McQuade Finds Kindred Spirit In Scott Graham Debate

I really thought I was alone in being opposed to the Scott Graham departure from the Phillies’ announcing team, but apparently I am not.

From none other than Larry Kane’s blog (emphasis not mine):

As a broadcaster, I appreciate the announcers who broadcast sports, especially those who can give you that visual picture, even when it is on the radio. Outside of Harry Kalas, no one did it better than Scott Graham!

The best play-by-play man in town is Merrill Reese. There is no one even close. In a way, Graham was becoming to baseball what Merrill became to Eagles football in his early years. Graham was the natural successor to Harry. But that will not happen, because the Phillies have made a bad decision.

For some reason, the Phillies fail to interpret what is good and bad in this town. The rehiring of Manager Charlie Manuel was a big mistake. The beating of a Philadelphia cop by player Jason Michaels in 2005 was handled badly, along with the domestic dispute involving Brett Myers.

Now Scott Graham has been given his walking papers.

But Graham should have stayed. He was hardly the weakest link in a Phillies broadcast team that can, unwillingly, put you to sleep on some nights.

It is too bad the Phillies didn’t understand the impact of Scott Graham. The fans do.

You know, I was planning on comparing Scott Graham’s departure with the Phillies’ handling of Brett Myers’ arrest for wifebeating, but then somebody went and beat me to it.

The Phillies Say Goodbye To Scott Graham - What a Missed Call! [The Larry Kane Report]

Leftovers: Plan A: Go Get Plan B

• If you’re planning on having some sweaty, condom-free sex on Tuesday night, then do the five branches Bucks County Planned Parenthood have a deal for you! The ‘Hood will be giving out free Plan B on Wednesday morning, so you can look just as serene as the official model for the drug. [Bucks County Courier Times]

• With Scott Graham gone in the Phillies’ booth next year — who will do Graham Slam commercials? — the Phils have added a new analyst: None other than Gary Matthews! Welcome back, Sarge! (Apparently I’m the only one who will miss Scott Graham, though. I thought he had really improved over the past few seasons.) Wheels is still around, so the Chris Wheeler Glossary will certainly be expanding. [Beerleaguer]

• Jerry Mondesire, head of the NAACP in Philly, says Jonathan Saidel dropped out of the mayor’s race due to Bob Brady. Then again, he also said that Donovan McNabb was a race traitor or something for not running the ball more, so we all know how accurate he is. [KYW 1060]

• Why are men bigger than women? Why, Faye Flam reports, men are violent assholes, that’s why. However, men, be glad you’re not a deep-sea angler fish, where the woman is 500k times heavier than the man. I bet both genders of that fish have issues. [Inquirer]

• A pair of employees — how surprising — have been arrested in a heist of nearly $300,000 from a Wal-Mart yesterday. If Wal-Mart workers aren’t smart enough to pull off a robbery undetected, then who is? [6 ABC]

• Ex-Phillies pitcher Don Carman found a bunch of old fan mail and recently answered it. Yeah, I can’t think of any joke but “Don Carman got fan mail?!” either. [Slate]

• Pat Croce has been named Wing Bowl Commissioner. He’ll be in charge of making sure all the models (”models”) 610 WIP hires are C-cup or better. [Inquirer]