Remember 2015?
Understandably, you probably don't want to think about that year in Philadelphia sports. The Phillies were the worst team in baseball, literally. The 76ers were one of the worst teams in basketball, in full tank mode. The Flyers were mired in mediocrity with no identity or direction. The Eagles were in the first and final year of the Chip Kelly as general manager experiment.
Fast forward to 2019 and the faces of Philadelphia sports look very different, despite some familiar names.
Phillies - 2015
Managers: Ryne Sandberg (resigned), Pete Mackanin
General Manager: Ruben Amaro, Jr (fired in-season)
Notable Players:
Ryan Howard (35-years-old at the end of his career)
Chase Utley (traded in season)
Carlos Ruiz (36-yeas-old at the end of his career)
Cole Hamels (traded in season)
Jonathan Papelpon (disliked by fans and traded in-season)
Phillies - 2019
Manager: Gabe Kapler (much more interesting than Sandberg)
General Manager: Matt Klentak (had an "objectively excellent" off-season)
Notable Players:
Bryce Harper (you might've heard of him)
Aaron Nola (Cy Young candidate)
Rhys Hoskins. (budding, home-grown star in the making)
J.T. Realmuto (arguably the best catcher in the game)
Jean Segura (All-Star shortstop)
Andrew McCutchen (former MVP)
Eagles - 2015
Head Coach: Chip Kelly (fired in-season)
General Manager: Chip Kelly (I don't care what he says)
Notable Players:
Sam Bradford (landed him for Nick Foles and a second round pick…yikes)
DeMarco Murray (lost a lot of playing time to Ryan Mathews)
Jordan Matthews
Byron Maxwell (got paid a lot and was pretty bad)
Kiko Alonso (traded for the franchise's all-time leading rusher)
Darren Sproles
Fletcher Cox
Malcolm Jenkins
Jason Kelce
Eagles - 2019
Head Coach: Doug Pederson (won a Super Bowl)
General Manager: Howie Roseman (has a fancy title, but build a Super Bowl winner)
Notable Players:
Carson Wentz
Zach Ertz
Alshon Jeffery
Jason Kelce
Lane Johnson
Fletcher Cox
Brandon Graham
Malcolm Jenkins
76ers - 2014-15
Head Coach: Brett Brown (still here)
General Manager: Sam Hinkie (controversial tanker to some and beloved mastermind to others)
Notable Players (Joel Embiid's first year out of college):
Michael Carter-Williams (controversially traded in-season)
Nerlens Noel
Robert Covington
Luc Mbah a Moute
Ish Smith
Henry Sims
JaKarr Sampson
Hollis Thompson
76ers - 2018-19
Head Coach: Brett Brown (still here…and still questioned by some)
General Manager: Elton Brand (replaced Bryan Colangelo because of Burnergate)
Notable Players:
Joel Embiid
Ben Simmons
Tobias Harris
Jimmy Butler
JJ Redick
T.J. McConnell
Boban Marjanovic
Robert Covington (traded in-season)
Dario Saric (traded in-season)
Flyers - 2014-15
Head Coach: Craig Berube (fired after the season)
General Manager: Ron Hextall
Notable Players:
Claude Giroux
Wayne Simmonds
Jake Voracek
Braden Schenn
Sean Couturier
Mark Streit
Steve Mason
Flyers - 2018-19
Head Coaches: Dave Hakstol (fired in-season), Scott Gordon
General Managers: Ron Hextall (fired in-season), Chuck Fletcher
Notable Players:
Claude Giroux
Jake Voracek
Sean Couturier
Wayne Simmonds (traded in-season)
Carter Hart
Ivan Provorov
Travis Konecny
Nolan Patrick
James van Riemsdyk
Shayne Gostisbehere
Travis Sanheim
Radko Gudas
Scott Laughton
Oskar Lindblom
The most noticeable differences are with the Phillies and 76ers. The Phillies' core in 2015 features non of the same players set to take the field this season. The 76ers' core that season is vastly different due to Joel Embiid finally being healthy enough and "The Process" being about winning rather than alleged tanking.
The Eagles feature a number of the same guys, but a different coach, general manager and quarterback, which in essence makes a huge impact, and is ultimately why they won a Super Bowl two years removed from the epic disaster that was Kelly's tenure.
The Flyers' 2014-15 core is pretty much in tact, which maybe speaks to their constant mediocrity, but the big difference is Carter Hart, who should be the goalie of the future, finally.
Philadelphia sports went from head-shaking to thrilling in a span of less than four years, which for fans feels like an eternity. But, the pain and agony of watching losing makes the winning more enjoyable. So, it's worth appreciating how far the city and its sports teams came since Kelly decimated the Eagles, Sandberg stepped down so suddenly and Hinkie made trade deadline day the Sixers version of the Super Bowl.
Takeaways From Bryce Harper's Press Conference
The highlight of the weekend was the Phillies introducing Bryce Harper after 118 days of "Harper Watch," plus the extra time of waiting for the record setting 13-year, $330 million dollar deal to become official. Here are my takeaways from a historic afternoon in Philadelphia sports history.
