Did you really think the Birds would expose themselves to a disgruntled [Anquan] Boldin? They don't like disharmony. I like their picks, and this kid from Mizzo looks like the real deal. Remember, "You can't always get what you want. . . ."- Brink Brink,

Yeah, for a while, I was hoping the Birds would surprise us and acquire Boldin. But I have no problem with what the Birds have done in the off-season. They traded for Jason Peters and Ellis Hobbs, moved up to get Jeremy Maclin, signed Stacy Andrews and Leonard Weaver, and grabbed a few players in the draft that I'm excited to watch.

Even if you don't like the players they acquired, you have to be happy that the Eagles didn't just sit around while everyone else was making moves. The Birds have been aggressive, and that's all you can really ask.

- Gonzo

In contrast to your article,?most fans are not happy [with the Eagles' off-season].?You ran into a few drunk? Eagles fans that you thought were happy.?My prediction: Eagles sucked last?year, and they?will suck even more this year.?The real talk is [Donovan] McNabb and [Andy] Reid need to go.??- Walt Walt,

There's always someone who wants to ruin everyone's good time. Congrats on being that guy.

- Gonzo

It's tough to get pumped for the Sixers. They don't have any personality. Their coach is a real bore. These guys are just sort of blah.- Tym Tym,

Of all the e-mails I've gotten about why the Sixers failed to connect with the city - from the idea that this isn't a basketball town, to the belief that they have no chance to win a title, so why bother - this one makes the most sense. Sports are about oversize personalities, and these Sixers don't really have any.

Go ahead and name the most interesting Sixer. It might take some time. I'll wait.

- Gonzo

About your Philly sports nicknames list: Some other ones that come to mind are Whitey, Concrete Charlie, Nails, Dutch, the Hammer, and many more.- Steve Steve,

Some other names that people said I should have included: The Boston Strangler. Chocolate Thunder. And Willie "Puddin' Head" Jones. I'd like to add one more: Gizmo Williams. Terrible player, great name.

- Gonzo

Not one person I know "beloved" [Pat] Burrell. There was no painful breakup. If Burrell was such a hero, why did he ride on the parade float ALONE with his stupid dog?All of you media know-it alls, quit wasting air time, paper and ink on the comparisons between Ibanez and Pat "the suck."- Robert Robert,

Well, to begin, the people you know would have "loved" Burrell, not "beloved" him. And I think he probably rode alone with his dog as an honor, but that's just my guess.

I give you credit for coming up with "Pat the suck," though. Very clever. Did Ford write that for you?

- Gonzo

It seems like yesterday when MMA was banned in the U.S.?All of a sudden this crap has infiltrated our world.?It's a violent, gruesome sport. What's wrong with us? It's dehumanizing, desensitizing, and simply disgusting.?Get this crap out of the papers.- Bill Bill,

It sounds like you're woefully misinformed about MMA or that you bought the panicked, mindless media propaganda that was peddled four or five years ago as the sport was remaking its image and pushing toward regulation. You're right: There was a time when MMA resembled a savage, anything-goes street fight. But that time has long since passed.

Like boxing,?MMA is now sanctioned by various (and reputable) state athletic commissions. Like boxing, there are rules that must be observed (no eye-gouging, head-butting, blows to the groin, etc). Like boxing, MMA is?practiced by real athletes who spend countless hours in the gym honing different skills. But unlike boxing, MMA refs are much quicker to stop fights - which is part of the reason the UFC, for example,?has never had anyone die in a match but boxing has.

?I was a boxing fan for a long time. There used to be?eight or 10 great fights a year. Now, you're lucky if you get one or two. MMA, on the other hand, frequently has great fights - even at the lower levels. I think that's why MMA?resonates with fight fans?and boxing is struggling.

- Gonzo

?That NFL draft interview was one of the more awkward I've seen. My favorite part was when [Bill Cosby] elbowed [Erin] Andrews and called her Goldilocks.- SouthSideJohnny SouthSideJohnny,

It was a total disaster. Hilarious and awful all at the same time. I fear the Cos has gone 'round the bend.

By the way, I love your name. Any chance you know Joey No Nose or Frankie the Boot?

- Gonzo

If there was one person I could count on to bring Ron Burke's OPP reference to print, it was you. If Burke could have somehow included the line "There's no room for relationship, there's just room to hit it," I know SportsNet viewers would have been ecstatic.?- John John,

Am I down with OPP? Yeah, you know me.

- Gonzo

Contact columnist John Gonzalez at 215-854-2813

or gonzalez@phillynews.com.