Super Bowl Sunday
WARNING: Totally non-poker post coming up...Read at your peril.
Today is, put quite simply, a day that may change an entire city forever. As you may surmise from my writings (or maybe I just told you...), I live about 1/2 an hour from Philadelphia, the home of the NFC Champion Eagles.
Growing up an Eagles fan, or just a Philadelphia sports fan, has, to put it bluntly, been a real bitch. The City of Losers. The Fans That Booed Santa Claus. And recently, even worse, The Land of The Choke. A major Philly sports team hasn't won a championship since 1983. The Phillies have won one World Series in 121 years, and our beloved Eagles haven't won a championship since 1960--6 years before the Super Bowl even existed.
I've been an Eagles fan as long as I can remember, watching in the late 70's from my grandfather's lap, or with my dad. I remember Super Bowl XV in January 1981, and the disappointment that losing brought. I remember the young Dick Vermeil, bringing a franchise from the depths of hell to the brink of a championship, exhausting himself clear into retirement in the process. I remember the lean, post-Vermeil years of the early- and mid-1980s, when you could get walk-up seats at the old Vet. My dad and I walked up. I remember the hope that Randall Cunningham brought to Philadelphia. I remember Buddy Ryan, the Body Bag Game, the Fog Bowl, and the Bounty Bowl. I remember Gang Green, one of the best defenses to ever play the game. I remember losing then, too. I remember losing Reggie White and other cornerstone players because our owner didn't agree with free agency. I remember the idiocy that followed, Richie "the K," Ray Rhodes, "For who, for what...?" I remember it all. I was there for it all. I remember those Dirty Thirty idiots when they booed Donovan McNabb's selection at the draft, all because THEY wanted Ricky (the Pothead) Williams. Even the mayor of the city (now the governor of the state) did everything he could to bully our new rookie head coach into passing on Donovan. Even when Donovan and the team struggled at first, I was there for it all.
Since then--since the year 2000--the Eagles franchise has been the most successful in professional sports. They have advanced in the playoffs every season, taking their journey a step further each time. They have been a model for what winning is all about. But every season, despite how damn great it is to be an Eagles fan, they have managed to lose their last game--every season. They lost to the Giants in 2000 in the divisional playoffs, and the fans were actually happy. They felt they were there on a freeroll anyway. From 5-11 to 11-5 and a playoff berth? It has a way of winning a team respect around these parts. In 2001, they made it to the NFC Championship Game, losing to the Greatest Show on Turf, and even then, they were only 54 yards from getting to the Super Bowl. Again, mostly a freeroll. In 2002, the Eagles juggernaut really kicked in--home field advantage, and another NFCCG--at home. They lost to the Bucs, and the area was stunned. This was ours. This was the year. In 2003, another 12-4 record, home field advantage, but something was different--we had a new home, Lincoln Financial Field. Same result--a stunning loss to a team we "shoulda beat." It was in 2003 that I bought into the Eagles Season Tickets now shared by myself, my friend Joey, and my future-brother-in-law Steve. I was at that Panthers loss--in 33 degree weather, in a rainstorm, at 8 AM--for a 6 PM game. With a 102 fever.
This year has been magic. From the arrival of Terrell Owens and Jevon Kearse, to the return of Jeremiah Trotter and Hugh Douglas, to the emergence of Brian Westbrook, to TO's heart (and leg-) breaking injury, to this team playing with balls and making this city proud. I've had a front-row ticket to all of it. Two weeks ago, I got to celebrate my team's biggest win in 24 years. My Eagles brought home the elusive NFC Championship. Yes, I was there. I got to see it firsthand. The feeling was incredible.
Today, in about 9 hours, the Eagles take the field for what could ulitmately become the biggest win in the history of this franchise.
In 9 hours, MY Eagles can shed the loser label forever and come home as Champions.
I'm not sure people understand this football-crazed town, and what this could mean to the city and fans of Philadelphia. This town loves football. It loves the Eagles. Win or lose, they will be back next season, and we, the fans, are DAMN proud.
But, here's the point. The thought of this team winning a championship for this city, these fans...It has me shaking as I type this. The thought of watching confetti come down as Donovan, Andy Reid, and Jeffrey Lurie are presented the Lombardi Trophy--it's overwhelming. Two weeks ago, I stood in section 204 of Lincoln Financial Field, cheering my lungs out, and when Chad Lewis caught the touchdown pass that sealed it (breaking his foot in the process), I looked at the clock, and with 67,000 of my closest friends, broke down crying in the stands. 300-plus pound men, standing next to me, hugging complete strangers, crying their eyes out because "...goddammit--we did it!"
To some, today is just another day, a day to watch annoying ads, a day to see an overhyped football game, a day to have or go to a party, get drunk, and see which commercials are the best this year. In this area, in my home town, however, it's so much more. This day could be a dream come true.
This day could be the culmination of the dreams of millions of people. And you know what? I'll be there for it all, like I have been all along.
