By David Weinberg
Local Phillies and Eagles fans are gearing up for a special couple of weeks.
Thanks in large part to Bryce Harper’s epic home run last Sunday, the Phils are in the World Series for the first time since 2009. They head to Houston to face the mighty Astros in Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-seven series on Friday and Saturday before hosting Games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary) at Citizens Bank Park next Monday-Wednesday.
The Eagles (6-0), the NFL’s only undefeated team, will try to match the best start to a season in franchise history – the 2004 Birds were 7-0 – when they take on the Steelers Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, then ironically play the Texans in Houston on “Thursday Night Football.”
It’s been a while since both teams have been in this situation in the same season.
In 2017, when quarterback Nick Foles and coach Doug Pederson delivered the first Super Bowl Championship in franchise history with the “Philly Special,” the Phils finished in last place in the N.L. East at 66-96 behind manager Pete Mackanin, first baseman Tommy Joseph and shortstop Freddie Galvis.
The Phillies last made the playoffs in 2011, when Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins ended their magical run. That same year, Michael Vick, Vince Young, Nnamdi Asomugha and the rest of the Eagles’ infamous “Dream Team” went 8-8.
You have to go all the way back to 2008 to find the last time both teams made deep playoff runs in the same year. Harper was a 16-year-old junior at Las Vegas High School when the Phils, in the words of Utley, became “World (Bleeping) Champions” by beating the Rays in five games.
That was considered the definitive Philly victory speech until Eagles center Jason Kelce donned a mummers costume at the Philadelphia Museum of Art after the Eagles beat the Patriots in Super Bowl LII at the end of the 2017 season.
“We’re from Philly, (bleeping) Philly, No one likes us, we don’t care.”
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was a 10-year-old fourth-grader in Channelview, Texas in ’08 when coach Andy Reid, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, quarterback Donovan McNabb and safety Brian Dawkins reached the NFC Championship game, losing 32-25 to quarterback Kurt Warner, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and the Arizona Cardinals.
Forty-two years have passed since both teams played for championships in the same year.
In 1980, the Phils won their first World Series by beating the Kansas City Royals. A few months later, the Eagles lost to the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XV in New Orleans.
How long has it been?
My wife (Karen) and I just celebrated our 40th Wedding Anniversary. We were still dating when Tug McGraw fired strike three past Willie Wilson and Jim Plunkett threw three touchdown passes against the Birds.
Route 55 wasn’t completed. There were six casinos in Atlantic City, including the Sands. The Hamilton Mall didn’t exist. The internet and cell phones were not yet invented. Calls were made on phones attached to your kitchen wall that had six-foot long cords. You listened to music in your car via an 8-track or cassette player.
This year has the potential to be extra special.
The Phils are in the midst of a magical playoff run. There has been no shortage of heroes. Harper, first baseman Rhys Hoskins, catcher J.T. Realmuto, second baseman Jean Segura, shortstop Bryce Stott, pitchers Zach Wheeler and Aaron Nola and others have all delivered in the clutch for manager Rob Thomson.
They have combined to provide countless special moments – Hoskins’ bat slam against the Braves and Harper’s two-run blast against the Padres top the list – that will forever live in the hearts and minds of their fans.
More excitement awaits.
The Eagles come out of their bye week as the top team in the NFC. Sure, they have flaws – their second-half letdowns could come back to bite them – but they continually find a way to win.
It’s much too early to be dreaming of a perfect season, but Bob Griese, Larry Csonka and the 1972 Miami Dolphins have to be feeling at least a little nervous.
Both teams have made a believer out of this skeptic.
I picked the Eagles to lose their first three games. I predicted the Cardinals, Braves and Padres would eliminate the Phils.
That’s what I get for drinking Tequila instead of Kool-Aid.
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Among the thousands of fans rejoicing over the Phils’ victory was actor Miles Teller, who is an avid Philly sports fan.
Some folks know him from movies such as “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Whiplash,” and “Bleed for This.” I remember him as the Little League baseball player who lived down the street in the North Cape May section of Lower Township. The best part is that Miles has never forgotten his roots. He visits Cape May at least once a summer and can often be seen dining in local restaurants and relaxing on the beach.
He’s among a host of actors and musicians who have discovered the beauty of my hometown. Tina Fey spends a week every summer with her family in town. Oprah Winfrey often stops by with her longtime boyfriend, Middle Township High School graduate Stedman Graham. By the way, Stedman was a 1,000-point score for Middle’s basketball team. Blondie lead singer Deborah Harry owns a home in Cape May Point.
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Atlantic City’s recent boxing resurgence continues Friday night with a card at Showboat.
Pleasantville welterweight Anthony “Juice” Young (23-2, 8 KOs) headlines the show with an eight-round fight against Jose Zaragoza (9-5-1, 3 KOs), of Sedalia, Missouri. Young, 34, will be seeking his 13th straight victory.
It will be the sixth boxing event held in Atlantic City this year, the most since 10 took place in 2018.
David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points. He can also be heard on 97.3 ESPN as part of Weinberg Wednesday’s with Josh Hennig and on Newstalk 1400 and 92.3 WOND on Monday’s and Thursday’s as part of Off the Press with Scott Cronick.
David who is a member of the Atlantic City Boxing, New Jersey Boxing, and New Jersey MMA Halls of Fame, is a Cape May native who spends his spare time on the golf course, riding his SUP in the Cape May Harbor, sitting on the beach with his wife, Karen, and playing with his three grandsons Hampton (6), Graham (4) and Nixon (1). Send comments to weinbergd419@comcast.net.
