Sixers Have Questions, But Still No Answer.

I'm sure by now many of you have heard the rumors of a possible reunion between Allen Iverson and your Philadelphia Seventy Sixers. While reactions at the moment appear mixed you should probably read the following statement from team President and General Manager Ed Stefanski, before you get your Under Armour in a Twist.

STATEMENT:

This afternoon, we met with free agent Allen Iverson in Dallas for the first formal discussion regarding a possible return to the Philadelphia 76ers. The meeting lasted approximately two hours and covered a variety of topics, all of which we would prefer to keep between the team and Allen.

The meeting was attended by Allen, his agent Leon Rose and his personal manager Gary Moore, along with 76ers Senior Vice President/Assistant General Manager Tony DiLeo, Head Coach Eddie Jordan, Assistant Coach Aaron McKie and me.

At this time, both parties remain non-committal regarding a final decision and we will continue to discuss internally whether or not to pursue this course.   We want to thank Allen, Leon and Gary for taking the time to meet with us today. The Sixers will have no further comment at this time and further updates will be provided as they become available.

Johnny Gets A Spot

The 37th Annual U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Dinner will take place tomorrow night k in Boston, Massachusetts as U.S. Hockey honors former Flyers forward John LeClair, the 1998 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team, Tony Amonte, Tom Barrasso and Frank Zamboni.

LeClair was the first American-born player to record three consecutive 50-goal seasons in the National Hockey League (1995-98) and during his 16 year NHL career, John also helped the Montreal Canadiens capture the 1993 Stanley Cup.

LeClair, who also had stops with the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins registered 406 goals and 413 assists for 819 points in 967 career games and currently ranks 13th on the NHL's all-time points list among American-born players. John arguably had his best years as a member of the Flyers "Legion of Doom" line which included Eric Lindros and Mikael Renberg. In 10 seasons (1994-2004), the St. Albans, Vt., native tallied 333 goals and 643 points as a Flyer, good for seventh on the club's all-time goals and points lists.

Legion of Doom, Leclair, Lindros & Renberg.

LeClair broke the 40-goal mark in five consecutive seasons (1995-2000) and finished in the top 10 in league scoring four times (1994-95, 1996-99).  A two-time Olympian (1998, 2002), LeClair ranked second on the team and third overall in points at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, helping lead Team USA to the silver medal. He was also a member of Team USA at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, and the U.S. National Junior Team at the 1988 and 1989 IIHF World Junior Championships. LeClair netted 34 career points (22-12) in 31 games in a Team USA uniform.

Today, John and former Flyers Teammate Chris Therien own and operate the internet trucking business LT Lines, based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

By the way, the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum, located in Eveleth, Minn., is open daily. For hours of operation and admission prices, visit USHockeyHallMuseum.com or call 800-443-7825.

Eagles Notebook 11.29.2009

Once again some interesting nuggets of information from the Eagles Director of Media Services Derek Boyko and his staff, following the Eagles 27-24 win over NFC East Rival Washington. Enjoy.

Sweeping the Skins   

•  The Eagles swept the season series against the Redskins for the fifth time in the last eight seasons (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009)
  
• Andy Reid improved his record to 14-8 against Washington (including 12 of the last 17)

McNabb Comes Through in the Clutch

• QB Donovan McNabb has now led the Eagles to back-to-back fourth-quarter comebacks, which is the first time the Eagles have done so since 2003 (14-10 win at NYG 10/19/03, 24-17 win vs. NYJ 10/26/03)
  
• He played in his 143rd game as an Eagle, passing Ron Jaworski for the team record among quarterbacks

Ball Hawkin’

• CB Asante Samuel picked up his sixth and seventh interceptions of the season, tying Troy Vincent (seven in 1999) for the highest total by any Eagle under Andy Reid
  
• It was Samuel’s highest interception total since leading the NFL with 10 in 2006
  
• Samuel has now had six multi-INT games in his career (his teams are 6-0 in those games)
  
• Samuel’s teams are 29-4 in games when he records an interception

Defensive Nuggets

• The Eagles have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in their last 18 regular season games
  
• DE Trent Cole picked up a sack and now has 9.5 on the season, three shy of his career high set in 2007. He has brought down the quarterback in nine of 11 games this season
  
• The defense has 18 interceptions on the season, including one in all but two games

The Book on the Rooks

• WR Jeremy Maclin had five catches for 63 yards, upping his season totals to 42 receptions and 540 yards. He ranks sixth in Eagles history among rookies in receptions and ninth in yards
  
• RB LeSean McCoy eclipsed the 100-yard mark in total yards from scrimmage (76 rushing, 25 receiving) for the second time in his career. He now has 734 scrimmage yards this season, which is tied with Fred Barnett (1990) the fifth-best total ever by an Eagles rookie
  
• McCoy’s 528 rushing yards this season are the sixth-most ever by an Eagles rookie. He needs 59 more to surpass Correll Buckhalter’s team record of 586 set in 2001.

