Great news Eagles fans! Gus hasn't left Philly for Detroit as previously reported. He's actually doing preseason games for both teams! Johnson will be with Desmond Howard when covering Lions games and will continue to do Eagles games with the (dynamic!) Charlie Casserly....

Via The Eagles (PDF): "Veteran play-by-play man Gus Johnson will call the action for the Eagles for the third-straight preseason. Known most notably for his coverage of the NFL and college basketball for CBS Sports, Johnson has also called play-by-play for college football, track and field, boxing, and the 1998 Winter Olympics.

A 16-year veteran NFL general manager and a 24-year NFL executive, Charley Casserly worked for the Washington Redskins (1977-1999) and Houston Texans (2000-06). He has also done work with many television and radio stations, including the NFL Network and most recently, CBS. Casserly currently serves as the "General Manager" for the CBS Television Network's NFL pregame show, The NFL Today."

Via The Detroit News: The Lions did not sell out Thursday's game, but it will be shown on tape delay (9 p.m.) on WWJ-TV (Ch. 62). Gus Johnson and Desmond Howard will do the broadcast.

Well how about that? There's only one day, August 28th, when both teams are playing on the same date, so prepare yourselves in Motown and Philly for a preseason of Gus! I'm hoping for some video and audio from you people at some point as well. Good times.

(Thanks to the commenters who passed on both articles)

Attractive women end up in the announcing booth pretty regularly, but rarely just completely shut down all commentating. Alyssa Milano was a guest of the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday and after talking about hugging the Phillie Phanatic, and him smelling good, got hit on a bit by Sarge Matthews....

I'd personally watch out Sarge. Being a former baseball player you're still technically in Alyssa's "line of fire", if you know what I mean. The "Who's the Boss? music was a nice touch, but an old guy talking about tattoos on women kind of skeeves me out. Oh well, good times.

You can check the rest of the appearance out over at the 700 Level....

Alyssa Milano Makes Gary Matthews Very Excited (The 700 Level)

From Fanhouse via The 700 Level comes this clip of Charles Barkley on Philadelphia's NBC-10 last night talking about how tough the Philadelphia fans and media are on African Americans. It's an interesting watch and he also has some good advice for the Phils Front Office.

He's got some points right and some kind of wrong. Philly is tough on all athletes really. When I lived there for a year back in 2003 the city was at the height of its "Pat Burrell Hate". I don't think I've ever seen an athlete get skewered more in the media on a daily basis. Obviously that's just one example, but in a city that booed Santa Claus you can't say they target black athletes to hate on.

Charles Barkley Doesn't Think Any 2008 Free Agents Make Sixers a Contender (The 700 Level)
Charles Barkley: Philly Is 'Always Tougher on Black Guys' (Fanhouse)

As if allegedly hitting a female Cop and emailing Rich Eisen bikini-clad photos of yourself wasn't odd enough, apparently the FBI is now involved in this whole Alycia Lane mess. Her former co-anchor Larry Mendte has been fired by CBS after it was learned that he possibly hacked into Lane's email account and fowarded gossip about her.

WAS dethroned Philadelphia newsgal Alycia Lane the target of a diabolical plot by her former co-anchor to destroy her career?

That bizarre scenario seems possible, say pals of the dark-haired beauty. It's popped up now that Emmy-winner Larry Mendte of CBS affiliate KYW-TV has been booted off the air because of an FBI probe. Last month, the feds seized Mendte's computer to determine if he was the person who hacked into Lane's private e-mail hundreds of times, then anonymously dished gossip to Page Six and Philadelphia media via an untraceable e-mail account, sources told us.

"Larry has been jealous of Alycia's success since she brought the ratings from third place to first. She got all the credit and his ego couldn't handle it," a TV insider said. "Larry worked hard to take Alycia down . . . Now he'll get what he deserves. Sure, this is a competitive industry filled with big egos, but [this] is downright creepy."

