Theatre Exile presents a return engagement of The Philly Fan by Bruce Graham, starring Tom McCarthy, and directed by Joe Canuso. This one-man hit show is a hilarious romp through fifty years of Philly sports history as seen by a hard core fan used to watching sure-thing victories turn into “oh-my-God-they-blew-it” defeats. June 10-15 at The Playground at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street. Tickets are $25 - $50; call (215)922-4462 or visit www.ThePhillyFan.net.

If you ask the experts the Philadelphia 76ers are the odds on favorite this season ... to finish dead last in the poorest division in the NBA. So you have to scratch your head when you hear more than a few Philly basketball fans say they are genuinely excited about the Sixers. Not that anyone is paying them much mind. It's much too early for Philly sports fans to think about pro basketball. The Eagles are in the midst of their Jeckle and Hyde routine and the Flyers have started a revival. The 76ers are easy to overlook with no big name box office draw.

But that's exactly what has some folks excited. The Sixers begin their first season in over a decade without Allen Iverson. That addition by subtraction is enough by Iverson detractors to give the Sixers a peek. The 6' mighty mouse created a love 'em or hate 'em atmosphere around himself. Those who hated 'em had all but turned off Philly NBA basketball.

Also gone are the escalating promises with diminishing returns. Management has given up on the superstar solution. There were no big trades in the off season. Their division rivals have progressed beyond the point where a few tweaks might win in a weak division. The general manager, Billy King, has changed his tune. With fans calling for his head for past transgressions. He is not telling you the Sixers will win today. He has admitted his short comings. He says the Sixers will rebuild. Something we fans have known for some time. They have embarked on a 3 year plan. The change has been welcomed.

The "me first" Iverson is gone. The new AI is an all around team player. It's not just his acrobatic slam dunks that make him exciting to watch. It's the unselfish passing, it's the shutdown defense, it's the rebounding. It's his soft spoken confidence and quiet demeanor that make him such a likable guy. But he's not the only one. It seems that character has become just as important as talent to the Sixers. Fan favorites Kyle Korver, Andre Miller, and Lou Williams are also character guys. The same can be said for this year's rookie class.The new Sixers are ready to bring their hard hats to work.

So the are plenty of reasons for quiet enthusiasm in Philly. People should be willing to watch albeit with lowered expectations. There is a chance to watch a team grow. With all its fits and starts.

There's no place to go but up.

76ers Rout Lakers for 6th Straight Win | The Sixers 1st sellout of the season. 20,577 fans. Hey it was the Lakers game. What'd you expect? For as long as I can remember its has been THE 'must see' game of the season. Kobe Bryant's return to Philly just spices it up a little. The conflicted mix of fans of which some come to cheer the Upper Merion native and others come to jeer the self-centered, wife cheatin', dirty playin', stinkin', jerk. But for many its the "Lakers Game". The 76ers opponent in the their last two finals appearances. Its the Hollywood "Show time" attitude that rubs this blue collar town the wrong way. There's only one home game a year. The place will be rockin'.

The 76ers were the hot team comin' in. Winning 5 straight. Chillin' on this 6 game home stand. Lookin' for the sweep. A goal that Iggy said would shoot for, but 4-2 was more realistic. But the nay sayers chimed in ... Its the Lakers ... Kobe will be smoking hot after his second suspension this season. Indeed that appeared to be the case. Kobe and the Lakers got off to a great start and led at half-time 57-51.

Call me crazy, but the game was never in doubt. Yea Kobe started off hot, but the Sixers where really focused on him. The Laker have been awash in injuries to key players. The Sixers were certainly the more talented than this band of misfits . The Laker were playin' over their heads in the final game of a four game road trip. The lead could not last.

The Sixers took charge in the 3rd period. Iggy was AMAZING! I'm not sure which move I liked better; (1) the behind the back reverse dunk in front on a defender or (2) the behind that back pass to Sammy on a drive to the basket. He drove to the basket hard and often. But you never know if its gonna be the pull-up jumper, the deft pass or the acrobatic finish at the rim. It makes him impossible to defend and incredible to watch. The box score line reads 45 minutes, 31 points, 3-3 from 3 point range, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Now the hype is more about the playoffs than the number one pick. The 'P' word is just that hype. The Sixers are on the road tonite against the Pacers for a reality check. But as luck would have it, Jermaine O'neal is out for this game. Win or lose ... the Sixers are worth watching these days.

