Video Tour: Top 5 Philly Teams of the Past 25 Years
By Jock | April 25, 2008
Category: Uncategorized
Jock serves up the top 5 Philadelphia professional sports teams since 1983 using a recipe of 1/3 overall success, 1/3 city captivation & defining moments, 1/3 Philly atty-tood. Pop the cork & relive the good times…
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”
So spoke Charles Dickens in reference to Paris during the French Revolution. But could he not just as easily have been speaking of Philadelphia? Are we not in a period of great strife and unrest? Could we not divide the city’s sports history into two distinct epochs—one before 1983 (C.E.*), and one after 1983 (P.C.E.*)? Are we, by the standards of history, not ripe for a Sports Revolution?
Well, I just peeked out the window and…the heads are not rolling in the street yet. The torches remain unlit. Charlie Manuel’s out there on Broad St. with a pitchfork but he doesn’t know where he is. Yes, the streets are empty for miles and not a parade in sight. For the most part we—the fans—sit inside our homes, watching, waiting, hoping. Watching, waiting, hoping. This is the year. Just a few good breaks. Just a few good bounces. If we can only stay healthy. They’ll get it together this year. I can feel it. I have a good feeling about this one…
It’s always easier to chronicle the suffering. But when you sit down and really think about it—when you spread all the memories on the front stoop, side by side—you suddenly realize there have been some damn good moments, too. Exhilarating moments. Thrilling moments. Special groups that come along once in a lifetime. Games that live on. I have been fortunate to have been there for a few of them. And I don’t think of them as often as I should.
That’s because success in professional sports is and always will be measured in terms of championships. As it should be. After all, this is not Pee-Wee soccer. Adam Eaton does not get a trophy because he had an ERA with more commas than his salary…but boy did he try hard. Donovan McNabb does not get a ribbon because he almost won the Super Bowl…yippee. By the gold standard (excuse me, Mr. Lurie), rather, the ultimate standard, these are certainly the worst of times. But that doesn’t mean we should forget the good stuff, too.
*C.E. = Championship Era
*P.C.E. = Post Championship Era
The Formula
Any sports debate needs parameters.
I was tempted to include all sports teams in the area, including colleges, but that became problematic. What about the ‘85 Villanova basketball team? The ‘94 Penn State football team? The ‘04 Saint Joe’s basketball team? All incredible teams. All with Philly ties. But college sports are a different animal. They need to be considered on their own merits. Remember what your high school math teacher said about grouping like terms?
When you step back and look at trends not just over seasons, but decades of seasons, you begin to notice patterns. And interestingly, when you consider Philadelphia sports over the past two decades, a single trend surfaces, time and time again: the rise of the scrappy underdog.
How Philadelphian, right? How fitting for teams from the home of Rocky Balboa. Have you ever really thought about it? Not once, going into the final of any sport, were we considered the easy favorite. In many cases, these teams rose to prominence despite long odds, poor luck, and low expectations. And they overcame these things with old-fashioned hard work and grit.
Thus, a team’s value cannot be judged on winning percentage alone. There are three intangibles I will reference: 1) overall team success, 2) ability to captivate the city and create defining moments and 3) teams with that have that certain “Philadelphia atty-tood.”
The Top 5:
5. 1991 Philadelphia Eagles
Overall Team Success
Record: 10-6
Playoffs: Missed Playoffs
Coach: Rich Kotite
Names you probably forgot: James Joseph, Roger Ruzek
Synopsis: This team, built by Buddy Ryan (right), was widely picked to win the Super Bowl…and then Randall Cunningham got hurt in the very first game. I think of the 1991 season like going on a date with Carmen Electra, only your Ferrari breaks down on the way to get her, so instead you have to rent a Ford Taurus, but that breaks down, too, on the way to dinner, so the two of you have to ride the bus…and you know in the back of your head no matter how great the conversation is, you’re still not closing the deal at the end of the night, and she’s going home to f*** someone on the 14-2 Redskins. Balls.