That is just downright creepy. The question I have though is how did Mendte get the gossip to Page Six? If he was just forwarding emails from her account that would be pretty hilarious. I'm sure he set up a fake email addy and just cut and pasted stuff but either way it's still crazy. This thing just won't go away.

Update: The story was originally reported by Philly.com and they have much more information....

Mendte target of FBI probe into snooping of Lane e-mail (Philly.com)
Dark Theory Of Alycia Email (NY Post)

Marlins Catcher Matt Treanor is going to try and catch a ball with his groin (1:00 mark) and it obviously ends badly but I'm much more into Harry Kalas....

Hahahahaha. One ball and no strikes. ZING! On another note, I think I need a Harry Kalas CD where he's talking about Physics or something because I'd be in a deep sleep every night within 5 minutes.

Matt Treanor’s got nards! (The Fightins)

Flyers fans aren't going to be happy after this post. Via Fark comes this screenshot of a deal in honor of Philly being eliminated by Pittsburgh....


In honor of the Flyers officially going Golfing you can get a free sleeve of Golf Balls with the purchase of a hat! I'm sure Philly fans are saying thanks a**holes right about now.

Also, please to be enjoying this SI piece entitled, "100 Seasons ... 100 Heartbreaks". I almost feel bad for Philly right about now (I said almost).

So reader BC was watching Men's Volleyball on the "Leader" (no jokes) and saw this hilarious item on ESPN's crawl....


Those pesky Phillies. They're sick of not winning World Series, so they're trying for the Cup instead. Too funny.

I haven't watched Hockey close in years and I knew as soon as the Pens threw the last game of the season (so they could play the Sens in the First Round), that the Capitals were likely not making it out of the first round. See the Capitals and Flyers had epic battles in the 80s before moving their rivalry to Pittsburgh.

Philadelphia fans are already f'ing nuts to begin with, but now Washington Post columnist Mike Wise is giving them, and Flyers players, ammo to use against them. Not only will every Philly fan mericilessly boo Alex Ovechkin tonight they will also have this Wise column printed out and handed to them beforehand. Via The 700 Level....

By now you've probably already seen Mike Wise's column from yesterday's Washington Post. Several of our fine readers sent it our way yesterday, and we heard 610 and 950 attack its merits with due fervor. But the Flyers have apparently taken it up a notch...

Rhea Hughes reported on today's WIP Morning Show that along with various orange accoutrement, the Flyers will be handing each fan who walks through the door tonight a copy of Wise's column, along with a thank you for being the most intimidating fans in hockey. Well played, Flyers!

Just genius. See the problem with Wise's column isn't that he's wrong in his assessment of both teams, but the fact that people in DC just don't remember what Playoff Hockey is all about. I watched both loses in the Series and the Flyers are just destroying the Capitals in every facet of the game.

Pretty sure they didn't need anymore motivation, and I'm sure Caps fans are thankful Mike! Just a great idea for the Flyers to print out the article.

Flyers Get Wise to Whiny Washington Post Column (The 700 Level)

The ever shy Anna Benson sat down with the Philly Weekly to talk about how things are going with her new team (well her husband, but you get the idea). The interview was pretty straight forward until they asked her about what she's going to do with her life.....

She’s working on recording an album, and is also considering writing books—“maybe just short Jenny McCarthy-type books.” She’s interested in journalism and television too. Modeling, it seems, has taken a back seat.

“I’m not saying I’m not ever going to do another [photo] shoot, but it’s not what I care to do right now. I’m more interested in sports announcing or television.”

It’s not clear which of these aspirations is most likely to pan out. Or if Anna is actually serious about any of them.

After seeing this ESPN immediately signed the attention whore to a seven figure deal*

The many sides of baseball wife Anna Benson (Philly Weekly via TBL)

(*- Didn't actually happen but it wouldn't surprise me if it did)

After being let go a few weeks ago Stephen A. Smith was oddly quiet about the whole thing. Well it seems that he just needed to talk to his lawyers first. Here's the statement released by his attorney Willie E. Gary....

