The Giants and the Eagles justify each others’ existence. Rooting for the Eagles is not the same without the Giants to kick around, and vice versa. Hey, these guys are just like me, only the opposite. There’s somebody in Newark who looks just like you (only backwards and upside down) who is pulling for the [...]

There have been some recent, major happenings in the development of Philadelphia’s mercurial sense of civic esteem. Here are three pieces of recent documentary evidence to back up the words I associated with Philadelphia via its sporting culture.

After the jump, Michael Fichman talks about what we talk about when we (and they) talk about [...]

During the years 1974-89, the Pittsburgh Penguins won zero games in the Spectrum. Zero.

After the jump, Michael Fichman wonders if tearing down the Spectrum might be sweet, sweet comeuppance for those on the other side of Pennsyltucky divide.

Even though the Birds are out, the NFL playoffs are still worth attention. Now, it’s hard to get that excited about all those other teams, but lets face it, there are seven games left that can be used as excuses to drink beer in the middle of a perfectly good afternoon.

After the jump, Michael Fichman [...]

I’m not much for New Year’s Resolutions — they’ve always seemed painfully arbitrary. I’ve always thought it’s better to be perpetually in the process of self improvement, and besides, I’m much more reflective on Rosh Hashana, when I make my Jewish New Year’s resolutions like “be a doctor” or “control more of the media from [...]

In closing the book on the current year, it serves to remember the giant winds of change that swept the Philly sports world in all four of the major team sports.

After the jump, Michael Fichman looks back on the heavy changes of 2007.

Widespread steroid use in baseball is something that has been suspected, no, known for a long time. Furthermore, this isn’t the beginning, and it damn sure isn’t the end. There is more dirt to be dug up. But if this is only the beginning, who else from this corner of the baseball universe is going [...]

If you ignore the whole part about Judaism, fundamentalist guerrilla groups and candles, the Hanukkah season has a lot of resonance for the Eagles. While their counterparts the Giants and Cowboys are garnering publicity during their run up to the playoffs, the Eagles’ existence is played lip service. For some there is hope! For others, [...]

We find ourselves in the midst of some evolving stories that have crossed through this space in the past several months: The Flyers‘ increasing viciousness, the unraveling season of the Eagles and lastly a sad and inexplicable tale of rags, riches, blackness and the NFL.

After the jump, Michael Fichman wonders what God hath wrought.

Allow me, if you will, to deviate for a bit from our 215-centric fireside chats and scale up to the broad subject of the American sports psyche.

After the jump, Michael Fichman lets you see the windmills of his mind.

There’s been some debate about these new Broad Street Bullies. Are they playing too close to the edge? Are they really adhering to hockey’s unwritten code that lets players police misbehavior through fighting, or are they spinelessly dishing out cheap shots? Fortunately, all NHL content can and does appear on Youtube, so we can actually [...]

FreeDarko is a blog that regularly runs essays on basketball and culture. Its ethos? The all-powerful mandate of style, psychology, liberated fandom, and unfulfilled potential in the NBA. Plus a little bit of zoology, Islamic extremism, and pop music.

After the jump, Michael Fichman puts on his pipe and slippers with Bethlehem Shoals, Philly expat [...]

I get the feeling that most casual basketball fans in Philadelphia know less about the Sixers now than they have in a long while. But I can help you get to internet-know your new look Sixers with a classically irreverent mix of witticisms and YouTube videos.

After the jump, Michael Fichman re-introduces you to [...]

People were barely murdering each other, the city was so distracted. Within a week, it was over, suddenly and inexplicably. They lost to a team that wears purple.

After the jump, Michael Fichman frets not.

“Today you have something in common with the meatheads, something happened that tapped into your inner meathead. This is today for you, but it’s every day for them.”

After the jump, Michael Fichman penetrates the zen mind of the Phillies.

Black quarterbacks have to deal with different things than white quarterbacks. If you don’t think that’s true than you are naïve. [...] I bet Fran Tarkenton, Steve Young, Jake Plummer, and Doug Flutie have never been told by a member of any racial consciousness organization that they don’t play the quarterback position white enough.

After the [...]

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but either way, it really doesn’t matter if you look like a schmuck.

After the jump, Michael Fichman goes all Encyclopedia Brown on Our Uniforms, Our Psyches, Ourselves.

Michael Fichman reports: This offseason, in an unprecedent move, the NHL has entirely redesigned the uniforms for EVERY team to use a new, sleek, Reebok template design. On the 14th, the Flyers are due to release their design. I was planning a big post on the history of Philadelphia sports uniforms for next week to [...]

…Anyway, long story short, I didn’t want to watch the dumbassed Eagles game, but I did anyway, for YOU. Don’t forget that.

After the jump, Michael Fichman gives and gives until he just can’t give anymore. Oh, and the Eagles season starts.