For the most part, Philadelphia fans have suffered through miserable seasons. But there were also seasons that we came so close. Those may have even been more disappointing. The Flyers lost in the Stanley Cup Finals in 87 and 97. The Sixers lost in the NBA Finals in 01. And the Eagles lost in the Super Bowl in 04.
I was three the last time there was a parade down Broad Street. Of coarse, I don't remember it.
Heck, I even went nuts over the Sixers in 2001, and I am not a basketball fan. How about Smarty Jones. A city going nuts over a horse. You know Philadelphia is desperate.
My motto - next year is the year. I have been saying that for a long time.
Why do I bring this up, you ask? The Philadelphia Inquire ran a very intesresting article today on the history of the long drought fans have had. Here are some clips from the story:
Errors of their ways
10 moves that backfired: 1) The Phillies pass on Jim Leyland and hire Charlie Manual as their manager. 2) The Sixers trade Moses Malone for Jeff Ruland. 3) To save time Mr. Snider, could you give the media a list of the NHL coaches Bob Clarke did not fire. 4) Yes Mr. Bramna, as soon as Mr. Tose busts on his blackjack hand, I'm sure he'll entertain your generous offer to purchase the Eagles. 5) Mr. Giles, sir, looking over this cocktail-napkin lineup, are you sure the Phillies can be the team of the '80s with Rick Shu at at third and Steve Jeltz at short. 6) Coach Ryan, do you think we should teach Randall how to run a few plays or will you just let him run around back there. 7) Forsberg, Schmorsberg, he's just a little Swede, eh? When you get a chance to trade for Eric Lindros, you give 'em what they want. 8) Eenie, meenie, minie, moe. That's it, I'll hire Doug Moe. 9) Ed. I'll admit the hard line didn't work with Curt Schilling, but I guarantee Scott Rolen will carve in and accept our generous offer. Larry assures me he is a big wuss. 10) Is it my imagination Andy, or does Donovan have the heaves out there?
A home that sours on many
THE JOKE WAS not what was alarming. Alarming, for a fan in Philadelphia, is that no one needed an explanation — not a Met, not a Cardinal, not any of the baseball personnel or media who witnessed it at Shea Stadium last month.
When former Phillie Billy Wagner tossed a ball at former Phillie Scott Rolen with the words, "Going back to Philly?" during the National League Championship Series, everyone got it. Hah-hah. Go back to Philly? As another former Phillie, Curt Schilling, had said just days before in an interview for this column, "It comes down to two viewpoints. You're either asking someone to come back to prison, or come back to the Garden of Eden."
Schilling has said repeatedly that he wanted to come back after winning a championship in Arizona. He still blames the Phillies front office for not making it happen. Traded to the Flyers after winning one Stanley Cup, Mark Recchi left, came back and left again before winning his second Stanley Cup last year in Carolina.
Reggie White found his slice of heaven in Green Bay. Seth Joyner won his Super Bowl in Denver. Keith Byars reached a Super Bowl with the Patriots.
Darren Daulton went to Miami for his World Series ring. So did Jim Eisenreich.
Most recently, it was favorite son-turned-whipping-boy Rolen who found his ultimate prize in St. Louis.
"There's only two experiences in Philadelphia,'' Schilling said. "There's no neutral experience like in Arizona. I loved Arizona. It was a phenomenal experience there, because I grew up there. But I don't think the fans were crushed when I left. When we won in 2001, it wasn't a life-altering experience for those people. Now in 2004, in Boston, that was life-altering. And it would be that way in Philly."
So close, yet still short
1993 PHILLIES
In the finals: Lost to Toronto, 4-2.
Prospects coming in: The Phillies finished with the third-worst record in baseball and finished 26 games behind the Pirates in 1992. Despite this, Daily News columnist Bill Conlin made the Phils his preseason pick to win the division.
Season recap: The tone was set early when the Phillies started with a sweep at Houston. The club was in first place the entire season except for 1 day and set a Veterans Stadium record for home attendance with more than 3.1 million.
Memorable moments: Milt Thompson’s remarkable catch at San Diego that robbed Bob Geren of a grand slam and preserved a 5-3 win ... Mariano Duncan’s grand slam off St. Louis’ legendary closer Lee Smith on Mother’s Day, giving the Phils a 6-5 victory ... Mitch Williams’ game-winning, RBI single at 4:40 a.m. on July 3 to beat San Diego ... Beating the clean-cut, buttoned-up Braves in the NLCS ... Losing the World Series on Joe Carter’s three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth.
Top players: Leadoff hitter extraordinaire Lenny Dykstra led the National League in hits, runs, walks and at-bats and finished second to Barry Bonds in MVP voting. Dykstra tied the then-record with six postseason homers, including a 10th-inning blast that won Game 5 of the NLCS ... Darren Daulton, the glue to the club, had 24 homers and 105 RBI ... Mitch Williams had 43 saves, but is best remembered for failing to nail down Game 6 of the World Series.
