So I’ve now received two (2) e-mails from NFLShop.com regarding NFC Conference Champions gear.  While I’m certainly feeling confident ahead of tomorrow’s game (and have spent a fair amount of time pricing flights and hotels for Tampa), I haven’t actually bought anything yet.  And I certainly don’t see myself getting involved with imaginary championship gear, which, despite the fine-print promise of a refund should the Eagles lose, doesn’t feel like a productive retail decision.

Also, I’m as big a sucker for merch as the next fellow, but I don’t understand the implied urgency that would lead one to feel compelled to pre-order one of these shirts or hats.  What, so I can get it Tuesday instead of Wednesday?  And wear it to the office?

Things must be pretty grim/ desperate at NFLShop.com.

Stumbled across this gem in my eBay shopping experience earlier this week. I had one of these when I was in Eighth Grade. Totally would have bought this one (even used) but it was size S, and size S hasn’t been a part of the conversation for yours truly since before said Eighth Grade.  A shot of me in the jacket even made the wistful wedding slideshow/ video thingie with all the baby pictures and whatnot.

For those scoring at home (or curious as to the appropriate keywords required to return a similar result), this rarity was manufactured by Chalkline.

What a TREASURE. If only I couldd have shopped victoriously for this.  Sigh.

It wouldn’t be football season if I didn’t treat myself to a fresh batch of Eagles-themed Officially Licensed Products.  Since I dialed it down a bit last season (t-shirt, hat), I thought a new jersey might be in the mix for the ‘08 season.  I hadn’t added a new jersey to the collection since November 2006, and that one was a gift.

(A most excellent gift, I might add, and ultimately virtually impossible to top in terms of groomsmen gifts.  Throwback jerseys?  I mean.  Genius.)

The last shirt I bought for myself was a Michael Lewis jersey in 2005.  YIKES.  Kind of got that one wrong.  And to be honest, I didn’t even expect that I’d buy one this year (sort of — I like to tell myself that I wasn’t going to buy one); thought I’d look for some sort of hoodie (this one was tempting, don’t get me wrong).

But then I was sitting in this all-day meeting last week (there’ve been a lot of all-day meetings of late), and my mind started to wander a bit.  So fired up the eBay.  Was just going to buy some shoes, to be honest, but then I thought I’d plug “eagles jersey” into the search bar.  Just to check.  And…what’s that?  A reasonably undervalued Trent Cole shirt in my size?  Sure, it’s the third-jersey color, but I didn’t have a black one yet.  And Trent Cole is surely deserving of increased jersey sales!  He’s the best defensive player on the team, relatively young, on a second contract; this certainly counts as a prudent investment.

(I was thinking about a DeSean Jackson shirt as well, but it’s too early.  Mostly the number 10 is a cool-ass number; there should be plenty of time for that conversation later if things go well for the kid.)

A few bids later (including some delivered via text-message over a thoroughly useful eBay SMS interface), the shirt was mine.  Fingers crossed that it arrives in today’s mail; want to make sure I’m properly geared up for tomorrow.

I need a little help from the peanut gallery on this one.

Less than a year ago a very good friend got married and gave each of the guys in the wedding party a throwback jersey as a gift. This was extremely solid of him. No questions asked.

(Read the rest of this story.)