Ever go to Atlantic City to play craps and, before you even see a cocktail waitress, watch the entire table go on a run when no one rolls bad dice? It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's fantastic - everyone smiling, laughing, high-fiving.
That's what yesterday felt like. It had that kind of energy.
It was all a little hard to believe, frankly. Who thought, in their deepest delusions, the Eagles would start that hot? Who thought they'd roll all those 7s and 11s?
At one point - as Donovan McNabb was cruising toward some truly freakish first-half stats; after he had connected on big plays to DeSean Jackson, Greg Lewis and Jason Avant; after he had thrown touchdowns to Brian Westbrook and L.J. Smith - my buddy turned and asked, "Is it a holiday we didn't know about?"
No talk about clock mismanagement or underthrown balls. No obsessing over why the defense couldn't stop Steven Jackson. No typical first-game concerns. Just a 38-3 win - the biggest margin of victory in a season opener for the Birds. It was a gift.
Toward the end of the first half, someone jokingly asked why Hank Baskett hadn't been part of the outrageous offensive output. Moments later, Baskett caught a long pass for a touchdown. It was all so bizarre. Three Eagles with 100 yards receiving (Jackson, Baskett and Lewis). One alone would have made the town twitter.
Even Tony Hunt punched in a score. So many people were involved, I kept waiting for Merrill Reese to call Mike Quick's number.
This will put a finer point on how unexpected and satisfying yesterday was for Eagles fans: Each time Lewis caught a pass, my pal Wax cried Glew. Normally, when we call him that it's sarcastic - as in, his nickname should be Glew because he could use some on his hands.
Eagles fans, happy and cheering Glew. It really was like a holiday.
-- McNabb had a cartoonish afternoon. Loved how he did "the shooter" - index fingers and thumbs extended like guns - after throwing a touchdown to Smith. Big fan of "the shooter" as far as touchdown celebrations go.
His gaudy stats were bittersweet, though. McNabb played against my fantasy squad. I'm not sure whom he clobbered more - me or the Rams.
