While watching the marathon that is the NFL Draft, I was watching with a lot of interest for a couple reasons. Obviously being an Eagles fan, I was anxious to see who they drafted, and I was happy with the Jeremy Maclin choice. But also because I grew up playing basketball with Pitt running back LeSean McCoy since I was ten years old. He’s from my hometown, and I’ve known him for as long as I can remember.

As the picks continued, my friends and I watching realized that the Eagles had a serious chance of getting him. First, we couldn’t understand how he wasn’t picked yet, but we were cheering for him not to get drafted because we needed him to go 53rd to the Eagles. After he got drafted, I was in shock. As if I needed another reason to watch the Eagles games on Sundays, now my friend was on the team. But it meant much more than that, because I knew first-hand how playing for the Eagles meant to him, how hard he worked to get there, and what he would be able to give back to his home state.

This was a moment where sports meant much more. It’s this moment that are the reasons we watch, the reasons we play, and how we can start and maintain lifelong relationships. Everybody doesn’t get to experience something like this, but I do. I know how much it means, and how sports can change so many things.

That day couldn’t have worked out any better for me.

Roy Halladay is still a hot topic. Their was a report from fanhouse.com that the Phillies have offered Cole Hamels and prospects to the Blue Jays, but as usual, Philadelphia scouts and front office people aren’t talking. ESPN has reported Halladay will only accept a trade to the Angels, Yankees, Red Sox, and Phillies. Isn’t it great for the Phillies to be part of the big spenders and World Series favorites? How much the times have changed.

There should be some more moves coming soon, especially with Pedro Martinez, Brett Myers, and Chan Ho Park. The Philllies front office has some decisions to make as to what they think will win another World Series. Either way, Clearwater is only right around the corner.

Being such a big basketball fan, the 2001 season really topped the charts for me. It simply doesn’t get any better, which is why it is much higher on the list of my top ten moments. This one happened two years ago and then again last night, when Iverson returned to Philadelphia.

Before it was after being traded back from the Denver Nuggets, and I had the chance of going to the game. It is something I’ll never forget, and a tribue to Iverson’s career in Philadelphia. Last night was different because he returend home. As Philly fans, we love AI. Nobody else wanted him, not even the lowly Grizzlies, but us. We wanted him back on our team because of everything he did for us as fans.

Both of these nights were truly special to me. Sixers fans will always love Iverson, and he’ll always love us. He belongs here and deserves to end his career right in Philadelphia.

Before the game Iverson said he expected to play “5 to ten minutes, until I heard the crowd noise and them behind me. I owed them much more.” He still showed a quickness to his game and that he can be a factor for the Sixers this season. If he helps them make the playoffs, he can show that he will be a part of a winning team or if he retires, he will be sent out the right way.

Iverson can definitely still fill an arena, as he showed Monday night. There aren’t too many NBA games with that type of atmosphere, especially at Sixers games lately. It was great to see the crowd back in action Monday night. It looked more like a Phillies game at this point. 

ESPN described the crowd in more professional terms by saying “Monday night’s crowd was a sellout of 20,664, almost 9,000 more paying customers than Philadelphia averaged over its first eight home games. If we estimate (conservatively) that each of those 9,000 extra folks dropped 50 bucks apiece on tickets, parking and concessions, that means the Sixers pulled in about $450,000 more in revenue than they would have if this was a typical meaningless Monday night of malaise.”

Iverson should help the Sixers in many ways this year, with revenue, city buzz, and hopefully, and most importantly, wins.

Dallas lost to the Giants, which means the NFC East will be an even tighter race than anticipated. The looming date of Week 17 for the Cowboys and Eagles might decide who will win the division. Either way, the Eagles look to be playoff bound.

The Falcons will not have Matt Ryan on Sunday, and the Eagles should be able to use their blitz packages and pass rush to get to the quarterback. Chris Redman will get that start on Sunday in Atlanta. The Eagles have a touch schedule the rest of the way, including two games in the divisions at New York and at Dallas to conclude the season.

Donovan McNabb needs to spread the ball to several receivers since DeSean Jackson will be out with a concussion. LeSean McCoy continues to impress, and the Eagles should have enough offense to win on Sunday.

People sometimes forget what the city was like when Smarty Jones won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, but anybody who was around knew how badly Philadelphia was begging for a winner. The Triple Crown for this Philadelphia horse would be like winning a championship, at least that’s how we viewed it in 2004.

He was born in Chester County, PA, so as soon as he starting winning races, the people of Philadelphia were behind him. AFter winning the Derby, and then the Preakness by 11 1/2 lengths and appearing on the Sports Illustrated cover, the victory set off a frenzy of excitement for the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing in the Philadelphia area.

After his Preakness victory, Smarty Jones’ popularity increased and he became the #1 fan favorite to aspire to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed won it in 1978. Then, in truly Philadelphia fashion, he was dealt a loss to a 36-1 favorite, Bridstone. It was his only lost in 10 starts.

According to ESPN,  the 120,139 in attendance at Belmont Park that day marked the largest crowd ever to see a sporting event in New York.

In the latest ESPN Power Rankings, the Sixers were listed as the 28th best team on the list. We aren’t getting any better, the sits are filling up, and the season isn’t going anywhere. Sign this guy before somebody else does. Please. At least let the fans cheer for something this season, or else its going to be another long basketball year in Philadelphia.

ESPN reported that coach Eddie Jordan supported his comeback. Does he have any other choice? His team simply cannot compete right now. There other option would be to play Holiday and tried to get him prepared for the coming years, but signing Iverson would not hinder too much playing time for him. He is only getting 12 minutes per game, so it isn’t like he could play less. Why not see a former MVP play hard every night and adapt parts of his game? It sounds like the right idea to me.

More than anything, the Sixers front office knows that they have to make money. They are losing millions of dollars every year, and they are currently the fourth most popular team in the city. I wouldn’t recommend any Jackie Moon tactics from Semi-Pro, but they have to do something. They are 28th in league attendance, and those numbers for the bad teams are always higher than what they really are. Iverson will fill the seats. It looks like their only choice, and it won’t do anything but help.

The defense looked great in the second half. Asante Samuel had two picks, and they got pressure on the quarterback. They are going to have to keep improving, but they are ranked 8th in total defense so far this season. The defense has dramatically improved since Will Witherspoon came to the team, and the trade has really been a great move by the front office.

LeSean McCoy continues to impress and again had a solid game. His two point conversion was huge. The play was really made by his extra effort and his ability to break arm tackles. When Westbrook gets back, he’ll have to share some carries with McCoy because of his play while he has been out.

Next week, the Eagles are at Atlanta. The Falcons might be without Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, and it will be in a key game in the playoff chase.