Eagle Aftermath 11/29/2010

Comments on yesterday's Eagles 31-27 loss to the Bears at Soldier Field:

It was never more clear that the Bears employed an "old school" mentality and beat the Eagles using the following principles;

If you get heat on the opposing QB without blitzing, you can disrupt an explosive offense without sacrificing coverage.

Running the football and stopping the run are still the best two methods of controlling game tempo ... and they always will be.

Questions...

Why weren't the Eagles able to maintain their footing on the natural grass? Didn't they test their spikes in pregame? And if they weren't the right length...why didn't they change them?

Did Sean McDermott know that the Birds secondary could be exposed so badly by a usually erratic Jay Cutler simply by the absence of Asante Samuel?

How in the world can Andy Reid justify kicking a FG with 5 minutes left in the game down by fifteen? His post game explanation was, "I wanted to come out of there with points" is ridiculous. If you lose by 5, 15, or 50, a loss is a loss. Going for a TD there was the only option.

On another note....surely we will miss actor Leslie Neilson. But I didn't mean to call him Shirley.

Goodbye Old Friend

Lou Angotti, Billy Cunningham, Ed Van Impe. The Who…….

It was an era before Corporate America took over the sports world. When Chicago Stadium was not the United Center, before Candlestick was a 3Com, it brandished the coolest of arena names – The Spectrum.

Kevin Loughery, Joe Watson, Fred Carter, Irv Kosloff, The Doors….

It was a jewel when built in 1967, but like all of us time got the best of it. Crowded concourses, too few restrooms, and limited luxury boxes took its toll on the old girl.

Bernie Parent, Steve Mix, Doug Favell, Cream….

Transposed against the aging JFK Stadium and the asphalt jungle called Veteran’s Stadium, The Spectrum had a distinction of class and eloquence in South Philadelphia.

George McGinnis, Bobby Clarke, Gene Hart, Orest Kindrachuk…..

So many memories---Stanley Cups hoisted, NBA banners hung, numbers retired.

Dave Zinkoff, Barry Ashbee, Doug Collins, Kate Smith….

Windmill dunks, backboards shattered, rough play with Russians.

Julius Erving, Rick Macleish, Fitz Dixon, Cowboy Bill Flett…..

The players now lace their skates and tie their sneakers in opulence in The Corestates/First Union/Wells Fargo/Anyone with Money Center.

Bill Barber, Bobby Jones, Fred Shero, Grateful Dead….

You can get a beer for $7 and watch the game at one of the many bars in the new digs, but I never could quite figure out why someone would pay $80 for a ticket and sit in the bar. But some unquestionably do, it’s a new era.

Andrew Toney, Don Saleski, Dave Schultz, Caldwell Jones….

Gourmet food is available. Sushi? Prime Rib? Lobster tail? It is there for the asking.

Mel Bridgeman, Harold Katz, Paul Holmgren, Ed Snider, Kiss….

A suite fit for royalty can be had…..for a royal sum. Soft drinks are included in the five figure price I hear.

Tim Kerr, Darryl Dawkins, Illka Sinisalo, Pete Peeters, Bruce Springsteen

Prime parking you desire? For a fee…..of course you can.

Daryll Sittler, Maurice Cheeks, Brian Propp, Lionel Hollins, Pink Floyd….

Tony Luke’s is right down the street. Get a roast pork grinder with provolone, but hide it in your sock on the way in.

Pelle Lindbergh, Moses Malone, Peter Zezel, Clint Richardson, Rick Tocchet, The Doobie Brothers….

Easy access to routes 95, 76, and the Walt Whitman Bridge.

Ron Hextall, Jeff Ruland, Kjell Samuelson, Matt Guokas, Jimmy Lynam, Genesis…

The bricks fell reluctantly, the old girl was tough…built so sturdily that even strategically placed dynamite couldn’t take her down.

Keith Acton, Mike Gminski, Roy Hinson, Eric Lindross, Charles Barkley, Mark Zumoff, Earth, Wind, and Fire….

And now we will watch her go away piece by piece, chair by souvenir chair until we shop on what was once hallowed ground.

Mike Keenan, Hersey Hawkins, Rod Brind’Amour, Armand Gilliam, Frank Zappa….

Goodbye old friend. It won’t quite be the same without you.

Charles Shackleford, Garth Snow, Murray Baron, Chris Therien, Jeff Hornacek, Shawn Bradley, Derrick Coleman, Scott Mellanby, Jerry Stackhouse, Clarence Weatherspoon, John LeClair, Dana Barros, The Mothers of Invention, Hulk Hogan, Eric Desjardins……..

I borrowed the following passage from Jim Rohn, one of the great common sense advocates I've ever seen or heard. I hope this helps you during this week of giving thanks...enjoy!

Here are a few key words as well as some thoughts that are simple and practical to apply; something you can use right away in your quest for becoming more thankful:

Time. Set aside time regularly to be quiet, to reflect. We live in the fastest-paced time ever. From the moment we awake to the moment we collapse into bed, we have the opportunity to go at full speed and never slow down. If we schedule time every day in which we can be quiet and reflect, we will free our hearts and minds up from the tyranny of the urgent and rushed.

Thought. Give thought to the many blessings that you have. Living in a consumer culture, most of us are fully aware of what we do not have and how we absolutely must have “it.” But how often do we reflect upon that which we already have? Take some time each day and think of one or two things that you have that you may typically take for granted and then take a moment and give thanks for those. In fact, I make it a part of my reflection time to review a list of things that I’m thankful for.