Philly Sports Net - Chris Webber, we hardly knew ye.

Sources within the Philadelphia 76ers say Chris Webber’s contract has been bought out, parting ways with the 14-year veteran. The five-time All Star spent nearly two seasons with the Sixers, mainly to be used as a compliment to Allen Iverson.

As this city has seen, that last sentence couldn’t be further from what actually transpired. Over the course of the next two seasons, Webber was a key cog in the demise of this franchise. From clashing with then coach Jim O’Brien to the point that O’Brien was relieved of his duties, to seeing limited playing time due to decrepit knees, to not showing up at Fan Appreciation Day, to becoming a salary-cap calamity, the fanfare that the Chris Webber trade was met with was possibly the only fanfare ever tossed his way.

The Webber acquisition will be looked back at as Billy King’s Last Stand in trying to equip the mercurial Iverson with a second scoring option. Webber will be at the top of the list that includes such names as Jerry Stackhouse, Keith Van Horn, and Derrick Coleman. Unfortunately for King, Ed Snider, and those who still follow the Sixers, this desperate attempt has hamstrung the team into financial and basketball purgatory.

Continue reading this article.

In case you hadn't noticed, the Allen Iverson era is officially over in Philadelphia.

The Phanatic offers a take (four of them, actually) on the deal that sent yet another future Hall of Famer out of town. So how's this one going to be judged? I'm closest to the line that suggests with a GM like Billy King, "you almost have to grade on a curve."

Click here for more from the Philly Wire on Allen Iverson.

Philly Sports Net - Yesterday, rumors and commentary were swirling around about the prospects of an Allen Iverson trade. My initial reaction was, "Yeah, yeah, we've all been here before." But this time it's different.

All it took was to see Ed Snyder's interview on Comcast last night. Red faced, and failing to hold back his vitriol, Snyder made it clear that Iverson will be traded. No question about it. The trade will happen.

Last night, during the loss to the Wizards, Billy King was seen busily answering his cell phone and communicating over his Blackberry. No doubt that he was fielding inquiries from teams around the league. According to various analysts the trade will happen within 10 days.

Iveron is an extremely talented player, with a whole lot of on-the-court heart. Nonetheless, reports of his imminent trade have met with mixed reviews. Some feel that this is a tragic loss for Philadelphia and unfair to Iverson. Others, couldn't be happier that Iverson is leaving. Why the mixed reaction?

Well, Iverson is a mixed bag, that's why. He puts everything he's got on the court each night. He plays hard and he plays tough. He also puts up huge numbers. No one doubts that he'll be a hall of fame player. However, some also point out that he's had a mixed legacy. Despite the points and the on-the-court toughness, he's also established himself as a coach killer; as a guy who doesn't practice hard; as a ball hog. In other words, he can actually hurt the players around him.

So how's all this going to shake out? My bet is that Iverson will be traded for less than his value and that the Sixers will have to eat some of his salary. He'll go to a team that has a good, defensive supporting cast and who just needs that offensive juggernaut to get over the hump. And I really wouldn't be surprised if he shines in his new environment. He just can't shine in Philly any longer. It's time to move on.

The Iverson era is over.

Peter Vecsey reported in the New York Post this morning that Allen Iverson asked Billy King to trade him last Tuesday. Apparently he has confirmed this thru several sources. Philly media appears to be clueless to what's going on (Today's story on Philly.com was "Iverson, Webber hurt, may not face Wizards"). It appears that Billy King's house of cards will finally collapse with the removal of Iverson. According to reports Billy is frantically attempting to comply with the request and not only Iverson, but every member of the team is on the table. Billy's house cleanup so vehemently announced earlier this summer may finally be at hand. Sigh ... but it will not be enough to savage this season ... it won't be enough to save Billy's job. His hubris has been undeniable. To pretend last years team was talented enough to play in the NBA and repackage it again this season was foreseen as laughable. To expect AI to continue to leave his heart out on the floor every nite in spite of the team's glaring weaknesses is indefensible. Particularly after the talks of trading Allen in which he was vilified as the root of all the Sixers' ills.

