England

(Nick Laham/Getty Images)via www2.pictures.gi.zimbio.com Every year for decades devoted sports fans around the country sit and ponder about whether or not their favorite sports teams' former or current star athlete is, or will be, an NFL Hall of Famer down the line. Many have questioned whether or not former Philadelphia Eagles' QB Donovan McNabb is a Hall of Famer . Simply put: McNabb, within his professional career, had his good moments, & his not-so good moments. Off-the-bat, McNabb's career was marred by controversy- through no fault of his own. When he arrived in Philadelphia, after being drafted second overall (behind Tim Couch) in the 1999 NFL draft, he was soon booed by Philadelphia radio-station WIP anchor Angelo Cataldi's formed group "The Dirty 30," due to being picked over Texas running-back Rick Williams. At times he looked like he could carry the Eagles to great heights. At other times, not so much. His resume: six-time Pro Bowler (2000-2004, 2009), NFC Champion (2004), NFC Player of the Year (2004) and he played in five NFC Championship games- including four straight from 2001-2004. During the 2005 NFL Postseason, the Eagles finally reached the top plateau of the football world; the Superbowl. McNabb's QB rating during that postseason? 99.7 - in three games vs. Minnesota, Atlanta and New England. In that same postseason, he threw seven touchdowns to just three interceptions, with a 62.6 completion percentage. via blog.debate.org Additionally, McNabb, at times, proved that he could be accurate and smart behind center, while proving to be a huge running threat as well. He is compared in this facet to Randall Cunningham and Michael Vick, especially to Cunningham considering that both QBs could run and pass the ball very well so. Vick and Cunningham are first and second all-time among QBs in rushing yards, respectively. McNabb is sixth on that list, with 3,459 yards, to go along with 29 rushing TDs. Ironically, all three played for Philadelphia. He currently stands at 22nd among QBs all-time in touchdown passes, with 234, which has him wedged in between Hall-of-Famers George Blanda and Steve Young. Despite his frequent health problems and injuries during his playing years, part of the reason why McNabb was so successful statistically speaking was because of his ability to stay on the field and thus stay within rhythm. Between 2000 and 2010, for Philadelphia, Washington and Minnesota, he started 161 games and only missed 23 games in that time span due to injury (he was rested in the 2004 season after clinching home field advantage for the Eagles, and benched in 2009 and 2010 in favor of younger quarterbacks on Washington/Minnesota team getting playing time). Looking at McNabb's career from a pure football perspective, and disregarding stats, he was a relatively poor pocket passer with bad pocket presence, when he wasn't able to run and succeed the pass rusher(s) that is. Most of the time, when hurried by a pass rusher or blitzed by the opposition's defensive line, instead of throwing the ball away he would usually panic and do something stupid or dangerous. This was especial during clutch/playoff situations/scenarios. Over the span of his 11-year career he had 17 4th-quarter comebacks and 25 game-winning drives, but he wasn't considered by football fans and sports analysts as a clutch performer by any means. Out of the five NFC Championship Game appearances McNabb made as a starter, (all of which were with the Eagles) he only made it to the Super Bowl once. In those four NFC title game losses he threw at least one interception in all of them, including three vs. Carolina in 2004. Taking a further look at his poor postseason performances within his career and comparing them to his regular season numbers, within the aforementioned four NFC title game losses he threw 6 INTs to just 4 touchdowns. This translates to an interception percentage of 4.1, which is nearly double to the INT % within his regula