Score: 6/10
Ability To Captivate & Create Defining Moments
This was one of the most entertaining defenses in the history of the NFL. Fans couldn’t wait every week to see who was going to make the next big hit. The names: Reggie White, Eric Allen, Seth Joyner, Clyde Simmons, William Thomas, Wes Hopkins, and of course…Andre Waters and Jerome Brown. (Sigh.) #20 and #99. I don’t think any Eagles fan over the age of 20 can think of those numbers without fighting back a few tears. That’s in retrospect, but even at the time there was a special connection between this team and the fans. This team started 3-5…only to go 7-1 down the stretch…and still finish 3rd in the NFC East.
Score: 7/10
Philadelphia Atty-tood
Any team that is quarterbacked in the same season by Randall Cunningham, Brad Goebel, Jeff Kemp, Jim McMahon, and Pat Ryan and still finishes 10-6 deserves to be in the Top 5. No questions asked.
(R.I.P. #20 and #99.
We won’t forget you.)
Score: 10/10
Overall Score: 23/30
4. 1986-87 Philadelphia Flyers
Overall Team Success
Record: 46-26-8
Coach: Mike Keenan
Playoffs: Lost in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals to Edmonton
Names You Probably Forgot: Murray Craven, Derrick Smith
Synopsis: First of all, this team had two of the most unstoppable mustaches in the history of sports (Mike Keenan, Ron Hextall). So that’s a key factor. They finished with the 2nd best record in the NHL. Hextall won the Vezina and the Conn Smythe as a rookie. And incidentally, the #1 song in 1987 was “Faith” by George Michael.
Score: 8.5/10
Ability To Captivate & Create Defining Moments
Game 6 of the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals was one of the greatest games in the history of Philly sports. Let’s go to the replay. The tired, beleaguered Flyers are down 2-1 going into the 3rd period. They’re facing Wayne Gretzky who has just won his 8th consecutive MVP award, leading the league in scoring (183 points; the next closest was Jari Kurri with 108; are you serious?). So naturally the Flyers come back to win 3-2. Why am I telling you this? I don’t know. Just watch the clip. (Keep an eye out for even more unstoppable mustaches in the crowd…and listen to the roar when Diagneault’s goal goes in. Holy sh**. There are people who claim this was the loudest the Spectrum ever got…but that’s another story.)
Score: 8.5/10
Philadelphia Atty-tood
Two words: Mike. Keenan.
Score: 9/10
Overall Score: 26/30
3. 2001 Philadelphia 76ers
Overall Team Success
Record: 56-26
Coach: Larry Brown
Playoffs: Lost in NBA Finals to L.A. Lakers, 4-1
Names You Probably Forgot: George Lynch, Matt Geiger
Synopsis: This bunch started the season 10-0, then weathered a number of injuries (including to All-Star center Theo Ratliff) and eventually finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Score: 8.5/10
Ability To Captivate & Create Defining Moments
I was actually tempted to put this team at #1, mostly for personal reasons. I attended every home playoff game all the way up to Game 3 of the Finals…and snuck into every one of them. It was the most incredible streak of my life and to be honest I’m a little scared to talk about it for multiple reasons…
Anyway, just because the Sixers are so bad now we shouldn’t forget how much we loved this team. Remember Pat Croce? God Bless the man. He infused the organization with energy from the top down. (Can we get him to buy the Phillies?) Then you had the whole Larry Brown/Allen Iverson dynamic with A.I. in his absolute prime. Mesmerizing.
The obvious defining moment is Iverson’s shot-and-step over Tyronn Lue in Game 1 of the Finals.
But for me the greatest moment was Vince Carter’s buzzer-beater in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semis. I was in the top row of the stadium (I’d snuck in that game, too) and I remember the whole thing as if it’s in slow motion. Let’s watch together. The inbounds pass comes in to Carter (who, remember, has just flown back from UNC’s graduation). Carter pumps. Carter shoots. The ball floats through the air for 27 minutes, as if it’s in outer space. And Carter misses! Instinctively, I jumped into the arms of a 400 lb. black man and we embraced for a good minute and a half like we were long lost brothers. Seriously, I’m telling you, it wasn’t awkward at all. Not even a little bit. Just pure joy. Amen.