Legacy: Despite the unfortunate ending, this team is the most beloved squad since the 1980 club that won the Phillies’ only world championship. It was a team full of lovable characters and dirty uniforms.
1996-97 FLYERS
In the finals: Lost to Detroit, 4-0.
Prospects coming in: The Flyers were coming off their second consecutive division championship, but had lost to the underdog Florida Panthers in the second round the year before.
Season recap: The Flyers went 12-10-1 as Eric Lindros missed the first 23 games of the season with a groin injury, but rebounded to finish with 103 points. Only New Jersey (104) had more. They blew through the Eastern Conference playoffs, beating Pittsburgh, Buffalo and the Rangers each in five games.
Memorable moments: Lindros’ leadership during the Eastern Conference playoffs, when he had 11 goals and 12 assists in 15 games. Had two goals — including a penalty shot — in the semifinal series clincher at Buffalo and the game-winner with 6.8 seconds left to give the Flyers a 3-1 series lead in the conference finals over the Rangers ... After falling behind 0-3 in the finals to Detroit, Flyers coach Terry Murray said the team was going through a “choking situation.” For all the heat Murray took for the inflammatory comment, many people overlook the fact that he was right.Top players: John LeClair had 50 goals, his second of three-consecutive 50-goal seasons, and paced the Flyers with 97 points and an outrageous plus-44 ... Lindros had 79 points in 52 games.
Legacy: The Flyers took the proverbial next step by getting to the finals, but getting swept by Detroit zapped all of the franchise’s momentum. When the Flyers traded Mikael Renberg the following August, they had broken up the legendary “Legion of Doom” line (Renberg-Lindros-LeClair). The Flyers followed up the sweep by getting bounced in the first round of the next two playoffs
2000-01 SIXERS
In the finals: Lost to the Lakers, 4-1.
Prospects coming in: The Sixers won 49 games the previous season before falling to eventual conference champ Indiana in the second round. They nearly traded Allen Iverson to Detroit in the offseason.
Season recap: The Sixers parlayed the only Atlantic Division title of the Iverson era into a berth in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1983, and Iverson was selected as the league MVP. Their 56-26 record earned them the conference’s No. 1 seed, which was key because both the conference semifinals and finals went to seven games. Philadelphia beat Toronto, 88-87, on May 20 and Milwaukee 108-91 exactly two weeks later at the First Union Center.
Memorable moments: Iverson twice topped the 50-point mark as the Sixers prevailed in a thrilling, seven-game series against Toronto that was not decided until Vince Carter’s final-second, Game 7 shot missed ... Two weeks later, Sixers advanced to the Finals with a Game 7 win over Milwaukee ... Iverson stepping over a fallen Tyronn Lue after Lue tried vainly to defend a three-pointer in the Sixers’ overtime win over the Lakers in Game 1 of the Finals. After that, though, Los Angeles captured the next four.
Top players: Iverson won his second scoring title with a then-career high 31.1 points per game ... Aaron McKie, the league’s sixth man of the year, averaged 11.6 points in 31.5 minutes per game.
Legacy: Their relentless work on defense overcame a lot of their offensive shortcomings and endeared them to many fans. Winning a pair of Game 7s at home to reach the Finals wasn’t too shabby, either.
2004 EAGLES
In the finals: Lost to the Patriots, 24-21, in Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, Fla.
Prospects coming in: Had lost in the last three NFC Championship Games, the last two — against Tampa Bay and Carolina — at home. With the acquisition of wide receiver Terrell Owens addressing a glaring weakness at wide receiver, anything less than a Super Bowl would be considered a disappointment.
Season recap: Started 13-1 to lock up homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. Finished 13-3 after losing the final two meaningless games.
Key move: Getting Owens meant quarterback Donovan McNabb would have an unquestioned No. 1 receiver. Owens had three touchdown catches in the season opener against the Giants and set an Eagles record with 14 TD catches on the season.
Memorable moments: Donovan McNabb scrambling for 14 seconds before hitting Freddie Mitchell with a 60-yard bomb during the Eagles’ resounding, 49-21 win at Dallas on a Monday night in November ... Owens breaking his fibula on Dec. 19 against the Cowboys, but miraculously returning less than 7 weeks later with nine catches for 122 yards in the Super Bowl ... The blizzard that dumped a foot of snow on Lincoln Financial Field the day before the NFC Championship Game, and Chad Lewis celebrating the game-clinching touchdown on his rear because he tore a ligament in his foot making the acrobatic catch.Top players: McNabb set numerous career highs, including completions (300), completion percentage (64), touchdown passes (31) and passer rating (104.7) ... Owens also set the Eagles’ record with seven games of at least 100 yards receiving ... The Eagles tied a team record with 10 Pro Bowl invitees.