D-Jax Still Diggin the Long Ball

• WR DeSean Jackson scored his shortest touchdown of the season, a 35-yard reception. He now has eight total touchdowns this season (6 receptions, one rush, one punt return), which is the most since Kevin Curtis had eight in 2007 (six receptions, two fumble recoveries)
  
• Jackson has eight touchdowns of 35 yards or more this season, which is the most by any player through his team’s first 11 games since 1970. The following players each had seven in their team’s first 11 games: Baltimore’s Jermaine Lewis in 1998, San Francisco’s Jerry Rice in 1986, St. Louis’ Roy Green in 1984, LA Rams’ Harold Jackson in 1973

Beyond The Boxscore

Each week, Eagles Director of Football Media Services, Derek Boyko and his hard working staff, release several pre and post game notes of statistical and informative nuggets. Here are a few tid bits from Their "Eagles Notebook" following Sunday nights 24-20 win over Da Bears.

Five Alive
QB Donovan McNabb completed 23 of 32 passes (71.9%) for 244 yards and two touchdowns (101.6 rating) The Eagles are 43-1 (including playoffs) when McNabb’s rating is 100 or higher (3-0 in 2009) and 17-0 when McNabb’s completion percentage is 70.0 or above (3-0 in 2009) McNabb played in his 142nd game as an Eagle, tying Ron Jaworski for the team record among quarterbacks

The Book on the Rooks
With six catches for 64 yards, WR Jeremy Maclin now has 37 catches for 477 yards on the season. His reception total ties with Calvin Williams (37 in 1990) for the 9th-best total by an Eagles rookie, and his yardage total is the tenth best by a rookie. RB LeSean McCoy rushed 20 times for a career-high 99 yards and his third-career touchdown. McCoy’s 452 yards on the season are the seventh-highest total ever for an Eagles rookie

D-Jax Digs the Long Ball
With 107 yards, WR DeSean Jackson picked up his fifth-career 100-yard game Jackson scored on a 48-yard touchdown pass from McNabb, his seventh overall this season (five receiving, one rushing, one punt return) all seven have been 48-plus yards Jackson also had a 53-yard punt return, the fourth longest of his career.

Offensive Quick Hits
The Eagles have scored 31 opening-drive points this season (four TDs, one FG). They are 4-1 when they score on their opening drive. QB Michael Vick had a 34-yard rush on the opening drive, his longest since a 51-yard run as a Falcon on 11/26/06 vs. NO WR Jason Avant scored his second touchdown of the season, tying a career high. Avant also has a career-high 380 receiving yards this season.

Birdseed
The Eagles picked up their first win vs. the Bears since a 19-9 victory at Chicago on 10/3/04. The Eagles won for the first time on NBC’s Sunday Night Football after dropping their first seven such contests.

Vick Gets Early Christmas Present.

A federal appeals court is backing the judge who ruled against the NFL and let quarterback Michael Vick keep more than $16 million in roster bonuses from the Atlanta Falcons. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday affirmed Judge David Doty's order saying Vick had already earned the bonuses before his dog fighting conviction, so the money wasn't subject to forfeiture.

Abdul-Jabbar Battles Cancer

(New York-AP) The NBA’s all –time leading scorer, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is being treated for a rare form of leukemia but his prognosis is encouraging.


Kareem told the Associated press Monday that he was diagnosed last December with chronic myeloid leukemia. An exam showed his white blood cell count was "sky high" and a doctor quickly diagnosed his condition. At first, all Jabbar heard was the word Leukemia. "I was scared," he said. "I thought it was all the same. I thought it could mean I have a month to live." "That was my first question," he said. "Was I going to make it?"

His doctor didn't give any guarantees, but informed him: "You have a very good chance to live your life out and not have to make any drastic changes to your lifestyle."

Abdul-Jabbar is taking an oral medication for the disease ironically he is a paid spokesman for the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, which makes a drug that treats the illness.

Citing the way Los Angeles Lakers teammate Magic Johnson brought awareness to HIV, Abdul-Jabbar said he wants to do the same for his form of blood cancer, which can be fatal if left untreated.

About 5,000 cases of CML are expected to be diagnosed in the United States this year, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society said. More than 22,000 people are living in the US with the disease.

Remember, Remember the 5th of November

Growing up as young lad in England one of my favorite days of the year was November 5th, Guy Fawkes day. Who the heck is Guy Fawkes you ask? Well, the historic origins of Guy Fawkes dates back to the conflict between virtually outlawed Catholics and the Protestant establishment of the 16th and early 17th century. On November 5, 1605, Guy Fawkes and a group of Catholic conspirators were captured in the act of trying to blow up Parliament with barrels of gunpowder while then Protestant King James I was seated in the house. Needless to say, Guy Fawkes life was not spared. That act of treason was the catalyst for the annual tradition of Guy Fawkes Day, a day when young children would build a straw effigy of Fawkes, tote him around in a wheel barrow asking a penny for the Guy. We would then use the collected money to buy fire works to set off later that night at a huge bonfire where we would eventually toss our stuffed effigy. Born from that tradition was aged British adage, Remember, Remember, the 5th of November.

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.


Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up the King and Parliament.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;


By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!