Crossing Broad
Who has it worse than Philadelphia sports fans? Our 8-3 football team has vibes lower than a 5-5-1 team. Our baseball team underachieved again. Our soccer team overachieved and then ripped the rug out from under us in classic Union fashion. Our basketball team is rebuilding while in the middle of some insane contracts. Our hockey team plays from October through April, and that’s it.
Temple Football has collapsed. The Big 5 doesn’t excite anyone anymore. Where is the Philadelphia Soul when you need them?
But today, we’re going to forget all that… at least we’re going to try. We’re going to look at the positives in Philly sports, because as insane as we can be on a day-to-day basis, there is objectively a lot to be thankful for.
Let’s hit it. Note: These are in no particular order, but I feel more strongly as the list goes.
I think a few of us have taken Bryce Harper’s presence for granted recently. I’m certainly guilty of it. There are issues on the surface that just paint a weird vibe. Dave Dombrowski’s comments after the season ended didn’t help any, and neither did Harper’s reaction. I know they’re both playing a game off the field, but I always try to not forget the biggest reason we have baseball to care about today. When people try to insert Gabe Kapler’s name into the turn of this Phillies’ era, I cringe. It’s all Harper. That’s why his struggles can be the most glaring. But as long as he’s here and playing at a high level, this team isn’t going to fade away into obscurity.
Now, you might say, “Who?”, but I say Vladař is a huge reason why it’s fun to watch the Flyers in this early season. Eight wins in 13 games with a 2.42 GAA and a .912 save percentage – pinch me! He might not be the franchise goalie of the future, but he’s more than cemented as the better goalie of the Vladař/Ersson duo. You see a more confident team playing in front of Vladař than you do Ersson. The Flyers may still be rebuilding, but they’re no longer a chore to watch.
The voice of the Philadelphia Union has you thinking the biggest call of his career is the most current one. Leno brings it every single game to make whatever you’re watching the most important game in franchise history. If you can feel Scott Franzke’s emotion through his calls, you can sure as hell feel Leno’s emotions.
Speaking of Franzke, he lands on this list yearly – if I made a yearly list. We’ve all said it before – there’s nothing like Franzke and LA in the summer. And if you listened to the radio broadcast during the Phils’ Game 3 win in LA, you’d think it was Game 7 of the World Series. Franzke, simply put, delivers. Every night.
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