Like I said to ob18 earlier, I'd heard of Spott during the lockout. I'm on board if he's the guy. I want someone ready to come up like Keenan was in the 1984.
- Flyskippy

Yeah, agreed.

As long as he's the coach I'd prefer Laviolette be the guy to turn it around. I have been in favor of his removal and I stand by that. But if he can fix it, then I happily admit my error and root for him to do so.

As much as I feel they need change, I'm hoping they win 5-0 tomorrow.

i saw them at the spectrum in the 2nd cup season. clarke gave up an easy empty netter to give it to leach...i think they beat ATL that nite. i was 15

now i'm...older
- isaiah520

I honestly cannot remember my first time because I was only 4 or 5. Dad took the four of us (Dad, Mom, me, and my brother/Uncle Goalie). I can't remember the score or anything, which is weird because I usually have quite a vivid memory of so many things when I was younger. I remember pulling onto 11th Street and seeing "the Spectrum looks like it does on TV!" before we parked and walked in. I remember seeing NHL ice for the first time and how fast (and small, because we were high up) the players seemed "in real life" compared to being tracked by a TV camera. It was magical.

My first favorite Flyer was Don Saleski because I was a toddler and his nickname was Big Bird. Loved his energy when I finally got to see him play. Clarke soon followed as my favorite after we received a "Bobby Clarke Stick" (replica in kid's size) and played hockey in our apartment with the radiator as the net, Dad as goalie, and a Playskool orange ring as the puck. Still, we looked at the guys on the roster and there was so much skill in Leach, Clarke, Barber, the Watsons, MacLeish, etc. Amazing days... I miss the 70's...
- Flyskippy

Same deal in our house. Had linoleum floors in the living room, and an open door that was our net. Always made may dad be Giles Gilbert or Roger Crozier and force him to be my rental goalie.

Yeah, agreed.

As long as he's the coach I'd prefer Laviolette be the guy to turn it around. I have been in favor of his removal and I stand by that. But if he can fix it, then I happily admit my error and root for him to do so.

As much as I feel they need change, I'm hoping they win 5-0 tomorrow.
- Jsaquella

I heartily agree with this, but fear a 9-1 Buffalo whooping reminiscent of 2006-07, leading us to the same results that happened in October of 2006: the trolling of Ripped Fuel...

*ahem* I mean, a change in the coach and maybe GM positions.

My entire family was big into hockey during that time. It's great to hear stories of the old days.
- stveshdy

it really was magical back then. I used to scan the AM dial and see if i could pick up the game being broadcast from the opposing city. one nite i picked up CHI or MTL, i forget. it was the season before we won , i think. The pbp guy said, "I think this is the best I've ever seen Philadelphia play". his partner concurred... we won 3-2 or something like that. the MacLeish line kicked ass that nite...I knew we were for real

Same deal in our house. Had linoleum floors in the living room, and an open door that was our net. Always made may dad be Giles Gilbert or Roger Crozier and force him to be my rental goalie.
- Jsaquella

We went to the Spectrum to see the old Philadelphia Fever play soccer, too. We reenacted both soccer and hockey in the long hallway of the apartment over your favorite liquor store. Dad retired being goalie when my brother and I were strong enough to hurt him. Of course, our sister was born 2 years after we moved, so there was no permanent damage.

I honestly cannot remember my first time because I was only 4 or 5. Dad took the four of us (Dad, Mom, me, and my brother/Uncle Goalie). I can't remember the score or anything, which is weird because I usually have quite a vivid memory of so many things when I was younger. I remember pulling onto 11th Street and seeing "the Spectrum looks like it does on TV!" before we parked and walked in. I remember seeing NHL ice for the first time and how fast (and small, because we were high up) the players seemed "in real life" compared to being tracked by a TV camera. It was magical.
- Flyskippy

it really was magical back then. I used to scan the AM dial and see if i could pick up the game being broadcast from the opposing city. one nite i picked up CHI or MTL, i forget. it was the season before we won , i think. The pbp guy said, "I think this is the best I've ever seen Philadelphia play". his partner concurred... we won 3-2 or something like that. the MacLeish line kicked ass that nite...I knew we were for real
- isaiah520

PBP guys seemed to be less homerish with regards to their opponents back then. The coolest was one night Dad got a French station's call of a Canadiens' game. That was a treat hearing that.

Of course, his funniest ritual (IMO) was when we'd play tabletop hockey, he'd put on a 45 of the Canadian anthem before the first puck was dropped from the "jumbotron" over the "ice."

- isaiah520

The instruction gained from teacher-turned-commentator Gene Hart and the Peter Puck segments was invaluable. Today's fans aren't taught hockey that way and it shows.

The instruction gained from teacher-turned-commentator Gene Hart and the Peter Puck segments was invaluable. Today's fans aren't taught hockey that way and it shows.
- Flyskippy

It's much more about showing that you're pulling for the Flyers than how Hart was during out formative years.

And sure Gene could be a homer, but he also gave the respect due and taught the game-why something was bad, why it was good.

