Eagles Fans

While the rest of the country likes to blame Philadelphia for every wrong a fan might do even when it happens in other cities, Philadelphians take a somewhat perverse pride in their reputation. Sometimes however people outside this exclusive club do get it right.

Jacksonville, beware those Eagles fans!

These fans are the closest that I have ever seen to English soccer fans and they will take over Jacksonville and its surrounding communities by next weekend. They will mortgage their homes, sell their furniture and lie to their employers in the hopes of seeing their beloved Eagles play for the ultimate championship in team sports.

The Passion of Philly

Eagles fans have been known to serenade with a hearty "Fly, Eagles, Fly" (second-best NFL anthem behind "Hail to the Redskins"), but we all knew last Sunday was going to be special when Eagles fans gathered behind the Fox pregame show and chanted "DALLAS SUCKS!" as Jimmy Johnson spoke.
(...)
"Strangers were hugging -- their only connection a green jersey with a number 5 or 20 on their chest. It was the most wonderful sight I have ever seen."
(...)
"It was the 11 o'clock news, and images of hundreds of Eagles fans jamming the snow-covered parking lot at the Linc were shown. Who pops up on the screen? A 300-pound drunk guy wearing a severely undersized PINK Eagles hooded sweatshirt."

"This thing is ripped at the waist and sleeves, and he is screaming at the top of his lungs."

Brotherly love, Eagles are a passion in Philadelphia

"Suddenly you see a man crying and the cameras catch him screaming, `You broke my heart again,' " said Diddinger.

"Now, fast-forward to this past summer, the first day of practice, and 25,000 fans showed up. Twenty-five thousand. I guarantee you, the guy who was on those steps outside the stadium yelling, `You broke my heart again,' he was one of the first in line to go to that practice."
(...)
Philadelphians, of course, don't want to be patronized... don't lie to them or try and cheat them out of an honest game's effort. They'll know you're a phony, they'll love you if you're not.

Jim McMahon, the rebel quarterback who came here for the 1990-92 seasons, discovered all of this one day as he made his way through a tunnel from the stadium to the players' parking lot. It had been a particularly bad game for him and the fans waited to vent, a string of unprintable words sent his way. In his inimitable fashion, McMahon responded by flashing his middle finger.

"Next thing you know, the fans were screaming at him again. Only this time they were yelling, `McMahon, you're the man,' and they kept saying it. They loved the fact that he gave it right back to them. That's the kind of town Philadelphia is."
(...)
There was a desire to build a new stadium and training complex and in Rendell they discovered they had a strong ally. "He supported us," said Banner, "and when people asked him why, he told them that the thing that always brought the people of Philadelphia together was the Eagles. You can go around the ethnic neighborhoods and you'll see a lot written in the native tongue -- except for the banners that proclaim, `Go Eagles.' "

That is the great thing about sports, it unites a diversity of people. Also, the more people suffer together the closer they can become. If they win the parade will be the greatest event in the history of Philadelphia! Well, except for that Declaration of Independence and Constitutional Convention stuff.

Get Ready for Two Weeks of This

Thanks to wildly entertaining fans such as these (profiled by Don "Joe Six-pack" Russell), I'll be watching the Superbowl in my house. You know, just in case some fools decide to light the El on fire.

Danny Grimes, 16, ran up Broad Street, near Shunk, with no shirt on. "I love the Eagles," he screamed, a backwards "E" carved into his chest hair (because he shaved it in the mirror). "My dad - God rest his soul - would be so proud tonight!" .... "I'm high and I'm drunk," said a bare-chested John Streeper, of the Northeast, who spent the afternoon watching the game at a local sports bar. ... "I haven't seen anything like this in years," said one fan, who admitted he was roaring drunk. "I love this town!"

Enjoy the hyperbole.

Finally

Eagles played another NFC Championship at home, against an NFC South opponent and FINALLY WON! They pretty much were in control the entire game but as is their style, the Eagles let the opponent hang around and only late in the game did they put finally put it out of reach.