"I put my life and all that I have into the Philadelphia Inquirer first as a reporter and then as a general columnist. I was raised to work hard and play by the rules. That is what I have done. I've worked hard and earned every single promotion and accolade that I received while at the Inquirer.

"No one did me any favors or gave me anything, nor did I expect them to. What's fair is fair and what's right is right. What they have done to me is malicious, intentional and vindictive. They want to ruin my reputation and all of the hard work that I have done over the years.

"I have never abandoned a job in my whole life. I wasn't raised that way. The Inquirer forced me out and smeared my name and credibility.

"My family always said that your name is all that you have, and they have tried to destroy it."

I really don't think there's a winner in this whole thing, and both parties have acted kind of childish. If Smith can't damage his own reputation after years of yelling on screen, I don't think getting fired from a newspaper is really going to hurt him.

Commentator Calls Newspaper Malicious, Vindictive (Maynard)

I cannot stop laughing at this video via Bethlehem Shoals at Fanhouse. Some 76ers fan decided to piece photos of Kyle Korver together and make this fabulous video. If anyone know what the song is please let us know in the comments kill yoursef......

I WANTED YOU TO STAY HERE HOLDING MEEEEEEEE!

Random YouTube Magic: Missing Kyle Korver (Fanhouse)

I love this little piece of gossip from The Philly Daily News this morning....

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith picked up some furniture at Raymour & Flanigan (2100 Route 38) in Cherry Hill earlier today and referred to himself in the third person while shopping, says a nearby customer. "Stephen would like the sofa that Stephen was just sitting in," our source quotes Smith, who's been off from the Inqwaster since his column was stripped in August. Smith, accompanied by "an attractive young female" was gracious to fans who approached, says our spy.

EVERY COUCH I BUY IS IMPORTANT! I NEED A DUSTBUSTER AS WELL TO VACUUM UP THESE CHEESY DOODLE CRUMBS!!!

Stephen A. buys sofa in the third person (Philly.com)

(Thanks to RUTS for the link)

Lost in all of the Donovan McNabb hoopla the past few days was a neat little story forwarded along to us by the awesome Philly site The 700 Level via The Daily News....

Apparently Tim Legler and his fiance (a former Eagles' Cheerleader) were in attendance during the Monday Night game and were sitting with former Eagles' DE Brandon Whiting. One of Legler's other guests (only labeled as a friend) just happened to be wearing a Skins jersey to the affair and set the follow chain of events in motion.

An Eagles fan was detained by security at Monday's game at the Linc after shoving a security guard who had come over to break up an argument involving the fan, former Eagles defensive end Brandon Whiting and ESPN's Tim Legler.

According to Whiting and Legler, a man behind their row in the club level was making lewd comments and gestures to Whiting's wife, Amanda, and Legler's fiancee, Christina Fuller, a former Eagles Cheerleader.

Whiting says he approached the man and asked him to cool it, leading fans to chant "asshole, asshole" at him. An eyewitness says he did not see Whiting or Legler lay a hand on anybody, but did see the security guard take a tumble, and then a man being led away in cuffs. The heckling began because a friend of Legler's wore a Redskins jersey.

Let's just institute two new rules right now. 1) It isn't necessary to wear your team's jersey to an away game.....especially in Philly. You won't be thought any less of a fan if you don't sport the colors. 2) Can we not call women derogatory names and the like at sporting events (or ever really).....especially to a former NFL Defensive End. It's just going to end badly for you. One way or another.

Also kudos to Whiting for handling that situation as best and as calmly as he could.

