For most of us, life is not like a sitcom. We don’t meet up with our friends every single day at Central Perk or MacLaren’s or Cheers, but we do have our spots that we prefer over all others. We may not go there all the time, but we feel most comfortable there. It is where we are in our element, where we invite everyone to join us. It is our home field, as it were.
Mine was Memphis Taproom.
So I was quite dismayed a few weeks ago when I read the news that it would be closing its doors for good.
This wasn’t supposed to be the team that did it.
To become good in the NBA, you almost always have to become bad.
That was the average record of the Philadelphia 76ers for the ten years before Sam Hinkie was hired in 2013 and implemented his so-called “Process.”
Last week, I read (with escalating anger) the story of the Kobe Bryant fan who had the foresight to purchase tickets to what will almost certainly be Kobe’s final NBA game, only to later be screwed by StubHub’s greed. (StubHub has since apologized and promised to make things right, but only because of the outcry the company’s original decision caused.)
The Philadelphia Eagles have never won a championship in the Super Bowl era. In fact, they’ve only ever made it to the Super Bowl twice, in 1980 and 2004.
I was born in 1980, so I don’t remember that team (although I’ve seen plenty of highlights) but the 2004 team is one of my favorite sports teams ever (behind the Michigan Fab Five, the 1992 Dream Team, and a few others). That year, Terrell Owens was a god in Philly.
This team was the pinnacle of the Andy Reid era and it doesn’t look like the Chip Kelly era is going to approach it either. So, rather than dwelling on Sam Bradford, soak up the greatness of Donovan McNabb, T.O., Brian Westbrook, and Brian Dawkins leading the best team in franchise history.
Christopher Pierznik is the author of eight books, all of which can be purchased in paperback and Kindle. His work has appeared on XXL, Cuepoint, Business Insider, The Cauldron, and many more. He has been quoted on Buzzfeed and Deadspin. Subscribe to his monthly reading review newsletter or follow him on Facebook or Twitter.
The Passion of Christopher Pierznik 