Philadelphia Flyers : It's The Attitude

Just Our Luck

What kind of luck does it take to go 25 years without one of your four major sport franchises winning a championship?  The Philadelphia kind.

Not since 1983 when the 76ers led by Mo Cheeks and Dr J brought home the hardware has The City of Brotherly Love seen one of its four major sports teams win a championship.

Sure, we have had a lot of great teams since then and I have seen my share of great Philly highlights, uplifting moments, last minute comebacks, and inspirational victories over rival opponents but nothing that brings the atmosphere and satisfaction that a championship title does.

As a fan, I have witnessed the misadventures of the ’93 Phillies, a team with leaders like ‘The Krucker’ ‘Dutch’ Dalton, and ‘Nails’.  

I have grown up with the Charles Barkely (“I am not a role model”) led 76ers, the Legion of Doom Flyers, the Buddy Ball Eagles (“He only catches touchdown passes”) with Scramblin’ Randall and that dominating defense known as Gang Green.

I have experienced Ray Rhodes and somehow grew to love the “For who, For what?” alligator-armed Ricky Waters.

I have seen Allen Iverson and Larry Brown lead a bunch of role players to victory in the first game of the NBA Finals against the previously undefeated LA Lakers. 

I have seen Donovan McNabb lead an offense whose best receiver was Todd Pinkston to the NFC Championship three years in a row then overcome that hump in the fourth year.

I have even seen Smarty Jones finish one place out of being the first Triple Crown Winner in 26 years.

As long as I have been a fan of Philly sports, I have witnessed some of this city’s greatest championship runs end in heartbreak over injuries, bad calls, and bad pitches (ie, Mitch Williams). 

One championship run was even ended at the hands of a team that cheated its way to three Superbowls in four years only to be penalized a draft pick and $500,000, barely enough to cover the League’s minimum player salary. 

Now, I do not know about you, but I would pay that much for one SuperBowl, let alone three.

Is there any reason I should have expected this year to be different?

Although no one at the beginning of the year thought much of the Flyers, they turned us all into believers, didn’t they?

After all, we have seen so many of our talented teams lose to lesser teams that were just hot at the right time (Phillies vs Rockies just last season) and it happens even more frequently in hockey. 

Edmonton, Anaheim, Calgary, Tampa Bay, Carolina, New Jersey, etc.  All these recent championship contenders were hot at the right time.

Couldn’t this be our year?....please?

As Philly fans, do we not deserve a championship more than anyone else?

Of course not!!!

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