Posts for practice

The Sixers’ “Best in the World” Training Facility Could Have a Helipad

Jim Adair - November 12, 2014

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On the court the Sixers are all about the future. But Philadelphia 76ers, Inc. also has its eyes set on what’s to come, specifically their huge, $82 million, practice facility/compound in Camden.

When presenting in front of Camden’s planning board on Monday, Sixers CRO Christopher Heck called the proposed campus “[not another] cookie-cutter training facility,” and said the Sixers expect it to be “the best in the world.” To achieve that moniker, they apparently need special zoning permission for super gigantic signs:

The team wants want a 4,000-square-foot sign — with letters up to nine feet high — atop the 65,000-square-foot office building, according to a notice for the upcoming meeting.

Plans also call for a 1,069-square-foot sign on the 64,700-square-foot practice facility. Both signs would require the board’s approval because they do not comply with zoning rules.

Similarly, a developer is also requesting the board’s OK for a helipad at the downtown site.

According to the Courier-Post, a Sixers spokesman did not respond (yet) to their question if those giant signs are meant to be seen from across the river, serving as a shouting reminder that the Sixers practice just a short helicopter ride away in b-e-autiful Camden. [Editor’s note: Honestly, the Sixers could build a facility that looks like a giant turd and it would improve the Camden cityscape. I can’t imagine a couple of signs, or Joshua Harris’ helipad (it’s totally so he doesn’t have to drive through Camden, isn’t it?) are going to be an impediment.]

…

Meanwhile, on the court, the Sixers are still searching for their first win. Oddsmakers have set the line at 11.5 straight losses to open the season, basically asking, “Will the Sixers beat the Celtics?” I think they will, Gonzo thinks they won’t and that their first win will come on the road against the Knicks. If not, maybe we can just set up a game against Kentucky.

Allen Iverson “Would Never Want to Coach” for Exactly the Reason You Think

Jim Adair - November 5, 2014

… it’s practice. Did you guess he was going to say practice? Of course you did. And A.I.’s right, he’d probably be a terrible coach. Plus, could you imagine the dude who basically single-handedly made the NBA have a dress code wearing a suit in front of the bench? Nope.

via SB Nation

Frank Caliendo’s Morgan Freeman Reads Allen Iverson’s Practice Rant

Jim Adair - September 4, 2014

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After the jump — because the video auto plays and auto play is the devil — you can check out Frank Caliendo on Mike & Mike lending his Morgan Freeman impression to Allen Iverson’s practice rant. Caliendo’s Freeman is about as spot-on as he gets, and it lends a certain god-like gravitas to one of the most memorable and idiotic sports rants of all time.

via Eliot Shorr-Parks, who will be joining us on the next edition of Crossing Streams

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Eagles Will Hold a Free Open Practice At Franklin Field

Jim Adair - June 25, 2014

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According to the Eagles website:

“Two open practices at Lincoln Financial Field are set for Monday, July 28 and Sunday, August 3. All open practices are free of charge, but unlike last year, the two practices at Lincoln Financial Field will not require a ticket for entry. Like last year, the majority of the practices will be conducted at the NovaCare Complex and will be open to a limited number of invited guests, including season ticket members selected from every section of the stadium.

Tickets for the open practice at Franklin Field will be available beginning on Wednesday, July 16 at 10 am by logging onto PennAthletics.com/Eagles. There will be a limit of six (6) tickets per order. Ticketing questions can be answered by calling 215-898-6151 or emailing tickets@pobox.upenn.edu …

Eagles President Don Smolenski [said], ‘although the total number of open practices has been reduced from last year due to events in and around our stadium as well as the joint practice sessions in Foxboro, we remain committed to providing our fans a fun atmosphere as they get an up-close look at our team, including what we think will be a special day at Franklin Field.'”

The Penn Athletics link doesn’t seem to actually be active yet, but once it goes live we imagine those tickets will go pretty quickly.

