“City of Losers”

I wanted to write about why I thought the Eagles would not win last nights game let a lone the Super Bowl amongst a week of hype and belittling our opponents. But people would just tell me how negative I was being. People would tell me I am a horrible person for saying such things. As a casual Eagles fan at best I don’t expect to be an expert on what happened. However, I was surprised to learn that Tampa had the best defense in the league after hearing from fans how weak the team Tampa was.

I followed the season through mostly fragments of games, highlights on the news, and headlines in the paper. I followed the story of the fallen quarterbacks. I followed what was so supposed to be prelude to the team making it to the next level. While watching the opening minutes of the game, which resulted in an Eagles touchdown I thought to myself, it just wouldn’t seem right if they won. Of course, that’s a horrible thing to think. But I just couldn’t imagine the Eagles in the Super Bowl. It’s the norm for them to be a long gone when the Super Bowl is played. The game is played by teams that are not the Eagles, that is the way I always thought it was. My head might explode if they were in the Super Bowl.

Philly teams are usually good, but never winners. When the game comes down to do or die, the team goes belly up. No matter who it is. The last time there was a victory parade in Philly was two decades ago. The Wings and Phantoms both won championships but no one noticed or cared. The Flyers game close in 1997 and choked in the finals. Then they choked again up 3 games to 1 against the Devils in the conference finals in 2000. The Sixers failed to perform a miracle against the Lakers a few years back. The Phillies broke the hearts of their fans in 1993 when Mitch Williams blew the entire season.

Tomorrow people will debate what went wrong, and try to look forward to next season. That’s what philly fans have to do. They never get to celebrate at the end of the season. It always ends horribly. Not only do Philly teams go out, they go out in embarrassing ways. Blow outs, lazy play, and just good old fashion choking. It’s a curse. The city will never win a championship. EVER. Philly it a city of losers. Every minute that goes by adds on to the dry spell. The team with the best shot this season just went down in flames.

In August the cycle will begin a new like every Philly sports team. Fans will always get caught up when a team is making a run. During the playoffs faces will be painted flags will be put on cars, signs in windows, bars will be over crowded with hopefuls. However when the story of a magical Philly season comes to the climax disaster will ensue. The Philly Sport teams are all pathetic. Good but never winners everytime the ending is the same watching some other team win.

Anytime a Philly team needs to look into themselves the falter. No matter how much the team goes through that season, they story ends the same. When it comes down to the wire they fall. Philly teams serve give other times the confidence to reach their goal. When we are the team no one is supposed to beat we become on the wrong end of the David vs. Goliath scenario (sorry drew).

So if you see man in an Eagles jersey wanting to plummet into the ice-cold Delaware River tomorrow. Get him back in your car waving a Flyers flag. Tell him this is the year of years. A parade will be here soon. Tell them the Eagles will learn from their mistakes and win it all next year. Go to the Sixers game and get your free ALF. Just be happy you have an ALF doll and your favorite sports team gives a break from your meaningless life. Just don’t expect to reminisce about the time your team won everything EVER. If you want a team that actually knows what it takes to be a true winner then perhaps you need to move out of the City of Losers territory.