BIRD STRIKE: Cards Make It Safe To Shave Again

PHILADELPHIA  25 PHOENIX 32 USA TODAY:  GLENDALE, Ariz. — For 30 minutes after the 32-25 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackles Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson sat side-by-side at their lockers, staring into space and saying nothing. What was there to say after Philadelphia advanced to the NFC Championship Game for the fifth time in eight years and turned all of that opportunity into one Super Bowl appearance, a painful 24-21 setback to the New England Patriots to close the 2004 season? MORE RELATED: Eff Da Refs!

WE WILL ROCK YOU: BeardsBirds Crush Vikings

PHILADELPHIA 26 MINNESOTA 14 *** WHOOPSIE: Pay-To-Play Probe Ends Richardson Commerce Secretary Bid WASHINGTON POST: New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, chosen by President-elect Barack Obama to be commerce secretary, withdrew from consideration yesterday, citing an ongoing federal “pay-to-play” investigation involving one of his political donors as a significant obstacle to his confirmation. Richardson, 61, who competed unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination last year, becomes the first political casualty in Obama’s Cabinet, and his withdrawal marked the first visible crack in what had been one of the smoothest presidential transitions in modern history. MORE RELATED: Picture of Richardson Beating Up […]

WEEKEND UPDATE: The Good News Flower Hour

The Good News Flower Hour #4 Folks, here’s the latest installment of The Good News Flower Hour, wherein I provide the voice for a flower that reads the news. The debut is HERE and the last couple episodes are HERE and HERE. We are still tweaking the concept and streamlining the production schedule on these — it takes a LONG-ass time to make these little three-minute suckers — but we hope to make this a weekly feature in the very near future. Enjoy.

BREAKING: Sweet Little Baby Jesus Stolen

INQUIRER: The National Park Service is investigating the theft of a nearly life-sized statuette of a baby Jesus that was stolen from a crèche at Fifth and Market Streets near Independence Hall. According to Jane Cowley of the Park Service, the theft was discovered over the weekend by a member of the maintenance staff. The statuette was due to be replaced by the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Knights of Columbus. Cowley said this was the first time in memory that such a theft had occurred. The statuette had been bolted to the floor of the display. No other […]

DUCK: Iraqi Journalist Hurls Shoes At Bush’s Head

Shoe-Hurling Iraqi Becomes a Folk Hero UPDATE: BAGHDAD — An Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at President Bush and called him a dog became a huge celebrity in the Arab world and beyond on Monday, with many supporters exalting him for what they called a courageous act in the face of American arrogance about the war. MORE CNN: An Iraqi television journalist hurled two shoes at President Bush on Sunday during a joint news conference Bush was holding with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki to mark the signing of a U.S.-Iraq security agreement. Bush had just finished his […]

NO MO: 76ers Fire Head Coach Maurice Cheeks

INQUIRER: A source close to the 76ers has confirmed that Sixers head coach Maurice Cheeks has been fired and the interim coach will be Tony DiLeo, who is currently the Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager. DiLeo will coach tonight’s home game against the Washington Wizards and, a source close to the Sixers confirmed that DiLeo will coach the team through the end of the season. The official word coming from the Sixers at this point in “no comment.” MORE WASHINGTON POST: The 76ers became the fifth team to fire its head coach this season when they replaced Maurice […]

NEWS CLUES: Like A Student Massacre Of The Truth

Pottstown Teen Charged In Columbine-Style School Shooting Plot A 15-year-old freshman was charged yesterday with criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder for planning to “shoot everyone he did not like” at Pottstown High School, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said. Richard Yanis planned to use three firearms and ammunition that he had stolen from his father’s gun collection and given to a friend to hold, Ferman said at a news conference in Norristown. But the plan unraveled when the suspect’s father, Michael Yanis, 52, reported the guns stolen Nov. 11, touching off an intense, month-long investigation by police […]

PHOTO OP: You Oughta Be In Pictures

INQUIRER: This weekend, fans can not only gawk at the first Phillies World Series trophy in 28 years — and only the team’s second ever — but they can get their pictures taken next to it. For free. “Phanta Claus” — who looks suspiciously like the Phanatic in a Santa suit — will also pose with fans. The photo ops are part of the annual Holiday Sale at the Majestic Clubhouse Store at Citizens Bank Park. Fans can even park for free. Head for Lot S, off Pattison Avenue, and be sure to mention the holiday sale. Saturday’s hoopla will […]