McNabb wasn't the only one harassed at the Linc Monday Night (The 700 Level)
Linc fan gets an escort (Philly Daily News)

(posted by OMDQ)


The biggest story in baseball over the last couple of weeks has been the Philadelphia Phillies and their inexorable march toward the major league record 10,000th loss in team history. The Charlie Manuel Nine has been sitting on 9,999 since losing to the Rockies last Saturday; the next day was the famous tarp-blowing incident, then the All-Star break. All told, they've won their last three games.

What I found interesting wasn't that the next closest team to 10,000 losses is the Atlanta Braves (they're still more than 300 away - not that exciting yet), but that San Francisco holds the all-time record for franchise wins with 10,151 since 1883. Next in line? The Chicago Cubs, who are sitting on 9,945 right now and will likely reach 10,000 next season (to do it this year, they would have to win exactly 100 games, which means playing at a 55-19 clip the rest of the way).

The 4th Quarter will start with the Giants at the Eagles 6, 3rd and 2. Manning steps up and throws an uncatchable pass, and the entire recieving corps bitches to Eli. Feeley can cut it to 7 here, and it's good. Eagles-20 Giants-13.

The Eagles pick up a first down, but then throw 3 straight incompletions, including a 3rd down pass deep down the field where Garcia got walloped. The Giants have to go 80 yards to tie the game.

Barber picks up a few first downs on the ground, and along with a defensive holding, the Giants have a nice drive going here. It's 3rd down at the Eagles' 49 as Manning hits Tim Carter for a 14 yard gain and the first down at the Eagles' 35.

Lito Shepperd is out with a dislocated elbow and will not return. This could open up the pass as he's one of the Eagles' better DB's.

On 3rd and 1, the Giants go to Fat Tebow to pick up a first down, but he calls timeout instead. Manning comes back in the game, and hands to Barber who is going to be right on the line. They mark him short, but Coughlin challenges and should win it, as it looks like he is got enough. Upon further review, it's first and 10 for the Giants.

After two false starts and a holding penalty, it's 1st and 30. This is NFL Blitz territory. Plaxico makes a diving catch on an underthrown ball, it's 3rd and 12. Manning burns another timeout. As the Eagles blitz, Manning throws a hitch to Burress, who makes a man miss and picks up the first down at around the 11.

Play fake from Manning and he hits Burress on a quick post for the touchdown. Great drive by Manning as he overcame his offensive line to tie the game. Giants-20 Eagles-20.

Eagles ball at their own 33 with just under 5 mins left. They start moving the ball on the ground and with short passes. It's the 2 minute warning and the Eagles are on the edge of field goal range already. The Giants need a stop badly, and the Eagles need about 10 more yards.

First down Brian Westbrook, the Giants can't stop the run at all. The Giants burn their final timout, Eagles ball at the 20. Giants need a turnover or Tony Romo to avoid losing this game.

The Eagles are going to call a timeout with 21 seconds left and bring on Akers on 3rd down to try and win this game. FOX is showing a montage of botched snaps. Actually, Garcia is coming back out and he sneaks to the middle of the field. Akers will have about a 37 yard kick on the last play of regulation.

It's up and it's good. More heartbreak for New York. Final score:
Eagles 23
Giants 20
Postgame:
The Giants are looking for a minority to fulfill the Rooney Rule and Chris Meyers ruined Jeff Garcia's marriage proposal to David Akers.
Next week:
Eagles @ New Orleans
Giants golfing
24 season premiere

Thank you all, it's been great! (except for the scores)

Thanks a ton Sam! You did a kick ass job. But we're not done yet.......Brian from One More Dying Quail is lurking around here somewhere, and he's on the GMAC Bowl. I'm taking Ohio in that one.....enjoy.

Some other keys to the 2nd half:
Giants-Make sure Manning makes smart decisions. Also, re-establish Plaxico Burress, he has two catches, but none since the first drive. Him and Shockey are Eli's two favorite targets, so if they don't get into the game, it could be all over.

Eagles-Keep running the ball, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Keep the pressure on Manning, he's due for another bad decision.

