The Sixers lost for the sixth time in seven games Wednesday, 92-88, to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Wells Fargo Center.

Afterward, Doug Collins was philosophical, understanding that his team had several chances to win, didn't, and will have to improve. That was a departure from his mood over the All-Star break, when he admits to losing so much sleep worrying about a five-game losing streak that it cause him dehydration and, ultimately, a dizzy spell that caused him to leave a game early in Detroit.

Collins credits a phone call he made to his former coach and teammate Billy Cunningham, who advised him to remain calm and that eventually success would follow. He also took great value from an article he read about Tom Coughlin, whose New York Giants struggled at times during the last NFL season ... only to have everything work at the end and win a Super Bowl.

"We'ver got to get shots and we've got to make them," Collins said. "That's all. That's just what we've got to do. What do you want me to say? I don't know what else I can say. Run a play and try to get a good shot ... I wish I had the answer. If that was the case, we wouldn't have lost tonight."

Check out my column in the Daily Times Thursday and, as always, on delcotimes.com

Temple began the week ranked No. 22 in the country, then was mentioned for graduation into the Big East.

Then it went to Saint Joseph's.

Hawks 82, Owls 72.

The Big 5, remember?

“We got a little bit out of character,” Owls coach Fran Dunphy said. “We didn't pay attention to who we are, too many times for us. The other thing is, Saint Joe's is a really good basketball team. They can make great noise in our league.”

The Hawks made nine three-point shots, and that was as much a reason as any why they won. It also made them Big 5 co-champs, with the Owls, at 3-1.

"Any time you play Temple, it is like a championship game," Phil Martelli said. "But we are very, very happy to have a piece of that Big 5 championship."

The Owls are still in first place in the A-10. The Hawks will travel to St. Bonaventure Wednesday, still hoping for a bye in the conference tournament.

Check out the Daily Times Sunday and, as always, delcotimes.com for complete Owls-Hawks coverage, including videos.

In a 10-round main event that was as bloody as predictted, Omar Sheika of Paterson, N.J., won a unanimous decision over Tony Ferrante of Northeast Philadelphia Friday at Harrah's-Chester.

Sheika (32-11) won the BAM light-heavyweight title. Ferrante, who disagreed with the scoring, fell to 12-3. The judges had Sheika winning, 99-90, 99-90, 95-94. The Daily Times favored Sheika, 97-92.

In other fights:

Welterweight Naim Nelson (4-0) win a majority decision over Linwood Hurd (3-3-4). Heavyweight Jamie Campbell (4-2) took a unanimous decision over Lonnie Kornegay (1-6-2). Light-heavyweight Fred Jenkins Jr. won unanimously over John Michael Terry (2-26).

Middleweight Danny Mills, a former Penncrest High football player, won his pro debut with a TKO at 1:50 of the second over Mike Haynes (0-1). Also, welterweight Tyrone Crawley Jr. (1-0) took a unanimous decision over Hamid Robinson (0-1).

JOEY EYE BOXING PROMOTIONSHARRAHS IN CHESTER, PAFEBRUARY 24^TH, 2012

                                                          

                                                                 MAIN EVENT
Tony Ferrante 12-2 (7)              10-BAM Light Heavyweight Title                 Omar Sheika 31-11 (21)Philadelphia, PA                                                                                              Paterson, NJ
176 lbs                                                                                                             174.5 lbs

Naim Nelson  4-0                              6- Jr. Welterweights                               Linwood Hurd  3-2-4 (1) Philadelphia, PA                                                                                             Atlantic City, NJ
137 lbs                                                                                                                138 ¼ lbs

Jamie Campbell  3-2                                 6- Heavyweights                              Lonnie Kornegay 1-5-2
Ridley Park, PA                                                                                                    Baltimore, MD
288 lbs                                                                                                                        267 lbs

Fred Jenkins Jr. 4-0                                      4- Light Heavyweights                  John Michael Terry
Philadelphia, PA                                                                                                Portsmouth, VA
174.5 lbs                                                                                                                   175 lbs

Danny Mills  (Pro debut)                                4-Middleweights                Mike Haynes (Pro debut)
Glen Mills, PA                                                                                                        Wilmington, DE
159 ½ lbs                                                                                                                        156 lbs

Tyrone Crawley Jr. (Pro debut)                     4- Jr. Welterweights     Hamid Robinson (Pro debut)
Philadelphia, PA                                                                                  Philadelphia, PA
141 ½ lbs                                                                                                      137 ½ lbs

Tony Ferrante will be 176, Omar Sheika 174.5 for the main event tonight (Friday) at Harrah's-Chester. Fights start at 8.

