Hope

By John McMullen

In the original Star Wars, Obi-Wan may have been Princess Leia's only hope

In Philadelphia, make no mistake about it, the Eagles are our only hope.

Ed Snider is so blind to the inadequacies of his two general mangers, that any dream of a Sixers or Flyers run in the near future is virtually nil.

Yes, Brian Roberts could fix that tomorrow but don't hold your breath.

The inconspicuous, Comcast-Spectacor chairman has shown absolutely no interest in getting involved in Snider's business.

Translation -- We are stuck with Billy King and Bob Clarke.

Talk about tortured -- No city deserves that.

Meanwhile, Phillies' apologists are already writing the season off as their savior, Pat Gillick, "cleans up the mess" Ed Wade made.

A "mess" that saw the Phils miss the postseason by all of one game in 2005.

Makes sense to me...I mean why should we expect a playoff run from a team that missed the party by a game in the previous season?

Nope, the Eagles are our only chance...

As much as people in this town like to call Jeffrey Lurie and Joe Banner,shall we say..."frugal", the Eagles organization is rock solid.

They have a plan that most of us don't agree with, but four straight appearances in the NFC Championship Game on their resume say they might be a little more qualified than any of us to judge things.

I'll be man enough to admit I can't stand Andy Reid or the team's organization.

They are a conceited, egotistical, self-righteous, snobbish, holier-than-thou, boorish bunch who make it very difficult to do my job.

But, they are also something else...competent.

A word that doesn't exactly spring to the forefront of my mind when I am thinking about Snider, King, Clarke or Gillick.

So...How will I suffer through the "smug storm" that sits above the NovaCareComplex this year?

That's an easy one...with anticipation, confidence, expectation, faith, optimism...and hope.

-You can reach John McMullen at jmcmullen1@comcast.net