Here we are again as spring gets nicer and nicer. Baseball is in play, The NBA and NHL playoffs are here and going great and in the NFL the minicamps are starting to pop up. Yes it’s a great time to be a sports fan and it’s only going to heat up in May.

The win is nice but…

The victory of Smarty Jones, a horse with Philly ties in the 2004 Kentucky Derby is a story for the ages but shouldn’t be compared to a championship in the major four sports. It is different for and individual to win, I compare this win to Bernard Hopkins winning his boxing championships a couple of years back. It’s nice to know we breed champions but we want to see a team that has a history in the city of just coming close finally win the whole thing and not continue to be bridesmaids so as far as I’m concerned the streak isn’t over.

The Flyers rolling to the cup
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The Flyers continue to play inspired and look to be the team that will break the streak of no championships in Philly. You have great goaltending and key players who are looking for their first championship like Keith Primeau, Jeremy Roenick, Alexei Zamanov and Tony Amonte. The last three in particular are playing with tremendous chemistry and showing the clutch ability to make plays when we seem to have nothing going. Also you have people always stepping up like Sami Kapanen who filled in for Kim Johnsson while injured and proceeded to take a lickin’ but keep ticking. This team has tremendous character and great coaching by Ken Hitchcock and I see them continuing their play to the cup. I said before the playoffs started that the Flyers would reach the Finals but after the Colorado Avalanche’s exit at the hands of the Calgary Flames I predict the Flyers will win their first cup since 1975 as they will beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven very grueling games and take the Western Conference winner- either the San Jose Sharks or Calgary Flames-in six games. I’m smelling parade people!

The O’Brian Hiring

The selection of Jim O’Brian was great and anticipated if you read The Constant Truth regularly. O’Brian, a Philly native is tough and disciplined and won’t take any crap from anyone especially from Allen Iverson. The team and O’Brian have said that Iverson is staying and the head coach and player are due to speak in the coming weeks but I still question if this is a public relations ploy to keep Iverson’s value up or the truth. I don’t think it makes sense to try again with Iverson except for the fact that Iverson make and brings in a lot of money.

Why would the organization want to deal with a player who disrespected the team, coaches and organizations with his actions is beyond me but I can’t see Iverson changing drastically enough to make a difference. He still works out sparingly and is still beat up physically. He also still has a lot of value and it might be going down by the minute. Get rid of him and start over!

2004 NBA Draft Winners

In this years draft the were definitely some winners among them were Detroit, Minnesota and New England

Detroit got better by drafting on both sides of the ball first grabbing Roy Williams at Wide Receiver from the University of Texas. He will add another threat to the Lions’ West Coast Offense that already added Charles Rogers at wideout the season before. They will form a dangerous tandem for the future with quarterback Joey Harrington. Then the Lions improved their running game by grabbing Chester’s own Kevin Jones out of Virginia Tech. Jones has the most speed of the backs in the draft and looks to be the best runner in Detroit since number 20, Barry Sanders. We will see about that. On defense the team added linebacker Teddy Lehman from Oklahoma who should contribute immediately in new defensive coordinator Dick Jauron’s scheme. Defensive back Keith Smith of McNeese State and linebacker Alex Lewis of formerly of Wisconsin will look to contribute in special teams and they added Kelly Butler of Purdue as some insurance on the offense line.

Minnesota improved first by getting defensive guru Ted Cottrell as their defensive coordinator then by getting him some help on the line and at linebacker drafting Kenechi Udeze from Southern California at defensive line in the first round, Dontarrious Thomas of Auburn at Linebacker and Darrion Scott from Ohio State at defensive end in the first three rounds. Udeze and Scott will help the pass rush and Udeze is a physical monster that should contribute immediately. Thomas is rangy and should start in Cottrell’s system a weak side linebacker. In the later rounds the team drafted Nat Dorsey a gifted offensive tackle that many believed came out too early but has potential, Mewelde Moore a running back from Tulane, Rod Davis, linebacker from Southern Mississippi, Deandre Elland a defensive back from South Carolina and Jeff Dugan a pass catching receiver from Maryland.

New England continues to get better with late round picks as the replaced the recently departed Ted Washington’s hulking 350 lbs. body as the they drafted Vince Wilfolk, a 350 lbs. defensive tackle from Miami (Fl.). He will start for the defending champs and fill the gaps quite nicely. Next they drafted Ben Watson, a pass catching tight end from Georgia who many felt could go in the first round. Watson will give Tom Brady yet another option on offense as he can run and catch like a big receiver. Marquise Hill a defensive end from the co-national champions is a nice body to spell Richard Seymour and company. Guss Scott, Florida, Christian Morton, Illnois and Dexter Reid, North Carolina are hoping to get more time if cornerback Ty Law and Head Coach Bill Belichick can’t get along. Cedric Cobbs is a talented but troubled running back from Arkansas would will look to get time under Kevin Faulk and recently acquired Corey Dillon and P.K. Sam while frail at 6-2, 193 has potential to be a great number two receiver. Sam, many believe isn’t ready for the league but what is better than learning from the Super Bowl champions.

More To Come…
Check me out in the upcoming weeks as I will be bringing more of The Constant Truth to you as the playoffs and weather continue to heat up.

Any comments, questions and/or suggestions give Clayton Ruley an email at clayton@geoclan.com.