"Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action" -- W.J. Cameron

This, that, and the other thing in advance of eating a Thanksgiving turkey…


* After watching the Philadelphia Eagles defense assert itself against the Giants in New York on Sunday night, I hereby take back all of the nasty and terrible things I've said and thought about Asante Samuel over the past couple of years.

Usually I'm lovin' on him when he makes a pick, and vilifying him for playing soft the rest of the time. Sunday night, however, was the most physical game I've seen him play as a Bird.

Nice work, man. Keep it up.


* I also take back what I said about backup QB Vince Young being useless. Watching him toss three picks earlier in the game, I basically was inclined to stand by what I said. But—and I have big but here—after engineering that nearly 9 minute, 80 yard drive, capped off with a great third down throw through traffic to Riley Cooper for the winning TD, he won me over big time.

That drive was just what the doctor ordered for a struggling Eagles defense that was being constantly returned to the field too often during the previous nine games. The patience in both the play-calling and execution of the drive was impressive.

Well done! Maybe we'll even see something like it again. Soon…


* And here's a tip of the cap to the entire Eagles defense, who played without ailing Mr. Softee, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and dominated a very good Giant O-Line and their skill players.


* Shifting to baseball, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Bob Brookover made the case this week for the Phillies bringing back venerable Raul Ibanez if the price was right (Read: Low).

What—is Bob high?

Tell me whatever you want about Raul's numbers, clubhouse presence, OPS, blah, blah, blah. Ibanez was the poster child for the Phillies Over the Hill Gang offense. I'll give you that he was in good shape for a 39-year-old, but his overall lack of athleticism, bat speed, and ability to adjust to pitchers making adjustments on him—plus his proclivity to be eternally dinged up, if not flat out injured—made you want to shed a tear in remembrance of Jayson Werth.

If I never see Raul leaving his feet and sliding late under a ball that he'd have caught if he'd just kept running, it'll be too soon!


* Is it just me, or has everything about the Boston Red Sox since about October 1 been outright creepy?

The latest unctuous trail has been left as they've snailed about seeking a new manager. It's like the last guy standing after the music stops and all the chairs are gone gets to manage the dysfunctional team in Fenway.

Yuck.


* Word out of Syracuse University regarding their own "Forget legalese: Did we do the morally right thing?" sexual abuse scandal: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

The police won't release details of the investigation to the prosecutor, let alone the press. Where's the outcry? Where's the outrage? After thoroughly charring beyond recognition the bitter remains of anyone and everyone associated with Joe Paterno, these new sexual abuse victims are on their own as far as the media is now concerned.

And you heard it here first.

Even more yuck...