Hoops vs. movies: The battle for the remote

Good Morning and I think I heard something about tomorrow...

Since we get to sleep in a little later on the weekends, we usually stay up later on Friday and Saturday nights watching some type of movie.
Most times, it's some kind of dumb comedy or action flick. With Netflix and the on-demand stuff, there are plenty of options. The good thing is if the movie is really terrible (there are plenty of those), it's not as bad as if paying at the theater.
The same schedule holds out for most of the year. The movies come on and everybody settles into their spots in the living room.
There is only one exception: The NCAA basketball tournament.
It's just something I like watching. It doesn't matter the game, if one is a blowout, there are three others going on at the same time.
So, we settled in Friday with basketball on the tube.
The first complaint came five minutes later: "Do we really have to watch this all night? Can't we watch a movie? This is BORING!!!"
Quick answers: Yes. Go in the other room. No it's not.
Now, I have to give my housemates credit. They aren't really basketball fans, so they put up with my indulgence before just going to bed a little earlier than a usual Friday.
Now, when I tried to pull the same thing Saturday? That's when the real battle began.

Shoot, what happened to the 76ers

Good Morning and I think I can smell spring!

I've always been a 76ers fan.
Growing up, I was lucky enough to see some of the greatest teams in the history of the franchise.
I remember exactly where I was when the 76ers blew the 1977 championship to Seattle. I remember the Doc telling everybody "We owe you one."
Of course, that "one" didn't come until 1983, but it was still glorious.
This year for Christmas, I purchased a four-game plan and have been taking the children down to watch.
The last game, the 9-year old girl said, "The 76ers have a neat opening, but they sure can't play basketball."
I laughed.
Last night, the 76ers lost by 43 points to the Golden State Warriors. The night before, they lost by 45 to Clippers.
Yes, we knew the team was going to be bad this year. Actually, most were hoping they would be bad. In the NBA these days, you can't win without being bad and drafting well.
Losing by a combined 88 points in back-to-back games, though?
I don't think anybody is laughing now.

Rise and Shine --- Really? The 76ers?

Good Morning to all you insomniacs!
Was that really a couple thousand people cheering for the 76ers yesterday?

Really? People came out to the Constitution Center on a Thursday in the summer to get a look at new center Andrew Bynum?

Wait, aren't the Eagles getting ready for the season? Aren't the Phillies showing signs of life? Cheering for the 76ers in August? Why, I never...

The 76ers have always seemed like fourth-class citizens in the sports community. The Eagles ruled until the Phillies won, now they trade Nos. 1 and 2 depending on the time of year. The Flyers have always had a loyal following.

The 76ers, though, even in the glory years, seemed to pushed to the side.

Truth be told, my group of friends were always bigger 76ers fans. We went to games and listened to the 76ers on the radio (not every game was televised back then). We sat in the school cafeteria debating the merits of keeping Darryl Dawkins, then we cheered the signing of Moses Malone. We laughed at the drafting of Hersey Hawkins. We felt betrayed when Doug Moe made it look like coaching the team was taking too much time away from the beach.

Even the last few years, I've been able to get down to a couple of 76ers games (pro sports has totally outpriced the family, but that's for another time).

So, it was cool to see cheering for the 76ers in the middle of the summer.

Rise and Shine --- Getting it

Good Morning and welcome to the only place on the Internet you can find this!

"Why are they calling a time out?" "Why did they blow the whistle?" "Why did they throw the ball down?"
Those were just a few of the questions I got this week while first watching football, then some basketball.
They seem basic and, sometimes, a little too basic about things that are happening in certain games.
Then, I sit back and remember who is asking them. For the first time this year, the boys enjoy sitting down and watching sports with Dad.
They know the basics of the game. They know you have to score touchdowns in football, baskets in basketball. They don't know, though, all the the little things about the games.
So, they come to me.
I try my best to explain. Sometimes, it takes a few times to get it right.
I don't mind. It's kind of fun.
I am waiting for the day when they ask, "Why don't they show the cheerleaders more?"

Rise and Shine --- Coming back

Good Morning and welcome to the first day of the week!

Did you ever notice that taking a week off only makes you want to take another week off? Sure, there is something nice about structure, but there's something a lot nicer about playing baseball/basketball/riding bikes all day. Then again, being so far away from 10-years old, maybe it's just so much nostalgia.
One thing you never realize until you are way past that 10 mark is how good you have it. You go along day-by-day only to have your parent's put limits on your 'freedom.' Then, you become a parent and realize you never had more freedom. Of course, the argument is lost on the 10-year old (or 7-year old or 4-year old) when you tell them it's time for bed or to come inside.
That's even more evident during the summer. The temperature is nice. The sun is shining bright and there are a lot of noises coming through the window.
Where do you draw the line? When is it time to put the foot down firmly?
Well, I guess it's all an internal battle. Of course, when your alarm goes off at 3:15 a.m., well, that battle at least has a time limit.
Then, you have to fight through the sandman to fill the next day and the day after and the day after.
You just have to make it fun not only for those who would bounce off the walls, but for yourself.
So, what happened to my sneakers?


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Rise and Shine --- Madness weekend

Good Morning and welcome to the real beginning of March Madness!

There are a lot of college basketball games this weekend worth watching. The Big East Tournament leads the viewing choice from this end, but there are fans of the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten and the rest who will be tuning in. Surely, there will be a lot of great games, great shots, great stories and fun times.
While we look forward to the announcment of the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament playing field on Sunday, there's plenty of other 'madness' going on out there.
The stock market, for instance. All last week and the beginning of this week we watched as stockes sunk lower, there were more layoffs and doomsday was around the corner.
Then, suddenly, stocks jumped back up and then jumped again. Horray. Let's go out and spend again, the darkness is lifting.
Then again, all it's going to take is one company to say things aren't so rosy here and, boom, there goes the stock market again.
Maybe if we ignored the stock market, it would flatten out. Maybe we are too focused on money. Maybe somebody can tell me how West Virginia could beat Pitt last night.

Sesame Street Layoffs - watch more funny videos

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RISE AND SHINE

GOOD MORNING, DELAWARE COUNTY!

Well, there's a lot going on today.
We had the NCAA Tournament brackets unveiled last night. It's St. Patrick's Day and it's a full week before we can break out the Easter candy.
We'll have to make due somehow.
St. Patrick's Day is certainly interesting. The most enterprising reporter I know one time called a pub in Ireland for a story on St. Patrick's Day. It turns out it's just another day across the pond. Then again, that was year's ago. Now, everything is big business, so there are parades for visitors.
Here, though, it's a time for wearing green, drinking, eating and talking in brogue, whatever that is. Hey, any excuse for a day to party, right?
One of the funniest things about St. Patrick's Day is to see some of the photos from baseball's spring training. For some odd reason, teams decide to wear green uniforms for these games. It must have something to do with marketing.
Hey, let's sell one more hat and shirt.
Next year, they'll all wear Easter Bonnets on Easter Sunday.
Well, here are some highlights from Dublin's St. Patrick's Day Parade.


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com