Jere Longman wrote that “ No team idealized Philadelphia’s view of itself as the Eagles did . . . .” I believe the writer meant to say “epitomized.”
Yesterday’s game made me think of a fine little movie entitled “Invincible” about Vince Papale, the Philadelphian who played sandlot (or mudlot) football , did not play college ball, but nevertheless still won a spot on the Eagles’ special team units, playing for his hometown team from 1976 to 1978.
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You really have to live here to understand what it means to this City. People have been calling into sports radio crying they are so moved by this win. I have friends who have placed Eagle flags on the graves of parents.
Thank you to the players, to the coaches and Mr. Lurie. Well done indeed!
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philadelphia winning was what the nfl wanted and got -- beginning to get a whif these games are being tilted but thanks anyway, such a relief to see brady, bill and kraft LOSE.
Obama fixed it. And Comey. And Mueller.
Trump and Hannity might agree.
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I remember my Mom, in the kitchen, crying “oh, the poor Eagles!” Wish she could have been here for their big victory.
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"The Eagles’ victory parade, Rendell predicted, would draw two to three million spectators and become “the largest attendance at a sports parade in the history of the country.” "
Uh . . . about those Cubs. Even my sister celebrated that and she is not generally a sports fan. And lives in Victoria, BC.
Philly fans are great. They've got plenty of anger, but it's combined with a sense of irony. I think they are the funniest fans out there. They are extremely knowledgeable and accepting of the eccentric, like supremely talented eccentrics Allen Iverson and Michael Vick. But I think there's a special place in their hearts for tough guys -- Reggie White, Chocolate Thunder, Mike Schmdit, and Dave Schultz.
Eagles fans showed up in large numbers in Phoenix to see their .500 team get walloped here a few years back. I admire that kind of loyalty.
And this may sound strange but one of the most moving moments for me as a fan was to see the Philly faithful stand and give Kobe a pure and lengthy ovation in his last game in Philadelphia. Kobe is one of the greatest, but he was controversial and eccentric. I think the Philly fans were saying to him -- "Kobe, you're our kind of guy."
When the Red Sox became successful, Red Sox Nation was born and Fenway lost its Boston accent. If they want to create a Philly nation, it's up to the locals to buy up the seats and preserve the wonderful uniqueness of a Phiily crowd.
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Identity crisis? Not to worry. Philadelphia fans have already morphed into an “oh yeah, we do this all the time” mentality.
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Ertz's touchdown was not remotely questionable. He clearly caught it and ran for the end zone. As for Philly's identity crisis, let's not forget that Philly has been and is one of the most creative cities ever. Film got stated here when Thomas Eakins brought Eadward Muybridge to Penn's Vet school to study motion. TV began here with Philo T. Farnsworth who demonstrated TV at the Franklin institute. The computer was started with the ENIAC at Penn. The orchestra is world-renown. The Philadelphia Flower Show is a national treasure.GO E-A-G-L-E-S
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Philly has NEVER ceded the quality of its arts, nor its artists to New York or Washington. It is where you live if you cant afford New York, or Brooklyn, and do not benefit from Wall street. As a result the Jazz, classical music, gospel, architecture, art, is sublime. No San Francisco has been latted by rich admen posing as techies, in my opinion that leaves Philly as the most civilised city in America.
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Tom Brady's right hand was bleeding down his throwing arm throughout the game! He may as well had it tied behind his back as he was certainly suffering from the massive cut which nearly removed his thumb.
Two of Philadelphia 's touchdown's were highly questionable due to the football bouncing off the ground before being secured plus both feet did not touch infield and out of bounds - but the referees were slow to question them, slow to analyze, but quick to call them 'complete.' Disabling Patriot players - having them helped off the field was obviously on the Philadelphia play book.
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I don't have an identity crisis. I just feel happy for a change.
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Not sure why a major East Coast city's football team winning the Super Bowl should bring about a "major identity crisis." Shattering store windows, crushing cars and bringing down canopies aka rioting are certainly not the way to celebrate though.
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Only two titles in 35 years? I think you forgot the amazing 1980 Phillies who won the World Series. Tug McGraw, Mike Schmidt, Larry Bowa, Bob Boone, Pete Rose...it was a thrilling season and post-season.
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@Robert Prince - My point is Philadelphia has far more to offer as a city than just sports. It is rare to hear the WC Fields quotes about Philadelphia these days.
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It’s a maturity crisis. Now that they won perhaps they could grow up.
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If the Leafs win the Stanley Cup this year on top of the recent Cubs, Cavs and Eagles victories they are definitely going to need a new weather forecaster in Hades.
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A friend from Philadelphia, where I was born and grew up before moving to NYC, reminded me this weekend what I once said as a kid: Even if a Philadelphia team wins, you feel like they lost.
