PHILLY SPORTS CORNER

My latest opinions about Philly sports....

SIXERS-

The Sixers are the talk of the town, at least until the end of the month when Eagles training camp opens.  Excitement reigns as the team plays in Summer League basketball in Vegas. Fun to watch No. 1 draft pick Markelle Fultz show what he can do. Dreaming about having Fultz, Simmons and Emniid- along with free agent J.J. Redick- on the court at the same time.

The team signed one of its first round selections last year, buying out the contract of Furkan Korkmaz from Turkey. Korkmaz is a 6'8 shooting guard. He is only 19, and is reported to be an excellent three-point specialist.

He will give the Sixers much-needed scoring and depth from the bench, along with Saric, Holmes, McConnell and newly-acquired Amir Johnson.

It will be interesting to see Coach Brett Brown's rotation once the real games begin. I think what you see is what you get now for the 76'ers, no more additions to the squad.

The key thing is everyone staying healthy. Injuries can derail the season and the Process, especially concerning Embiid. Still, that hasn't dampened the sirit of the fans. 14,000 season tickets have been sold so far. Philadelphia is starved for a winner, and after years of tanking, it looks like the Sixers are ready to deliver.

I'm looking forward to the schedule coming out soon, especially those games against the Lakers, Celtics, Cavaliers and Warriors. With the East being so weak, winning 38-49 games may be good enough to make the playoffs. Once in, you never know.

The teams out west can beat up on each other. The Sixers can feed on weak teams like the Nets, Magic, Knicks, and Bulls.Again, learning how to play together..avoiding injuries and learning how to win, after losing so much, will be factors in how far the Sixers go this season.

PHILLIES-

The Phils wrap up their four-game series vs. Pittsburgh tonight. The team has lost 55 games so far this season. It seems like a foregone conclusion that 100 losses will be broken this year, and probably more ( I'm predicting 106). That's an embarrassment to everyone in the organization, and no matter how much the front office talks up the future and free agency in the off-season, the fact remains that the Phillies once again gave the fans a terrible summer. Heads should roll for that.

* Thinking about it, I bet Scott Kingery doesn't show his face at Citizens Bank Park at all this year. Even though the organuzation has tons of money to spend, both now and in the future, they won't bring up Kingery during a meaningless season, only to start the clock on his service time.

I don't agree, as it would be good to let Kingery get his feet wet in the majors for the remainder of the summer, plus it would give the long-suffering fans something to watch and a glimpse of hope. The Phillies can pay Kingery the money he will want and deserve in a few years.

It won't happen because the Phillies are cheap and they always do the conservative, prudent thing to do.

I would hope some of the other kids, namely Hoskins, Couzins, Alfaro and Crawford, get their shot soon. But again, does the front office keep them at Lehigh Valley to give the young prospects a taste of winning a championship?

It's nice that all of the minor league affiliates are doing well and contending for titles. But it's the minor leagues! It's one thing to experience a championship or at the very least, a trip into the playoffs. But I always thought the purpose of the farm system was to cultivate, teach and promote- or feed- the big club?

* I listen to 94 Sports Radio WIP when I can, and in all of the years of being a caller/listener, something that was said on yesterday's morning show had to be one of the stupidest things I've ever heard.

Angelo Cataldi is off this week, so, along with regulars Al and Rhea, part-time host Marc Farzetta  has manned the main mike this week. He said something really stupid during yesterday's show:

Farzetta, who I don't like partly because he thinks he is cool and he really does'mt know sports, asked Manager Pete McKannin on the skipper's weekly 15 minute gig.about whether  Scott Kingery taking reps at third base recently came from the coaches, Phillies front office or "did he do that on his own."

Mackannin rightfully corrected Farzetta by saying a player would never choose to practice in another position on his own, holding back from calling the question totally stupid.

All of a  sudden, a young player like Scott Kingery wakes up one morning and decides to play at third base?

Angelo better not retire anytime soon.

EAGLES-

With all the Sixers hype taking place, training camp for the Eagles is only a few weeks away. Other than linebacker Jordan Hicks breaking a finger while on vacation ( not serious) there hasn't been much news lately. Everything will come to a head soon, as competition heats up in camp and the exhibition games start in earnest.

I miss going up to Lehigh for training camp. I get it that former coach Chip Kelly brought camp back to the Nova Care complex to save money and be closer to home, but it's not the same for the fans.  Despite the open practices at the Linc coming up for fans, at Lehigh, you could get close to the players on the field. It was an annual pilgrimage that was fun on a hot summer day, watching the drills and talking to other fans about who looks good, who doesn't and what the prospects are for the season ahead.

Doug Pederson can elect to go back to Lehigh for camp down the road, but it will never happen. Those days, sadly, seem ti be gone for good.