John Kincade’s 3 Philly Sports Questions For August
Before we gear up for Philly Sports during the month of August at the Fanatic, we’ll enjoy one of our favorite events of the year.
Monday, July 31 is our inaugural 97.5 The Fanatic Charity Golf Classic, which benefits the John Kincade Scholarship Fund of the the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). It’s a great cause and if you have the opportunity to make a contribution in person or online this Monday.
Philly Sports in August
August is the precursor to September when we will see the Philadelphia Eagles start their drive to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.
The Philadelphia Phillies will need to pad their win total to lock themselves into a Wild Card spot so that they aren’t scrambling into the final series of the season just to back into the party. They also have the upcoming MLB Trade Deadline to determine their roster for the remainder of 2023.
Daryl Morey and the Philadelphia 76ers need to stabilize their roster and solve the James Harden problem. (Or do they?) Let’s examine a few of these nagging issues.
Can the Eagles Survive Injuries In Training Camp?
I’ve said it before, and it is such a bad way to be a fan. I’ll own it though. I’m the guy who wondered aloud the last two summers if Nick Sirianni was running training camp too much like Club Med.
The 2021 Eagles were on pace for a record in penalty yardage sitting at 2-5 in Sirianni’s first season as a head coach. They turned it around, but it made me doubt the soft camp approach.
Last season, they raced out of the gates to an 8-0 record on their way to Super Bowl LVII completely healthy. It definitely worked that time. It contradicts what I do every summer. I hold my breath worrying about injuries, yet I want my team physically ready for the season.
I am tired of scrolling Twitter (or X?) fearing injuries. Please, just get to the season opener without a major mishap.
Can the Phillies finally start meeting expectations?
The Phillies will begin a 17-game stretch on July 28 that will most likely determine if September is going to be a comfortable playoff push or one that is more desperate.
A trip to Pittsburgh comes before a critical four-game series against the Miami Marlins. The Phillies are already 2-4 against the Marlins this season. That has to change as they are a direct competitor for one of the three Wild Card spots.
They then return for a 10-game homestand against the Royals, Nationals, and Twins homestand. If the Phillies don’t start showing us they can dominate some inferior opponents, it will be another white-knuckle September.
Some fans seem to believe the Phillies can go 4-8 in their final 12 games again and grab the third Wild Card spot on their way to the World Series. They must believe in unicorns too if they think that will happen smoothly again.
Will Daryl Morey find a deal for James Harden that works for the 76ers?
I didn’t believe that Harden was a winner when they traded for him, but I thought it was an acceptable move considering Ben Simmons needed to go. Now, it’s Harden that needs to go.
He thought he was going to be a sought-after free agent. His camp floated the Houston Rockets return rumor on Christmas Day. I was done with him before we sat down to dinner that night. He collapsed again under the Game 6 and 7 playoff pressure to confirm my assessment.
I’m thrilled Daryl Morey didn’t just give him pay him what he wants. Now, it’s up to “The Slippery Eel” to find a deal that works. Get him out of here and find role players that Nick Nurse can work with. I’ll take anything but a disgruntled Harden devising his third exit drama plan to destroy another team’s energy.
Watch The John Kincade Show live on the 97.5 The Fanatic YouTube page on weekday mornings from 6am-10am.
9 Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp Dates To Know
Preseason Finale- August 24
The NFL preseason finale isn’t the most dazzling football you’ll ever watch.
However, Eagles fans can still point to one of the most impactful final roster decisions in franchise history as a reason why the game can actually matter.
Corey Clement snuck onto the 2017 roster and later went for 100 yards in Super Bowl LII.
The Birds wrap up the preseason at home on Thursday, August 24 against the Indianapolis Colts at 8 pm.
Final Cuts- August 29
NFL teams trim the rosters from 90 to 53 on August 29.
The announced rosters, however, don’t always last until opening day. Surprise cuts frequently find ways onto other rosters in the final days of August or early September.
