A few months ago — I wandered to my local Dick’s Sporting Goods. The store was buzzing not just with the excitement of the Eagles. On this day — Eagles rookie sensation Cooper DeJean was going to be signing autographs. Amid the frantic sizing of Eagles Super Bowl LIX Gear and the careful selection of football sporting goods that could be the stepping-stone for the next generation to cultivate NFL careers — the store was buzzing with as much delight and excitement about the Eagles as the cold February Day when they paraded down Broad Street.
But something else caught my attention as the line formed and began to stretch what seemed like a mile long. A father and his young son had a place towards the front of the line. Dad was sporting a Hurt’s jersey and his son was proudly wearing a Cooper DeJean one. There is no doubt — even at six or seven years old that his brain was overwhelmed with the joyous opportunity of seeing one of his idol Eagles. But in the midst of this euphoria — I became aware of something much more important.
He was there with his Dad.
Like many of you — Philly sports was not something that I chose. And it wasn’t something that I was born to. In a manner of speaking — I was commanded to it just hours after birth. When I came home from the hospital several days later wearing an Eagle’s Kelly Green Jersey — it wasn’t like I could have rolled over in my crib and declared, “How bout’ them St. Louis Cardinals?”
I spent the days of my youth unconditionally immersed in my father and grandfather’s undying love for Philly sports. It wasn’t long before I had it, too. Eagles games on Sunday when it seemed like nothing else on earth moved, August afternoon’s of Phillies baseball, and local college sports for almost every season.
But the Eagles of today have given us a different reality than we grew up with. Even at a young age — I was keenly aware of the frustration in the City about the Eagles’ championship drought. That feeling of hopelessness was unmistakably detectable. Our only mis-step was falling into the trap of despair that allowed ourselves to think that they couldn’t or wouldn’t win one.
Today’s younger generation feels the exhilaration of our Eagles. They understand the excitement and boundless possibilities that this team has. They are excited for the start of Training Camp — the yearly possibility of ending a season like the last one did — with our heads in the clouds. They have no relationship to the teams of Marion Campbell, Buddy Ryan, or Ray Rhodes.
Father and son were almost at the autograph desk when they went beyond my sight. I can only imagine how excited he was to meet Cooper DeJean. He’ll no doubt remember it for the rest of his life.
After all — he was there with his Dad.
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