Things I missed this weekend that I probably shouldn't have

Luke Walton wins NBA Championship, quiets his critics - And now he's going to have to prove to all the naysayers his true legacy by winning without Adam Morrison on the roster.

Shock: BOOM! Goes the dynamite - They win in a squeaker, 88-27 against Stockton last Saturday on the road. I'm sure fans stayed until the very end for that one.

Michael Phelps becomes an author of a kid's book - And in other news, I'm writing a relationship book on how to enjoy a long, stable marriage.

Pittsburgh Pens win the Stanley Cup - And the four hockey fans still left in America rejoice. By the way, it wasn't like Detroit needed to win this series for a sense of civic pride or anything.

Sounders end winless streak, defeat San Jose 2-1 at home - For some reason soccer seems to think that tie games are cool. And in other news, Donovan McNabb is still unaware that soccer is a sport.

National Drag Racing returns to Spokane for the first time in 30 years - The Spokesman-Review praises the spectator turnout of over 10,000, and then promptly runs a photo on their website of empty stands at the racetrack.

Donovan McNabb: The Only Thing Drawing My Attention

Yes, this past year in sports sucked. You know that. Save for the Philadelphia Phillies World Series championship, pretty much every aspect of 2008 sport was discouraging for us fans in the PNW. Ironic, I know – Philadelphia is thousands of miles away from the PNW.

I would liken sports in 2008 to what would it would have felt like if Happy Gilmore didn’t make the miraculous last shot to beat Shooter McGavin. In short, I’m darn ready to bid farewell to the 2008 football season, too. Even they suck right now for most of us – who would have ever guessed the final four teams in the playoffs would include the Eagles, Cardinals, Steelers, and Ravens?

Now, to be sure, I’m quite excited at the thought of the season ending so I can begin dreaming again of next season (Oh, Jim Mora). That said, I do still have some semblance of loyalty to the sport (can’t completely abandon my passion). Thus, I’ve discovered one, and only one, reason to continue watching the 2008 playoffs.

It is Donovan McNabb. And that’s it.

People often ask why I care about Donovan – The Eagles aren’t particularly my favorite team, and McNabb not particularly my favorite quarterback. Most of the time, I’ve rooted against him – just like I’ve rooted against most quarterbacks whose names didn’t end with Hasselbeck or Wallace. Just the way it is for a Seahawk fan. But anyone who has paid an ounce of attention to ESPN over McNabb’s career is at least partially aware of the fact that he’s been under an amazing amount of scrutiny since he was drafted by the Eagles with the 3rd overall pick. Remember when he got booed by Eagle fans who were still bitter about them not drafting Ricky Williams? Yes, that would have worked out good for them. Remember the Rush Limbaugh shpeel? Remember seemingly every other game when the commentators start reminding us that “this may be the last time we see Donovan McNabb and Coach Andy Reid play on the same team,” nonsense? This has happened every single season. Every year, it seems like people are looking for new reasons to discredit just how good McNabb has been over the course of his career. Twit sportcasters seem to think that he’s “losing a step” or “losing favor in the locker room,” but what in God’s green earth has McNabb done OTHER than win games, make Pro Bowl Rosters, and keep his image SQUEAKY clean?

Brandon mentioned this last week in one of his blogs, but let me reiterate. The guy doesn’t have off-field problems, he puts up great numbers, he’s a great leader, he’s smart (tell me that every NFL player knows the overtime rule off the top of their head…yeah, shut up), and he’s taken his team to 5 NFC conference championship games in 10 years. Not even Tom Brady has been to that many (though I will say Brady is the better quarterback – considering his supporting cast has been far superior). The fact is, McNabb has endured a lot of undeserved scrutiny. It baffles me that he’s been able to maintain his composure the way he has, especially in light of the reputation Philadelphia fans have. What better way to shed all of the nonsense than by winning a Super Bowl? It would be similar (but not exactly like) when Peyton Manning finally won his championship – finally, no detractors, no naysayers could slam him for choking.

These are the reasons, then, that I am rooting for Donovan McNabb the rest of the playoffs. For fans in the PNW, this should be second nature anyhow (at least to some of us). Anyone who is rooting for the Steelers can’t relate to me. Anyone who roots for the Cardinals…..why? Anyone who pulls for the Ravens, well I guess I have no deal with that.

At any rate, I’m not a huge McNabb fan normally. You won’t ever see me wear a McNabb jersey. But for the rest of this post-season, you can count me in as one of the biggest supporters of McNabb from the PNW. Take it for what you will - agree or disagree - but this is about the only thing that could make up for what has been the lousiest sporting year of my life.

Live from the Metrodome!

Since ESPN is showing the high school football all-star game, which is a good look at the core group of Notre Dame's underachieving squad for years to come, I'm going to do a run down of the few thoughts that have run across my brain today after the NFL Wild Card Round.

1. Baltimore vs. Tennessee is not a game I'm excited about. A hot team vs. a team that really hasn't had anything to play for in weeks. Luckily, Jeff Fisher is the head coach of the Titans. He called Bill Cowher out today for being a cheap player during this morning's CBS pregame show. Any man will enough cajones to call out Bill Cowher (jokingly of course), is going to have his team ready to play on Sunday. That being said... have you seen Baltimore's defense? Wow.

2. Good to see Ed Hocc still wearing three shirts sizes too small as a referee.

3. Why do people hate Donovan McNabb? All he has been for the past eight years is win football games, not get involved in a dog-fighting ring and now he'll face the Giants next week. Okay, you can hate McNabb next week after he throws three back-breaking picks.

4. So the NFC North and AFC East must feel rather stupid being the only divisions in football not to have someone in the playoffs now.

5. I'm still trying to imagine the NFL if they had the BCS. Would that mean the Lions would be in Div. I-AA?

Signs that your team might be looking to trade or release you

Donovan McNabb was told he'll be starting today by the team's janitor.

Hmmm, I'm a big fan of McNabb but this isn't a good sign, he should also watch out when...

- Ryan Leaf gets his parking space.
- His locker is moved nexted to Jerry, the scout team long-snapper who actually only has one working limb.
- They hang a Chicago Bears jersey in his locker.
- The PA announces him as "a player to be named later."