Crossing Broad

You Can Now Take Home a Six Foot Tall Ryan Howard Garden Gnome

Truth.

The R-Phils are at it again. For the second year in a row they will be giving away a Ryan Howard Garden Gnome at a home game. On Opening Night, April 14th, the first 3,500 fans will receive "The Return of Ryan Howard Garden Gnome- Version #2." Succinctly named, no less.

Of course, you'll remember that some unjustly considered last year's version to be racist. But that's not stopping the R-Phils from trouting out Gnome Howard again.

This year's version will wear a black jersey and is being sponsored by Essig Plumbing & Heating.

But wait, there's more!

One lucky fan will take home a life-sized gnome. That's right, a Ryan Howard Garden Gnome weighing in at an estimated 550 pounds. Good lord.

One subtle change from last year? Howard's bat is no longer on his shoulder. Well, that's certainly news to us.

Your New Daily News Sports Columnist? Ed Rendell

What else is Gov to with his free time?

Philadelphia Will Do has the memo that was sent to Daily News staffers today by editor Larry Platt:

Speaking of loud voices, I also want to welcome our new sports columnist, none other than Ed Rendell. Some fifteen years ago...

...I look forward to our Fan-In-Chief surprising and amusing us in print every week, starting this Wednesday.

 

Opine in the comments. Perhaps Gov can explain this Steelers jersey.

Your Monday Morning Roundup

Couple of notes:

- Come out to our Super Bowl Party at McFadden's and drink FREE BEER. Beer, that is free. You have to RSVP here to be eligible.

- Claude Giroux will be signing autographs at BC Sports in the Mooresetown Mall on March 2nd. Click here for more details. No word on whether or not he's bringing the Chillun Briere.

- We will be holding a Phillies tailgate on April 2nd with our friends from Philly Phaithful. Get tickets now, stay tuned for more details.

The Roundup:

-David Akers' daughter had a cyst that needed to be removed.

- The Sixers hocked up a 21 point lead

-McNabb will be ESPN Super Bowl analyst. Heh.

- Stevie Why's full All-Star Game coverage.

- Flyers will be honored as Team of the Year at tonight's Philadelphia Sports Writers Association dinner. I will be there to get the coverage you need.

UPDATE: FBI Helping Chicago Restaurant Look for Game 6 Puck, We Think We Know Who Has It

Linesmen Steve Miller, what a joker he is

And it's not Chris Pronger.

As we told you last spring, a Chicago restaurant is offering a $50,000 reward for the puck Patrick Kane slipped between the legs of Michael Leighton. It seems in all of the confusion of the Stanley Cup winning goal somebody stole the puck- Pronger says it wasn't him.

Enter the Federal Bureau of Investigation: [FOX Sports]

One attempt to claim the reward has already failed after the FBI used specialized equipment to show that the puck in question was not the winning one.

Officers believe they will be able to compare each nick on any puck that is turned in to digitally enhanced images they have of the winning goal.

"We feel we have enough in terms of visual evidence to include or exclude any future pucks," Chicago FBI spokesman Ross Rice said.

 

Perhaps their time would be better spent hunting down murderers, domestic terrorists, or the heist Ruben J. Amaro pulled off this winter. Either way, all of the fancy equipment isn't doing a very good job.

[UPDATE: The folks from the FBI tell us that they are not using tax payers dollars and are doing this on their own time. We figured as much.]

Thanks to some crack detective work- so we can finally show once and for all that a Flyer didn't steal the puck- we're pretty sure of who knows the whereabouts of the puck: Linesmen Steve Miller.

The video below, which shows Miller picking up the puck, follows him around for a blurry five minute shell game. We pieced together videos from NBC, CBC, and YouTube to follow Miller until the time the officials left the ice.

Briere and Giroux Complete Impressive Showing at All-Star Game

When Claude Giroux scored 5 minutes and 41 seconds into Sunday afternoon’s NHL All-Star Game, Flyers teammate Danny Briere knew he had to answer back before going home.

He did that and more, scoring two goals to help Team Lidstrom beat Team Staal 11-10 at RBC Center and give Briere bragging rights for the weekend over his housemate. Both Flyers had nice games, as Giroux had his first All-Star Game goal and added an assist.

“I had to find a way to get back at him,” Briere said. “But overall it was fun to see. We both scored, the right team won the game, so everybody’s happy – maybe except him.”

Steve Whyno has the full story at Philly Sports Daily.

