What Turned Me Into a Philadelphia Eagles Fan...

As a kid growing up in Kentucky, there were three things made important to me. Family, UK Basketball, and the Washington Redskins (in no particular order). What about growing up in Kentucky made the Washington Redskins important to me? My father.

We would watch whatever games that would be aired here, and he was always wearing his burgundy and gold. While I enjoyed watching the games, we had the UK basketball to enjoy together, but I needed something different.

Don't get me wrong, I loved and still love Washington, just wanted something to call my own. So, I chose the Dallas Cowboys.

Blue and silver, with the star on the helmets. Yes, kids loved the 'Boys. But I was interested in watching just one. Tony Dorsett. Man could he run. And run. Unbelievable talent. But after the 1987 season, he was traded to the Denver Broncos.

Heart broken, left without a team to root for, I looked to another team in the NFC East. The Philadelphia Eagles. After watching the few Eagles games that were aired in our area, a player caught my eye.

Randall Cunningham.

His style of play was so different from what I had seen on a pro level, I just couldn't wait to watch more. As I got older, and more forgiving of teams who chose to get rid of my favorite players, I continued to watch my beloved Randall go on to a 15-1 season with the Minnesota Vikings.

But my love for Philly was unweathered. I stuck it out through Jim McMahon, Rodney Peete, Ty Detmer (twice), Bobby Hoying, and Doug Pederson.

Players like, Keith Byars, Herschel Walker, Ricky Watters, the late great Reggie White, Corey Simon, Mike Quick, James Thrash, Irving Fryar, Troy Vincent, and Bobby Taylor made it all worth while.

The history, Norm Van Brocklin, Chuck Bednarik, Steve Van Buren, Sonny Jurgensen, Ron Jaworski, Harold Carmichael, even Mike Ditka.

And now to the later years with Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, Jerome McDougle, Jon Runyan, DeSean Jackson, Asante Samuel, Chad Lewis, Chris Cocong, Stewart Bradley, Brent Celek, Hank Fraley, Tra Thomas, William "don't call me Tra" Thomas, and Tra Thomas.

I could list more that have made me love the Eagles as much as I do, but I won't waste your time. I even stuck it out through the T.O. debacle.

Even though losing Brian Dawkins hurt me to cry actual tears, I still love my Eagles. And I will continue to love them. Am I as passionate as the average fan from Philly?

Absolutely.

I will yell, moan, complain, call for their heads, throw snowballs at Santa, right next to my brothers in Green.

I even went as far as getting a $300 all authentic custom NFL jersey for the mascot. the number 00 with SWOOP across the back. My 8 month old daughter has Eagles gear. My 10 year old says she is an Eagles, but I know she is just humoring me. For reasons I cannot disclose at this time, she is a Baltimore fan.

I am, and always will be an Eagles fan. I am an Old School NFC East kinda guy. And I will leave you with this.

Fly, Eagles fly.