Reminder: It's Much More than the Game

It's all about perspective.

Many times we say all that matters is who won.  It doesn't matter how ugly the game was or how many points were scored.  The bottom line is who gets the "W" and who gets the "L".

However, there's so much more going on than just the ticks on the scoreboard.

Yes, there's each separate play.  There's individual players and statistics.  Injuries, mistakes and nuances.  Many little games inside the bigger game.  Many smaller stories inside the bigger story.

But even the big story is part of an even bigger story.  The biggest, in fact.  It's a platform to do good.  Not well...good.

Some, like former head coach Tony Dungy and the late great Reggie White used their platforms to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ--sharing his teachings and inspiring others to be good people. 

Others, like former NFL running back Warrick Dunn and MLB pitcher Jamie Moyer have capitalized on their All-Star status to improve the community--Dunn by establishing a foundation to help low-income, single mothers to provide a home for their children, and Moyer through his foundation to assist children in dealing with the death of a parent or other loved one.

One of the greatest examples of athletes doing good is one you probably didn't even know had a connection to sports: The Ronald McDonald House.

I didn't even have a clue that the organization was actually started by a member of my hometown Eagles.

But that it was--established through the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia by former Eagles tight end Fred Hill after his daughter, Kim, was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 3.

Kim Hill was the inspiration for the
Ronald McDonald House.
(Photo from Fred Hill via NYT)

I discovered this through an article in the NY Times, which notes the path the charity took, from its initial establishment by Hill, Stan Lane (neighbor) and the Eagles owners, through the Shamrock Shake to being officially named the Ronald McDonald House.

Kim Hill passed away on Saturday, due to brain cancer.  She wasn't expected to reach adulthood, but lived to be 44.  Kim worked as a manager at McDonald's, and served as a spokeswoman for the charity. 

Let this be a reminder that while there are athletes and owners who are guilty of greed and selfishness, there are also many, many in the sports business that find their blessings to simply be the vehicle to a greater destination.  And without that vehicle, many of those destinations may not be reached, their purposes not realized.

Kim was an inspiration to many.  Her story--as well as the stories of so many others--should be told over and over, a reminder of what is right with the world, even in the face of tragedy and death. 

RIP Kim.  Your legacy will live on forever and you will always be an inspiration.

This Isn't Ice Dancing!

One of the top two teams all season, the Flyers of late look more like Brian Boitano and Scott Hamilton than Brian Boucher and Scott Hartnell.

So what's going on with this team?

Chris Pronger says the team needs to want it more.  That's for sure.  Just because you've hit 40 wins, been among the best of the best this season and virtually locked up a playoff spot doesn't mean you can relax and practice toe loops.

"Stick with the program and don’t
try to do too much out there,"
said captain Mike Richards after
the Flyers 7-0 loss to the Rangers on Sunday.

Now, being pre-occupied with wedding stuff and the traveling that goes along with it, I haven't had much of a chance to see too much hockey lately.  But what I have seen--including the final 30 minutes of the pitiful 7-0 loss at the hands of the rival NY Rangers--has been nothing short of pathetic.

In particular, its the defense that has looked the worst.  I've seen at least 3 goals the past two games that were of no fault to the goalies.  When an opposing forward gets not one, not two, but three cracks at the puck, your defense is seriously slacking.  Especially with the bruising d-men on this roster, that player should have been burried after his first shot.

A goalie should only have to make the first save.  Two at the most.  Calling on your goalie to make three saves in a row on the same player is just asking for another tally in the "L" column.

Yesterday's embarassment at Madison Square Garden was possibly the worst Flyers game I've seen in my lifetime...certainly the worst of recent memory.  No goals in 60 minutes.  Against a team you scored 3, 4, 4, and 4 goals against in your previous 4 meetings? 

It wasn't just the defense yesterday.  And it certainly hasn't been the only thing wrong with the team.  Peter Laviolette called out the power play in the Inky last week (0-fer in the last 14 attempts), and the team has been dealing with injuries they were previously able to avoid.  Carter, Betts, Powe, Carcillo, Pronger, O'Donnell...all have missed time recently due to injury/illness.  That's going to contribute as well.

But on the whole--and especially against the Rangers--it boils down to pride.  The team has to come out and play like they want to win.  They have to play like they did all season.  I just finished reading "Quiet Strength" by Tony Dungy, and one of the things that stuck out to me was that he always told his team "Do what we do."  That's exactly what the Flyers need to do.  Don't change your M.O.  It's worked all season.  Keep it up.

The Flyers do certain things well.  They're aggressive.  They're smart.  They're hard workers.

If they keep that up, they've got a great shot at topping last season.

If they decide a triple axel is more fun, they're much more likely for an early exit from the playoffs.