Losing My Religion (DeSean Jackson Edition)

If you have some working knowledge of Philadelphia's pro sports teams and their fans, you're aware that there are certain teams that we Just. Don't. Like. And there are players on those teams that we Just. Don't. Like. So a comparison of recent events involving Philly players and those from the Do Not Like category is distressing.

In the last couple of months we've had the New York Rangers' Sean Avery speaking out and even lobbying state legislators to get the same-sex marriage bill passed in New York. He's spoken on gay issues in the past and continues to do so even after the marriage victory in New York. Avery is one of those obnoxious, edgy, nasty hockey players that everyone hates, unless he's on their team. And the fact that he plays for the Rangers, still a major rival of the Flyers even though they haven't been all that successful since their last Stanley Cup win in 1994, makes it worse. But in the world of pro sports, speaking out on LGBT equality is, while not as rare as it used to be, still rather controversial.

This week, our attention focuses on NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin, who played his entire career with the NFL's Evil Empire, the Dallas Cowboys. Obviously he was a talented player, but also unlikable, a loudmouth who got into trouble off the field (suspended after arrested on drug charges, both by the NFL during his playing career and by ESPN after he became a broadcaster). But he, too, has spoken out on LGBT issues recently, and now he's on the cover of Out magazine. In the accompanying story (written by Cyd Zeigler of Outsports), he speaks about his late brother, who was gay, and how he also supports full marriage equality and wants the NFL to be supportive when the day arrives that an active player comes out.

Two disliked players from hated rivals, now doing great stuff to help gay people. As you can imagine, I'm a little conflicted. I'm not comfortable with Sean Avery and Michael Irvin giving me reasons to actually, you know, like them.

But I'm also disappointed, because while these opponents are doing these things, what do I have, representing my teams, the teams I love and passionately root for?

DeSean Jackson. And silence.

The Eagles' wide receiver

NY Rangers' Sean Avery For Marriage Equality

Obnoxious on the ice, but great off it. I guess that's the way to describe New York Rangers forward Sean Avery, who just filmed an ad in support of marriage equality in New York:



Here's a link to the New York Times article, in case you pay the Times for access or haven't hit the monthly limit of 20 free articles.

Avery has spoken out previously about how he'd support an openly gay player in the NHL. He also got naked for a t-shirt for a campaign to fight skin cancer and raise funds for cancer research at NYU:

Still don't ever want him to play for the Flyers. Then again, considering the weak end to their season, maybe they need an attitude adjustment.

Flyers' Season Down To This Week

The team that The Hockey News predicted would win the Stanley Cup is fighting just to get into the playoffs. The Flyers haven't won two in a row since early March. They lost yet another goaltender to injury -- Johan Backlund, making his first NHL start, left the 4-1 loss in Pittsburgh on March 27th after two periods when he aggravated a groin injury. Brian Boucher has been so inconsistent that they signed a guy playing in Switzerland for the last 5 games of the season, but that guy -- Sebastien Caron -- is ineligible for the playoffs. The Flyers followed that Pittsburgh loss with a resounding 5-1 win over New Jersey. The Devils, having lost 5 of 6 to the Flyers this year, are the one team they might have a chance against in the playoffs.

Of course, the Flyers first have to get into the postseason, and that win over the Devils and three whole days off (an anomaly in the Olympic-compressed schedule) led to a hideous loss to the New York Islanders. The Flyers had beaten the Islanders 15 times in a row before Thursday night. Although their effort was much better the next night, they lost 1-0 to Montreal, a team they're in direct competition with for the final Eastern Conference playoff slots.

After tonight's games, Montreal is in 6th place with 86 points and 3 games left. Boston is 7th with 84 points and 4 games left. The Flyers and New York Rangers are tied with 82 points each and 4 games left, and Atlanta has 81 points but just 3 remaining games. Since the Flyers have 38 wins to the Rangers' 36, they currently own the tiebreaker for the final playoff slot. Conveniently, the Flyers and Rangers meet on Friday and Sunday, the last two games of the regular season. Most likely those games will decide which team gets in.

While I was skeptical that they could make a serious Cup run, the Flyers were supposed to be a lot better than they are now. Instead, they had to change coaches mid-season and they're still struggling to get into the playoffs, they have serious goaltending questions (both for now and next season), they're extremely hamstrung by the salary cap and their minor league talent is lacking -- no one they call up when they need a replacement seems to produce much. Oh, and in the 2010 entry draft they don't have any picks in the first two rounds. This is not an organization primed for success right now.