The Phils can't hit. Deal with it. Las Vegas has.

As the baseball races begin today, the Phillies are a minus 275 to win the N.L East, and are 7-to-4 to win the National League pennant.

With everyone injured.

That confidence from Vegas says one thing: That there should be confidence everywhere else, too.

In four out of every five games they play this season (more?) the Phillies will be favored to win. How does that translate over 162 games?

With not much offense, it doesn't seem to make sense now. But over a long, long, long summer it will.

Make it five consecutive first-place finishes for the Phillies.

And check out my column on delcotimes.com and in the Daily Times Friday.

Jose Contreras will be the Phillies' closer to start the season, Charlie Manuel said today.

In Spanish, Conteras told baseball writer reporter Will Gonzalez of Al Dia: "I feel more comfortable closing this year than last year. I tought closing would be no different than any other kind of pitching, but it is different. There is an adrenaline rush at the end of a game. The fans expect the last three outs. I am comfortable int hat role. I will do anything I can to help the team.

 

"I want Brad Lidge to come back. When we have our closer, we are a better team. And he is one of the best closers in the league."

That leaves Ryan Madson in his familiar eighth-inning setup role.


"If we had to pick somebody tonight, it will probably be Contreras," Manuel said.


Ruben Amaro said that Lidge will be out 3 to 6 weeks with posterior rotator cuff strain. No surgery will be required.

Also, though Charlie Manuel is resting Placido Polanco against the Pirates tonight, Amaro insists the veteran infielder is fine and ready to go despite an elbow injury suffered in spring training.

The Daily Times and delcotimes.com will continue to provide full coverage.

South Philadelphia heavyweight John Mercurio saw William Miranda win a heavyweight fight last week at Harrah's Chester, and he had an idea: Challenge Miranda.

Challenge accepted.

So it will happen Friday night at the South Philadelphia Asylum Arena, at 7 W. Ritner Street. Sounds like an interesting fight card.

Here is the press release, provided by one of the great boxing writers, Kurt Wolfheimer:

"^{www.keaboxing.com . Ticket will be available at the door or from your favorite fighter."}Andre Kut’s KEA Boxing Promotions returns to South Philly Asylum Arena on Friday night, April 1st with an explosive night of action appropriately titled "Unfinished Business." The main event of the evening will feature the homecoming of undefeated welterweight prospect and North Philadelphia’s own Raymond "Tito" Serrano (14-0, 7KO’s).

Serrano last fought in the "City of Brotherly Love" back in 2008. Serrano steamrolled Jimmy LeBlanc, dropping him three times en-route an impressive two minute and thirty seven second knockout on that August night in 2008. Since that time, the explosive North Philadelphian has reeled off seven consecutive victories.

Serrano’s opponent on Friday night is Corey Alarcon (14-16-1, 4KO’s) of Denver, Colorado. Alarcon has tested some of the best in the world, including Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Chad Broussard, Mike "No Joke" Stewart and owns a disqualification victory over "Vicious" Victor Ortiz.

In The co-feature of the evening Johnstown PA cruiserweight sensation Andres "Taylor Made" Taylor makes the trek across the state to show the Philly brethren what has made him a rising cruiserweight contender and huge crowd favorite throughout the rest of the state. Taylor, with an outstanding record of 16-1-2, 7KO’s is ready for whoever they put in front of him.

Undefeated Polish middleweight Patrick Majewski (15-0, 10KO’s) is also scheduled for action in a six round contest against Allen Medina (8-18, 1KO).

In a special four round heavyweight attraction, John Mercurio (3-0, 3KO’s) is set to swap punches with William Miranda(2-2). Mercurio’s people know Miranda well, as he upset his stable mate Jamie Campbell on March 18th at Harrah’s Casino in Chester PA. Is a payback in store?

Hard hitting Union City New Jersey and KEA Boxing regular Juan "The Beast" Rodriquez (5-0 3KO’s) returns to the South Philly Asylum Arena against Andrew Jones (0-4) in a four round welterweight scrap

North Philadelphia’s "Killer" Keenan Smith (3-0, 1KO) is also slated for action on the card in a special four round super featherweight attraction against Jose Padilla (0-2).

Exciting Philly welterweight sensation Ardrick "The Hit Man" Butler (5-4, 2KO’s) is set to swap punches with Felton Delaware’s Mike "Strictly Business" Denby (3-8-3, 2KO’s).

