What it means to Live and Breathe Philly Sports

McNabb you suck! Iverson get off the court! You’re a bum Burrell! Lindros you’re a loser! These are phrases every Philadelphia sports fan knows all too well. When you’re ours your ours forever. Anybody else you are the enemy. Our love for our athletes is unbelievable. A Philadelphia athlete has to be a specific type of athlete to play in this city and be successful. But once you do something great here, your name will live on forever. Players that play here can lift up the entire city. They can bring together white collar and blue collar workers. You have to be a unique player to play here, and you have to have the ability to let nothing bother you and play your heart out. Shawn Bradley once said about Philadelphia fans, “The problem with Philadelphia fans is that they want you to play every game like it’s your last one.” So, truly what does it mean to be a Philadelphia sports fan

The City of Brotherly love we don’t show too much love for our players, but when we do, they won’t only know it but the whole world will know it. Here we love our teams, our players, and our sports. In this city we wear our hearts on our sleeves. We yell and scream at the players who have done so much for us. Whether it is Donovan McNabb or Allen Iverson, our way of showing love is cursing, screaming, and freaking out at our players. That is because we do not want the best for them but for our city, that is because these players are our family and our lives. No matter what life has thrown at the City of Philadelphia, we have always had sports; the Eagles, Flyers, Sixers, and Phillies to rest our hopes and dreams on. We might not have the most Championships, we might take the back seat to LA and New York with sports success, but no one can say they try harder every season for their teams then the Philadelphia fans do. Philadelphia fans have had bad seasons and rough patches, but we still have hope. We are able to have hope because of our miracles such as 4^th and 26, the step-over, or a World Series. We are passionate fans. We love our teams and players. We will believe in you until you prove us to be wrong.  As Billy Wagner said about Philly fans, “Those people, it doesn’t matter how successful you are. I don’t get it. They boo you. They scream at you.”

Philadelphia is a town of hard working individuals, and we expect the same out of our athletes. We want the best for not only them but us as well. We expect you to go out every game and play like it was your last game, if you do that, and with stand our hate you will live on forever in this town. Players like Iverson who played his heart out and gave his all to the city of Philadelphia; to take a team of rag tag guys to a championship and to play with so much heart. A guy like Pat Burrell who tried his hardest, dealt with the hate of Philly fans because he didn’t live up to his potential, but brought us a championship. These are guys that will be remembered in this city and guys we love, because they played their hearts out. Guys with the true Philly attitude, the never quit give 110% are the guys we love. I asked what does it mean to be a Philly sports fan? To live in the City of Brotherly Love? It means to love your team so much that you are willing to hate on them, it means to support your guys to the death, and finally it means to give your all to your city and players, and hopefully they will give it back to you. It takes a special type of player to play here, because we are no ordinary fans, we are Philly fans. 

-Brett

Allen Iverson and The City of Brotherly Love

The city of Philadelphia has had thousands of different athletes come and go throughout its history, none more unique, quirky, fun loving, heartfelt, and talented; then Allen Iverson. Allen Iverson was a staple for the all Philadelphians; for over ten years A.I. touch each and everyone of us, whether that be because of his wacky mannerisms or his outstanding performance on the basketball court. No athlete this city has ever was so beloved, over these years Iverson was someone people of all different ethnicities, backgrounds and cultures could stand behind, for a small amount of time he truly was "The Answer" to all of Philadelphia's problems.
Allen Iverson stands alone at the peak of greatest in the eyes of Philadelphians. If you walk down the street in Philadelphia today and ask any person who their favorite Philadelphia sports player of all-time was, almost every single person you  speak to will say Allen Iverson. The man called "The Answer", was an eleven time all star, MVP winner, and who can forget Rookie of the Year winner as well. Numbers and awards mean nothing when watching Iverson, what he had the ability to do with a  basketball, goes unmatched. A.I. was truly the one man team, going down the court with one thing on his mind each time, "I'm going to shoot the ball". Iverson had the ability to move in and out of defenses, break the ankles of defenders, and make seven foot centers look foolish. Though a small man, Iverson had a big heart; especially to the city that he loved, and his one true favorite Coach Larry Brown.
For one magical season, Allen Iverson had the ability, the chance, and opportunity; to take a team of lack luster players, a team that consisted of Eric Snow, Aaron Mckie, and future Hall of Fame center Dikembe Mutombo; to the NBA finals. The year was 2001, and Allen Iverson brought an entire city together, under one goal, one dream; to finally bring another championship to Philly. Philadelphia had been dreaming of another opportunity since the Flyers lost in the Stanley Cup to the Red Wings, and this was their chance. A team that was not expected to be in the Finals, a team with one superstar, had the ability to come together under the coaching of Larry Brown. Allen Iverson single handedly would take this team for the ride of a life time, taking the to the record of 56-26, leading The Eastern Conference in wins. The Sixers would push their way through the playoffs, playing with more than just skill, they played with heart, especially that of Iverson. Iverson gave everything he had into the playoffs in 2001, he gave his heart, his soul, his talent, and his skill. Though Iverson could not seal the deal with an NBA Championship, he gave this city a season that they will truly never forget. They were truly The City of Philadelphia's team, they were the 76ers.
Tonight, October 30th, Allen "The Answer" Iverson will finally hang up his basketball shoes for good. Through all the problems, the fights, "the practices", Iverson gave this city; he truly did love the people of Philadelphia. This was Allen Iverson's home, this was his city. Philadelphia gave this kid, a kid many thought to have character issues, to basically a hoodlum, a chance. Over the ten years Allen Iverson wore the 76ers logo on his chest we saw his passion, his skill, and especially his love for basketball and this city. Allen Iverson, will always be remembered as one of the best, if not the greatest scorer in Sixers history, and one of the greatest of all-time.

-Brett