Westbrook picks up a first down, coupled with a 5 yard facemask penalty. FOX is playing the injury music, and it looks like it's Jason Bell of the Giants.

Garcia is sacked and then Wilson saves a first down with a great deflection. McQuarters muffs the punt but falls on it, and the Giants start from their own 10 after a mammoth punt.

I love these NFL Network commercials. "Garcia? Think he's in Calgary with the Stampeders." Couple that with the Mangini/Belichick one and I think they're great. Suck it Mellencamp.

Manning is sacked on 3rd down as Kareem McKenzie was completely burned off the line by Thomas. The Eagles start in Giants territory after the punt.

Crazy play off of the ensuing 3 and out. The punt bounces and the Eagles save it at the one yard line, but then McQuarters decides to try and pick it up while there are 3 Eagles are around him, and he fumbles. Eagles ball at the 1. However, the ball was "illegally touched" by a member of the kicking team, so it's Giants ball at the 1.

Manning dumps it off to the former Mr. Irrelevant, Jim Finn, on 3rd down, but it's short of the marker. Westbrook brings the punt back for a TD, but there is a flag and it's coming back. The Eagles fans can boo all they want, but it won't sway the refs. On the replay, the penalty is pretty blatant, but Westbrook could have scored without it.

After picking up a first down, the Eagles throw 3 incomplete passes, including a deep pass on 3rd and 10 when Garcia got nailed. Giants have to go 80 yards to tie the game.
On a third down, Garcia rolls out again and throws a long first down pass. Garcia throws the next pass to the ground in the middle of the field. Osi Umenyiora is down for the Giants, and it looks like he can't get back up. Cue the injury music.

Back from the commercial, the Eagles run the ball twice, and on 4th down, Akers drills a 48 yard field goal. Eagles-20 Giants-10. The Giants are down by two scores with just over 15 minutes to go.

Eagles start with first and 10 at their own 41...make that first and 5 after William Joseph jumps offsides. On 2nd and 1, Westbrook on a stretch play right makes a few Giants miss, and turns it upfield, another missed tackle and he's gonna walk into the endzone. Touchdown Eagles. Akers adds the PAT and it's Giants-7 Eagles-7.

Joe Buck decides to throw a baseball reference in a situation that doesn't call for it at all by saying that "the homerun hitter for the Eagles just went deep."

I'm sure this doesn't surprise anyone, but Eli Manning was just picked off. Sheldon Brown has it and the Eagles start it in Giants territory with momentum.

After a few long runs, the Eagles have first and goal at the 5, but can't punch it in. Akers makes the field goal, and it's 10-7 Eagles. I'm gonna go have some playoff chili, so I'll be back later. Talk amongst yourselves.

AA Here......looks like it's going to be 17-10 at half. Sam will be back for the second half.

Thank you AA. If you were hanging on my every word, here's what you missed.
The Giants had the ball inside the Eagles' 5, but decided not to give it to the vulture and instead Eli threw a lob to the back of the end zone that was knocked away. Feeley's FG made it 10-10. The Eagles came right back with a long drive complete with some cheap shots by John Runyan, 3rd down conversions, and a touchdown pass to Donte' Stallworth. 17-10 Eagles. The Giants couldn't do anything with 1:01 left, so we'll go into half with Eagles 17, Giants 10.

Eli once again looks worried in the pocket. The Giants have relied on Barber and Shockey to get to this point. Meanwhile, the Eagles defense has been coming up strong, and Garcia's confidence seems to be gaining with every play. Manning is 8/17 for 88 yards, a TD and an INT.

The Eagles will get the ball to start the 2nd half, be back with the 3rd quarter thread in about 5 minutes.

And the game begins with the Eagles kicking off, the Giants take over around their 26. Chris Meyers is reporting that Shockey is playing, in a limited role. Elisha and Tiki-it's your move.

