The Phanatic

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by Bob HerpenThe Phanatic MagazineThe Philadelphia Flyers on Friday fired head coach John Stevens and brought in Peter Laviolette to take the reins.The move came less than 24 hours after the club was shut out for the secondconsecutive contest. Following Thursday's 3-0 defeat against Vancouver athome, the Flyers have dropped six of their last seven games and are tied withthe New York Rangers for last place in the Atlantic Division with a 13-11-1record.Laviolette, a Massachusetts native, last coached with the Carolina Hurricanesfrom 2003-2008. He led the 'Canes to a Stanley Cup Finals victory overEdmonton in 2006, the lone season he guided the team to a postseasonberth. Prior to that, he was bench boss for the New York Islanders for twoseasons (2001-03), taking the Isles to the playoffs both years.Over parts of seven seasons behind the ben... Read the rest of "Flyers fire Stevens, hire Laviolette"

Former World Wrestling Entertainment star Edward "Umaga" Fatu died today at age 36.Fatu suffered a massive heart attack while watching television at his home in Frisco, Texas. Several hours later his wife found him unresponsive with blood coming out of his nose and he was rushed to a Houston-area hospital.Fatu was then removed from life support earlier this afternoon after suffering a second heart attack.Fatu had just returned from Hulk Hogan's "Hulkamania" tour of Australia.Pro Wrestling Torch is reporting that prescription pills may be the cause. Umaga was released from his WWE contract in June after failing the company's Wellness Policy for a second time and refusing a trip to rehabilitation.Fatu, along with Bobby Lashley, headlined the biggest money event in pro wrestling history, Wrestlemania 23 from Ford Field in Detroit, although the real drawing cards were their seconds for the match, Vin... Read the rest of "Former WWE Star Umaga dead at 36"

DeSean Jackson (concussion) was ruled out of Sunday's game. D-Jack joins Kevin Curtis, Akeem Jordan and Brian Westbrook on the sidelines. ... Read the rest of "D-Jack out for Eagles"

YAHOO! Sports reports that Sixers GM Ed Stefanski is desperate to unload forward Elton Brand and the $66 million owed over the remaining four years of his crippling contract.However, even with several teams, including Golden State and Charlotte, desperate for low-post threats, no one believes Brand has enough left to merit taking on that contract. ... Read the rest of "Sixers shopping Brand"

“Shawn Andrews underwent a two level microscopic lumbar discectomy at Marina Del Rey Hospital," the office of Dr. Robert G. Watkins, III said in a statement. "Dr. Watkins stated that the surgery went well. The prognosis is very good that he will return to play after an appropriate rehabilitation program." ... Read the rest of "Andrews surgery update"

SPECIAL TEAMS: K DAVID AKERS, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES Akers converted all 13 of his field-goal attempts and scored 50 points, both tops in the NFL. Four of his 13 field goals were from at least 40 yards, including a season-long 52-yarder in Week 9 versus Dallas. He also had the game-winning field goal with 1:48 remaining in Week 12 against Washington. ... Read the rest of "Akers is NFC Special Teams Player of the Month"

The Sixers willbe auctioning off the Cross pen Allen Iverson used to sign his contract on Thursday afternoon via Sixers.com to benefit Sixers Charities and the Comcast-Spectacor Foundation.The auction begins on Friday, Dec. 4 at 12 p.m. ... Read the rest of "Own Iverson's Pen"

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant tops Sporting News' list of the 50 greatest players in the NBA today, as selected by a panel of 107 Hall of Famers, major award winners, executives, current players and coaches and other basketball experts.Bryant beat out Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James for the No. 1 spot and received 62 first-place votes. James received 34 first-place votes, and Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who was third on the list, received 11 first-place votes. Magic center Dwight Howard was fourth, and Spurspower forward Tim Duncan fifth.Rounding out the top 10: 6. Hornets PG Chris Paul, 7. Celtics PF Kevin Garnett, 8. Mavericks PF Dirk Nowitzki, 9. Nuggets SF Carmelo Anthony, 10. Celtics SF Paul Pierce.Among the NBA legends who filled out ballots for SN were 28 Hall of Famers: Rick Barry, Elgin Baylor, Walt Bellamy, Bill Bradley, Bob Cousy, Dave... Read the rest of "Bryant is NBA's best player; Sixers have two of top 50"

The Phils are set to bring back Placido Polanco on a 3-year, $18 million dollar deal to play third base. ... Read the rest of "Phils to Bring back Polanco"

A moribund franchise certainly got a joly when the Sixers re-signed Allen Iverson on Wednesday.The interest in Allen Iverson and the Sixers showed an astonishing jump at the team's website (Sixers.com). The team announced it had 327,657 page views to its site on Wednesday, December 2, the day it was announced Iverson agreed to terms to rejoin the team. It compares to the 36,000 page views the site had the previous Wednesday according to Lara Price, Sr. Vice President of Business Operations for the team.Not if they could just solve that pesky losing problem. ... Read the rest of "At least A.I. is interesting"

Philadelphia, PA (The Phan) - For a boxer closing in on the age of 45, a 14-month layoff isn't exactly a prudent game plan but Bernard Hopkins is no ordinary fighter.The Philadelphia native ignited his hometown Wednesday pitching a virtual shutout against Mexican Enrique Ornelas in a non-title light-heavyweight bout from the Liacouras Center in North Philly on Wednesday.Hopkins really took over the nationally televised bout in Round 7 battering Ornelas (29-6) with body blows and a succession of right hands. By the 10th... Read the rest of "Hopkins dominates Ornelas"

