Philadelphia Phillies Fans Chant "USA" After Hearing About Bin Laden's Death

In the major news story of the day, Osama Bin Laden is believed to have been killed by a small team of United States Armed Forces.

When the news reached Citizen Bank Park in Philadelphia, the USA chants started to pour in....



(Courtesy of Mock Session)

Robot Throws First Pitch At Philadelphia Phillies Game

It's only a matter of time until the robots take over the world and if you are begin to fear that possibility, look away from the below video.

The Philadelphia Phillies invited some University of Pennslyvania students and their robot to throw out the first pitch:



(Courtesy of Fox Sports)

Sports In 2011 – A New Year With New Possibilities

2010 was a big year in sports.

It was a year in which many teams and athletes had the greatest moments in their lifetime or history. The fans of the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco Giants finally got to celebrate a title after decades of disappointing seasons and sad endings. Michael Vick had one of the best comeback seasons ever for an athlete after spending nearly two years in jail.

Yet, 2010 also marked a time of others who would drop into the doldrums of obscurity. There was Gilbert Arenas and his playful, gun-slinger antics that got him suspended for most of the 2009-10 NBA season. Ben Roethlisberger dealing with another sexual assault investigation that got him suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season.

Although both players hit the lowest points in their careers, neither one of them fell further from the cliff than Tiger Woods. 2010 was a year of saving and reshaping his image, dodging questions of his personal life and his wife divorcing him. What makes matters worse is that he couldn’t even manage a win in an event during the season.

Despite the down points for those athletes, they can luckily look forward to making 2011 a year of moving forward and descending back to greatness. Arenas gets a new start on one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference with the Orlando Magic. Roethlisberger will be leading his Pittsburg Steelers into the post season once again. Now that his personal life appears stable, Woods appears on par for a Vick-like bounce back year.

Aside from those intriguing 2011 storylines, this year looks to be a step up from 2010 due to its brimming potential. With so many possibilities already developing and new legends to be made at anytime, the public will have to remain on its toes for what the year has in store.

Here are some stories that have promise to shine brightly in 2011:

1) Can Tiger Woods Really Turn Things Around?

As discussed before, Woods had one of the biggest falls ever in the history of sports. Known for his ability to harness pressure and attention into a ball of fire that he unleashes on the courses for eagles and birdies, the legendary golfer finally illustrated one characteristic that we never seen before: he’s human.

The former number one ranked golfer can be optimistic about one thought though; while he did drop tremendously during the 2010 season, he really has no where to go but up in 2011. One win at an event will stamp 2011 as a more successful year than the previous one. Yet, in order to return back to having that invincible aura that he once carried around for years, he’ll have to win numerous events and majors this season.

With his personal life calming down, if he can regain his focus and ability on his game, Woods should be able to get back on course to make a run at Nicklaus’s major record.

2) Can The 2011 Atlanta Falcons Be The 2010 New Orleans Saints?

When “Who Dat” nation celebrated their Super Bowl title in 2010, it allowed a ray of hope for other franchises that have never been able to hoist the championship trophy.

This year could mark the birth of another first time winner.

If there was any team that could pull of a 2010 New Orleans Saints-type run in 2011, it would be the Atlanta Falcons. A team that has never won a Super Bowl since joining the NFL in 1966, this year’s team will have the number one seed in the NFC and have a team prime to end their Super Bowl-less drought.

Of course, to get there, they will need to get through the usual suspects who have reached the promise land lately. Recent champions, such as the New England Patriots, Pittsburg Steelers, Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints, are all back to make another go of it. Not to mention the usual playoff attendees, like the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers and New York Jets, are all hoping to reclaim riches that were synonymous with their franchise’s past.

Potential is in the corner for the Falcons; the only question will be if they can take the punches, and still be the last man standing.

3) Will We See A Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers Final?

If there was a Christmas wish list of what each person in the world wanted, everyo e will most likely list seeing a match up between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA finals.

There is absolutely no doubt that this would be the hottest ticket in years to acquire, even hotter than any of the recent finals with the Lakers and Celtics. According to an article by Sports Illustrated, the Christmas day matchup between both franchises got the highest rated NBA regular season game since 2004.

What does this mean? The public wants more of this rivalry.

Not only would the public want it, but the NBA is holding their breath until their face turns blue in hopes of getting such a fairy tale matchup. A Lebron James vs Kobe Bryant matchup for the title would have the greatest storyline in the league’s history. Can James finally reach historical significance that he so desperately needs with an NBA championship on his resume? Or, will Bryant stop him to reach his second three peat to even himself with the god of basketball Michael Jordan?

4) Does Four Dominant Starting Pitchers Equal A World Series Title?

Already sporting a formidable trio with Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels, the Philadelphia Phillies felt this was the year they would bounce back from a 2009 World Series loss to win the title in 2010.

Too bad the San Francisco Giants had to go and play the spoiler role in the 2010 NLCS.

Despite the loss, the Phillies appeared to be early contenders for the 2011 season after the loss because of their powerful lineup and the trio kept intact. So it came with an even bigger shock when the Phillies snuck up behind the Yankees and Rangers to snag one of the most coveted free agent pitchers this off-season: Cliff Lee.

