football season is in full swing, the NHL season is off and running smoothly, the NBA gets going in the next week, the college football season continues to provide one shocking weekend after another, and we’re in the middle of another World Series. You’re not alone if you’re spending a lot of your Saturday and Sunday glued to the TV. But as the leaves are changing and as much as October is baseball’s month, we’re starting to enter the real meat of the NFL season; and what a year it’s been so far. There’s been surprises (Packers, Giants), disappointments (Eagles, Bengals, about 10 more teams), and great games (Pit/Den last week for example). We go into week 8 with some teams desperately needing their bye week, a game in London, England, and the Chargers unsure of where they’ll play their home game due to a wildfire crisis in Southern California. There are tons of story lines this week in the NFL, and lots of great games. Here’s what I think are the top 3 to watch this weekend, and how they might turn out:

1. Colts (6-0) AT Panthers (4-2)

Two teams with high hopes to begin this year, and two teams that have achieved success for the most part in very, very different ways. The high-flying, but under the radar, Colts are off their 3rd consecutive 6-0 start (only the 3rd NFL team in history to do so). Peyton Manning to Reggie Wayne is working, Joseph Addai is working, and Bob Sanders is leading a better than ever Colts defense. The Panthers starting quarterback went under the knife and is gone for the season. How did they respond? A big win behind the arm of 44-year old Vinny Testaverde.

There’s a lot of interesting aspects to this game. The Colts pulled out a huge win on Monday night against Jacksonville on the road, a game that a lot of people were picking as Indy’s first loss. They did everything and then some; completely dominating the Jags for 60 minutes. Can they repeat their success on the road again, a ways away from their comfortable dome? The Panthers haven’t had much time to heal or think about what to do next. It’s been a season where they’ve taken the hits and kept on rolling. Their wins may not be impressive, but about 10 teams behind them in the NFC would trade their record in a millisecond.

Aaron’s Assessment: The Panthers have scrapped together wins despite Steve Smith expressing anger publicly, Delhomme going down for the season, and a coach under fire for very early season struggles. They’ve simply found ways to win. But what they haven’t done yet is face a premiere NFL team, like those Colts. Everyone forgot about the Colts in the midst of the Patriots 7-0 blistering hot start, that is, until the beat down in Jacksonville last Monday. Don’t expect the Colts to slow down now, they’re the Champs, and they’re out to prove they’re the best team in the league.
Colts 31 Panthers 14

2. Steelers (4-2) AT Bengals (2-4)

Much like the previous game, this is a game between 2 super bowl contenders coming into the year. While the Steelers have kept their end of the bargain, the Bengals are on the verge of losing their season altogether. In the ultra competitive AFC, you can’t start with a 2-5 record and expect to make news in January, and that’s exactly what the Bengals are looking at. Last week they had a must-win game against the awful New York Jets, and won…barely. They rushed to an early lead, only to give it up, and finally regain it with a come from behind win. Yikes.

Playing at home in the jungle is a great momentum builder for the Bengals. It’s also trouble for the Steelers, not just because the Bengals are in must-win mode, but because this is a division match-up. The jostling for AFC north positioning is in full swing, and to get back in it, the Bengals know they need a big home win. This win would be a statement that they’re turning their season around by beating a very good Steelers team. Meanwhile, coach Timlin and the Steelers know the hard task they face. They don’t want to head home after this game losers of 2 straight.

Aaron’s Assessment: The Steelers went into Denver last week and lost on a last second field goal from Jason Elam. While it wasn’t a heart breaker, they certainly would have liked to have kept pace with the AFC elite with a win. They know they face another tough road task this week, and the Bengals should give them everything they can handle. Cincinnati has faced the do-or-die game already last week, and they’ll continue to be faced with that situation until they’re at least above .500. Cincinnati puts down the hammer at home and sends the Steelers home after another loss, this one..a true heart breaker.
Bengals 27 Steelers 24

3. Packers (5-1) AT Broncos (3-3)

How the heck are the Green Bay Packers 5-1? A lot of NFL people are scratching their heads over that question, but the Packers have taken things in stride. They’ve won, at times in unimpressive fashion, but a win is a win, and this team is on the verge of running away with the division. The Broncos meanwhile have that glimmer of hope they desperately needed. A big win on national television over the Steelers was a huge step for this team. Nobody seems to want to be the team-to-beat in the AFC West, and the Broncos know a win this week would be absolutely huge.

The great match-up in this game is the gunslinger against that tough defense. No, not Favre verse Denver’s defense, I’m talking about the young gun - Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler. Since coach Shanahan inserted the then rookie into the lineup last year he has proved up to the task of leading an NFL team. He looks solid this year, but this should be a stiff test to his rising skills. The Packer defense has proved problematic for just about everyone this season. Their defensive line makes life hard on the quarterback of the opposition, and Cutler must be aware in the pocket or it could be a very long night.

