This is your forum for posing questions to our staff and certain professionals. As with all information on our sites, questions and answers are published for information and discussion purposes only. Such information is not a substitute for professional advice from an adviser familiar with your particular situation. We do not guarantee the accuracy, reliability or completeness of any information provided in our forum.
Ask Don McKee
Inquirer Sports Writer
Don McKee has been covering sports since 1966. He joined The Inquirer as the South Jersey columnist in 1974 and has covered high schools from Atlantic City to Cincinnati; Penn State, Pitt and West Virginia football; and the Phillies, Eagles and Flyers over the years. For the last 13 years he has hosted a Sunday talk show on Sports Radio 610 WIP. He tries to live by the sage words of Lord Northcliffe, the man who created the world's first sports page in the late 19th century, and who coined the famous phrase: "News is something that somebody somewhere wants to hide. Everything else is public relations."
Read Don McKee's recent columns
Most Recent Questions & Answers
Questions: 61 - 10 of 123
QDon good to hear you on radio do you think the addition of daniel briere can help the flyers win the atlantic divsion over pittsburgh and the rangers and do you think david beckham can be a good soccer player again? Third how long do you think it will be until temple turns it around? thanks
Kyle, NJ 09/04/07
A
Hi Kyle: wow....lotsa questions.
I think Temple will have a winning conference record in its second season in the MAC, which is 2009. And I think Beckham will be okay, but not much better than that. Remember, he is NOT paid to play soccer....he's paid to bring publicity to MLS.
On hockey: Briere certainly makes the Flyers a lot better, as do some of their other moves. But since I don't know how good Pittsburgh is going to be, it's hard to say where the Flyers can finish. And who's that third team? Rangers? Never heard of them! thanx, dm
Don McKee
QOver the weekend, Ian Scott was placed on the "minor Injured Reserve list." I've never heard of this. Can you tell me what this is? And, why would the Eagles place him on the "minor Injured Reserve list" instead of the PUP list?
Nick E, Oaklyn, PA 09/04/07
A
Hi Nick:
To tell you the truth, I had never heard of it either. The Minor IR is very seldom used but here's the distinction. On the IR, a player is done for the season and you have to pay him his full salary. On Minor IR, the player is kept on IR and paid until he is healthy. Then he'll be released and can be signed by any team EXCEPT the Eagles. Obviously, the MIR is a way of avoiding paying the full salary. Hey: is the Oaklyn Manor Bar still around? thanx, dm
Don McKee
QIn regards to your article today, how do you base your "most annoying fans?" I must take exception to your opinion. I am a Met fan living in PA and must admit it's incredibly difficult. In fact, it is more difficult for me here dealing with Phillie fans as opposed to dealing with Yankee fans when I lived in NY. I am appalled of the behavior exhibited not only at Citizen's Bank but also up at the Reading Phillie Park as well. I learned that the hatred towards fans of other teams is taught early, as my son of the age of 6 was being abused for wearing a Met jersey. It is a sad state of affairs when you cannot attend a family oriented ballpark without being heckled by disgruntled fans who seem to take pride in being overly obnoxious. Maybe the issue here is that fans of the Mets and I think you were referring to the Red Sox fans travel with their teams to support them is a problem for Philadelphians. I would think that routing for your team even if it is in a visiting ballpark should not be considered as annoying but evidently in this town it is. I would appreciate a response. Thank you
Anonymous, Pottstown, PA 09/02/07
AMets fans and Red Sox fans are annoying to a degree beyond anyone else in sports because they assume a superiority of self due to the attachment to a sporting entity. I'm no better than you as a person just because the Steelers have five Super Bowl rings or Penn State has two national championships. I'm just a fan of two pretty good teams. Mets/Sox fans feel they are actually socially superior to others. I understand Yankees' fans' smug superiority attitude -- they have 25 pennants to look at it. What are the Mets and the Red Sox but long-time losers who have made it a social fetish to brag about..........losing? dm
Don McKee
QDon, what is going on with the rash of injuries to Phillies Pitchers? Scott Mathieson, Kyle Drabek, Cole Hamels, Matt Smith, and Ryan Madson all have suffered serious elbow/shoulder injuries this season. Does the coaching/medical staff know what they are doing?
