Photo credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Photo credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

I’m in. Count me in. I’ve never been more in on any unknown sporting thing since the Chapman guy collected his Smarty Jones checks.

I’ve watched all 12 innings of Taney’s two Little League World Series games and I’ve already become a bigger fan of those players than I have of every. single. Phillie. The last time I watched a baseball game and thought I need to celebrate that guy person by wearing their surname and chosen number on or around my back area was sometime in 2011– Cliff Lee’s first year back with the Phils. But that all changed last night. I want a Jared Sprague-Lott jersey and a poster with nothing but the words ZION SPEARMAN on it. I found myself yelling out loud to no one in particular and my concerned wife things like, “Sprague-Lott is goddamned ballplayer. Throw it by ’em, Jared SL. Throw it by ’em!” and “She plays shortstop, too?! And first?!?! She has three different positional skill sets!” and “Zion Spearman, you ball-murdering beast! Let the big dog eat!” If his name doesn’t instill fear in crying 12-year-old pitchers, I don’t know what would. Here comes big Zion Spearman to hit a game-tying, two-out, ground ball triple and make you cry on national TV. No but for real, he hit a ground ball so hard it rolled to the fence and the runner scored from first:

http://youtu.be/TVEVePD0RzM&start=63

And then this. Are you kidding me?

That’s some 2007-2008 Phillies-Mets shit right there. A leadoff bunt (never listen to me), the ground ball triple, and a throwing error to win it? I was waiting for a reaction shot of Willie Randolph in the Texas dugout after that.

And now they got Mo’Ne on the mound, against this MAN CHILD, with a trip to the US Championship on the line on Wednesday? Easily the most intrigue and most excited I’ve been for a sporting event since the Eagles-Cowboys Week 17 game.

Let’s hit it!

 

But first, a word from our sponsors:

Kelly Drive t-shirt

Drive. Kelly style. Get one.

Charlie. Thanks to our new sponsor this month, SugarHouse Casino. Win lunch with legends– Charlie Manuel or Roy Halladay. It’s FREE to enter and you can do so every day.

More. Don’t see anything you like in our t-shirt selection? Let me recommend Philly Phaithful.

Fantasy. Play with Draft Kings in their Week 1 fantasy league. Win from a $100k prize pool. It’s FREE to enter with a $5 deposit. Create your team.

Uber. Get $20 in free ride credits when you sign up using code CROSSINGBROAD.

Tickets. Eagles opener against the Jaguars starting at $105 on Crossing Broad Tickets.

 

The roundup:

Quote of the century:

Voila_Capture 2014-08-18_09-02-01_AM

Just the perfect amount of cocky confidence. [Anyone else noticed that most of the Taney players, who play in the literal shadows of CBP, list non-Phillies as their favorite players? Maybe this should tell you something, Mr. Montgomery.]

Here’s the reaction to the win at La Costa, posted by, who else, Jeff Carter’s wife:

Just a sampling of the love:

Voila_Capture 2014-08-18_09-05-54_AM Voila_Capture 2014-08-18_09-06-05_AM

The Daily News:

Voila_Capture 2014-08-18_09-06-59_AM Voila_Capture 2014-08-18_09-07-17_AM

Kids deserve a little more than “Mo’Ne’s teammates.”

Mo’Ne’s mom tells FOX she travels with a bodyguard and wears disguises around the LLWS complex. I’m assuming the recent NCAA court cases mean she won’t have to worry about the impending huge endorsement deals impacting her eligibility as the UCONN point guard in five years? Because she told ESPN she wants to be the UCONN point guard, and I think she should be allowed to get rich before doing so.

And this is brilliant:

Voila_Capture 2014-08-18_09-21-29_AM Voila_Capture 2014-08-18_09-21-45_AM

Meanwhile, dickhead skateboarder attacks ranger at LOVE Park.

Sharks are eating the underwater cable that contains THE GLOBAL WEB.

Here’s DeSean Jaccson spittin’ incoherentcies.

A female checks in on the things you can find in the women’s locker room at the gym.

Here’s Tim  Legler gettin’ down at SHENANIGANS:

Voila_Capture 2014-08-18_09-25-09_AM Voila_Capture 2014-08-18_09-25-32_AM

No surprise. Dude has ruled The Princeton for years.

 

Podcast

A new episode(!) of Crossing Steams. Jim and I discuss Amaro’s idiocy, Philly sports jerseys, sports video games and the Sixers’ weird, weird offseason. Listen, download or grab the feed.

 

CBGA Tour

Going on now, Springfield Country Club.