MARCH RAD-NESS: It’s not a sports column in March without a mention of the annual orgy of basketball and office pools that is the NCAA Tournament. I’ll leave the prognostications and the faux science of ‘Bracketology’ (God, if I had a pack of Newports for every time I’ve heard this word this week) to the more hardcore sports geeks, BUT I would be remiss if I didn’t mention this: While three of the Philadelphia area teams made it to the party, of course, only Villanova is left standing, and better still, is poised for another upset tonight. Now, I know that it’s not a Philadelphia school in the technical sense, and it would probably be more exciting to see Temple or St. Joe’s in there, but it’s close enough and to be honest, Philadelphia sports fans need to take it where they can get it. Led by the dreamy Jay Wright (pictured with Brill creme at right), the Wildcats just might take #1 Seed Kansas. We’re using words like “might” and “upset” here because it’s unlikely that the 11 ½ point underdogs will win, but let’s all hop on to the Villanova bandwagon anyway. Any excuse to get hammered and yell at the television, right? That IS what sports is all about, isn’t it?

DID YOU KNOW THAT PHILADELPHIA HAS… A BASKETBALL TEAM?: In more improbable Hoops news, the Sixers are now 37-35 after defeating the #1 team in the NBA, the Boston Celtics. Sure, it’s not Doctor J and Moses Malone taking down Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, but the Philadelphia hatred of The Celtics and all things Boston runs deep, so this is very good news for those couple of basketball fans that remain after the tempestuous departure of Allen Iverson. Although they haven’t locked up a spot in the playoffs they are well on their way and they are playing as well as anyone in the Eastern Conference right now. Currently, they are in the 7th spot in the East, and closing in on the 6th and possibly even the 5th playoff spot. It may be time to dig out those Sixers flags that have been collecting dust since 2001 and finally learn the names of these guys. And just to go the extra mile, let’s do a YouTube rain dance at right and get lost in a reverie of spring 1983. It is fun to dream.

THIS, FROM THE MAN BEHIND THE SINGLE BULLET THEORY: Speaking of Boston vs. Philadelphia, will someone get Sen. Arlen Specter some new PR people!?! Or maybe even a hot water bottle? While making his rounds promoting his new book Never Give Up, which aside from being one way of putting it, also tells the story of the senior Senator’s battle with cancer. Someone on his staff had the brilliant idea of booking Mr. Burns Specter on a radio station in Boston, of all places. Most of the people in Boston were recently re-introduced to our friend Senator Specter from his recent “Spygate” investigation, calling in to question the Patriots’ defeat of the Eagles in the Superbowl XXXIX in 2005. Of course, the callers couldn’t care less about the Senator’s book, and they proceeded to relentlessly attack Specter on the aforementioned investigation. You know, because these Boston mooks are such gracious losers and all. Just like us. Next up on the Senator Arlen Specter book tour? Let’s not think about it.

AND WE SHALL RAISE HIM UP, ON EAGLES’ WINGS (AND OTHER THINGS): And finally, Rocky is coming to town!! No, not that one. The Eagles signed someone named Rocky Boiman, a linebacker that started 8 games for the Colts last year (pictured here, calling to mind one of Bill Murray’s sons in Rushmore). Like everyone else, I’ve never heard of him, but hey, his name is Rocky, so welcome home, kid. Not exactly the big signing that everyone in town is looking for, but I wouldn’t hold your breath for that either. Look at the bright side though, he does have a superbowl ring. How many on the Eagles can say that? Plus, “Two Street Appeal” is a hard thing to define, but if we drew a picture, it’d look like this.

And in parting: GO WILDCATS!!! Until then, sportsfans…

Previously: THE PHILEBRITY.COM 2008 PHILLIES SEASON PREVIEW!

This entry was posted on Friday, March 28th, 2008 at 1:46 pm.