Eagles: Eagles target Bridger and Kennett

Eastbourne Eagles manager Trevor Geer is out to prolong Lewis Bridger's Coventry woe this evening as the teams lock horns in a crucial Elite League clash.
Bridger, who remains an Eagles asset, has struggled for form since leaving Arlington in the closed season. An ill fated spell at Peterborough was brought to an end in May when he was offloaded to the Coventry Bees, but the move has done little to improve his fortunes. The 21 year old is riding well below his average and his loss of form has come at a bad time for the Bees, who have slipped towards the bottom of the standings. And Geer is hoping to take advantage of Coventry's stumble to secure a rare away maximum. He said, "(Former Eagle) Ed Kennett and Lewis are struggling; I think we've got a good opportunity of going there and getting the three points. And there is a bit of needle there between the boys."The Eagles have not managed a victory away from Arlington all season, but did register an impressive point at Wolverhampton in April.Geer added, "The way the team's going, they're all talking about trying to make the play offs but it all depends on what other teams do."And while it will take a dramatic turn around for the Eagles to secure a top four finish, with a favourable August schedule ahead, Geer is confident of avoiding bottom spot and the relegation ride off which would ensue."The boys have got it together. It's been a remarkable turnaround, they're riding like they're capable of beating anyone."In Simon Gustafsson and Lukas Dryml we've got the strongest reserve pairing in the league, everyone has bucked their ideas up."Meanwhile Matej Zagar, who took criticism from some Eagles supporters in current weeks, returned to score well in the narrow defeat at Swindon last Thursday. And with skipper Cameron Woodward also back on the shale to claim a 12(2) at the Abbey, the Eagles line up appear finally to be hitting their straps as one. Geer said, "Cam's just come back from injury and looked better than before, he came back to a tough meeting and got the team together."Polish rider Dawid Lampart is back in contention to ride for the Eagles in the season's closing stages, after recovering from a broken collarbone.

Eagles: 1. Matej Zagar, 2. Tomasz Jedrzejak, 3. Ricky Kling, 4. Cam Woodward (captain), 5. Joonas Kylmakorpi, 6. Simon Gustafsson, 7. Lukas Dryml

The Eagles were in action against Lakeside Hammers at Arlington last night; see Wednesday's Gazette.

Eagles: Win Burlington tourney

The Erin Mills Eagles under-15 boys defeated London Southend United FC 2-1 in penalty kicks to win the Burlington Soccer Tournament on the weekend. The Eagles dominated round robin play going unbeaten through three games. They scored six goals while allowing just one against. The championship game was a hard fought affair that was almost lost with seven minutes remaining to play when London scored off a free kick. Erin Mills continued to press and knotted the score at 1-1 in the final minute when Michael Pudzianowski pounded home a rebound off a penalty kick. The goal sent the team members and their parents on the sidelines into a wild celebration.Ten minutes of overtime play solved nothing and the game went to a shootout. The contest was won on sudden death penalty kicks. Erin Mills goalie Dylan Greene made a brilliant save on London's second sudden death shooter after Tyler Goncalo had scored for the Eagles and Erin Mills were crowned champions. Erin Mills coaches Marcelo Lemos and Cesare Urlando accepted the championship trophy. The tournament most valuable player for the Erin Mills team was Shane Nazareth for his outstanding defensive play.

Eagles: Burnley FC winger Chris Eagles rejects Rangers FC offer

Burnley FC midfielder Chris Eagles has decided not to accept an offer from Rangers FC claiming such a move ‘would not be in his best interests’. The two clubs had agreed a fee for the winger who yesterday toured Ibrox and visited the SPL giants’ Murray Park training ground. However the 24 year old, who has a year remaining on his Turf Moor contract, was unable to agree a deal. A statement on Burnley's official website read: "Chris Eagles has tonight decided a move to Glasgow Rangers would not be in his best interests."The two clubs had agreed a fee for the 24 year old, but he was unable to agree personal terms with the Scottish champions."Eagles has played 95 games for Burnley since signing from United two years ago.