Mike, Gilberstville, PA 09/01/07
AThrow in Freddy Garcia, John Lieber, Tom Gordon, Brett Myers......the list is incredible. Is it a coincidence or something else? Only a doctor could answer that. dm
Don McKee
QDon,
Your thoughts on Pat Burrell? I read your column yesterday where you described him as a player who on his way to being outta here, and on who may be easy to dislike. While I agree with you, I think the fan base really does WANT to love this guy. As much as they are overly hard on him when he is bad, he is overly applauded when he does well. It's the strangest thing I've ever seen. Has there ever been another player the fans wanted to love so much, but just kept falling short?
sc, PA 08/27/07
A
Hi Steve:
Pat Burrell's contract is up after the 2008 season. I doubt the Phillies would make any attempt to re-sign him, as they need to get younger and faster. His from Southern California and has his off-season home in Phoenix, so my guess is that he would try to go to a franchise in that part of the country. HOWEVER, his physical tools have eroded so rapidly, he may only be able to DH, which would limit his oppotunities. DO NOT be surprised if he is not signed. thanx, dm
Don McKee
QWhy do you find it necessary to stir this pot with the Eagle's release of Jerimiah Trotter? Why don't you write how the Eagles did this in a way that was considerate and respectful of what he has meant to the team, by doing it in advance of cut down day, where he would have little or no chance of catching on with another team. And, by the way, how many times have the Eagles been wrong in their choices to release popular veteran players?
Ed, Hatboro, PA 08/27/07
A
No pot stirring took place.
I recounted a list of my favorite Eagles who had been cut. What on earth could be stirring about that? Trotter can't play any more and most reporters knew he would be released. It was hardly controversial. dm
Don McKee
QWhich popular Eagle is next? Sorry to say, I'm afraid it will be Dawkins...a real warrior.
Hobbit, Greenwich, CT 08/26/07
ABDawk had one of his best seasons last fall, while Trotter is at the end of the line. The next big name out the door might be LJ Smith, but he's not one of my faves. (Dawk is). thanx, dm
Don McKee
QHey Don,
After reading your column today, I am somewhat stumped. You are supposed to be some kind of authority on sports, yet you cannot understand why your "favorite" players are getting cut. Trotter is beginning to show signs of age, Brian Mitchell was done when the Eagles got rid of him. Same with Troy Vincent, Hugh Douglas. Garcia wants too much money for what he is worth. (Garcia's contributions are not without appreciation) Terrell Owens is a big jackass. Yes, he can catch. However T.O. is a cancer. The Eagles got to the Superbowl without him, but once he returned in the Superbowl, he didn't help them win it. I would love to be able to go back and see how they would have done without "Me-O". Most of the players you mentioned were well liked, but players get old. Allen Iverson was a fan favorite and the Sixers kept him too long.Oh yeah, I failed to mention all the championships the Sixers won with him. Oops, I forgot, there were none.
Andy Reid makes some dumb mistakes, but he is our best shot at a championship. At least he isn't afraid to get rid of "favorites" when it is time for them to move on. Go Birds.
Doug Besch, Sellersville, PA 08/26/07
A
Hi DB:
I don't why you are stumped. There's no mystery as to why those players were allowed to leave. Trotter, obviously, can't play any more. That was obvious last season and most reporters anticipated the move. I didn't say I disagreed with any of the moves; I merely said those were some of my favorite Eagles. thanx, dm
Don McKee
QHey Don, how come I don't hear you on the radio anymore?
rexbigonia, Maple Shade, NJ 08/26/07
A
That's a question you'd need to pose to WIP. I'm ready to go..... thanx, dm
Don McKee
QHey Don,
Why do the Eagles keeps getting rid of players? Because those players all stink.
Tortter is done, so was Vincent, Taylor, Staley, Douglass, Brian Mitchell, Darwin Walker, etc.
They only one they missed was Burgess and he had a pretty significant history of injury.
Anonymous, Rydal, PA 08/26/07
AYou're right. Trotter can't play any more and most reporters anticipated the move. I didn't say I disagreed with any of those moves....I just said most of those guys were my favorite players... thanx, dm
Don McKee
Questions: 61 - 10 of 123