This, from the promoters:

"

MAIN EVENT WEIGHTS FROM CHESTER, PA

PLUS VIDEO LINK & PICTURE—RIDDICK BOWE TO ATTEND SHOW

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHESTER, PA (February 24, 2012)—The two main event fighters weighed in for Tonight’s six bout card at Harrahs in Chester

Tony Ferrante (176 lbs) & Omar Sheika (174.5) weighed for their 10 round BAM Light Heavyweight title match.

The card is promoted by Joey Eye Boxing

Former world Heavyweight champion Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe will be in attendance to take pictures and sign autographs.

Tickets are now on sale for $100 (VIP); $65 (Ringside) and $45 (General Admission) and can be purchased at the Harrahs Chester Gift Shop; By calling Joey Eye (267-304-9399); David Feldman (610-291-0806); 800-480-8020 or on http://www.webtix.net/

"

It's going to take some cash, some patience and some imagination, but Temple apparently will join the Big East.

That would be two Big East franchises, in other words, within 12 miles of one-another.

That will put pressure on Villanova to attract area players, fringe fans, and media interest. It will also put pressure on the Wildcats to graduate to BCS football.

Problems, all.

Check out my column in the Daily Times Thursday and, as always, on delcotimes.com

Villanova does not have a senior in its basketball rotation. But twice in three days in the Wells Fargo Center it went to overtime, first losing to No. 20 Notre Dame, then Monday falling, 73-70, to UConn.

Panic?

No, promise.

“The losses are there,” Jay Wright said. “But we are getting Tyrone Johnson all this time. We are getting Mo Sutton time. This is getting JayVaughn Pinkston time as a go-to player. It's getting Cheek more of an important role.

“Now, you get those other guys back ...”

Those guys would be injured starters Maalik Wayns and James Bell. And when they return, they could make Villanova a handful in the Big East playoffs.

The NCAA Tournament and the NIT are all but out for the 11-16 Cats. But the CBI is a possibility that Wright would welcome. They are young enough and would benefit from the satellite tournament

Why not?

Check out my column in the Daily Times Tuesday and, as always, on delcotimes.com

I will be talking sports with Angelo Cataldi at 7:20 Tuesday morning on WIP 94.1 FM and 610 AM.

Tune in.

Last weekend, one inside-the-ropes Flyers voice said this to the Daily Timess:  "They are going to get some bulk. You can bet on that.”

They did.

A day after acquiring 6-4, 230-pound Nicklas Grossman from Dallas, the Flyers acquired former All-Star Pavel Kubina from Tampa Bay for a second-round and a fifth-round draft choice.

The 6-4, 258-pound Kubina, 34, had three goals and eight assists in 52 games this season.

That's 488 pounds of bulk to supplement the defense in front of sagging Ilya Bryzgalov and Sergei Bobrovsky in two days.

The voice was right.

After the fans booed two Flyers' goaltenders Saturday during a 6-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, they heard a little push-back.

James van Riemsdyk:  “You know, I think those guys have to keep quiet up there. They pay their money to see the team, but you win as a team, lose as a team. You can't pinpoint it on one guy. Those guys are working hard out there. We have to support them a little bit better and figure it out. It's not just one guy. It's all 20 of us out there.”

Ilya Bryzgalov:  “I think it's an easy life when you can blame the one guy. It's a bad goal, it's a goalie's mistake. It's easy to find a scapegoat. When you point to one guy and say, 'We're always losing because of goalies,' I think it is the wrong philosophy.”

Yep. Telling Philadelphia sports fans to pipe down has a real good chance to work.

Check out my column in the Daily Times Sunday and, as always, on delcotimes.com

Nadya Denise Doud-Suleman has faced an eight-count before ... in a delivery room, where she once gave birth to octopulets.

Thursday at Warehouse 24, she will try to avoid another eight-count in a three-round pillow fight with Widener pre-law student Lisa Marie of Secane.

The seven-bout, Damon Feldman-promoted card begins at 7:30. Tickets are available at the door.

“I am flattered that anyone would keep up with my story,” Octomom said. “I am very, very grateful to have any opportunity to make money. And this is a job. I am grateful for any job, actually. And it is not like ultimate fighting or MMA or anything like that. It's all for fun --- and for me, a paycheck.”

Check out my column in the Daily Times Thursday and, as always, on delcotimes.com.

And of course I will be there for the press conference Wednesday ....