Rounding out the card will be a four round will be a four round super feather weight bout featuring undefeated polish knockout artist, Kamil Laszczyk (2-0, 2KO’s) against Puerto Rico’s Javier Ramos (2-5).

Tickets for this explosive night of boxing are as follows: VIP Ringside $100, VIP Upper Box $100, Ringside $65 and GA $45.
To purchase advance tickets go to KEA Boxing’s website at

　

The Sixers drew 16,235 for a matinee Sunday against Sacramento. The crowd was into the game, a 114-111 overtime loss for the Sixers.

But what about the playoffs?

Will the Sixers be a consistent postseason draw? Will they generate minute-to-minute sports discussion?

That should be interesting. But they are playing that game from behind. Why? They don't have a true superstar. And that's how the score is kept anymore in pro sports.

Check out my column Tuesday on delcotimes.com and in the Daily Times.

Chester needed overtime to win a state basketball championship Saturday.

It might have needed overtime to win even more: The knowledge that, at one of the toughest moments of the season, the Clippers would find the spirit and the courage to match their many skills.

The Clippers won, 72-60. And in an overtime game, the usual cliche is that the score did not accurately reflect the difference in the teams.

This time? It did.

It did because Chester was 12 points better than Mt. Lebanon when it mattered most.

Check out my column in the Daily Times Sunday and on delcotimes.com

The Archbishop Carroll girls basketball team had foul trouble Friday night at State College ... but had enough depth to remain within one possession of a state championship.

One reason: 5-foot-5 sophomore point guard Kristie Costantino came up big.

The Patriots fell, 47-46, to Mt. Lebanon in the state final.

But they fought through plenty ... injury, foul trouble and a late nine-point deficit.

Check out my column Saturday in the Daily Times and on delcotimes.com

Exactly as it happened twice in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Flyers started one goaltender Tuesday and finished with the other.

The starter, Sergei Bobrovsky, was booed out of the game.

The reliever, Brian Boucher, blew a late lead and then did not make a save in the shootout of a 5-4 loss to the Capitals.

Two No. 2 goalies.

No chance to finish No. 1 at the end of the postseason.

Check out my column in the Wednesday Daily Times and on delcotimes.com

This is the press release from the promoter:

NIGHT OF UPSETS HIGHLIGHT ROUND 2 AT HARRAH’S IN CHESTER, PA

Green, Kevlishvilli, Miranda and Ellis score upset victories while Ocasio and Goyco impressive at Round 2 at Harrah’s in Chester.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHESTER, PA (March 20, 2011)—This past Friday night a capacity crowd at Harrah’s in Chester, PA a saw a memorable night of boxing as it was a night filled with thrilling action with four big upsets topping the bill.

The card was promoted by Joey Eye Boxing along with David Feldman.

In the main event, Bryne Green squeaked out a razor thin split decision over Ryan Belasco.  The difference on the score cards was a flash knockdown that Green scored in round five.  Belasco boxed well and Green landed some quick combinations.

When the scores were announced at the end of the eight round bout, many in the crowd booed as they thought that despite the knockdown Belasco had pulled it out.

In the co-feature, it was much of the same as the main event as Georgi Kevlishvilli made his American debut as he took a controversial split decision from Anthony Flores.

Flores used the jab to keep the hard charging Kevlishvilli at bay but the Russian continued to move forward and evidentially stole rounds by trying to dictate the action.

Again many at ringside were bewildered by the outcome.

After the show, promoter Joey Eye agreed with the consensus ringside opinions.

“The two main fights were defiantly controversial and we would want to see rematches on those fights.  I thought Flores defiantly pulled it out and we will be working to secure a rematch for Anthony.”

“But a night like this just goes to show that we aren’t just blowing smoke when we told everyone we want good competitive fights where before the fight you don’t know who will win.  Tonight we saw that as everybody came to win and we look forward to another night like this when we have ROUND 3 on June 3^rd”

Local favorite and Radnor Police Sergeant Jamie Campbell was bitten by the upset bug as last minute replacement William Miranda won a four round unanimous decision over Campbell in their Heavyweight bout.

The tone was set early as in the opening bout, winless Ramon Castro finally got on the right side of a decision as he scored a four round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Luis Castro.

Angel Ocasio kept his perfect mark intact as he scored a knockdown en route to a four round unanimous decision over George Santiago.

Teneal Goyco scored a highlight reel knockout with a fourth round destruction over Dennis Morris.

Ladies Lightweight Elizabeth Sherman scored a close split decision over Karen Dulin in a rematch.