The Indianapolis 500 is the world’s highest attended single day event. Its total capacity is approximately 400,000 with about 125,000 located in the cheapest and most “festive” seats of the infield. All newbies marvel at the sheer size of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway upon entering it the first time. The modern day answer to Circus Maximus is large enough to hypothetically house the Vatican, Churchill Downs, Yankee Stadium and the Rose Bowl all at the same time! A Parade Lap of Unforgettable People While patrolling an infield like Ryne Sandberg, numerous people left an impression on me. A military bomb at 6am symbolizes the opening of the gates. It’s also the same time one must leave to overcome traffic and get a good infield spot for the 1pm starting time. Why they open all six lanes of thoroughfare on the way out, but only use three lanes on the way in is beyond reason. Also beyond reason is the purchase of 16 cases of Keystone Light which I see transported in wagons by college kids. Later, I see crushed beer cans serving as clamps affixing a chart of the racers to the inner fence. I’ve also seen Busch Light and Old Milwaukee cans placed on the ground in a pattern to spell the words “tits” and “boobs.” Other people watching highlights include an individual who “manscaped” the number “500″ into his chest hair; and numerous mullets, rat-tails, Zubaz outfits and checkered pants. Because of the old Atari game, I know what “Pole Position” actually is, but when asked, I remark: “what my friend Season is assigned at work on Saturday nights.” The amount of boisterous laughter this joke receives tells me that these people must have been drinking heavily since 5 A.M; because it’s not really that funny. This leads to my favorite racing fan story. I hear about past racing fans who constructed a stripper pole in their tailgating area. Not a temporary makeshift pole mind you, but a cemented into-the-ground-with-Sakrete stripper pole, right in front of someone’s trailer. (a triple wide to be exact) Obviously, these men spend WAY too much time at some place called the “Classy Chassis.” Fuelishness Although the event’s overall carbon footprint is frightening, there are numerous environmentally friendly messages at the race. The starting flag isn’t the only thing that’s green. If America is to free itself from petrolist foreign states, this is the right place to pitch the message: an event preceded by four nationalistic songs and an F-33 Raptor fly-over, taking place on a war memorial holiday weekend. Lots of American flag do-rags on display further exemplify how the crowd is filled with patriots. (just not New England Patriots, as the massive legions in Colts gear find anything associated with Tom Brady as anathema) The Colts are of of course the local sect of the major religion practiced within the Circle City. But today these grounds are the “Chapel of Speed,” as Keith Jackson would say. My first nap in a public place since I was 5 ends with the loud sound of jet engines. Trucks circle the track trailed by jet turbines with wind power drying the asphalt. My favorite racer, Danica Patrick, has pulled from 4th into second and it looks like we could have our first woman champion. I have to admit that I know very little about the IRL, so I root for DanicaPatrick  because she is just so amazingly physically attractive. (and also from my home state, sort of) Basically, this makes me a male, racing fan version of those baseball-ignorant, Lincoln Park Trixie “Cubs fans” who would attended Cubs games to root for Mark Grace or Kyle Farnsworth in tight pants. Just like Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts and Miami University in Coral Gables, FL, the Indianapolis 500 takes place in the town of Speedway, IN. Indiana is a unique state regionally classified as 

Beckham's career is officially over

With the reported return of the Special One and a rumored £100 million transfer budget, this summer had already promised to be a memorable one for Chelsea. Now, as the potential targets trickle into news reports, we have the names to go with the speculation.Jose Mourinho, who has been linked heavily with a return to Chelsea this summer, per The Sun, is interested in bringing several players with him to Stamford Bridge, according to the Daily Mirror. One—Atletico Madrid's on-loan keeper Thibaut Courtois—is already a Chelsea player. The rest are not.Atop the list is Atletico striker Radamel Falcao, who has also been linked with a £50.7 million move to Monaco, according to Metro. Also on the list are Zenit St. Petersburg forward Hulk, Bayer Leverkusen forward Andre Schurrle, Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala, Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini and Malaga midfielder Isco.The Sun, meanwhile, reports that Mourinho wants to bring midfielder Luka Modric with him from Real to Chelsea.Together, these reports make for an impressive shopping list, and that should give Chelsea supporters reason to be cautiously optimistic.Isco, 21, is one of Spain's best young talents, as B/R's Allan Jiang outlines here. He has also been linked heavily with Real Madrid, according to Marca.Modric, 27, has Premier League experience, having played for Tottenham from 2008-12. This season, he was a key to Real Madrid's victory over Manchester United in the Champions League, per Michael Cox at The Guardian, and B/R's Sam Tighe has rated Chelsea as Modric's best Premier League fit based on "financial and suitability terms."Schurrle, 22, has been linked with Chelsea for some time and is reportedly close to completing his transfer, according to BBC Sport. His arrival would give the Blues more options in the attack. Mangala, also 22, would help shore up the defense as 32-year-old captain John Terry ages.Another consideration involves Mourinho himself. The Portuguese led Chelsea to back-to-back titles in 2004-05 and 2005-06, his first two seasons in England. Back then, he benefited from heavy investment on the part of owner Roman Abramovich, and this summer could bring a similar scenario.With so much money reportedly available and such a talented manager reportedly on his way back, Chelsea fans have much to be excited about this summer. And before long, at least some of the reports should start turning into reality. Follow @MikeCummings37

