Okay, now  they have my respect

It is a great day in America.

For once again, The World's Greatest Quarterback Ever In The History Of Ever, Ever™ has had the football turned sideways and shoved up his ugly ass.

Donna McNabb was picked off three times, the last sealing his fate and dashing his comeback hopes as the Filthydelpha Beagles fell to the New England Patriots, 24-21, at AllTel Stadium in Jacksonville, FL.

This time, I have to hand it to the Pats.  They won this game, not only without zebras, but despite them.  I can think of three missed calls that went against New England, one of which lead to a Beagle touchdown.

First call:  Three and change left in the first quarter, Beagles driving.  Donna goes back to pass, but is intercepted.

But wait!  The Pats are called for defensive holding.  Wipe out the pick, give the Beagles five yards and a first & goal. (Oh, now  they're calling it.  Wouldn't call it three weeks ago versus Indianapolis, when the Colts' receivers got mugged again  - but now  you call it.  Nice. (grumble))  Fortunately, NE intercepted the ball for real on the next play, so no damage done.

Second call:  Earlier in that drive, Little Terri Owens caught a pass from Donna and rumbled 37 yards with it.  Then  the Beagles were the beneficiary of a bogus personal foul call on New England.  First and 10 inside the 25.

Never mind that the only reason Little Terri got  the pass was because the Beagles ran the secret key to the West Coast Offense™:  The "pick" play - purposely run one defender into the other so that a receiver can get free.  Very illegal, but the zebras weren't calling that much on Filthydelphia this afternoon.

Last call (and this led to points):  New England, second and goal inside the five.  Brady handoff...fumble!  Brady lands on top of the ball and is hit.  End of play, Pats keep the ball, right?

Wrong.  Zebras allow the play to continue, and the ball is subsequently wrestled from Brady and given to the Dogs.  Whereupon they score to take a 7-0 lead - a 14-point swing.  Had the Mongrels won, you could have pointed to that, much as I've been pointing to Mike Vrabel's hit on Kurt Warner and the subsequent pick-six as the turning point in Super Bowl 35.

So, to Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots - congratulations.  You finally won a Super Bowl without it being handed to you.  Now  you've earned my respect.

As for you two, Donna McNabb and Little Terri Owens... (cackle)