Brian 76ers, Back On My Feet, homeless, Philadelphia, Philadelphia 76ers, running, Sixers

Helping the homeless get back on their feet

Back On My Feet logoI was home tonight watching the surprising Philadelphia 76ers throttle the Seatlle SuperSonics tonight…and the Sixers were honoring a Philly-based organization that I think is really neat.

The organization is called Back On My Feet and, as the Web site describes it…

…is “a strategic and unique program that uses running to teach critical work and life skills — such as discipline, respect, leadership, and goal-setting — to homeless individuals living within the city of Philadelphia. Our clients are homeless shelters and our members are residents within those shelters, all of whom must have a record of being clean and sober of 30 consecutive days before starting the program. Back on My Feet does not provide either food or shelter. While these are very important basic human needs, BOMF instead focuses on improving self-value by helping its members set, accomplish and sustain their personal goals. In addition, BOMF promotes partnerships and collaborations with individuals and organizations already working diligently to solve the many problems associated with homelessness.

Here is the short version of how it got started:

Anne Mahlum, Founder and President, would pass by a homeless shelter every morning on her daily run and began to develop a rapport with the men outside on the corner. What started out as waves and smiles from a distance became more intimate as they developed a comfort level with one another. And one morning a simple idea stopped her in her tracks….

With a call to the shelter and the astounding support from the community, Philadelphia Runner and the media, Philadelphia’s first Homeless Running Club was well, up and running. The first run took place on Tuesday, July 3rd at 6 am…and now seven months later, we are operating in three different shelters. It’s pretty amazing.

And here is BOMF’s Mission Statement:

Mission Statement: Back on My Feet is a non-profit organization that promotes the self-sufficiency of Philadelphia’s homeless population by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem.

Here is video of an ABC News story on BOMF’s founder Anne Mahlum.

If you would like to learn more, please visit www.backonmyfeet.org for information.

Brian baseball, Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Phillies

Congrats, Jimmy Rollins…2007 National League MVP!

(BBWAA) – Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, the offensive and defensive catalyst for a club that reached post-season play for the first time in 14 years by winning the 2007 National League East title, was elected the NL Most Valuable Player in a tight race against Colorado Rockies left fielder Matt Holliday in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA).

Of the 32 ballots submitted by two writers in each league city, Rollins was listed first on 16, second on seven, third on four, fourth on four and fifth on one for a total of 353 points, based on the tabulation system that rewards 14 points for first place, nine for second, eight for third and on down to one for 10th. Holliday’s breakdown was 11 first-place votes, 18 seconds, one third, one fourth and one sixth for 336 points.

Rollins, 28, who batted .296 and scored 139 runs, was the first player in history with 200 hits (212) and 20 doubles (38), triples (20), home runs (30) and stolen bases (41) in one season. He set a league record for shortstops with 380 total bases, breaking by one the previous mark of the Cubs’ Ernie Banks in 1958.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (.268, 47 HR, 136 RBI), the 2006 winner, placed fifth this time behind New York Mets third baseman David Wright (.325, 30 HR, 107 RBI, 113 R). Rounding out the top 10 were Braves third baseman Chipper Jones (.337, 29 HR, 102 RBI, 108 R), San Diego Padres pitcher Jake Peavy (19-6, 2.54 ERA, 240 K in 223⅓ IP), Phillies second baseman Chase Utley (.332, 22 HR, 103 RBI, 104 R), Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols (.327, 32 HR, 103 RBI) and Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez (.332, 29 HR, 81 RBI, 212 H, 125 R). In all, 26 players received votes.

Rollins and Howard are the 11th set of teammates to win the NL award in consecutive seasons and the first since the Giants’ Jeff Kent (2000) and Bonds (2001). Cincinnati had three teammates win successively in 1938 (Ernie Lombardi), 1939 (Bucky Walters) and 1940 (Frank McCormick), as did the Cardinals in 1942 (Mort Cooper), 1943 (Stan Musial) and 1944 (Marty Marion). Other back-to-back, MVP-winning teammates were the Dodgers’ Campanella (1955) and Don Newcombe (1956), Wills (1962) and Koufax (1953), the Cardinals’ Orlando Cepeda (1967) and Bob Gibson (1968), the Reds’ Joe Morgan (1976) and George Foster (1977) and the Pirates’ Dave Parker (1978) and Stargell (1979).

It marked the seventh time a Phillies player won the award with Rollins joining Howard, three-time winner Mike Schmidt (1980-81, ’86), Chuck Klein (1932) and Jim Konstanty (1950). It was the seventh MVP for an NL shortstop, a list that includes Banks, a two-time winner (1958-59), Marion, Wills, Dick Groat (1960) and Barry Larkin (1995). Shortstops have won in the American League eight times.

(Photo courtesy of Getty Images.)

Brian Jim Dowd, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Flyers, sports

Jim Dowd: The Pride of Brick, NJ!

Fellow Brick Township High School alumnus, Jim Dowd (#34 in photo), scored his first goal as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers last night against his two-time former team, the New Jersey Devils. Dowd redirected a shot from the point past Devils goalie Martin Brodeur at 10:49 of the second period in the Flyers’ 4-0 victory.

