ALL THINGS CONSIDERED...
'Cut me Mick...'

... I'd rather be in Philadelphia. And we will be, this Saturday.

The Nuts are going on the road. We've gotten a taste of hoops in the Big Apple, so now we're hitting the road and heading to the burgh that spawned Liberty, Ben Franklin, and World B. Free* to see how they do roundball down there. Yes, at the crack of 10 this Saturday morning, the Captain and I will be piling into the Ducat's jalopy and cruising down the turnpike with the soothing soul sounds of the Delfonics, the O'Jays and LaBelle ringing through our ears.

Our ambitious schedule has us tackling a tripleheader. After a bloody mary breakfast, we'll be heading to the world-famous (ok, Philly-famous) Palestra to see a Big 5 matchup between St. Joe's and LaSalle. At 4, we'll be popping over to the DAC to see the Illadelph-leading Drexel Dragons take on the Delaware Blue Hens, the most dangerous 5 and 20 team in the nation. And then it's back to the Palestra for an Ancient 8 battle between Harvard and Penn to cap the night. Somewhere in there we'll be sure to cram in a cheesesteak, wit whiz.

According to this story, Villanova already wrapped up Philly's coveted 'Big 5' championship with a win over St. Joe's earlier in the week. We on the Nuts Competition Committee have an issue with this assertion given the fact that the Drexel Dragons aren't considered part of this old boys network. Looking at our own Illadelph Division standings at the right of this page, it appears to me as though Drexel is the class of the city, looming over all other comers, including 'Nova. Want proof? How about tonight's game in which they knocked off Hofstra, the leaders of the Empire Division, ending the Pride's 28-game home winning streak. Or how about earlier this season when they bested Villanova. That proof enough for ya? Honestly, what's so small about these Dragons that they aren't considered 'Big'? Perhaps it's time to change the moniker to "The Big 6"? It is this lack of respect that is driving us to visit the DAC Center on Saturday afternoon, where we'll be seated right behind the Dragon bench. Of course, all huffing and puffing aside, we'll be rooting for Delaware. Sorry Drexel, I feel your pain but do you really think we can cheer for a team that has the audacity to beat our beloved Pride? Get real. Go Blue Hens.

Much disrespect.

While all this basketball action on Saturday is sure to be exciting, there's really only one reason we're heading down the turnpike this weekend: Simon Kirke. Who is Simon Kirke you ask? A hot-shot point guard for the St. Joe's Hawks? Legendary coach of the LaSalle Explorers? Trainer extraordinairre for the Penn Quakers? No, no and no.

You wanna know who Simon Kirke is? This is Simon Kirke:



That's right, he's the drummer for classic rock bands Bad Company and Free. He's a Straight Shooter and a Shooting Star I tell ya, and he'll be rocking the kit at halftime of the Penn/Harvard game. Whoo ah! If that's not reason enough to drag your ass down to Philadelphia, I don't know what is.

Let's get Nuts y'all. Philly style.

Road trip!

* For the record, Free actually cut his teeth in Brooklyn. So there.