Legacy: The Eagles had a chance to beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl, but could not overcome four turnovers and poor clock management at the end of the game. A controversy followed that McNabb was too ill to literally call plays during the game, something that did not sit well with many fans. This may go down as the Eagles’ best opportunity under Andy Reid to end the team’s championship drought, which dates to 1960.
Which team breaks through? Experts and fans weigh in.
PHILLIES
Believe it or not, the fightin' Phils are the closest to winning a championship in town. Howard, Utley, Rollins and Hamels as building blocks give you a shot.
The Phillies have the best chance to break the spell because, in my opinion, they are the only one of the four major teams where the needle is pointing up. The other teams are losing ground, none faster than the Flyers. The Phillies are the only team in town with what you would describe as an exciting young nucleus of players. The franchise players on the other teams are aging and in decline.
Speaking today, the Flyers and Sixers are going to have to struggle to make the playoffs and the Eagles were listed as underdogs to ‘bye week' in most sports books. Philadelphia fans have to be looking forward to pitchers and catchers reporting more than they have in years. The Phillies should emerge from the hot stove league as legitimate contenders and Philadelphia's best chance to win the city's next championship.
The Phillies. Such an easy choice, and it has nothing to do with the fact that baseball features the most title turnover and the club's situation with a dynamic foundation. You see, it is only apropos that the Franchise of 10,000 Losses and the source of our greatest woe represent our salvation.
EAGLES
In the animal kingdom, most competitions would be settled by the survival of the fittest. While we love the Phillies, Flyers and Sixers, we would lean toward the Eagles based on a combination of past performance, player prospects, and our passionate support of our Zoo Eagle who is also hungry for a championship ring.
If it happens in my time [and that's a big if] I think the Eagles will win a championship first. Why? Because of Joe Banner. To win in the NFL you need to be smart, strategic and absolutely committed to winning. When negotiating the stadium deals I came away with the view that Joe Banner is exactly what the Eagles need. Someone who is committed to winning and who knows how to get there.
Eagles! They are already on the brink of winning the Super Bowl. They just have to focus and pay more attention to details. They certainly have the talent; they now have to mature as a team.
If Donovan McNabb stays healthy, I believe the Eagles have the best chance to become Philadelphia champions. McNabb is the best quarterback in the NFL, the team can be explosive on the field, and I believe that makes the Eagles more competitive to win a parade on Broad Street than the other teams.
SIXERS
Because Mo Cheeks will get the most out of his players, as well as Allen Iverson having the 'heart of a lion!
They were 3-0 to start the season, at one point the only undefeated team in the Eastern Conference. They've already beaten the defending champs. They are going to sneak up on a lot of people.
FLYERS
The Flyers, because they play like a team, act like a team and win like a team. There is no showboating, it's pure teamwork and they play like they really want to do the job they are paid to do. And that is to Win!
NO TEAM
NO Pro team will ever win a championship in the city. Just get over it. Relish in the suffering. Drink more.
ANY TEAM
All of these many years later does it really matter who brings home a championship. Somebody just needs to bring home the damn thing so we can get over the "why we don't win" hump. I've got jerseys ready to wear for any and all championship parades.
Winner Wonderland
THE REALITY IS THIS. In the last 3 years, the Philadelphia area has had three champion racehorses to call its own, three more championships than the four professional sports teams over the last 23 years.
Whoever says Philly can't win must have missed the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, the 2005 Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the 2006 Kentucky Derby.
Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex and Barbaro won five of seven Triple Crown races and came within less than a half second of winning all seven. That is championship performance, by any definition.
When Smarty ran in the Preakness, everybody in the Palm gathered around a small television at the bar. When he nearly ran out of the TV, the sound was like an Eagles game.
Had Smarty won the Belmont Stakes, there was talk of putting him on a flatbed and rolling him down Broad Street. They probably should have done it anyway.
YEAR BY YEAR
EAGLES
1983: Defensive coordinator Marion Campbell is promoted to replace Dick Vermeil. Birds lose 9 of their last 10 and oddly win just once at home. Mike Quick catches 69 passes for 1,409 yards and 13 TDs.
1984: In his final season, Wilbert Montgomery averages 3.9 yards on 201 carries. Quick exceeds 1,000 receiving yards for the second of 3 straight years. Birds never overcome losing 4 of first 5.
1985: After four straight losses toward the end of the season, Campbell is out and Fred Bruney is in ... for 1 game. Rookie Randall Cunningham subs occasionally for Ron Jaworski.
1986: Buddy Ryan era begins. He begins to weed out Jaworski, using Cunningham on third-and-long. Randall rushes for 540 yards and 5 TDs.
