The Flyers have their backs to the wall, the Sixers lost a game in which Magic star Dwight Howard fouled out after playing just 30 minutes, and the Phils spent the night hitting line drives right at Brewers in a 3-1 loss.
But of course here in Philadelphia we again turn to our favorite topic, the “Iggles.”
Cool you jets, Mel Kiper breath. This isn’t about Saturday’s NFL Draft.
Nor the growing rumblings that the Birds have an interest in Kansas City all-pro tight end Tony Gonzalez.
No, it’s time once again for another lesson from the Joe Banner-Jeff Lurie PR School.
You might remember the team and the city continue to be at odds over $8 million in revenue the city says the team owes it from skyboxes at Veterans Stadium. The team responded they would not be paying them anything, saying that’s just about how much they lost when they had to cancel an exhibition game because of the condition of the Vet’s notorious turf field.
Then the team threw a new wrinkle into the mix, filing court affidavits in which they indicated they had a secret deal with then-Mayor John Street to settle the matter for a lot less. Street denied any such deal existed.
Now Mayor Michael Nutter has weighed in, saying there is no evidence of any deal and telling the team the city, which is currently staring down the barrel of a massive budget deficit that threatened libraries and fire stations, wants its money.
And the response from our resident charmers, Messrs. Banner and Lurie?
See you in court.
But that’s not all. The Eagles released a statement saying that any business considering locating in Philadelphia should take into account the way the city handles such matters.
I’m not making this up.
“We think this should concern every person doing business in the city of Philadelphia or is contemplating doing business in the city,” the team said.
That sounds suspiciously like a threat.
We agree with the team on one thing. It should concern every resident, every taxpayer and every fan of this team.
But not at the way the city is handling the matter. Rather at the arrogant, smug owners of a franchise valued at more than $1 billion.
It’s almost enough to make us side with Sheldon Brown.
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