Philadelphia vs. New Jersey… and Houston – 2011 edition

Forget about April Fools posts, it’s kind of a big day for Philadelphia sports. The surprisingly competent 76ers take on the New Jersey Nets tonight at 7PM and can clinch a playoff spot with a win. A Charlotte loss gets them in as well and while I’m not expecting much in the postseason, this team did beat San Antonio, Chicago and Boston this season. They were even able to hang with Miami until the Heat decided they wanted to win that game. That’s just the tip of the Philly Sports iceberg though.

The first place Flyers also take on their rivals from across the Delaware as they take on the New Jersey Devils tonight at 7PM. The Flyers currently lead the Eastern Conference by a point and hopefully they can hold on to it with only five games to play. If things remain where they are, the Flyers would face the New York Rangers in the first round. Neither team from New Jersey is making the playoffs in their respective sport this year.

The view from the field at Citizens Bank Park on Phillies Opening Day 2011

Of course the big Philadelphia sports news is that today is Opening Day for the Phillies at Citizen’s Bank Park. Yes, this is bigger news than either the Sixers or Flyers heading into the playoffs. There are huge expectations from the Phillies this season and when fans are predicting a World Series victory before the first pitch, they don’t get much bigger. I don’t think anyone going to the game today expected snow on the ground this morning when they bought their tickets, and I sincerely hope the weather improves. It’s killing me that I can’t listen to the game while I’m at work today, but at least I got to be part of the opening week “Paint the Town Red” festivities. Regardless of what’s falling out of the sky today, it’s going to be chilly – the kind of chilly that only an opening day victory can warm.