Random sporting thoughts of the week

Good Riddance, Asshole, Part 1
Terrell Owens is writing a tell-all book about how the Eagles disrespected him. He got "$10 mil up front", which equates to about $3 million less than he had the potential to earn in Philadelphia in '06 ($5 million roster bonus, $770,000 salary, $6.5 million in bonuses; source), but good for him. Who needs to work for money when some moron is willing to give it to you just for the hell of it? I'd love to see the book in another year and a half when he gets disrespected by the Cowboys for not paying him as much as the Eagles would have.

The one thing that really excites me about this is that Dallas' front office is hardly the clandestine organization that the Eagles' is. You'd think Jeff Lurie was running some kind of illegal government wiretapping, instead of an NFL franchise. Jerry Jones won't be so quiet when TO flips his lid. And you know it's going to happen. Bill Parcells likes to run the ball first. Terry Glenn needs touches, and Jason Witten is one of the better tight ends in the NFL. Add in the fact that Dallas' offensive line wasn't that good last year and won't be any better, and Bledsoe isn't any less immobile than he was last season, and you'll be lucky (or fortunate, depending on whether or not you're a Cowboys fan)to see TO make it a full season before he's doing sit-ups in his driveway in Arlington.

Good Riddance, Asshole, Part 2
Billy Wagner signed with the Mets to be their closer this offseason. Apparently he had issues with how "knowledgeable" Phillies fans are (source). You'd think someone like this, who has played in Shea plenty the last couple seasons would have noticed the morons there. I can't wait until they jump on his back after his second stint on the disabled list this season.

I'm not sure what the context of this comment was, but one theory floating around message boards is the way some fans would act disappointed when Wagner would "only" hit 97-99 on the Citizens' Bank radar gun. After years of Jeff Brantley's smoke and mirros act, along with watching the likes of Heathcliff Slocumb, Jose Mesa, and Ricky Bottalico closing games, some fans got excited about having an elite closer with 100mph stuff, and liked to see it.

Wagner may have also had issues with how often "Eagles!" chants pepper Phillies games. Given the way the Phils have mismanaged their organization since the strike, and the success the Eagles have enjoyed (for the most part) since '01, this shouldn't be much of a surprise. The Eagles have made five playoff trips, along with four division titles, since the turn of the new century. The Phillies haven't been in the playoffs since '93. Fan frustration does not equate to knowledge.

Granted, there are tons of idiots on sports talk radio in Philadelphia, on both ends of the phone. If Wagner thinks that will change on the other end of the Turnpike, he's in for a not-so-pleasant surprise when he turns on the Fan. But whatever.

Basically, fuck both you assholes. I can't wait to show my lack of knowledge towards Wagner when I get to boo him at CBP this season, and I hope the Eagles re-sign Tim Hauck and re-install the Veterans' Stadium turf before Dallas comes to Philly this season.