In two weeks’ time, the Eagles will begin their quest for their second super bowl championship their second in the last five years. I have had some time to reflect on what that means for me.
Whatever happened to “we’re from Philly no one likes us, and we don’t care”, or something like that? The hard-as-nails blue-collar city of Philadelphia with the most knowledgeable sports fans in the world. Lately, everywhere I look I see whining about the lack of respect our teams and players receive outside the city. There is crying about the lack of respect our QB received from national media in the ranking of the top QBs in the game. I say this “who f@@@@@@ cares what anyone thinks about our city, our players, and us?
I stepped back and looked at this phenomenon and this is what I have gathered. First I think it is proper to look at our sports teams which are the 4 major sports teams of this city and their track record in their individual league or sport.
The Teams
Philadelphia Phillies- founded circa 1883. 2 World Championships, 8 League Championships, 11 Division Championships. Of course, has occurred over 130 years, that’s right you read correctly 130 years. The Phillies have been and continue to be the sorest spot of our Championship drought complex. Two world Championships in 130 years that’s one every 65 years. WOW!!!!
Philadelphia Flyers– founded circa 1967. 2 Stanley Cup Championships, 8 Conference Championships, 16 Division Championships. The Flyers are an interesting study. Viewed as a constant “playoff Team” and a team that usually competes for the NHLs highest prize the Stanley Cup. Flyers fans often lose sight of the fact that it has been going on (May of this year) for 48 years since the Flyers won a Stanley Cup.
Starting next year, in the 2023-24 season the Flyers will have the 1973-74 panel removed from the Stanley Cup. The following year the 2024-25 season the 1974-75 panel will be removed. That means barring a significant acceleration in the aggressive retool that the Flyers are undertaking. Philadelphia will lose its representation in the Stanley Cup.
Philadelphia 76ers– founded circa 1946 as the Syracuse Nationals rebranded and relocated to Philadelphia Pa. 1963 and became known as the 76ers. 3 World Championships, 5 Conference Championships, 12 Division Championships. The Sixer’s drought has been ongoing since 1983 and except for the 2001 season, it has been pretty uninspiring basketball. They were the professional sports team that introduced the “process” to modern pro sports, and they are currently no closer to a Championship than they were over the last 20 years.
Philadelphia Eagles– founded circa 1933. 4 World Championships (3 League, 1 Super Bowl), 4 Conference Championships, 16 Division Championships. The crown jewel of professional Philadelphia sports. The team most people outside of Philadelphia associate the sports madness of Philly sports fans with. They are the unchallenged number one draw in town.
The Eagles draw the most venom of protection from their fans. It’s ok to talk smack about the other 3 but step back jack when talking smack about the Birds.
Summary
To me, it’s the Birds where all of this comes from. See we here in Philly are a proud people and a people who subconsciously want to be respected by the national world when it comes to our teams. Yet teams including the Eagles are a picture of mediocrity and broken promises, and broken hearts. We are stuck with delusional and unqualified owners, criminally incompetent GMs, and worst of all a fan base that has seemed to accept that. We no longer use our superior sports knowledge to dissect and be critical of our teams we use it to make excuses for them.
In Summary, we have 4 major sports teams, 11 World Championships, 25 Conference Championships, and 55 Division Championships in 130 years of competition. That works out to 0.084 World Championships, 0.192 Conference Championships, and 0.423 Division Championships on average throughout that time span.
Why should anybody care about us?
Matt Bednarczyk is your host of Talking Philly Sports With Matty B. He is a proud retired US Army Sergeant First Class, he is also a combat veteran with over 80 months served in Afganistan, and Iraq . Huge Hockey Fan. Matt is a lifelong 4 for 4 Philly sports fan. Born and raised on the Mayfair and Tacony neighborhood lines of Northeast Philly. He brings over 40 years of Philadelphia Sports passion and provides a realistic look at our Major Sports Teams and the most passionate sports fans on the planet. Look for his show live on Edge of Philly Sports.