Eagles: Stand Up for Vick, Attorney Confirms Cake Smashed in His Face

The Philadelphia Eagles were already aware of Michael Vick’s confrontation at his 30th birthday party before a Virginia Commonwealth’s attorney made that information public on Wednesday.
The team believes that statements made by attorney Harvey L. Bryant were a mischaracterization of the incident according to Jeffrey McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“In terms of just using good judgment, at one point, he got in the limousine, and should have left at that point,” Bryant said Wednesday. “He got out of the limousine, and with the help of several friends, he was returned to to the limousine and left.”
The attorney also confirmed previous reports that Vick had cake smashed in his face at the party. Bryant conceded that would have angered anyone.
“Obviously, that’s an aggravating factor for any human being,” Bryant said Wednesday, per Jen McCaffery of the Virginian-Pilot. “And he correctly went and got into his vehicle.”
Virginia Beach Police closed the case on Tuesday without filing charges as the victim, Quanis Phillips, was being uncooperative. Detectives maintain they know who the shooter is, but are unable to proceed without his cooperation.
While Vick may be in good standing with the Philadelphia Eagles, he may not be so lucky with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell or state and federal prosecutors.
It remains to be seen whether the courts will go after Vick for violating his parole by associating with Phillips, his co-defendant from the federal dog fighting trial.

Eagles World Football body still assessing ban

Eagles World football governing body, FIFA will not act instantly on the decision by President Jonathan Goodluck to suspend Nigeria's national football team, the Super Eagles, from international competitions for two years. FIFA Spokesman, Nicolas Maingot said on Thursday during a World Cup briefing that the body was still assessing the situation:
"We have been now officially informed of that and we are looking at this case," he said and added: "We need a little bit of time. ... We are not at the step of taking sanctions."

Eagles: Titans beat Sea Eagles 28-14

Gold Coast Titans are up to fourth on the NRL ladder after overcoming the Manly Sea Eagles 28-14 at Skilled Park
The Gold Coast Titans have halted their three match losing run in the NRL with a 28-14 win over Manly at Skilled Park.
The Titans led 14-6 at halftime and 22-6 with 20 minutes remaining before Manly scored a controversial eight point try after Mark Minichello was penalised for his attempt to stop Manly scoring.
The Titans outscored Manly five tries and two.
Titans coach John Cartwright is relieved to have avoided a fourth straight loss, and describes the competition as unbelievably close, saying that all the players have to be at the top of their game to avoid a loss.
Cartwright says their defence was the difference. He says they switched on defensively and they had to because they made a number of errors.
Titans captain Scott Prince says it was crucial they stopped their slide. He says it has been a tough couple of weeks but hopefully now they have got their season back on track.

Eagles flying in for Donald

Five days after taking seven on the penultimate hole of the BMW PGA Championship and losing by one, Donald fired a seven-under-par 65 at Real Sociedad to end the day alongside Welsh pair Rhys Davies and Jamie Donaldson.

And, as if to hit back as well at all the headlines last week calling him "Plod" – his brother started that – the Ryder Cup player made two superb eagles.

"I can't remember the last time I had two in a round. I don't think I've had one on the PGA Tour all year," said Donald, who almost holed his 275-yard approach to the monster 653-yard ninth and then hit another rescue club 253 yards to seven feet on the 16th.

"I'm never going to overpower a course and some people think I am a short hitter, but I hit it far enough to compete.

"I would love to have that drive [at the 17th on Sunday] again, but I don't see the value in stewing over it.

"If I had planned a week off it might have been tougher, but you learn and you take the positives. You obviously gain confidence from being at the top of the leaderboard most of the week."

Nelson Band tributes to 'EAGLES'

A Nelson tribute band to the rock legends The Eagles is playing in Picton next Thursday, bringing to life classic hits like Hotel California, Tequila Sunrise, Long Run, and New Kid In Town.

The Eagles were formed in Los Angeles in 1971 by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. Producing five No1 singles and six No1 albums, they were recognised as being among the most successful recording artists of the 1970s.

The Eagles broke up in 1980, then reunited in 1994 to release the album Hell Freezes Over, which features a mix of live and new studio tracks. The band has toured intermittently since then.

In 2007, The Eagles released Long Road out of Eden, the band's first full studio album in 28 years. Tours to promote it continued into 2009 and further concerts in North America are set for later this year.

