Was it only a week ago?!?

The snack left for Santa!

The presents left by Santa!

26 years ago today: The day we "boarded" a future NBA All-Star

The memory is crystal clear. We were in our junior year of high school. Our Coach announced that on New Year's Eve morning we would be scrimmaging the top ranked team in the state. They had the top rated player in the state, a kid who had division one scholarship offers in basketball and football.

We showed up and, honestly, just wanted the scrimmage to end. We were more focused on New Year's Eve party plans and squeezing out a few more days of fun before Christmas vacation ended.

We held our own, probably losing by 20. But the lasting memory was getting a rebound against the other team's star player. For reasons unknown, someone else took a shot. The star point guard sprinted for the hoop looking for the offensive rebound. Good, gawd, man -- he probably had intentions of dunking home the rebound. Even though he was just 5'10", he could dunk at will. Some how, some way, the ball headed in our vicinity. Moving with heretofore unknown quickness and agility, we went and grabbed the rock just before The Star could get it. Upon securing the ball we thought of calling timeout and "asking" that the ball be saved for us after the game. Not wanting Our Coach to take said ball and punt it directly into our face, however, we quickly passed the ball to a teammate -- any teammate -- before The Star stole it from us.

We never scored in the scrimmage. But that didn't matter. We got a rebound against future first round NBA draft pick (1989) and NBA All-Star (1995) Dana Barros.

If you're going out tonight, stay safe. Rest easy that we'll be staying safe on our couch. Happy New Year!

Breaking down Christmas morning

It's already been stated here that Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve (day) are the two best days of the whole year. However, the best two hours of the year are, undoubtedly, the ones spent opening presents on Christmas morning. When we were growing up, the rule was we could not get up on 12/25 until 6 AM. Each year our brother would wake us up around 5:15 and we would go into the bathroom. He would sit on the toilet (lid down) and we would sit on the edge of the bathtub. For the next 45 minutes, he would read Christmas books to us. Santa Mouse was always our favorite.

With our own kids, the rule started out being 6 AM. Each year, however, the starting time has been pushed back -- if only by a bit. This year 6:45 was a time we all could agree upon. The tradition is Our Parents come over and watch the kids open the presents. Our Mom sits on the floor with the kids, as does The Wife. We play the role of Bill Simmons and ply Our Dad with coffee, while also manning the HD video camera.

It sounds corny, but the best part about Christmas is truly giving, not receiving. Undoubtedly, that's partly because as adults most of us buy stuff we want 12 months a year. For kids, no such luck. But there is no replacement for watching the kids' faces shine as they open their stuff.

With all that in mind, let's break down the Christmas haul.

The Wife

What she asked for: Nothing (she never does).

Good stuff she got: A North Face Jacket (on of those beautiful shiny black ones), a beefy Ann Taylor gift card.

Our favorite thing she got: A 6 month pass to the car wash, allowing her unlimited car washes.

Much needed gift: Rubber spatulas and spoons (so she will stop scratching out state of the art cooking pans the one day a week we get a night off from cooking)

The Playmaker's Sister

What she asked for: New Uggs, new cell phone, gift cards to Pink. (We have no idea what the hell Pink is. Honest.)

Good stuff she got: New Uggs, new cell phone (from Sprint, with unlimited texting. Smell ya later, Verizon), gift card to Pink, books.

Thank goodness for Aunts: Last year her aunt got her Uggs. This year she gave The Playmaker's Sister her first North Face.

Just call us Scrooge: To get her out of her Verizon contract, it cost us $175. One relative gave her a $50 bill for Christmas. We scooped the dead president right up and put it into Our Wallet.

The Pit Master/Head Ball Coach

What we asked for: Nothing. (Though we jokingly spent the Advent season "asking" for FOUR iPads.)

Our Method: We usually buy stuff for ourselves and give it to The Wife, who then tells the kids, "I bought some really good stuff for Daddy this year!"

What we bought for ourself: Official 76er shorts (to hump the treadmill), a Bobby Flay cookbook, a new All-Clad cooking pan (see above note of rubber spoons/spatulas), a Mitchell & Ness throwback Eagles hat from the Buddy Ryan era.

What we got that we didn't buy for ourself: A new belt, Phillies boxer shorts, a Phillies golf jacket, a Roy Halladay no-hitter portrait, a leaf blower and plain-ole cash.

Bonus: While getting The Wife a North Face, we also got one for ourself. No one knows it yet, however, as we don't want to break it out until January.

The Playmaker

What he asked for: A your-name Eagles throw back jersey from the Buddy Ryan era, a Mike Schmidt jersey, a Phillies lunchbox and Wii NFL Training Camp.

Good stuff he got: See above, as he got all of it. (The Wii NFL game came from, you guessed it, his aunt.)

Stuff he got that he didn't ask for: Official New Jersey Nets shorts (Never forget, we are the NETS this season!), a Michigan football jacket, a Phillies wallet, a 76ers shooting shirt, a Phillies baseball rope necklace, books.

So that's the scoop. From November through New Years is our most favorite time of the year. (Even better than our two week trip into The Basement.) Can't wait to do it again less than 11 months.

Three & out...

1. The Eagles suck! We said it Christmas day -- the Eagles are way overrated. Their defense has been piss-poor all season. And now they are missing five (five!) starters on that side of the ball. In the words of The Playmaker, "We should focus on the Patriots in the playoffs." You are right about that, boss.

2. Sports cards! Psst. Just giving you a hint of things to come.

3. Brandon Meriweather made the Pro Bowl?!? Seriously, how is that even remotely possible?!? Good, gawd, man. That clown has been routinely benched during many a game due to ... wait for it ... POOR PLAY. As if the Pro Bowl wasn't already a joke, Meriweather makes it an utter joke.

