The rookies are nestled into training camp and the vets are not far behind…and so it begins…the one last legitimate run HC Andy Reid has at winning a Super Bowl in the City of Brotherly Love.

Donovan McNabb is 31 and has a lot of wear - and tear.  He’s missed 15 games over the last three seasons.  The heir to his quarterback throne, top-draft pick Kevin Kolb…who has to start seeing some playing time soon…awaits.

Brian Westbrook is 29 - old by running back standards.  Even coming off a season where he was the Eagles’ only option most every down, and lived up to all that pressure fabulously…Father Time doesn’t wait for anyone.

Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas are solid offensive tackles…but now in their mid-30’s…stuggling to fight off the cumulative effects of so, so many battles at the line of scrimmage.

While the defense has begun the necessary transformation to a younger, quicker, more aggressive version than what Reid has utilized in the past…including the off-season acquisition of former Patriots corner Asante Samuel…the heart of the defense throughout the Reid Era, Brian Dawkins, is coming off a brutal, injury-riddled campaign…and also happens to be in his mid-30’s.

Yes, this is the last gasp, all-chips-in, final journey in which this franchise will have a legitimate shot at winning a World Championship.  And to do so, you would logically think all of those players mentioned above have to be on the field the entire season.  And there’s the not-so-small matter of once again still fielding -and overcoming - one of the weakest groups of wide receivers in the entire league.

The talk as camp opens in the Lehigh Valley is centered on three areas:

1. Will incumbent corner Lito Sheppard co-exist with the newly-arrived Samuel…and will both these talents be on the field at the same time if Sheppard is not dealt away?

2. Will Westbrook and the Eagles renegotiate his existing contract - something the normally Scrooge-like front office smartly has no issue with - to both parties’ mutual satisfaction?

3. Will McNabb be able to balance the need to get reps in camp with the need to tread lightly as his body continues to simultaneously heal and prepare for one more pass at glory?

I think the schedule works in their favor…there appears to be a healthy number of win-able games…I think they can claim to be as good as anyone in the NFC East.  Last year I predicted them as an 8-8 team before camp and that’s exactly what they turned out to be.  This year, the crystal ball says 10-6. 

Reid’s tenth season as HC should be a fascinating one as those who have been with him most of his successful career try one more time to help him win it all.

No matter what you think of New York Met Billy Wagner, you have to give him his props for the sports quote of 2008 even though almost a half a year is still left…

As you probably know, our Phils’ Chase Utley took an awful lot of heat Monday night for uttering a very bad word when being introduced (and booed) before the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium. 

Wagner was asked to comment what Utley can expect when he returns to New York City to play against the Mets, considering his remark was aimed at a Big Apple audience who was hating upon him…this is courtesy of David Murphy of the Philly Daily News:

“The same way he’d get it normally.  But it would be unfair to sit here and say that none of us has thought about (saying) that.  All of us have thought about (saying) that at times.  You come to the All-Star Game and you get that reaction?  Uncle.”

But Wagner was just warming up…in the rich tradition of a big-time, quality closer he saved his strikeout fastball for the end…

“Seriously, I had a guy behind me telling me I suck.  How bad can I suck?  I’m an All-Star.”

Billy Wagner nails down another one.

CBS Sports announced today Billy Packer will no longer be the analytical voice of March Madness.

In the eternal words of Maxwell Smart, “missed it by that much”…

I had the chance to meet Billy many, many years ago when he was working ACC Basketball with C.D. Chesley, one of the pioneers of syndicating collegiate sports for television.  I was a youngster at the time, but even then I remember him as being passionate about his opinions and never on-the-fence about anything he discussed.

And whether I or anyone else has disagreed with comments or slants Packer has offered up during his multiple decades of covering college basketball, one thing you can’t possibly say about him is he’s straddled any subject.  You always knew how he felt and you always knew how strongly he cared about each and every topic raised.

When I first heard CBS was no longer retaining Billy, the first thing I thought of was not “who is replacing him” but rather “why didn’t they let Jim Nantz go instead?” 

Nantz’ broadcasting is so practiced…so obviously scripted…and so thought out ahead of time…and just so darn safe and insulated…it insults the viewer.  He should have gone instead.   Can you picture…say…Gus Johnson calling the Final Four?  I can.  My God, what would we do with some actual emotion coming from the play-by-play microphone during college basketball’s most glorious time of the year ?  The mind reels at the possibility.

I read some quotes earlier today from John McCain, pointing out his campaign would not be a “scripted one” and, in the course of talking for hours a day, it is inevitable he or anyone else in such a position would say something people could disagree with, take apart and pick away at. 

It made me think of Billy Packer, who in his long career must have hissed off each and every single college basketball fan at least two dozen times or so. 

That being said, at least he got you to care.  And to think.  And be passionate about his passion for the game of basketball.

Billy Packer wasn’t my all-time favorite color analyst, but I respected his knowledge and his courage to challenge the audience…and he at least brought some much needed ”juice” to CBS’s Final Four and National Championship Game coverage…

CBS sent the wrong guy packing…it shouldn’t have been Packer.

