As the Philadelphia Eagles expanded their impressive collection of players before the season, an unfortunate two-word tattoo was attached to them.
Dream Team.
The phrase has become embedded in US sports lingo since the Miami Heat gathered three all-stars and used two hands to count the number of championships believed headed their way.
The burden of expectation, much of it self-imposed, collapsed on the Heat in the NBA Finals.
In the NFL, where teamwork and depth and injuries carry greater weight, nobody warrants the Dream Team tag, which originated in Philly with the out-of-touch back-up quarterback Vince Young.
He uttered it while intoxicated with title aspirations after the Eagles acquired the elite cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, along with a half-dozen other distinguished veterans.
They joined a formidable roster with the reborn quarterback Michael Vick, and the glittering array of star players stampeded some observers into thinking the team would get an up-close view of the half time performer (Madonna?) at the next Super Bowl.
The Eagles have evolved into a dream, all right - the type from which you bolt straight up in bed, drenched in a cold sweat.
They are 3-6 and probably need to win their final seven games to slip into the play-offs.
The Eagles could be counted out as soon as Sunday, when the play the NFC East-leading Giants.
"Our mindset is just to find a way to win the game," said LeSean McCoy, the running back. "We can't think about our record or where we are at. We just need to win a game."
Victory on Sundayday appears unlikely, with Vick (two broken ribs) not expected to play. He would be replaced by the instigator, Young. The receiver Jeremy Maclin (sore hamstring) is iffy, but the receiver, DeSean Jackson, returns, bad attitude and all. Some teammates suspect he is moping over futile efforts to secure a new contract.
When his team was 1-3, Vick sought to banish any Dream Team discussion, suggesting it had become a distraction, if not an albatross.
"Man, I didn't know such a statement would be taken so far," he said. "I think it's all out the window now. We're putting it all behind us."
The Eagles might have, but the designation will linger as a source of mockery if their fortunes continue pointing south.
"When they put this thing together, I was quoted as saying, 'You can't buy championships'," said Justin Tuck, the Giants defensive end. "And what I meant by that is, you've got to build chemistry."
He might have added that chemistry is not built overnight, or even in a season.
Right, LeBron and Dwayne?
@ For more on the NFL 2011-12 season visit thenational.ae/topics
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
Manchester United's summer dealings
In
Victor Lindelof (Benfica) £30.7 million
Romelu Lukaku (Everton) £75 million
Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) £40 million
Out
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Released
Wayne Rooney (Everton) Free transfer
Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad) £9.8 million
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
MATCH SCHEDULE
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tuesday, April 24 (10.45pm)
Liverpool v Roma
Wednesday, April 25
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid (10.45pm)
Europa League semi-final, first leg
Thursday, April 26
Arsenal v Atletico Madrid (11.05pm)
Marseille v Salzburg (11.05pm)
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
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The biog
Profession: Senior sports presenter and producer
Marital status: Single
Favourite book: Al Nabi by Jibran Khalil Jibran
Favourite food: Italian and Lebanese food
Favourite football player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Languages: Arabic, French, English, Portuguese and some Spanish
Website: www.liliane-tannoury.com
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
MATCH INFO
Norwich City 0 Southampton 3 (Ings 49', Armstrong 54', Redmond 79')
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
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The low down
Producers: Uniglobe Entertainment & Vision Films
Director: Namrata Singh Gujral
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Nargis Fakhri, Bo Derek, Candy Clark
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