Oh The Weather Outside Is Semi-Frightful

Given the winter storm that just hit the Delaware Valley like a shotgun full of snow, today's game against the 49ers won't be my most user-friendly fan experience at the Linc.  The Eagles organization has urged fans to use public transportation and has warned that there will likely be a shortage of parking spaces.  The conditions would likely make for a challenging commute even for those who live in and around the city.  Luckily for me, I'll be driving down from New York.  Should be a hoot!

Apart from the drive, I'm actually pretty thrilled about the snow.  I've never been to a snow game at the Linc before (closest would be the divisional round in 2004?); it'll be nice to remove that rather gaping hole from my Eagles resume.

What I'm thinking about ahead of the big commute (and of course the game, also the game):

What the conditions will likely mean at kickoff.  The hourly forecast suggests that it'll be clear and cold between 4-7, with about a 15 mph wind.  Not exactly ideal conditions for the Eagles to chuck the ball all over the field, but also not unmanageable.  I was concerned two days ago that the weather might turn today's game into something out of the 1950s (which wouldn't necessarily play to the Eagles' strengths), but it looks like they'll be able to run at least the cold-weather offense (as opposed to the blizzard/ monsoon offense).  

Finally, a way to work Tiger Woods into IgglesBlog.  Apparently a certain someone who seems to enjoy the company of many ladies who aren't his wife had some very judgy words about a certain someone who had some problems with animal abuse a few years back.  Specifically, Woods said the following in re: Michael Vick:

“If you made that big a mistake, you’ve got to come out and just be contrite, be honest and just tell the public that ‘I was wrong.’”

“Waiting a long time got a lot of people polarized. … If he would have come out earlier, he would’ve diffused a little more of it.”

If anyone has Woods' number at his top-secret underground retreat (lair?  can we call it a lair?), send it along and we'll see if we can get a follow-up comment.  The best part about that quote is that Tiger is actually notorious for not having a controversial opinion about anything.  He must have figured that dog-mutilating Michael Vick was as close to the anti-Christ as he would find, so what the hell, let's take the moral high ground and let fly.  Solid.  Nothing better than when karma has a good sense of irony.   

Funniest thing I heard about the weather these past couple days.  Someone tweeted me to suggest that I follow @phillywx because it was the "Igglesblog [sic] of Philly weather."  I really can't argue with that.  I assume that this means that said website occasionally publishes fan fiction about local weather personalities?  Can't wait to hear them stick it to Cecily Tynan!

Why don't we nix the trade talk until we finish up with the season.  And here I thought that Sheldon Brown had really conducted himself with class and distinction throughout the season.  Sure, there was the bit with the hockey mask, but that was a while ago, and it sure seems like he had left his off-season contract dispute behind him and was focused only on football (as guys who aren't committed to their team don't tend to play on torn hamstrings).  But then Ashley Fox coaxed the following quotes from Brown in this morning's paper:

Undoubtedly, it would be shortsighted to pull the stunt again and annoy the people who control his future. But that didn't seem to concern Brown, who said he might break out the mask again "at a critical time."

"When we were going through our situation and people tell you like you're not good, you just wonder sometimes, 'Why am I still here?' " Brown said. "Is that really the truth? Everybody talks about numbers. Well, the numbers don't lie. Look at the numbers."

Clearly, Brown is still angry with management - "I think they'll try to do the right thing and trade me this off-season," he said - but he plays for himself and his teammates. When a Brandon Jacobs fumble bounced into his hands last week and he was streaking 60 yards for a touchdown, Brown was thinking, "Just pinch me." It was his second score in two weeks.

He's "clearly" still angry with management?  He's talking about trades?  He's threatening to bring out his hockey mask again?  Ugh.  Luckily, this is all just talk.  That is, so long as he's giving the effort that he's been giving on the field (and there's absolutely no reason to think that will tail off), Sheldon's interests are aligned with mine.  So if he wants to mouth off a bit this week, it's not ideal, but it's also not the end of the world -- so long as he keeps playing hard.    

Good for the Cowboys.  Wait, did I just say that?  I think I did, though mostly because DAL +7.5 helped build the BountyBowl Playoff Ticket Fund (tm).  I suppose I had some grandiose delusions about Week 17 being a meaningless game for the Birds, but no, they're all going to count.  Damn you, Oakland game!     

Makes a great gift.  In lieu of a full-on holiday gift guide (which, in all fairness, should have been published about a week ago to be worth a damn), I'd like to recommend just a few exciting products for the Eagles fan in your life.  Whilst it's included in the little Amazon ad over there on the right, it's worth noting that just this summer the NFL released a 10-DVD set of the Eagles' greatest games.  Truth be told, I made a point of not writing about it at the time so that I could work my way through all 10 discs on my Netflix queue without having to wait for any of the titles (yes, I missed the class in nursery school on sharing).  But for $40, you get the full video of ten great games -- very cool.  Also, I will always recommend Bringing The Heat (the best book that I've read on sports in Philly) and A Season With Verona (my favorite book about what it means to be a fan).  

Derek and Sam should be on top of things for kickoff.  I'll be hopping on my dog sled shortly -- see you at kickoff.