Outstanding players - Keith Adams, Derrick Burgess, Trotter, Chad Lewis, offensive line with Fraley standing out - notice the extra block on Levens' TD?, Westbrook, Greg Lewis, Dawkins - hit of the game, and last but not least, the punter, Dirk Johnson. Lots and lots of praise goes to the defense. Only once did they over pursue and let Vick have a run of significance. There were only 2 pass plays of any significance and the running game was shut down. Atlanta's offense looked like the Eagles offense of the last 2 championships. Huge defensive stop early on forcing Atlanta to settle for a field goal.

McNabb as a whole played great. He started to blow it a couple series in a row in the 2nd half but got it together for the last TD drive that finally "iced" the game. Andy Reid gets lots of praise as well for finally calling a great game when it really mattered. He actually adjusted to the team he was playing and the weather conditions and ran the ball more than he passed. I didn't think he had it in him. He realized that Atlanta was smaller up front and the wind was really blowing so he ran and then stayed with it all game. But at the same time he didn't get overly cautious and continued to be aggressive and kept Atlanta off balance defensively.

Final notes: Mitchell's one catch of the game was huge and his hairstyle was truly unique, Pinkston was largely MIA, Dawkins post game speech was great, Eskin is a tool, Mora gets "best destruction of a headset during a meltdown" award, someone told me (OB) that instead of the Gatorade shower Reid requested gravy, and McNabb's QB rating was 111. One team, one city...

E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES!

Hope and optimism or stupidity and masochism?

Too be continued...

Lito Speaks

Big article in The Daily News on the Eagles cornerbacks. Here is a choice quote from willweeverwin's favorite concerning his development versus Sheldon Brown's:

We came in together and I saw how much faster he was picking things up," Sheppard says. "I was like, 'Dang, what was I doing while he was learning all of that? I'm getting there, I still probably don't pay half the stuff any attention. A lot goes in one ear and out the other, but I'm getting better.

Perhaps Sheldon has also been peeping this website imitating a fan that said, "I know Lito has the picks, but I can see him giving up a deep bomb to lose the Super Bowl." Or perhaps just several 3rd and 22's in the Divisional Playoff game. Read more about Lito and Sheldon.

Home? check. NFC south? check. Favored? check.

1/23 3:00 PM ET	BetWWTS	Bet365	Intertops	BoDog	WSEX
Atlanta @ Philadelphia	OFF	40.5 -4.5	40.5 -4.5	OFF -5	40.5 -4.5

Matchup

Great game

Eagles returned to playing meaningful football with aplomb yesterday. The defense started fast which was expected and after a starting 3 and out, the offense then scored on its next couple of possessions. When the Vikings defense wasn't getting beat they beat themselves as they bailed out the Eagles on their first 2 TD drives with pass interference or defensive holding calls. So before you knew it the Eagles were up by 2 touchdowns and the Vikings were scrambling to catch up like most of the Eagles opponents this year.

The Vikings did score a TD to answer and make it 14-7 but then the Eagles themselves answered back with the luckiest TD of the year. The football gods were smiling on the Eagles in the first half - the LJ Smith to Mitchell TD, the Vikings blown fake FG, the fumble recovery by the Vikings that wasn't. (By the second though the gods returned to their normal disinterested selves.)

The Eagles continued to dominate but made mistakes of their own to leave the Vikings with a fighting chance. Reid should have kicked the FG with 10 seconds left in the half but since they didn't, McNabb can't make that throw to Levens. Mitchell, although I appreciate the effort, can't fumble the ball like he did on the goal line. The Vikings fought back with some long drives but in the end all they could muster was a garbage TD in the waning minutes.

FredEx had the game of his pro career. But remember it was against the 29th ranked pass defense. McNabb had a great game and only made 2 mistakes I can think of - the end of the half "what are you thinking?" and overthrowing Westbrook in the 4th quarter who had another sure TD. Westbrook was great as expected. Kearse was a quiet great. Trotter was a loud great. Ike Reese gets my defensive play of the game with his interception. If you have to pick a goat that goes to Lito as he gave up several big plays and every third and forever that the Vikings converted seemed to be against him. Missing in action was Chad Lewis and sometimes the Eagles kickoff coverage.

Question of the week: Can the defense dominate Atlanta as well?

On a related note, read this column in the Star Tribune titled, "Vikings fans take a beating in Philly, too". It contains gems like this:

Joe Liwienski, Chris' 22-year-old brother, said he attended the "basketbrawl" game in Auburn Hills, Mich., where members of the Indiana Pacers exchanged punches with Detroit Pistons fans.