PBP guys seemed to be less homerish with regards to their opponents back then. The coolest was one night Dad got a French station's call of a Canadiens' game. That was a treat hearing that.

Of course, his funniest ritual (IMO) was when we'd play tabletop hockey, he'd put on a 45 of the Canadian anthem before the first puck was dropped from the "jumbotron" over the "ice."
- Flyskippy

i heard the French broadcast a couple of times too

it's great your father was into that type of thing. those are some of the best memories and i always loved the Canadian anthem.

I said it before. The first step I'd take is trading the fan base.
- Flyskippy

Not a damn fool on the planet would take us Not even if you tossed in a second rounder

The instruction gained from teacher-turned-commentator Gene Hart and the Peter Puck segments was invaluable. Today's fans aren't taught hockey that way and it shows.
- Flyskippy

gene hart was the best ambassador for any sport anywhere I've ever heard. the man was class and honesty personified.

It's much more about showing that you're pulling for the Flyers than how Hart was during out formative years.

And sure Gene could be a homer, but he also gave the respect due and taught the game-why something was bad, why it was good.
- Jsaquella

Indeed. Class act. I remember being stoked when he came to my high school (in 1988, I think it was) for a school assembly and speaking to us. He was great.

All right, I'm off to enjoy my sleep, which will be shortened by 60 minutes.

Have a good night, all!

It's much more about showing that you're pulling for the Flyers than how Hart was during out formative years.

And sure Gene could be a homer, but he also gave the respect due and taught the game-why something was bad, why it was good.
- Jsaquella

one of a kind. emerick seemed to be a natural successor. not sure what happened there, but for me he is not as good as gene was.

yeah, I'm out too. good nite!

one of a kind. emerick seemed to be a natural successor. not sure what happened there, but for me he is not as good as gene was.
- isaiah520

Gene was the one that taught us, he was childhood for a lot of us old heads

Gene was the one that taught us, he was childhood for a lot of us old heads
- Jsaquella

That's Kalas for me....

That's Kalas for me....
- Giroux_Is_God

He was our summertime childhood.

Darn it, I need to go to bed but keep checking this page to see if Lavy has gotten the axe yet. It's coming. Maybe after tomorrow's game. After all the talk of the boys being fired up for revenge they looked lifeless. Today was the must win, and they didn't. Dead man walking.

He was our summertime childhood.
- Jsaquella

When I heard he died...I guess I was a freshman in high school- someone said he had a heart attack in the studio at around 1....at 3 I ran home from the bus and ran in the door. Of course the game was on, because that's what we do, but it was the 7th inning.

McCarthy was calling the game.

Cried like a baby. Jesus....

Darn it, I need to go to bed but keep checking this page to see if Lavy has gotten the axe yet. It's coming. Maybe after tomorrow's game. After all the talk of the boys being fired up for revenge they looked lifeless. Today was the must win, and they didn't. Dead man walking.
- coffee junkie

If they lose tomorrow, in the same manner they have the last few games, I think it could come.

From what the beat guys said, Laviolette was safe, but that might be them projecting or having wrong info.

I have no idea what will happen next. As much as I feel the change is needed, I still have hope it will not be.

When I heard he died...I guess I was a freshman in high school- someone said he had a heart attack in the studio at around 1....at 3 I ran home from the bus and ran in the door. Of course the game was on, because that's what we do, but it was the 7th inning.

McCarthy was calling the game.

Cried like a baby. Jesus....
- Giroux_Is_God

I was driving down the Northeast Extension. I had to pull over. It was a terrible way to find out, and I immediately flashed back to Richie Ashburn's passing. You're probably too young to remember Whitey, but he and Harry were sheer brilliance together, made years of mediocre baseball tolerable-even fun.

Whitey passed in NY while the Phils were getting ready to play the Mets. The game that next afternoon was surreal, even more than the game after Harry died.

I was driving down the Northeast Extension. I had to pull over. It was a terrible way to find out, and I immediately flashed back to Richie Ashburn's passing. You're probably too young to remember Whitey, but he and Harry were sheer brilliance together, made years of mediocre baseball tolerable-even fun.

Whitey passed in NY while the Phils were getting ready to play the Mets. The game that next afternoon was surreal, even more than the game after Harry died.
- Jsaquella

I remember Whitey. I remember him and Kalas calling games...little snippets of memory- but I don't remember when he died.

Those two were incredible. I loved Kalas...I took it especially hard. When I was a kid people would ask me who my favorite Phillie was and I'd say Harry. I'd be completely serious- it wasn't just some little kid thing.

Now we have these 2 clowns

I remember Whitey. I remember him and Kalas calling games...little snippets of memory- but I don't remember when he died.

Those two were incredible. I loved Kalas...I took it especially hard. When I was a kid people would ask me who my favorite Phillie was and I'd say Harry. I'd be completely serious- it wasn't just some little kid thing.

Now we have these 2 clowns
- Giroux_Is_God

You mean T-Mac's man boobs?