The Inquirer's Bob Ford:
"Of course, the irony is that, with the Eagles, it is always about McNabb. If he talks; if he doesn't. If he watches the game from a luxury box; if he stands on the sideline. If he spends the off-season in Arizona; if he hangs around Philadelphia. If he sells soup; if he doesn't. Always McNabb, all the time.It really is ridiculous: If McNabb sits in the press box for a game, he's criticized for not being there for his teammates. If he's on the sidelines, he's upstaging Jeff Garcia. And God forbid he should smile or make a facial expression or anything like that...In all probability, the reason McNabb isn't making himself available is that he knows by now that he can't win. Regardless of what he might say, at least half the listening public wouldn't like it, or would think that the very act of talking was a blatant attempt to draw attention to himself and away from the gutty, gritty team-that-won't-die that has bloomed in his absence."
Thus, we get the absurdity of Eagles fans, while their team has won six straight and is in the second round of the playoffs, still obsessing over a man who's not actually playing in the games. Philly, as they say, is different from other places.
UPDATE: Case in point:
One group of Philly fans loaded up a pickup truck with imported snow in order to fire snowballs at Giants fans before yesterday's game. Even more hysterically sociopathic, the Birds supporters brought buckets to take the snow with them in order to hunt down New York fans in the parking lot.I just hope they're classy enough not to try any of that shit in New Orleans on Saturday. Because much as Philly fans have been through over the years, I'd say N.O. has had it a bit worse. Posted by Stephen Silver at January 11, 2007 03:41 PM
It is so bizarre how he is treated there. I am trying to think of a comparison and I can't. Well maybe Bobby Abreu.
Posted by: J. Lichty at January 11, 2007 04:42 PM