Vick is an Eagle

Michael Vick, exiled from football (and freedom), for two seasons, has a new team. I would have expected the Vikings - since Favre was teasing with them for so long and then bailed just before training camp opened. Others anticipated Vick suiting up for the Oakland Raiders as he'd be a perfect fit into the Raider's corporate culture of hiring outlaws and attracting GWAR fans.

Nope, he's surprising Philadelphia Eagles fans who already have Donovan McNabb as their starting quarterback. You think you were surprised? I would pay a dollar to see McNabb's reaction on hearing the news. Sure Vick will give them a versatile backup who can run as well as pass - but more importantly, Vick is someone who can eventually compete for McNabb’s job.

You'll remember that McNabb was benched by Coach Andy Reid after an especially crappy game against the Ravens. McNabb didn't take that well... but after situation he took the Eagles to the NFC championship game... where they lost to the Arizona Cardinals.

So maybe the Eagles are looking to the future? Putting a fire under McNabb? Signaling that McNabb can be replaced? Or - they just took Vick off the market for a song?

I don't know, and I'm not sure anyone else knows, including the Eagle front office. I'm kind of pleased that Vick isn't starting - but, he's served his time and is out and rehabilitated. (ahem) I plan on asking my Eagle fans for their reaction - as that ought to be kind of funny.

“Guilty,” Graphite/Digital, 10X15 inches, 2007
[Source, via]

Cardinals

Seeing Albert Pujols on the ground in pain dampened the St. Louis Cardinals' spirits after their third straight win. The Cardinals watched their leading hitter be helped off the field with what was diagnosed as a strained left calf in the seventh inning of their 7-2 victory Tuesday night over the Cincinnati Reds.

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In case you missed it - and judging by the story posted yesterday, you probably missed it - about 10 min into the 2nd, Favre went down. Bruised elbow, pinched nerve, something in his trap release. No one in Wisconsin has taken a breath yet. Tony Romo, hardly breaking a sweat, kept it interesting. No I'm kidding, it was kind of close, but the Pack didn't look like themselves for that entire game.

And Greg "proof that if your ego gets big enough, it can actually generate a second person" Gumble made me want to stab my eardrums out with an ice pick. Chris Colinsworth was refreshing compared to the most obvious and late play-by-play offered by Gumble.

Oh, and for those of you who still do not have NFL Network - You don't know that they're also broadcasting the Patriots final "16-0?" game of the season on Dec. 29? Well now you do.

Also in the Sporting news - How much would you have to be paid to listen to Kobe whine for another year? How about 2 years? Phil Jackson said $24 million. Yeah, I low balled it too.

And for real work time killers follow the link to view police videos of Tony LaRussa’s DUI arrest. Complete with all sorts of wobbly drunken goodness.

And on Tuesday Gatorade inventor Dr. Robert Cade, 80, passed away. His remains will be cremated, and his ashes will be dumped over a winning coach to be randomly selected. So be on the look out for that.

Worlb Class

There are reasons that some of us live in major metropolitan areas. Among them, the access to many luxuries that would be sub-par in other parts of this great country of ours. As we here in Chicago are all too painfully aware the baseball is not an above-par luxury here in this city. But tattoos are.

Filed today in the St. Louis Circuit Court is a suit that alleges negligence and carelessness. It seems that a particularly happy Cardinals fan went out the day after the Cardinals won the World Series to celebrate by getting a tattoo across his back. This way everyone at the kiddie pool would be able to surmise that he was a tried and true Cardinal fan. Not a "buy the Pujol's jersey" kind of fan either. A DIE HARD FAN.

Unfortunately for our hero he had the tattoo scrawled on his back in St. Louis where the educational system is less than stellar. After a while on the bench with the tattoo artist masterfully inscribing the phrase that pays across the poor victims back. The phrase?

"St. Louis Cardinals, Worlb Series Champions 2000"

The Yankees apparently have fans all over the Midwest.