1987: Players’ strike causes the regulars to miss three games, but Ryan endears himself to his real players with his disinterest in coaching “scabs.” After strike, Ryan orders a fake kneel-down late in game against Cowboys and Tom Landry.
1988: Division-clinching win in finale in Dallas secures playoff spot, but loss in infamous “Fog Bowl” in Chicago is first of Buddy’s Eagles playoff failures.
1989: Cunningham has 4,021 yards total offense, while famed “46” defense produces a second straight season of at least 30 picks and sets club record with 62 sacks. Home wild-card loss to Rams, 21-7, ends season.
1990: After 2-4 start, they win 8 of 10 to end regular season. Cunningham rushes for record 942 yards and throws for 3,466 and 30 TDs. Home wild-card loss to Redskins (20-6) is last game for Ryan, fired shortly after the season.
1991: Rich Kotite’s debut is spoiled when Cunningham suffers season-ending knee injury. Defense allows just 151 passing yards and 71 rushing per game, but the juggling at QB (Jim McMahon, Jeff Kemp, Brad Goebel and Pat Ryan) couldn’t get Birds in playoffs.
1992: Four wins to start season and four to finish help the Birds to postseason, where they get first playoff win since 1980 — 36-20 at New Orleans. For the year, Clyde Simmons (19) and Reggie White (14) combine for 33 sacks.
1993: A 4-0 start goes to waste as Cunningham’s season ends in fourth game with a broken leg. Under Bubby Brister and Ken O’Brien, Eagles lose 8 of the first 9 without Cunningham.
1994: A tale of two seasons as the Birds begin 7-2, but lose last 7. In last season as No. 1 QB, Cunningham throws 13 interceptions and completes only 54 percent.
1995: Ray Rhodes replaces Kotite and immediately is embroiled in a QB controversy between Cunningham and Rodney Peete. Peete wins out, and guides club to wild 58-37 playoff win over Detroit. Eagles lose to Cowboys in next round when disinterested Cunningham has to fill in.
1996: QB carousel continues, as Ty Detmer takes over and finds a best friend in Irving Fryar (88-for-1,195-11 TDs). Two straight wins to end season propel them to playoffs, but they lose, 14-0, at San Francisco.
1997: Bobby Hoying starts six games and throws 11 TDs. Team loses last three games by a total of 16 points to miss playoffs.
1998: Hoying doesn’t work out (0 TDs, 9 INTs). Peete and Koy Detmer share the duties. Bright spot was second-year back Duce Staley, who leads the team with 57 catches and 1,065 rushing yards.
1999: Unknown Andy Reid takes over for Rhodes, drafts Donovan McNabb with the 2nd overall pick, but starts with Doug Pederson at QB. McNabb starts six games.
2000: Pickle juice and a season-opening onside kick help Eagles to 41-14 trounce at Dallas. Team wins 6 of 7 to end season and earn playoff berth. After a 21-3 win at home over Bucs, they fall by 20-10 at Giants.
2001: A season-opening, overtime loss to Rams would be a preview to the NFC title game. Wild-card win at home over Tampa Bay leads to Eagles’ first road playoff win in 9 years when they beat Bears. St. Louis proves too much, as Birds fall, 29-24.
2002: Eagles go 7-1 in final regular season at the Vet, despite losing McNabb to a broken ankle at midseason. After disposing of Falcons, the host Birds lose in conference final yet again, this time to Tampa, 27-10.
2003: Despite a subpar season from McNabb (16 TDs, 11 INTs), emergence of Brian Westbrook spurs the offense. During a nine-game winning streak, the defense allows 15.6 points a game. The playoffs feature a 20-17 overtime win over Green Bay in the “fourth-and-26” game, and a devastating, third straight loss in the NFC championship — 14-3 to Carolina.
2004: After their receivers are manhandled in loss to Panthers, Eagles get Terrell Owens. T.O. leads to 7-0 start and one of the best offenses in the league. After his broken ankle in Game 14, Birds still manage to win two playoff games and advance to their second Super Bowl. Despite Owens returning with 9 catches and 122 yards, the Eagles can’t overcome four turnovers, including three in Patriots territory, and fall, 24-21.
2005: A lethal combination of Owens’ ego and injuries end season early on. Owens becomes trouble even before training camp, and it gets worse from there. He’s suspended by team after seventh game, and McNabb is out for season with injury after ninth game.
FLYERS
1983-84: Bobby Clarke retires shortly after the Flyers get swept by the Capitals.
1984-85: New coach Mike Keenan leads Flyers — led by Tim Kerr’s 54 goals — to 53 wins, but march to Stanley Cup Finals ends in five games to the Wayne Gretzky-led Oilers.
