The Atlantic City birthday bash of "Eagles WR 81"

[Feva]

Darnerian McCants =

[T_Section224]

Huggy Bear 

[Don Ho]

Huggy Bear 

Justin Fargas Sr.!

[SunMo]

Sheppard: "If Donovan threw a party, the whole team would be there."
By Jeff McLane
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

On a scale of 1 to 10, No. 26 gave it an 8.

Lito Sheppard, the injured Eagles cornerback, wasn't talking about anything football related, but a certain soiree by a certain banished wide receiver.

In case you missed it, Terrell Owens threw a birthday party for himself on Monday night at the 40/40 Club in Atlantic City.

Numerous celebrities and athletes were invited to the celebration of Owens' 32d year of life. According to inside sources, the only "big name" in attendance was the club's part owner, Jay-Z.

"I didn't see too many ," said Sheppard. "It wasn't like that. It wasn't a Hollywood red carpet, Grammy-type thing."

On the invitation-only guest list were such notable names as Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Ben Affleck and Usher.

Of course, with the entire Eagles roster invited, the players that did or didn't show up for Owens' bash was of more interest to local watchers than which actors and musicians graced the 700-person capacity club with their presence.

On Nov. 7, Owens was essentially sent packing from the Eagles for what the team called "conduct detrimental to the team." He was suspended for four games and has been deactivated since the suspension ended and will be for the remaining three games.

There was a grievance filed in Owens' behalf by the players' union, but an arbitrator ruled in favor of the Eagles, who had meticulously listed Owens' insolent actions since February.

Besides making the Eagles' front office as target, Owens repeatedly took shots at quarterback Donovan McNabb. The relationship between the two soured and many of the teammates were supposedly left to pick sides.

Many of the players vehemently denied choosing sides, and Sheppard said that just because a number of Eagles attended Owens' party, it didn't add credence to that claim.

"I guarantee you if Donovan threw a party the whole team would be there," said Sheppard. "It was not nobody siding with nobody. It was just people having a good time, trying to look over all that nonsense. We're not stressing about it, so I don't know why the media keeps making it a grudge relationship."

One estimate had 19 of Owens' teammates on hand. Among the revelers were Jevon Kearse, Brian Westbrook, Hollis Thomas and L.J. Smith. Reportedly, there was no available food and only a cash bar. Sheppard didn't mind.

"You don't go to a party expecting food," said Sheppard, who is out for the season with a severely sprained ankle. "It was at the 40/40 Club. What did you think? That would have been a story if it was an open bar."

Sheppard said that he spoke to Owens, wishing him happy birthday and continued success at his next stop, wherever that shall be.

The party played up that question with dancers wearing various colored outfits with Owens' No. 81 on the front below a series of question marks.

The married Sheppard said he was more impressed with the showing of players than he was with the scantily clothed women.

"It was a good crowd. It wasn't capacitized," said Sheppard, who added: "I'm glad a lot of teammates showed up to show support. It was a nice gathering."

[ice grillin you]

"If Donovan threw a party, the whole team would be there."

how pathetic has this become...reminds me of my 8th birthday when timmy hesserts mom had his b-day the same as mine and no one showed at my house...my brother even went to timmys

[Tomahawk]

"If Donovan threw a party, the whole team would be there."

how pathetic has this become...reminds me of my 8th birthday when timmy hesserts mom had his b-day the same as mine and no one showed at my house...my brother even went to timmys

TIMMAY!! That sucks.

A classmate was having a graduation party the same night as somebody else. I showed up to her house with a couple of friends, saw the place was EMPTY, and started to leave. When she started to cry, we started running.

[MURP]

there was no available food and only a cash bar.

good times.

[General_Failure]

Did he throw money to the crowd this time? Or is he still too poor to feed his family?

[Beermonkey]

"If Donovan threw a party, the whole team would be there."

how pathetic has this become...reminds me of my 8th birthday when timmy hesserts mom had his b-day the same as mine and no one showed at my house...my brother even went to timmys

I think it's pathetic that the media has turned it into schoolgirl catfight over a guy.

Did you get a birthday bag from Timmy's?

[Mad-Lad]

there was no available food and only a cash bar.

good times.

TO had a friggin CASH BAR?  are you kidding me?  I'd expect a bar stocked with Beefeater, etc. at least.  What a friggin douche.

[QB Eagles]

"It was a good crowd. It wasn't capacitized," said Sheppard

Very few things actually are capacitized.

[JTrotter Fan]

there was no available food and only a cash bar.

good times.

TO had a friggin CASH BAR?  are you kidding me?  I'd expect a bar stocked with Beefeater, etc. at least.  What a friggin douche.

Haven't you heard?  He's poor.  He ain't gettin no money from the Eagles.

[MDS]

How did Freddie drink at a cash-only bar? Dont you need a job?

[General_Failure]

Employees drink free.

[rjs246]

I poop on all of you.