The following is the press release from promoter Damon Feldman:

"


Who: The Octomom aka Nadya Suleman Vs Lisa Marie Press Conference and Fight
What: Octomom is coming to Delaware County to the Warehouse 24 to make her Pillow Fighting debut, the hot new concept put together by the owners of Celebrity Boxing where Women Battle it out for 3-1minute rounds in a Ring. The rules are No Hitting,No Kicking, No Wrestling, just Out Hit each other with the Pillow. There will be 7 matches on this night and Nadya Suleman The Octomom will take on Delco native and Law Student at Widener university in the Main Event! The Undercard will also feature Kim Kardashian lookalike Trisha Varrallo as she takes on model Sara Jane and several others will go at it. The Press Conference all the media will get a chance to meet all the Girls and Octomom. Tickets are on sale Now!!

Where/When:
Press Conference -This Wednesday 7:30 P.M. at The Warehouse 24-1936 Macdade  BLVD Woodlyn,pa

Fight-This Thursday - 8:30 P.M. also at the Warehouse 24-1936 Macdade BLVD Woodlyn,pa

"

The struggling Flyers will have to recover without the dynamics of Zac Rinaldo. The aggressive left wing has been suspended by the NHL for two games for charging into the Red Wings' Jonathan Ericsson during a 4-3 loss Sunday in Detroit.

Rinaldo was assessed a minor charging penalty at 13:25 of the first period. However, a deeper film study by the NHL's Department of Player Safety showed him to leave his skates and illegally launch himself at the defenseman behind the Detroit net.

Rinaldo has one goal and six assists in 43 games, but his 156 penalty minutes rank second in the NHL.

The Flyers will entertain the Buffalo Sabres Thursday.

--- JACK McCAFFERY

From the promoters, quote:

"

CARD SHAPING UP FOR FEBRUARY 24^TH BOXING CARD AT HARRAHS IN CHESTER, PA

Ferrante – Sheika main event plus undefeated Cartagena & Nelson plus local favorites Campbell, Hasson; Biddle, DeJesus; Goyco-Williams and pro debuters Crawley Jr,; Mills and Haynes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHESTER, PA (February 10, 2012)—On Friday night February 24^th, Joey Eye Boxing Promotions presents a terrific night of boxing at Harrah’s in Chester, Pennsylvania.

In the main event, Tony Ferrante will look to notch the biggest win of his career when he takes on former four-time world title challenger Omar Sheika in a bout for the BAM Light Heavyweight title that is scheduled for ten rounds.

Ferrante of Philadelphia has a record of 12-2 with seven knockouts and is one of the most popular fighters in Philadelphia.  Ferrante won his first nine professional bouts before dropping back to back bouts to Chuck Mussachio (15-1-2) and Ronson Frank (17-0).

Ferrante has responded with three consecutive victories, with two of those coming at Harrahs in Chester.

Ferrante is coming off a first round stoppage over Joe Park last August 12^th at Harrahs in Chester.

Sheika of Paterson, New Jersey has been a mainstay at the top of the Super Middleweight and Light Heavyweight divisions for sixteen years.  He won his first fourteen bouts and went on to beat former world champions Simon Brown and Glen Johnson.

Sheika challenged Joe Calzaghe, Eric Lucas; Jeff Lacy and Markus Beyer for world Super Middleweight supremacy but each time came up just a little bit short.

Sheika, 31-11 with twenty-one is coming off a majority decision victory over based Light heavyweight Charles Hayward on January 21^st.

^"

A larger than usual crowd saw Bonner fall, 58-44, to La Salle Friday. There was a reason: It was the last basketball game to be played in a gym with a deep, deep, deeeeeeeeeeepppp hoops history.

Bonner will close at the end of the semester, but at least 30 former Friars showed up Friday and took part in pregame player introductions. Later, they posed with the current team for a picture.

Bonner will play one more game, Sunday at Ryan.

 “As soon as I walked through that door, I just remembered that smell of the court,  just the wooden court," said Rodney Blake, once Bonner's all-time leading scorer. "And that brought back all the memories.”

Check out my column in the Daily Times Saturday and, as always, on delcotimes.com

The NBA All-Star Game reserves will be announced about 7 p.m. tonight (Thursday), but the exit polls are indicating that Andre Iguodala will be elected by the Eastern Conference coaches.

Doug Collins said today at practice that "four or five" coaches have texted him, saying they have voted for the Sixers' swingman.

The All-Star Game will be in Orlando Feb. 26.

Catch me at 2 p.m. today talking sports with my man Bill Werndl on WCHE 1520-AM in West Chester.

Not that A.I.

Not in 2001.

Andre Iguodala, in 2012.

Though Kobe Bryant scored 28 points Monday to become the fifth leading scorer in NBA history, he was unable to solve Iguodala's defense down the stretch. Thus, the Sixers won, 95-90, reinforcing their status as real NBA contenders.

