- Sep 22, 2013
- 4,956
- 250
- 85
Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, USA) is a rich and historically proud American city and the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed!
Philadelphia architecture is very respected (e.g., Independence Hall), as are its very distinguished schools (e.g., University of Pennsylvania, Penn State, Temple, Drexel).
However, what sets Philly apart is that it is arguably the ultimate 'underdog city' of American athletics.
In Super Bowl 52, the aspiring underdog Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) shocked fans and writers when they defeated the seemingly invincible New England Patriots 41-33. It was the first Super Bowl victory in franchise history for the Eagles, and now every professional athletic team in Philadelphia had at least one championship-title.
Despite the cool fact that every Philly team has at least one championship-title, Philadelphia is nothing like New York (e.g., Yankees), Los Angeles (e.g., Kings), Boston (e.g., Patriots), Chicago (e.g., Bulls), or even Pittsburgh (e.g., Steelers) who boast numerous titles under just one team/franchise.
Yes, it's Philly that boasts the defiant Rocky statue (from the underdog-glory boxing film Rocky), and it's Philly where people make Bad News Bears jokes. After all, the Phillies and the Flyers did not simply just 'undeniably shine' even when they boasted the more-than-legendary talents Mike Schmidt and Eric Lindros. Why is that?
Philadelphia may be the true American Underdog City.
So who's cheering for the Villanova Wildcats (a Philly-team) in this year's NCAA Final Four (men's basketball)? Villanova shocked America when they upset John Thompson and Patrick Ewing's titan-like Georgetown Hoyas (D.C.-team) in the 1985 NCAA Championship.
====
All Philadelphia teams boast great fanfare and merchandising. The 76ers guard Allen Iverson (NBA) was considered by many to be even greater than legendary 76er Julius Erving, and many kids emulated Iverson and purchased 76ers merchandise during the 2001 NBA Finals (when the 76ers lost to the L.A. Lakers).
Villanova basketball is no doubt considered very prestigious in the NCAA. Though they may not be a Duke or Georgetown or North Carolina or UCLA, their two championships in 1985 and 2016 reminded people that this Philly-team should never be counted out, and Philly college-teams boast both athletic ambition and academic dreams.
Philly-fans are great, and Philly cheerleaders are a great inspiration. These cheerleaders have the odious task of hoisting their respective underdog teams when they have to face Goliaths like the Lakers (NBA), Yankees (MLB), Blackhawks (NHL), and Patriots (NFL). True, Philly cheerleaders can boast having one at least one title, but they'll also argue that Philly athletes will always be like the great cinematic sports-underdog symbolic of the American Dream itself --- Rocky!
This Saturday, when you tune into Villanova tackling Kansas (a #1 seed just like Villanova!), consider all the greatness that brought Philadelphia such urban spirit this year. The Eagles (NFL) started it all, and now the Villanova Wildcats are trying to keep that mighty torch burning. So play some touch-football in the backyard with your kids before this arguably very symbolic Final Four national semifinal between Villanova and Kansas. You might want to then retire to your abode and lounge on your couch with a tall can of Guinness and a cigar. After all, isn't that what Rocky would do?
Academic honors are as important as athletic prowess to the people and youngsters of Philadelphia. The University of Pennsylvania (a distinguished member of the Ivy League) is a very nice urban campus, and students care about athletics and academics equally, even as their renowned fencing team wins yet another Ivy League title. Maybe that's the kind of sports-spirit for this modern era of free-agency corruption that makes Philly such a Rocky-esque 'storybook city.'
Americans don't want to feed the lambs to the lions, so no one wants to see the Villanova Wildcats march into the Final Four semifinal this Saturday and get slaughtered like gladiators at the Colosseum. Philly fans will understand if the 'Nova-Cats fail to surpass the mighty Kansas Jayhawks (who defeated the never expendable Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight). If Villanova manages to somehow down the Jayhawks, they may have to face the formidable Michigan Wolverines in the Championship game. Philly fans know not to expect too much from these beloved student-athletes on Final Four Saturday!
If you disagree with these observations, feel free to cast your vote for the true American Underdog City! An 'underdog' can not simply always lose; they have to win at least something and then simply keep aspiring to win against mighty Goliaths to be considered an 'exciting underdog.' My vote goes to Philadelphia.
