Gonzo: These Philly sports figures are dynamite
Poor Donovan McNabb. The guy can't win - even when the Eagles do. For years, people complained that Five is incapable of engineering a fourth-quarter comeback. Then he did just that against the Bears (even though there was a fair amount of time remaining on the clock) and the Redskins over the last two weeks. Naturally, the detractors apologized and gave credit where it's due, right?
Poor Donovan McNabb. The guy can't win - even when the Eagles do.
For years, people complained that Five is incapable of engineering a fourth-quarter comeback. Then he did just that against the Bears (even though there was a fair amount of time remaining on the clock) and the Redskins over the last two weeks. Naturally, the detractors apologized and gave credit where it's due, right?
Not quite. After the Washington game, I received e-mails from fans who complained - and stop me if this sounds familiar - about how McNabb is inaccurate on short routes and won't ever win a Super Bowl because blah, blah, blah. If it's not one thing, it's another. Some people just love to bash the guy. Strange, because he currently has a 94 quarterback rating. That's the third-best mark of his distinguished career.
McNabb is one of a handful of players whom people have strong feelings about one way or the other. You never meet someone who says "Donovan? Eh, I don't have an opinion about him." McNabb is a "boom goes the dynamite" kind of guy - someone who sparks an explosion of debate whenever his name is mentioned.
For that reason, McNabb makes Page 2's Philadelphia Boom Goes the Dynamite roster. To make the BGD list, players and coaches need talent in a particular discipline and, more important, an innate ability to incite media controversy and/or heated public discourse for a wide variety of reasons. Think of these guys as the negative images of players like Brian Westbrook - someone who does his job quietly, never says the wrong thing, and has few detractors. Love them or hate them, these sports personalities inspire anything but indifference.
10. Cole Hamels: In 2008 he was the World Series MVP. In 2009, he found the season "mentally draining" and couldn't "wait for it to end." Make yourself comfortable, Cole. I don't think you're getting off the Boom Goes the Dynamite list anytime soon.
9. Eric Lindros: The media battles between the Lindros family and the organization were epic.
8. Curt Schilling: He was a lot of things: a great postseason pitcher, a media whore, a terrific quote, and a terrible teammate. I wonder what happened to that towel he hung over his head.
7. Buddy Ryan: When you place a bounty on the Cowboys' kicker, you're a lifetime member of the BGD club.
6. Andy Reid: Buddy was a jerk at times, but some people still loved him. Andy isn't a jerk, but some people can't stand him. You figure it out.
5. Randall Cunningham: You know those people who think out loud? That was Randall: annoying, a little crazy, but never boring.
4. Charles Barkley: A guy who can throw someone through a window and spit on a little girl and still make people smile is perfect for the BGD roster.
3. Donovan McNabb: He's the greatest quarterback in franchise history and yet a portion of the fan base refuses to recognize his talent. It's a crazy mixed-up world.
2. Terrell Owens: People loved singing T.O., T.O., T.O., T.O. at the Super Bowl and hated watching that ridiculous driveway workout/news conference.
1. Allen Iverson: He beats out T.O. only because he was in town longer. He had more, uh, practice creating buzz.
It's Week 13 of the fantasy football season - a bad omen for some, perhaps. The rest of us have been walking under ladders and breaking mirrors our whole lives. This week, I'm renaming my team the Black Cats.
Start
QB: Carson Palmer, Kyle Orton, Ben Roethlisberger.
RB: Shady McCoy, Knowshon Moreno, Laurence Maroney.
WR: Michael Crabtree, Nate Burleson, Jason Avant.
TE: Visanthe Shiancoe, Heath Miller, Jeremy Shockey.
Bench
QB: Eli Manning, Kurt Warner, Joe Flacco.
RB: Larry Johnson, Beanie Wells, Ahmad Bradshaw.
WR: Roy Williams, Mario Manningham, Steve Breaston.
TE: Brent Celek, Fred Davis, Ben Watson.
Sunday Sixer
(Home team in caps)
Last week: 4-1-1.
Season: 33-30-3.
Titans +7 over COLTS: No team is hotter than Tennessee right now. I don't think the Titans win the game, but I'll take the points.
PANTHERS 51/2 over Bucs: I don't understand why Tampa doesn't wear the orange uniforms more often. Those are so bad they're good.
BENGALS -13 over Lions: Remember when the other Larry Johnson (the UNLV/pro hoops version) would make an LJ sign after scoring in the NBA? The football LJ should adopt it. Might be the best hand/arm signal in sports history.
Ravens +3 over PACKERS: The only sports novelty lamer than the foam cheesehead is the foam cheesesteak head. If you own one, burn it immediately and never tell anyone about your questionable choice in headgear.
Saints -91/2 over REDSKINS: After what New Orleans did to the Hoodie on national TV last week, I'd take the Saints to win this game by two touchdowns.
Eagles -51/2 over FALCONS: Atlanta has a banged-up quarterback and an injured starting running back. Should be no problem for the Birds. Right?