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump. There is still the possibility — stress possibility — Rivers will choose to walk away from his contract to coach the Celts. A source close to the situation, however, insists it remains far more likely he will return. The word as expressed to us is that it is “90-10” that Rivers will continue on a contract that has three years and $21 million remaining. If he leaves the Celtics, it will not be with the intent of coaching another team. Some involved winced when Danny Ainge told reporters last week that Rivers was definitely coming back to coach the 2013-14 Celts, knowing the coach had yet to make his final call. But Ainge said at the time that it was the indication he was getting in every conversation with his coach as they discussed what had happened with the C’s and how they evaluate the players on hand as they proceed into the offseason. Yet the Rivers question continues, and clearly this has become, at least to some degree, a distraction for a team that is about to make some heavy and expensive decisions about its future. It will go away only when Rivers, who flew to Boston yesterday, steps up and lets his intentions be known. Herald As if the dreary New England weather forecast for the holiday weekend isn’t depressing enough, now we have to read about Doc Rivers’ uncertainty about returning to Boston. I’m going to chalk this up to coaching burnout. Phil Jackson pulled this stuff after nearly every season with the Lakers. If Doc needs a break from the job, I’ll understand. But if he’s bailing because he doesn’t want to stick around for a rebuild, I’ll be pissed.  That makes him a quitter. In other news, Rajon Rondo appeared on the E! show Fashion Police: It’s a mildly entertaining segment, if you can stomach looking at Joan Rivers’ mangled face. The rest of the links: ESPN Boston – Report card: C’s brain trust | Mass Live – C’s to work out Steven Adams… |

There's a terrific event going on this evening, which will feature one current Patriot and one former player being honored at the 2013 Pop Warner All-American Scholastic Banquet that will take place tonight at the Boston Marriott Copley Place from 6:30pm - 9:30pm. The post Patriots TE’s Hernandez and Coates to Be Honored Tonight at Pop Warner Event appeared first on Ian's New England Patriots Blog.

