Sports & Recreation

Ingredients: 1 ascendant blogger, 2 perplexing MVPs, Best (only?) reason to listen to WIP

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Best (Only?) Reason to Listen to WIP

This is an ode to the silky smooth baritone of my morning commute — Hugh Douglas. He is Dean Martin to Angelo Cataldi's sputtering Jerry Lewis. Usually, athletes speak in terms of "Winning good. Losing bad. I try hard." But not Douglas. He is witty and smart, and, unlike many of his WIP cohorts, Douglas speaks, he doesn't shout. Douglas doesn't open his yap just to remind listeners he's still there. Come on, laying the smackdown on T.O. alone merits the regional radio equivalent of a Pulitzer. Either way, Hugh, we'll always have the morning. —Molly Eichel

The peculiarly placed Best Western budget motel at the corner of 22nd Street and Pennsylvania Avenue is an oft-overlooked Center City enclave offering a rare blend of grit, location and anonymity. It feels a little run-down, advertises useless amenities like "free local calls" and — conveniently located on the border of the business district — has been described as "the perfect place to bang out your secretary." Here's hoping that makes their next brochure. —E. James Beale

When the Sixers signed forward Elton Brand, it was the first time a star player in the midst of his prime took less money to come to Philadelphia since, um, yeah that has never happened before. Brand gives the 76ers their best low post presence since Charles Barkley, their biggest "gotcha" signing since Moses Malone and their most hope since Theo Ratliff was playing on his original knees. —E. James Beale

Look, I don't know how or why that beautiful new street hockey rink first appeared at Burke Playground (Second and Jackson), but I've been making the pilgrimage every week since. For those of us who used to wallow at the hobo hellscape that is Rizzo Rink, this place is a godsend. Fences that won't give you tetanus. Big untagged benches. Nets that stand up on their own. Recycling buckets even! It's a miracle! —Patrick Rapa

In early May there was a shooting outside Playmakers, a bar owned by Indianapolis Colts Pro Bowl wide receiver and Philadelphian Marvin Harrison. An unidentified 32-year-old man — who had just been involved in a fistfight with Harrison — took a bullet to the hand from a gun that was licensed to the wideout. A star athlete gets in a fistfight with someone who is later shot with a gun the athlete owns: big news, right? Wrong. The matter remains unsettled, underreported and seemingly forgotten. —E. James Beale

His honor and Deputy Mayor Rina Cutler said they intended to hire a bicycle and pedestrian coordinator. Said they intended to have it done by July 1. Ain't done yet. And between the uptick in cycling/walking on account of astronomical gas prices, and resultant driver rage (based on the letters we get, drivers are seriously about to start running down cyclists on purpose), might be a good time to get moving on that. —Brian Howard

American Christian Academy, which has battled rumors of being a diploma mill for elite high school basketball players, closed its doors just days after star guard Tyreke Evans called it a career, leaving student athletes less talented than Evans scrambling to enroll in other schools. ACA has left the option of reopening the high school again within the next few years. —E. James Beale

AJ Daulerio, longtime Deadspin editor and longer-time Philly boy, was promoted to EIC of the online giant on the shoulders of dick jokes, pictures of drunken athletes and snarkily making fun of the mainstream media. No one is surprised. —E. James Beale

What to do with Ryan Howard? This'll be an offseason noggin-scratcher for a couple more years: The behemoth first baseman's been an enigma this season, pairing an abysmal batting average with ridiculously high home run and RBI totals. His late-season surge only means the Phils will pay another pretty penny should they and Howard go to salary arbitration again. —Brian Howard

Fifteen minutes away from downtown Philadelphia, Bartram's Garden is gorgeous, inexpensive and practically unknown. Take our advice: Grab a date, plan a day out at the Southwest Philly getaway and thank us later. —E. James Beale

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Congratulations, Mike Richards — all the rampant rumors and endless speculation turned out to be true: You're the newest captain of the Philadelphia Flyers! It's your destiny! (This was written in 1997! You were only 12!) —Patrick Rapa

In an attempt to exploit a little-known salary cap loophole the Sixers released former forward Rick Mahorn, who hasn't played for the team this century. It was a revealing move for two reasons — it revealed that new Sixers GM Ed Stefanski was innovative and willing to think outside the box to improve the team ... and that former Sixers' GM Billy King allowed Rick Mahorn to tie up cap space eight years after he retired. —E. James Beale

The Sixers handed Andre Iguodala an $80 million extension, despite the fact that the most their competitors could offer was a full $22 million dollars lower. AI2 may turn out to be worth every dime, but that doesn't mean the team had to give it to him. —E. James Beale

