Monday, November 26, 2007

Time to Move On

It was the first game all season where the Eagles showed life. The biggest underdog ever in NFL history held the undefeated, unstoppable, best team ever New England Patriots to their lowest scoring total all season and to their closest margin of victory in falling just short 31-28 in Foxboro last night.
For the second time in as many years, the offense played better without the franchise player. Receivers were catching balls in stride and making plays. It's much easier for Kevin Curtis and L.J Smith to get involved in the offense when the ball is on mark. Even the deep balls, supposedly backup A.J Feeley's weakness, were getting caught by Greg Lewis and well.....Greg Lewis. This is how the West Coast offense is supposed to be run.
There will be a quarterback controversy on the sports stations and in the papers, but Andy Reid said it after the game, that his first ever draft pick will start next week, if he is healthy.
The truth of the matter is that Reid built a system which Donovan McNabb simply doesn't fit into and never has. There is no denying the fact that the offense now runs better without the player that the coach picked to run it.
The story of McNabb's career in Philadelphia is this; when he was a younger player, the defense was one of the top in the league and McNabb was able to make enough plays to win games. As he matured into one of the top quarterbacks in the league he relied more on running the offense with his arm and less on his legs.
There can be no denying the fact that Number Five has not been the same player since that Super Bowl loss against the Pats in 2005. Whether its because of physical or mental reasons is moot at this point.
Last week against the Dolphins the team ran the ball and Feeley made enough throws to win the game. The question was raised then that if the team can run with Brian Westbrook like that and win, what is the point of the million dollar quarterback.
This week the team threw the ball, controlled the clock and moved up and down the field against the league's top team - again without Donovan. The answer is simple: Donovan must go.
This is not to be an indictment against Donovan McNabb. His number's don't lie. He has been the most successful signal caller in Eagles history and over the past decade, only Brett Favre and Tom Brady have winning percentages that compare with his. Both of them, though, have won Super Bowl rings. Donovan has not and will not with this franchise.
McNabb will start next week at Lincoln Financial Field against Reid's mentor Mike Holmgren and the 7-4 Seattle Seahawks. He'll start the next week against the New York Giants and probably will start in Dallas the week after that.
Anything short of a Super Bowl victory will end the McNabb era in Philadelphia. He will be playing somewhere else next season and the Kevin Kolb era in this city will have begun. McNabb will be another year removed from the ACL injury and there is no doubt in this writer's mind he will be successful. He has too much talent to not be.
It's a shame that McNabb and Reid didn't win a title together. McNabb has been a class act his entire career and true role model in the NFL duriing these days of dog fighting and cheating. They had their chances but injuries to key players like Correll Buckhalter and Troy Vincent in '01, Donovan in '02 and Westbrook in '03 held them back. Anyone who has watched this team over the past decade knows that the play calling has always been average, at best.
Here's hoping that Donovan comes out next week and sets the world on fire, igniting this team down the stretch and sending them into the playoffs with a chance to make a deep run. The safe money says that this won't happen - that the franchise player and the franchise will part ways after the season and a new era will begin. We'll find out Sunday at 1:oo.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Trotter Will Be Missed


It always hurts more when it's one of your own and to Philadelphia Eagles fans, Jeremiah Trotter was one of their own.
On Tuesday, the Eagles released the nine year NFL veteran. Trotter, who had spent seven of his years wearing the midnight green, was informed Monday night by head coach Andy Reid in what was supposedly a very emotional meeting. The two, who in the past have butted heads, most famously following the 2001 season in which the linebacker felt disrespected by the Eagles, in particular his head coach, were in Trotter's words like "two old ladies".
The move came as a surprise to Trotter, his teammates and to the fans. There had been rumblings following the playoff loss to New Orleans in January that Trotter was in jeopardy of not making the team. The Eagles told him to lose weight and be in better shape for training camp. "The Axeman" had come into camp in shape and looking forward to pairing up new acquisition Takeo Spikes but, it was not to be.
Trotter was drafted in 1998 by then head coach Ray Rhodes but for the most part sat on the bench that year. In 1999, Reid was brought in along with defensive coordinator Jim Johnson who was able to devise a defense that utilized Trotter's downhill playing style and instincts, as well as his 260 pound frame.
In the years that followed, Trotter along with Brian Dawkins, Hugh Douglas and Troy Vincent formed the foundation of one the league's most feared defenses. Trotter, Dawkins and Vincent were part of the 1998 team that went 3-13 and that's what makes his departure so difficult. He was one of the last reminders of how low this franchise had fallen. But he was also a part of those teams that turned things around, the teams that were filled with so much potential and gave so much hope to a city that was starved for a Super Bowl.
Now, Dawkins and offensive tackle Tra Thomas are the only players who remain from the 3-13 team. From the team that went to the Super Bowl in 2004, only 4 starters remain on defense; Dawkins, Sheldon Brown, Lito Sheppard and Jevon Kearse.
Trotter was a 4-time Pro Bowl player and was at one time, arguably the top middle linebacker in the league. Reports say he has visited with Denver and Tampa Bay, and that Minnesota is a possible destination for him. Time will tell if the Eagles were correct in their decision.
For Philadelphians though, it was a sad day and as quarterback Donovan McNabb said in his press conference yesterday, it will take time to get over.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Springsteen Pulls One Out of His Hat


