A Super Bowl without Buffalo wings?

Say it ain't so. A Super Bowl without chicken wings?

Apparently, there is a shortage of chicken wings and the price has skyrocketed. Part of the problem is that Pilgrim's Pride, a poultry farm in Texas, has filed for bankruptcy.

To read more, go here.

He also thought the Eagles would win

This story moved on the Associated Press today:

Rendell delays speech for Super Bowl celebration
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Ed Rendell is so confident that the Pittsburgh Steelers will win this year's Super Bowl that he's postponing his budget speech to the Legislature.
Rendell's spokesman says his boss will deliver his annual address on Feb. 4 — one day later than usual — to allow time for Steelers fans to return from Florida and celebrate back home next Tuesday.
Spokesman Chuck Ardo says Rendell plans to attend the Super Bowl on Sunday, when the Steelers play the Arizona Cardinals. Ardo says it's too early to say whether the governor would join in the celebrations.

That could be bad news for Steelers fans, since Rendell -- in his side gig as an analyst on Comcast SportsNet -- predicted the Eagles to be the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game.

The new Miss America

Miss Indiana Katie Stam, a 22-year-old University of Indianapolis student, was crowned Miss America Saturday night in Las Vegas. Stam claimed the crown while fighting off a throat infection and laryngitis.

Here is some of the account by the Associated Press:

The Seymour, Ind., native drew loud applause for her rendition of "Via Dolorosa" during the talent portion of the show. She also strutted onstage in a black bikini and an off-the-shoulder, white lace evening gown. During the interview portion of the competition, she decried the use of performance-enhancing drugs among professional athletes and discussed the definition of glamour.
"That beauty that you feel on the inside, it's that confidence, that radiance inside of you, that's what glamour is," Stam said.
Stam won a $50,000 scholarship and hopes to obtain a bachelor's degree in communications and become a television news anchor. She began competing in pageants at age 15.

The event took place at the Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Only 3 weeks to go

Only 3 weeks to go until the pitchers and catchers for the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies report to Clearwater, Fla., for Spring Training.

Britney's new song too hot for radio

Apparently, Britney Spears' latest hit is getting parents riled up.

Simply put, if you say the title of it real fast, you're saying something really raunchy.

Here is the full story.

Labs rule

The American Kennel Club announced Tuesday that for the 18th year in a row, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular choice among purebred pooches in the country.

It's no different in my house, which is ruled by our two dogs, above: Disney, a black labrador mix, and Tinkerbell, a pure yellow lab.

AKC says more than twice as many labs were registered in the U.S. in 2008 as Yorkshire terriers — the No. 2 dog on the list. The Top 10 canines are German shepherd, golden retriever, beagle, boxer, dachshund, bulldog, poodle and shih tzu.

The Labrador Retriever was also top dog in the Philadelphia area, followed by the Yorkshire terrier, boxer, German shepherd, bulldog, rottweiler, golden retriever, poodle, pug and doberman pinscher.

The kennel club says the bulldog returned to the list as No. 10 last year after an absence of 70 years, and has since jumped two notches.

The kennel club turns 125 this year.

If you think it's cold here...

Hell just froze over. The Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl.

STINK!!!!!

Halftime score:

Cardinals 24, Eagles 6

This first half shows why Andy Reid, Donovan McNabb and Jim Johnson are 1-3 in 4 previous NFC Championship Games.

UGLY!!!!!!

The dreaded pick

I've waited long enough, seeing that it's just 2 hours before kickoff of the NFC Championship Game between the Eagles and Arizona Cardinals.

I expect the Eagles to win. They are favored to win and they are the better team. And that's what scares me. What sticks in the back of my mind is that the Eagles were the better team in 2003 when they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and in 2004 when they lost to the Carolina Panthers. The Eagles were favored in those games, too, and they were at home.

The point spread opened with the Eagles as a 3-point favorite and by Friday the Eagles were a 4-point favorite. As of Saturday night, it was 3 1/2 points.

The turning point for the Eagles' season was the 48-20 rout of the Cardinals on Thanksgiving night. Since then, the Eagles have won 6 of 7 games. But don't expect that today.

The Cardinals limped into the playoffs, but have defeated the favored Atlanta Falcons at home in the Wild Card round, before routing the host Carolina Panthers last week to move into the NFC title game.

The Eagles' defense is playing at an incredible level right now, and I expect more of that today. The Cardinals have a more potent passing game than either the Vikings or Giants, but the Eagles should be able to contain it -- if they get pressure on Cards QB Kurt Warner.

The game is likely to come down to 2 things -- how many times the Eagles hit Warner, and who wins the turnover battle. I see the Eagles ahead on both counts -- and a few big plays from Brian Westbrook wouldn't hurt, either.

I see the Eagles winning 27-20 (I hope it's a bigger spread) and headed to Tampa to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in an all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl.