The Philadelphia Flyers signed 6’2”, 195-pound defenseman Oskars Bartulis to a multi-year contract extension, according to club General Manager Paul Holmgren. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed."Oskars has developed nicely over the past two years and fit in nicely with our team,” said Holmgren. “We are happy to have him under contract and are pleased to know he is part of our defensive group for the next several years."Bartulis, 22, has two assists and six penalty minutes in 10 games with the Flyers since being recalled on Nov. 9 from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms. He made his NHL debut on Nov. 12 vs. Ottawa. With Adirondack this season, Bartulis posted two goals and two assists for four points, and 14 penalty minutes in 12 games.“At first I was surprised they offered it to me because it was su... Read the rest of "Flyers sign D Bartulis to extension"

The Philadelphia Independence announced today that the team will play its 2010 home games at West Chester University’s John A. Farrell Stadium, 20 miles west of the city in Chester County and 15 miles north of Wilmington, DE. The stadium is also less than ten miles from the team’s training home at the United Sports Training Center in Downingtown. According to Independence Owner/CEO David Halstead, “during the past few months we have worked hard to deliver to Philly a roster of exceptional soccer players that fans are proud to support, a youth program that delivers connectivity to every youth athlete in the area, a responsive and affordable outreach and ticketing program, and now through this partnership with West Chester University, a playing venue that gives 7,500 screaming fans a terrific game day experience. This stadium agreement completes our road ahead towa... Read the rest of "Independence to play at WCU"

The Philadelphia Eagles signed CB Chris Roberson to the practice squad.Roberson (5-11, 190) spent most of the 2008 season with the Lions after being signed to their practice squad on 10/9/08 and promoted to their 53-man roster on 12/16/08. He was released by the Lions during their final roster cut down on 9/5/09.Roberson, 26, was originally drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round in 2005 and saw action in six games during his rookie season. He spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons on the Jaguars Injured Reserve list. He had a brief stint on the Dolphins practice squad in 2008 before joining the Lions.A native of Farmington Hills, MI, Roberson played collegiately at Eastern Michigan University. A four-year letterman, Roberson played running back, wide receiver, and cornerback in 44 games for the Eagles. As a cornerback during his senior year he started ten games amassing 66 tackles and one sack.... Read the rest of "Eagles sign CB Roberson to practice squad"

By John McMullen Philadelphia, PA - Desperate times call for desperate measures.For the struggling Philadelphia 76ers, that means bringing back enigmatic guard Allen Iverson."He really wanted to come back to Philadelphia," Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski said in a conference call. "He wants to show people that he can still play."Iverson's return to the City of Brotherly Love will prove to be the definingmoment for embattled general manager Ed Stefanski, a now toothless front manthat has already expended all of the political capital he inherited w... Read the rest of "Stefanski has no "Answer" for Sixers"

The National Hockey League announced today that they have named Flyers left wing James van Riemsdyk the NHL Rookie of the Month for November."Obviously before the season it is not something you really think about too much, but it is a nice feather to have in your cap,” said van Riemsdyk. “But obviously I want the team's success first and then individual success to come after."van Riemsdyk, 20, posted four goals and five assists for nine points and four penalty minutes in 12 games on the month. He recorded at least a point in seven of the 12 games in November, which also included his second career four-game point streak (Nov. 12-20) and his first career three-point game in which he registered three assists in the Flyers’ 6-2 win vs. Tampa Bay on Nov. 2.Overall, van Riemsdyk has recorded 19 points (6G,13A) in 21 games. He leads the Flyers, and all NHL rookies and is tied for second overall in the NHL with four game-winning goals. His 13 assists a... Read the rest of "Flyers' van Riemsdyk named Rookie of the Month"

Following its first-place tie in the Mid-American Conference East Division, the Temple football team received numerous conference honors on Wednesday.Running back Bernard Pierce (Ardmore, Pa.) was named the 2009 Freshman of the Year, sophomore DE Adrian Robinson (Harrisburg, Pa.) was named the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year, and head coach Al Golden was named the 2009 Coach of the Year by the MAC News Media Association.A school record eight Temple football players were named to the All-MAC first team.Earning first team honors were junior DB Jaiquawn Jarrett (Brooklyn, N.Y.), junior LB Elijah “Peanut” Joseph (Hartford, Conn.), junior OL Colin Madison (Villa Park, Ill.), r-junior OL Darius Morris (Long Branch, N.J.), senior NT Andre Neblett (Rahway, N.J.), freshman RB Bernard Pierce, sophomore D... Read the rest of "Temple honored by MAC"

Brian Westbrook had a slight headache in a recent workout and is out again this weekend. ... Read the rest of "Eagles' Westbrook out vs. Falcons"

Statement from Tiger Woods:bam.share.init({ contentId : 7740572, title : "Tiger comments on current events", summary : "Tiger reflects and discusses the present situation.", media : "news", topic : "golf", category : "sports", content : "text" }); bam.share.bind({ facebook: ".facebook a", digg: ".digg a", yahoo_buzz: ".yahoo_buzz a" }); "I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone. "Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full... Read the rest of "Tiger admits cheating"