Gonzo: Barbs during the lockout

The following is an excerpt from Ask Gonzo, a weekly chat on Philly.com with columnist John Gonzalez

There's nothing like a good old-fashioned beef, even if methods employed aren't exactly traditional. It would be better if the ongoing argument between LeSean McCoy and the New York Giants unfolded in person or on the field, but that will happen soon enough. In the interim, a public Twitter spat - which has since spilled over into the mainstream media - will do just fine.

McCoy started the fight when he tweeted that Giants lineman Osi Umenyiora is "overrated n soft 3rd best d-line on his team honestly."

Umenyiora responded in the New York Times - how highbrow - and called McCoy "Lady Gaga" and "a little Chihuahua."

And now we're off. Since then, Giants wide receiver Steve Smith has come to Umenyiora's defense on Twitter, escalating an already ridiculous, if entertaining, I-know-you-are-

but-what-am-I exchange: "The nerve of certain youngins running their mouth . . . Eagles have a great team as do we. They've had our number lately but until you win something major I don't wanna hear it."

On Monday morning, I heard some callers on WIP talking about how McCoy should keep quiet, but where's the fun in that? This is the same town that delighted in the Bounty Bowl - parts I and II. Trash talk - be it with foes from New York or Dallas or wherever - is good fun, and it's been a favorite pastime around here for a long time.

If anything, while the lockout continues, McCoy, Umenyiora and Smith should ramp up the rhetoric and keep us interested. I'm looking forward to the inevitable mom jokes and I'm-rubber-you're-glue rejoinders.

Onward . . .

Comment From JHarris: So is this sale gonna happen or what? I'm scheduled for a hostile takeover later this week, and the lack of progress is ruining my plans.

Gonzo: You know, I've been wondering that same thing. The initial reports about the sale made it seem like the changeover was imminent. Doesn't seem that way now, does it? I wonder whether you're having second thoughts. As Pat Croce recently said, without owning the building or having a better deal as far as TV rights are concerned, you're basically a tenant in a mall.

Comment From Bryan: Why don't you journalists wear those hats with the 'press' note on the band anymore? I think you should bring it back, Gonzo.

Gonzo: I'm not a big hat guy. If I'm going throwback journalism, I'd be more in favor of keeping a fifth of booze and a pack of cigarettes in the top drawer of my desk. The problem with that plan is that I don't smoke, and I don't have a desk. I probably need to workshop the details first.

Comment From Guest: Who should be the Phillies fifth starter, Vance Worley or Kyle Kendrick?

Gonzo: Good question. Worley was OK on Saturday. He needed 96 pitches through five innings, but he only allowed one run. Kendrick has been better than expected this year - not great, but better than expected. I think people got a little carried away with Worley at first, but I like him a little better than Kendrick, so I'd probably go with him and let Kendrick do his thing in the pen.

Never thought I'd say this, but I'm looking forward to Joe Blanton's post-All-Star Game return. Four runs over six innings sounds good to me.

Comment From Todd Herremans: True Blood returns this weekend. I wonder where they'll go with the story line.

Gonzo: Careful. True Blood commentary didn't work out all that well for either of us last year/season.

Comment From Jerry: My local bar is running a new drink special during Phillies games: The price of a pint of Yuengling equals the ERA of whoever is pitching for the Phillies. Is that a good deal?

Gonzo: That's a fantastic deal. At present, the top four starters have ERAs of 2.56 (Halladay), 2.51 (Hamels), 3.12 (Lee) and 3.38 (Oswalt). You're not paying under $4 a pint unless you're in a total dive or you're getting a takeout sixer to go. Where's this bar? I need to visit it immediately.

Comment From Lance: Damn Boston. They have now won championships in all four major sports in the past few years.

Gonzo: I still have some friends up in Boston. After the Bruins won, I asked my buddy Flan if the college kids in Central Square were burning things. He said no, that everyone was acting like they'd been there before - because they have. It only made me hate him/them more.

OK, that's all for this week, gang. Next week, the chat will be moved from Monday to Wednesday at noon in order to accommodate Jimmy Rollins, who's attempting to break some sort of record out on Ben Franklin Parkway. I'm not sure what that's all about, but I'll be there. Good times.