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SPORTS
THE SPOKE
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2009
The G.Lo-down: learn to appreciate McNabb
By Greg Lopez Sports Editor Donovan McNabb deserves better. As much as I can appreciate Philadelphia fans, McNabb should not have to endure what he does. Every year, he finds himself on the hot seat. He’s not clutch. He throws balls in the dirt. He’s injury-prone. He doesn’t quite know how ties work in the NFL. He’s a bum. If McNabb doesn’t put up superhuman numbers every week, the fans are never truly satisfied. They beg for him to be traded to any team for any player at any time, just so long as he’s off the team. Some people would be okay with skipping the hassle of a trade and just cutting him loose. Yeah, great plan. Let’s let a fivetime Pro Bowler just leave. Forget
about the five NFC Championships and that trip to the Super Bowl a few years ago. That’s all voided because of an occasional accuracy problem and a lack of Super Bowl rings. Would the Eagles really be better off with Kevin Kolb under center? Sure, let’s go with an untested rookie instead of a successful veteran. His stats with the Eagles – 144 yards and four interceptions – tell me he’s more than ready to take this team farther than McNabb ever could. Philadelphia fans don’t realize just how lucky they are. Things could be much, much worse. Gus Frerotte. J.T. O’Sullivan. Dan Orlovsky. Just imagine how terrible it would be to have to watch one of those guys every week. Good luck getting to the playoffs with one of them, let alone the NFC Championship Game. Fans from other teams would kill for a quarterback like McNabb. General managers might go further. A GM with a sub-par quarterback that could swing a deal for McNabb could get the key to the city if his team made a deep playoff run. Bringing in McNabb would be an impressive accomplishment for a young GM to put on his resume.
17.5 Annual salary of MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, in millions of dollars
3 Pete Zonino/The SPOKE
Philly fans have been booing McNabb since Day One. He has more wins than any other Eagles quarterback, yet he faces criticism from the hundreds of ignorant fans that populate the tri-state area. Plenty of teams would be ready to sign McNabb the second the Eagles give up on him. Plenty of fans would be ready to cheer him on as he led them
to victory. Just be careful what you wish for, because McNabb has plenty of options available to him if he chooses to take them. And no matter how many times he says he wants to return to the Eagles, don’t you think he knows he deserves better? Greg Lopez can be reached at glopez@stoganews.com.
The End Zone: boys basketball on to Districts 2 Conestoga
15 Coatesville 18 Henderson 7 Pl. Whitemarsh
Feb. 20
Feb. 24
Game Tonight: (2) Conestoga vs. (31) Cheltenham 7:00 p.m. at Conestoga
26 Methacton
Conestoga boys basketball has once again found itself in district playoffs. After cruising through the Central League at the beginning of the season the team suffered its first and only regular season loss, to rival Lower Merion, at the close of the regular season. This forced a Central League playoff because no team went undefeated in league play. Last Friday, the team faced Upper Darby in the first round of the four team playoff. Conestoga survived, advancing to the final. In the final of the Central League playoffs, Conestoga had a rematch with Lower Merion. It was a hardfought battle, but the Pioneers came up short. Although the team lost the Central League title, district playoffs are still in sight. The Pioneers
Number of MLB players who earned more than Selig last season
26.9 Luxury tax owed by the New York Yankees in 2008, in millions of dollars
Feb. 17
31 Cheltenham
By Mike McCarter Sports Editor
By the Numbers
10 Penncrest 23 Neshaminy
Winner from other side of bracket
3 Penn Wood 30 Chichester 14 Bensalem
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME Feb. 27
19 Great Valley
22.7 Payroll of the 2008 Florida Marlins, in millions of dollars
4 Number of Conestoga boys ice hockey players in the top seven in scoring
6 Lower Merion 27 Quakertown 11 C.B. West 22 Radnor
clinched the second seed in the bracket because rankings are done solely on regular season play. Conestoga is entering the district playoffs with high expectations even though it has struggled in its last few games. Last year’s
disappointing first-round loss in Districts is only motivating the team even more on its quest for a title. The 32-team playoff will test the team to see how it can play against the best competition in the area. If the team advances to the quarterfinals then it automatically qualifies for state playoffs. Also,
if all goes according to plan there should be a rematch with Lower Merion in the fourth round of Districts. It will be an opportunity for the Pioneers to avenge the loss in the Central League Championship game. Mike McCarter can be reached at mmccarter@stoganews.com.
55 Fighting penalties by the Philadelphia Flyers, who are tied for the league lead in fighting All statistics as of Feb. 9