Local sports teams struggling, but on the mend

Philadelphia sports fans are starved. They remember what success feels like, but it is feeling they haven't had in quite a while. The last time they tasted a championship was when the 76ers marched down Broad Street after one of the best seasons in NBA history. That was 16 years ago -- there hasn't been a pro sports championship parade since. Losing is what defines Philadelphia pro sports. The Phillies have lost more games than any pro franchise in any sport in any city; the Sixers just emerged from an eight-year funk last season; the Eagles had one of the lowest point totals in NFL history last fall; and the Flyers have the reputation for being consistent underachievers. Losing is an image that Philadelphia may never totally shake. But it also is one that the four franchises are trying to make the public forget at as we near the dawn of a new century. In many ways, youth is what also defines Philadelphia sports. Each of the four teams is in somewhat of a rebuilding phase, one that could bring a period of sports success that Philadelphia has not seen since the 1970s. The Sixers may be the closest to reaching that level. For the past three years, everyone knew the Sixers had an extraordinary talent in Allen Iverson. But last year, "The Answer" showed what he is truly capable of. The 6'0" speedster not only edged Shaquille O'Neal for the NBA scoring title but he also shed much of the immaturity that characterized him in the past and led the Sixers to the Eastern Conference semifinals. With a nucleus featuring players like Iverson, 6'7" swingman Larry Hughes and point guard Eric Snow, the Sixers have achieved the level of the NBA's elite teams. In fact, after years of virtually no national exposure, the Sixers will appear on NBC 11 times this upcoming season, tying the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs for most appearances in the league. The Phillies too are in the midst of building a nucleus for the future. With some of the game's best young players in their starting lineup, the Phils could soon match almost any in baseball. Right fielder Bobby Abreu, still unknown to most fans across the nation, is currently second in the National League batting race. And at age 25, Abreu could have several batting titles ahead of him. All-Star catcher Mike Lieberthal and center fielder Doug Glanville -- a 1992 Engineering graduate -- are two of baseball's best at their respective positions. And while third baseman Scott Rolen may be having a subpar season by his standards, the 24-year old former Rookie of the Year is still among the best in the game. When last year's top draft pick, first baseman Pat Burrell, reaches the majors, the lineup will only get more dangerous. But the Phillies still must contend with a starting rotation and bullpen that are just plain bad. Ace Curt Schilling, who is expected to make his first start in over a month today, is one of the NL's best pitchers, but he stands virtually alone on a staff of players that would be more at home in Triple-A. Like the Phillies pitching staff, the Eagles feature several players who probably do not belong on an NFL roster. The Birds, too, are trying to rebuild with youth, but unlike Philly's other teams, they have a much longer road to success ahead of them. The Eagles' offensive output was historically bad last season, and it was reflected in their 3-13 record. Most observers expect them to be at the bottom of the NFL again this year. First-year coach Andy Reid has a difficult task, but with a talented defense and players like McNabb and running back Duce Staley, the Eagles could be headed out of their demise. The Flyers are the one Philadelphia team not relying on youth. In fact, the Flyers played in the Stanley Cup Finals as recently as 1997. But with early playoff exits in the past two seasons, the Flyers have now earned a label of underachievers. The Flyers, however, have also been beset with bad luck. Superstar center Eric Lindros has been plagued with injuries throughout his career, including a collapsed lung that forced him to miss the end of last season. And the Flyers received even more bad news when talented 22-year-old defenseman Dmitri Tertyshny was killed in a boating accident this summer. So bad luck has long been a staple of the Philadelphia sports scene. But in the next few years the luck could change and the loser image could disappear long enough to let the City of Brotherly Love see a championship parade once again.

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