Ah, it's not officialy a Giants game until there's a pre snap penalty. Eli comes right back with a deep throw, and Plaxico Burres bails him out with a great catch for a first down into Eagles territory. Eli hits Barber with a screen to pick up a first down, but it's wiped out with a holding penalty.

On 3rd and 1, Jared Lorenzen comes in and picks it up on a QB sneak. Tiki Barber follows it up with a First Down run of his own, and the Giants are really clicking on offense.

On the very next play, Manning hits Burress on a 17 yard pass play for a Giants TD. It's 7-0 and the Eagles fans are silent. Feeley's kickoff rolls towards the sideline, but Reno Mahe decides not to let it roll OB, and the Eagles start inside the 10. Let's see how the Eagles respond.

Well, they don't respond that great. Following a run into the line and an incomplete pass, the Giants sack Garcia at the 2 yard line, and somewhere, Jim Jones is smiling. After the punt, the Giants will start at midfield.

Two false start penalties sandwiched around an 8 yard gain by Shockey put the Giants in 3rd and long, and Eli throws it to nobody. After the 9 yard punt return, it's Eagles ball at the 19.

After an incomplete pass and a short run by Westbrook, Garcia tries to scramble, but is hit short of the marker by Mathias Kiwanuka, who decides to hold on to him this time. Johnson's punt rolls backward about 10 yards and the Giants start at their own 47.

FOX attempts to stay hip as they lead in with Wolfmother. Barber picks up a first down on a cutback. Manning's 3rd down pass is tipped, so bring on Feagles again. David Tyree downs the ball in the air at the 2 yard line, giving him what seems like his only catch of the year.

The Eagles still can't do anything on offense, as one of Garcia's passes hits Sam Madison (of the Giants) right in the chest. Once again, the Giants will start with some great field position...and once again they don't do anything with it. This time, Feagles' punt is caught out of bounds at the 16.

The Eagles finally pick up a first down on a short pass to Westbrook. R.W. McQuarters drops na INT, as Joe notes how he hasn't cut his hair since 1998. I note how little I care. The drop allows the Eagles to pick up another first down on the last play of the quarter.

Giants-7
Eagles-0

I'm an unabashed A.I. lover (as a basketball player).........take away the cheating on his wife, the affair with admitted sex hound Carmen Bryan (700 Level), and the whole "getting into a racial fight at a bowling alley in Hampton, VA and hitting a woman in the head with a chair" thing......and he's a pretty good guy.

Seriously though despite his flaws he's been an amazing basketball player for the city of Philadelphia. He fits the "Rocky" mentality perfectly. If Dwayne Wade is to "Get Knocked down 7 times get up 8".....AI is to "Get knocked down/out, broken, dragged, and maimed 400 times. Get up 401."

But besides all of that.....I blame Allen Iverson for one thing. One thing above everything else. ONE THING that is so atrocious it cannot go unpunished!

What do I blame him for you ask? One Stephen A. Smith.

In 2004 S.A.S. got a job for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Since then he's parlayed 40,000 A.I. articles into an analyst position for the NBA on ESPN and the television talk show Quite Frankly. (Little known fact. Smith's first college was the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. I actually have a friend in admissions for the school....I might have to have him do some research.) Anywho, I blame Allen Iverson for letting this Cheez Doodle eating loudmouth onto the scene. And for this crap piece of an article......

Deal is All that Matters Now (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Here's what we know: Allen Iverson is gone.

Here's what we care about: Whatever the 76ers will get for him.

Here's what we'll hear: "It's his fault! It's their fault!" Coming from both sides.

Perhaps we'll care in the days and weeks to come.

Well thanks for that synopsis Scoop er Bill Plaschke er, Steve-O. So I guess I don't need to read the article then...

Today, the primary concern should be preventing Iverson from becoming Charles Barkley, Part II, making sure the Sixers don't let go of their latest mercurial star for a bag of cheap beans thrown in the trash after Thanksgiving.

