I'd like to make an admission: I'm 24 years old, soon to be 25, and in my lifetime, Philadelphia has always played second fiddle to New York in the sports landscape.
There was the Yankees winning championship after championship, while the Phillies were on their way to 10,000 losses. The Giants won not one, but two Super Bowls since my birth, while the Eagles repeatedly came up short. And the Rangers won a Stanley Cup while the Flyers failed to reach the promised land. Sure, the Knicks really haven't done squat, but neither have the Sixers.
That is all just a way to say, when it came to sports—my one true passion in life—New York was always better. Well, today, rejoice Philadelphians, because we fucking own New York right now. The Yankees? Haven't won a World Series since the turn of the century and didn't even make the playoffs last year. The Mets? Choking frauds. The Phillies? World Fucking Champions, bitches!
And the dominance doesn't end there. You see, the Flyers, despite having played two less games, sit a point ahead of the Rangers, who started off red hot and are now searching for answers. Not to mention, you know, the Flyers made the Eastern Conference finals last year while the Rangers, um, did not.
Just as Scott Gomez is chasing Mike Richards above, the Rangers are chasing the first-place Flyers
And there was yesterday. Oh, how glorious it was. While I was in North Jersey, an old, hilarious Giants fan repeatedly let it be known that the Eagles "suck moose cock." As he described, "Moose cock is the biggest cock, and the Eagles suck moose cock."
Well, the moose cocksuckers completely dismantled Eli Manning. Provoking the many variations of the Eli face.
I wonder what kind of cock Eli and his teammates are sucking right now. Whatever it is, Tom Coughlin looks ready.
What I'm trying to say is, New York, you suck. Philly owns your ass right now. World Series? Got it. Still alive in the NFL? Check. First place in the NHL? You betcha. Fuck off you living the past, talk about the future and ignore the present jerkoffs. I couldn't be happier to see you lose, yet again, and fall farther behind the World Champion Philadelphians.
Things were so grim that on our trip back to Philly, a car was completely engulfed in flames going northbound on the Jersey Turnpike.
I can only assume it was a Giants fan on his way back to New York who just couldn't take the fact that New York has become losers while Philadelphia has become a winner.
How was my weekend? Well, let's just say spectacular doesn't even begin to describe it. You see, I didn't think on a personal level things could get much better than witnessing live the Eagles win a playoff game on the road, but oh, how wrong I was. On Friday night, my roommate walked in the door and asked if I wanted to go to the Eagles-Giants game. Of course I said yes, and for the second straight week, I traveled to the land of the enemy in the playoffs and came back victorious...but I'll get to my trip to the Meadowlands in a minute.
This was truly another glorious, glorious weekend, one that rivaled the epic 5-for-5 weekend in October. On Friday, the Sixers beat the Bobcats, extending their winning streak to 3 games, and then followed up with another victory today, making it 4 in a row. Suddenly, Andre Iguodala looks like a player again, and the team is showing signs of life.
Meanwhile, I was partying my ass off at an open bar at the Field House, followed by my grandmother's 75th birthday party Saturday and another party and open bar in Manayunk Saturday night ... you know, the night the Flyers won 4-1 thanks to two more goals by Jeff Carter.
Unfortunately, Villanova couldn't make it a perfect weekend. I watched every second of the Nova-Louisville game Saturday afternoon, and it was quite a battle. It's a shame that the Wildcats didn't win, because they really should have. Ironically, it was their foul shooting that did them in despite being a tremendous foul shooting team on the season and since Jay Wright has taken over.
Dante Cunningham, after a slow start, had a very nice game, although he did miss a bunny at the buzzer on that inbound play. Nova should have scored on one of those tips, but all game long they failed to convert on easy shots inside.
But the man I feel most for is Antonio Pena.
Pena played his heart out and was a big reason Villanova was able to come back from a sluggish start and have a chance to win. He played tremendous defense, hit the glass hard and showed a lot of aggression offensively. He also went just 6-of-14 from the free throw line, with most of those misses coming late in the second half. If he sinks just a couple, Nova wins. It was frustrating to say to the least, especially since Pena played so well otherwise and came in as a 70 percent free throw shooter.
But it was a great game, and I must admit, the Big East is scary tough.
Kind of like the Eagles' defense. Yeah, the defense that completely dominated the vaunted Giants offense with Eli at the helm.
Ah. After partying in Manayunk last night, I, along with Adam EatShit, our roommate and his two cousins left good old Philadelphia at 8:30 a.m. for East Rutherford, New Jersey, or as I like to call it, the shittiest place on the face of the earth.
On the way, we wound up right in the middle of the Eagles bus caravan, police escorts and all, and were extremely excited. Once we pulled in and found a spot right near some Eagles fans, the day was off to a stellar start. In fact, minutes after we parked and began to set up our tailgate, another group of Eagles fans pulled up and immediately ran over the Giants bean back toss stand of the Giants fans right next to us. Those fans weren't too pleased, but we were loving it.
A few cars away, a rowdy group from Upper Darby, donned in Wes Hopkins, Randall Cunningham and Brian Dawkins jerseys, were tuned up and letting the Giants fans have it. It was getting interesting already.
After eating some food, I headed in with my roommate and his two cousins to take our seats in section 330, row 29, seats 24-27. On the way, we got the business quite a bit from Giants fans, but really, it wasn't all that bad ... especially once we got to our seats.
Much to our surprise, our section was filled with about 20 Eagles fans surrounding us, with Giants fans all around as well.
You all watched the game, so you know how it went. It was a war for quite a while, but in the end, the Giants went the way of the Mets and choked as the No. 1 seed. John Carney played the role that David Akers usually plays in the Meadowlands, missing two of five field goal tries, while Akers was simply perfect.