I think that kinda captures the Philadelphia psyche, or did.
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Lovely game, Eagles. You can be proud. It was gracefully won. And that's a lot. Signed: A Seahawks Fan
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A Giants fan or now, the Poor Giants.
Brady is kind of hard to like with his killer look and attitude but he still is the greatest quarter back that I have ever seen, and that includes yesterday.
It was sort of poetic justice to see him give up the ball in that last quarter. He was smothered by the Eagles defense. And it was not for the first time.
I kept looking to see if Gronkowski was on the field in the first and part of the second quarters. He seemed invisible. Then, he emerged and blossomed later on. Foles was astonishingly good as was their coach. They deserved to win. They were the better team.
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I live in San Francisco now, but left my heart in Philadelphia. All my in-laws, Philly natives, and many dear friends still live there. I am so happy for them and so proud of the E-A-G-L-E-S!!
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Please explain to me how catching a ball, possessing said ball in one's outstretched hands, running a couple of steps, then breaking the end zone plane with very same said ball, not a touchdown?
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Don't forget: Temple University and Pennsylania State University won bowl games this season. Philly fans have much to be happy about, and baseball is about to start.
Just behave like winners, not criminal gangs afterward, please. Brotherly love, remember?
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Pennsylvania State University is in central Pennsylvania and not in Philly. Many Philadelphians of course are alums and are proud of the school's achievements but the city has no claim to the school. The University of Pennsylvania, Penn, has its campus in Philadelphia.
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Penn win a Bowl game this year? And PSU's Ogontz Campus serves hundreds of Philly kids and is a few minutes by foot or car away from the Phila. County Line.
Been there a score of times when I was at TU and later at PSU's main campus, too. Graduated from both with 3 degrees.
And what is "a claim on a school"? Is State College the only place PSU exists? Try almost 2 dozen branches and a med school in Harrisburg or somewhere far from Center County.
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Sorry but Ogontz Campus of PSU is a few minutes' walk from the Philadelphia county line, and many students commute by car, bus, of foot.
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The Philadelphia Eagles won the LII Super Bowl from a very questionable touchdown in the last ten minutes of the game. Yep, the Patriots probably cheated with their Deflategate last time, but the refs probably cheated with the last touchdown, this time"
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Thanks for reminding the rest us why most of America can't stomach the Patriots or their fans. Did we see Brady come over and shake Foles' hand? Have the Pats ever had calls go their way? Eagles won fair and square in a well-played game-get over it.
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There were "two" not only one questionable touchdown that was called 'complete' and benefited the Eagles!
I’m pretty sure the balls were inflated appropriately as well.
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Great! Next question: who's the Eagles starting quarterback next year? Foles or a healthy Carson Wentz? Do they battle it out in pre-season? We,,, there are worse problems to worry about.
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There is no question that Wentz is the starter. If there is doubt about his recovery,,the Eagle could keep Foles, but likely he is traded for good draft picks or player.
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Every year, my father was convinced it was our year. Every. Year. All my life. He never lost faith in his team. This one's for you, dad.
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I never would have dreamed that hydraulic fluid is more effective than Crisco in keeping people off of light and flag posts. Thanks Philly for beating the Patriots and extending the science of pole greasing.
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Pennsylvania has potentially dangerous weather forecast for Tuesday & Wednesday. It's likely that due to travel safety concerns, some Eagles fans considering a trip to the parade will opt to watch coverage remotely instead. I am one of those people.
Parade begins Thursday, 11AM. Official.
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Same article written about Chicago when Cubs won
Rinse and Repeat
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And the Cavaliers, for that matter.
Although in Cleveland, we fixed that problem of our identity tied to constant sports failure by having the Browns tie a record in futility.
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I am delighted for the perceived success of the Super Bowl, I attended the 1992 Super Bowl in Minnesota and the ticket price was $125.00 for a reasonable seat.
However, the Super Bowl now is an elite event of say the upper 20 % funded in part by sales taxes on downtown Minneapolis worker drinks and sandwiches for the Stadium, some 30 legislative sessions ad nauseam, as well as federal income tax exemptions to families like the Kraft's, the Wilf's.
The seat price is now in the thousands, the box prices are likely beyond the price of a Honda Accord and cable subscriptions have a substantial portion for ESPN and such bids the networks make.
Quite a system, however even though it rigged and part of the "rent seeking" economy, it does sell product.
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Philadelphia is one great city!
I lived there for 10 years (1972-1982)
and would move back if I could...it
is a fabulous place to call home.
I remember the huge joy in 1980
when the Phillies won the world
series. Last night the Eagles win
was exhilarating. The team had
heart and soul! Today Nick Foles
(a native Texan), Howie Roseman
and the entire team are golden.
