http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/bob_ford RSS Feed for Inq Col Bob Ford en-us Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:26:11 GMT http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/bob_ford/20090705_Bob_Ford___My_guy___When_Manuel_fills_out_the_all-star_roster__Howard_will_get_a_look_.html If we have learned anything about Charlie Manuel during his five seasons managing the Phillies, it is that he likes to support his players, and - what a coincidence - they have returned the favor. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/bob_ford/20090703_Bob_Ford__Anger__Armstrong_and_the_Tour_de_France.html As Lance Armstrong was climbing steadily to the summit of professional cycling's holiest of Ziggurats - reeling off two, three, four, five, six, SEVEN straight wins in the Tour de France during his remarkable comeback from the cancer that nearly killed him - followers, fanatics and doubters struggled to find an apt historical comparison within the sport. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/bob_ford/20090630_Bob_Ford__We_ll_see_if_Rollins_gets_the_message.html If being benched for one game is a short jolt of shock-therapy motivation - the baseball equivalent of a brief text message reading, Pck it Up:-) - then being removed from the lineup for four straight games is an old-fashioned, longhand epistle on the seriousness of the situation. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/bob_ford/20090628_Bob_Ford__Sixers_played_it_wise_and_prudent_on_draft_day.html Fourteen trades in the NBA coincided with the league's draft last week. The deals included everything from the glitzy transfer of big names - the trades of Shaquille O'Neal to Cleveland and Vince Carter to Orlando - to the more mundane shuffling of future second-round picks or wads of cash for current second-round picks who might or might not ever see the court. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/bob_ford/20090626_Bob_Ford__Holiday_pick_makes_clear_future_is_not_now.html The 76ers came out of the draft last night confident about the identity of their point guard five years from now. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/bob_ford/20090624_Bob_Ford__Two_coaches_in_a_boat__talking.html News Item: Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid and Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress, Reid's former offensive coordinator, left Monday for a weeklong fishing vacation in Alaska. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/bob_ford/20090619_Bob_Ford__Manuel_is_near_boiling_point_with_listless_Phils.html The Phillies continued their amazing home disappearing act yesterday, losing for the third straight day to the Toronto Blue Jays and falling to 1-5 on this homestand. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/bob_ford/20090617_Bob_Ford__When_Hamels_the_ace_doesn_t_win.html This is how it is every start for Cole Hamels: He is supposed to win. He is supposed to win because he is considered the only sure thing the Phillies have, the only pitcher who, when his turn comes around, has a weight of expectation leaning against him, as if the game is nearly in the win column before it is played. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/bob_ford/20090614_Bob_Ford__Time_for_Phillies__fantasy_camp_to_end.html Even before Antonio Bastardo stumbled through a five-run first inning last night - an untidy display matched only by the fielding behind him - it was clear that the Phillies needed to do something about their starting rotation. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/bob_ford/20090612_Bob_Ford__Madson_the_answer_for_now__and_maybe_later.html NEW YORK - The only downside of what Brad Lidge accomplished as the Phillies' closer in 2008 was that he put together an act no one could follow, Brad Lidge included.