Generosity. Be generous toward those with less and not envious of those with more. We tend to look at others who may be wealthier than ourselves and think, “I sure wish I had what he does.” That kind of thinking breeds envy and jealousy rather than contentment. What can we do to break that cycle? I would suggest being generous to those who are less fortunate than yourself. Go to work at a food bank. And not just during the holidays—everybody works there then—but on a regular basis during the year. That will remind you of how good you really have it.

Ask. Ask a friend what they are thankful for. The next time you are at lunch with a friend, ask him or her what they are most thankful for. You will be amazed at the answers you receive, and you will create a meaningful bond with your friends as you focus on this powerful question.

Acknowledge. Lastly, tell those you love how thankful you are for having them in your life. So many times we neglect to take the time to craft the words to express to those closest to us what their presence in our lives means to us. Take the opportunity of Thanksgiving Day to write them a note or sometime during the day put your hand on their shoulder, look them in the eyes and tell them. Let them know what they mean to you, and in return you’ll begin to create the possibility of deeper, richer, more fulfilling relationships with those you love.

I have to add one more...I'm thankful for another Eagle's victory. Go Birds!!

V is for Vick-tory

There were a series of explosions on a battlefield outside of Washington DC a couple of nights ago that began at approximately 8:45 PM. The persons responsible were not wearing fatigues, but did have on combat boots that were spewing sparks. And word has it one had a missile launcher attached to his left appendage just under the elbow. The Philadelphia Eagles have obviously stockpiled the weapons of mass destruction that were never found in Iraq.

The targets in this vicious attack were a band of over aged and under motivated terrorists masquerading as an NFL football team. They tried to intimidate our troops before the battle had officially begun, and were spitting mad by the time they offered their meek surrender at the end.

Our Field General recently came out of retirement after a short stint in the brig for conduct unbecoming of an officer. As heinous as his acts were, the brass at the Pentagon located at Broad and Pattison will likely expunge his record and reward him with a hefty pension as long as he keeps his nose clean and continues to mop up the enemy with his blue flame thrower and uncanny maneuverability.

Dare we think our army can conquer the football world? Certainly the city would hold a ticker tape parade and accord them with full military honors if they did. Ask the Washington Redskins (who were aptly named for this game because of the bombs blasting all around them) who the favorites are to offer their constituents and followers a truce after fifty years of war with no significant victory.

This may well be the year that ends the football bloodshed here in Philadelphia.

A Golden Retriever of a Lost Program

Not since the days of Wayne Hardin and Bruce Arians has there been flicker of interest in Temple football.

Jerry Berndt was a good man and had success at Penn, Ron Dickerson had the pedigree as a player and coached at Penn State, and Bobby Wallace was legendary as a D2 coach and won 3 consecutive national championships. But even with all this history on their side, none of these leaders could get the Owls over the top.

Enter, Al Golden.

This dashingly handsome generator of raw energy and enthusiasm has done what many local pundits said was impossible, and that is to put Temple football back on the national stage. Ok, Ok, it is the Mid American Conference, and no one is going to confuse Eastern Michigan with Oklahoma. But it’s not the stage they are playing on here that matters, it’s Director Golden and his cast of adolescent actors that are awakening the audience and have them shouting “encore’ after just about every game.

I did color commentary for Temple football television in the mid 80’s with Harry Donahue, and I never quite understood why a university in a major market like Philadelphia that played their games in a big time venue (then Veteran’s Stadium, now Lincoln Financial Field) struggled in numbers, both in the seats and the win column. But that is history now --- at least the wins are no longer a problem. The 2010 version of Golden’s baby birds are now 8-2 and headed for another bowl game.

Al Golden is blazing a trail that will end up a with a pot o’gold at the end of the rainbow, both for himself and for the Temple Owls. He may be the perfect choice as a successor for his aging but legendary mentor Joe Paterno at Penn State. But never fear Owl fans…for he has proven that it can be done on North Broad. And if you can make it there, you can make it just about anywhere.

Eagles Aftermath

Questions to ponder:

At what point is his 3 week rehabilitation from a rib injury did QB Michael Vick have a scud missle launcher attached to his arm just under the left elbow? I think a noticed a hint of a blue flame on his first quarter TD pass to Desean Jackson.

How are the Eagles 5-3 when they continue to blow time out after time out and are one of the most heavily penilized teams in the league?

Speaking of penalties; when are the zebras going to legislate the rules of the game AND use some common sense? A brush across the back of Manning's helmet in a mad rush to strip the ball is not premeditated blow to the head.

Where has Dimiti Patterson been hidden all season long?

Why is Eagles Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg getting better with age? If he called games this well in Detroit he would still be the Lions Head Coach.

And most importantly...how does WIP's Howard Eskin get to stand directly behind Andy Reid on the sidelines??

Inquiring minds want to know.....

THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE WRONG TEAM

Doug Collins cares…..have you seen the way he looks only 3 games into this NBA season? His passion for the 76’rs is etched on his face. But the bangs and the dimples of the early 70’s have been replaced by the lines of age and damaged by the effect of migraines. Our beloved prodigal son is looking kind of old these days.

He signed on to coach a team with a point guard who can’t shoot, a prize draft pick that can’t score, a swing player that can’t find his niche, a power forward that is past his prime, and no center. Tell me again Doug, does the microphone look a little better to you now? I’ll bet it does.

The money is always a temptation, and the competitive fires will always beckon those who thrive on it and are steeped in it. But this team really has little or no chance to compete, and Collins deserves better than this.

So I call on President Rod Thorn and GM Ed Stefanski to mortgage the future and get us a top tier player who can score, and an athletic center that can defend and rebound. You won’t win the NBA title anytime soon, but you might be saving a life.

Do it for Doug Collins….before it’s too late.