Michael Vick Helmet Cam

There is not a lot exciting that goes on at the Pro Bowl, so here's video of Michael Vick wearing a helmet cam during practice on Saturday. Video is complete with playful banner between Vick and Matt Ryan. Aw.

These things are generally dizzying (with the exception of catcher cam in baseball). Consider yourself warned.

Video after the jump.

More with My Two Dads: At Home with Briere and Giroux

Yeah, that's his kid

Chuck Gormley of the Courier Post takes us inside the home, the hearth, if you will, of Danny Briere and Claude Giroux:

On practice days, Briere and Giroux usually share a ride to the Skate Zone in Voorhees, grab lunch and are back in Haddonfield in time for one of them to pick up the three boys at Central School, where Caelan, in seventh grade, Carson, in sixth, and Cameron, in fourth, stay for homework club until 4 p.m.

"They'd rather have Claude pick them up," Briere says. "He's like a big brother to them and it's cool for their friends."

 

It seems the kids prefer to have Uncle 'Roo pick them up.

The most amazing part? All three of Briere's sons play hockey and he's the assistant coach on all of their teams- two of which are coached by Keith Primeau and Derian Hatcher, respectively.

Great article from Gormley here via Broad Street Hockey

Eagles Offseason News: Vick to Get Franchise Tag, Akers' Family Struggles

ESPN's Adam Shefter reports that the Eagles will apply the franchise tag to Michael Vick next month.

This isn't a surprise, as the move will keep Vick under the team's control for another year without requiring them to sign him long term. Shefter also notes that the Eagles will entertain offers for Kevin Kolb.

In other news, our friend Tim McManus was the first to report that David Akers was struggling from personal issues during the Eagles' first round playoff loss against the Packers. Today, Ashley Fox has a lengthy article in the Inquirer which details the specific issue: Akers' 6-year-old daughter, Halley, had a cyst on her ovary which had to removed.

Right now she is cancer free, but will likely need her other ovary removed at some point in her life.

Tremendous story at Philly.com.

Raul Ibanez Has Gone Rogue

Not Ted Williams

Raul has turned into the heel. And I like it.

CSNPhilly.com has video of Raul talking about pressure. The piece also includes some footage of his offseason training program in New Jersey... and his new look.

Last year, Ibanez had offseason surgery to correct two abdominal tears, and he came into the season in less than good shape. It looks like this year will be a different story.

Plus there's that beard- good luck getting on the plane to Florida with that, Raul.

Video after the jump.

Briere Picked Before Hubby

Danny Briere was picked in the sixth round of last night's NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft, a few frames before his roomie, Claude Giroux.

Well you know what it does, bragging right at home, I have a friend sitting in the crowd. There's some bragging rights, the boys were discussing this situation earlier today.

 

It's like an episode of My Two Dad's.

Bonus clips: Jonathan Toews looking genuinely pissed off and the host making an unintended car accident joke with Briere.

CB Tickets Now Has Villanova Tickets

In an effort to be your one stop shop for all Philly sports tickets, we now have tickets for Villanova games at The Well.

Nova still has four games left to play in South Philly, beginning tomorrow against Georgetown. Tickets have gone up 46% this week, but there are still some good deals out there. 200's Center is the cheapest tiqzone, with 44 tickets available for an avg of $52 a seat. The cheapest seat in the zone (and the game) is $42.

Trust me, it's more exciting than the Sixers.

Get 'em here.

Can We Get off the Jeff Fisher Boat Now?

We have this really annoying habit in Philadelphia of grabbing names we know and throwing them into our vacant (or sometimes even not-so-vacant) positions. Please stop.

Jeff Fisher, our new defensive coordinator, spoke with reporters this afternoon: [Philly Sports Daily]

“I would say I’ve been coaching for 25 years and I think I’m tired and I think I need to rest. I haven’t thought about my future past this afternoon,” he said. “I am going to rest and we will see where it goes.”

 

Wait, a guy who was a head coach for 16 years isn't jumping at the chance to be a coordinator?  Shocking. I surely thought that he would have taken a pay cut to come save the Eagles and lead us to the promised land. Really, I'm shocked.

Here's another thing for all of you sports radio callers who so desperately wanted his services because you've seen him on TV a lot: Andy Reid has a better track record- significantly better. Fisher might have been  an upgrade at defensive coordinator, but he's not Bill Belichik. Of course, I know you like his mustache, fist pump, and every-man's beer gut. They are important traits in a football coach.