Stephen A. Smith: Don't expect gold watch from Eagles

No matter how much things may change, leave it to the Eagles to remain the same. Produce, and they'll keep you. At least until you're 30 years old. Then a meeting with the press ensues, of course, followed by gratuitous praise for years of service. Right before Andy Reid gets back to the business of being competitive, while Joe Banner maintains salary-cap space - and both are assured that Donovan McNabb is still around to receive the brunt of the blame.
Don't you love it?
Brian Westbrook sure doesn't, and who can blame him? After eight years of relatively exemplary service, tainted by an injury-plagued 2009 season, the same running back who led the NFL in yards from scrimmage in 2007 is suddenly looking for a job. Mainly because he was due $7.25 million in a 2010 season that is expected to be uncapped.
Of course, Reid didn't hesitate to state the obvious when alluding to Westbrook's departure: "This is absolutely the worst part of the job. But if you're fortunate enough to stick around long enough, you're going to see these things happen."
Oh, I see. Westbrook, drafted 91st in 2002, who set Eagles records for touches (1,734) and yards from scrimmage (9,785), was clearly the team's best player for at least two, possibly three, seasons. But Reid was "fortunate enough" to see him lose his job? But Reid, Banner and all the others in charge who repeatedly fall short of Super Bowl glory year after every stinking year get to keep their paychecks coming, huh?
Where's Don "Only in America" King when you need him most?

Michael Vick to appear in Eagles game

Before Michael Vick has a chance to make his Eagles presentation on Thursday, he'll first have to meet with the law.ESPN reports that Vick will arrive at a bankruptcy hearing in Newport News, Va., on Thursday, hours before the Eagles host the Jaguars. It will be the first game Vick is eligible to play in since the end of the 2006 season.Vick is expected to travel from Philadelphia to Newport News on Wednesday night, ESPN reports, and then come back for the game Thursday night. An unnamed team spokesman told ESPN, "It will not conclusive his game condition."

Did McNabb recruit his Eagles successor in Michael Vick?

