There is a great scene in the old football movie 'North Dallas Forty.' That's the flick they made from the book written by former Cowboys player Pete Ghent, based on the antics of the Dallas Cowboys.
In the move, Nick Nolte basically has been set up by his coach and the team's brass to take the fall for some embarrassing situations the wide receiver found himself.
Nolte offers a defense of himself and a condemnation of the team's tactics before finally submitting to the inevitable conclusion, his dismissal from the team.
Instead, Nolte beats them to the punch, quitting the team while castigating his Tom Landry-like coach for throwing him under the bus. The coach had constantly badgered him to stop his off-the-field, extracurricular activities and focus on the job to reach his true potential.
Nolte, with pieces of his body strewn on fields all across the league, saw it another way, but not before taking one bit of advice from his coach.
"You're right, B.A. Time to put away childish things."
That pretty much sums up my feelings when it comes to pro sports these days.
I have been a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles since I drew my first breath. And I have the scars to prove it.
For years I was a denizen of the 700 Level, a season ticket holder in maybe the most notorious sports turf in the nation.
How long have I been a fan. I remember Ed Khayat. Look it up, kids. The Internet comes in handy for those things.
It does not, however, tell you how to get back the three hours of a glorious fall afternoon you just wasted sitting in front of your TV, watching the same mistakes over and over again. Missed field goal, blocked punt, holding penalties, receivers and quarterbacks not on the same page, and same said receivers not looking especially interested in laying it on the line for their team. Hello, Miles Austin.
I used sports today as a diversion from the serious things in life. This weekend, of all weekends, as we kept a wary eye on the fallout from unspeakable horror in Paris, that diversion was badly needed.
Instead, I stewed. And fumed. And argued with my wife (not a Sam Bradford fan).
I wondered about Chip Kelly, the so-called genius whose belief in his system seems to override the clear reality that it does not match what his players - at least these players - do well.
And, of course, there is Mark Sanchez. Nothing more needs to be said.
The Eagles reversed course yesterday, getting off to a fast start, the opposite of their track record this year, which saw them routinely not show up until the second half.
Instead the Eagles spurted to a 16-3 lead. Then the Eagles missed a field goal. It was like knocking over the first Domino in one of those elaborate displays.
You knew it was coming, you knew they were allowing the Dolphins to hang around. You knew it was going to cost them.
Stupid penalties taking touchdowns off the board. Guys lining up in the wrong spots. Guys not knowing their assignments. More stupid penalties.
The truth is I have been watching that same Eagles game for 50-plus years. I feel like Bill Murray in another great flick, ‘Groundhog Day,’ in which his weatherman is confounded by repeating the same day over and over again.
Eagles fans can relate.
And I am tired.
Nick Nolte was right. Time to put away childish things.
Comments