Philly’s True Story

The Eagles just a won the Super Bowl. I wonder how many times I’ll have to type and say that before it really kicks in. If there’s unprovoked riots in June in Philly, it’ll probably be millions of Eagles fans finally coming to terms with that undeniable fact. The Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LII.

After the game, I walked up to Broad Street with the rest of the depraved legions of Eagles fans. Despite local, national, and international headlines to the opposite (Google “Eagles fans” for some lessons in hyperbole), Philly was not awash in destructive chaos. Crazy and stupid things happen, but every family has their ne’er-do-wells. Despite the boisterous atmosphere, the one thing I noticed as I walked down Broad was an air of disbelief. In all the yelling and cheering and booming fireworks, there was a quiet I sensed. I walked from Reed to City Hall and then down Market to 8th. I saw at worst stupid behavior. I must’ve just missed the smashing of Macy’s windows. I sat for 2 hours at the 8th and Market Patco station with hundreds of other stranded Eagles fans. It was the calmest restless crowd I’ve ever been in. I’ve been in subway stations after regular Phillies games with more rowdy, asshole fans. Maybe it wasn’t shock. Maybe it’s the sublimity of winning.

Big things are happening in Philadelphia. Many neighborhoods are seeing unprecedented growth in new construction and existing home prices. Brought about by an influx of new residents and many born-and-raised deciding to stay and raise a family, there’s a light in Philadelphia that is reaching outwards. We’re drawing attention not only for our sports teams, but our music scene (War on Drugs just won a Grammy and that’s just a sliver of what’s coming from here), our art scene, our restaurants (Google Passyunk Ave), our public projects and so much more. The Eagles are another big thing happening. It almost feels normal, like it should have happened. Even though we had higher hopes than the previous year, going more than 10-6, let alone a Super Bowl, was unrealistic. Anyone that said they knew this was going to happen is lying or crazy. Or a legitimate prophet who I’d like to ask about some other upcoming championship games. And then Wentz went down. And then Foles struggled but we still won. Then our backup quarterback led us past the Falcons, the Vikings, and the indomitable Patriots. It wasn’t supposed to happen. But in happening, it was. This is what is happening in Philadelphia. While the city faces serious challenges, even in the midst of its renaissance, big things are happening now in Philadelphia. I wonder how long the outside world’s prejudices will last?