Rants and raves about burning topics that have caught my attention midweek, be it greedy corporate shenanigans, frustration or joy in regards to the Philly sports teams, a movie, show or DVD that has fired up my imagination, an intriguing personality, or what’s happening in the region. — Lori Hoffman, Associate Editor, Atlantic City Weekly.

Welcome to 2013. Philadelphia Eagles fans didn’t have to wait long to find out that their football team would have a new coach this year after a horrible 4-12 season came to a close with a 42-7 loss to the New York Giants.

While Coach Andy Reid is reported to be a top candidate to become the coach of the Arizona Cardinals — perhaps to be reunited with the quarterback he trained and traded away, Kevin Kolb — the Eagles are speaking with Penn State coach Bill O’Brien. My gut tells me after doing such an amazing job in the wake of the Penn State scandal, O’Brien will remain in the college ranks. Let others do most of the speculating, I’m just happy that Reid will take his stubborn mindset somewhere else that will welcome him as a savior.

Good luck with that.

As for our other sporting teams in the Philadelphia region, I’ve been enjoying the Sixers during their West Coast swing, especially the win over the Lakers last night (Jan. 1). The Sixers still need Andrew Bynum back at even half-strength for later in the year, but after watching how poorly Dwight Howard is playing, the Lakers are also suffering with damaged goods thanks to the trade that brought Bynum to the Sixers. Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner are exciting to watch when they are both playing well.

The Phillies report to training camp in 41 days and so far, the team is still looking overpaid and just plain old, although we have to hope that Michael Young at 36 still has some power left in his tank. Can J-Roll, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard rebound for one last year of glory? For that matter is Roy Halladay healthy and will Cliff Lee have a better season in support of the team’s top pitcher, Cole Hamels? And will manager Charley Manuel put quick, young outfield Ben Revere in the leadoff spot and let Rollins sulk batting in the six or seven hole?

P.S.: Flyers fans, if you want to see hockey, come on down to Boardwalk Hall and watch the AHL games on Jan. 13, 20 and Feb. 24. The game on Jan. 20 is the Albany Devils vs. the Adirondack Phantoms, the Flyers minor league franchise.

Bobby Clarke will soon cut down a menacing tree at Greate Bay Country Club

SOMERS POINT – A golf course’s challenges grow over time, and what was once a sapling has turned into a barricade for golfers at the Greate Bay Country Club – especially left-handed golfers.

Even top athletes used to swinging clubs – or sticks – can find the tree towering over the 5th hole an absolute menace to a golf outing.

Bob Clarke’s victorious history as a star member of the Philadelphia Flyers —  from 1969-84 led his team to two Stanley Cups and was named league MVP three times — means nothing to a tree that is getting larger every day this beautiful summer at Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point.

Last season the club offered the tree’s fate to members with a fundraiser to benefit The First Tee of Greater Atlantic City — an organization that teaches golf and its positive values to young players. Greate Bay members could contribute to either saving or removing the tree. The first side to reach $6,000 — all to be donated to First Tee — could claim victory.

The votes were cast, and this year the tree will come down — and Clarke is bringing his axe.

Steve Coates, an Egg Harbor Township resident and former hockey player, is the Philadelphia Flyers color-commentator a friend of Clarke’s. On Friday, July 8, from 5-8pm, the pair will use a two-man saw to cut down the tree. The public is welcome to attend the ceremony, and refreshments will be provided.

For more information about The First Tee of Greater Atlantic City, please go here.

— By Cori Rosen

Michelle Piyapattra of Columbia U.

The Ivy League Women’s Golf Championship is back at the Atlantic City Country Club Friday through Sunday, April 22-24. The three-round, 54-hole tournament was won by the University of Pennsylvania last year. The Quakers took last season’s title by 22 strokes over second-place Yale.

Alyssa Roland of Yale was the individual champion, and has a chance to become just the fourth woman in tournament history to repeat as titlist after taking  the 2010 tournament by one stroke over Penn’s Isabel Han.

Han and Tiffany Cheung were Penn’s two low scorers last year and both return, but the Quakers graduated their other three starters from their championship team.

One 18-hole round will be played each day Friday, Saturday and Sunday at A.C. Country Club in Northfield. The ladies tee off 8am Friday, 12:30pm Saturday, and 7:30am Sunday.

You can track live scoring of the tournament by going here.