A little over a year ago when I started this blog, I had no intention of acting like I had a crystal ball of clarity by my side when it came to predicting outcomes of sporting events.  I have spent this first year posting my observations and opinions rather than cranking out a lot of picks, “best bets,” etc.

However, one thing I did make it a point to do early in Year One was make predictions on the upcoming regular season of America’s pastime, the NFL…and for some reason I also got the bright idea doing it in June would be really cool.

And then last December…we all looked back and confirmed it is best I don’t do predictions for a living.

However…I want to take another crack at this for 2008 and continue to like the idea of trotting these thoughts out before camps even open. 

As I slowly go through the complete schedule of games from the beginning of the season to its conclusion and assign winners and losers for each contest, I must say around Week Eight or so I’ll look at a few teams’ records “so far” and say to myself…”ooh, people are gonna think I’m nuts.”

Well…let’s get “nutty”…

AFC East…New England 13-3, Buffalo 8-8, N.Y. Jets 7-9, Miami 6-10.

AFC North…Pittsburgh 11-5, Cleveland 10-6, Cincinnati 5-11, Baltimore 5-11.

AFC South…Indianapolis 13-3, Jacksonville 12-4, Tennessee 7-9, Houston 7-9.

AFC West…San Diego 13-3, Denver 9-7, Oakland 6-10, Kansas City 4-12.

NFC East…Dallas 10-6, Philadelphia 10-6, N.Y. Giants 8-8, Washington 4-12.

NFC North…Minnesota 13-3, Green Bay 8-8, Detroit 4-12, Chicago 3-13.

NFC South…New Orleans 12-4, Carolina 9-7, Tampa Bay 7-9, Atlanta 5-11.

NFC West…Seattle 9-7, St. Louis 7-9, Arizona 6-10, San Francisco 6-10.

I think readers of this blog know my love for pre-season publications and based on what I’ve read from them so far…if most of the sporting public agrees with their selections…you would conclude that my picks in the AFC are fairly “standard.”  I don’t know that there are any forecasts I have made for those teams that would have people jumping out of their seats on. 

No, I think if the masses had any issue with my thoughts on how the NFL will play out this year, they would be on the NFC side of the ball.  I am sure some will think I’m being a homer with the Eagles’ mark at 10-6 but followers of SA know I am as hard on them as anyone…I just think some things will break their way this year.  Others will note I had the Giants 180 degrees wrong in 2007 and probably do again (8-8), but I still haven’t figured out how they managed to win it all a year ago and am slow to warm up to the idea they’ll be better than average in ‘08.  I am sure my enthusiasm for the Vikings (13-3) will shock some folks…for that matter, all my predictions for the NFC North are probably up for “discussion.”

In any event, without a single person encouraging me to do this again…I have taken the plunge.  Comments always welcome!

I should point out aside from the hometown Eagles, the Jacksonville Jaguars are my second favorite NFL team…

You may have gathered from my last post I might be somewhat anti-Jags.  Far from it.  To prove that, here’s a good NFL news story coming out of Jacksonville on the heels of all that nasty stuff I posted about yesterday involving moving the team, a wide receiver doing cocaine, etc.

Yes, you know how bad things have gotten when the best news story of the last 24 hour cycle is one of your players avoiding jail time…

Go Jags!

Well, to be a Jacksonville Jaguars fan was a bit problematic today, now wasn’t it? 

First off, we have Jags’ Wide Receiver Matt Jones prepping for training camp by allegedly being found in the front seat of a car… in the town he became a college star…cutting up cocaine with a credit card.  Caught in your car…in the middle of the night…with a cocaine-coated credit card in your lap…priceless.

Then, we have Jags’ Owner Wayne Weaver denying his team is for sale, even with our very own Philly Daily News reporting several - several - league sources claiming otherwise.  Weaver laid off part of his marketing staff recently, even with Jacksonville being considered by most one of the better teams in the NFL for ‘08.  The Jaguars have always had trouble selling out their games and are often mentioned as a candidate for relocation to LA-LA Land.  This makes Sportsattitude sad, as he likes the Jags’ HC Jack Del Rio, QB David Garrard…and thinks their stadium is very cool too…even though they have to cover the top layer with tarp to reduce the capacity to try to sell the thing out and avoid local blackouts.  I hope they find a way to make it work in J-Ville.

Needless to say, the Jags’ PR engine could use a tune-up right about now…

One of the most viewed of all of Sportsattitude’s posts came after he sat down to watch a WNBA contest earlier this year and first learned of the story of American Becky Hammon’s quest to participate for Team Russia in the upcoming Olympic Games.

I continue to find it amusing there are some who begrudge her the opportunity to participate in the Olympics, which long ago left behind its original ideals of being an amateur competition among true nationals and is now nothing, nothing more than a made-for-television sports reality show.  I’m fascinated by how some people still hold this event to mean anything other than a golden opportunity for advertisers to advertise their products and athletes to make advertisers want them to advertise their products.