Shore Fire Media and Columbia Records announced today that Bruce Springsteen's 15th studio album, Magic, will be released on October 2nd. This will be the Boss's first album with the E-Street Band since 2002's The Rising. 2005's Devils & Dust featured mostly minimal backing music and last year's We Shall Overcome, featured old folk songs and reworked Bruce classics and a 17 piece band; both were met with mixed feelings from the die hard fans.
Springsteen's long time manager Jon Landau had this to say about the new album; "(Bruce and I) have been together since 1974 and I don't think I've ever seen him more excited than he is right about this record...Clarence (Clemons) has some great moments on it. You could say that it's a little more sonically guitar-driven that any past Bruce album. There are a few sort of pop, romantic touches that haven't showed up recently, but were very prominent on the very early records."

Track listing:
1) Radio Nowhere
2) You'll Be Comin' Down
3) Livin' in the Future
4) Your Own Worst Enemy
5) Gypsy Biker
6) Girls in Their Summer Clothes
7) I'll Work for Your Love
8) Magic
9) Last to Die
10) Long Walk Home
11) Devil's Arcade

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Hoots & Hellmouth

Hoots & Hellmouth, a local Philly band, put on a loud, exciting and highly intense show when they stopped by the World Cafe. At their core, the band is a couple of friends rocking out. It makes for an energetic live show where they encourage audience participation. During the show at World Cafe, they brought 10 fans onstage to sing the last song of the set with them. Recently named Artist to Watch by for July by XPN, Hoots & Hellmouth will be performing at the XPoNential Music Festival on Thursday, July 19th. Check out for other dates in the area on their website at www.myspace.com/hootshellmouth.





Slo-Mo featuring Mic Wrecka

Slo-Mo featuring Mic Wrecka was one of the best shows I've seen at World Cafe so far. A Philly band, Slo-Mo and Mic Wrecka were both down to Earth guys. Slo-Mo actually asked me to run and get some cigarettes for him and the bassist. They have a big band that is centered around Slo-Mo's steel guitar and Mic's conscious lyrics. The band will be playing July 19th at the XPoNential Music Festival. Check them out at www.myspace.com/heyslomo

Great Lake Swimmers

The Great Lake Swimmers stopped by The World Cafe for a Free @ Noon concert about a month or so ago. Hailing from Ontario, their music was a quiet, intense mix of alt-country, folk and rock. Their front man, Tony Dekker, was shy and unassuming with a killer voice. Check out some of their music from their recent release, Ongiara at www.myspace.com/greatlakeswimmers

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Spirit on the Water



Some Ghosts of the Past

Brown-Eyed Women and Red Grenadine

"when night falls on the city
there is no peace
the lights may be gone
and the sound may be low
but the dark faces in the street lamp's light
are there around the corner
hiding out in the night" - AF

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

The sages of the subway sit just like the living dead...


Things Will Be Great...

When you're downtown...

