The Winter of Our Discontent

I've been down here in the mothership the last few days, and let me tell you something - sports-fans in Philly are without a doubt the angriest sumbitches in the world. They should form some kind of paramilitary organization. It would immediately challenge Al Qaeda for the title belt awarded to The Most Unreasonable Violent Bunch of Crazy Bastards in the World.

The Ryan Howard salary smackdown is first and foremost on everyone's mind, which is nice on one hand, nice for once to hear Philadelphians talking passionately about baseball and not analyzing their depth charts trying to figure out who the Iggles should get as third-string long-snapper. But the bile they're spewing toward the Phils front office for the Ryan Howard business is just insane. Yeah, they underpaid him a little bit, but come on. Howard himself is taking it in stride, and no doubt they'll hit him off next year in a big way and all will be forgiven. It's business - when the Big Kid gets his chance, trust me, he'll shake the Phils down for every last dollar he has coming or he'll go get a 200 gazillion thirty-year deal from George. Either way, he's not going anywhere until 2011, so just sit back and enjoy the ride for a while why don't ya? I mean, you'd think people down here would be happy about the Phils. They have the most exciting young slugger in baseball, they have an exciting young team that should contend for the postseason. It's spring training, for Pete's sake. For once, FOR ONCE, how about some hope springs eternal around here?

As for the Iggles, the Phaithful is very worked up about losing Jeff Garcia and the probable loss of Donte Stallworth. Man if Lurie wasn't so friggin cheap they'd'a won about five Super Bowls by now... Yeah right. Look, Jeffrey Lurie is not cheap. He spends money, he puts a great team on the field year-in, year-out. Garcia had to go, and it was the right thing to do - let him battle it out for the starter's job down in Tampa Bay. He left too much on the field last year to sign him up for another session as McNabb's caddy. As for Stallworth, are you kidding me? Jeffrey Lurie's cheap because he won't re-sign Donte flippin Stallworth? Unreal.

Lot of talk too about the Sixers and the lottery (according to many callers on WIP, Oden is already a Sixer), and there is one situation that Philly fans are uniquely suited for - wholeheartedly rooting for their team to lose.

On a personal note, look... I've been on a little bit of a losing streak lately. Work's a little slow, taxes are killing me, my lady's out in California, blah blah blah. But on Friday I had lunch at my favorite chain, Slack's Hoagie Shack, and while I was wolfing down my cheesesteak I caught about an inning and a half of Braves/Pirates on the tube. I was sitting in a corner by the window and the sun was shining in on my face. I tell you, the combination of all that good grease and the sunshine and a little Grapefruit League action really set me straight. My step was light as I walked out to my car, and I let out a mighty belch to the gods that felt like my lion's warning to the universe - Large... is... back. This right here is one Philly fan who knows the drill. Hope springs eternal goddammit.