Score: 9/10
Philadelphia Atty-tood
Iverson carried them offensively, but they were really all about getting in your shirt, all 48 minutes. A hard-nosed bunch who ran into the Shaq/Kobe dynasty.
Score: 9/10
Overall Score: 26.5
2. 2004 Philadelphia Eagles
Overall Team Success
Record: 13-3
Coach: Andy Reid
Playoffs: Lost to Patriots in Super Bowl, 21-24
Names You Probably Forgot: Jeff Blake, Freddie Mitchell
Synopsis: This team was as close to a juggernaut as we’ve had since ‘83. They generated incredible buzz by acquiring Terrell Owens and Jevon Kearse in the off-season, then started 7-0 before being walloped by the Steelers, then ran it up to 13-1 before resting the starters. Look up the box scores if you want—this team destroyed people.
Score: 10/10
Ability To Captivate & Create Defining Moments
You had to know this team was going to be high on the list. But when you think of this team, aren’t you really thinking of the whole rise of the Eagles from 2000-2004, culminating with this team? I know I am.
Three things about the NFC Championship clip:
1) The intro is kind of lame, but once you get into the game…wow. What a day.
2) Fantastic to see Michael Vick so dejected (2:38)
3) I must admit, I actually got a little too drunk while watching this game, and don’t remember it as vividly as I would like. Cardinal sin of fandom. I may never, ever forgive myself.
Score: 9/10
Philadelphia Atty-tood
It’s hard to give this team a high atty-tood ranking simply because Donovan McNabb was the QB. And not that I don’t love Donovan, it’s just he’s not the kind of guy you’d see at happy hour on a Friday night in Kensington, you know? Still, they had Dawkins and the Axe Man, so that’s good enough for a 9.
Score: 9/10
Overall Score: 28/30
1. 1993 Philadelphia Phillies
Overall Team Success
Record: 97-65
Coach: Jim Fregosi
Playoffs: Lost to Blue Jays in World Series (2-4)
Names You Probably Forgot: Jim Eisenreich, Ruben Amaro
Synopsis: After finishing dead last in ‘92, the Phillies were 17-5 by the end of April, 1993. Mitch Williams described them as a collection of “gypsies, tramps, and thieves.” They went on to capture the N.L. Pennant.
Score: 8.5/10
Ability To Captivate & Create Defining Moments
There’s actually no way I can even talk about this team without it turning into a 5,000 word rant about how they were the greatest team of all time in any sport. I’ll save that for another time.
So instead I’ll say this: how has a movie not been made about these guys? They made the 2004 Redsox look like a church league softball team.
Here’s my pitch: An old senile general manager (Brian Dennehy) puts together an explosive mix of personalities like a scientist playing with chemicals in a lab. It works. The team gets off to a flying start led by tobacco-chewing center-fielder Lenny Dykstra (Justin Timberlake) and veteran catcher Darren Daulton (Viggo Morteson). Suddenly, all the stars are lining up. Everyone is having career years, even Kevin Stocker (Haley Joel Osment), John Kruk (the fat kid from Superbad), and Ricky Jordan (Barack Obama). Alternate ending includes scenario where the closer (Will Ferrell with a mullet) strikes out the side to win the World Series. Deleted scenes include trips to the strip club and partying in the clubhouse.
Seriously, take a minute and imagine all those people on a baseball diamond together. Why has this not happened yet????
Score: 11/10
Philadelphia Atty-tood
Check out this clip:
Score: 10/10
Overall Score: 29.5/30
So there you have it. Hope you enjoyed the ride. Just remember as we approach the milestone year of 25 P.C.E.—it hasn’t been all bad. In fact, it’s been fun.