FLY, EAGLES, FLY

eagles_vocal.mp3

eagles-long.mp3

The undefeated chair -- so far

For Christmas, my father-in-law got me a Philadelphia Eagles office chair that provided a dual purpose: to use at our computer desk, and for me to sit in on the rare occasions I played on PlayStation3, rather than sitting on the floor as I had.

The Sunday after Christmas, some family members visited and that afternoon the Eagles played the hated Dallas Cowboys, needing a victory to get into the NFL playoffs. So I pulled the chair to a spot in front of the fireplace and next to the television to watch the game. The outcome was a 44-6 romp by the Eagles that vaulted them into the postseason.

So being a bit supertitious when it comes to following my sports teams, when the Eagles played the Minnesota Vikings the next week in the first round of the playoffs, I watched the game in the chair in the exact same spot -- and the Eagles won 23-14.

Naturally, when the Eagles faced the New York Giants last Sunday, the chair and I were in the same location in the living room rooting on the Birds. Sure enough, the Eagles earned a 23-11 victory to move into the NFC Championship game.

That makes the Eagles office chair undefeated at 3-0. So when 3 p.m. Sunday rolls around and the game between the Eagles and the host Arizona Cardinals is about to kick off, you can be sure my Eagles chair will be in its same spot with me sitting in it.

GO EAGLES!!!!

World Series trophy on tour

The Phillies announced last week that the World Series trophy will go on tour throughout the tri-state area.

On Saturday, the trophy will be on display at the Montgomery Mall in North Wales from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

On Thursday, Jan. 22, the trophy will be in Reading. The VF Outlet Center at 801 Hill Ave. will host the public viewing from 1 to 2:30 p.m. For more information, call 610-378-0408.

If you are lucky enough to hold tickets for Reading's sold-out "King of Baseballtown" Banquet and Fundraiser that night at the Reading Crowne Hotel, the trophy be on display there as well.

Hitler cake update

Remember the New Jersey couple who asked a supermarket to put "Happy Birthday, Adolf Hitler" for their son and were denied?

Well, the husband and wife may have a bigger problem on their hands.

Acccording to the Associated Press, the couple's three children -- whose names each have Nazi connotations -- have been placed in the custody of the state.

Holland Township Police Sgt. John Harris says workers from the state Division of Youth and Family Services on Tuesday removed 3-year-old Adolf Hitler Campbell and his younger sisters, JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell from their home Tuesday.

Harris says family services did not tell police the reason the children were removed. Agency spokeswoman Kate Bernyk says it does not comment on specific cases.

My Eagles pick

I'd like to say I see a victory against the hated New York Giants, but I can't.

The Eagles defense is playing great, but I don't know if the Eagles offense will be able to score enough points, and while the Giants rested with a bye week last week, the Eagles were in a physical game with the Vikings.

Donovan McNabb hasn't had great games at Giant Stadium, and kicker David Akers doesn't kick well, either.

All that, and after the two road teams won Saturday, I don't think the Eagles can make it three out of three.

Final score: Giants 17, Eagles 10

Warming thoughts

Has the cold, bitter January air got you in the dumps? Well, here's a warming thought:

Five weeks from today, the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies open spring training in Clearwater, Fla.

Another industry wants slice of bailout pie

There's another American industry that wants to go before Congress and ask for $5 million in bailout money. This time, it's the pornography industry.

According to CNN, Hustler publisher Larry Flynt and "Girls Gone Wild" CEO Joe Francis said earlier this week that they will request that Congress authorize $5 million to bailout the adult entertainment industry.

A spokesman for Flynt said the porn industry has been affected by the economic downturn as much as any other industry.

To read more, click here.

Kiss of Death for Eagles?

ESPN's "NFL Countdown" host Chris Berman, as is alter ego The Swami on SportsCenter Friday night, went out on a limb and picked the Colts and Eagles to meet in Super Bowl 43.

Well, the Colts lost to the Chargers, 23-17, in overtime Saturday night. That doesn't bode well for the Eagles.

Another of ESPN's talking heads, Skip Bayless, said Monday on "First Take" on ESPN2 that he see the Eagles as this year's Giants ... meaning winning the Super Bowl.

As a die hard, I wish for it, but I don't really see that happening.

Fly Eagles Fly

It's been a roller-coaster season for Eagles' fans, capped by last Sunday's 44-6 rout of the hated Cowboys that got the Birds into the playoffs.

I hate to make a prediction on Sunday's playoff game at Minnesota against the Vikings, but except for the offense's performance in a 10-3 loss to the Redskins 2 weeks ago, the team is playing really, really well on both side of the ball.

So here goes my pick: Eagles 24, Vikings 13

Click the link below to hear the Eagles fight song:
eagles_vocal.mp3