The entire Philadelphia Flyers team celebrated its sensational season at the Borgata’s Old Homestead steakhouse last Friday night, June 11. The players and coaches enjoyed a meal prepared by Chef Romeo DiBona, then headed to mur.mur nightclub for a night on the town. The casino-hotel-spa congratulated the team in larger-than-life letters (see photo) when it got wind of the Eastern Conference champion’s plans.
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Surrounded by a sea of orange-clad Flyers maniacs, the Broad Street Bullies bounced back from a 0-2 hole and played their way back into the series against the Blackhawks with a magnificent 4-3 victory in overtime last night.

When Claude Giroux slipped the winning goal under the pads of Antti Niemi, it erased more than 20 years of Stanley Cup frustration. The last time the Flyers won a Stanley Cup Finals playoff game was 1987. Back in 1997, the Flyers were a power team embarrassed by the deadly speed of the Detroit Red Wings. This Chicago team has blazing speed and a ton of skill, but the Flyers also have plenty of team speed and skill and a stone wall on defense named Chris Pronger.

The Flyers still have their backs to the wall; they have to win on Friday night when the Blackhawks will go for the knockout punch. However, these Flyers, who have made it this far against all odds, will not go gently into that good night.

And with that, I’ve reached my cliché limit for the week. Go Flyers!

The United Way of Atlantic County’s 7th Annual Auction for the Community will take place Friday, March 19, from 6-10 pm at Bally’s in Atlantic City. The event will embrace renowned master chefs Georges Perrier and Chris Scarduzio, partners of the celebrated Mediterranean Bistro Mia who will meet on stage for an energetic demonstration of their expertise in fine cuisine around 7:30 pm., a live auction hosted by Flyers Hall-of-Famer Dave Schultz around 8:30 pm, an extended silent auction and honoree Ms. Alyce Parker, Vice President of Public Affairs for Harrah’s Entertainment.
Tickets are priced at $100 a person and include a dinner buffet and cocktails. Order now by calling (609) 404-GIVE or go here. Proceeds from this event will benefit United Way of Atlantic County.  —  Kelley Anne Essinger

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 my on-going battle to lose weight in our fast food world. — Lori Hoffman, Associate Editor, Atlantic City Weekly

Phillies fans remember the pain of the 2007 playoffs. Back in the postseason for the first time since 1993, the team ran into a buzzsaw, the Colorado Rockies, who smoked the Phillies in a three game sweep.

The repeat bid begins today. Photo by: Tom Briglia / PhotoGraphics Photography

That was then. This is now. The 2009 Phillies are the defending 2008 World Series Champions. While many of the players are the same on both teams (Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins; Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki, Brad Hawpe) there are key differences. The Rockies don’t have Matt Holliday; the Phillies have Cliff Lee, who starts today, and the home run pop provided by Raul Ibanez. The Phillies didn’t have “Lights Out” Lidge in 2007.

Ah, all right, the Phillies don’t have Lights Out Lidge this year either. They have a version of Brad Lidge that has 11 blown saves with a 0-8 record and a 7.21 ERA. The back of the Phillies bullpen will be the biggest concern as the series begins at 2:37 this afternoon. Damn that schedule that disses the World Champions.

The Phillies lefty-dominated pitching will be a big advantage vs. the Rockies. The Rockies are barely .500 against left-handed pitching. Lee cooled off after winning his first five games as a Phillie, but one of his early wins was against the Rockies. Cole Hamels has had a rollercoaster season, but he is still the defending World Series MVP. Rookie-of-the-Year candidate J.A. Happ pitched a complete game shutout against the Rockies, which is why he will not be in the bullpen for this series; instead, Phillies manager Charlie Manual added lefty Antonio Bastardo to the roster in a surprise move.

Both these teams can hit. The Phillies led the National League in homers and runs scored (224, 820); the Rockies (190, 804) were second in both categories. The Rockies have the “lights out” bullpen with set-up man Rafael Betancourt and closer Hudson Street.

The pick: The Phillies will need to out slug the Rockies, and they will, winning in four games.

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