The Philly sports world has seemingly headed to Christmas break a bit early this year: gone is the talk of the Winter Classic (instead, courtrooms), gone is the hysteria of a major Amaro acquisition (instead, a guy who checked the schedule for off-days so he can fly home to Texas), gone is any semblance of a respectable football team (instead, firings, death and steroids accusations) and gone is… well, there was hardly anything to ever get excited about the Sixers in December, but it’s doubly worse this year since Andrew Bynum hasn’t played a game. So, here’s a roundup of not-really-that-important things from the past day or so that really don’t deserve their own post, but, when read together, almost form a whole: 

– The Sixers lost their fourth straight last night. The one moment that stood out to me? Evan Turner ignoring Doug Collins’ calls – “Evan, come here! Evan, come here!" – as he walked to the bench during a timeout. Turner either ignored Collins (likely) or didn’t hear him. After a commercial break, we could see that Collins went to Turner, who sipped some water.

– Michael Young had his introductory press conference yesterday. He revealed that, before accepting the trade to the Phillies, he and his wife went through the schedule looking at off-days to see when he could fly home, to Texas. Now, I’m all for family man thing, especially in the wake of what happened in Newtown, Connecticut, but I’m always wary of a guy – as an athlete – when he makes it quite apparent that he would rather be elsewhere, especially when elsewhere is in Texas and flying home for a day at a time during a busy Major League schedule is a time and energy drain. Roy Oswalt was like this, and we see how that worked out.

I'm not trying to be an asshole here, but it's kind of obvious that Young is only here because he was guaranteed playing time, which he wasn't in Texas. I'm sure he'll be a great veteran type player, too. It just rubs me the wrong way when guys come into a situation looking for all the opportunities to get out situation. I started my last job this way, and it ended with me slacking because I started a sports blog. Now I work at home without pants.

Ruben Amaro wrapped the Young presser quickly… because Young had a plane to catch.


– Yo don’t look now, but Sidney Crosby is becoming… likable.

Well, not quite. He’s still a bitch. But, he is doing some things that deserve our respect. He’s emerged as the de facto leader of the players in CBA negotiations– as the face of the league, he’s been very active in negotiations. And then there’s this:

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That’s Crobsy playing goalie in a roller hockey game in Pittsburgh last weekend against a team called “Flyers Suck.” Puck Daddy has more.

– So much for that joke about Philly fans causing trouble elsewhere. Because it happened this week. A Philadelphia cop was arrested at the Houston Texans game on Sunday for, metaly, resisting arrest: [Philly.com]

Houston police were called to the Crown Royal Saloon at Reliant Stadium in Houston around 2:40 p.m. Sunday during the Texans-Colts game for a report of a disturbance. Details surrounding the nature of the disturbance were sketchy, but Houston police spokesman Kese Smith said Neil Kohler, 46, was arrested for resisting arrest. Kohler is accused of pushing the arresting officer and was the only person charged in relation to the incident, Smith said. 

 

– Jay Wright, who is one of the least divisive sports figures I’ve ever seen (really, he’s like a walking PR manual), tweeted his thoughts on gun control:

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Screen Shot 2012-12-19 at 8.59.32 AM

– Marcus Vick, who is more polarizing before he gets out of bed in the morning than Wright is in an entire day, doesn’t like people with inadequete landmines:

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That Tweet gets to rarified air by coming across as almost a parody of itself in way under 140 characters. Well done, Marcus. 

– The Great Sports Debate (I’m on it!) has a new website, and it’s worth checking out. We’re taping two episodes tonight at Chickie’s and Pete’s starting at around 6:30, so come on down, or watch tomorrow at 7 p.m. on the Comcast Network or various other times on CSN throughout the weekend. I shaved this week… so, that’s big.

– Finally, after the jump is video of the 1980 Phillies and Royals playing each other in Family Feud after the World Series.