For his part Iverson has been admirable. Earlier this season Stephen A. Smith foretold of this day, but his version called for a very public and nasty divorce. As a long time Sixers fan, I remember the Charles Barkley era. Sir Charles had no compunction about throwing anyone under the bus. It was a loud & mean spirited and damaged the image of both Charles and the franchise in the eyes of many Philly fans. I am certain it has contributed to the reason Philly fans scoff at pro basketball. The fact that the 76ers are the last major franchise to actually win a championship curries no favor.

But Iverson has not been a cancer publicly. Can you really blame 'em for wanting out? Have you seen what this 6' wonder does when he's on the court? The difference in size of the bodies he crashes into? The quickness he exploits that any 10 year veteran would envy? Have you seen it? You can say many things about AI, but you can say he is not still talented and you can't say he doesn't care about winning. That's a Philly thing isn't it? We want our athletes to care about winning ... not just the money and accolades.

No, AI has repeated the mantras of teamwork and loyalty to the franchise. But for some reason many still cling to the image of that brash youth 2 years removed from high school in his rookie season. Like Barkley I will miss him, but wish him the best. I hope he finds that elusive ring that Barkley never did. And I will cheer that day he is inducted in to the NBA hall of fame. I feel many of today's youth share those sentiments for the little giant.

Don't get me wrong ... I love the fact that Mo is giving the young bucks more playing time. I love the fact that Iggy scored a triple-double against Milwaukee. I loved the team efforts on the recent road trip against the Clippers, Suns and Sonics. Rodney Carney has been a pleasant surprise with his savvy defense, crisp picks and the opportunistic thee ball. He may be sidelined for a bit with a hand injury that changed the dynamics of the Bucks game when he exited. I'm sure Mo did not plan to play Kevin Ollie as he did in the 4th.

The spin doctors are tellin' us that its been a great effort ... playing without Webber, Hunter and AI.

But you have to win more of these games! Hello fellas, in the NBA the game is won in the final stanza. You can't beat anyone, not even the Bucks (losers of 3 straight and 7 out of their last 8 games) without showing up in the fourth quarter. 4 for 17 from the field ain't gonna cut it. Where's the attitude? AI is the only player with ice in his veins in the fourth. Is this a Philly Thing?

The enigmatic swingman must continue to step up. The Triple double was nice, but getting fouled late in the fourth on that drive to the hoop ... with the game in the balance ... was what I need to see. Iggy has been a nice kid and an all around good team player, but that's not what's needed. He needs to make his presence felt in the fourth, like Mello did in his game here. He needs to be even more aggressive in the fourth. We need to see that rim shattering dunk, we need 'em to call for the ball, we need 'em to not just take the shot, but MAKE the shot.

Right now their play is good, but its not enuff.

Basketball Season is coming ... do you care? Well if you're from Philly the answer is no. First and foremost, this is a FOOTBALL town. When the Eagles are in contention (and perhaps when they're not), the sports thermometer in Philadelphia rises and falls with the Eagles. So Philly's lack of interest in basketball is not a shocker here. Traditionally, the Sixers and Flyers have a month or more before anyone notices their season's have started.

I hear plenty of people say, "Pro Basketball has gone down hill". I think that's a little disingenuous. Did you see the NBA playoffs last year? Did you see D. Wade set a record for 30 point games in the finals. Did you see the amazing rodeo ride of the Dallas Mavs. Did you miss that Suns vs Mavs playoff shoot-out? How about the Clippers going deep in the playoffs? Neither the Spurs or the Pistons (both pre-season favorites) made the finals. NBA basketball is a solid product. It's not your Michael Jordon's NBA. It has moved on. There are many exciting players ... world wide exposure. And last year displayed that element of sports that fuels popularity. The feeling that any one can win it in a given year.

Unless of course you live here in Philly. Here, if the Sixers are not doing well, BASKETBALL SUXS. In Philly they are predicting another poor year for the Sixers. With no blockbuster trades, draft picks or free agent signings the off-season did little to change that perspective. Billy King must feel secure at his job or is it that he wants to show us how smart he is. He wants to roll out the same team that could not guard a midget in a phone booth last year and hope they will improve. So he can say "I told you so".

