Fightin' Phillies provide hope for summer

excitement to a team that does have a big draw for the fans.

The Sixers started off the lockout-shortened season in a wonderful fashion,running their record to 14-9. The team had big victories over the Indiana Pacers and the Los Angeles Lakers, two of the league's top teams.

Since then, the team is 2-7, and injured star player Allen Iverson is feuding with coach Larry Brown. The Sixers are starting to look like the Sixers of past years.

RON D'ORAZIO

The City of Brotherly Love has not received ANY Jove from the sports gods lately. Everything that the town's sports fans had hoped probably will not happen.

For starters, the Eagles are strongly considering a draft-pick trade that would give up hopes to get the big-time talent of running back Ricky Williams. Williams, a star during his college career at the University of Texas, may be the biggest star to come out of school since Barry Sanders.

The Eagles want to trade for a young quarterback, a project that may not land the team in the playoffs for the next three to five years. Williams can give the team immediate help and let them get a quarterback later in the season or next year.

Now the team will have a project at quarterback and an average running back in Duce Staley. Williams would have added

The other major tenant of the First Union Center,' the Flyers, had an unbelievable run in the early part of 1999. The team lost just one game over a period of 25 contests.

Currently, though, the Flyers are coming off a recent 12-game winless skid and have lost their captain, Eric Lindros, for the rest of the regular season due to a collapsed lung.

Along with suffering several other injuries to key players, the Flyers are fighting to hold a solid playoff spot. Right now that Stanley Cup run looks like it will fall far short unless they become healthy and can rekindle their magic.

Now it is April, and baseball season is upon the nation. After watching a 1998 season filled with record-breaking events, the nation seems ready for another Mark McGwire-Samrny Sosa homerun race.

As for the Phillies, the fans actually have something to look forward to. The team is starting to become exciting again. A young third baseman named Scott Rolen is the best player since Mike Schmidt at his position.

Rolen uses power, speed, game smarts and hustle to rack up big numbers. Rolen batted around .300 and belted 30 homeruns last season. The fans have taken to his character and his hustle and recklessness while running the bases.

The best thing for the Phillies and their fans is that Rolen turned down big money to stay in Philly for $2.5 million. Rolen could have walked to another team and signed for probably $5-$6 million a year. In a sport that has been represented by greedy players, Rolen has stood up for himself and his city and followed his heart.

The other superstar for the Phillies is pitcher Curt Schilling, a fireballer who has recorded 300 strikeouts in each of the past two seasons. Schilling has been the only stable aspect of an otherwise shaky pitching staff. Schilling is the only regular left from the 1993 National League Pennant team.

The problem is that the Phillies need good, young talent and Schilling is their only marketable commodity right now. Their next trade will probably be Schilling going to a contender for young prospects at the deadline. Likely teams in the Schilling sweepstakes include the Balti-

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more Orioles, the Cleveland Indians or the Seattle Mariners.

Still, the Phillies have some serious talent in the field. Second baseman Marlon Anderson and right fielder Bobby Abreu have offensive power and potential and could be staples in the line-up for years to come.

Centerfielder Doug Glanville gives the team speed and a solid bat, as does veteran Rico Brogna at first base.

The Phillies, even if they lack starting pitching after Schilling, will certainly give fans something to cheer for.

With the other pro teams in the city faltering, the Phils can provide the win-starved fans with a hope for the future.

The only other bright spot in the local sports scene is he Phantoms, the Flyers minor-league hockey team. The Phantoms are gunning for their second straight championship, but do not have as large of a fan base as the pro teams do.

If not a Phantoms fan, hope for a recovery by the Flyers or hold your breath for the Phillies to start winning big.

One never knows. The Phillies could get timely pitching and hitting and maybe pull out a wild card spot. Stay tuned for an exciting summer, anyway.

RonD'Oraziois a seniormajoringin English/ communication.Heis oneof Loqurtur'ssports editors.Weknewhe hadsomePhillypride in him.