1985-86: Less than 5 months after winning the Vezina Trophy, Pelle Lindbergh dies in a car crash on Nov. 10. Team wins 53, but falls in the first round to Rangers.
1986-87: Flyers record playoff series wins over Rangers, Islanders and Canadiens and take Oilers to seven games in the Finals befoore losing. Rookie Ron Hextall wins the Conn Smythe Trophy, then the Vezina days later. Tim Kerr posts second straight 58-goal season.
1987-88: Despite his terrific success (190 wins in four seasons), Keenan’s season ends with a first-round loss to Capitals and a firing.
1988-89: Despite subpar season (36-36-8), Flyers reach conference finals for the 10th time in 17 years before losing to the Canadiens in six.
1989-90: Five-season playoff drought begins despite a 96-point season by Rick Tocchet. The shocker comes afterward, when GM Clarke is fired after 21-year association.
1990-91: With the team spiraling, GM Jay Snider trades longtime fan favorites Dave Poulin and Brian Propp in midseason.
1991-92: After winning just eight of first 24 games, the team fires Holmgren and brings in Bill Dineen. Team finished 32-37-1, out of the playoffs. Clarke is brought back at end of season as senior vice president.
1992-93: Flyers win rights to Eric Lindros, considered the NHL’s next big star. Lindros has 75 points and 147 penalty minutes in 61 games, but Flyers fail to make playoffs despite Mark Recchi’s club-record 123 points.
1993-94: Lindros impresses with 97 points in 65 games and Recchi again leads the team with 107 points, but playoff absence reaches 5 years.
1994-95: Under coach Terry Murray and led by the play of league MVP Lindros, the Flyers return to playoffs and reach the conference finals before falling to the Devils in six. Midseason trade brings John LeClair and Eric Desjardins from Montreal.
1995-96: Lindros has most productive pro season (47 goals and 68 assists for 115 points), but Flyers fall to Panthers in second round of playoffs by losing the last three games, two in OT.
1996-97: Flyers open CoreStates Center and, at last, make a return to the Cup Finals after five-game series wins over Penguins, Sabres and Rangers. But Red Wings sweep.
1997-98: LeClair records 51 goals, his third straight 50-plus season, but team bows out of playoffs in five games to Sabres.
1998-99: New goalie John Vanbiesbrouck wins 27, but team is painfully inconsistent, posting a 15-game unbeaten streak and a 12-game winless streak.
1999-2000: Flyers win the Atlantic Division and beat Penguins in a classic five-overtime game en route to the conference finals. But they lose three straight to the Devils, including the finale at home in a game in which Scott Stevens levels Lindros.
2000-01: After a sluggish start, Bill Barber replaces Craig Ramsay as coach early in the season and gets team back on track. But Sabres bounce the Flyers in the first round of the playoffs.
2001-02: Barber loses his job after team loses to Senators in five games — including three shutouts — in conference semifinals.
2002-03: Ken Hitchcock becomes franchise’s 15th head coach, leading them to thrilling first-round playoff series in seven games — three that go into overtime — against the Maple Leafs. In the next round, Senators eliminate them in six.
2003-04: Flyers beat the Devils and Maple Leafs to start a playoff run. Despite concussion symptoms, captain Keith Primeau wills the Flyers to a seventh game in the conference finals against the Lightning. But they lose, 2-1.
2004-05: No season because of the lockout means a 30th season with no Stanley Cup.
2005-06: Flyers add Peter Forsberg in the offseason, the biggest signing in team history. An unprecedented 11-game road trip yields eight wins. Simon Gagne has a career-high 46 goals, reaping the benefits of playing with Forsberg. But the new NHL rules, which emphasize speed, doom the Flyers in a six-game playoff loss to Buffalo.
PHILLIES
1983: Led by Mike Schmidt (40 homers, 104 runs, 109 RBI) and Cy Young winner John Denny (19-6), the “Wheeze Kids” win the division by going 21-5 down the stretch.
1984: In what would be the last great season by Steve Carlton (13-7, 3.58), there was no other hill support for a team that finished second in runs.
1985: Mike Schmidt moves to first base, leaving the once-great left side of the infield to Steve Jeltz and Rick Schu.
1986: The Phillies manage a second-place finish, but can’t even smell first as the Mets run away and hide early.
1987: Newly signed agent catcher Lance Parrish (.245, 17 HR, 67 RBI) has the better of what will be two looooong seasons in Philadelphia.
1988: Mike Schmidt’s last full season produces the Phils’ worst record (65-96-1) since the days of Frank Lucchesi (1972).
1989: John Kruk and Lenny Dykstra are acquired in separate June deals; Darren Daulton becomes a regular six seasons after his major league debut.
1990: Von Hayes leads the team in home runs (17) and RBI (73); rookie Pat Combs (10-10) leads in wins.