Just like the Astros in the World Series,
the Eagles were determined to win.
Go Philly!
Enjoy the celebration.
This native Texan
in LA is rooting for you.
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Adele, Philly was wild last night with JOY! Parade to end at the art museum (near Rocky statue). Thanks for your kind thoughts.
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Elizabeth and Adele, I’m from Philly, but I now live in Ohio. I was so happy last night and missed being there for all the excitement! My siblings and I are so sad our dad could not share the joy. He would have loved it so much!
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The Eagles beat the Patriots in true Patriot style. Turn about is fair play, especially when the "also ran" beats the "winner" at their game (dramatic comebacks in the last ten minutes).
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All hail to the 2017-18 the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Champions! As a Denver Broncos fan for many years it is nice to see the Philadelphia Eagles finally get a Superbowl win after two earlier unsuccessful attempts. It took the Broncos four progressively worse, gut wrenching franchise losses in 1977, 1986, 1987 and 1989, before finally seeing their first Super Bowl rings in their fifth attempt in 1997 -- followed by their second and third wins in the 1998 and 2016 seasons. Nothing satisfies loyal sports fans than the enjoyment of a well deserved, sweet victory.
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Their identity was and always will be cheese steaks and Tastycakes!
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I have NO dog in this fight. But, it WAS delicious to see Brady without the usual smug smirk. Delicious.
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Agreed! I enjoyed coming to worh this morning to see how depressed all the 'natives' are. Boston people are arrogant. Philadelphia people aren't.
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I just want everyone to know that there are lots of smart and classy people in the Philadelphia area. That is all.
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Of course there are. That is why they won!!
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But the national media always shows the uncouth side of Philadelphia. Even the SNL Tina Fey skit, while funny, plays into the myth of working class drunks punching police horses.
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Not really
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Eagles vs Chicago Cardinals - 7 - 0 - in the snow and on a new fangled contraption called a TV.
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We have won Stanley Cups, the World Series, Nova and St. Joes usually top March Madness teams.
We have cheesesteaks (good one, in the Italian market, not the tourist ones) a beautiful downtown, a theater, dance, music, and artistic scene among the best in the world.
We also won a little thing called independence.
We are no strangers to winning.
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We have rotting bankrupt schools graduating imbeciles; grossly underfunded pension obligations, all our neighborhoods beyond center city are eyesores and dangerous beyond description, our politicians are notoriously corrupt and self-dealing, our infrastructure is crippled as is our train system, endless shootings by poor upon poor. And the list goes on. That you think a grown man's ability to throw around a ball changes anything is THE reason for the above. A Super Bowl changes nothing and means nothing and is bread and circuses giving bar stool sitters something to focus on beside fact.
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Philadelphia has its share of problems, as do plenty of other regions. It also has lots of great attributes. Solving those problems will be aided, I can't help but think, by a general sense of optimism brought about in part by the extraordinary skill and spirit of that grown man's ability to throw a ball around.
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Perhaps, people deserve this bit of untainted joy in their lives, even more so, in light of the hopeless situation you outline. Or, maybe, one has nothing to do with the other.
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Good rule of thumb: Boston fans are nouveau riche. Don't act like them, and Philly will be fine.
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Fly Eagles, I've been on your side for 70 years. My boyhood heroes were Steve Van Buren and the greatest two-way player of all time, Chuck Bednarik. I had a green helmet and green pants. You stuck with Philadelphia, while the turncoats, the Philadelphia Warriors and the Philadelphia A's went on to glory at the City by the Bay. It was a great game, I enjoyed every minute. Some Trivia:
Championships by Philadelphia teams since 1950:
Phillies 1950, 1980, 2008
Philadelphia Athletics 0 moved 1954
Philadelphia Warriors 1956 moved 1962
Philadelphia Eagles 1960, 2018
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Why do you count the 1950 Phillies World Series loss? Then you should count 1983, 1993, and 2009, when they also lost the World Series (but won the pennant)
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Good, but don't forget the 76ers in 1983, one of the most dominant teams and especially one of the most dominant post-seasons in NBA history.
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Your absolutely right, so disappointed I was with the loss, it got turned around in my head. Still 1950 was a wonderful season with players I'll never forget, Richie Ashburn, Robin Roberts, Del Ennis, Granny Hamner and the others. Heaven for a ten year old that never missed a game on the radio.
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Eagles - 41
Patriots - 33
Brain-Damaged Young Men - TBD
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Who cares? Look at the dancing girls and sparkling lights!
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Great reporting by the Times. Finally, we won and in doing so beat the champs. It was like a Rocky movie with one haymaker after another. Super Bowl champions from Philadelphia. How sweet it is.
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The anguished faces of Brady and Belichick was the icing on the cake.
Fantastic game!
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