Many years ago, we lived in the Philadelphia area. We were
thirtysomethings at the time and we enjoyed living there. We had hoped it would
be longer, but our service to Grace Bible Church lasted a short six years (1991-1997).
As fond as we were of the area, there was one thing I had no
liking for whatsoever. They were called Eagles fans.
Since the time we lived there, it seems to only have
deteriorated. If you want examples, just look at the videos of how Eagles fans
treated visiting Vikings fan before the Conference Finals. When I observed the middle finger salutes along
with screaming obscenities, it reminded me why I never felt safe wearing
opposing team gear outside my own home.
I would say the cited behavior was downright childish, but I
find children behave better than that. They are hardly examples of what it is
to be the “city of brotherly love.” Never was a city so misnamed.
Of course, it was worse on Sunday evening when Philadelphia
fans took to the streets after winning the Super Bowl. They set fires in the
middle of streets, toppled light poles by City Hall, tipped cars over, and
broke into convenience stores with the declaration “everything is free!”
I have many friends who are Eagles fans, and certainly, they
were not the ones doing such things. I do worry for them though. That city and
that football team combine together to do some very strange things to people. I
can’t help but wonder if this combination causes a virus to infiltrate their
brains and cause them to be irrational.
I first noted this issue back in the nineties. When one of
the young men in our church found out I was a Buffalo Bills fan, he could
hardly contain his glee. “Did you know that the Bills lost four Super Bowls in
a row?” I am hardly proud of this fact, but did he really think that I had
somehow missed this news?
He then proceeded to inform me of their incompetence,
unworthiness, and how overrated they were. I was tempted to defend my beloved
Bills, after all, just making it to the Super Bowl is a worthy accomplishment.
Making it to four in a row seems even more noteworthy. Nevertheless, it seems
this fine fellow was not ready for such rational thought.
So, instead I responded with, “Well, at least we have lost
three more than you have.”
He opened his mouth and extended his arm as if he was about
to say something, but no words came out. After an awkward moment of silence,
his arm came down and his mouth closed and he walked away.
Since that inauspicious event for the young man, the Eagles
returned again to the Super Bowl during the 2004-2005 season with Donovan
McNabb and Terrell Owens, and lost again. So I still could say, “Well, at least we
have lost two more than you have.”
This year, I was caught. Did I dare root for the Eagles and
lose my classic line? Or did I dare root for the Bills archenemy, the Patriots?
This dilemma was mind-boggling.
In the end, how could I not root for Nick Foles, Zach Ertz, Carson
Wentz, and Doug Pederson? They are men of integrity who live out their faith,
in the midst of a competitive and demanding game. I admit, I respect that.
So, what can I say to the Eagles fan? “Well, at least we
have been to one more Super Bowl than you have?” It’s all I got left. It’ll
have to do, I guess.
