Nathaniel

Shockey

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September 1, 2008

Pennsylvania’s Tight Race: Which Philly Team Will Be First to the Top?

I need a week off from politics. Maybe you don’t, but I do. So this week’s topic is: Which major Philadelphia sports teams will win a title first? Yes, I’m counting hockey. It’s called the “State of the Union for the Sports City that Can’t Get Over the Hump – on Either One of Four Different Camels” address. I’ll be listing teams from worst to first.

Eagles

It was most difficult to decide the fourth-place team, but ultimately, I’m saying the Eagles are the farthest from a championship. As I’ve said before, Donovan McNabb is done, not in the competitive sense, but in the championship sense. He’s past his prime, lost his agility, never was a great passer and never had a killer instinct (which would have come in handy in 2004 with two minutes to go in the Super Bowl). And I’m increasingly convinced about the necessity of a good quarterback. Most teams need a great quarterback. The Chicago Bears would have been OK with one who didn’t make mistakes. But if you’re a decent quarterback that doesn’t make many mistakes, such as Eli Manning, the next most important thing is a ridiculously good defense, which the Eagles have failed to muster in recent years.

The addition of Asante Samuel was nice – huge, actually. The Eagles’ defense has consistently hinged on superior cornerback play. But the current Eagles’ defense, although not without potential, is untested to say the least. The Eagles are at the wrong end of the curve. Their current core is aging and has already peaked, and although the team is not in need of a complete overhaul, it has major holes. I don’t know if young quarterback Kevin Kolb will ever be a star. But I do know I have little confidence in McNabb’s ability to carry this team to another Super Bowl, much less a championship.

Earliest possible championship: Five years

A better bet: Never in my lifetime because they hate me.

76ers

The Sixers came in third. You can’t help but like the direction this team is taking, over-achieving last year, which is uncommon in Philadelphia. We can only hope Elton Brand avoids being the next Allen Iverson, meaning he contributes to team defense and team offense. No offense to Iverson and his incredible legacy in Philadelphia, but I think most fans’ gut feeling was that the Sixers would never win a title with him. If the NBA weren’t so good right now, the Sixers would seem closer to the end of the rainbow. But there are so many good teams; I don’t see a feasible championship hope for several years.

Earliest: Four years

A better bet: 10 years

Flyers

Coming in at number two are the Flyers. Last year was an incredible hockey year in Philadelphia, not because the team was so great, but because, like the Sixers, they overachieved. Not a we-got-one-round-further-than-we-should-have overachievement, but a holy-crap-not-only-did-we-make-the-playoffs, we-almost-reached-the-Stanley-Cup-Finals overachievement. They’re still a few major pieces away, but with a healthy Simon Gagne and another good defenseman, it would seem that they’re on the precipice of being really good. But the thing to remember is that, although they’re coming off an incredible year, they were handled quite easily by the Pittsburgh Penguins, who were handled even more easily in the finals by the Detroit Red Wings. That puts them at a distant third or worse. But still, if they do everything right, if their young guys continue to improve, and if they do manage to pick up a few key players, they really are in the championship mix.

Earliest: Two years

A better bet: Six years

Phillies

Finally, we have the Phillies. The Phillies drive me crazy, especially when they’re not hitting. How does a team with two former MVPs; Chase Utley, who could be the best hitter in baseball; Pat “Pat the Bat” Burrell; and a switch-hitter named Shane Victorino, whom I absolutely love and could be one of the better players in the league in a year or two; have trouble winning games for a pitcher like Cole Hamels?

Their offense is somehow ranked 10^th in the majors. It should be in the top three. Here’s my fear: The pitching staff seems to be peaking at the same time the offense is having trouble putting runs on the board. Sooner or later, the Earth will reassume its customary orbit around the Sun, Brett Myers will start giving up six homers a game, the bats will come alive, and even if they do make the playoffs, they won’t have a chance against the likes of a superior team in the Chicago Cubs or the Milwaukee Brewers. That’s just what my gut is telling me. But you never know. Maybe the pitching staff will continue to excel and our lineup will start producing runs. Call me crazy, but it could happen this year.

Earliest: Two months

A better bet: Four years

I know, I know, based on Philadelphia’s recent history, my predictions may seem incredibly optimistic and/or naïve. But in any other city, it would seem like logic.

© 2008 North Star Writers Group. May not be republished without permission.

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