FLY EAGLES FLY (On wings of neo-liberalism sending those Commie bastards back to swamp monster infested DC)
What one learns about the State of America by attending the Eagles-Commanders NFC Championship game
My dear Mega-Orderers… oh how I brave the cold and wind and snow… and turn a blind eye to the injustices of the horrific service fees of Ticketmaster to bring you information from the frontlines of our Disordered world!
It is with great pride and not an insignificant amount of joy that I tell you I have been to every Eagles home playoff game since 2018. (Why I missed the Super Bowl season playoff games when DC is not really that much further a drive to Philly than my hometown of Metuchen, NJ is something I don’t fully understand and I will forever regret.)
But throughout these games: I’ve seen some amazing things. Like last week, Saquon breaking not one but two 60+ yard runs in the snow:
Or back in 2019 when I saw Josh McCown become the oldest QB in NFL history to make his post-season debut at age 40 after Wentz was injured by a controversial hit by Jadeveon Clowney. But in terms of pure un-adultrated bliss nothing can compete with yesterday:
It wasn’t only the scoreline that was so enjoyable, it was that the best and worst of American life were on display at the game. Eagles fans get a bad rap for hating on opposing team fans. That was not what I saw. There was spirited discussion and a lot of brotherly love.
Seated in front of me was a beautiful ‘mixed’ couple.
She was a striking blond with arresting hazel eyes was from Delaware and wore a bright green Eagles, he was quite muscled and swarthy and from Maryland and sported a throwback Redskins varsity jacket and Aspen ski hat. (They are not pictured here… but we spoke of DC life, Trump, injustice, life in the UK, Brexit, and podcasts)..
There were many out of the closet Commander fans say 15%… whereas the previous week’s game against the Rams was less than 1% who were fully out of the closet with Rams gear. Sadly at that game when there was the moment of silence for the LA wildfires, the most vocal middle aged man from our section said, I don’t feel bad for them… their houses are worth millions, why should we donate to help them? They know there are forest fires out there and they chose to live there. Later he made anti-Biden remarks. Sad. The Eagles are of course Biden’s hometown team. (i.e. all people from delaware by tradition are in the Eagles catchment area). But the popular culture of the NFL has veered more anti-liberal and more crass over the course of my life time. And yet fan solidarity is still such a beautiful thing.
Below is my video note explaining what yesterday has showcased for me about American life.. And also why the NFL and American Football remains the greatest cultural and civilisational contribution of American to world culture and human history. I only talk for a few minutes so do please give it a listen/watch:
And then here are my follow on thoughts on the politics I saw on display at yesterday’s game:
Lastly, I think football is one of the few cultural exports, that the rest of the world still will want from us. This is why NFL viewership is growing in the UK and Europe. Our hollywood movies and social media they already have and don’t need more of, but the belief in a team and the willingness to put it on the line for your teammate and risk injuries without crying or complaining and no faking injuries like in Soccer… non-Americans admire this in American football players when they get to know the game as my Hungarian friend Mate Feher did in the Wild Card round against Green Bay.
