It's always been that way -- or at least as far as any of us can remember.
So, anytime Philly wins anything there's a sort of unexpected delight that turns into incandescent jubilation. It's sort of like: "OoooohhhWOW! This is happenin' to US? TO US? REALLY!"
And for Philly to find teams going to the World Series and the Super Bowl within the course of just a few months is nothing sort of overwhelming.
Which makes today's Eagles (aka Iggles) win and tonight's celebration all the more special.
Because Philly is the preverbal underdog. It's the whole Rocky thing, 'ya know? And Philadelphians love the role of the underdog. So, when they start to win too much, they get a bit suspicious. They start to worry. They start to think that some kind of ultimate jinx might be in the mix. Because underdogs can only win so much. Otherwise, they might lose their unique distinction as underdogs. I mean, how much can you defy the odds before you become an overwhelming favorite? And Philly types don't know how to inhabit the role of the favorite. They wouldn't know where to begin.
Maybe it has something to do with being stuck between the nation's financial center (New York) and its capital (Washington). But whatever it is, Philly almost always feels a bit left out -- somehow a bit diminished. Well, the world's most exciting city casts a huge shadow from the north and the world's most powerful city looms ominous to the south. And neither one of those places is particularly demure. How would you feel?
But now Philly's Eagles are going to the Super Bowl for the second time in five years. And they're had one of the winningest seasons in NFL history. And they're the National Conference champs. And they're won the last two BIG Games handily, swamping their opponents.
So, Philly -- what now?
Stay scrappy, keep your fingers crossed, huff 'n puff and pray, I suppose.
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