Aaron’s Assessment: I didn’t believe the early hype surrounding the Packers as one of the NFL’s best teams. Heck, I didn’t think they were one of the NFC’s best teams. But you simply can’t argue with a 5-1 record. They’ve been outstanding defensively and Favre and his rookie offense have done just enough. But the Broncos are hungry. The start to this promising season turned ugly very early, but all of a sudden they’re back at .500 at 3-3. A win against a good football team would prove a season changing win for these Broncos. Plus, Denver is a pretty tough place to play (that San Diego game was a one time deal).

Broncos 24 Packers 20

Season Up To Date:
Aaron: 60 - 43 (9-5 last week)
Dave: 59 - 44 (10-4 last week)

BYE - Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Kansas City, Seattle

Sunday, October 28

(4-2) @ (3-4) 1pm FOX

Aaron: Chicago
Dave: Chicago

(6-0) @ (4-2) 1pm CBS

Aaron: Indianapolis
Dave: Indianapolis

(4-2) @ (2-4) 1pm CBS

Aaron: Cincinnati (upset pick)
Dave: Pittsburgh

(2-4) @ (4-2) 1pm CBS

Aaron: Tennessee
Dave: Tennessee

(3-3) @ (0-7) 1pm CBS

Aaron: Cleveland
Dave: Cleveland

(2-4) @ (2-4) 1pm FOX

Aaron: Philadelphia
Dave: Philadelphia

(5-2) @ (0-7) 1pm FOX (game in London)

Aaron: New York
Dave: New York

(2-4) @ (1-6) 405pm CBS

Aaron: New York
Dave: Buffalo

(3-4) @ (3-3) 405pm CBS (game location subject to change)

Aaron: San Diego
Dave: San Diego

(4-2) @ (4-3) 415pm CBS

Aaron: Tampa Bay
Dave: Tampa Bay

(4-2) @ (7-0) 415pm FOX

Aaron: New England
Dave: New England

(2-4) @ (2-4) 415pm FOX

Aaron: San Fransisco
Dave: New Orleans

*No Sunday Night Football due to World Series*

Monday, October 29

(5-1) @ (3-3) 830pm ESPN

Aaron: Denver
Dave: Denver (upset pick)

The Flyers have one outstanding MVP in their first few weeks of action. He was acquired from Buffalo and his name isn’t Danny Briere.

Martin Biron beat out the other “Marty” last night in the Flyers rout of the New Jersey Devils. The Flyers goalkeeper hasn’t allowed a puck past him in the past 137 minutes and 22 seconds and has stopped the last 82 shots that have come his way. Biron continues to have steadfast confidence in his teammates and the Flyers organization. He has been one of the more vocal members of a club that lacked leadership last year. The “experts” questioned whether or not Biron could handle the load as a starting goaltender. Two shutouts and five wins later I think they’ve found their answer.

Yes, it is very early in a long 82-game season but the criticism of Biron not being a starting goalie is not a strong one. He has been a starting netminder before. There was an era between Dominik Hasek and Ryan Miller that people seem to forget. Biron started 72 games in the ‘01-’02 campaign for the Sabres (31-28, 2.22) 54 in the ‘02-’03 season (17-28, 2.56) and 52 in the ‘03-’04 season (26-18, 2.52). He is used to the pressure and he shows no sign of nervousness, especially this year. Biron got the better of 38 shots last night and acts like it is no big deal.

Speaking of those “experts”, another thing is getting under my skin. Yeah, the Flyers are gaining respect but slowly. In the latest ESPN power rankings that came out on Wednesday the Flyers only ranked 14th out of 30 despite a 4-1 record. The struggling New York Rangers who have a losing record ranked ninth. What exactly do the Flyers have to do to prove themselves to the hockey world?

Perhaps they’ll be surprised when the Flyers make the playoffs. I won’t be, and if you’ve been paying any attention to the orange and black you shouldn’t be either.

Season Up To Date:
Aaron: 51 - 38 (10-3 last week)
Dave: 49 - 40 (6-7 last week)