Now with the big lefty atop the rotation next to Halladay, Oswalt, and Hamels, Philadelphia looks stronger than ever and have a rotation that’s quietly gaining the reputation as one of the greatest starting pitching rotations in history. They will have challenges before them with the likes of the improved Boston Red Sox, the always pricey roster of the New York Yankees, and the San Francisco Giants going for a repeat.

Even with all those teams ready to take them on, the Phillies new addition could be the final part of the equation that equals a title.

It’s hard to say what exactly will be the biggest story of 2011. It could be any one of the four possibilities in the discussion, or even the proverbial story-out-of-nowhere that always erupts in sports each year. With so many options and opportunities for major headlines, the only way to be aware of what’s to come is to watch and observe the new year.

No matter what, 2011 will undoubtedly follow 2010 in one distinct fashion; it will be a year in which anything can happen in sports.

The Cliff Lee Effect On Major League Baseball

One of the most dominant pitchers over the past few years just threw a big curve ball. The difference is that he didn’t have to stand on a mound to do it.

After every sports rumor mill, publications and news sites churned out numerous stories that charted the raging tug-of-war between the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers over pitcher Cliff Lee, it turns out that it was all an illusion that the 32-year-old magically performed. With a swift stroke of his pen, he etches his name on a five-year, $120 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, a team no one ever wrote about in connection with trying to acquire Major League Baseball’s most coveted free agent.

The documentation of the process has been a major headliner in sports since the San Francisco Giants won the World Series. Where would Lee go? What would it take to get him? Everyone knew how bad the Yankees wanted him, offering nearly everything he desired and more. They were willing to give him whatever he craved, even as their captain and face of the team since the mid 90s, Derek Jeter, faced difficulties with management on a new extension.

The Texas Rangers was also willing to shell out virtually all they had, which would have left the team with nothing but lint in their pocket. Knowing he was the reason they got to the 2010 World Series, they felt he was worth every penny they could give. So they matched the Yankees offer with the idea that the money, along with the love of the city and the organization showed him since being traded to Texas, would be enough to persuade him.

In the end though, they both were outshined by the dark horse Philadelphia Phillies.
Even more startling is the fact that he goes back to the team he helped get to the World Series in 2009 for less money and years under contract than both Texas and New York offered.

The Lee signing changes the landscape of baseball for years to come.

1) Philadelphia Jumps To The Favorite, Not Just In The National League, But Of All The MLB.

Despite the loss of Jayson Werth to the Washington Nationals, the Phillies appeared to still be a strong contender in their division and league. Sure the Nationals moved up the chain in the NL East, but they are still light years away from challenging the Phillies’ for the division title. The New York Mets, Florida Marlins, and Atlanta Braves all have done little to improve their roster, so labeling Philadelphia the favorites is still a no-brainer.

Now, with Lee joining a staff that boasts 2010 Cy Young Winner Roy Halladay, three time all star Roy Oswalt, and 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels, the Phillies have the best rotation in baseball and are a clear cut to win the 2011 World Series. With the core of their line-up returning in Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Shane Victorino, the Phillies merely substitute the big bat of Werth for a dominant pitcher in Lee.

And, if there was anything the Giants showed not only the Phillies, but to most of the baseball world, it’s that pitching leads the way to championships.

2) The New York Yankees Now Take A Backseat To The Red Sox

As the off season continued to progress, it was obvious that the signing of Lee was a big necessity if the Yankees wanted to remain favorites in their own division. With Boston signing five-tool outfielder Carl Crawford and trading for a middle of the lineup hitter in first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, New York desperately needed to make a splash.

The transaction to validate that would have been signing Lee.

Getting Lee would have given the Yankees the best one-two pitching combination in baseball with C.C. Sabathia. The emergence of Phil Hughes last season also helps as a strong third option in their rotation. The acquisition of Lee would have also been a stronger influence for 38-year-old Andy Pettitte to return, knowing that he would be the key to getting another title in New York.

Now, the Yankees have merely a mediocre rotation and are only the second best team in their division. Their arch-rival Red Sox are out in front early on, breathing a sigh of relief that Lee burned the Yankees.

3) Texas Rangers Sent Back Into Mediocrity

While the Yankees still appear to be a viable playoff contender despite not getting Lee, the Rangers look like they are stuck in a maze with no path leading to a way out.

The main reason (and some would contend the only reason) the Rangers got as far as they did last year was because they had the six-foot, three inch lefty taking throwing for them. He led a pitching staff whose track record doesn’t qualify nearly as close to Lee’s credentials.

C.J. Wilson converted to the starting rotation after five seasons as a reliever. Tommy Hunter is only 24-years-old and has yet to pitch over 130 innings in a season. Colby Lewis is a journeyman pitcher who returned this past season to the Major League after two years in Japan. Losing Lee makes the pitching staff mediocre at best, which has got to make Rangers fans cringe with the powerful lineup they put out consistently.

