kevdonahue

Still the funniest and most revealing interview in Philly sports history – especially in light of AI’s missed – wait for it … – practice on Thanksgiving with the Pistons.

Still the funniest and most revealing interview in Philly sports history – especially in light of AI’s missed – wait for it … – practice on Thanksgiving with the Pistons.

Donovan McNabb arrived in Philly after I’d spent a couple of years of watching real mediocrities – Jim McMahon, Pat Kelly, Rodney Peete – play QB for the Eagles. I wasn’t a fan then, just a guy working the sports desk at the local, sports-obsessed tabloid. Over the last 10 years, though, I became one.

The guy’s not perfect. He’s not a particularly accurate passer; he has periods in which he’s darn-near awful; most cutting, over his career he’s come up short in the Big Spot more often than he’s delivered. In some ways, that’s made him more human, if less successful.

But he’s always been a classy guy. A guy who handles adversity in a way that serves as an object lesson for your kids. In this town, that’s something.

Now, he’s been thrown under the bus by a guy I’m far less charitable toward – Andy Reid, his coach of the last 10 years. Benched at halftime in a game his team trailed by just 3 points, McNabb’s time in Philly is over. There’s no going back. Worst of all, after 10 years, Reid wasn’t the guy who told him he was benched. Gutless.

Which is a shame. Because McNabb, on a team with a strong running game, would be absolute murder. After a decade and a half here, I am a fan, and I’d like that team to be the Eagles. But alas, that doesn’t appear to be happening. Instead, Reid has his scapegoat. And that seems unfair.

Thanks, Donovan, for 10 entrertaining years. And best wishes for a couple more – and, perhaps, that elusive ring!

Donovan McNabb arrived in Philly after I’d spent a couple of years of watching real mediocrities – Jim McMahon, Pat Kelly, Rodney Peete – play QB for the Eagles. I wasn’t a fan then, just a guy working the sports desk at the local, sports-obsessed tabloid. Over the last 10 years, though, I became one.

The guy’s not perfect. He’s not a particularly accurate passer; he has periods in which he’s darn-near awful; most cutting, over his career he’s come up short in the Big Spot more often than he’s delivered. In some ways, that’s made him more human, if less successful.

But he’s always been a classy guy. A guy who handles adversity in a way that serves as an object lesson for your kids. In this town, that’s something.

Now, he’s been thrown under the bus by a guy I’m far less charitable toward – Andy Reid, his coach of the last 10 years. Benched at halftime in a game his team trailed by just 3 points, McNabb’s time in Philly is over. There’s no going back. Worst of all, after 10 years, Reid wasn’t the guy who told him he was benched. Gutless.

Which is a shame. Because McNabb, on a team with a strong running game, would be absolute murder. After a decade and a half here, I am a fan, and I’d like that team to be the Eagles. But alas, that doesn’t appear to be happening. Instead, Reid has his scapegoat. And that seems unfair.

Thanks, Donovan, for 10 entrertaining years. And best wishes for a couple more – and, perhaps, that elusive ring!

phillies parade
Originally uploaded by kevdonahue

If this is the last time Virginia’s faviorite baseball plauyer ever, Pat Burrell, is part of the Phillies, well, it was quite a way to go out!

The city of Philadelphia celebrated the Phils’ 2nd world championship ever – and first since 1980 – with a huge parade. More than 2 million people apparently attended.

And it all started with Burrell, his wife, and his bulldog, Elvis, riding the Budweiser wagon behind a team of Clysedales.

We were down there – at 22nd and Broad. And you can see our photos here.

Next up: a 2009 repeat.

Virginia has been a big Pat Burrell fan ever since she saw the darkly handsome young man first stride to the plate. The rest of us have been cooler, as his early-career promise seemed to wane. But he’s settled in as a decent prortector of Ryan Howard. And today, he delivered the biggest hit of his career – a 2-out, 3-run home run that broke open Game 4 of the Phils’ playoff series with Milwaukee. He added a solo shot later in the game, Jimmy Rollins and Jason Werth homered, too, and the Phightin’s are headed to the NLCS vs. the Dodgers.

All together now, “LA s–ks!”

P1030662.JPG
Originally uploaded by kevdonahue

Sue, Justin, and our family got together with Kevin’s Mom and Dad at Sirena’s, on Long Branch’s boardwalk to celebrate Birthday No. 68. The food was good, the boys ate 2x more than a year ago, and the weather was beautiful.

Rest of the week will be less fun. Kevin’s dad will have a defibrillator put in place on Thursday. It’s not a difficult procedure, but should provide some insurance against any heart arrhythmia’s in the future. Hopefully he’s out of the hospital Friday.