Pro debuting Fred Jenkins Jr. was impressive in his pro debut by stopping Scott Bronner in a Light Heavyweight bout.

Rounding out the card was an exciting fight that ended in a draw between Philadelphia based Lightweight Lonnie Jackson Jr. and William Morris

THESE BOUTS CAN BE SEEN FOR JUST $9.99 ON WWW.GOFIGHTLIVE.TV

FULL RESULTS

8 ROUNDS—LIGHTWEIGHTS—Bryne Green (6-4) 133 ½ lbs of Vineland, NJ S DEC over Ryan Belasco (14-5-3) 134 ½ lbs of Wilmington, DE..scores were 76-75 on 2 cards for Green and 77-74 for Belasco

6 ROUNDS—JR. LIGHTWEIGHTS—Georgi Kevlishvilli (12-1) 129 lbs of Moscow, Russia S DEC over Anthony Flores (9-3-1) 129 lbs of Philadelphia, PA… Scores were 59-55 on 2 cards for Kevlishvilli and 59-55 for Flores.

4 ROUNDS—Lightweights—Angel Ocasio (4-0) 133 lbs of Philadelphia, PA U DEC over George Santiago (1-3) 133 lbs of Brooklyn, NY…scores were 40-35; 39-36; 39-36

4 ROUNDS—HEAVYWEIGHTS—William Miranda (2-2) 230 lbs of Allentown, PA U DEC over Jamie Campbell (3-2) 281 lbs of Ridley Park, PA… scores were 40-36; 39-37 & 38-37

4 ROUNDS-FEMALE LIGHTWEIGHTS—Elizabeth Sherman (3-0) 127 ½ lbs of Philadelphia, PA S DEC over Karen Dulin (2-8) 127 ½ lbs of Mystic, CT… Scores were 39-37 on 2 cards for Sherman and 39-37 for Dulin

4 ROUNDS—Light Heavyweights—Teneal Goyco (4-1, 2 KO’s) 172 ½ lbs of Philadelphia, PA TKO 4 (:36) over Dennis Morris (1-1) 176 lbs of Milwaukee, WI

4 ROUNDS—LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS—Fred Jenkins Jr. (1-0, 1 KO) 170 lbs of Philadelphia, PA TKO 2 (2:21) Scott Bronner (0-1) 172 lbs of Lebanon, PA

4 ROUNDS—LIGHTWEIGHTS—Lonnie Jackson Jr. (1-0-1) 133 lbs of Philadelphia, PA MAJ DRAW with William Morgan (0-0-1) 134 lbs of Philadelphia, PA… Scores were 38-37 Morgan and 37-37 on 2 cards

4 ROUNDS—LIGHTWEIGHTS—Ramon Ellis (1-6) 134 lbs of Philadelphia U DEC over Luis Castro (3-1) 135 lbs of Philadelphia…Scores were 40-36; 39-37 on two cards

THE NEXT CARD AT HARRAH’S CHESTER WILL BE FRIDAY NIGHT JUNE 3^RD

Here are the numbers from the weigh-in this morning at Harrah's Chester.

First bell is tonight at 7:30.

And for the record, the cruiserweight now identified as Teneal Goyco has fought his previous four pro fights as Taneal Goyco. Same growl, differnt vowel. Just don't call him Tiger Woods.

A reminder to check out my column about his ... um ... stage career on delcotimes.com and in the Friday Daily Times.

 

Ryan Belasco 134 ½ - Bryne Geen 133 ½

Anthony Flores 129 – Georgi Kevlishvilli 129

Angel Ocasio 133 – George Santiago 133

Teneal Goyco 172 ½ - Dennis Morris 176

Luis Castro 135 lbs – Ramon Ellis 134

Elizabeth Sherman 127 ½ - Karen Dulin 127 ½

Jamie Campbell 281 – William Miranda 230

Lonnie Jackson Jr. 133 – William Morgan 134

Fred Jenkins Jr. 170 – Scott Bronner 172

Villanova-George Mason at 2.

We will be chatting live, during the game.

Join us on delcotimes.com

Prediction: Villanova 6,789,003,006, George Mason 41.

Taneal Goyco, a Broomall resident, once filmed an adult video posing as Tiger Woods. He believed he was portraying Woods, as if in character. As he later came to understand, the video was being marketed as if it was Tiger himself in the leading role.

At that point Goyco protested ... and changed careers.

Now, he is a boxer. And Friday night, he will fight at Harrah's Chester --- in a real boxing card, not a celebrity endeavor.

For the whole story, check out my column Friday on delcotimes.com and in the Daily Times.

