Is Claude Giroux the Best Player in Hockey? He did it again on Sunday, and it’s becoming a regular occurrence. Claude Giroux broke a 2-2 third period tie against the Devils with what The700Level describes as a “rocket” of a goal (watch the video here) just over four minutes in. Yes, Danny Briere was the real hero Sunday, but we digress. It was Giroux’s seventh goal of the playoffs, which is tied for most in the league (with Briere). They always say you can’t win the Stanley Cup without good goaltending, but you can win the cup when a guy playing at Giroux’s level is playing is on your team.

We asked you a few weeks ago about Giroux being the best athlete in Philly. It’s likely that his performance the past few weeks may garner him a few more votes in that poll from Philly Magazine (his opponents are the Philadelphia Union’s Freddy Adu, DeSean Jackson of the Eagles, Evan Turner of the Sixers and Hunter Pence of the Phillies).

But it’s time to think bigger than Philly. ESPN’s Barry Melrose says that Giroux is the best player in all of hockey right now. As you’ll recall, The Hockey News named Giroux the 3rd best player in the NHL back in March (behind Sidney Crosby and Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk) and in January, the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association (PSW) named Giroux their pro athlete of the year.

We want you to weigh in: has he taken his game to a whole new level? Is he the best in the league?

-LD

[The 700 Level, PhillyMag, CSNPhilly, Philly.com]

Photo: Getty Images

How Will You Remember Brian Dawkins? One of the most-loved Eagles of all-time officially announced his retirement Monday, though it appears he’s coming back to Philly for one last hurrah. Brian Dawkins, who played 16 seasons in the NFL (13 with the Eagles and the final three in Denver), is officially hanging it up. It took more than the standard 140 characters, but Dawkins announced it on Twitter:

“@BrianDawkins: The Lord has blessed me to play in the NFL for 16 years. I would like to thank the Eagles & the Broncos 4 believing In me. I would like 2 thank all my teammates & Coaches that I have been blessed 2 go to battle with. Along with u, the fans 4 helping make my career 1 that i have enjoyed tremendously. In other words. I am announcing my retirement from the NFL. #BBTB”

Members of The20 began weighing in with their favorite Dawkins moments.

@GeoffMosher: Dawk vs. Vikes in ‘08 Wild Card game: 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 passed knocked down, 5 tackles. Vintage.

@GeoffMosher: Who can forget the INT of Brett Favre in the 2003 NFC divisional win over Green Bay?

@meechone: Retire #20 like tomorrow http://broncotalk.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/brian-dawkins.jpg 

So what are your fondest memories of Dawkins? How will you remember him?

-LD

NBC10, @GeoffMosher, @meechone

Photo: Getty Images

A Complete Breakdown of Phillies Walk-Up Music. We’ve talked about the Phillies and their walk-up music in the past (particularly when Hunter Pence was in need of a new tune for the 2012 season…it seems he went with Breakin’ a Sweat by Skrillex & The Doors).).

And today, The20’s Todd Zolecki obtained the latest list of the walk-up tunes (and warm-up jams for pitchers) from Phillies music director Mark Wyatt. Here’s the full list:

WALK-UP

• Ryan Howard: I’m On One (DJ Khaled), Otis (Jay–Z & Kanye West) and She Will (Drake).
• Laynce Nix: Levels (Avicii) and Paradise (Coldplay).
• Hunter Pence:  Breakin’ a Sweat (Skrillex & The Doors).
• Juan Pierre: No Walls (Thi’sl).
• Placido Polanco: I Know You Want Me (Pitbull).
• Jimmy Rollins: The Motto (Drake) and Uptown Anthem (Naughty by Nature).
• Carlos Ruiz: In The Air Tonight (Phil Collins).
• Brian Schneider: In The Air Tonight (Phil Collins) and Use Somebody (Kings of Leon).
• Chase Utley: Kashmir (Led Zeppelin).
• Shane Victorino: Buffalo Soldier (Bob Marley) and Keep Ya Head Up (Andy Grammer).
• Vance Worley: It’s Goin’ Down Tonight (Celly Cell).

WARM UPS

• Joe Blanton: Hillbilly Deluxe (Brooks & Dunn).
• Jose Contreras: Dirt Off Your Shoulder (Jay–Z).
• Cole Hamels: Sail (Awolnation).
• Roy Halladay: Moby Dick/Good Times Bad Times (Led Zeppelin).
• Kyle Kendrick: Dragula (Rob Zombie).
• Cliff Lee: Stranglehold (Ted Nugent).
• Jonathan Papelbon: Man In The Box (Alice In Chains).
• Vance Worley: I Wear My Stunna Glasses at Night (Federation).

