Frank Fitzpatrick

Frank Fitzpatrick has worked in the Inquirer Sports Department since 1980. He was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2001 and has won numerous state and national awards. He is the author of several books including the recently published, "The Lion in Autumn: A Season with Joe Paterno and Penn State Football." He and his wife live in West Chester, Pa., and they are the parents of four children.

See recent entries in Frank Fitzpatrick's Q&A Forum
Email Frank at ffitzpatrick@phillynews.com

Gallery: 2009: Jimmy Rollins
Braves pound Hamels, Phils
Phillies have minor-league pitching talent

For 76ers, NBA draft is a crapshoot
Philly players took similar paths to draft day
Thabeet or Rubio at No. 2? Both have doubters

Morning Bytes Keep U.S. Open from being too vanilla - 06/18/2009: By Frank Fitzpatrick, Inquirer Columnist

Don't wussify the U.S. Open! Don't let it morph into one more pitch-and-puttathon, like the Greater Milwaukee Open, where super pros and their trusty sidekick-caddies regularly pummel 7,200 yards into submission.
Morning Bytes Phils fans, be thankful - 06/11/2009: By Frank Fitzpatrick, Inquirer Columnist

When I hear Phillies fans bellyaching about Brad Lidge, I want to tell them to relax. It ought to be illegal to frown during this remarkable era of Phillies baseball.
Morning Bytes Sports' most annoying people - 06/04/2009: By Frank Fitzpatrick, Inquirer Columnist

So who are the most annoying people in sports, present company excluded? Annoyance, of course, is subjective. You, for instance, might enjoy watching Paul Pierce, while I harbor a fervent hope that Shaquille O'Neal will one day swallow him whole.
Morning Bytes A call-up gone too soon - 05/28/2009: By Frank Fitzpatrick, Inquirer Columnist

Memorial Day always makes me think of Harry O'Neill. A major-league ballplayer, a World War II hero . . . O'Neill's story, I've often thought, might make a nice newspaper takeout, perhaps even a book or screenplay.
Morning Bytes The reality of Michael Irvin - 05/21/2009: By Frank Fitzpatrick, Inquirer Columnist

Reality television, contemporary entertainment's version of the thumbscrew, may at last have struck bottom in its quest to find - and pander to - the lowest common denominator.
Morning Bytes Why can't 76ers draw? - 05/14/2009: By Frank Fitzpatrick, Inquirer Columnist

An enduring mystery shrouds the 76ers, one that has little to do with why they so rarely identify the right coach, draft the right player, or make a three-pointer.
Morning Bytes Utley should learn to lean - 05/07/2009: By Frank Fitzpatrick, Inquirer Columnist

I don't know how much baseball history Chase Utley has absorbed, but he probably ought to soak up a little on Pete Reiser.
Morning Bytes Tuning in, tuning out - 04/30/2009: By Frank Fitzpatrick, Inquirer Columnist

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to WEAK-AM's wall-to-wall coverage of the 2009 NFL draft. As we provide the world's richest professional sports league with 16 hours of free publicity, we're going to be wasting another sunny Saturday in a dark sports bar. Today, we're here at Sud Suckers on Sumneytown Pike, home of the Eagles fans' favorite 99-cent sandwich, the Greasy Neale.
Morning Bytes Catching Phillie$ fever - 04/23/2009: By Frank Fitzpatrick, Inquirer Columnist

We haven't been to a Phillies game this season. Maybe we'll go Tuesday. That will give me time to prepare, because going to a ball game these days is considerably more complicated than it used to be.
Morning Bytes Kalas, Ashburn reunion - 04/20/2009: By Frank Fitzpatrick, Inquirer Columnist

There has been much talk since Harry Kalas' death about his possible heavenly reunion with longtime broadcast partner and friend Richie Ashburn.