http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/9/19/14015/0096 Those who thought the time of Muhammad Ali's use of the athletic bull pulpit to further a social agenda were dead...were wrong. While issues of race bubble just under the surface of the many sports related issues, few athletes today have the balls to make honest observations of the world around them. en-us Fri, 21 Sep 2007 07:39:10 EST Sat, 22 Sep 2007 10:37:10 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/9/19/14015/0096#15 <blockquote><i>"knew"</i></blockquote>This whole discussion has become a comedy of errors. Sat, 22 Sep 2007 10:37:10 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/9/19/14015/0096#14 "knew" Sat, 22 Sep 2007 09:39:28 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/9/19/14015/0096#13 It's supposed to be "bully pulpit"...but you already new that, didn't you? Sat, 22 Sep 2007 09:38:37 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/9/19/14015/0096#12 Then what business does Muhammad Ali have using it? Sat, 22 Sep 2007 08:12:10 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/9/19/14015/0096#11 It's the pulpit reserved for your comments. Fri, 21 Sep 2007 22:48:52 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/9/19/14015/0096#10 What's an "bull pulpit?" Is it a breed of dog? Does Muhammad Ali own a kennel outfitted with a rape stand? Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:49:14 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/9/19/14015/0096#9 McNabb's remarks are ridiculous. For example, he cites Jake Plummer, a guy who lost his starting job and was repeatedly booed by his own fans as a quarterback who didnt get crtiticized the way he does. And how would even know? Does he really pay careful at Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:12:06 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/9/19/14015/0096#8 Drew Bledsoe was 800 years old when he was brought in specifically to mentor Romo. Sure Palmer is <i>younger</i> but McNabb is still young by NFL QB standards. Plenty of guys don't even get to start until 30. I actually like what <a href="http://www.philly Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:50:15 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/9/19/14015/0096#7 Yeah, I should hesitate to try to crawl so far up into his head. Joe Banner, the owner's right hand man and salary cap guru is known for cutting players loose once they reach a certain age. It's hard to believe they'd do that with the quarterback when they Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:45:45 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/9/19/14015/0096#6 A big part of that is Palmer's age, though.  He's at the beginning of the mid-point of his career, and should have six or seven good seasons in him.  McNabb has probably got at best three or four more really good years.  If it takes him a fu Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:53:57 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/9/19/14015/0096#5 about the Philly media, and the Schmidt history in particular. That makes it a little more sensible, though I wonder whether Gumbel's show was the best place to start that kind of campaign.<br>     Do you think McNabb's staying in Philadelphia, t Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:54:01 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/9/19/14015/0096#4 For me, the thing of it is, Carson Palmer got a 100% free pass last season. His Bengals had won the division the year before and had major Super Bowl hopes, like Philadelphia. Still, it was all "Carson's coming back from surgery," "Give Carson some time." Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:00:51 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/9/19/14015/0096#3 Your first three paragraphs are a very astute observation and a new way of looking at it for me. I'll play devil's advocate on the fourth paragraph, though, and say, what if McNabb understands exactly what you're getting at there and is trying to effect th Fri, 21 Sep 2007 12:53:33 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/9/19/14015/0096#2     Let me start by recalling one of my favorite lines from Raymond Chandler, as Marlowe is cooling his heels in an office at police headquarters, "The air in the room was as flat and stale as a football interview." Over time, the accuracy of thi Fri, 21 Sep 2007 12:23:27 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/9/19/14015/0096#1 I am an unabashed Eagles fan and have been for my entire adolescence and adult life.  As a season ticket holder, I attend all home games.  I have stood (not sat) up in the stands through the entire Donovan McNabb era, screaming my support of the Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:30:42 EST string http://www.treesandthings.com/search/