• Will become first openly gay player to play in major leagues• Address to LGBT youth group prompts player's return• Mike Magee traded to Chicago Fire in return for Rogers' rightsRobbie Rogers is set to join the LA Galaxy in a move that would see him become the first openly gay player signed to a major US men's professional team.The 26-year-old is expected to be confirmed as an LA Galaxy player at a news conference on Saturday. It comes after the Californian club reached an agreement with the Chicago Fire, who had held Rogers' MLS rights. The deal also sends Galaxy utility man Mike Magee to Chicago.Rogers, a US international, made headlines when he came out earlier this year, simultaneously announcing that he was stepping away from the game – widely seen as a decision to retire. But in recent weeks he appeared to have changed his mind and had been training with the Galaxy close to his family home in southern California.NBA star Jason Collins, who came out last month, is not currently signed to a club.The last obstacle for Rogers' playing return was the question of his MLS rights. Since Rogers' last contract was in England, a slightly complicated process for re-entering the somewhat hermetic economic system of the single-entity MLS – where clubs hold on to, or can trade options on, the playing rights of players, even when they are long out of contract – presented itself. Rogers' rights were held by Chicago Fire, who had right of first refusal, and were able to use that leverage to create the direct trade for Magee.In a recent in-depth interview with the Guardian's Donald McRae, Rogers seemed to suggest that he had no appetite for the "circus" he thought would have accompanied him continuing to play the game:If you're playing well it will be reported as: 'The gay footballer is playing well.' And if you have a bad game it'll be: 'Aw, that gay dude … he's struggling because he's gay.' Fuck it. I don't want to mess with that.Speaking to USA Today about his return, Rogers suggested that the moment that changed his mind was addressing an LGBT youth forum in Portland last month:These kids are standing up for themselves and changing the world, and I'm 25, I have a platform and a voice to be a role model. How much of a coward was I to not step up to the plate?A few days after that event, Collins came out, generating even more attention in the American media than Rogers' announcement. With Rogers already thinking about a return, it appeared the social climate and possibility for progress was changing rapidly. He also spoke with his long-time friend Landon Donovan, who'd had his own recent sabbatical from the game, about the potential reaction if he came back. Rogers clearly felt sufficiently encouraged to pursue a return.On the fieldIn soccer terms, this is a significant move not just for Rogers, but the Galaxy – and indeed the Fire. For Rogers, it is a chance to force his way back into the US national team picture with one of the highest profile and successful domestic club sides of recent history. He has featured under Jürgen Klinsmann for USA, scoring a memorable equalizer against Mexico. His decision to return to football could see him contend for a place in Klinsmann's World Cup squad next year.The Galaxy's roster situation, and hopes of adding another designated player in the summer mean that a player trade was always likely, but Magee is an interesting choice. The former New York player was a late withdrawal from the game between the Galaxy and Red Bulls last weekend and looked a disconsolate figure in the locker room afterwards. He had made a name for himself at the club with his playoff goals and also for the kind of late runs into the box that gave an extra dimension to an already formidable Galaxy attack. He had also started this season in excellent form, as the league's joint-second highest goalscorer, with six so far. Rogers is being asked to replace a player who'd become a significant asset.Chicago will be hoping that some

I have the chance to buy some weathered Red Oak rough cut for very cheap. The wood has been left out side in New England for a winter or even two. I am not a big fan of the grainy look of Oak but it is selling very cheap and I am sure I could find something to do with it at the price. Has anyone worked with weathered wood? Can it be brought back to life? Any other thoughts on this would be great.

Will 2009 fourth-round pick Tyronne Green be able to earn a roster spot in 2013? (Photo: US Presswire)NEPD Editor: Matthew JonesAll but two offensive linemen who took snaps for the New England Patriots in 2012 (Donald Thomas and Mitch Petrus) are currently on roster with the team in 2013, meaning that as many as seven spots on the line may already be filled. All five starters on the offensive line remain; from left to right, those players are Nate Solder, Logan Mankins, Ryan Wendell, Dan Connolly, and Sebastian Vollmer. With the possible exception of Connolly, all will be back next season.In addition to the returning starters, reserve tackle/guard Marcus Cannon should be a lock for the final roster, while interior swing reserve Nick McDonald’s hold on a roster spot may be more tenuous. Even if McDonald returns, the Patriots should carry at least one or two more linemen on the final 53-man roster, with a spot or two on the practice squad additionally dedicated to the positional grouping. In this article, the other eight offensive line candidates currently on roster will be considered.VETERAN CANDIDATES:OT Kevin HaslamNew England’s decision to sign Haslam may very well be connected to his Rutgers pedigree; the reserve offensive tackle went undrafted out of the university in 2010 before being signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars; he was on the field for four snaps as a rookie, allowing one sack before being placed on injured reserve. He didn’t see the field in 2011, then had a brief stint with the Oakland Raiders in 2012 before being signed by the San Diego Chargers. His most recent season was also his most relevant, as he started three games and played significantly in two others, totaling 294 snaps on the season (226 at left tackle, 68 at right tackle.)Haslam has intriguing size at 6’5” and 304 pounds; additionally, he played every position but center while a member of the Scarlet Knights. Unfortunately, Haslam may lack the athleticism to develop into a functional player with New England; he ran a 5.62-second 40-yard dash at Rutgers’ pro day, with pedestrian times in the three-cone drill (7.75 seconds) and short shuttle (4.78 seconds.) Those deficiencies were masked to some extent in San Diego’s man-blocking scheme, but the organization evidently wasn’t confident enough in his movement skills to keep him on roster as they transition to a zone-blocking scheme.OT Will SvitekThe thirty-one year-old Svitek entered the league as a sixth-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2005, where he spent three seasons from 2005-2007, recording four starts over that span. After a year out of the league, Svitek signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2009, making two starts at left tackle, which accounted for 152 of his 273 snaps that season. In 2010, his role was reduced; he played in 121 snaps, primarily as a jumbo tight end. 2011 was Svitek’s most substantial season in the league; he replaced injured left tackle Sam Baker in week seven, starting that season’s remaining eleven games (including Atlanta’s playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.) He played at an acceptable level over that span, allowing just three sacks while committing five penalties. Unfortunately, he spent 2012 on injured reserve with an arm injury sustained in training camp, which, combined with his age, may diminish his chances of making the roster.Although Svitek may be slightly more effective than a player such as Haslam, it may be beneficial to New England to go with a younger player. Whereas a player such as Haslam or Markus Zusevics should be able to play offensive guard in a pinch, Svitek’s role is likely limited to a swing reserve at tackle, with the ability to line up at tight end in jumbo packages.OT Markus ZusevicsNew England was able to sign Markus Zusevics as an undrafted free agent last season after the former Iowa Hawkeyes tackle sustained a torn pectoral muscle at the 2012 NFL Combine. That resulted in Zusevics spending most of his rookie season on the Non-Foo