Sixers Camden Practice Facility Could Cost Philly $2 Million, And Still, Camden

Jim Adair - June 12, 2014

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There’s been a lot of talk this week about the Sixers’ new Camden practice facility — most of it right here — but a spokesman for Mayor Nutter is not really a fan, as it could cost the city about $2 million. According to Philadelphia Magazine, spokesman Mark S. McDonald said the exact amount isn’t known because “any Philadelphia residents who commute to the Camden facility — expected to open in 2016 — will still have to pay a reduced city wage tax in Philadelphia,” but the facility being on the other side of the river could mean millions lost in city wage tax. You know, that tax everyone hates paying. And just in case it’s unclear, we’re talking the city wage tax being paid by so-called “other” employees at the facility (anyone who is not coach or player or millionaire).

But all is not bad, as McDonald said, “The reality here is the revitalization of Camden is something that is important to the city of Philadelphia.” Plus, you get one more thing to point at from across the river and say that isn’t “one of the bad parts.”

Sixers New Practice Facility Will Be Next To Wiggins Park, Which Makes Me No Less Scared They’ll Screw This Up

Jim Adair - June 11, 2014

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As Zoo With Roy pointed out, the chosen location for the new Sixers Practice Facility (where that very fancy arrow is pointing) is suspiciously close to Wiggins Park in Camden, possibly foreshadowing … actually … I’m still nervous they’re gonna take Exum at pick three, or make some other strange Andy Reid-type pick. I want to believe, Hinkie, I want to believe.

Here’s the original Zapruder-esque image, from Keith Pompey’s Instagram:

UPDATE: Sixers Looking For a Grant Worth Five Andrew Bynums To Build Camden Practice Facility

Jim Adair - June 10, 2014

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Nehhhhhhhhhhh, I’m building us a practice facility. Nehhhh

As the Sixers get closer and closer to making their Camden dream a reality, they’ve hit the “asking for money” phase. According to Philadelphia Business Journal, the Sixers have applied for an $82 million grant (spread out over ten years at $8,204,050 per year) from the state of New Jersey as part of the state’s “Grow New Jersey Assistance Program.” The New Jersey Economic Development Authority will discuss it at their meeting tomorrow.

To put that money in perspective, it’s like paying for just about five Andrew Bynums at the money he was being paid the year he didn’t play here, and it’s actually cheaper than ten years of Thad Young at last season’s salary. When you put it that way, it’s a lot of bang for your buck. But then again, Camden.

UPDATE: Well, that was easy. The Sixers grant request got approved today, and as a result, Neil Hartman let us know about some interesting math:

hartman tweet

How? Who knows man, that’s some New Jersey math.

15,000 People Showed Up to Watch the Flyers Practice Last Night

Kyle Scott - January 18, 2013

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Photo: Flyers

Insert your Allen Iverson reference right here_______.

Over 15,000 of you nuts showed up at the Wells Fargo Center last night to watch the Flyers practice. That’s only 1,000 less people than the average reported Sixers home attendance this season. Somewhere, Adam Aron is wondering how he can get more streamers and former American Idol contestants as in-house entertainment.

Our friend Nick Piccone of Bleeding Brotherly Love was at the practice and described the scene thusly:

Sean Couturier called it "awkward" to practice in front of that many fans. He's right. Nobody does that. Ever. Not even the Toronto Maple Leafs. But Thursday night, we cheered Bryzgalov's impressive performance. In practice. We jeered at Michael Leighton for giving up soft goals. In practice. We laughed at Wayne Simmonds for not being able to score at all. In practice.

Yeah. Hockey's back in Philadelphia.

 

Indeed it is. 

To give you an idea of how impressive this was, here is the crowd at the Toronto Maple Leafs’ open practice yesterday. Granted, this was during the day… but still:

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Pic via (@mirtle)

The Flyers nearly filled their building on a cold Thursday night in January.

After the jump you will find videos from the practice, Claude Giroux’s speech, and post-practice interviews.

You can see more, too, on the Flyers’ website and at Bleeding Brotherly Love.

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