I was born in 1970, and growing up in suburban Philadelphia I was the perfect age to experience in all its glory the baseball renaissance that occurred in Philly in the late 70’s, one that ultimately resulted in the Fightins one and only World Series championship in 1980.

Two things came of my immersion in the Phils during that heyday of Schmidt, Carlton and Bowa. Two things that are personal and permanent and both of which bear on the situation currently at hand -- a lifelong loathing of the Dodgers, and a warm embrace of the Yankees as my American League team.

After losing three-zip to the Big Red Machine in the ’76 NLCS, the Phils played the Dodgers in both the ’77 and ’78 editions, which was enough for a young boy’s brain to make it seem like the Phils played the Dodgers every year in the NLCS.

Read the rest of this entry »

Everything on this planet is soon going to disappear into a massive black hole. Each Monday, we’ll present those football-related elements that have already been swallowed into the abyss.

McNabb’s Grasp on Reality. I’m not sure if Donovan McNabb was just frustrated by his offense’s complete ineptitude against the Redskins outstanding defense or that his team blew an early 14-0 lead or a combo of both, but this is what the Eagles QB said to the TV cameras after Philly’s 23-17 loss yesterday:

“There is no way that you can look at this game and say that, and not taking anything away from them, but there is no way that this team is better than us.”

So, let me get this straight. The better team lost to the worse team … at home. The better team lost in Dallas, a game that the worse team won. The better team is 2-3, the worse team is 4-1. Yep, the Eagles are clearly better than the Redskins at everything. Except, you know, winning football games.

I know you’re delusional right now, McNabb, so I’ll let you in on what really happened out there: Your team was better than the Skins for half a quarter. That’s it. The rest of the game was dominated by Washington. But cheer up, buddy. You guys play the 49ers this week. I’m confident that your Eagles actually are better than San Francisco.

T.O.’s Complaining. It’s amazing what winning can do for Terrell Owens’ attitude. After last week’s loss to the Skins, he complained about not being targeted enough, despite being thrown to 18 times. Yesterday, after only catching two passes in Dallas’ 31-22 win over the Bengals, he showed his modest side. Wait, did I say modest? I meant he showed his insane side. Totally freakin’ insane:

"This was a great team win," T.O. said. "It was frustrating out there, but I kept with it. My teammates stuck with it. ... God used me today for his glory. Reality is where glory resides. That's all I've got to say."

I have no idea what that’s supposed to mean, but clearly, God loves him (her?) some Cowboys. Unless they’re playing Washington.

Ted Thompson’s Approval Rating. Sure, Aaron Rodgers played well, and with a bummed shoulder, but Green Bay lost at home to the Falcons. Repeat: They lost in Lambeau to the freakin’ Falcons. This is all GM Ted Thompson’s fault. There’s no way the Packers lose to Atlanta if Brett Favre’s still the team’s QB. I have no evidence to support that statement. But I think Tony Kornheiser would agree with me.

Today's Calls: Cubs '08 vs. Cubs '09, Phillies vs. Dodgers, ALCS vs. NBA Playoffs, Redskins vs. Dolphins, Kyle Orton vs. Sage Rosenfels, Oklahoma vs. Texas, Vandy vs. Anyone, Tony Stewart vs. Regan Smith and More.

The Opening Pitch: Phillies fans can empathize with Cubs fans.

This season's Cubs are last season's Phillies: A thrill-ride regular season, ending in a humiliating NLDS sweep. Fans would be fair in wondering if the season was worth all the trouble, if the ending was simply to be the ignominy of limp, winless playoff defeat.

The "Why Bother?" debate is epic: MLB playoffs — particularly five games — are such a crapshoot that if they played another five-game series, the Cubs could have just as easily won that. (Right?) The pain hurts, but you'd always want to give your team the playoffs’ “puncher’s chance.”

Cubs fans can take heart if the Phillies are their model: Philly came roaring back this postseason — their relentlessness had to be fueled in part by memories of last season's ugly experience.

Don't be so down, Cubs fans: If you're lucky, maybe next year you'll be this year's Phillies.

Read the rest of this entry »

Sage Rosenfels must have picked the Colts in his suicide pool. You will surely see this highlight a thousand times tonight. Tasked with running down the clock, maybe picking up a few first downs to preserve a 10-point lead with less than four minutes left, Rosenfels scampers away from pressure and, instead of sliding to safety, decides to hurdle a Colt tackler. Rosenfels careens about the shoulders of the defense in mid-air and drops the ball. Indianapolis backer Gary Brackett takes it the other way for a TD.

On the ensuing kickoff -- Houston still leading by three with about three minutes left -- Houston gets nothing on the first two downs. On third and 10, Rosenfels rolls out ... and watches the ball get clubbed from his hands. Indianapolis ball. A minute later, Peyton Manning sails the ball into Reggie Wayne's sticky hands. 31-24 Indy. That happened fast.

Last gasp for the Texans: Rosenfels drives into Colts territory. With 40 seconds left, the QB drops the bread right into the hands of Indianapolis d-back Melvin Bullitt. Three crushing turnovers in three minutes, an unbelievable 17-point swing. Houston fans, hoping to see the team's first win in its delayed home opener (thanks to Hurricane Ike, which damaged Reliant last month), booed the result.

We come away with two good things, though: Matt Schaub, hospitalized early Sunday with stomach pains, will have someone to hang out with in front of the toilet. Also, we finally find resolution on whether "Sage" is a real first name or an adjective. Definitely, unequivocally not an adjective.

Chiefs boss Herm Edwards feels for fellow Show-Me coach Scott Linehan, who was fired this week by the Rams. So strong is the I-70 connection that Edwards is offering a poetic tribute to Linehan's devastating offense as the Chiefs trail in Carolina 24-0 thanks to K.C.'s 18 yards of total offense through 2-1/2 quarters.

The Chiefs have one first down on six drives. Damon Huard has 33 yards through the air. Larry Johnson has two yards on seven rushes, and Huard has been sacked twice. And that's it. Of course, with one of Huard's four completions, Tony Gonzalez broke the NFL record for yards by a tight end. So, um, good times ... Good times.

UPDATE: Of course, as I write this, Huard marches Kansas City 55 yards down the field. The drive ends with ... an interception. The sweet smell of success evades Kansas City once again. Carolina 31-0.

At least not by the likes of you, Dale Sveum. With a runner on third and two out, the Brewers intentionally walked Ryan Howard to set up the ever-epic Jeff Suppan-Pat Burrell battle. The Phillie won the battle with a three-run jack to put his team up 4-0 in the third inning. (Jayson Werth followed with a solo long bomb of his own, and it was 5-0.)

Burrell, of course, took the opportunity of trotting around the bases to mutter some swear words. In an attempt to recapture the swag in Milwaukee, Sveum sent in CC Sabathia to pinch hit for Suppan in bottom of the third. CC went down on strikes, and the Brewers are doing their best impersonation of the Cubbies by going quietly into the afternoon sun.

The Red Sox and Rays have their own chances to end the divisional round this evening. At the very least we know our NLCS matchup -- Phillies-Dodgers.