From A Philadelphia Eagles Fan to Joe Banner: Thank You
Nick CarrawayWhile I was musing about the upcoming NFL season the other day, I said to myself, "Self, you are really lucky to be a Philadelphia Eagles fan." Not only are they an organization that consistently makes good sense with their off field decisions, they provide you with excitement on the field too. And the best part about being an Eagles fan is that even if you talk sports with a fan of another NFL team, they bear no ill will, no animosity, no prejudice whatsoever toward Philly fans or our football team. I saw just how easy I had it as a fan of the Birds, compared to the hard time I would get if I liked another team, like say the Dallas Cowboys. And it was
only after this realization that I came up with the great idea of writing a thank you letter to Eagles President Joe Banner for all the effort he puts into making the life of every Eagles fan so fun and carefree. So I got my out my pen and paper, wrote my underpaid and underappreciated team president a thank you note, and here's what it said:
Dear Joe Banner,
As a lifelong fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, I just wanted to say thank you so much for the great job you are doing. It is just so easy to be a fan of this football team! Nevermind that as a native of the Philadelphia area, if I chose to support another NFL team, my friends and neighbors would almost certainly be understanding and accepting. Even if Philly fans didn't have the impeccable reputation for friendliness and tolerance for which they are so well known throughout the world of sports, I'd still be an Eagles fan.
It's not the opinions of my peers that keep me devoted to this team, it's what the organization does that really counts. There are all the past seasons that we totally could've made it to the big game if the Giants or Cowboys hadn't gotten so many fluke wins. Or how about the brilliant draft picks of exciting, successful players like Antone Davis, Mike Mamula, and Freddie Mitchell? Just the fact that you can keep important roster spots like the wide receiver position filled with outstanding players year after year not only makes it fun to be a fan but also gives me a chance to buy jerseys that I know will still be relevant for many seasons to come. Now where's my #81 jersey?
And then on the rare occassion that the team does do something questionable on the field, you have provided us with a head coach whose unmatched gift for eloquence and candid answers during press conferences instantly relieves any of our silly fears. I don't know if there's anything that Andy Reid couldn't explain away with his calm, intelligent, open minded demeanor. If he ever loses interest in sports, Andy's public speaking talent makes him a shoe in for political office. Watch out, President Obama!
Oh, and Mr. Banner, I almost forgot to say thanks for the hard work you and your staff do to maintain the Eagles organization's positive image around the league. It's almost as if the Philadelphia Eagles are America's team too! Sometimes I feel like Joe Buck and the other broadcasters on the national networks are rooting for the Eagles just as much as the local guys who call our games on the radio. It's like no matter who I listen to, they all have nothing but positive things to say about our football team.
You know, the team's perception doesn't just affect the coaching staff and the players, it also has an effect on how people treat us fans too. For instance (and I know this is a crazy thing to suggest), if the team did do something to damage it's credibility, then Eagles' fans would have to brace themselves for some serious backlash. I don't know if some of our supporters who are used to being treated so fairly would be able to handle the insults and jeers that the fans from the more uncivilized cities (Pittsburgh) would undoubtedly inflict upon us. Now I know that you would never willingly let the fans down in this way, because like me, you probably believe that upholding a good reputation is worth more to the Eagles and its fans than any amount of victories or income earned. So even if you do make the occassional mistake here and there, I know the fans will stick by the team because of your long track record of doing what is best for the Philadelphia community. There is practically no boneheaded blunder that could make me doubt my allegiance to the Eagles or my faith in the competency of your organization. Almost nothing would shake the Philadelphia fans' love for this team, except for maybe (and this is a real long shot) if you allowed something really crazy to happen like letting the Eagles sign a once insanely high paid player who threw his quarterback career away to become a federally convicted criminal and sociopathic dog killer that hasn't played football in three years and doesn't fit in our offense anyway since he can't throw a pass in the pocket nearly as well as our consistently top rated starter or either of his two talented back ups. Only that might shake this town's faith in its football team, but you wouldn't ever do that to the fans, would you, Mr. Banner?
Thanks again,
A Devoted Fan
Reader Comments (4)
I am in Savannah, GA only three hours south of Atlanta as I write this. I was fortunate enough to visit the ATL for a Phillies/Braves game, in which the Phils won. And even though the Phils won, and I had on all my Phils gear and was disparaging the Braves to everyone in sight, all anyone cared about was Michael Vick coming to Philadelphia. That city has not lost any love for its once franchise star, and they had no qualms expressing their sadness in his departure. I knew that while it was okay to mock and belittle the Braves, it would have been suicide to disrespect Vick. His iconic stature in Atlanta and much of GA is trully impressive. And as much as I wanted to express how I trully felt about his acquistion, I must admit the ATL citizens' confidence in him got me thinking that maybe Joe Banner, Jeffrey Lurie, and Andy Reid just made the most brilliant acquistion in their 11-year tenure together. Only time and another untimely injury to Donovan McNabb will tell!
Now I know Edmonds has not been sightseeing in Savannah, but orchestrated the acquisition. This is a the worst thing an organization can do to destroy the public image, except maybe if you have a head coach who sons keep violating their parole.
Second chances? The guy gambled on dogs, then he hung them. He had a dog fighting ring in his house. There is no amount of compassion I could have for this person as quarterback, let alone a leader of the team I have followed since birth. He not only disgraces the uniform -- the same one TO and Donte Stalworth wore -- but istantly discredits the city of Philadelphia.
His aquisition for 1.6 million and 5.6 next year -- he should play for free and give the money away to spca -- is clearly a message to the world that we will stoop to any level to win. There are many crimes you could commit and be forgiven, and I am not saying that he has not done his sentence or has shown remorse, but the guy beat and tortured animals for sport. In my mind, these creatures are helpless as children. You can deduce the logic.
So when I support my team, I will support a team who supports (gives money) someone who tortured and abused animals, gambled openly (no, no in sports) and then tried to spin it and say it was out of spirit of kindness and forgiveness. This is the same team who would not sign Dawkins, a community and team leader, because he was too old.
The Eagles displayed no class again -- and I agree with Nick. There are more important things than sports and more people deserve a shot in NFL than a convicted dog abuser and tax evader who is getting a second shot. Good bye Eagles and Fly.
My new team is the Browns -- Go Dogs.
I by no means condone the actions of Vick or any of the participants of such heinous crimes, however, one must step back and view the situation realistically. Do you really think that Vick is the only player to be involved in that sort of crime? Do you think Pete Rose is the only player involved in that sort of gambling? OR do you think they are simply the ones who were caught? These athletes are young and rich. They are 20 years old, maybe 25 when they are already making multiple millions of dollars. They are far too immature to understand the power they wield by being that wealthy in a country in which money buys everything. Give a young, testosterone-driven athlete unlimited power and money and you yield these results. The amount of money these people make as well as the obnoxious attitude of superiority (which the money only fuels) already makes these characters impossible to look up to. They are the worst role models for our children already, there is little anyone could do to lower my opinion of this system. So, as far as acquiring Vick, go ahead and make the most logical, efficient decision to win games.
I agree. There is no way I can sit here and write and pretend I won't be yelling and cheering my head off in three weeks for the Birds. Voice of Reason is right. The Eagles are like a wayward brother or sister, and in the end you just stick with them.
I wish I would boo at least once but when Vick comes in and we have the ball inside the twenty, and we score on a option bootleg, I will be the first one to say I was behind the move all the way.
Football may be played on Sundays, but it has nothing to do with religion or morality -- thanks for reminding me and giving me back my amoral Sundays.