1991: Manager Nick Leyva is replaced by Jim Fregosi just 13 games into the season.
1992: Darren Daulton finally has a break-out season (27 HR, 109 RBI) but pitching staff finishes with NL’s worst ERA (4.43).
1993: Lenny Dykstra sparks the vagabond Phillies from the top of the batting order with a 19-homer, 143-run season and a key playoff homer.
1994: Defending NL champs go 3-0, drop 21 of their next 30 games, then rise back to .500 before faltering again as the strike hits.
1995: Three-way tie for the team lead in home runs (Charlie Hayes, Gregg Jefferies and Mark Whiten, each with 11).
1996: Benito Santiago hits a career-high 30 home runs (his second-best was 18) in his lone season in Philadelphia.
1997: Scott Rolen’s Rookie of the Year season (.283, 21 HR, 92 RBI, 93 runs) goes for naught.
1998: Scott Rolen’s best year as a Phillie (.290, 120 runs, 110 RBI, 45 doubles), but his HR total equals the team’s games out of first (31).
1999: Curt Schilling, 1993 NLCS MVP, gets his wish and is traded to Arizona in July. In return, the Phillies get Omar Daal, Nelson Figueroa, Travis Lee and Vicente Padilla.
2000: For the second time in four seasons, the Phillies and Cubs tie for the worst record in the NL.
2001: Phillies chase Braves down to the wire, but lose two key games in Atlanta and finish two games behind.
2002: Pat Burrell, the 1998 overall No.1 draft pick, hits .282 with 37 home runs, 96 runs and 116 RBI, but 12times during the seasonthe team finds itself with a .500 record.
2003: Jim Thome, the team’s best free-agent signee since Pete Rose in 1979, belts 47 home runs in Veterans Stadium’s final season.
2004: Team moves into beautiful Citizens Bank Park, but Larry Bowa’s reign as manager ends with the team’s third 86-win season in 4 years.
2005: Jimmy Rollins’ hot September keeps them alive in the wild-card chase until the very end.
2006: Fine performances from Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Cole Hamels makes losing the wild-card lead in the last week a little more bearable.
SIXERS
1983-84: The defending NBA champions are shocked in the first round of the playoffs by the New Jersey Nets. The home teams fails to win a game in the series.
1984-85: Julius Erving and Moses Malone welcome rookie Charles Barkley and the Sixers post a second-round sweep of the Milwaukee Bucks before succumbing to the Celtics in the conference finals.
1985-86: Despite injuries to Malone and Andrew Toney, the Sixers limp to a second-place finish, but are eliminated in a one-point Game7 loss at Milwaukee in the conference semifinals.
1986-87: The Julius Erving finale tour ends with a first-round loss in Milwaukee. He plays a career-low 60 games, mostly due to an injured finger, but he reaches the 30,000-point mark (NBA-ABA combined) in his final regular-season home game.
1987-88: Charles Barkley finishes fourth in the league at 28.3 points (which will be his career high), but the team misses the postseason. Jim Lynam replaces Matt Guokas as coach midway through the season.
1988-89: Rookie Hersey Hawkins and veteran Ron Anderson help Barkley and Lynam rebound to second place in the division, but only seventh in the conference. That results in a first-round sweep by the Knicks.
1989-90: The Sixers use winning streaks of 12 and eight games to take the Atlantic Division title, edging the Celtics by a game. Six players (Barkley, Hawkins, Anderson, Johnny Dawkins, Mike Gminski and Rick Mahorn) average in double figures.
1990-91: The Sixers lose Dawkins, their starting point guard, to a season-ending knee injury in the fourth game, but manage to finish second and reach the second round, where Michael Jordan and the Bulls prove to be too much.
1991-92: The injury bug strikes teamwide and the team falls below .500. Barkley, who becomes unhappy with management and is traded to the Suns, and Lynam are gone following the season.
1992-93: Doug Moe is hired to rebuild the young squad, but his stay lasts just over half a season (19-37) and gives way to former Sixer Fred Carter, who will finish his season-and-a-half with an appropriate number of losses (32-76).
1993-94: Picking 7-6 string-bean center Shawn Bradley proves not to be the answer for a team with Clarence Weatherspoon and a revolving door of guards.
1994-95: Dana Barros tried to carry the team with three-point sniping, fine backcourt play (7.5 assists) and a stellar performance from the line for John Lucas, but it wasn’t nearly enough and he would be gone after a year to free agency.
1995-96: Jerry Stackhouse and Weatherspoon would pack a nice one-two punch now, but as youngsters this season, they preside over the first team in NBA history to see its losses increase in each of six consecutive seasons.
1996-97: A No. 1 draft pick (Allen Iverson) and new building (then the CoreStates Center) bring a renewed optimism to a franchise desperate for it. Iverson caps his rookie season with four straight 40-point games down the stretch, but all are losses.