Umm okay, so I guess I do. What the heck does that mean? I understand the Barkley part, but what the hell do beans have to do with this? And Beans in a Bag??? And Thanksgiving? And.....Okay......I'm already lost.

We'll all ponder one day what life would be like for the Sixers right now if they had traded Iverson years ago when former coach Larry Brown insisted it was best for the franchise. We'll wonder what would have become of the coaching careers of Randy Ayers, Chris Ford, Jim O'Brien or even Mo Cheeks if they were faced with the challenge of coaching someone else instead of Iverson.

Questionable decisions by Billy King, the Sixers' president and general manager, will come into focus, as will those of team chairman Ed Snider, who some - not me, though - believe should fire himself. But none of that matters now.

Why will we ponder that one day? Isn't that what everyone is saying right now? And "questionable decisions" by Billy King/Ed Snider?!?!?!?!? Riiiiight. I'd use the word "questionable" regarding those moves. Yep, Larry Hughes/Billy Owens/Bruce Bowen for Toni Kukoc is "questionable".

So what do we need to know Screamin' A. Smith?

"King's imagination can capitalize on potential deals with Minnesota, Boston, Denver, Sacramento or Golden State if any of those teams are willing to play ball. His knack for politics may even position him to pull off a heist with Chicago or Dallas."

Do whaaaaa? Imagination.........Knack for Politics???? Are you kidding me? Did those politics come into play when he traded Toni Kukoc, centers Theo Ratliff and Nazr Mohammed and guard Pepe Sanchez to the Atlanta Hawks for center Dikembe Mutombo and forward Roshown McLeod? Or when he acquired Glenn Robinson?

Come on S.A.S. I know you've got a nugget in here for me somewhere.....

Said one Sixers source: "There was a time when Billy [King] cared about sending Iverson to a contender, just out of gratitude for all he's meant to this franchise. That time has passed. He ain't thinking about A.I. anymore. At least not on that level."

Hmmmm.....and you wonder why Philadelphians want King's head on a stick?

Of course, there is always the possibility of multi-team deals, or a remote possibility that Iverson could be bought out of his contract. But that's venturing into the absurd, especially for a franchise with a few employees holding on by the skin of their teeth.

Multi-team deals are absurd? Since when??? Now I'm completely lost. But my favorite part is the very end. Where everything goes haywire.

Save the hostility for then. Not now.

Stephen A. Smith | Looking for a King's Ransom?

Sixers general manager Billy King fielded calls from numerous teams yesterday in trade talks for Allen Iverson.

Here are some of the players being discussed:

Everybody on the team is fair game except Paul Pierce. Expiring contracts of Austin Croshere,

Jerry Stackhouse plus Devin Harris.

Expiring contracts of P.J. Brown, Michael Sweetney, plus Ben Gordon, No.1 pick. Deal would need to include Corey Maggette, Shaun Livingston.

Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Jason Richardson. Sixers most interested in Monta Ellis.

Wait a tic....is that a separate article, a summary of this one, or just a 4-year old's report on the NBA? What I gathered....

• The Philadelphia Inquirer is unsure which team Paul Pierce plays for.
• They think that Austin Croshere and Paul Pierce are on the same team.
• They think that the Bulls and Clippers have blended into one team called the Bullippers, and can offer PJ Brown, Sweetney, Ben Gordon, Corey Maggette, and Shaun Livingston
  

All in all it was an interesting read from Mr. Smith. AA's guess??? I don't have one. All I know is that the Celtics will offer King...Theo Ratliffs expiring contract, 18 young studs, and a draft pick......and he'll turn it down.

(P.S.- He'll probably take Steve Francis, Channing Frye, a bag of magic beans, and Yinka Dare's ashes instead)

(P.P.S.- HoopsHype's collection of transactions is sick. Check out Billy Boy's here)