Today is, put quite simply, a day that may change an entire city forever. As you may surmise from my writings (or maybe I just told you...), I live about 1/2 an hour from Philadelphia, the home of the NFC Champion Eagles.
Growing up an Eagles fan, or just a Philadelphia sports fan, has, to put it bluntly, been a real bitch. The City of Losers. The Fans That Booed Santa Claus. And recently, even worse, The Land of The Choke. A major Philly sports team hasn't won a championship since 1983. The Phillies have won one World Series in 121 years, and our beloved Eagles haven't won a championship since 1960--6 years before the Super Bowl even existed.
I've been an Eagles fan as long as I can remember, watching in the late 70's from my grandfather's lap, or with my dad. I remember Super Bowl XV in January 1981, and the disappointment that losing brought. I remember the young Dick Vermeil, bringing a franchise from the depths of hell to the brink of a championship, exhausting himself clear into retirement in the process. I remember the lean, post-Vermeil years of the early- and mid-1980s, when you could get walk-up seats at the old Vet. My dad and I walked up. I remember the hope that Randall Cunningham brought to Philadelphia. I remember Buddy Ryan, the Body Bag Game, the Fog Bowl, and the Bounty Bowl. I remember Gang Green, one of the best defenses to ever play the game. I remember losing then, too. I remember losing Reggie White and other cornerstone players because our owner didn't agree with free agency. I remember the idiocy that followed, Richie "the K," Ray Rhodes, "For who, for what...?" I remember it all. I was there for it all. I remember those Dirty Thirty idiots when they booed Donovan McNabb's selection at the draft, all because THEY wanted Ricky (the Pothead) Williams. Even the mayor of the city (now the governor of the state) did everything he could to bully our new rookie head coach into passing on Donovan. Even when Donovan and the team struggled at first, I was there for it all.
Since then--since the year 2000--the Eagles franchise has been the most successful in professional sports. They have advanced in the playoffs every season, taking their journey a step further each time. They have been a model for what winning is all about. But every season, despite how damn great it is to be an Eagles fan, they have managed to lose their last game--every season. They lost to the Giants in 2000 in the divisional playoffs, and the fans were actually happy. They felt they were there on a freeroll anyway. From 5-11 to 11-5 and a playoff berth? It has a way of winning a team respect around these parts. In 2001, they made it to the NFC Championship Game, losing to the Greatest Show on Turf, and even then, they were only 54 yards from getting to the Super Bowl. Again, mostly a freeroll. In 2002, the Eagles juggernaut really kicked in--home field advantage, and another NFCCG--at home. They lost to the Bucs, and the area was stunned. This was ours. This was the year. In 2003, another 12-4 record, home field advantage, but something was different--we had a new home, Lincoln Financial Field. Same result--a stunning loss to a team we "shoulda beat." It was in 2003 that I bought into the Eagles Season Tickets now shared by myself, my friend Joey, and my future-brother-in-law Steve. I was at that Panthers loss--in 33 degree weather, in a rainstorm, at 8 AM--for a 6 PM game. With a 102 fever.
This year has been magic. From the arrival of Terrell Owens and Jevon Kearse, to the return of Jeremiah Trotter and Hugh Douglas, to the emergence of Brian Westbrook, to TO's heart (and leg-) breaking injury, to this team playing with balls and making this city proud. I've had a front-row ticket to all of it. Two weeks ago, I got to celebrate my team's biggest win in 24 years. My Eagles brought home the elusive NFC Championship. Yes, I was there. I got to see it firsthand. The feeling was incredible.
Today, in about 9 hours, the Eagles take the field for what could ulitmately become the biggest win in the history of this franchise.
In 9 hours, MY Eagles can shed the loser label forever and come home as Champions.
I'm not sure people understand this football-crazed town, and what this could mean to the city and fans of Philadelphia. This town loves football. It loves the Eagles. Win or lose, they will be back next season, and we, the fans, are DAMN proud.
But, here's the point. The thought of this team winning a championship for this city, these fans...It has me shaking as I type this. The thought of watching confetti come down as Donovan, Andy Reid, and Jeffrey Lurie are presented the Lombardi Trophy--it's overwhelming. Two weeks ago, I stood in section 204 of Lincoln Financial Field, cheering my lungs out, and when Chad Lewis caught the touchdown pass that sealed it (breaking his foot in the process), I looked at the clock, and with 67,000 of my closest friends, broke down crying in the stands. 300-plus pound men, standing next to me, hugging complete strangers, crying their eyes out because "...goddammit--we did it!"
To some, today is just another day, a day to watch annoying ads, a day to see an overhyped football game, a day to have or go to a party, get drunk, and see which commercials are the best this year. In this area, in my home town, however, it's so much more. This day could be a dream come true.
This day could be the culmination of the dreams of millions of people. And you know what? I'll be there for it all, like I have been all along.
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