That being said, for those who still feel Becky Hammon is committing some act of high treason for being an American and participating for Russia…let me introduce our U.S. of A. men’s 1,500 meter track and field athletes…Bernard Lagat (a native of Kenya)…Lopez Lomong (of Sudan)…and Leo Manzano (of Mexico).   Yes, that’s right…all born elsewhere but competing for America. 

Just thought I’d point that out…

Billed as the largest scientific experiment in history, the European Organization for Nuclear Research’s Large Hadron Collider (Particle Accelerator) is scheduled to be turned on later this summer.

According to recent wire service stories, the machine basically consists of a ring of supercooled magnets seventeen miles in circumference attached to huge, barrel-shaped detectors.  On the border of France and Switzerland, the underground atom smasher has some 2,000 scientists from 36 countries hunting for signs of “dark matter” and “dark energy” that they feel make up more than 96% of the universe.

Wouldn’t it be easier for them just to go to Bill Belichick’s film room?

NFL training camps open in a couple of weeks…I can’t wait…I bet Bill and his ”Brady Bunch” can’t wait either…all football fans and teams alike have to be jazzed about turning their calendar pages to July.  NFL 2008 beckons…as long as these egghead white coats don’t throw the main switch on this collider thingy during the pre-season and send us all down some black hole or tenth dimension.

Perhaps Sportsattitude has this one wrong…but…the following is a quote courtesy of John Dellapina of the New York Daily News from Jaromir Jagr…who was discussing his ongoing negotiations with the New York Rangers about a new contract to some Czech Republic reporters recently:

“You know, money determines your position on the team - especially in the NHL.  As a top earner, you have more respect, they treat you differently than other cheaper players.  But what I pursue the most is trust.  I’ve already realized that I was playing my best hockey when there was the most pressure on me.  I need to hear or need to know “This is your team.  You are the key element and it will do as you will do.”  Then I can play my best hockey.  And I feel I can still play on the highest level.”

Maybe Sportsattitude is reading our friend Mr. Jagr incorrectly here, but I’m thinking since he’s currently asking for a two-year deal for as much money as Ranger teammates Scott Gomez and Chris Drury - at age 36 - after coming off a career-low 71 points last season - that the underlying message to take away from his comments is “I’ll do better if you pay me more.”  And, I’ll go ahead and extend that out further to “I’ll play harder if you pay me more.”

Jaromir reportedly has a contract already on the table from a Russian team that blows away what the Rangers would offer him under any circumstances.  It will be interesting to see what GM Glen Sather does…and even more interesting how his teammates react if he remains in the Big Apple.

Whatever you do in the next few weeks, please make sure to take a couple of hours to gather up your loved ones…no matter whether they are six or sixty…and take ‘em all down to the local cinema to see “Wall-E,” which I am sure most will eventually agree is the finest film Pixar Animation has ever put forth.  And that’s saying a lot in itself.

Further, I’ll predict this film will have an impact on the nation unlike any we’ve seen.  As simple a concept as you’ll ever find - something any one of us could have day-dreamed and scribbled down on a piece of paper - becomes in the trustworthy hands of director Andrew Stanton and Co. truly one of… if not the finest…animated movies ever made…for adults.

Lonely boy robot falls for visiting girl robot…and then chases her to the very end of deep space to secure their place together in the universe.  That’s about it.  But, that’s exactly what makes this film such a stunning, captivating, emotional sci-fi love story - the layered, thoughtful execution of the simplicity of its plot. 

If you haven’t seen it yet but have read some articles and interviews about the making of “Wall-E,” do not be fooled by the downplaying by Pixar about this film having no real political statement to make.  This film, while on the surface being a sweet, classic love story with a superb, audience-friendly ending…also makes an underlying, powerful, not-so-subtle statement about how bloated a society we’ve become…and how unconnected we’ve become to our environment.

That’s what makes it so special for adults.  “Wall-E” isn’t just an animated tale of a couple of lovestruck robots beating astronomical odds to be together at the end, it’s about the end of our world.  There are a number of social issues raised for older folks to comprehend and debate simply by the camera panning across the vast galaxy the animators have created.  It is a very complex film which proves to be more enjoyable and enriching for adults than children. 

The situation these robots reside within is one which is the end result of the world’s inability to recognize the dangers of super-sizing our meals and lifestyles alike, ultimately killing ourselves and our planet.  As quiet a film as this is - and be forewarned this movie is not one which will have small children captivated early on - it slowly, thoughtfully builds up to what a little one would likely then consider “action” - it screams out to all of us grown-ups who should have known better than to let mass consumption of natural resources, subsequent, relentless global warming and big-business corporate greed all get the upper hand.

This is not a film for children - it is a film for all of us.  Bring a box of Kleenex for a love story for the ages.  Bring your open mind for the cautionary message within.  A classic, entertaining, important work.  Must see.