Iggles Blog - Philadelphia Eagles Blog

Someone's Not Loving the "New" Inquirer

Caught this in the AM on the Inquirer's Penn State blog:

Are you loyal readers as sick of the Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma drama as I am?  Oh brother. Coach Joe Paterno has yet to announce when the pair of suspended players will return to the field (or are they the "previously suspended," since they returned to practice on Monday?).

Anyway, the whole situation has played out like an episode of CSI (or at least how I'd image an episode of CSI would play out since I don't watch the show).

Here's this morning's story on the topic.  Unfortunately, because of our shrinking newshole and the decision to post blog-type material in our newspaper instead of news, a good chunk of my story was chopped.  Here's what was missing...

Not That You Care

But I have DSean Jackson on my fantasy team and my opponent has Brian Westbrook.

Which means you just cost me 12 points, rookie. 

Well This Is Stupid

ESPN has ditched the one reliably good thing about last year's broadcast by replacing it's nice, neat, centered, out-of-the-way on-screen score display with some huge band of nothingness that is completely opaque and takes up at least 15% of the screen real estate (I measured).

Hey, ESPN graphics guy, just slap a "Look At Me!" sign in the corner.  It would be less obtrusive. 

Cowards

IOC agrees to Internet blocking at the Games

INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE

 

By Andrew Jacobs
Wednesday, July 30, 2008

 

BEIJING: The Chinese government confirmed Wednesday what journalists arriving at the lavishly outfitted media center here had suspected: Contrary to previous assurances by Olympic and government officials, the Internet would be censored during the upcoming games.

Since the Olympic Village press center opened Friday, reporters have been unable to access scores of Web pages - politically sensitive ones that discuss Tibetan succession, Taiwanese independence, the violent crackdown of the protests in Tiananmen Square and the sites of Amnesty International, Radio Free Asia and several Hong Kong newspapers known for their freewheeling political discourse.

On Wednesday - two weeks after its most recent proclamation of an uncensored Internet during the Summer Games - the International Olympic Committee quietly agreed to some of the limitations, according to Kevan Gosper, chairman of the IOC press commission, Reuters reported.

Gosper said that he regretted the limitations but that "IOC officials negotiated with the Chinese that some sensitive sites would be blocked on the basis they were not considered Games related."

A government spokesman initially suggested the problems originated with the site hosts, but on Wednesday, he acknowledged that journalists would not have unfettered Internet use during the Games, which begin Aug. 8.

"It has been our policy to provide the media with convenient and sufficient access to the Internet," said Sun Weide, the chief spokesman for the Beijing Olympics organizing committee. "I believe our policy will not affect reporters' coverage of the Olympic games."

Oh For Pete's Sake

UPDATE:  See comments.

From PFT:

A league source tells us that there are rumblings that Eagles guard Shawn Andrews might not show up for training camp, apparently due to displeasure with his contract.

You know what?  If this is true, Eff you, dude.  No one forced you to sign a $35 million contract back when people were still worried about your ability to keep your weight down.  The franchise wasn't going to get its bonus money back if your faux-serious injury last year had ended your career.

Remember this article?  You should, since it's on your website.  It's the one that says something like this:

You really do never know. Which is at least partly why Andrews signed a 7-year contract extension yesterday that a foxsports.com report valued at up to $40 million overall with about $10 million in bonus money, a value denied by none of the principals.

...

"Well, some guys feel like they can play out their deal and things happen," Andrews said. "But my rookie year, I had a very unfortunate accident [a fractured fibula in his first game], and you never know what tomorrow is going to hold. I have a daughter and my mom; I want that security and just to be here. I am an Eagle, and this is where I want to be. I haven't been to any other team, but I have heard stories from guys at other teams, and this is where I want to be."

Sounds great.  Now prove it by showing up and playing football.

Yeah, you're good, but always remember the bottom line:  You're Not Brian Westbrook.

Maybe I'll go shopping for Max Jean-Gilles jerseys.  If they come in my size.