Some juicy stories tearing up the Web today, with controversy and intrigue at every turn.
- Yesterday, the biggest story from a Phillies standpoint had nothing to do with the Winter Meetings, which ultimately ended with the Phils' probable signing of Raul Ibanez. Instead, our World Series MVP dominated the headlines when he called the Mets "choke artists" on WFAN in New York yesterday. Well, he didn't come right out and say it; the interviewers said it first, then got him to agree to it. Who wouldn't agree that the Mets choked last year, and definitely the year before? The most interesting part of the story to me was how the Phillies pranked (with a firm message) Shane Victorino after he pulled a Reyes when he hit a grand slam off CC in the playoffs. This is the kind of stuff that wins championships. This is chemistry. Thanks to Chris Borkowski for sending it our way yesterday; it was a busy afternoon on and off the Level, so we didn't get to it. Fortunately, Meech has the audio and the transcript of what will without a doubt be a story throughout spring training and the entire 2009 season.
- Paul Domowitch has a sobering rebuke
of the NFL and its owners, a few days after the league announced it's laying
off more than 150 employees despite having Monty Burns money fights at
the league office.
- A day after ripping Keyshawn and Emmitt while wearing a Rudolph nose,
TO is reportedly now claiming that a conspiracy involving Tony Romo and
Jason Witten is keeping balls out of his and his fellow receivers'
hands. Romo and Witten are road roommates and best friends, but it's
hard to imagine that they're drawing up secret plays on cocktail
napkins, unbeknownst to one of the best OCs in football (update: check
out this hilarity).
Regardless of the ridiculousness, this is the juice we've been waiting
for since TO was "the player" holding press conferences with his creepy
scarecrow publicist. Is that still your quarterback? Ed Werder broke the story.
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- In this week's CityPaper print edition, E. James discusses why Maurice Cheeks might not be the man for the job, even if he is the man.
- The Flyers are red hot coming off their huge comeback win, but so are their opponents for Saturday's matinee—the Penguins... We're tied in the standings, and the Pens ripped the Isles by a count of 9-2 on the strength of two hat tricks. So glad I'll be there on Saturday...
- Rinku and Dinesh speak with CTC of Walkoff Walk. Nice. Get. Don't know who they are? Here's a brief teaser from their agent, JB sir. "[JB] made the point that more than Rinku and Dinesh being Indian, it's just amazing
that two guys signed a pro contract in a sport that they hadn't heard
of 7 months earlier."