1997-98: Larry Brown takes over the reins, making Philly his sixth NBA coaching stop. Only five players on the Opening Day roster remain at the finale.
1998-99: The lockout reduces the season to 50 games. Iverson wins the scoring title and the team finishes 28-22. They upset Orlando (which tied for best record in the conference) in the first round and play Indiana close before getting swept in second round.
1999-2000: The Sixers survive 10 games without Iverson (thumb injury) to finish with the third-best record in the conference, but again fall to the Pacers in the conference semfinals.
2000-01: Starting the season with 10 straight wins and a 13-game road winning streak propels the Sixers to a 41-14 record at the trading deadline, but a wrist injury to All-Star center Theo Ratliff forces a deal for Dikembe Mutombo. The Sixers pull an escape or two in the Eastern Conference playoffs and lose four straight to the Lakers in the Finals after winning Game1 in overtime.
2001-02: Injuries to Iverson, Aaron McKie and Eric Snow limit the Sixers to a 43-39 record. They struggle to force a deciding fifth game in the first round against the Celtics, but are blown out by 33.
2002-03: After a great start (15-4) and rough stretch (5-15) and then a nine-game winning streak in February, the Sixers finish 48-34 and as the No. 4 seed in the conference. Iverson lights it up as they get by New Orleans in the first round, before losing to the Pistons in six games.
2003-04: Larry Brown leaves to go to the Pistons and the coaching carousel begins as former assistant Randy Ayers takes over and struggles (21-31). He gives way to his assistant Chris Ford, who clashes with Iverson and is gone after the season.
2004-05: Jim O’Brien has the Sixers near the lead in the mediocre Atlantic Division all season and they acquire Chris Webber at the trade deadline. Despite winning eight of their final 10, they finish two games behind the division champion Celtics and lost four of five in the first round of the playoffs to the Pistons.
2005-06: Despite a full season of Iverson teaming with Webber, the Sixers struggle to reach .500 and finish two games out of a playoff spot for new head coach Maurice Cheeks.
What would a parade mean?
It would mean everything! It would be a tremendous outpouring of emotion from so many gut wrenching incidents and the purging of so many years of heartbreak. It would give Philly what it needs most - a boost of pride as Philuvians gather to celebrate for the first time in a generation and once again say "New York you can take this championship and stick it!"
I think a title would change the atmosphere here in the playoffs of every sport. Right now, every team enters its postseason lugging the baggage of not since 1983 ...Even overachieving teams, such as the 2004 Flyers, get labeled as "chokers" by some fans because they didn't win the championship. If somebody were to win one, I think it would actually become acceptable for subsequent teams to NOT win the title, for fans to be reasonably happy and optimistic about the future after a near-miss. And I think whichever team ends the drought, the other three franchises are going to be insanely jealous.
With all due respect to the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Liberty Bell, winning a championship would really put Philadelphia on the modern map. We're stuck between New York and Washington and seldom get any respect. When I travel, the only time people engage me about Philadelphia is when we have a sports team in a championship run. In the view of Americans from other cities, winning a sports title would finally make Philadelphia a world-class city. For cities and regions, winning a sports title is now the measure of success. We need it. We deserve it. And most of all, unlike other cities, we really want it!
Nobody is more passionate about its teams than Philadelphia.
Optimism could become an acceptable position in this town that so desperately needs a parade. All apologies to the Mummers, but this town needs a Broad Street procession with large men not wearing chiffon gowns!!!!
I still remember the Flyers' first Stanley Cup parade in 1974. I remember Joe Watson Sr., the father of Flyers defensemen Joe and Jimmy, looking at the crowd, which was estimated at 2 million, and saying: "I didn't know there were this many people in the world." The next time a Philadelphia team wins a world championship, the celebration will be even bigger. I truly believe that. The release of pent-up frustration will be so great, it will be the biggest civic party in the city's history because the wait has been so long and painful.
The Passion, the Pain
WITH LINCOLN Financial Field hovering in the distance, John Miller sat amid his friends. His goatee and Ace bandage both dyed Eagles green, his van with the silk-screened images of his buddies at various points in their 27-year tailgating history parked nearby, Miller tried to explain what being a Philadelphia sports fan is all about.
"I'm not pissed off," said Miller, with green beads draped across his Eagles jersey. "I'm frustrated."
Raise a glass and toast Mr. Miller, Philadelphia. In six words he boiled down the sentiment of a city.
As the calendar nears 2007 and the parade-less stretch closes in on 24 years (and counting), frustration has come to symbolize the Philadelphia sports fan. Like lemmings or swallows at San Capistrano, fans here come back every year renewed with hope, convinced this will be the year that some team will hoist a championship trophy while cruising down Broad Street - only to pack up their burgers, beers, pompoms and face paint in disgust a few months later.
