http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_donnellon RSS Feed for DN Col Sam Donnellon en-us Fri, 25 May 2012 16:53:16 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_donnellon/20120525_Mike_Richards__Jeff_Carter_in_finals__but_Flyers_still_better_off.html FOR MOST OF US, it’s a no-brainer. In a few days, either the New Jersey Devils will again be in a Stanley Cup final or the New York Rangers and their Darth Vader coach will be. Either way it doesn’t really matter, because we’d pull for a team with Darth, Lord Voldemort, the real Bundy (not Chris Therien) and the real Lucipher before we’d pull for either team. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_donnellon/20120516_Sam_Donnellon__Phillies__Pence_relieves_a_little_pressure.html AS BOTH feet landed on the plate, his face contorted under the conflict of disparate emotions, like a man who found $100 on the street after hitting a dog with his car. Hunter Pence looked apologetic and happy all at once, held his arms out as he touched home Tuesday as if simultaneously pleading for forgiveness and accepting it. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_donnellon/151320175.html The phrase was coined after a particularly gruesome loss to the Padres in April 2010. The San Francisco Giants were defeated in the most inglorious fashion, allowing San Diego exactly one hit while losing, 1-0. “Giants baseball,” Duane Kuiper, their longtime announcer, said on the air the next day. Then, pausing for effect: “Torture.” http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_donnellon/20120511_Sam_Donnellon__Do_the_Flyers_have_the_right_pieces_.html CAN THE FLYERS' system, as currently constructed, win a Stanley Cup? On the surface, the question seems easily dismissed. Peter Laviolette won a Stanley Cup in Carolina and went to the finals with a Flyers team only two seasons ago, using a pair of journeyman goalies, no less. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_donnellon/20120509_Sam_Donnellon__Was_this_Timonen_s_swan_song_.html HE FINISHED another postseason looking again like an old action figure, his limbs long misshapen from too much bending and wear, his effectiveness frayed by too many hits, too much dependence, too many years of doing this. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_donnellon/20120508_Sam_Donnellon__Hamels__Giroux__To_tell_truth__lying_preferred.html COLE HAMELS said he meant to hit Bryce Harper and he was suspended for it. Claude Giroux said he didn't mean to hit Dainius Zubrus in the head with his shoulder and he was suspended anyway, on account that few, if any, believe him. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_donnellon/20120507_Sam_Donnellon__Flyers__wheels_are_falling_off.html NEWARK, N.J. - The Next Step. You hear it all the time in sports. Often, it is applied to teams that have provided a glimpse of what they might become, uneven teams with promising talent and/or unfulfilled promise. It is figurative speech, or meant to be, but in this playoff series between the Flyers and New Jersey Devils, it is a literal description as well. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_donnellon/20120503_Sam_Donnellon__Playoff_veterans_must_show_kids_the_way.html OK, EIGHT GAMES into this marathon of attrition, and what do we know about this playoff edition of the Flyers? I mean, really know for sure. The goalie has played good enough most of the time, spectacular some of the time and not-so-hot at other times. The kids have amazed at times and disappeared at times, and the leadership has been inspired some of the time and disappointing at others, like Tuesday night. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_donnellon/20120502_Sam_Donnellon__Bryz__effort_goes_to_waste.html AT THE START of this postseason, Ilya Bryzgalov was the question with no answer. Was he good enough to steal you a game or two or three? Was he flaky enough to sabotage one all by himself? http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_donnellon/20120430_Sam_Donnellon__Flyers_keep_showing_up.html THIS TIME OF the year it's a game of attrition. At least it's supposed to be. The Rangers lose Brian Boyle; bodies were falling for the Bruins like toy soldiers. You make do.