What are your favorite and least favorite walk-up songs?

-LD

[Zo Zone, @ToddZolecki]

Photo: Getty Images

Jimmy Fallon Reprises Tim Tebow/David Bowie Hybrid. With Peyton Manning officially joining the Denver Broncos Tuesday with a 5-year, $96 million contract, Jimmy Fallon decided to bring back “Tebowie,” one of his most popular characters, for last night’s show here on NBC. In the skit, Fallon sings the lyrics to Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust” but with a Tebow/Manning twist (The Huffington Post posted the video online, so watch there before it gets taken down).

Some of the lyrics below, however: 

“Peyton was a Colt, screwed up neck and screwed last season / Spent a year on the bench, and while he was sitting, Tebow was winning / Tebow was the craze, everything was going great / And then came John Elway and he kicked him right in his balls / They replaced him with Peyton / Tebow got shown the back door and now he’s a virgin no more.”

Fallon ended the skit on a very hopeful note, saying that Tebow will rise again. Could that be with the Eagles? The20’s @dhm has his own thoughts over at The Philly Post and thinks that the Eagles should go all-in to acquire Tebow, stating that a Tebow signing would lead to one of two things:

“The good Christian role model helping the run-oriented Eagles to a Super Bowl victory, or Andy Reid getting fired. These are the only two outcomes Eagles fans hope for at the start of every season.”

-LD

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Philly.com, @dhm, The Philly Post

Photo: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Study: Wilmington, Atlantic City More Dangerous Than Philadelphia. Think Philadelphia is unsafe?  Apparently it is not as bad as a few other local cities. NeighborhoodScout.com crunched crime numbers for their recent study and based results on population, area and incidents of all property and violent crime, not just murder. Philadelphia came in 52nd on the list. East St. Louis, Missouri is number one overall, but the Delaware Valley has a lot of representation. Some of the other local towns ahead of Philly on the list, along with their rank: 

• Chester, Pa. (No. 2)
• Camden, NJ (No. 5)
• Wilmington, Del. (No. 8)
• Atlantic City, NJ (No. 9)
• Harrisburg, Pa. (No. 20)
• Trenton, NJ (No. 31)

-LD

[NeighborhoodScout.com, h/t The20’s @victorfiorillo]

Photo: Getty Images

Rex Grossman: Latest Eagles Hater? While we all gush about the “Dream Team” being assembled here in Philly, the rest of the NFC East is doing their own form of trash-talking to try and make themselves feel better.

Everyone remembers last week’s public spat between Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob (I wish I were my brother) Ryan and Eagles QB Mike Vick. The usually chirpy New York Giants have been quiet to this point, though New Yorkers do seem to be developing a Philly complex. But what about the Washington Redskins, coming off an impressive 6-10 2010 campaign? We’ll let Rex Grossman, he of Chicago Bears 2006 glory and with just as many career interceptions as touchdowns (40), state his peace:

“You know, we’re just waiting in the wings, ready to take over the NFC East,” said Grossman. “Nobody’s talking about us. That’s right where we want to be. You look at us from top to bottom out here, there’s a bunch of great players. And we don’t need people saying we’re the best right now, but when it’s all said and done, I really feel like this team’s gonna win the (NFC) East.”

Maybe nobody is talking about you, Sexy Rexy, for a reason? Or maybe you’ve been hit in the head a few too many times…

-LD

[ESPN.com, The 20, Pro Football Talk]

Casey Anthony Not Guilty, Philly Reacts on Twitter. When the Casey Anthony verdict came in at 2:15 p.m. ET, local residents took to Twitter to share their early thoughts about the Florida trial.

Members of the The20 weighed in with multiple comments, only a sampling of what Philadelphians and celebrities are saying socially about what has been referred to as “The Twitter Trial.”

@CristinMcGrath said:

#CaseyAnthony trial will be one for the books. There hasn’t been a case with this type of following in a minute.

@AmyZQuinn added:

I think we all learned from OJ that a short deliberation doesn’t always suggest guilty verdict.

And in jest, @meechone tweeted:

/peeks at twitter CASEY ANTHONY CASEY ANTHONY GRRRRRR CASEY ANTHONY /closes twitter

Want to weigh in with your own thoughts on the Casey Anthony verdict? You can do so on our NBC Philadelphia Facebook page or on Twitter @NBCPhiladelphia.

-LD

[MSNBC.com, HuffingtonPost.com, @CristinMcGrath, @AmyZQuinn, @Meechone]

Photo: Getty Images