I'll See You On the Dark Side of The Moon

Like many young people across the country and undoubtedly, around the globe, I discovered Pink Floyd's classic album from 1973, "Dark Side of the Moon". The themes of escaping youth, growing up, regrets and the ills modern society had struck a chord with me when I was in my later teen years as I saw my sheltered life forever altered by the events of 9/11 and my carefree youthful existence slipping away.
Now sitting here writing this at the wise age of 22, I yearn for the days when my biggest worry was where my buddies and I would be hanging out that weekend or how to skip out of school a few periods early. Anytime I hear a song from "Dark Side", I still think of the days spent hanging out with a couple of my best friends discovering this music for the first time.
When I heard the news that bassist, vocalist and songwriter from Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, would be coming to Philadelphia to perform "Dark Side of The Moon" in it's entirety I knew it was a show I could not miss. Purchasing my tickets in mid-February, it seemed like June 1st was a lifetime away.
But finally, the day had come. The parking lot was filled with a lovely aroma and throngs of baby boomers and teenagers anticipating the show. And what a show it was. From the opening chords of The Wall's "In The Flesh", the audience morphed into one of the loudest, respectful, attentive -- greatest -- crowds I have ever been a part of. As Waters continued onto such Floyd classics as "Wish You Were Here" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" it became obvious why Waters was able to fill an arena of 20,000 nearly 30 years after his last significant album.
We were all in search of the same thing. The seats were filled with people who all had the same memories that I had. We remembered what it was like to be just a kid, searching for his or her way in the world, trying to find a place where they fit in. When Waters finally kicked into the "Dark Side" material during the second set, every seat was filled and fully in tuned with what was occurring on the stage.
I had feared that this would be nothing more than a second rate Floyd cover band doing songs that only this one band could perform. Luckily, I was wrong; by the time he came out for his encore and the band broke out into "Another Brick in The Wall (Pt. 2)" it had been apparent for a long time that Waters came with an ample band. I would be remiss to not note the incredible pyrotechnics, lighting and enormous screen - but this writer would be unable to describe their usage and really, they don't get to the heart of the show.
The last song of the evening was "Comfortably Numb", a song Waters wrote with David Gilmour for 1979's "The Wall". It's a song that fits perfectly within the context of that album; the writer feels nothing for himself, for the world, vaguely remembers memories from his childhood and in the end accepts the way things are. We should hope for a more positive outlook on life, but in reality, the line "the child is gone, the dream is over" rings true for a lot of us. At least for this one night, Waters let us catch a "fleeting glimpse out of the corner" of our eyes into what it was like to once again be young and idealistic.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

A Triumph for craft brewing


Do you know how India Pale Ale got its name? Patrick Jones does and that’s good news for Triumph Brewing Company.
As the head bre
wer at the newly opened Old City location, Jones is the man behind the scenes who creates the distinctive beers that now flow at Triumph’s third location in the tri-state area.
With eight beers on tap you are bound to find something you like. Over the past three years, Jones has helped the New Hope Triumph location win five medals at the Great American Beer Festival.
“When I got to
Triumph, I was finally able to enter the Festival,” Jones explained. “The Kellerbier won the gold medal in 2004, something I’m really proud of.”
Triumph’s new spacious location at 117 Chestnut Street has two floors, with a bar downstairs running the length of the building and another bar upstairs that allows for a view of the brewery.
Sleek and swanky yet comfortable at the same time, Triumph has a menu that contains regular pub food like burgers and pizza. They also have sufficient seating if you want to sit d
own with friends and enjoy a more traditional meal.
Brian Fitting , one of the owners since 2001, said that the water in Philadelphia is conducive to great beer. That may help explain the city’s storied past with brewing. Old City Tavern was the hangout for members of the First Continental Congress in 1774. One hundred years ago, Philly was considered the largest brewing city in the Western Hemisphere. That title stood until 1920.
Prohibition wrecked the brewing industry across the nation. Jones explained that by the late 1970’s there were only about 10 craft breweries in the United States. Sierra Nevada was among the leaders of the craft beer resurgence during the 1980’s. Flying Fish in Cherry Hill, Yard’s in Kensington and Victory in Downingtown, PA are all proof of the renaissance. Consider Triumph Brewing Company part of that movement.
“I think the fresh beer alone will bring people in,” Fitting said. “The beer production has been phenomenal. We’re going to bring in a different crowd.”
Triumph was started in 1995 in Princeton, New Jersey by Adam Rechnitz, the first brewpub in the state. In 2003, the second location opened in New Hope, PA about an hour north of Philadelphia. The challenge of opening a brewpub in a major metropolitan area is not lost on the owners.

“(The main difference) was the cost, quite honestly. The other two locations are smaller suburbs and were pretty grassroots at the time,” explained Fitting. He added that getting acquainted with the city was part of the challenge.
He also sees similarities between Princeton and Philadelphia. Both brewpubs have downtown locations, are in an arts centered section of town and have Ivy League schools. The Old City location is surrounded by many other bars such as Mad River, Mint and Brownie’s Pub. Triumph isn’t necessarily trying to take customers away but simply offer them something they haven’t had before.
India Pale Ale, which this writer considers his favorite, was first brewed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in Great Britain. It had high levels of alcohol and hops because both are natural preservatives. An export solely to India, it needed higher levels of these ingredients for the long sea voyage.
According to Jones, no one in England was aware of this process until a ship en route to India wrecked and bottles washed ashore. Britons quickly realized this was the best beer they had ever tasted.
Unlike our British cousins, we won’t need to wait for a shipwreck to taste some of the best beer in the city. Stop by Triumph Brewing Company and taste a little bit of history for yourself.