In ESPN The Magazine, Rick Reilly, in choosing which team each city would keep above all others, said Philadelphia is now a baseball town. He figures the Phils' playoff berth and aloof Boston guy/Eagles owner Jeff Lurie's indifference have made Philly a town that bleeds ... red? Inconceivable. —Brian Howard

If you hear a chipper voice calling from the Green Line Café, demanding to know where your bike helmet is, don't worry — it's just West Philly photographer J.J. Tiziou. He's got as much zeal for his lens work as he does for making sure the skulls of his neighbors are adequately protected as they zoom down bike lanes. Tiziou manages it with gentle humor and a positive attitude. Need further proof? Check his outgoing e-mail sig: "P.S. Back up your data. P.P.S. Back up your data. P.P.P.S. Since you can't back up your brain, wear a helmet when you ride a bike." —John Vettese

In an August interview with The Best Damn Sports Show Period, Jimmy Rollins referred to Philadelphia fans as "frontrunners," which predictably did not go over well in a city that hasn't won a championship in 101 seasons. Reacting to the harsh backlash, Rollins admitted that perhaps the fans' emotion cuts both ways: "In Philly," the star shortshop acknowledged, "you can't be no punk." —E. James Beale

I thought they called this thing the Broad Street Run because it ended at the end of Broad Street. So what are we doing crossing under the I-95 overpass? Wait, I see the Naval Yard gates up ahead ... certainly they must be the finish line. They're not? We're actually still running?! What the fuck is this?!? How much further does this race go?!!?! Somewhere in the clouds, Pheidippides is looking down and laughing sadistically. —John Vettese

Sometimes when I'm riding my bike on the trail and I get caught behind a trail-hogging rollerblader I dream of taking a note from Adam Sandler in Big Daddy. Here's my plan: hide in the bushes on the north corner of the Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial Sculpture Garden and trip oncoming bladers with a stick while smiling widely. Really, one less rollerblader on the trails means happiness for all. —Amanda McKenna

Michael T. Regan How you like me now? Cole Hamels has answered just about every question about his durability. (CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

The Phils will be tempted to lock up Cole Hamels with a long-term deal, but they should demur, at least for this season. That Hamels has pitched well over 200 innings this season is a testament to his conditioning and his previously questionable durability. But the Phils would be wise to wait and see how he bounces back next season before throwing the sick money at him. —Brian Howard

Third Biggest Phillies Offseason Question

What to do with Pat Burrell? Despite his periodic struggles and deteriorating athleticism, Burrell has proven himself to be an asset, and a Philly guy to the core. His contract expires at the end of this season, which has been another Jekyll and Hyde affair for him. If the Phils give him more than two years, goes the conventional wisdom, they're giving him too much. But slow sluggers like Pat don't age well ... —Brian Howard

Last fall the Phillies made the playoffs for the first time since 1993 when they came back from 7 down with 17 to play to pass the hated New York Mets on the last day of the season. —E. James Beale

... and were promptly swept out of the playoffs by the Colorado Rockies. The Phillies playoff-win drought continues. —E. James Beale

Before the Sixers 2007-2008 season started a panel of ESPN experts got together and universally decided that the Sixers would finish last in the division calling them "real bad," "going nowhere" and "just brutal." Without any major personnel changes the 76ers made the playoffs. —E. James Beale

Kimball Street, from 11th to 13th and beyond. First off you need grab a coffee and a honey Game cigar. Wander over by 11th and find a good curb to post up for a minute. Break up that Game and roll up that piff. Spark it up and start ya stroll. A handful of puffs in and you'll probably finish the coffee and be up around 13th. Here's where you break off and walk wherever your whim takes ya. Remember, there's plenty of nooks and crannies in the city, find ya own spot and commence with the stress relieving. —Gair Marking

The Silverliner train cars of SEPTA's Regional Rail are a nightmare on wheels for bicycle commuters. There are no racks in sight, and SEPTA mandates a harsh two-bike maximum for one cramped, wheelchair-accessible space. If misled to enter on the wrong side of the car, you face a gauntlet of shame and handlebar treachery down its skinny aisles. The only thing worse is finding out there are two bikes on already and getting denied a ride. —James Saul

Cyclists often feel like target practice for SEPTA buses, kind of ironic when those huge racks on the front are meant for bikes. Most buses have them and they often go unused, so why not rack up to Wissahickon Transfer Center and hit the trails? You could do the same for Pennypack, or let SEPTA be your savior when the winds get ferocious. Just as long as the bus driver doesn't use your bike as a battering ram. —James Saul