"This was 10 times worse," he said.

They also complain about the fans yelling at Randy Moss.

Let's Get Ready To Rumble!!!

Fired up beyond belief. What was a relatively tame week for me (as an Eagle fan), things are starting to explode. No idea how to make it 'til 1PM. But, I'm ready. The A/V setup is ready to go (80" screen), and after watching those two scrubby NFC teams yesterday, I'm fired up for a shot at the Superbowl. What has been a long week, where I was just sick of hearing all the talk and reasoning, is now finally peaking.

Let Kearse loose after Pepperhead (don't waste a spy on him all game). Go get Dante! That is gonna be key. Give the CB's help over the top, while leaving Trot alone to help the DLine stop the run. Jam those wr's at the line. Protect the ball and our D wins this one for us. I still like my 19-17 pick for some odd reason. But, I'm more confident than I was about a larger victory than that. These Vikes have to be spent. FMitch or Levens scores first for the Birdies.

Fly, Eagles, Fly!
Big Daddy B

Hockey news

As we wait to see if the Eagles choke again, hockey has been choking since frickin' Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup. If that wasn't an omen what is? As of now you have to think this season is over. Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos Jr. says so and he also believes next year is done too. How's that for optimism? The players think Karmanos' statements are a scheme though, devised by Bettman and part of a plan to crush the players union. And the players keep trumpeting their stupid 24% salary reduction plan. What happens one year later geniuses?

Meanwhile, some guy in Buffalo is really frustrated with all this no playing hockey nonsense and has started making some wack looking "I need my hockey fix(ed)" magnetic car ribbons. He's sold 2,000 so far. But then again, what else is happening in Buffalo?

Eagles BIG favorites

1/16 1:00 PM ET	BetWWTS	Bet365	Intertops	BoDog	WSEX
Minnesota @ Philadelphia	OFF	49 -10	48.5 -9	OFF -10	49 -10

Matchup

Aaaaarrrrrggggh I Feel Great

Wondering what Pat Croce has been up to since leaving Comcast-Spectacor? Sure there was Slamball, and judging judo at the Olympics, and, of course, his reality television show "Moving In". But today Croce launched a new venture that will make America forget Slamball even existed, A Pirate Musuem.

"I am so excited, I was always a fan of pirates. They operated in a democracy; they attacked life. I think I was a pirate in a past life."

I'm sure Ed Snider would love to make Croce walk the plank.

Who will get the boot?

With the Eagles heading into the play-offs for the 5th year in a row, one has to admire Andy Reid and Joe Banner's skill at compiling a winning squad and ensuring that the team will remain good for years to come. Paul Domowitch does just that in this Daily News Article (Eagles rule the cap). Paul discusses who will be staying and who will be going. Some of the personell decisions are obvious (Nate Wayne, gone), but others are more difficult. What do you think?

Wildcard weekend

Here's the matchups, make your predictions.

at
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET

Both these teams are weak. But the Rams beat the Seahawks twice already this year so I figure a third time can be expected. The Rams will be in Philadelphia next week.

at
Saturday, 8 p.m. ET

The Jets are frauds. Look for the Chargers to beat them in a close game.

at
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Denver won the last game of the season vs. the Colts but the Colts starters took the day off and this game is in Indianapolis. The Colts will win when Jake the Snake screws up.

at
Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET

Probably the most interesting game of the weekend. The Packers have beaten the Vikings twice this year 34-31 in eerily similar and very entertaining games. The Packers are playing well, the Vikings are chumps. Green Bay wins, again.

That game sucked even more

For some reason I get the feeling that Reid planned the horridness of this game. He's reminding the fans in a very unsubtle way that this type of performance was the norm for the Eagles just 5 short years ago and pretty much for most of their history. Sure he may have lost 3 straight NFC championship games, 2 of which the Eagles should have won, but would you prefer the glory daze of Marion Campbell, Rich Kotite, or Ray Rhodes? How would you like to watch a full season of Doug Pederson, Ty Detmer, Pat Ryan, or Bobby Hoying at QB? So don't complain if the Eagles choke again, you could very easily be watching a lot worse.