The ultimate case for Philly as 1 of America's best sports cities
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Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios; Photos: Getty Images
You can hear plaintive wails of indignation rising over the South Philly sports complex, ringing through Rittenhouse Square, and reaching even the smitten strollers in LOVE Park.
State of play: The Washington Post this fall gave Philly the proverbial Heisman stiff arm by excluding the city from its list of best American sports cities, argued by nine writers from across the country.
- Hey, look, it's hard for us, proponents of Smart Brevity, to quibble with imposing certain limitations. But it's also why some locals feel "rage-baited."
- That … and the list includes rivals like Kansas City and Boston.
The big picture: It's a huge slap in the face for one of the most impassioned sports cities in the country — and that's saying a lot for a city that lost two championships on the same day.
What they're saying: West Chester's Karen Martynick captured the outrage when she wrote, "Obviously there was a misprint in the headline.
- "I have to assume it was supposed to be, 'After Philadelphia, what is America's best sports city?'"
- Everyone is entitled to their opinion, including WaPo.
Yes, but: The Post basically just appointed writers to act as a selection committee — similar to how college football once crowned a champion before adopting a playoff.
- The things we loved about college basketball's March Madness — expansive bracket, David vs. Goliath upsets, Cinderella runs — were the very things we loathed about the Bowl Championship Series, which relied on polling and computer-generated rankings to determine who was the best.
Luckily, it's not hard to find a better system for judging America's best sports cities.
- Renowned journalist Don Yaeger wrote a book about the 16 traits of greatness, distilled from decades of experience talking to champions.
- The rules were co-signed by legendary basketball coach John Wooden, who told Yaeger his rule about "contagious enthusiasm" belonged at the top. We're not going to argue with the "Wizard of Westwood."
So in that order, here's how Philly exhibits every trait on the list:
- Contagious enthusiasm. Fans unitedly sing "Fly, Eagles Fly" after every win. They burst out into drunken, elated and even mangled chants of "E-A-G-L-E-S." They incessantly shout "Go Birds" at passersby.
- But true contagious enthusiasm instills hope when there's only despair, offers healing when we're bruised by hurt, and binds communities in moments of crisis.
After February's deadly plane crash in Philly, city managing director Adam Thiel consoled residents at a town hall ahead of the Super Bowl.
- "It's not going to be easy," he said, before pivoting: "It's not going to be easy Sunday, either. We're ready for that, too. Go Birds!"
2. It's always personal. In this case, a little too personal. Just ask offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo. His house got egged, and a "Fire Kevin Patullo" street sign appeared in Philly this week.
3. They rub elbows with the best. From his mannerisms to his mindset, Jalen Hurts cosplays the GOAT, Michael Jordan.
4. They embody the "Do unto others" mantra. The watch parties and tailgates are epic, and everyone's invited — Dallas fans, too.
5. They have a strong inner fire. No explanation needed here.
6. They visualize victory.
- For both these traits, we'll refer you back to our previous reporting about the Eagles' post-Super Bowl path to success.
7. They're role models when no one is watching. Former Sixer Lou Williams once treated a down-on-his-luck man to McDonald's after he tried to rob him on Christmas Eve in Manayunk.
8. They have no offseason. Not even death can extinguish our fans' devotion.
9. They hope for the best, but they prepare for all outcomes. "Rain, sleet or snow, the Eagles train to go."
10. They have ice in their veins. In 2022, Bryce Harper's clutch, two-run homer against the Padres rocketed the Phillies to the World Series.
11. They're motivated by more than money. Cue Hurts again: "Money is nice, championships are better."
12. They know records are made to be broken. Last season, while chasing the single-season rushing record, Saquon Barkley could've set a personal best for most rushing yards in a single game against his former team.
- Instead, cameras captured him telling Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni late in the game, with the Eagles up big, "I'd rather see the young boys eat."
13. They believe in a higher power. Just read Philly Mag's "O Ye of Little Faith" piece on Sirianni, a devout Christian who incorporates his parents' "faith, family, football" principles into his coaching style.
14. They are the ultimate teammates. A whole city, including nine writers from the hometown paper, just pleaded for Philly's inclusion on the list.
15. They're role models when everyone is watching. And now legendary Flyers goalie Bernie Parent — "a Hall of Fame human being" — is watching us from above.
16. When all else fails, they adjust their game plan. We're looking at you this week, Patullo.
The bottom line: And we're looking at you, WaPo.