Sports Tonight: The Atlanta Braves, and 146 candles

Going by franchise existence, the Atlanta Braves are actually older than the Phillies, whom they play at 7 tonight at SunTrust Park (TV: Comcast SportsNet; Radio: 94 WIP).

Starting as the Boston Red Stockings in 1871, the team says it is "the oldest continuously operating professional sports franchise in America."

It has probably had more monikers than any other franchise in America, too.

After being the Red Stockings, they became the Boston Red Caps, Beaneaters, Doves, Rustlers, Braves, Bees and then Braves again.

In 1953, the franchise relocated to Milwaukee, where it played as the Braves until 1966, when it moved to Atlanta, where it has played for the last-half century. With eight distinctive names, Atlanta equals the Los Angeles Dodgers for the most in baseball.

Along with the Chicago Cubs, the Braves are the remaining charter franchise of the National League, which was founded in 1876.

Although officially founded as the Philadelphia Quakers in 1883, the Phillies had their name quickly changed to the Philadelphias that same season, before it was shortened to Phillies. Quakers and Phillies were both used until 1890, when Phillies became the official moniker.

The Phillies hold the record for the team in the same city with the same name for the longest period of time.

As far as historic rivalries in Major League Baseball, the one between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals doesn't rank with Yankees-Red Sox or Dodgers-Giants.

The most obvious reason is that the Cardinals play in the National League and the Royals are in the American League. Until the creation of interleague play in 1997, the teams had been limited to playing exhibition games. The teams have played only 91 times in the regular season.

Still, the rivalry between Missouri's two largest cities is real.

The Cardinals, with 11 World Series titles, trail only the New York Yankees (27).

The Royals have only won two, but their first came in the biggest matchup between the two franchises. Trailing, 3-1, in the 1985 World Series, Kansas City rallied for three straight wins to take the "I-70 Showdown Series" in seven games.

The Cardinals and Royals continue their rivalry in Kansas City at 8 tonight on FoxSports1.

Not too long ago, a group of highly touted pitching prospects was considered the key to the Phillies' rebuilding plans. Columnist David Murphy examines how that plan has gone off the tracks.

Staff writer Les Bowen talks about the need for someone, anyone, to step up and earn the Eagles' starting cornerback position opposite second-year player Jalen Mills. Can C.J. Smith, a teammate of quarterback Carson Wentz at North Dakota State, take advantage of a wide-open opportunity?

At 37, Eagles punter Donnie Jones is the oldest player on the roster. Staff writer Paul Domowitch writes how "Donnie Long ball" has adjusted his routine as he ages and how he wants to be the punter for the Birds into his 40s.

As recently as July, Phillies general manager Matt Klentak implied that he was not keen on moving either current first baseman Tommy Joseph or minor-league prospect Rhys Hoskins to the outfield to make for both on the big-league club. Columnist Bob Brookover chimes in on Hoskins' debut in left field for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

NFL fans have always complained about being ripped off for having to pay to watch preseason games. Although 26 teams reduced prices for preseason games, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told Gary Meyers of the New York Daily News that he agrees those games don't meet NFL standards and would like to see them eventually reduced to two.

Putting together a G.O.A.T. list is bound to spark debate, and The Undefeated in conjunction with SurveyMonkey releasing a list of The 50 Greatest Black Athletes of All Time has its share of question marks. Still, when the criteria factored in things like "inspiration" and "impact on society," some surprises were to be expected. Michael Wilbon discusses the biggest one, no Tiger Woods.

The Oompa Loompas sang it best in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory by saying don't blame the kids for being brats — blame the parents who raised them.

In the case of youth athletics, blame adult coaches who set poor examples.

For the third time in a month, a team has made national news for tarnishing youth tournaments with boorish behavior.

On Sunday, Midwest Flight coach Monte Harrison pulled his team off the court and forfeited a game during an AAU tournament in Missouri because he got angry at the referees.

A couple of weeks earlier, LaVar Ball did the same thing with his Big Ballers AAU squad after he received a technical foul during a tournament in California.

Also over the weekend, the Atlee (Richmond, Va.) softball team was disqualified from the Junior League World Series because the players had posted a photo of themselves on social media flipping the bird to their next opponent.

All the coaches said they stress the importance of respect and good sportsmanship to their players but then came up with a defense for what occurred.

"You know exactly who's to blame."

The Oompa Loompas doompety do.

Baseball
Phillies at Braves, 7:30 p.m. (CSN; WIP-FM 94.1, WNPV-AM 1440)
Cardinals at Royals, 8 p.m. (FS1)
Cubs at Giants, 10 p.m. (MLB Network)

Little League Baseball World Series
Southwest regional, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)

Minor League Baseball
Norfolk at Lehigh Valley, 7:05 p.m.