Top 10 sports events of 2008

Here is MY LIST of the top 10 sports events of 2008:

1. Phillies win the World Series with a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays for their first championship in 28 years and the city's first in 25 years.

2. See No. 1

3. See No. 1 and 2

4. Phillies win the National League Championship in 5 games over the Los Angels Dodgers with a 5-1 victory.

5. Eagles rout the hated Dallas Cowboys, 44-6, on the last day of the season and, thanks to a chain of unlikely events, earn a berth in the NFC playoffs.

6. See No. 5

7. Phillies beat the Milwaukee Brewers in 4 games in the National League Division Series.

8. Phillies win National League East as the New York Mets collapse again.

9. Temple wins the Atlantic 10 men's basketball championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament with a win over Big 5 rival St. Joseph's in the conference tournament title game.

10. Penn State football goes 11-1, is co-champion of the Big 10 Conference and earns a berth in the Rose Bowl. The Nittany Lions miss an unbeaten season by one point in a 24-23 loss to Iowa on a last-second field goal.

A holiday miracle

After last week's awful, uninspiring 10-3 loss to the Redskins, it seemed the Eagles were knocked from the playoff chase. Too many outcomes had to fall in line on the season's last day for the Eagles to get back into the playoffs: losses by Tampa and Chicago or Minnesota, then a win over the Cowboys.

But around 4 p.m. Sunday, the holiday miracle began to take shape:

Raiders 31, Tampa 24

Houston 31, Chicago 24

So when the Eagles took the field against the hated Cowboys, they knew a win would get them in the playoffs. And win they did.

EAGLES 44, COWBOYS 6

Don't know if it was the emotion on which the Eagles played, or the lack of intensity from the Cowboys, but after a 3-3 first quarter, the Cowboys imploded, turning the ball over 5 straight times which led to 27 Eagles points. But who cares, we beat the stinkin' Cowboys to get into the playoffs. I watched the game at a little holiday gathering at my house. My dad and uncle and cousin from York and I were all going crazy as each Cowboys' fumble led to an Eagle defender running in for a score.

So now the Eagles will visit Minnesota to play the Vikings in a game at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

GO EAGLES!!!

Merry Christmas

I hope all readers of this blog and visitors to pottsmerc.com have a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy holiday season.

For any Phillies fans out there, click here for a special holiday greeting from the World Champions!

And in these tough economic times, here's hoping for a joyous and prosperous 2009.

What were they thinking?

A couple in New Jersey is upset that a local supermarket wouldn't bake a cake with their son's full name on it for his third birthday. And not only that, they don't understand the uproar that has followed.

The child's name? Adolph Hitler Campbell.

The parents, Heath and Deborah Campbell, shown with their son, above, wanted an area grocery store to put "Happy Birthday Adolph Hitler" on a birthday cake, and the store refused.

According to the Associated Press, Karen Meleta, a spokeswoman for ShopRite, said the Campbells had similar requests denied at the same store the last two years and said Heath Campbell previously had asked for a swastika to be included in the decoration.

"We reserve the right not to print anything on the cake that we deem to be inappropriate," Meleta said. "We considered this inappropriate."

Heath Campbell said it's just a name and that people need to look to the future and not focus on the past. I hope his son feels the same way when he learns he shares his name with the most evil man of the 20th century.

The Campbells have two other children with unusual names: JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell turns 2 in a few months and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell will be 1 in April.

To read more, click here.

New Year's tradition in jeopardy

One of this area's grandest New Year's traditions may become a victim of the nation's financial meltdown.

Because of escalating city budget cuts, the Mummers parade in Philadelphia could be shortened, or even cancelled. An answer could come Thursday after a meeting between the city and the organization.

According to the Associated Press, The city has told the Mummers it can only contribute $300,000 this year. The Mummers say they are concerned about their costs.

Doug Oliver, a spokesman for Mayor Michael Nutter, says talks went well Wednesday and he's optimistic.

Oliver says he believes the parade could be shortened to six-and-a-half hours and still run its whole route at a cost of $347,000. He says the city needs an answer from the Mummers by Thursday, two weeks before New Year's Day, to allow time for preparation.

A new Miss World

To read the story, click here.

Sen. Casey tackles important issue in Washington

You'd think Sen. Bob Casey would have better things to worry about.

But according to the Associated Press, Casey isn't happy with new management of the Senate restaurants on Capitol Hill because the restaurants no longer carry two important items made in Pennsylvania: Snyder's Pretzels and Utz Potato Chips.

Casey, a Democrat, has written to two managers who oversee operations of the restaurants asking for the items to be returned. He says the snack foods, both made in York County, have been sold in the restaurants since 1996.

Casey says if complaints to his office are an indication, many other patrons are also unhappy.

Earlier this year, the Senate decided to privatize the restaurants as part of an effort to save taxpayers money.

You won't catch me eating here

You have to wonder what possesses people to do what three workers at a Kentucky Fried Chicken in California did recently.