It's fascinating that Bryant and Iguodala are two players that too many Philly hoop fans often ridicule. But Iguodala proved Monday why he is a valuable Sixer, a should-be All-Star and a likely member of the next Olympics Dream Team.

“You have to be a strong-willed player to play against Kobe Bryant,” Collins said. “Those kind of players break your spirit. When he is hitting those shots that he was in the first half, you better be a strong-willed player. The easiest thing to do is to get discouraged. I saw it happen. I coached Michael Jordan. He would make incredible shots, then you would see their heads go down.”

Check out my column in the Daily Times Tuesday and, as always, on delcotimes.com

Catch me in two places --- in two states --- on Super Bowl Sunday.

From 3 p.m. until 6, I will be at the Village Pub in Swedesboro, N.J., co-hosting the Super Bowl pregame show on 97.5 FM The Fanatic along with Tim McManus and producer Devon Givens.

From kickoff until the end of the game, I will be at Jimmy Mac's at Burmont and Marshall Roads in Drexel Hill for the Big Game Weekend, where the Daily Times and delcotimes.com will be hosting a FanCast. Join me there with Bob Grotz, Vince Carey and Anthony SanFilippo.

There's nothing like a good fight card in Atlantic City, and there is one tonight (Saturday) at the Tropicana.

In the feature, hot Philadelphia lightweight Victor Vasquez (14-5-1, with 7 knockouts) will fight Dorin Spivey (40-6-0) of Portsmouth, Va.

Also, Paulsboro, N.J. heavyweight Chazz Witherspoon (29-2-0, with 21 knockouts) of the fighting Witherspoons will box 20-6-1 Evans "The Sandman" Quinn of Miami.

Other events in the so-dubbed "Super Brawl 1", according to promoter Diane Lee Fischer Cristiano:

" From Philadelphia, PA, Dennis “The Assassin” Hasson (11-0-0/3KOs) vs. TBA; From Norfolk, VA Frankie “The Freight Train” Filippone (8-2-0/2 KO’s) vs. Tacoma, WA Richard Langley (5-3-0/ 3 KO’s); From Newark, DE Joey Tiberi (6-1-0/4 KO’s) vs.  Independence, MO Steve Cox (2-3-0/1 KO's); From Norfolk, VA Dorset Barnwell (5-0-0/3 KO’s) vs. New York, NY Jon Bolden (2-3-0/2 KO’s);  From Philadelphia, PA Keenan Smith (4-0-0/1 KO) vs. Detroit, MI Chris Finley (2-3-0/2 KO’s); From Atlantic City, NJ Isiah Seldon (5-0-0/2 KO’s) vs. Virginia Beach, VA Kenneth Moody Jr. (2-2-2/1KO). The evening will also feature a female 4-round bout with Cleveland, OH featherweight, Carla Torres (3-2-0) and Bronx, NY featherweight, Nydia Feliciano (3-2-3)."

Doors open at 7, violence begins at 8, tickets start at $40.

The Sixers were on a 5-1 homestand, having not been beaten in regulation, and had the Miami Heat in the Wells Fargo Center Friday.

Rap stars, at least one actress well known for a particular brand of film, former players and 20,994 passionate fans filled the Wells Fargo Center.

And they watched the Sixers lose, 99-79, to fall to 0-2 this season against the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last season.

"I wouldn't say this hurts us," Thad Young said. "We are a team that can match you blow for blow."

The Sixers were down bu four at halftime and by four after three quarters. But in a weird, 66-game sprint of a season, they ran out of steam at the end.

"I think they have as many athletes as us," Heat coach Eric Spoelstra said, "if not more."

The Sixers are 16-7, play in Atlanta Saturday and will host the Lakers Monday. That gives them a chance to recover quickly ... or not.

They are feeling some Heat now, but they did beat Chicago earlier in the week.

Too early to panic.

 “This was a damper,” said Elton Brand, who was held scoreless in his 28 minutes. “It's definitely a damper. But I am looking at it as one bad quarter of basketball. We were right there. It could have been a fight to the finish.”

Check out my column in the Daily Times Saturday and, as always, on delcotimes.com

In two games since the All-Star break, Ilya Bryzgalov has allowed two total goals in regulation time. Thursday, he was outstanding in the Flyers' 4-1 victory over Nashville.

“He was really sharp tonight,” Peter Laviolette said. “He seemed really focused in there. He is working hard in practice. He has been sharp in practice and I think it has followed right through to the game.”

It's only February. Maybe Bryzgalov really is what he is being paid to be: The Flyers' first dominating goaltender in years.

But is that enough? Or do the Flyers need help at the trade deadline?

Check out my column on the Flyers in the Daily Times Friday and, as usual, on delcotimes.com