Christmas Time FOOTBALL

Merry Christmas to All,

and to all a good night of watching the Eagles kill the Cowboys. This stretch - three division games in a row ON THE ROAD - was the part of the season where I figured we would run into trouble. But given the team dropped close games earlier on in the season as well as games they should have won, they realized they had to take control of their own fate quickly. This realization came on as they were being galvanised by team leadership after the loss of Mcnabb. They seem set to bull through the final game of the season. We can only look to the leaders on both sides of the ball who have made everyone raise their game - that is of course Brian Dawkins and Jeff Garcia - as the chief reason for a return to true Eagles football.

Perhaps after seeing the Eagles punish the Cowboys in Dallas, dinner with the family, and lots of assorted Yuletide alcohol-induced cheer, you still needed something more. In that case, we hope you took some tylenol and made it out to the local soccer pub early this morning to celebrate Boxing Day (no, it has nothing to do with Rocky - you're supposed to watch that on Christmas Day) by watching some more football, with some great English soccer matchups. At 8:00am Philadelphia's own, Bobby Convey, led Reading against Chelsea (Chelsea beat them 1-0 in their last meeting, while Reading managed a draw against Man U). At 10am there's Blackburn v Liverpool or Man U v Wigan, followed by Arsenal v Watford at 12:30 (along with other games throughout the day). Though you may not know who Good King Wencelas was and you may not box gifts to your servants the day after Christmas, you can still come out to the local pub, particularly since the EPL race has tightened up. With a loss to West Ham last week, Man U allowed Chelsea to slip within 2 points with subsequent action. The Manc leaders face some traditionally tough opponents in the weeks ahead so we should quickly find out if they're for real.

Top pubs:
Fado's Irish pub - The only one I know of that appreciates people coming in to drink in the a.m. enough to reward them with drink and food specials
15th and Locust
The Darkhorse - The place for the most intense fans (free coffee at least)
The Blarney South (next to the TLA) and Oneals (3rd off South) - Both excellent bars, casual atmosphere, and serious fans

Image Credit: Flickr user brappy!