http://www.philly.com/r?19=960&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F Sports columnists from philly.com en-us Sat, 18 Feb 2012 08:23:21 GMT 2012-02-18T08:23:21Z en-us http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=139558888&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20120218_Drexel_could_give_NCAA_tourney_selectors_big_headaches.html If Drexel, now tied for first place in the Colonial Athletic Association, keeps winning basketball games but doesn't win the conference tournament, the NCAA selection committee will have a big job on its hands. Sat, 18 Feb 2012 08:23:21 GMT af2af0ed6f532659047e5240a22a2fb4 2012-02-18T08:23:21Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=139551913&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20120217_Villanova_struggling_to_get_through_mediocre_season.html For the first time in awhile, it has turned into one of those seasons on the Main Line. Sat, 18 Feb 2012 08:12:46 GMT af694305b567d48555ad235a7f2a4c01 2012-02-18T08:12:46Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=139551923&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20120217_No_trade_likely_good_enough_to_boost_Sixers_into_Finals.html The 76ers have been here before. Sat, 18 Feb 2012 07:50:55 GMT cdb29c0c2d0f03cb8f558377e874ed3a 2012-02-18T07:50:55Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=139558923&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20120218_Inside_the_Phillies__Phillies_face_instability_in_left_field.html CLEARWATER, Fla. - For 14 straight seasons, from 1983 to 1996, the Phillies used 14 leftfielders on opening day. It's a position that attracts obscurity because a poor defender with a decent bat can hide there. The Phillies reluctantly embraced that idea. Sat, 18 Feb 2012 07:21:28 GMT 52d588f657b8105a9cc79b1e80af8d7e 2012-02-18T07:21:28Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=139552163&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20120217_Drexel_could_give_NCAA_tourney_selectors_big_headaches.html If Drexel, now tied for first place in the Colonial Athletic Association, keeps winning basketball games but doesn't win the conference tournament, the NCAA selection committee will have a big job on its hands. Sat, 18 Feb 2012 02:08:16 GMT 5a1ed94fdfce5c535947ae64f7d74ab8 2012-02-18T02:08:16Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=139499003&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20120217_Sam_Donnellon__One_man_s_opinion__How_to_fix_our_4_major_sports.html SO, YOU and I are on a pair of bar stools, big screens all around. We are doing what we should be doing amid such a scene: watching, opining, and above all, fixing. Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:07:37 GMT bcfe3a1d6147bc1e5d9d8b8621d93ea5 2012-02-17T22:07:37Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=139495183&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20120217_Phil_Sheridan__Flyers_and_Holmgren_have_already_added_difference_makers.html With the trade deadline and all that it represents creeping up on him, general manager Paul Holmgren offered a brief evaluation of the Flyers. Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:00:27 GMT 4a00f937de12e34d57bc56d9e791a642 2012-02-17T19:00:27Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=139490273&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20120217_Recruiting_Central__Chester_s_Jefferson_eyeing_Temple.html Rondae Jefferson might become a Temple Owl. And the Chester High junior basketball player said it isn't just because his brother, Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson, is the Owls' starting power forward. Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:33:10 GMT 7bb65482dad3883bb9131ee8b2f44a13 2012-02-17T14:33:10Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=139490318&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20120217_Phil_Anastasia__Bishop_Eustace_wasn_t_perfect_when_it_needed_to_be.html Trevor Norton will remember the open three-pointer that kicked off the side of the rim. Carson Puriefoy will remember the layup that didn't fall. Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:34:02 GMT eb2c8d16d6a6bfd2d9b6afa9054fdaa5 2012-02-17T08:34:02Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=139490343&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20120217_Rick_O_Brien__Count_on_it__Chester_and_Lower_Merion_in_district_final.html Except for when it comes to the two teams that will play for top honors at Villanova on March 2, the PIAA District 1 Class AAAA boys' basketball tournament should be wide open. Fri, 17 Feb 2012 05:35:19 GMT a5ca667be04dad4f89f99e643f4fc223 2012-02-17T05:35:19Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=139422648&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20120216_John_Smallwood__Do_as_he_says__not_as_he_did.html IN MY Small opinion, former NBA star and budding TV analyst Shaquille O'Neal might have simply used the wrong word. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:00:37 GMT 2a21cbbca43646086e791cc30b626b55 2012-02-16T08:00:37Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=139342978&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20120215_Sam_Donnellon___Lin-credible__that_race_is_being_raised_in_NBA_again.html ONCE UPON a time in a simpler America, Jeremy Lin's story would be simply beautiful. Uplifting, inspirational, universal in its underdog appeal, it would unite us all, make our world seem a slightly better and smaller place because of what it said about perseverance, humility and following your dream. Traits still embraced by most, if not all, of us. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:58:55 GMT 0403f7ab9647ce3d1f1b87170c0c3674 2012-02-15T22:58:55Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=139336323&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20120215_Phil_Sheridan__Eagles_should_pass_on_diva_wide_receivers.html Today's lesson in the business of sports comes to us courtesy of NFL wide receivers - past and present, and (maybe) future. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:08:33 GMT 7ef5b0e3248250018f88a145b94d6fed 2012-02-15T19:08:33Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=139336248&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20120215_Owls_will_be_tested_by_Bonnies_and_Nicholson.html 1. Owls take flight In Duke's Austin Rivers, Temple faced a lethal scorer. At St. Louis, it played a very good team in a hostile road environment. And against Xavier, it faced a 7-foot, 275-pound post player in Kenny Frease. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:51:35 GMT f124dd61875fc95003c6b5a8f2cd71b6 2012-02-15T18:51:35Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=139330658&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20120215_Dick_Jerardi__PLAYING_THE_FIELD_OF_68.html SELECTION Sunday is March 11. The national championship game is April 2 in New Orleans. There are times I wonder which day is more celebrated. Actually, I know. It is when those 68 teams are revealed and America can start filling out brackets. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:02:16 GMT 27423066a883b2696ec4435d4711f44a 2012-02-15T12:02:16Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168376&44=139336363&32=3796&7=195502&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2F20120215_Marc_Narducci__Winslow_Township_s_Ste_yce_McNeil_takes_another_step_toward_Olympic_dream.html This is really a family affair, one that got Ste'yce McNeil into track, then pushed her into the headlines, and now into college. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:17:02 GMT 08c1b830790ba8144639663c4222ce6e 2012-02-15T09:17:02Z