Things are getting worse for Phillies

The Phillies are only 3 1/2 games out of first place, but as the season goes on, you just have a feeling this team isn't going to the postseason.

The latest reason came Tuesday afternoon, when the Phillies placed both second baseman Chase Utley, at right, and third baseman Placido Polanco on the disabled list. Utley injured his thumb sliding into second base Monday night against Cincinnati, while Polanco has been out of the lineup since Friday with an injured elbow that has plagued him all season.

With catcher Carlos Ruiz also on the DL, 3 of the team's regular 8 players are out of the lineup.

Since the start of the season, the Phillies regular lineup has been on the field together for 5 games -- all in the first week of the season. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins spent 5 weeks on the disabled list earlier this season. In addition to Ruiz, Utley and Polanco, pitchers Ryan Madson, J.A. Happ, Antonio Bastardo and Chad Durbin are also on the DL.

Kobayashi won't compete in hot dog-eating contest

The biggest event of July Fourth weekend could be without one of its most prominent players.

It looks like a contact dispute with Major League Eating will keep Takeru Kobayashi, at right, out of Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest on Sunday, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Kobayashi, a six-time winner of the event, is currently No. 3 in the world in the MLE rankings.

Ranked No. 2 in the world is Bob Shoudt of Royersford.

Read more here.

Sixers trade Dalembert

After years of attempting to get rid of overpaid, underperforming center Samuel Dalembert, the Philadelphia 76ers have finally found a taker.

According to The Associated Press, the Sixers have traded Dalembert to the Sacramento Kings for center Spencer Hawes and forward Andres Nocioni.

Dalembert, shown at right, has been with the Sixers since 2001, when he was a first-round draft choice out of Seton Hall. He averaged just over 8 points and 8 rebounds a game for his career.

Calif. man arrested trying to kill bin Laden

A Calfornia man was arrested in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday and told officials he was there to kill Osama bin Laden and fight the Taliban.

Gary Brooks Faulkner was carying a pistol, a sword and a scimitar when he was picked up attmpting to cross into Afghanistan. According to reports, Falukner had visited the region 7 times before his arrest.

He had expressed his intention to fight the Taliban and bin Laden, reports stated.

For more, click here.

2009 ugliest dog dies

The dog who won Animal Planet's "World's Ugliest Dog" contest in 2009 has died near Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

Miss Ellie, a small, bug-eyed Chinese Crested Hairless Dog, was 17 and had starred in shows at the Comedy Barn in Pigeon Forge, according to The Mountain Press.

Last Nov. 12 was "Miss Ellie Day" in Pigeon Forge to help her owner raise money for the local human society. Over the years, the dog helped raise more than $100,000 for the county human society.

For more, click here.

Guaranteed win

The Phillies are struggling right now, but if you tune in to WPHT 1210-AM or 610 WIP tonight at 7 p.m., you are guaranteed to hear a Phillies' victory. That's because both stations are re-broadcasting Roy Halladay's perfect game from Saturday night.