Why do we love sports so much? Let's face it. Here in Philly we have seen a lot of losing over the years. I grew up in the 80's with some putrid Phillies teams, post 1983. The Flyers missed the playoffs 5 straight years in the 90's. The Eagles had a lot of lean years before things turned around after Jeff Lurie bought the team. And do I even have to talk about the Sixers? Nothing past the second round of the playoffs since that great run in 2001.
But as low as the lows have been, the highs have been amazing. It's not just about the excitement of winning. It's the memories and the special moments the winning creates. High-fiving and even hugging total strangers because we're all feeling the same joy. And of course celebrating with family,
Some of these moments you will never forget. The picture above is me and my Dad hugging after Super Bowl LII ended, and the Eagles had finally done it. It's a moment that neither of us thought would ever happen. But it did. That hug...I'll always cherish as long as I live. I've hugged my Dad a million times, but that moment...I am tearing up as I think about it. It was special.
Many of you saw the viral moment on the NBC Sports Philly Super Bowl postgame show, where Ray Didinger hugged his son, and they were both crying. His son, David, was at the game for NFL Films and he made his way up to the press box where Ray, along with Governor Ed Rendell, Seth Joyner, Barrett Brooks, and the great Michael Barkann were doing their show. I had Ray on my podcast about a year ago and we talked about that. Ray said at first he was embarrassed about that. I told him moments like that were happening all over The Delaware Valley, and he told me that's exactly what Governor Rendell told him.
That's one of the many beautiful things about sports. So many memories with the people you love are connected to sports. I can remember vividly in 1987 before game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals with the Flyers and the Gretzky Edmonton Oilers, asking my Mom if I could miss school for the parade if they won. Sadly it didn't happen.
Some of the memories are strange too. Don't ask me why I remember this. Mid 80's...my Dad got tickets for us to see the Sixers and New York Knicks at The Spectrum. I forget what I had going on in school the next day, but for some reason I was dreading going. I think something was due that I hadn't finished. So I actually pretended to feel sick at the game and we left early. My parents thought I must really not feel well if I was willing to leave the game early, and they let me stay home the next day. I actually sacrificed part of the game for this little charade. All kinds of memories are connected to sports.
Hopefully we are about a week away from making some new memories. Call me greedy. I want another celebratory hug with my Dad. And my Mom too. My wife and kids aren't huge sports fans, but they know what sports means to me, and I want to celebrate with them too.
So here's hoping the Eagles give us a game we'll long remember, and more memories we will always hold dear in our hearts. When the clock hits zero Super Bowl Sunday night, let the celebration...and the hugging...begin. GO BIRDS!