Victory Is Commentary Enough for McNabb

The Washington Post ^ | October 6, 2003 | Michael Wilbon

[Interesting Times]

Normally, Donovan McNabb is a sports junkie, at times something of a news junkie, which means the TV is usually on. But this week, if he was going to keep not only his equilibrium, but also his very sanity, he was going to have to set a rule: No TV, at least no sports or news. There was nowhere he could turn without seeing Rush Limbaugh's comments replayed, without seeing a debate over whether he is overrated, without seeing a panel of experts being interviewed via satellite.

[Interesting Times]

Thank you. Thank you very much.

As you all know, our PC Sports Parody Award is given each week to the most compelling example of unintentional journalistic humor of the politically correct variety. This week's topic, Making Rush Limbaugh's Point Better Than He Did, attracted many excellent entries, but one stood head and shoulders above them all. Our unanimous winner is... Mike Wilbon for his brilliant "437th Valentine for a Player Who Just Happens to be Black." The genius of Mike's work is in the way he stretches the bounds of credibility while never quite letting his readers be sure if they're reading satire. You younger writers out there should make particular note of the way Mike defuses the potentially touchy issue of Donovan McNabb's dismal stats against the Redskins while filling the article with an aura of heroism and glory. In "Valentine," the excellence of McNabb is defined by the fact that his team won, even though his own play was mediocre at best. This of course precisely echos Limbaugh's "the defense carried that team" while simultaneously condemning it. Beautiful stuff here, Mike, and I could go on and on, but time presses.

Next week's PC Sports Parody topic looks like another winner: "Is the NFL a Hostile Environment for the Transgendered and Persons of Gayness?" Ladies, gentlemen and others -- to your keyboards!

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[kylaka]

Usually, right about now, after one win, the Philadelphia media starts taling about making the playoffs, almost in unison. Its quite amusing to watch.

[aegiscg47]

With that pathetic offense, the Eagles aren't exactly a threat to win their division, let alone a Super Bowl

[Russ]

I wouldn't equate McNabb's numbers yesterday with Joe Montana or John Elway. As a matter of fact, they were not at all impressive. He had one touchdown pass (his first in 172 throws without a TD) and two interceptions. He was 16 for 30 and 140 yds passing.Not exactly hall of fame numbers.

All in all, Rush was right.

[dmz]

a little bit of irony in all of this...

as of saturday, the top 3 qb's in terms of qb rating were all black. sports illustrated has yet to update that state to include sunday's games.

[ditto h]

I am an Eagles fan, but don't use the Redskins game to disprove Rush. McNabb was not good yesterday.

[1Old Pro]

RELATED TOPIC/DISCUSSION:

McNabb Worse than Mediocre as Eagles Survive Skins 27-25

[smith288]

Didnt the Eagles win with Defense yesterday?

Exactly as Rush said.

Also, there was 3 interviews of McNabb making him out to be awesome that I presume were done before the controversy but played yesterday morning for pregame.

Exactly as Rush said.

McNabb looked no better than my Bengals QB, Jon Kitna. Maybe even worse. Obviously they are different QBs but McNabb has added about the same to the Eagles as Kitna has to the Bengals.

Kitna:

CURRENT SEASON AND CAREER STATS
Stats	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	YDS/ATT	TD	INT	SCK	SCK YDS	RATE	RUSH	YDS	AVG	TD
2003	110	177	62.1	1164	6.6	6	6	11	82	78.4	9	17	1.9	0
Projected	352	566	62.1	3725	6.6	19	19	35	262	78.4	29	54	1.9	0
Career	1375	2361	58.2	15110	6.4	83	89	139	872	73.3	173	406	2.3	8

McNabb:

CURRENT SEASON AND CAREER STATS
Stats	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	YDS/ATT	TD	INT	SCK	SCK YDS	RATE	RUSH	YDS	AVG	TD
2003	71	141	50.4	664	4.7	1	5	16	98	51.3	25	174	7.0	0
Projected	284	564	50.4	2656	4.7	4	20	64	392	51.3	100	696	7.0	0
Career	1003	1780	56.3	10499	5.9	72	43	156	1003	77.0	303	2058	6.8	14

[GSWarrior]

Not this _____ again!

[Interesting Times]

I am an Eagles fan, but don't use the Redskins game to disprove Rush. McNabb was not good yesterday.

You are in danger of confirming my opinion about Eagles' fans.

[Moby Grape]

TWO Interceptions is enough for McNabb...CBS Sportsline two weeks ago listed McNabb as one of the most OVER-RATED QB's in the league....CBS must be racist....McNabb is a good player...he is not a great player.

[Interesting Times]

Nice post. Thanks for the stats...