Give It Up, Lito
( Michael Bradley)

   Disgruntled Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard can complain all he wants about the team's unwillingness to give him a new contract, but the fact is he won't get one. Should he continue antagonizing the Birds, this won't end well -- for him.

Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Sandy Koufax...
( Michael Bradley)

   If you listen to Charlie Manuel, the Phillies' recent hitting problems are directly related to the caliber of pitching the team has been facing. That would make sense if they were up against big-time aces. The real culprit is a lineup of players who can't deliver.

How About a Little Compassion?
( Michael Bradley)

   It doesn't matter whether Shawn Andrews hid his depression from the Eagles throughout the entire off-season, his condition is out in the open now, and the team needs to reverse field and treat him with compassion or risk seeming uncaring and caustic.

Hey, Brett, You Had Better Not Stink
( Michael Bradley)

   So, Brett Favre is going to play a little football, is he? He might engage in an "open" QB competition in Green Bay. Or, he could be traded to the Vikings. One thing is certain: After all of his drama, he had better play well -- and that's not guaranteed.

Fool's Gold
( Michael Bradley)

   The Phillies begin August in first place, and that's great news, but let's not get carried away, because the team's inability to upgrade its pitching leaves it vulnerable in a pennant race -- and beyond.

Joe Must Go
( Michael Bradley)

   For years, the standard argument in favor of allowing Joe Pateno to coach until he was 100 was all the good he did for the school. That's not the case anymore, so this should be his last year at Penn State.

Mystery Man
( Michael Bradley)

   Shawn Andrews sent a text message to 950 ESPN Tuesday, assuring us all the rumors and speculation about his training camp absence are all unfounded. So what's the real story? Here are a few possibilities.

Opening Act?
( Michael Bradley)

   Brett Myers said one of the reasons he likes being a closer is the "rock star" feeling he gets when closing out big wins. If he doesn't focus on his starting job tonight, he might be back on the stage -- as an opening act for Brad Lidge.

Congratulations, but...
( Michael Bradley)

   Philadelphia sports fans should be proud and happy about the Soul's Arena Bowl championship, but let's not get carried away. What the triumph does most is hammer home how frustrating it has been to watch the local major teams lose all these years.

Have A Heart
( Michael Bradley)

   Anybody who has watched the Phillies play this year could not have been surprised that they followed up Tuesday's stirring win with a two-game face-plant against the Mets. Now in second place, it's time for this team to show some heart or get ready for an ugly off-season.