(PHOTO CREDITS: CODY GLENN)

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

New Season, New Hope

After attending the last six Phillies home openers, I was shut out from purchasing tickets for the game on April 2nd against the Atlanta Braves. I had more or less resigned myself to the fact that I would not be carrying on the tradition that started in 2001. That is until a conversation about “On the Road” reinvigorated my life.
Since turning 22 this past February I have begun to feel, how do I say it? Old. I know that in the scheme of things 22 is not that old and looking back on this someday I will see how young I really was. But when your future job appears closer to you then your high school days, certain anxieties begin to set in.
I was having a conversation the night before the game with an old friend from high school who is about to graduate from Villanova next month. We were discussing as we often do, our lives, our plans for the future, and ultimately, the conversation turned to regrets and those moments in your life when you feel alive. It is difficult to define these moments. They are the ones when you have an out of body experience, when you can see yourself from above and know in your head that this is life, this is what living means.
He said how looking back, he had a good deal of these moments in his teenage years but like me in recent times, school and figuring out his career had become overwhelming demands on his mind. Basically, we both agreed that as the years have passed by, these moments had become few and far between. We talked about Bob Seger’s “Night Moves”, Van Morrison’s “Wild Nights” and Bruce Springsteen’s “Spirit in the Night”; how these songs seemed to describe a time that had somehow evaded us in our lives. Then we moved onto one of the great American classics, Jack Kerouac’s timeless masterpiece, “On the Road”.
We all know the story of Sal Paradise and his friend, Dean Moriarty and their travels across the country. How their lives seemed like an open book, how their futures seemed to have endless possibilities and compared this with the rigid demands that were placed on us by our society, our peers, our parents and more than anything, ourselves. Needless to say it was a depressing talk. My friend then said, “Where is that person in my life? Where is that free spirit to come and take me away from this normal life? Where is my Dean?” It was at that moment that I decided that one way or another we were going to make it into that Phillies game.
I met up with my friend around noon on the beautiful sunny day, about an hour before the first pitch of the 2007 season. We went up to the box office to see if there were any single tickets left for the game and told that they had all been gone since 9:30 in the morning. We walked to each of the entrances to the stadium, walked through a good deal of the parking lots and were unsuccessful in finding anyone at all who had tickets for sale. Then I had an idea.
McFadden’s Bar and Grille is attached to the ballpark and I figured somehow making our way from the bar to inside the stadium was our last shot. Getting in the bar was a problem, as a long line had formed outside to gain entry. Luckily, an old man was holding a side door open looking for his friend and we were able to slide inside ahead of the crowd. We made our way to the outside dining area and realized the only thing keeping us from entering right into the stadium was a metal fence and a few security guards letting people who actually had tickets into the game. Between the end of the fence and the brick façade of the stadium was a space of about a foot and a half. This was our ticket in.
Among the crowd of people drinking and eating we made our way back to the fence. Sitting for a minute to think of our plan and figuring out the right time to go, at around ten of one I decided, let’s go (and coolly, I might add), squeezed in behind the fence and walked right into the stadium. My friend followed behind. We walked to a spot directly behind home plate and as a sense of excitement and wild abandonment set in that we hade actually made it in, that we had made it to opening day, my friend looked at me and said something I will not soon forget: “I wouldn’t have done that without you. Thanks for being my Dean”.



(PHOTO CREDITS: ANDREW FRANKLIN)

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

New Bird Enters Flock

Kevin Curtis might not be a name too many Eagles fans were familiar with before last week. But Andy Reid and company are hoping that it’s a name everyone who bleeds green will not soon forget.
The Utah State graduate, who signed on the dotted line last Thursday down at the Nova Care Complex, comes to Philadelphia after four seasons with the St. Louis Rams. While backing up All-Pro wideouts Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, Curtis was able to average 50 catches, 640 yards and 5 touchdowns the last two seasons.
The Eagles first plan was to bring back Donte Stallworth. That didn’t work when Stallworth signed a six year deal for $33 million with the New England Patriots. The Eagles signed Curtis at $32 million for six years. There was obviously something more than the difference of one million dollars going on here.
Earlier this month, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Stallworth is in the league’s substance abuse program. Joe Banner and his numbers crunchers figured that their money was better spent on a player who is 2 years older but comes without the injury history and off the field issues. The Patriots’ new deep threat has only played a full sixteen game season two times in his five seasons in the league.
Kevin Curtis is a burner who will give Donovan McNabb a down the field threat right away (that is if McNabb is ready for opening day). After playing mostly on the outside in college, Curtis was used primarily in the slot in St. Louis. This should give him experience as he will most likely be moving around the field a lot in Reid’s offensive sets. The Big Guy has always been hesitant to label a #1 wide receiver and this year will be no different.
Anyone looking for the Birds to make a big splash in free agency will be disappointed. Along with the acquisition of Curtis, Bethel Johnson was also brought in to provide some depth on offense, though his primary role seems destined to be on special teams. RB Correll Buckhalter, CB William James and DE Juqua Thomas have all re signed with the team. Don’t expect much more action until the NFL Draft in late April.