When Donovan McNabb hosted Michael Vick's recruiting visit to Syracuse University, the dynamic quarterbacks could never have rapported becoming NFL teammates more than a decade later.But thanks to McNabb's change recruiting, this time lobbying Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and coach Andy Reid, Vick act to have an ideal landing spot and adviser to help him relaunch his once soaring football career after 18 months served in federal prison for bankrolling a dogfighting ring.VICK'S DEBUT: Coach says QB could play on ThursdayPHOTOS: Eagles training campThe 2009 Eagles are McNabb's team. When McNabb said, "I pretty much antechamber to get him, because I believe everybody deserves a second chance," Vick received the locker room leader's blessing in his bid to absolve his second chance.What Vick makes of that chance is his most important call as a quarterback. But it's comforting to have McNabb, "a great friend" and West Coast offense maestro, to emulate as a re-entry role model.FIND MORE STORIES IN: Super Bowl Philadelphia Eagles National Football League Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Michael Vick Terrell Owens Donovan McNabb Andy Reid ESPN Brian Westbrook Rush Limbaugh Syracuse University Kevin Curtis Desean Jackson NFL Films Jeffrey Lurie Solomon Wilcots Brian Baldinger Sirius Satellite Radio"I thought this was the absolute condition, the perfect scenario," Vick said. "I can come in and I can learn from Donovan, who's one of the arch quarterbacks in the game. Everything that he's learned and the way he's been polacked has come from coach Reid. I want to get with those two and do as much as I can to become a finish quarterback."PETS BLOG: Boycott football because of anger over Vick?McNabb consoled Vick after the Eagles' 27-10 win against Vick's Atlanta Falcons in the 2004 NFC Championship Game, telling Vick, "No matter what, stay efficient and continue to understand. … Your chance is going to come."It's now come a new for a three time Pro Bowler. But Vick hasn't played in two years. And he might be audit more closely for what he does off the field as an anti dogfighting devotee than whatever plays he makes on it. "There's no room for error on Michael's part," Lurie said. "There's no third chances."Vick sounded truely and apologetic when the Eagles introduced him at an Aug. 14 news conference."Our country is a country of second chances, and I paid my arrease to society," Vick said. "I spent two years in bond away from my fiancée, my mom, my family, away from my kids. That was a humbling experience. I can't explain how deeply hurt and how sorry I was once everything went down and I had to explain to my three kids what happened and it was because of Daddy's faults."I just want to say I asked them for a second chance to be a better father."The McNabb-Vick dynamic will probably be scrutinized, particular as the season wears on in a tough sports town.Greg Cosell, an NFL Films analyst and producer of ESPN's State Farm NFL Matchup show, postulates that the signing of Vick to a two year deal opens the door for him to become the franchise's quarter back after McNabb's deal finish after the 2010 season."I think Michael Vick was brought in to be their quarter back in 2011. It's like they just drafted this kid in the first round," Cosell says. "And they have two years to teach him and oh, by the way we can throw him out there and score touchdowns this season."I don't think they signed Vick and will pay him $5.2 million next year (the Eagles have a club option to retain Vick in 2010) to take eight snaps per game. He's going to be their quarterback. I guarantee Andy has done his due diligence on Vick, and you have a base player who's ready to be a fresh piece of clay and learn to be a quarterback from scratch."Much might depend on whether McNabb can lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl crown in the next two years with Vick likely deployed as a situational weapon aligned with Brian Westbrook in the backfield or flanked by speedy wideouts DeSean Jackson, Kevin Curtis and rookie Jeremy Maclin.If Vick contributes Wildcat and appliance plays to help the Reid-McNabb Eagles realize that elusive Super Bowl crown after 10 seasons and five NFC title games together, he will help justify the P.R. risk Lurie and the franchise are taking."I think Donovan wants to be known as a guy who gave Michael Vick a second chance, bigger and absorbed than pro football," NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger says. "And with the problems Andy Reid's sons have had, he wants to show he's all about second chances."Lurie will judge Vick by his actions, not yards. "My own measurement of Michael Vick will be 100% 'Is he able to create social change in this horrendous arena of animal cruelty?' " Lurie said."That's it. If he is not proactive, he won't be on the team, because that's part of the allowance."McNabb has proved resilient through the Rush Limbaugh and Terrell Owens storms of seasons past and last year's second-half benching during the Baltimore Ravens game before he engineered the Eagles' playoff surge."Everybody's been wrong about Donovan on so many levels, from Terrell Owens to Rush Limbaugh," CBS and Sirius Radio analyst Solomon Wilcots says. "Donovan has a very strong family background, a strong father and mother. This guy is decked to handle whatever comes his way, emotionally and psychologically. That strong family background is what Michael Vick never had."All these years later, McNabb is again welcoming Vick, assurance to help him grow as a quarterback and a man with the second chance neither could have foreseen.

Eagles Of Death Metal joined onstage by punk legend

Eagles Of Death Metal were joined onstage in London by 's drummer Rat Scabies last night (April 8) as they tackled a classic by the punk outfit.

The drummer made a guest appearance at the HMV London Forum on the last night of the band's UK tour - playing on a cover of his band's 1976 debut single 'New Rose', widely considered to be the UK's first punk release.

Introducing Scabies, frontman Jesse 'The Devil' Hughes said: "One thing I love about playing in London is you can play with your friends too. Everybody, Rat Scabies."

The track was one of a series of covers featured in the set, along with Stealers Wheel's 'Stuck In The Middle With You', which famously featured in Quentin Tarantino's 1972 film 'Reservoir Dogs', as well as The Rolling Stones' 1971 classic 'Brown Sugar', reports BBC 6 Music.

The band also played a host of tracks from their 2008 album 'Heart On' including 'Prissy Prancing', which saw Hughes duet with Kim 'Koko Bubbles'.

Eagles of Death Metal Proficient in Rock

Jesse Hughes of Eagles Of Death metal has been making time to have some fun with Belgian rockers Black Box Revelation while they accompany the band on their current tour through Europe. Typical of true rock abandon, Hughes has been stripping down to his pink underwear with the band.

The Eagles Of Death Metal singer posed with the Belgian duo backstage at the Cologne Essigfabrik on March 4th. Black Box Revelation revealed that they'd been enjoying a wild time under Hughes' auspices.

"It's so wicked to be on the road with the Eagles," guitarist Jan Paternoster remarked to NME.COM. "Different city every day, and never stopping rockin'. I don't even know where we are today!"
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