Related: Matt Klentak provides details on Bryce Harper signing
- While it was a little unusual for a team to formally introduce a player a-top a dugout, let alone the visitors dugout at Spectrum Field, it was a really cool set up with a nice backdrop of the field. I used to be a producer in radio, so I've often worked with microphones and speakers. I have no idea how the Phillies set all of that up without major feedback, but credit to them. It was also neat they allowed fans to watch in person. What do you think they'll do when they acquire Mike Trout?
- Speaking of Trout, it was clever that Harper gave a not so subtle push and pitch to land Trout when, truthfully if, he becomes a free agent. It wouldn't shock me if Harper got fined for tampering because it was obvious who he was talking about, and even though he didn't mention Trout by name, Trout still plays for another team. If Harper does get fined, I think he can afford the penalty.
- I find it fascinating how we put a lot into the numbers a player wears. Ultimately, it's not the numbers that perform on the field, it's the player. If the player happens to perform well, then the number becomes legendary. In other words, the player makes the number. The number doesn't make the player. That being said, Harper gave a very touching tribute to the late, great Roy Halladay when asked why he's wearing No. 3 and not 34. Halladay's number with the Phillies should be retired, and there's a very good chance it will be. Although Halladay only played in Philadelphia for four years, he made an unbelievable impact on its fan base, not to mention was out of this world in 2010 and 2011.
- Harper's knowledge and praise for the Philadelphia sports scene, and the city itself, was encouraging. It showed coming to the Phillies was not just about the money.
- Harper also displayed a wealth of knowledge about the Phillies current group of players and Citizens Bank Park. He's going to fit in just fine.
- A lot of people made a big deal about him accidentally saying he wants to bring a title back to DC. Honestly, I didn't even notice it at first. His immediate comment about Broad Street caught my ear instantly. Listening back, I thought he transitioned smoothly from the DC gaffe into the great comment about Broad Street. The next day, Harper acknowledged his minor mistake after being told by his wife after Saturday's press conference. Simply put, if that bothered you, give the guy a break. He played in Washington for seven years. If you think he's not fully committed to Philadelphia, just go back to the details of the contract, which feature no opt-outs and a full no trade clause. He wants to be a Phillie and bring a championship back to Philadelphia. End of story.
The celebration for landing Harper hasn't stopped. His jersey is going fast. Ticket sales are way up. Baseball is officially back in Philadelphia, and it's a beautiful thing.
Embiid Finally Addresses His Knee Issue, But All-Star Game Participation Still Inexcusable
The 76ers announced Joel Embiid would be out and re-evaluated in approximately a week on February 20, but Embiid himself didn't talk about the injury until March 2, 10 days after the organization shocked the media and its fans with an out-of-no-where press release. The Sixers center deserves credit for leading the decision to rest and heal his knee for the playoffs and long haul. As Brett Brown stated, it showed maturity. But at the same time, why in the world did he play in that meaningless exhibition called the All-Star Game? I know he said he felt fine going in and that didn't factor or enhance this discomfort, but if it was getting worse, as he said it was, then what's the logic in participating in a game that doesn't count?
The risk of injuring the knee further is too plausible, even though he and Brown claim that's not the case. Would it have prevented him from missing five, or potentially more, games in a row? Maybe not. I'll even go as far to write probably not. Truthfully, we'll never know.
However, it's something I'll never understand.
First Chance They Get, the Eagles Should Retire No. 9
While the Eagles made smart decisions this past week to extend key players like Jason Kelce and Brandon Graham, they also made the necessary one to say so long to the only quarterback in franchise history that won a Super Bowl, Nick Foles.
Due to money and the unnecessary existent of a potentially distracting quarterback controversy, it was smart for the Eagles to say so long to this Philadelphia Folk Hero, whose No. 9 should never be worn again by an Eagle.
Foles tenure in Philadelphia was unique, starting as a third-round pick that lost the starting job competition to Michael Vick his second season, only to take over after Vick got hurt and throw 27 touchdowns with two interceptions, finishing the year as Pro Bowl MVP. Not too long after that, Chip Kelly unceremoniously sent Foles to guy who ruins quarterbacks, Jeff Fisher.
But, after almost quitting football following an awful experience in St. Louis, and making a pit stop in Kansas City, Foles came back to backup Carson Wentz. He was never supposed to see the field in Eagles green ever again, especially with Wentz putting together an MVP season in 2017. But, you know what happened. Wentz got hurt and Foles came in with very few fans and media members believing in him. He proved the naysayers wrong and won Super Bowl, which included suggesting the legendary "Philly Special" to Doug Peterson on fourth-and-goal in Super Bowl LII. The next season when Wentz unsurprisingly got injured again, Foles stepped in and rallied an all but eliminated Eagles team to the playoffs. Epic.
Foles deserves a chance to lead a team, as Howie Roseman said at the combine. But, he also deserves to have his No. 9 in the rafters at The Linc. During both his Eagles stints, Foles embodied the blue-collar, underdog personality of the city. He handled every situation with the utmost class. And most importantly, he won...the whole entire thing.
Put No. 9 where it belongs, high above Lincoln Financial Field, so fans for generations can look up and see the name of the guy who finally brought home The Lombardi Trophy.