The loss also doesn’t certify Texas as the obvious front-runner for the AL West it would have been had he signed with them. Luckily for them, the three other teams (Angels, A’s, and Mariners) are still quite inferior to them. The Angels seem to be the only team capable of knocking off the 2010 Division Champs, as the A’s and Mariners continue to rebuild for the future.

Yet, now the Rangers can clump themselves in the same category as their other three rivals, despite still being the early AL West favorites, as a weaker team entering 2011 now that Lee is heading back east to Philadelphia.

It’s hard to believe that Lee’s transaction would have such a rippling, domino-effect on the world of baseball. His signing shifts the balance of power in various divisions of baseball and will no doubt change the outlook of the league for years to come.

Hard to believe that a pitcher can throw change-ups in baseball, even without hurling a single pitch.

How The MLB Playoffs Can Get More Bang For Its Buck

Ah, it’s that great time in baseball again.

The 22 teams who were only delaying the inevitable end to their season have all cleared out their lockers and headed home to watch the final eight teams square off and hope they can be the team of destiny in 2010.

This MLB postseason is different from many others. While the usual signature teams are on-board for most of the divisional series (Yankees and Phillies), newcomers are stepping up to prime time after years of absence (Rangers, Reds, Giants).

With such a variety of mixes among teams and what they feature, this postseason has the makings of being a memorable year that will forever be etched in baseball history.

Here are some dreamy, intriguing scenarios that may possibly come up in the playoffs:


- Texas Rangers vs Cincinnati Reds For The World Series Title

Many playoff underdogs are always fan favorites and what better way to have a battle for a title than two teams who no one thought would make the post season.

Seeing the Rangers in the World Series would be interesting, given the team has never made it past the first round of a playoff series. Having them take their first series in the playoffs would be tasty, but seeing them get all the way to the end of the road would be the icing on the cake.

The Cincinnati Reds would make a great foe for the Rangers, as they have not been in the playoffs since the 90s. Although they have won titles in the past, they have become a distant memory as a post season usual since the new century was ushered in ten years ago.

Aside from being insignificant in recent playoff memories, the offensive onslaught both squads would provide would make baseball officials drool. The World Series would be long balls galore in this match up with Josh Hamilton, Joey Votto, Vladimir Guerrero and Brandon Phillips.

- New York Yankees vs Philadelphia Phillies For World Series Title

Let’s face it, Americans are suckers for an encore.

What better than an encore of last year’s World Series match up and arguably the two most complete squads from both leagues in 2010.

Last season, the Yankees bested the Phillies in the 2009 championship winning the series four games to two. If both teams were to face off against one another again, the assumption would be that the series would go the distance.

New faces are a feature to the Phillies in comparison to last year’s team. Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt are improvements over last year’s Cliff Lee and Pedro Martinez as potential game one and two starters. The offense remains intact similar to last season.

The Yankees are essentially the same team that stepped onto the diamond for the 2009 World Series. Aside from losing Hideki Matsui and Melky Cabrera, New York brings the same strengths as last season and would be equally as difficult to topple.

- Joe Mauer vs Buster Posey

In all of sports, catcher ranks highly with running back as the position that takes the most punishment and has the shortest shelf life line. The task of catching is an arduous one as they are asked to be in a crouching position for nearly three hours and holding onto nearly 100 mile-per-hour fastballs hurled in their direction, all while outsmarting the opponent’s offense.

Joe Mauer is the poster boy and at the top-of-the-line when it comes to catcher position in baseball. Not only can he do it all defensively, but he also just as important to the Twins offense with his bat.

Buster Posey is a rising star in baseball who is a top candidate for the NL Rookie of the Year. The 23-year-old played out a great first season in the MLB and appears ready to do more damage in the playoffs.

Having the current top player behind the plate going up against the up-and-coming young catcher face off against one another would be great baseball for fans to enjoy.

- If The Tampa Bay Rays Make It To The World Series, Will Anyone Be There?

Imagine a World Series with nearly no one in attendance.

That could be a possibility if the Rays can reach that pinnacle.

During the final few weeks of the season, Rays 3B Evan Longoria explained to the media how frustrated he was that the fans of the team would not come out to the stadium to support the team. The team even dispersed free tickets to its last game of the season hoping to revive fans’ interest in coming out and filling the stadium as best as possible.

The thought of the Rays possibly getting to the World Series with very little fan support is a comical premonition. Major League officials will be blowing steam off the top of their heads when considering the fact that the low attendance would mean less interest by those watching with no crowd getting loud and going nuts.

Maybe MLB officials may have to do what the team did and give out tickets, but that would be doubtful as it would be a huge blow financially for the league.

- Can Bobby Cox Go Out On Top?

Fourteen straight division titles and numerous playoff moments have been a signature for the Atlanta Braves through the 1990s and early 2000s. The reason for their success: manager Bobby Cox.

In what will be his final season with the Braves, Cox has managed his team successfully to a wild card berth in the last game of the regular season. Now the team has the opportunity to give their manager one last shot at a title, an achievement he has reached only once in all the years he took his team to the playoffs.

Going out on top would be a magical way for the manager to leave; although no matter the outcome, he will most assuredly be in the discussion as one of the greatest coach to ever lead a baseball team out on the field.