I won’t be one of them.
That’s because I was born and raised a fan of all Philadelphia sports and spent a lot of time sitting inside the Vet in South Philly watching the Eagles during my childhood.
Some of my best memories are from sitting inside that dirty, old, magnificent stadium in South Philly. My dad (aka Fast Eddie McDonald) and his good friend Art Johnson had season tickets to the Eagles. When I was about 12 years old my mom finally let me go to a game, and while I was a fan up until that point, that first game solidified my love of the Birds.
My dad’s tickets were in the 700 level which basically means his seats were at the highest point of the stadium — hence the name of my column.
The reason why my mom wouldn’t let me go to an Eagles game when I was younger was because all those stereotypes of Philly fans are basically true.
Eagles fans are crazy. They are loud and tend to use some foul language. They don’t love to see fans of opposing teams in their stadium — and they’re not afraid to let them know it.
There’s a reason why the City of Philadelphia assigned a judge to the Vet to deal with fans who were removed from the stands for various reasons. It was known as “Eagles Court,” and like the time Philly fans tossed snow balls at Santa Claus in 1968, it has become a part of Philly fan lore.
The Eagles’ new stadium — Lincoln Financial Field — is a little bit more family friendly. There is technically no 700 Level because of the design of the stadium. They no longer have a court room in the basement. But rabid fans still fill the Linc up every game and create an incredible home field advantage.
Some Philly fans don’t enjoy being lumped together and called crazy — but I wear it as a badge of honor.
I grew up a lot in the first few games I went to as a kid. I saw some things that my dad made sure to tell me before we got home, “don’t tell your mom about that,” because he knew she might not let me go again.
I’m sure some people would say Eagles fans are crass, obnoxious and rude, but I can say I learned how to be a true fan by going to games at the Vet.
Eagles fans have dealt with years and years of disappointment, but they always show up. That is why you will see me wearing an Eagles hat during bad years and during good years. I’m not going to stop showing my Philly pride just because they aren’t winning games — and that’s what makes the great years so much better.
I was in The Vet in 2003 when the Eagles lost to the Tampa Bay Bucs in the NFC Championship game — which was the final football game in the infamous stadium. It’s a moment I will remember forever, but it’s also one that still stings.
It’s one of those moments that makes Eagles fans the way they are. We are used to disappointment, but we’ll keep wearing our gear and continue to believe that someday they will bring a title back to Philly.
The Patriots in the Brady-Belichick era could not be more different than the Eagles. I know the older Pats fans had to deal with some down years, but for the younger fans it has been nothing but excellence during their lifetime.
So this Sunday will truly be a battle of the best dynasty in NFL history against a franchise desperate for just one Super Bowl title.
It will be a battle of fans expecting a championship every year against a group that usually expects the worst.
I will be heading on a train from Boston to Philly this weekend to watch the big game with some friends. But when I come back to Biddeford early next week I will be wearing my Eagles hat around town — win or lose.
— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at pmcdonald@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.
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