In fact, the Eagles kicking game was phenomenal. Sav Rocca was killing punts, pinning the Giants occasionally and getting the Birds out of trouble. Akers was perfect, hitting long kickoffs and not missing a single kick.
The offense made just enough plays, as the offensive line handled the incredible Giants defensive front, keeping pressure off McNabb, who made some brilliant throws to move the ball.
But the game was frustrating early on. The Eagles offense wasn't doing shit, but the defense stepped up and made a play, as Asante got the pick and Donovan punched it in. But when the Giants took an 8-7 lead late in the first half, I was feeling uneasy. Giants fans were talking shit, and we all knew that with just one timeout and less than two minutes, the Eagles had no shot at regaining the lead before halftime. Only they did.
Somehow, some way, the Eagles ran a near perfect two-minute drill, marched right down the field and had the ball inside the 10 with 10 seconds left. A pass to DeSean Jackson in the end zone was just out of his reach, but the Eagles still got a field goal and took a 10-8 lead into halftime. Unbelievable. For the first time in 10 years, the Eagles looked competent, confident and good in the 2-minute drill. What a perfect time for it.
Still, things looked grim after McNabb's pass was tipped and ultimately picked by Fred Robbins, but the defense, like it did all day, was spectacular. The defense won that game, no doubt about it. All game long, they packed the box and would not let the Giants pick up the yards when it mattered most. Sure, New York moved the ball and had some success running, but they couldn't convert when it mattered. Like on fourth down and short. Twice.
The Eagles secondary was outstanding, as it has been all year, picking off Eli twice and taking the victory from right from the Giants.
After a tremendous drive by the Eagles that was capped by the touchdown pass by McNabb to Brent Celek, many Giants fans left right after New York failed to pick up the 4th-and-inches. It was a mass exodus, and all you could see was green everywhere. We were taunting a little bit, but moreso, we were basking the glory of defeating the Giants in their house for the second time this year. An entire section, 318, was filled to the brim with Birds fans. We were loud. We were noisy. And we were winners.
Awesome. Our walk out was glorious. Eagles chants filled Giants stadium, and many a sulking Giants fan walked with their heads down in shame. As we were going down the escalator, an Eagles chant broke out and a Giants fan next to me said to his pal, "I fucking hate Eagles fans." Well, we hate you too, buddy. Have fun watching the second place Rangers while we're playing some football in Arizona next Sunday.
Once back to the car, we had a victory beer, celebrated with some birds fans, sang, cheered and even watched as the Upper Darby man with the Hopkins jersey held up a sign reading, "R.I.P. Giants." Yes, that's right, the Giants are world champions no more. Thanks to the Eagles. Fuck and yes!
Right now, Philadelphia owns New York. First, the World Fucking Champion Phillies topped the Mets two years in a row for the NL East title, then won the World Series. Now the Flyers sit atop the Atlantic Division ahead of the Rangers, who have played more games than the Flyers mind you, and now, gloriously, in my first ever Eagles-Giants game in the Meadowlands, the Eagles knocked off the top-seeded Giants in the playoffs. Suck on that New York. You fucking blow.
Say what you will about Andy and Donovan. We all have. But for the 5th time in 10 years, the duo is heading to the NFC Championship game.
That's impressive no matter how you slice it. But that's not enough. The Eagles have to keep it going. Two more wins. Just two more wins.
I have opinions about what may or may not happen in the playoff matchup of the Philadelphia Eagles visiting the New York Giants. I believe that the Eagles will win. Although, Angelo Cataldi's pick this morning on WIP of the Eagles winning if L.J. Smith does not play and them losing by three if L.J. steps foot on the field has a lot of merit as well.
I will give you now my only two reasons why I believe the Eagles will defeat the Giants.
1. Plaxico shot himself. That alone takes away the best offensive player the Giants had. The Eagles' cornerbacks can cover any one of the Giants' receivers one on one. With Plaxico, they had no shot of man coverage. Since he does not play anymore, the Eagles can stack the box and send the house on blitzes, thus making Eli do the Eli Face.
B. Brian Dawkins. Sometimes just looking at that man, you got to believe that he just will not let them lose.
Those are it. Brian Dawkins and Plaxico Burress. The only reasons needed to why the Eagles will win.
Also, here is what I hope will happen. Andy Reid, sensing that Brian Westbrook has been a bit banged up and slow the past few weeks, uses Buckhalter in the running game and does not give up on the running game. While on the subject of Andy, PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE, if the wind is bad, do not start the game by throwing 3 straight times.
Brandon Jacobs will try to jump over an Eagles defender and someone, Weapon X???, will jolt up into the air and blast one of his testicles into oblivion.
Donovan "prevails" again and runs for the sure first down.
Brian Westbrook gets Antonio Pierce in single coverage.
The teacher, the real Jim Johnson, outlasts the student, Spags, in the second week in a row of a Philadelphia disciple being highlighted in the playoffs.
The Giants fans go home cold, bitter, and pissed off and on.
A final note, myself and Donovan McNabb share a lot of things in common. I once wore number 5. I broke my ankle playing football a week after he broke his ankle playing football. I was at the NFC championship game in 2005, just like him. We are both underappreciated and we both do not like running. I have been called an idiot and a moron in newspapers and online, as has Donovan. Unfairly at times on that last one for Donovan. We both have cursed at TO.
So anyway, as someone with a lot in common with Donovan McNabb, if you are using the benching as motivation and continue to play good enough to win, then that's just great, but if you are just whining because your feelings are hurt, then just shut up. The whole they didn't get benched though comment about the defensive line of the Giants was just amazing and not really needed. [Ed note: It was a joke.]Just drop it in the media.
And for the hell of it, I hate Robbie Gould and I wish his leg fell off.
