Philly Sports Fans: Stop the Fatalism, Enjoy the Ride

This week dawns with nothing but great news for the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies fans. We go to work weary-eyed after the Eagles big win on Sunday night. Tonight, we have the opportunity to see the Phillies win another NLCS.

These are the best of times, coming off a year in 2022 that was also the best of times. Why are so many still hiding under blankets and assuming the worst?

After the Friday night loss that tied the NLCS at two games apiece, the vitriol from many in the fan base was “that’s it, we’re dead,” “bats go silent at the worst time,” “fun while it lasted,” and other nonsense.

Did the 2022 Phillies not show you all you needed to know about their resilience and talent? Why are so many so quick to just fold their tents and assume a terrible outcome? Then on Saturday night, they are knocking people over to pile back on the bandwagon? Those are the worst fans among us. It doesn’t have to be that way. No, there isn’t an excuse for it.

I understand that the offensive numbers made the Dolphins look like a juggernaut. I also know that you have Google.

If you took ten minutes to research who they had played and beaten, you would have known those stats were inflated and acquired by beating bad opponents. The Dolphins have played two quality opponents. They lost by 14 to the Eagles (and it should have been far worse) and by 28 to the Bills. The opponents they trounced had a 5-24 record going into this week. So why all the fear? A lack of research?

Nothing requires you to be fatalistic. Fans older than me can recite all the horror stories of seasons past. Truth is these are the best memories you might ever have! The Eagles and Phillies dominate this city’s emotions.

The frustration is logical, but expecting something bad to happen is ridiculous. Can you even enjoy these great times or are you worried they might not be real? This is better than we usually ever are, so why not enjoy it?

I hope fans can put the fatalism behind us. I’m just going to enjoy the ride!

Watch The John Kincade Show live on the 97.5 The Fanatic YouTube page on weekday mornings from 6am-10am.

The Philadelphia Eagles will wear their Kelly Green jerseys on Sunday Night Football against the Miami Dolphins. Kelly Green mania has swept Philadelphia since the organization announced the throwback alternate uniforms.

Head coach Nick Sirianni spoke to the media on Wednesday about the appeal of the alternate uniforms.

He shared an interesting story about his college career at Mount Union and how uniforms can add some good energy to the locker room. He added that he can’t get his son to wear anything besides his Kelly Green A.J. Brown jersey.

Wearing a different uniform doesn’t give a team an advantage, but Sirianni spoke with a positive sentiment.

The color distribution at Lincoln Financial Field in recent seasons has been a little bit surprising. The most successful eras in Eagles history have come in the Midnight Green uniforms, from the peaks of Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid to the miracle ride with Nick Foles in Super Bowl LII to the early success of the Sirianni era.

Why do we still see so many Reggie White and Randall Cunningham jerseys in the crowd then?

The Eagles are more central to the culture of their city than any other team in the NFL. Generations of Philadelphians have passed down fandom to their children and grandchildren. Wearing the Kelly Green has become a tribute to the long history.

Fans of the Philadelphia Eagles have been through hardship, but they’ve come out on the other side.

Wearing Kelly Green reminds Eagles fans that they’ve taken a few punches to get to a point when they can appreciate modern success while honoring the roots of a beloved tradition and the identity of the fan base.

The throwback merchandise sold out faster than the speed of light. Expect Lincoln Financial Field to be painted with Kelly Green on Sunday.

If you need evidence, just look at the excitement on social media from this week.

What better way could there be to kick off the festivities than with a tribute to the late, great Reggie White? “The Minister of Defense” last played for the Eagles in 1992, but you’ll see plenty of fans at the Linc wearing his jersey to this day.

This one is just incredible. “The Ultimate Weapon” revolutionized the quarterback position in Kelly Green. The new franchise quarterback gets to pay tribute to a legendary predecessor against the Dolphins.

Eagles fans became absolutely obsessed with Kelly Green merchandise the second the team released it. There’s something fascinating about wearing Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, Jalen Carter, or Nick Foles jersey from a different era.

The John Kincade Show’s elite weekly guest reposted a picture of Jalen Hurts, Dallas Goedert, DeVonta Smith, and James Bradberry standing on Broad Street with City Hall in the background. Who better to represent a historical tribute in the city of Philadelphia than William Penn?

Those helmets remind the older generation of Eagles fans what it was like to watch the “Gang Green” defense under Buddy Ryan and Bud Carson. They’ll get a taste of nostalgia when the Eagles face the Dolphins on Sunday Night Football.

Brandon Graham is the only current player who wore the Kelly Green in Week 1 of the 2010 season. The Eagles celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 1960 NFL Championship team in a home game against the Green Bay Packers, the team they famously defeated for the title at Franklin Field.

Count on Jeff McLane for anything and everything going on at the NovaCare Complex, even a backdrop change during media availability.

The Eagles have had more success in Midnight Green under the ownership of Jeffery Lurie. However, Philadelphia fans still have a place in their hearts for the teams that wore Kelly Green. These fans have hung through the tough times and come out on the other side.

Look at those beauties. Imagine how much better they’re going to look on Sunday with the jerseys.

Stop it. Someone actually had to ask this question.

The national media has entered the mix. They won’t hate on Philadelphia as much as they have in the past though (hopefully).

Watch The John Kincade Show live on the 97.5 The Fanatic YouTube page on weekday mornings from 6am-10am.