Fly Eagles Fly

Ever since I was very young, I had a love for playing sports. There's a picture in an old photo album of me when I was two years old, holding a red plastic baseball bat, wearing a blue baseball cap, and sporting a huge smile. That's the proof from that young of an age, sports were going to be a huge passion of mine.

Growing up I played them all. On summer days, we'd go to the local baseball diamond and my dad would toss me balls while I slugged them as far as I could. We had a portable basketball net set up in our yard and we played on grass until we wore a permanent dirt patch due to the lack of a driveway. We were given a soccer ball one year and found two sets of trees on our property that made decent goal posts. We spent countless hours playing soccer out there and sometimes that drew the attention of the neighbor kids to come join.

As I grew older, I picked up street hockey and was darn good at it. Whether I played at a park, in a parking lot, or during gym at school, I found a way to score. Heck, when I saw my middle school gym teacher almost three years ago, I reminded her of the goal I scored on her back in the 8th grade and she told me I'm still the only student to have ever done so.

When I moved to Cleveland, the kids my age and slightly older had a passion for Ultimate Frisebee. Pretty soon it became my passion as well. I also added Tennis and Volleyball to my arsenal. But playing them wasn't enough for me. Watching the pros and becoming attached to professional teams became a thing for me in 2001. If you've talked to me a time or two, you've probably heard the stories of how I became fans of the teams I root for. That's a whole other post in itself. So to keep it short, I am passionate about the Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia Flyers, Cleveland Indians, and the Philadelphia Eagles.

I can tell you countless memories and stories of amazing moments I witnessed, spectacular plays, amazing wins, agonizing defeats, and where I was when each of those happened. But that's not what I'm truly writing this post for. In six days, Super Bowl LII between the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles will take place. It's the biggest sporting event in the U.S.A. That Sunday is called Super Bowl Sunday and it's an unofficial holiday in the U.S. As it's name denotes, this will be the 52nd Super Bowl. This one means more to me than the other 51...combined.

In 2001, living in southern, central, PA, at 10 years old, I fell in love with the Philadelphia Eagles. They were two seasons removed from being the second worst team in the league. Their fortunes had turned the previous season as their young and upcoming QB Donovan McNabb had led them to the playoffs the year prior. This team consisted of players I looked up to. McNabb, Staley, Thrash, Runyan, Thomas, Douglas, Trotter, Dawkins, Vincent, and of course Akers. Coached by Andy Reid, this team was something magical. I watched in awe as they took the toughest challenges and overcame them. They made the playoffs that year and I was elated. They tore through the Buccaneers and Bears to face The Greatest Show on Turf (St. Louis Rams) in the NFC championship match. The game was a shootout, but ultimately they fell just short. Anyone who pays attention to sports or was following them that year knows what happened next. The legend of Tom Brady was born. That was the first super bowl I watched and to see what Brady and Vinatieri did to the Rams, I was not only awestruck by what happened, but knew the Eagles could could have a chance to do that one day.

I wasn't wrong...well for the most part. That day came in 2005. After losing three straight NFC championship games, the Eagles had finally made it to the super bowl. They had a couple new players that helped them get there in Brian Westbrook and Terrell Owens. But their opponent was the greatest challenge of all. Bill Belichick. Tom Brady. And the New England Patriots. They had two super bowl rings to their names and the Patriots were as feared as the Greatest Show on Turf. The game favored the Patriots, but the Eagles hung in. Losing late, they scored a touchdown to bring the score within three. But it was too late. Time was not on their side and Vinatieri's lone field goal was the difference. Tom Brady got a third ring in four years. The Eagles still hadn't won a Super Bowl since it's birth in 1967. My 14 year old self was crushed.

The next four years the Eagles barely made or missed the playoffs. They finally had another good run in 2007, only to run into the explosive Cardinals and Larry Fitzgerald in the NFC championship game. They lost. Just short of another super bowl appearance. Two year laters McNabb was gone. Three years after that the Vince Young proclaimed "Dream Team" led to a 4-12 season and Andy Reid was fired. Things couldn't be worse...

...that is until the third season of Chip Kelly being the head coach of the Eagles. After two 10-6 seasons he wanted to make a change. He cut talent. He traded away talent. And he built "his team". That team crashed and burned. Philly fans, me included, felt the sting of the players we lost, the disappointment of how awful that season went. We were hurt and it was the lowest of lows. Kelly was shown the door. But that didn't make up for everything that happened.

Enter 2016. The Eagles hired former NFL QB and Kansas City OC Doug Pederson as their new head coach. They made a lot of moves and acquired the number 2 overall pick and drafted QB Carson Wentz. Sam Bradford was the starting QB in Philly. But after the Vikings lost their QB to a freak injury, they traded for Bradford. Wentz was thrust into a starting role. The Eagles didn't end up with a horrible record and Wentz did show potential, but it wasn't enough to make the playoffs.

Then in 2017, everything changed. No one expected what was about to happen. this team was given a 9-7 potential record at best. But this team shocked the world. They were winning. Not only were they winning, but they were putting up 30+ points nearly every game while limiting their opponents to 20 or less. Then they hit bumps in the road. They lost their future hall of fame left tackle to injury; they lost their explosive running back; then a key line backer and special teamer. Then with only a few games left, Carson Wentz tore his ACL. Their record was 11-2. They were the number one seed. But with Wentz lost for the season, everyone counted them out...again.

The next week they won and won big. The week after, they played sloppy, but pulled off a victory and the number one seed. They lost the next week, but that was expected as they rested most of their starters. Their first playoff game came against a potentially explosive Atlanta team that just took down a more explosive Rams team. The number one seeded Eagles were considered the underdogs. Everyone was counting them out. They didn't put up many points, but they won.

Next they faced the Vikings who had a fairy tale season of their own. They boasted the #1 ranked defense and a dangerous offense that moved on from the last round by a walk-off touch down, or the Miracle in Minnesota as they called it. Once again, the Eagles were considered dog meat. "They stand no chance" some said. The marketing facebook page even prematurely posted an image of the Patriots/Vikings facing off in the super bowl. Once again, this team proved the doubters wrong. They tore the number one defense to shreds. Foles had a 300+ yard, three touchdown/no picks night. They are going to the Super Bowl.

A rematch. Eagles/ Patriots round 2. Tom Brady is still their QB. Bill Belichick is still their coach. The two of them have won five and are going for number six. Not many outside Philly fans expect the Eagles to have a chance against them. I've heard it all and will probably continue to do so until the final whistle. "It's the GOAT. He can't lose". "Five Rings." "Gonna be a blow out". "It's Tom Brady." "The refs are against Philly" "The experience is against you." It goes on and on...

...But you know what? Bring on Tommy boy. Bring on good ol William. Bring on the Patriots. To be great, you have to beat greatness. To beat the GOAT, Belichick, and the Patriots in the Super Bowl, would be the ultimate victory and I wouldn't have it any other way. How can I be so confident? Because I've watched this team all year. I've followed every step of the way. Not only were they winning, but they were having fun while doing it. Just look at their endzone celebrations. The way they treat each other like a family. And to lose your potential MVP QB and still win games and make the Super Bowl against great odds, is extremely hard to do. Just ask the Raiders of last year, or the Packers and Texans this year.

The Philadelphia Eagles represent more than just a football team to me. They represent a city. They represent a passion. They represent an 10 year old's hopes and dreams of finally seeing his team win the biggest prize of them all: The Lombardi Trophy. So no matter what flak continues to come, no matter what the doubters and haters keep spewing, I believe they can win it all. Fly Eagles Fly.