It's been a while, so let's take a look at what some Phillies bloggers are saying:
A Citizen's Blog offers its blueprint for 2008, with promises to look this week at Aaron Rowand's free agent status, Johan Santana possibily joining the Phillies, Citizens Bank Park and Chris Coste.
Balls, Sticks, & Stuff offers its take on Curt Schilling, and the rumor about the Phillies selling the team within two years.
The post about the rumored sale is interesting. Here's what I've learned as a reporter: always listen for the non-denial denial, which is a term I first heard watching All the President's Men. In the movie, Richard Nixon's cronies start bashing the Watergate stories in The Washington Post -- without ever calling them untrue or lies.
In one scene, Post editor Ben Bradlee (played by Jason Robards) said, "All non-denial denials ... They don't say the story is inaccurate."
To which Carl Bernstein (played by Dustin Hoffman) said, "What's a real denial?"
Bradlee replied, "If they ever start calling us goddamn liars -- it's time to start circling the wagons."
What would a non-denial denial have been in this case? It could have been something like, "This is just wishful thinking on somebody's part." Or, "We receive inquiries from time to time about the team's availability. We're always respectful enough to listen, but we've never taken them seriously." Instead Phillies president David Montgomery adamantly told The Inquirer, "Nothing could be further from the truth. There's absolutely nothing to it. Nothing. Nothing." Phillies vice president of public relations Larry Shenk told the Daily News that the report was "totally ridiculous and absurd . . . The rumors are totally inaccurate and false. There is absolutely no truth to this story at all."
Those sound like pretty strong denials.
We Should Be GM's is answering questions you guys have posted in my Q&A forum. Hey, it works for me.
The Good Phight won't miss Abraham Nunez.
Philliesflow writes about the dominant offenses in the NL East.
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Seriously, I think Phillies fans should take a different perspective about the NLDS after watching the Rockies take a 3-0 lead in the NLCS. Everything these guys do works. Unbelievable.
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Jim Salisbury writes about an unusual start time tonight for Game 3 of the ALCS: 7 p.m.! We're not so lucky in Denver, where Game 4 tonight starts after 10 p.m.
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We have finalists for the Sexiest Fan in Baseball. Personally, I'm disappointed in most of the finalists. In other news, this guy won Sexiest Beat Writer in Baseball.
(And no Phillies fans made the cut?)
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Dane Cook: Please, SHUT UP.
(Thanks to B Dub, who pointed out these Cook spoofs on SNL).
Comments (5)
I'll believe Stan H. before David Montgomery any day of the week. :-)
Posted by PaulW | October 15, 2007 11:48 AM
Posted on October 15, 2007 11:48
Ditto to PaulW's comment.
Sexiest Beat writer: Todd, was it the swimsuit segment that did you in? I heard you aced the talent and Q&A part. Speedo's just don't work for everyone, ya know? :-)
Posted by jimmymack | October 15, 2007 12:21 PM
Posted on October 15, 2007 12:21
Everythings for sale, at the right price . I may be wrong, but isn't there a clause in their contract with the city, pertaining to CBP, they can't sell and profit off of public funding of Park? At least, for so many years.
Pat Croce and Mark Cuban . They'll take the spotlight, all to themselves. Every called 3rd strike,we get a shot of Cuban in the stands. Croce , #1 Phila sports fan raising both hands pumping . Trying to get the fans stoked,like he did with sixers. Where's #1 fan been the last 5yrs ? Please , Roberts family, don't let this happen to our team,and our City ! If Comcast backs out, let's get that Billionaire from MEXICO..He loves Baseball and has more money than Bill Gates. Now, that's what I'm talking about !
Posted by Pat H | October 15, 2007 12:51 PM
Posted on October 15, 2007 12:51
Hey Todd, sis you see the SNL spoofs on Dane Cook? They were awesome. Funny thing is Bill Simons pitched the idea for the skits to Seth Myers on his podcast early last week and Saturday there they were.
I would love Mark Cuban to buy the Phillies for a few reasons, but the main one would be money would no longer be an object. The man will spend what it takes to bring a championship and he leaves no stone unturned. He treats his players ridiculously well, which could go a long way to helping attract free agents.
This is a pretty good article for showing how far Cuban goes…
http://www.hoopshype.com/articles/cuban_wilson.htm
No matter what you think of the guy he’s a smart business man too,
According to Forbes Magazine, the Mavericks are the third most valuable basketball franchise in the United States, valued at approximately $463 million, surpassed only by the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers.
It won’t happen, but he would be the best thing to happen to Phillies ever.
Posted by B Dub | October 15, 2007 1:22 PM
Posted on October 15, 2007 13:22
Totally agree with 2 things:
1) Every time I go to a Phillies game there are tons of hot girls. How on earth does Brian the New York Mets fan have 7700 votes but there no attractive female Phillies fans to make the cut?!
2) YES, DANE COOK, SHUT THE #&!@ UP! Nobody thinks you're funny and GOOD LUCK CHUCK probably sucked. You are a disgraceful human being!
Posted by The Dude | October 15, 2007 9:12 PM
Posted on October 15, 2007 21:12