"Unzip your balls"

The trade deadline is looming, the Phillies are a prime contender for the crown. The Philadelphia Phillies, who since 1903 have won the World Series only twice, the storied losers of the Great Depression, the collapse of 1964, the futility of the late 70's, the flash in the pan of 1993, the afterthought of the 90's and the early part of this decade, are now World Champions. They have the opportunity to be, as Bill Swerski's superfans put it, a "dynasty in progress". Plainly, fucking get Roy Halladay. The pieces are in place, everyone is healthy as of now **knock on wood**, make it happen in 09. Look at the Mets. That could easily be anybody next year. I was talkin to my friend Lou who is NOT a Phillies fan, but obviously an astute observer of baseball. The following is our text conversation on this matter:

JI: I have a feeling zack duke will be a phillie, and im good with that
LD: thats a decent buy low deal, but i still think toronto blinks by friday
JI: I would love that, they will if they wanna sell halladay high
LD: They wont get more over the winter and especially next year than they would get now. if im the phils, i may blink too and give them drabek. Puts alot of pressure on him going forward if he is known as the halladay deal breaker. Plus if the phillies get another series from this deal no one will care how good Drabek turns out to be in 3 years. Because toronto won't win anything anyway
JI: I want halladay badly. Its managements job to put the team in position to win next 5 years not just this year
JI: Very true, he will have a ton of weight on his back if phillies don't parade again and he isn't dominant
LD: 1. Worry about signing him when the time comes. 2. if he likes it here he may not feel desire for likely a bigger offer in ny or boston 3. Why can't the phils build a dynasty? The yankees and sox dont have to be the only perennially good teams. They need to unzip their balls here. You think they're popular now? See how it looks after 3 straight pennants. That makes top free agents want to come here and brings in the cash to pay them.
JI: I totally agree. I've felt that way since the Toby Borland days. Stop being such a corporation
JI: But they love thier prospects
LD: Or they can just go back to being a pretty good likeable ballclub in a town that will always care about the eagles more
JI: You're inserting a lot of anxiety into this for me haha
LD: I just had a soapbox moment. Couldn't contain myself.
JI: Its status update worthy
LD: Obliged. And point out that I am not a phillies fan



Note: I feel Lou wants the Phillies to get Halladay and go on a dynasty run simply to spite the Eagles and steal their fire, but that works for me.

Worst Party Productions

Check out these videos from Worst Party Productions:

"Baseball Cards": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ssr6TEDrwcM

"Quantum Boggs": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJyAi8KfWkU


These movies are amazing and do not get enough credit in the short film youtube world. Not everyone will understand and appreciate the work Worst Party Productions does, but those who don't get it simply don't matter.

Robert Dean

Robert Dean was just a boy...a boy who would become a man...a man destined for Pro Set glory. "On August 19, 1991, the 5 millionth visitor to the NFL HOF walked through the turnstyle. Robert Dean, a gangly 14 year old from Portland, Oregon was showered with a $1,000 shopping spree in the museum's shop, a lifetime membership, and his very own trading card with his picture on it. The family didn't even have plans to visit the Hall of Fame that day. According to family legend, Robert's father Steve missed the exit on the turnpike and decided to take the scenic route. They ended up on route 62 and decided to stop at the Hall of Fame". This had to be a turning point in young Robert's life. This Rick Moranis look-alike went from bridge-framed glasses dorkhood to the front a Pro Set baseball card.

Frank Brickowski

What a great basketball name!!! This card is from the NBA Hoops set, baseball cards that the NBA printed back in 1990. Brickowski's wikipedia is pretty boring, Frank was a journeyman in the truest sense of the word. After he played college ball at Penn St., Brickowski play for Cagiva Varese (1981-1982)Reims CAUFA (1982-1983)Maccabi Tel Aviv (1983-1984)Seattle SuperSonics (1984-1986, 1995-1996)Los Angeles Lakers (1987)San Antonio Spurs (1987-1990)Milwaukee Bucks (1991-1994)Charlotte Hornets (1994)Boston Celtics (1996-1997).

What I am most curious about is his mustache. The reverse side of the card shows him in his dirty stache glory, yet the front shows him shaven. Perhaps like Mayor Clarence Royce said before shaving his facial hair a debate, "Motherfuckers makin me put my game face on". But what is a game face? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Onfzet1xxs&feature=related