Basketball Season is coming ... Whether or not we care. Philly just won't notice it until after Thanksgiving.

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Tonight 76ers President Billy King will be at the National Constitution Center for a one-on-one conversation with CBS 3's Sports Anchor Beasley Reece to discuss the achievements minorities have made in the rise from athlete to manager to owner, and the challenges that remain. Q&A with the audience to follow. The program is free and open to the public, and marks the final evening program that the Center will host in conjunction with their Sports: Breaking Records, Breaking Barriers exhibit.

WHAT: Breaking Barriers with Billy King
WHERE: The National Constitution Center; 525 Arch St Independence Mall
TIME: 6:30 pm
ADMISSION: FREE, but reservations are required: 215-409-6700

Sixers Journal on Salmons move to Sacramento: Salmons finds permanent home in Sacramento, but we still think he's stupid. This would be great news if he was as talented as everyone thinks he is.

HammRadio.com -- Earlier today, I received an e-mail from Comcast Sports Net:

Mike Cunningham, tune in today as Allen Iverson addresses the media for the first time regarding his future with the Sixers. Comcast SportsNet will carry his press conference live at 4 p.m. today.

I'm glad they decided to make it personal.

But then I go to KYW NewsRadio and they tell me:

The team says pitcher Brett Myers is rejoining the rotation following his arrest on wife-abuse charges several weeks ago. A press conference with Myers is scheduled for 4pm -- hear it live on KYW.

Despite the lack of personal attention, I have to say the Brett Myers press conference, trumps Allen Iverson right? Although, we all know how great Allen Iverson press conferences are.

But if you are going to play Top Trumps [What is Top Trumps?] as far as Press Conferences, the Myers conference is the one you have to watch... BUT... if we're talking about the GAME... and NOT Practice... I think we all know that the Answer trumps them all. Watch this video of AI's top 10 plays. The one from his rookie year? where he takes Michael Jordan out of his jock is absolutely phenomenal. Watch this video and ask yourself whether you still want AI here.

Brett Myers sole appearance on You Tube, features the always polite Red Sox fans booing him and chanting "Beatah, Beatah"... which sounded offly a lot like "Jetah... Jetah".

So who Trumps who??? Press Conference: Brett Myers. On the Field/Court: Allen Iverson

NuggetsHoops.com: iverson in our radar...:

giving up an old pg with no jumpshot, and an angry power forward with a questionable knee and getting one of the league's best offensive players and a great playoff performer, as well as one of the best shooters in the league.

so close.

apparently talks are still on though...working on a 3 way with philly to get iverson.

I've Made a Huge Tiny Mistake

By the time we all wake up tomorrow, your Philadelphia 76ers may very well have traded Allen Iverson, the rest of the team, moved back to Syracuse, and fired that old guy that takes the tickets. Billy King appears to be trying to work his ‘magic’ in making a trade that is as complicated as possible in order to not appear like he got swindled in dealing Allen Iverson. Here is what Billy has said about the matter:

“I doubt if we will move up,” King said. “There’s been a lot of conversation, talking to people, but right now it doesn’t look as good. That could change within the hour. You get some crazy phone calls at this time.”

Philly Sports net - The Sixers are auditioning players for the draft which takes place Wednesday night in New York city. They could go several ways with the 13th pick depending on who is still available at that spot and if they trade up or down in the draft. There is a possibility that they will trade up from 13 into the top 8 picks to grab one of the many talented players that would be up for grabs there. Personally, I think they will stay at the 13 spot and go after a point guard or a small forward/power forward.

The Sixers seem to have their eyes on several players for the 13th pick. As always the Sixers announce each year that they are looking at possibly drafting a European player but end up passing them all up on draft day. On that note, here are some possible picks excluding Europeans:

Marcus Williams - PG, UConn - Williams is a very good point guard and would start immediately if he was taken by the Sixers. Only problem is that he will most likely be taken around the 9th or 10th spot so don’t rule out a trade up for Williams here.

Hilton Armstrong - PF/C, UConn - Williams’ teammate has lots of potential especially on the defensive end. Armstrong is very similar to former Sixer PF Theo Ratliff who was stellar on defense. Fortunately for the Sixers, it looks as if Hilton should still be on the draft board at 13.

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