After closing the restaurant, the three stripped to their underwear and swimwear and cavorted in a deep sink used to clean dishes. They were discovered after one of the girls posted photos of the event on a social networking site.

The workers were suspended.

To read more, click here.

Pat won't be back

The Pat Burrell Era with the Phillies looks like it has ended.

According to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com, the Phillies have signed free agent outfielder Raul Ibanez to a 3-year contract worth $30 million. Ibanez will play left field. To read more, click here.

Burrell, a free agent, finishes his Phillies' career as the team's third-leading all-time home run hitter with 251 and was seventh in RBI with 827. He also was second by striking out 1,273 times. The leader in all three categories is Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt.

It's the truth, but...

It's still 2 months until spring training, but the war of the words between the Phillies and Mets has begun.

Phillies ace lefthander Cole Hamels, the World Series MVP, went on New York radio station WFAN, said he believes the Mets have been "choke artists" the past two seasons, according to ESPN.com

For more, click here.

Eating apple harmful to NBA rookie's health

For some, an apple a day won't keep the doctor away.

The Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose, the first pick in the NBA draft, needed 10 stitches to close a gash in his left forearm after he rolled onto a knife while eating an apple in bed, according to the Chicago Tribune.

To read more, click here.

Senator "Nanny?"

Fran Drescher, who starred in the sitcom "The Nanny," wants to change professions: to Senator Drescher.

Drescher, at right, wants to fill the seat to succeed Sen. Hillary Clinton as the junior senator from New York.

According to her publicist Jordan Bright, Drescher has been an advocate for women's health and a public diplomacy envoy for the U.S. State Department.

In addition to her role as Fran Fine in "The Nanny," Drescher also had roles in "Saturday Night Fever" and "This Is Spinal Tap."

Looks like Mets get closer

It looks like the Mets are going to add former Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez to their bullpen.

Rodriguez, who saved a record 62 games for the Angels last year, and the Mets apparently have agreed to a three-year, $37 million contract.

The Mets bullpen was awful last season and led to their second straight season-ending collapse which left them out of the playoffs.

As a Phillies' fan, I hate to see the Mets get better. But this off-season it doesn't matter, because the Phillies are World Series champions!

Recession hits NFL

Even the money-making machine known as the National Football League isn't immune to the recession.

The league announced Tuesday that it is cutting more than 10 percent of its staff as it deals with the nation's economic downturn.

According to the Associated Press, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the cuts in a memo to league employees. The NFL is eliminating about 150 of its staff of 1,100 in New York, NFL Films in New Jersey and television and Internet production facilities in Los Angeles.

In September, Forbes called the NFL "the richest game" and the "the strongest sport in the world." The league has revenues of approximately $6.5 billion of which an estimated $4.5 billion goes to players.

Karaoke killing

And I thought my singing was bad.

A man was stabbed to death at a karaoke bar in Malaysia for refusing to give up the microphone, according to Sky News.

To read more, click here.

Penn State mascot suspended

The legal woes that have plagued the Penn State football team over the past 2 years have now extended to its mascot.

James Sheep of Chambersburg, Pa., who plays the Nittany Lion, was suspended Thursday for violating team rules, a week and a half after being charged with DUI.

According to the Associated Press, the university says Sheep will not participate in school events or attend the Rose Bowl game or events. Penn State cheerleading coach Curt White says Sheep will resume his duties in the new year.

University police say Sheep was pulled over on campus around 3:15 a.m. on Nov. 22, hours before Penn State's game against Michigan State. He was later charged with DUI and summary traffic violations.

The school says another member of the cheerleading squad will serve as mascot until Sheep returns.

Police: Man assaults girlfriend with cheeseburger

A Florida man is in trouble with the law after shoving a cheeseburger in his girlfriend's face during an argument.

The man, 22-year-old Vincent Gonzalez of Vero Beach, is facing domestic abuse charges.

The cheeseburger was from McDonald's. To read more, click here.

Why couldn't I think of this?

The Travel Channel debuts a new show at 10 tonight, "Man vs. Food."

According to the show's Web site, host Adam Richman sets out to travel the country in search of the best places to do some serious indulging as he tries to find the best traditional food the nation can serve up. Among this cities Richman visits this season are Atlanta, Chicago, Memphis, Boston and Pittsburgh.

But here's the most interesting angle of the show. After exploring the region's culinary history, the Web site states, Richman will take on the city's toughest food challenge. Among those challenges: the Sasquatch Burger in Memphis, the Atomic Hot Wings platter in Pittsburgh, and a 13-pound pizza in Atlanta.

Now this is one show I wish I had thought of.

Holiday concert Saturday

The Boyertown Alumni Marching Unit will present its fifth annual holiday concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at Morningstar Fellowship Church on Limekiln Road in Bechtelsville.

Among the selections are “Sleigh Ride,” “A Christmas Festival,” “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “March of the Toys,” “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, and “Celtic Carol.”

A free-will donation will be accepted, with the money donated to an area charity.