BYE - Carolina, Cleveland, Green Bay, San Diego

Sunday, October 21

(2-3) @ (4-2) 1pm FOX

Aaron: New York
Dave: New York

(1-5) @ (1-4) 1pm FOX

Aaron: New Orleans
Dave: New Orleans

(3-3) @ (3-2) 1pm FOX

Aaron: Washington
Dave: Arizona

(4-2) @ (1-4) 1pm CBS

Aaron: Buffalo * UPSET
Dave: Buffalo

(4-2) @ (3-2) 1pm FOX

Aaron: Tampa Bay
Dave: Detriot

(3-2) @ (3-3) 1pm CBS

Aaron: Houston
Dave: Tennessee

(6-0) @ (0-6) 1pm CBS

Aaron: New England
Dave: New England

(1-5) @ (1-4) 405pm CBS

Aaron: Cincinnati
Dave: Cincinnati

(3-3) @ (2-3) 405pm CBS

Aaron: Oakland
Dave: Kansas City

(2-3) @ (5-1) 415pm FOX

Aaron: Dallas
Dave: Dallas

(2-4) @ (2-3) 415pm FOX

Aaron: Philadelphia
Dave: Philadelphia

(0-6) @ (3-3) 415pm FOX

Aaron: Seattle
Dave: St. Louis

(4-1) @ (2-3) 815pm NBC

Aaron: Pittsburgh
Dave: Denver

Monday, October 22

(5-0) @ (4-1) 830pm ESPN

Aaron: Indianapolis
Dave: Jacksonville * UPSET

If you asked the casual Philadelphia sports fan two months ago which team would be atop their division, the prominent answer would be the Eagles. Well think again. The Flyers now have sole possession of first place in the Atlantic division. Yeah, its early, but it goes to show you the strides the Flyers have made this off-season and early on this season. Last night the Flyers won their fourth game of the five they’ve played thus far, a feat that took them until mid-November last season. 

The Fly Guys currently lead the Atlantic by a slim two-point margin. The second place Islanders will play again on Thursday, as will the Flyers. The reason the early success is so impressive for the Flyers is their balanced offensive attack. Of the 21 goals the Flyers have scored, only eight have come from the top KGB line (Knuble, Gagne, Briere). The most impressive is perhaps the breakout year of Mike Richards. We’ve been waiting three years and it’s finally here. The new assistant captain can account for three goals. He scored a pretty one last night catching the puck out of mid air and tossing it to the ground just in time to put it in the net.

Another reason the Flyers are doing so well is their last line of defense. Martin Biron has played stellar in goal for the orange and black this season including a 31 save shutout last night. His efforts were highlighted by a windmill save in the last minute of the first period. Another reason he has done so well is that he genuinely believes in this team, something that was sorely missed last year. He says the team wants to be the best and believes they are.

The Flyers great start has also been without forward Scottie Upshall who has a broken wrist and looks to return to action in a couple more weeks. Up next for the Flyers are the pesky New Jersey Devils Thursday night at 7 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet.

Yeah, they won. They’re one game closer to being .500, but there was nothing that impressed me about the Eagles victory yesterday over the New York Titans, er, Jets. The entire game was mediocre, regardless of which team the birds fought.

The defense only allowed three field goals in the contest but they’ve played well all year. Even Jevon Kearse got himself one of the Eagles three sacks. Sean Considine continued his good season leading the team with seven tackles and Quintin Mikell is still doing well in replacement of Brian Dawkins.

On the other side of the ball however the Eagles had a chance to have a breakout game and were borderline disappointing.  Brian Westbrook ran for 120 yards and it was a great sign to see him return to action. The Eagles are 3-6 without him. He really is the lone representative of the Eagles offense this season.

Despite throwing for 278 yards, Donovan McNabb still doesn’t seem to be his old self, looking confused as the pocket collapses around him. Like his counterpart Chad Pennington, McNabb was also sacked three times yesterday (It would have been even more if Winston Justice had suited up).

The highlight of the day was the lone offensive touchdown of the game when McNabb hit Kevin Curtis for a 75-yard touchdown on third down and long. Reggie Brown finally began to catch the ball, but overall the wide outs were still having trouble getting open and once they were McNabb was still throwing it just out of their reach. One of those miscues yesterday ended up in an interception for #5.

The Birds did not look to impress in week six but got their post-bye-week win which brings Andy Reid’s record to 9-0 after the break. This week the Eagles will face the Chicago Bears. From what we’ve seen this season the two defenses appear to be about the same, but the Bears have found a quarterback in Brian Griese.  So which Eagles offense will show up this Sunday? Will we see the offense that put up 56 points in week three against Detroit, or the week six offense that could only muster one touchdown against the lowly Jets? This is a defining week for the Birds, so as our old friend T.O. would say, ‘Get yer’ popcorn.’

As a Flyers fan I’ll be the first to say that the punishment fit the crime or perhaps wasn’t strong enough. I was pissed off to see that Boulerice even made the roster. I can’t stand him. He has ZERO hockey skills and what repulsed me even more was even after Kesler was lying immobile behind the Flyers net, Boulerice was in the process of removing his gloves. Players like Boulerice should be banned from the NHL. Cage fighting is the sport for them. Downie however is a different case. He actually has hockey skills and had a good camp up until his hit on Dean McAmmond.
The argument concerning the Flyers front office is ludicrous. There is no way John Stevens can be held accountable because Bloulerice seems to have an extra chromosome or two. He’s an idiot that only made the roster because of injuries. I say ban him from Philly. I don’t want him on the Phantoms either.