Legendary Observations

Another Edition of Some Simple Observations

One-upmanship?

This past NBA season, Lakers star Kobe Bryant changed his uniform number from the usual #8 to #24. Many people were curious about his motivation behind the change in digits, as it made him recognizable across the NBA with his classic numeral. Some thought it was meant to drive up jersey sales (which it did with Bryant leading all NBA players in that category) and one reporter asked him if he was inspired by Jack Bauer of Fox's hit television drama, 24. Bryant said the numeral was from his high school days, even though he changed it back then to #33 the year his Lower Merion HS team won the state championship.

Others thought it was a tribute or, dare I say, a challenge to Michael Jordan's legacy. Jordan's #23 plus one equals Bryant's new #24. Silly, yes, but this is sports and we're supposed to have fun with this stuff.

Now Bryant has been issued his Team USA jersey this summer and he will wear a different number because of the National team's rules to only issue numbers from 4-15. Bryant will don the #10 jersey this summer instead of the #24 he wore for the Lakers this past season. Quite coincidental is the fact that Michael Jordan wore #9 for the 1992 Gold medal winning Dream Team. Jordan's #9 plus one? Coincidence . . . ?

Penny Pinchers

The Phoenix Suns sure have made quite an impact this offseason . . . at least for other NBA teams. After selling one of their top picks in June's draft (which resulted in Spanish stud Rudy Fernandez), the Suns traded Kurt Thomas, their best interior defender, to the Supersonics. The Suns also figured to save time on selling first round picks in the future and gave two up in the deal, receiving only a 2nd rounder and a trade exception as compensation.

Phoenix's owners are trying to avoid the NBA's insane luxury tax but are costing themselves the present and future in the process. New GM Steve Kerr is going to have a tough time giving this team what it needs to compete for a championship this season.

Sip it while its Hot

Philadelphia's beloved baseball team surpassed the 10,000 loss mark earlier this month and has been on a tear since. With the exception of one brutal beating by the LA Dodgers in the first game of their west coast swing, the Phightins' have been getting quality pitching from their starters and bullpen. While the Mets have kept their short distance in the same span, the Phillies are quickly building confidence.

Sports radio talk show host Big Daddy Graham suggested earlier in the season, during the Phillies' April struggles, that the Phillies should tryout some young arms from the minor leagues instead of bringing in expensive non-star pitchers like Freddy Garcia (One win for every $10 million dollars he made this year) and Adam Eaton (who has shown promise but remains the consistently inconsistent pitcher that he has been for most of his career). When Garcia and Jon Lieber fled to the disabled list, the Phillies had to dig deep and come up with some emergency arms.

Kyle Kendrick has been one of the best stories in his short stint, going 4-1 thus far and keeping the Phillies in every game that he has pitched. All of Kendrick's starts went at least 6 innings until last night when he only lasted 5-2/3 against the Washington Nationals. An even bigger surprise has been former first round pick J.D. Durbin, who has excelled recently as the 5th starter. I felt good about the kid in his first start against the Mets when he struck out the first three batters he faced. That was before New York shelled him with 6 runs and rushed him off the mound. Since then, he pitched well in the bullpen, earning a second chance and relishing in the opportunity. Durbin held the Dodgers to one run in his first start since his disaster against the Mets and then threw his first career shutout against the San Diego Padres.

Big Daddy Graham noted the excitement fans have when they get behind a young pitcher, the way we did for Hamels a year ago, and it was something that could fuel excitement for the town and the team. Graham couldn't have been more right as you couldn't help but have a huge smile watching the young Durbin jump up and down after Aaron Rowand secured the final out in his shutout on Sunday. Baseball experts are saying that you'd be dumb to expect this from Durbin and Kendrick all season. My thoughts are maybe this is the boost this young Phillies team needed all season.

Jokes on you, Vick

I just wanted to share a few jokes I heard from Jon Stewart on the Daily Show. Stewart was beginning the show talking about Michael Vick and his federal indictments with the dogfighting case.

One: "I'd like to cover him (Vick) in liver and let the dogs see if he's as fast and elusive as they say he is . . . "

Two: "And I have to say, Michael Vick, being a two-sport athlete, football and dogfighting . . . not as impressive as the Bo Jackson thing!"

Our 42 of the DayOne good thing for the Suns this summer,
Marcus Banks scored 42 points in a
summer league game against the Cleveland Cavaliers