I am considering a new standing category for The Heron’s Nest called “What Were They Thinking Of?”

Since Thanksgiving it has been the domain of one Tiger Woods, pro golfer and serial philanderer.

Tiger got bumped from his perch today, replaced by one Dave Spadaro.

Dave is a former news guy who now is an employee of the Philadelphia Eagles as the editor of their Web site. If you haven’t been there, I highly recommend it. It’s a great site.

Unfortunately, today Dave finds himself making headlines, not writing them.

That’s because of something he did on a recent visit to Jerry Jones’
spectacular new palace, also known as the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Dave, often referred to as “Spuds,” was filming a piece of video from the stadium for one of his “Spudcam” packages for the Web site.

Apparently at some point, his unbridled passion for the Eagles – and hatred for the Cowboys – got the best of him.

Spadaro decided to spit on the famous Dallas logo, the Star, not once but in fact twice. Not really a good thing to do. But what he did next is kind of incredulous. Spadaro posted the item on the team’s Web site.
Ouch!

Naturally, word filtered back to Dallas and the spit hit the fan, in a matter of speaking.

Spadaro quickly pulled the video and issued a lengthy apology on the Web site. Of course, the video likely will live on forever via YouTube and is being bandied about on every television station in town today.

Seriously, Dave, what were you thinking?

But it did get me to thinking about that Star and what it represents, especially to Eagles fans.

I’m probably a few years older than Dave. I’ll admit to hating that Star, a passion fueled by years of having “American’s Team” shoved down my throat, of watching that smug Tom Landry on the sidelines with his natty cap as his Cowboys dismantled the Eagles twice a year for decades.

So, yes, I was in my glory that Sunday afternoon when Joe Scarpati stole the ball from Dan Reeves and the Eagles upset the vaunted Cowboys. I loved Buddy Ryan, in no small part because he hated the Cowboys. I kind of snickered at the whole idea of the Bounty Bowl. And I smiled when Terrell Owens did his thing –and finished it off by posing on the Dallas Star.

And, while I reveled at the Phillies recent World Series win, I will tell anyone who will listen that the greatest moment in Philadelphia sports can be summed up in four short words: Wilbert off right tackle. I was never as cold in my life, nor as happy, at least with my clothes on.
Yes, that Eagles team went on to lose the Super Bowl to the Raiders.
Didn’t matter. That win over the hated Cowboys was our Super Bowl.

And there’s a corollary here. Then-coach Dick Vermeil spent most of that week preaching how good the Cowboys were. Two weeks before Dallas had actually beaten the Eagles in Dallas, but the Birds retained the home-field advantage for a NFC championship game. Privately, Vermeil was telling his team that if the Cowboys took his young team for granted, “we’ll whip their ass,” or something to that effect.

Maybe Andy Reid can try the same tactic this week.

There’s something about that Star that makes Philadelphia fans do irrational things.

Spadaro’s actions, especially for an employee of the Eagles, are inexcusable.

But I’d be lying if I told you it didn’t bring a smile to my face.

Spit happens. Go Eagles!