====
EAGLES SUPER BOWL VICTORY PARADE [2018]
Philadelphia architecture is very respected (e.g., Independence Hall), as are its very distinguished schools (e.g., University of Pennsylvania, Penn State, Temple, Drexel).
However, what sets Philly apart is that it is arguably the ultimate 'underdog city' of American athletics.
In Super Bowl 52, the aspiring underdog Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) shocked fans and writers when they defeated the seemingly invincible New England Patriots 41-33. It was the first Super Bowl victory in franchise history for the Eagles, and now every professional athletic team in Philadelphia had at least one championship-title.
Despite the cool fact that every Philly team has at least one championship-title, Philadelphia is nothing like New York (e.g., Yankees), Los Angeles (e.g., Kings), Boston (e.g., Patriots), Chicago (e.g., Bulls), or even Pittsburgh (e.g., Steelers) who boast numerous titles under just one team/franchise.
Yes, it's Philly that boasts the defiant Rocky statue (from the underdog-glory boxing film Rocky), and it's Philly where people make Bad News Bears jokes. After all, the Phillies and the Flyers did not simply just 'undeniably shine' even when they boasted the more-than-legendary talents Mike Schmidt and Eric Lindros. Why is that?
Philadelphia may be the true American Underdog City.
So who's cheering for the Villanova Wildcats (a Philly-team) in this year's NCAA Final Four (men's basketball)? Villanova shocked America when they upset John Thompson and Patrick Ewing's titan-like Georgetown Hoyas (D.C.-team) in the 1985 NCAA Championship.
====
All Philadelphia teams boast great fanfare and merchandising. The 76ers guard Allen Iverson (NBA) was considered by many to be even greater than legendary 76er Julius Erving, and many kids emulated Iverson and purchased 76ers merchandise during the 2001 NBA Finals (when the 76ers lost to the L.A. Lakers).
Villanova basketball is no doubt considered very prestigious in the NCAA. Though they may not be a Duke or Georgetown or North Carolina or UCLA, their two championships in 1985 and 2016 reminded people that this Philly-team should never be counted out, and Philly college-teams boast both athletic ambition and academic dreams.
Philly-fans are great, and Philly cheerleaders are a great inspiration. These cheerleaders have the odious task of hoisting their respective underdog teams when they have to face Goliaths like the Lakers (NBA), Yankees (MLB), Blackhawks (NHL), and Patriots (NFL). True, Philly cheerleaders can boast having one at least one title, but they'll also argue that Philly athletes will always be like the great cinematic sports-underdog symbolic of the American Dream itself --- Rocky!
This Saturday, when you tune into Villanova tackling Kansas (a #1 seed just like Villanova!), consider all the greatness that brought Philadelphia such urban spirit this year. The Eagles (NFL) started it all, and now the Villanova Wildcats are trying to keep that mighty torch burning. So play some touch-football in the backyard with your kids before this arguably very symbolic Final Four national semifinal between Villanova and Kansas. You might want to then retire to your abode and lounge on your couch with a tall can of Guinness and a cigar. After all, isn't that what Rocky would do?
Academic honors are as important as athletic prowess to the people and youngsters of Philadelphia. The University of Pennsylvania (a distinguished member of the Ivy League) is a very nice urban campus, and students care about athletics and academics equally, even as their renowned fencing team wins yet another Ivy League title. Maybe that's the kind of sports-spirit for this modern era of free-agency corruption that makes Philly such a Rocky-esque 'storybook city.'
Americans don't want to feed the lambs to the lions, so no one wants to see the Villanova Wildcats march into the Final Four semifinal this Saturday and get slaughtered like gladiators at the Colosseum. Philly fans will understand if the 'Nova-Cats fail to surpass the mighty Kansas Jayhawks (who defeated the never expendable Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight). If Villanova manages to somehow down the Jayhawks, they may have to face the formidable Michigan Wolverines in the Championship game. Philly fans know not to expect too much from these beloved student-athletes on Final Four Saturday!
If you disagree with these observations, feel free to cast your vote for the true American Underdog City! An 'underdog' can not simply always lose; they have to win at least something and then simply keep aspiring to win against mighty Goliaths to be considered an 'exciting underdog.' My vote goes to Philadelphia.
====
EAGLES SUPER BOWL VICTORY PARADE [2018]
