The votes are Inge

The deadline for Major League Baseball's Final Vote — in which the fans fill out the AL and NL All-Star teams by picking one player from five for each league — is 4 p.m. today.

As steadfast Phillies fans, the Orange Whip editorial board naturally advocates the election of Shane Victorino in the National League, and has voted several times thusly. But we'd also like to endorse the Detroit Tigers' Brandon Inge for the American League. Why? Because Inge has had a large part in the success of this blog writer's fantasy baseball team — the Bulletproof Tigers — over the first half of the season (that catcher eligibility has been clutch). And we take care of our own 'round these parts.

That being said, I have no idea why the Phillies organization itself is advocating the Inge/Victorino ticket. Anyone?

UPDATE: Victorino and Inge were the top vote-getters. Mission accomplished.

Gova Nova!

You knew it was going to go to the wire, but the great Villanova-Pitt East Regional final has to be acknowledged. Simply awesome.

I had a better, Daily News-worthy headline for it over here. Please take note newspapers that don't hire anymore.

Bird crap

I said as much over at Will We Ever Win, but here's my reaction to yet another Eagles loss in an NFC Championship game, with some bonus venting thrown in for good measure.

The Eagles were still getting good luck from some refs' calls and screw-ups by the Cardinals, and just didn't do anything with it.

The Cardinals' last drive for a TD felt inevitable. It's like their offensive coordinator woke the hell up and went right back to what worked in the first quarter.

The long pass to DeSean Jackson where he bobbled the ball while walking into the endzone had me laughing out loud. That was pure joy. Didn't last, of course.

The Eagles are down 14-3 and driving in the first half, inside the Cardinals' 30, I believe. And they call a momentum killer in a quick pass to Greg Lewis right on the line of scrimage, where he's supposed to deek the defender one-on-one. Has that play ever, ever worked with Greg Lewis? Ever? Needless to say he got thrown for a 2- or 3-yard loss. PATHETIC!

Kevin Curtis has to catch that fourth-down pass that basically ended the game. If he was touched it did not impede him. It's football, people touch you.

McNabb isn't bothering to say he, himself, came up short, when he clearly did. Big surprise.

Brent Celek is clearly a better player than L.J. Smith, like most fans have said all season. We were smarter/less stubborn than Andy. Again.

I continue to maintain the drafting of DeSean Jackson was a complete fluke. Reid lucked into that draft pick like the Eagles lucked into the playoffs. Jackson and Celek were studs Sunday.

I thought all year there was more talent on this team than the record and play indicated. They were lucky as hell to even get into the playoffs, where it was evident they could have been in the Super Bowl. Who then is to blame for being a mediocre team all year, being gifted into the playoffs and then coming up short in crunch time? Mostly Andy Reid.

Can't say I didn't enjoy the game, once the Birds started the comeback anyway. Down as they were at halftime, I thought they could come back. And they did, taking the lead. And then ...

Maybe the Phillies winning the World Series softened me up, but I'm not outraged or anything. I'm not going to be calling for Reid's head or to move McNabb, because that's been futile for years now. It's just really disappointing realizing you were that close to the Super Bowl, and would have gotten there in incredible fashion. All for naught.

UPDATE: Ron Wood on the above-mentioned Greg Lewis play. "That horrible play call to Greg Lewis on 2nd and 2 was from the 13 and was the worst play call of the game."

Curse word hero

Ha ha.

Munsoned

I read a funny story about the late Thurman Munson and posted about it over at Will We Ever Win?

In looking around for a Munson photo to use, I came across this 1971 Topps baseball card featuring a really nice, simple design. All the cards that year were black, and used muted colors for the name, team and position — here green, yellow and red. I like the use of all uppercase letters for the team, and lowercase letters for the name.

Munson's card was different than most in that it featured a horizontal layout with an action shot, whereas most of the others were vertical with a headshot or some other staged shot. Munson's also has a 1970 All-Star Rookie trophy for extra points.

When I used to collect sports cards the horizontals always stuck out amidst the sea of verticals as extra cool, and the same is true here.

The missing cereal monster link?

The Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin ... FrankenBerry?!? You make the call.

Play ball 2008

I wrote up a Phillies season preview over at Will We Ever Win? Uncle Charley might not like it. But based on some of his recent comments, he knows what I'm talking about.

Other blog jawns

My other blog chronicling my reading adventures is up and running. Everything from Ultimates 3 to the New York Times. It'll look better once I figure out how to get a photo for the top Photoshopped the way I want.

I'm also contributing to this Philly sports deal under the tutelage of Ron Wood and OB. Word.

Throw JoePa a bone

I don't know how many more years Joe Paterno plans to coach Penn State, but the next few could be pretty good ones if Terrelle Pryor chooses the Nittany Lions. While announcing Wednesday he was putting off a college decision, Pryor said Penn State was one of four schools still being considered, but it's sounding unlikely to me.

It would be cool though. Pennsy pride Terrelle, yeah?