Here is the bout sheet for Friday. The boxing begins at 7:30. Tickets remain.

JOEY EYE BOXING & DAVID FELDMAN PRESENTS: ROUND 2
HARRAH’S IN CHESTER, PA
FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2011

 Ryan Belasco                                                     8-Jr. Welterweights                        Bryne Green
14-4-3 (3)                                                                                                                             5-3 (4)
Wilmington, DE                                                                                                                 Vineland, NJ

Anthony Flores                                                 6-Jr. Lightweight                               Georgi Kevlishvilli  
9-2-1 (6)                                                                                                                               11-1 (3)
Philadelphia, PA                                                                                                               Moscow, Russia

Angel Ocasio                                                      4-Lightweight                                    George Santiago
3-0 (1)                                                                                                                                   1-2 (1)
Philadelphia, PA                                                                                                               Brooklyn, NY

Taneal Goyco                                                     4-Cruiserweight                                    Dennis Morris
3-1 (1)                                                                                                                                   1-0 (1)
Philadelphia, PA                                                                                                               Milwaukee, WI

Elizabeth Sherman                                          4-Lightweight                             Karen Dulin
2-0 (1)                                                                                                                                   2-7 (1)
Philadelphia, PA                                                                                                               Mystic, CT

Jamie Campbell                                                                4-Heavyweight                  William Miranda
3-1 (2)                                                                                                                                   1-2
Ridley Park, PA                                                                                                                  Allentown, PA

Lonnie Jackson Jr.                                            4-Lightweight                         William Morgan               
1-0                                                                                                                                          PD
Philadelphia, PA                                                                                                               Philadelphia, PA

Luis Castro                                                          4-Lightweight                                    Ramon Ellis
3-0 (1)                                                                                                                                   0-6
Philadelphia, PA                                                                                                               Philadelphia, PA

Fred Jenkins Jr.                                                 4-Light Heavyweight                       Scott Bronner
PD                                                                                                                                          PD
Philadelphia, PA                                                                                                               Lebanon, PA

                               

No matter what happens now, Corey Stokes, Corey Fisher and Antonio Pena have to go into Villanova basketball history as one of the best senior classes in the history of the program.

Why?

A Final Four. A Sweet 16. Three 1,000-point scorers. Four NCAA Tournaments.

How odd, then, would it be should it all come to an end with a screeching, six-game losing streak?

The oddsmakers say that will happen Friday, where George Mason will be a slight favorite over the Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament.

But the oddsmakers might not know how motivated, accomplished and healthy the Wildcats are right now.

Where does it end? Who knows? Best guess: Not against George Mason.


Check out my column Thursday in the Daily Times and on delcotimes.com

Temple-Penn State Thursday. Tough one for the Owls. Winnable. But tough.

And should the Owls lose, the fallout will be predictable. They will be criticized for failing again in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Why?

Because the perception of the tournament has become warped, that's why.

No matter what happens now, Temple has had a great season.

Check out my column in the Daily Times Wednesday and on delcotimes.com

Here is a link to a transcript of a chat I did this morning with some of the top basketball writers in the country.

I enjoyed it.

Hope you do too....


http://www.coveritlive.com/index2.php/option=com_altcaster/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=ae1aa3873e/height=550/width=470

I will be talking college basketball, among other topics, Sunday from 12 to 3 on 97.5 The Fanatic. Give a listen.

Also, please participate in our college basketball chat Monday morning at 11:30 on delcotimes.com

Had the Phillies been willing to part with Domonic Brown, along with other minor league trinkets, they could have had a Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee pitching rotation for the 2009 World Series.

Instead, they waited two years.

In that time, Brown's potential has plummeted and now he will be lost for up to six weeks with a broken hand.

Phils fans should not be happy.

For that and other things I may or may not get, check out the Daily Times Sunday and delcotimes.com

And don't forget to listen to 97.5 the Fanatic today from 11 until 3 for my slant on Philly sports.

I will be talking sports Saturday on 97.5 FM The Fanatic from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Also, check out The Fanatic March 13, Selection Sunday, when I will be on from noon to 3 discussing college basketball among other topics.

Villanova point guard commit Ryan Arcidiacono was just excellent as advertised Tuesday at the Pavilion.

But unconventionally long sophomore point guard Rondae Jefferson of Chester did enough at both ends to help push the Clippers to a 76-66 victory in the PIAA District One semifinals.

Check out my column Wednesday in the Daily Times and on delcotimes.com