Tana French has a method to her mysteries: While all four of her titles are standalone thrillers, you’ll get more out of each if you read them in chronological order because each book’s protagonist is connected to the next. Rob opens the Dublin Murder Squad series with In the Woods, his partner Cassie takes control in The Likeness, her former boss Frank Mackey narrates this, Faithful Place, and his nemesis colleague Mick Kennedy stars in last year’s Broken Harbor. If you choose to take Faithful on the run (as I’ve done with all the French titles so I can attest that the miles fly by), narrator Tim Gerard Reynolds adds just the right tinge of sinister, properly paced throughout. Interestingly enough, Faithful is one of Reynolds’ first-ever audiobooks … and he happens to have lived a “somewhat parallel [life]“ with Tana French, complete with geographic overlaps. Digression aside, what makes protagonist Frank Mackey an effective detective also makes him a difficult (impossible?) husband and father. He’s managed to maintain a civil-enough relationship with his ex-wife, and his young daughter still loves him, although even she is growing wary of his unreliability. When Frank’s younger sister urgently calls him home to Faithful Place, a harsh working-class Dublin neighborhood Frank escaped as a teenager and expected to never look back, he’s forced to return – literally – to the baggage of his troubled past. That recovered suitcase is Rosie Daly’s, who more than two decades before was Frank’s unrivaled first love, who vanished on the very evening the young lovers had planned to abandon their stifling lives and start afresh in England. Rosie never showed up for their journey out, so Frank walked away alone, his heart irrevocably shattered and rendered incapable of true love since. Then a body is found. And Frank faces searing loss – over and over again: even the torture of that never-healed cardiac wound pales to what he has to face when he re-enters the confines of his estranged family. ‘Dysfunctional’ barely describes his bitter parents and his left-behind siblings. But determined detective that he is, Frank allows little to get in his way solving the latest murders (yes, the body count doesn’t stagnate) – not his desperate family, and not even his precious little girl. While the whodunit surprises keep the pages (or tracks) moving swiftly, the most intriguing narrative twists belong in Frank’s head. As with her two previous protagonists, French is a master of mental manipulation, creating complicated, unpredictable characters who demand attention long after the case files get stamped and stored. ‘Scorcher’ Kennedy – I’m coming for you next! Readers: Adult Published: 2010 Filed under: ..Adult Readers, .Audio, .Fiction, Irish Tagged: BookDragon, Coming-of-age, Faithful Place, Family, Love, Murder, Mystery, Series, Series: Dublin Murder Squad, Tana French, Tim Gerard Reynolds