2005- Super Bowl XXXIX: Eagles vs Pats
The one and only year that McNabb and TO worked out. Still, the season had its drama. From TO's late-season injury that caused him to miss the playoffs 'til the Super Bowl to McNabb's "sickness" on the final drive of the big game. Despite an early 7-0 lead, the Birds fell 3 pts shy of a championship in Jacksonville, 24-21.
2001- NBA Finals: Sixers vs Lakers
With the best record in the NBA at the All Star Game, the Sixers traded for Dikembe
Mutumbo. I can still clearly remember being in the stands for the final few seconds of Game 7 of the Conference Finals against the Bucks. Starting PF Tyrone Hill stood on the table at press row and waved a rally towel around for 10-plus minutes. The Kobe-Shaq Lakers were the
overwhelming favorites in the Finals, not having lost a single game in the postseason. AI had a memorable Game 1, typified by his OT three-pointer against Tyronne Lue. Despite the Sixers keeping it close in Games 2 and 3, LA took the title in 5.
1997- Stanley Cup Finals: Flyers vs Red Wings
The so-called 'Legion of Doom' of Lindros, LeClair and Renberg led the Flyers to the precipice of a championship. I attended Game 1 at the Spectrum, remembered most for a Sergei Federov goal from outside the blue line on goaltender Ron Hextall. At least it was quick and easy, a Red Wings sweep.
1993- World Series: Phillies vs Blue Jays
Philadelphia's most beloved team in the last 25 years was known for their care-free attitude. A wild team included Dykstra, Daulton, Schilling, Kruk and of course Mitch 'Wild Thing' Williams. I went to Game 1 of the NLCS against the Braves, a game that saw Phillies 3B Kim Batiste commit a crucial error early in the game, before delivering the game-winning hit in extra innings. In the fall classic, Schilling won 2 games. Yet, Mitch Williams blew the lead in Game 4 and Game 6, where he gave up the memorable HR to... you know who.
Now its 2008 and 25 years have come and gone since a championship. Wouldn't it be ironic
that the one major Philadelphia sports team that has been the model for futility, the first franchise to 10,000 losses, a team that failed to sign JD Drew, traded away Bobby Abreu for nothing, a team whose biggest star players for a decade were Robert Person, Kevin Sefcik, Kevin Stocker, Kevin Jordan, Jose Mesa, Ricky Bottalico, Greg Jeffries and Doug Glanville would be the one to break the curse and win a championship first? Only in Sports.
LETS GO PHILS!!!