It’s so nice to see Dowd, a 16-year NHL veteran, playing for the Flyers. I know the whole “Jersey Boy Playing with the Jersey Team” story was nice for the media and all…but it was really hard for me to root for my fellow BTHS Dragon as a member of the hated Devils.

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Brian Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Phillies, Phillies, sports

2007 Phillies: The Team to Beat, Indeed!

Phillies celebrate 2007 NL East title

Congratulations to the 2007 National League Eastern Division Champion Philadelphia Phillies! As Phillies shortstop — and NL Most Valuable Player candidate — Jimmy Rollins (below) said before the season began, the Phils were “the team to beat” in the NL East.

Oh, and one more thing…note to Mets manager Willie Randolph and catcher Paul Lo Duca…we’re sipping champagne and dancing on the field…what are you doing now?

NY Daily News back page - Oct. 1, 2007

Brian baseball, Pat Burrell, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Phillies, Phillies, sports, YouTube

YouTube: An intelligent commentary on the Phillies’ Pat Burrell

As a Phillies fan, I am often embarrassed by the “baseball stupidity” of those who root for the Phillies with me. They boo people based on reputation and stories put out there by equally idiotic media types and the cosmically idiotic Dallas Green, instead of actually looking at stats and seeing how productive players actually are.

Philly has a tendency to cheer for the guy with the bloody face and dirty uniform…even though he is batting .240 and has a lower on-base percentage than I do. I actually heard a guy sitting a couple of seats away from me at Citizens Bank Park say, “I love Tomas Perez. I hope the Phillies never get rid of him.”

Now, Tomas Perez sucked…but fans loved him because he would throw shaving cream pies in the faces of his teammates after exciting wins. Ugh.

Anyway, here is a great video that actually offers a intelligent, statistics-based argument why current Phillies left fielder Pat Burrell is undeserving of much of the criticism dumped on him over the past couple of years, but especially as of late.

Brian 76ers, Eagles, Flyers, Philadelphia, Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia Phillies, Phillies, sports

Well…pitchers and catchers report in less than a month

So…now that the Eagles’ season is over and the Flyers and Sixers are bringing new meaning to the word “horrid,” it’s time to start shifting my attention back to my greatest passion, the Philadelphia Phillies…led by 2006 National League Most Valuable Player Ryan Howard (pictured, courtesy of Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images).

Brian Eagles, football, NFL, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Eagles, sports

Keeping the streak alive

I have been busy working on the latest Technology and the Arts podcast, so I haven’t posted here in a few days.

However, I have to keep something going. Since a few days before the Eagles’ 23-7 win at Dallas on Christmas, I have posted something related to the Eagles containing the E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES! cheer.

Well, my last post was a week ago today, which was before the Eagles’ last-second 23-20 victory over the Giants in the opening round of the playoffs. Hence, I haven’t done a pre-game post with the E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES!” cheer for tonight’s tough matchup between the Eagles and Saints in New Orleans.

So consider this my superstitious, hopefully-win-inspiring post for tonight’s game.

Now, once more…with feeling…

E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES!”

Brian Eagles, football, Philadelphia, sports

Happy New Year/NFC East Championship!


Well, thanks to the totally over-hyped Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys losing to the lowly Detroit Lions at home early Sunday afternoon, the Philadelphia Eagles celebrated New Year’s Eve as NFC East champions for the fifth time in six years.

Because the Cowboys’ loss gave the title to Philadelphia, the Eagles were able to rest their starters for the playoff opener at home against the New York Giants next Sunday at 4:15 p.m. ET.

Oh yeah…the Eagles’ second and third teams still managed to beat the Atlanta Falcons, 24-17, to finish atop the NFC East at 10-6.

Fly Eagles Fly
On the road to victory
Fight Eagles Fight
Score a touchdown, 1-2-3
Hit ’em low, hit ’em high
And watch our Eagles fly
Fly Eagles Fly
On the road to victory

E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES!

UPDATED 11:22 a.m. ET, 1/2/2007

I wrote the above post after watching one of the craziest college football games ever, No. 9 Boise State’s amazing 43-42 overtime win over No. 7 Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Here is a YouTube video showing key highlights from the last couple of minutes of regulation and overtime…

(Photo of Center City Philadelphia taken from near main entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Dec. 29, 2006.)

Brian Eagles, football, Philadelphia, sports

Fly Eagles Fly…on the road to victory! (The Christmas edition!)

E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES!

Well, once again the jolly, fat man delivered on Christmas.

No, not Santa. I’m talking about Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid, who delivered to me and all Eagles fans a HUGE and impressive 23-7 win over the despised Dallas Cowboys today that clinched a playoff spot for the Birds.

The victory gave the Eagles a 9-6 record and pulled them into a tie with Dallas for the lead in the NFC East. However, since the Eagles swept the Cowboys this season, Philadelphia owns the tie-breaker and the No. 1 spot in the division.

The Eagles only need to beat the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on New Year’s Eve to wrap up their fifth NFC East title in six years.

(Photo: Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook carries the ball against the Dallas Cowboys in the Eagles’ 23-7 Christmas day victory. Courtesy D. Hallowell/PhiladelphiaEagles.com.)