Uncle Stalin
( Michael Bradley)

   Charlie Manuel's benching of Jimmy Rollins was more than just a message sent to any Phillies player considering a lack of hustle. It was the move of a man with job security and the knowledge that he's in charge.

Number Two With a Bullet
( Michael Bradley)

   If you need any further proof Kevin Kolb is on a fast track to become the Eagles' starting QB, yesterday's announcement that he has ascended to the number two spot should do it.

Relax, Everybody
( Michael Bradley)

   Lito Sheppard missed yesterday's "voluntary" minicamp, but that's no reason for alarm. He'll be back for training camp, and that's all that really matters. 

Real Drama
( Michael Bradley)

   We're hearing plenty of hype about the upcoming NBA Finals, but the Lakers and Celtics will have to go a long way to match the unbelievable action and suspense produced by game five of the Stanley Cup finals.

The Right Move
( Michael Bradley)

   The Phillies made a great move in January, 2007, extending Chase Utley for seven years at what is now a bargain-basement price of $85 million. Sounds like a strategy to use with some other folks.

Old-Time Hockey
( Michael Bradley)

   The Stanley Cup finals series between Detroit and Pittsburgh is not only extremely entertaining -- especially now that the Penguins have scored some goals. It's also a great lesson for the Flyers in how top teams are built.

Last Days
( Michael Bradley)

   The Phillies may still owe Adam Eaton about $6 million this year and $8 mil in '09, but if the shaky righthander doesn't get it right pretty soon, the team will be forced to dine on his rich contract.

Meet the Mess
( Michael Bradley)

   All is not perfect in the Phillies' world; that's for sure. But life for the hometown club is far better than it is about two hours to the north. Let's hope the good times last!

Labor Pains
( Michael Bradley)

   Unless you are a billionaire football owner or NFL player, the specter of upcoming labor ugliness shouldn't bother you one bit. Ignore it all, because neither side is dumb enough to let a good thing die.

Learning The Ropes
( Michael Bradley)

   The Eagles newcomers received some individual attention the past few days at rookie camp and showed that none of them will be riding to the rescue any time soon. And that's a good thing.