Being a disappointed Philadelphia sports fan is no longer just a pastime. It is a birthright, an oral tradition passed from one generation to the next. You boo, kids learn at the knee of their parents and grandparents, not because you hate but because you must.
"There's a passion to what a Philadelphia sports fan brings like no other city," said Dr. Joel Fish, a sports psychologist and the director of Philadelphia's Center for Sports Psychology. "We celebrate like no other city, but we also let you know when we're disappointed. That's rooted into the identity of the fan here."
The joke around the city is that you can tell how the Eagles did on Sunday by the mood at the office on Monday.
It's not entirely an urban myth.
"I went to Jacksonville 2 years ago [for the Super Bowl]," said John Ross, of Doylestown. "It was great. We had so much fun … and then I didn't talk to anyone all the way home."
Fish doesn't necessarily buy into the theory that every sports fan is dramatically affected by his or her team's won-lost record. He puts fans into three categories — the casual sports fan, the hard-core sports fan and the obsessed sports fan. The casual fan goes to a game with a buddy; the hard-core fan is a season ticketholder; and the obsessed fan will miss his child's wedding if there's a game on the same day.
Fish's nonscientific survey based on a lifetime living in the city classifies roughly 30 percent of Philadelphia folks in the first group, 60 in the second and a strong 10 percent in the latter.
Like Joe.
"Oh man, if they lose, it's awful. I don't read the paper, don't listen to 610 or watch Comcast," he said. "It takes until about Wednesday to get over it."
But for the average Joe (which Joe is not), winning really has more of an effect than losing.
"It brings a sense of pride to a place where you live," he said. "It's about respect and self-esteem and just feeling good about where you live."
And Philly fans, stuck in the shadows of New York City both civically and athletically, would like something to crow about.
"I'm sick of being the ugly stepchild," said T-Bone, a diehard Eagles fan from Cinnaminson, N.J.
There's no doubt, though, that people here are championship starved. Don't tell them about the hopeless Cubbies and their Billy Goat curse. The Cubs might not won a World Series since 1908, but the Bulls, the Bears and the White Sox have all won more recently than Philly teams. And don't bring up the finally redeemed Red Sox contingent that, while suffering its baseball drought, got to drink from the cup of plenty thanks to the Celtics and the Patriots.
If you want to know pain, come to Philly, where the last time a professional trophy was hoisted high into the air was 1983, but in between fans have been teased mercilessly with near misses.
"There's no comparison," said Joe from Manheim (not sports-obsessed Joe). "This is 10 times worse."
In the last 11 years, the Flyers have lost in the Stanley Cup finals once and in the Eastern Conference finals three times — "How many times have they been the bridesmaid?" asked Dom from Mayfair.
The Sixers made a run at the NBA Finals in 2001 — "That organization is a mess. What are they doing?" asked T-Bone.
And the Eagles, notoriously, have lost three NFC Championships and a Super Bowl in the last 5 years. "They're like the blowup doll that deflated," said Tom from Lebanon.
Only the Phillies seem to get a pass.
"I don't get upset about the Phillies," Dom deadpanned. "I know they're mediocre."
Yet despite the teases and the frustration, despite even their own common sense, Philadelphia fans annually line up in hope. The mere taste of a winner brings a bandwagon of hope. Saint Joseph's became the city's school (everywhere, that is, except at Villanova) when the Hawks made their run at the Final Four with Chester underdog Jameer Nelson steering the ship.
When Phil Martelli's team lost in the regional finals, the championship-starved population turned its attention to the next promise, lining the highways to cheer the path of a horse trailer. In Philadelphia, Smarty Jones wasn't some blue-collar, feel-good horse story. Had he won the Belmont Stakes to capture the elusive Triple Crown, Smarty would have had a parade. Yes, a parade for a horse.
Naturally, the sure thing failed to win in New York and fans went back to searching for the next great hope.
"We want to win so badly, we hitched our horse to a horse," Fish said, laughing .
The burning question, though, is what happens when someone actually wins here? Losing has become such a fabric of this city's identity, what will fans do if they actually get to celebrate?
"Don't worry. We'll find something else to complain about," T-Bone said. "There's always the mayor."
More seriously, Fish said whatever team wins next will be perhaps more beloved than the 1983 Sixers, the 1980 Phillies and the 1973-74 and 1974-75 Flyers.
That team will not only represent winning, but a cosmic release of frustration.
"I was there when the Flyers and the Phillies won," Fish said. "My friends don't believe me, but there were 2 million people there. This time, there will be 4 million. This will be a release of 23 years of pent-up passion and frustration. It will be a celebration unlike any other city. Ask any athlete who's won here and they'll tell you, Philly is a tough place to play, but it's a great place to win."
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