The Eagles have exorcised their demons
The often incoherent, grammatically challenged ramblings of a man who has watched too much sports, listened to too much music and devoured too many club sandwiches.
NOBODY IS REALLY sure when the exorcism took place, but somewhere on YouTube there must be a video of the purging of demons from the offices of the Philadelphia Eagles.
You can make the assumption that the devils were sent off in the direction of Cleveland or Kansas City, or some major television network named after a sly animal that preys on barnyard chickens, but the important part is that the Eagles are different.
Top to bottom; in-front-of-the-camera or behind-the-camera; and certainly on the field.
In pro sports, any connection between fans and team is always highlighted with success, and in that area the Eagles have already surpassed the expectations of most people. And Sunday's win over the Lions in a memorable snow epic at the Linc was another building block of unity.
You couldn't be there, you couldn't watch without feeling like you were part of something special.
But more than just wins and losses, the Eagles have discovered a new way to bond with a fan base that felt held at arm's length for so much of the recent past.
These are not your paranoid, hide-behind-the-game-plan Philadelphia Eagles. These Philadelphia Eagles are out from behind the shadows of secrecy, and into the sunlight of a new era.
These Philadelphia Eagles really do feel like a part of the city. In the matter of less than a year, the Philadelphia Eagles have figured out that the first part of their name – PHILADELPHIA - matters as much as the second part of the name.
Much credit goes to first-year coach Chip Kelly, who ironically arrived in town with no chip on his shoulder. He arrived with a visor, a backpack, and the confidence that he knows what he's doing.
As such, he rolls with the punches of a fan base that certainly knows how to throw a jab, and answers the questions with a smirk. Even when he loses some patience, the result is not a condescending attitude, but an irreverence that at least acknowledges the right to ask a question.
On the whole, it has been an amazing transformation. Even those who were rightfully weary of the whole Michael Vick saga must admit that Vick has played his role to perfection, settling into the background as Nick Foles takes over at quarterback.
The ugly Riley Cooper name-calling mess that smeared the preseason has dissolved into the story of Cooper becoming a primary reason the Eagles have turned their season around. It was a powder keg of a story that was disarmed by Cooper, Kelly and yes – Vick.
No matter what happens from now until the end of the season, the view from this seat is that this is just the beginning of a new passion and a new era.
The Eagles have figured out the emotional connection between a team and its fans is a two-way street.
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And now for the more mundane:
Aren't you glad the parking kiosks in and around the city accept $2 bills. Isn't that convenient?
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Give thanks this holiday season that Roy Halladay has decided to retire. It would have been painful to watch that Hall of Fame career get any more smeared than it was last season.
Halladay simply ran out of bullets, and although he officially retired as a Toronto Blue Jay, he has certainly earned a place of honor in Philadelphia for what he did for the Phillies in such a short time.
In comparison to his time in Toronto, he might have only been a rental here in Philly, but this was a luxury rental. Perfect game, no-hitter in the playoffs, and a work ethic to be forever cherished.
Philadelphia and all of baseball was so much better for his career.
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So, if there are all those warnings about financial advice and medical advice, why is there no warning about weather forecasts?
You know, a simple – "This is my best guess, bring an umbrella and snow shoes just in case I'm wrong."
Al Morganti is a member of the WIP Morning Show (94.1 FM) weekday mornings from 5:30 til 10 and a hockey analyst for Comcast SportsNet. His twitter handle is @nufced.