Best we can do...

The Day After Christmas Blizzard

Hard to tell due to the drifting,

but we got about 17 inches of snow.

Blizzard ... 6 P.M.

Fantasy update...

Upon further inspection, we have learned that by making the championship in our Play for Pay league, we are guaranteed $80 (not $40, as we first thought). So the winner gets $400 and the loser $80. Of course, it won't be settled until next week, as we are in the stupid ESPN league. In our Play for Pride league, The Sons of Mike Schmidt are playing for the title today. We gambled and benched Hakeem Nicks in favor of Vincent Jackson. Alas, the title will not be decided until Tuesday night when Mike Vick (our leader and QB) takes the field in Philly.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas yesterday. Look for our Christmas Recap later today, as we post from the fireplace while watching the Patriots (and the 2010 Blizzard).

Merry Christmas

This was on the flip-side of The Playmaker's Christmas List that he left for Santa next to the fire place last night. He wrote it on his own without anyone's knowledge. Brought moisture to our eyes.

Christmas Present #1

Another year of good health and happiness.

Christmas Eve...

"Slept in" until 5:45 this morning and then humped The Elliptical for 62 minutes before taking The Family out for our annual Christmas Eve Breakfast. Came back and set the kitchen table for tomorrow's dinner with 16 guests. Headed to our parents' house for lunch from 1-4. Once back home, we took The Dog for a walk with The Playmaker and then watched the Eagles-Giants highlights on-demand. We are now settling in for some family time in front of the Christmas Tree. Oh, and Santa's shipment of Uggs for The Playmaker's Sister arrived today. Woo! Woo! Here's to everyone having a safe and healthy Christmas Eve!

Christmas Presents 3 & 2

For the 21st consecutive year, Mr. Brady hears his family singing Christmas carols and finds the strength to remove heavy pieces of a fallen building from his body!

Phil Dunphy: Let me meet this play-ah...

Christmas Present #4

Christmas Present #5

sky.fm/christmas

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(The commercial free Christmas music web site played on our classroom computer all day-every day from December 1 through today, December 22.)

Christmas Present #6

Snow the week of Christmas!

(Last night, to be exact.)

This is how we roll...

Matt Forte nailed 9 points in last night's Monday Night Football game. As such, we rallied and came back to win our playoff game, 201-197, and move on to the championship. Our Play for Pay league uses the espn.com fantasy football setup. NEVER again will we participate in an ESPN league. Their playoff format is utterly STUPID. The first round of the playoffs is actually a two week event. You battle your playoff opponent over a two week period and whoever has the most points is the winner. Now how effing insane is that?!? After last week, we were ahead 135-96. Why in hell should we have to come back one week later and risk elimination to the same team?!? And that's damn near what happened. Thanks to a "Let me pull this out of my ass" 35 point effort by Ray Rice, we were in deep sheeeet for much of Sunday. (The fact that we sat Mario Manningham (21 points) and Percy Harvin (13 points) in favor of last week's waiver pickup Louis Murphy didn't help us. Nor did Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis -- those two and Murphy combined for ... wait for it ... one (one!) point.) Anyway, it's off to the finals for us (albeit another two week one). And we have been installed as an 8 point favorite. Financially, we are now playing with house money. By getting to the finals, we get back our $40 entry fee. Still, there is $420 up for grabs. As we said yesterday, it's all about getting paid.

Lastly, in our Play for Pride league we are 15 point favorites for this weekend's championship. Even better, perhaps, is the fact that we are the top rated coach in the league. We, of course, have this printed document on the whiteboard in our classroom for all to see.

Rome: How great is that?!?

Eagles 38 Giants 31

Christmas Present #7

Forte + 6 = Super Bowl Birth!!!

In 13 games, he has fantasy numbers of: 30, 11, 3, 2, 30, 11, 5, 7, 6, 15, 13, 15 & 5.

All we need is Matt Forte to get 6 fantasy points tonight and we will crash the championship game in our Play for Pay League (to battle for $500).

We rolled into the finals in our Play for Pride League yesterday (thanks to 44 points from Michael Vick). But it's all about getting paid. So our fantasy focus is on Forte.

Christmas Present #8

DeSean Jackson!

Christmas Present #9

Charlie Brown Christmas

Nets 30 Celtics 17

A little late with the basketball update from last week. Rest assured, however, it was all good. We beat up on the Celtics, 30-17. The Playmaker was (again) the leading scorer with 8 points (to go along with 4 rebounds and 2 assists). The Wife captured the game with the high def video camera, allowing coach and point guard to "break down the film" 24 hours later. Classic.

Christmas Present #10

Sony 8" digital picture frame

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This retails for $100, but we picked up two at Target for $75 a pop to use as Christmas gifts. We may even go back and get one for us.

Christmas Present #11

Christmas Present #12

The gift of giving to those less fortunate!

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We took The Playmaker and The Playmaker's Sister shopping today. We adopted two angels from the local grocery store: a 9-year boy and a 13-year old girl. We got the boy a pair of adidas basketball sneakers and a Red Sox sweatshirt. For the girl, we got a book she wanted and a gift card to Marshalls. In the process, the idea of helping those less fortunate was reinforced on our kids. And you know what?!? It just makes you feel good to know that you've helped ensure two needy kids will have some presents under the Christmas tree.

Cliff Lee is a LIVING GOD! 1.0

Check back later for more (A LOT more) Cliff Lee coverage!

Christmas Present #13

Tony Bruno
The best in sports talk radio!

Christmas Present #14

Christmas Present #15

Brand new adidas shell-tops for

The Playmaker's b-ball season!