Reflecting on the 2026 World Cup

That's a wrap! Spain just won the 2026 World Cup.

Soccer has a special place in my heart. It is the first (and primary) sport I played on an organized team. It is the only sport I have ever refereed (I've officiated games in two countries and two spurts—in the late '90s and late '00s). I love it . . . and there are parts I can't stand about it. All the emotions come to the fore every four years during the World Cup. 

The 2026 World Cup is now in the books; 48 teams played 104 games in 16 host cities, most of which were in the USA. I watched more of this Cup than any other . . . and I have some opinions. But first, the group stage and knockout brackets.

The Group Stage

The groups; image from here

The 48 teams (expanded this year from the normal 32) in this World Cup were organized into 12 four-team groups (see above image). Each team played against all others in their respective group. Draws were fine. By points, the top two teams from each group (and the third-place team in eight of them) advanced to the knockout stage.

The Knockout Stage

The knockout stage; image from here

In prior years, the knockout stage featured the top 16 teams, but since this year's tournament expanded the field to 48 teams, the first round of knockouts was the round of 32. 

On to my likes/dislikes.

Likes

• The kit. All national teams change their kit every couple years (2 or 4, I don't remember and I think it depends anyway). It's always fun seeing what a given country is wearing, from the expected (like Argentine stripes or Croatian checkers), to bold new designs, to homages to classic jerseys of decades past. Eight examples below . . . note the subtle details some feature. Norway's was a particular favorite this year. This ESPN article shows and ranks all the kit.

• The team names. National team nicknames can be basic, straightforward . . . or hilarious. You can see a complete list here; my favorites are the Socceroos (Australia), The Selection (Argentina), The Team (Germany), The Three Lions (England), Orange (Netherlands), The Tartan Army (Scotland), The Canal Men (Panama), The Pharoahs (Egypt), and The Chivalrous Ones (Jordan).
• The camaraderie. Soccer is the world's sport. Fans come together for love of country and/or love of the game. It's fun to watch that play out. This year, to list a few examples, the Scottish fans drank Boston out of beer, the Norwegian fans had a viking 'row' routine, and the Japanese cleaned up stadiums. 
• The skills. There is no denying the technical skill of players on the pitch. My favorite are one-touch passing sequences, sometimes involving no-look passes or step-overs. But the strength and accuracy of the passes/shots, the goalie acrobatics, the timing to avoid offsides . . . it is all impressive.
• The tension. Is soccer the only sport whose game end is up to the referee? There are two 45-minute halves, but each has stoppage time, a discretionary number that ranges from 1 to 9 minutes of added play to account for the fake injuries (see below) and other delays. But even that number (made public at the start of stoppage time) in only a guide, and stoppage time can have its own delays that adds more time, meaning they play until the ref decides to stop. It makes for nail-biting uncertainty in close games.
• Cape Verde. This year's sweetheart was Cape Verde; the island nation drew with Spain, made it to the knockout round and took Argentina into extra time. Incredible performance from such a small nation. You can view their highlights vs. Argentina here.
• Select players. Erling Haaland (Norway), Jude Bellingham (England), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Vozinha (Cape Verde), Folarin Balogun (America), and Marc Cucurella (Spain) are a few of the players who stood out to me this World Cup. This is a team game, but individual talent shines through.

Dislikes

• The low scores. Let's be honest . . . in any sport, we like scoring. In soccer, goals are scarce . . . and it can be a yawn-fest (unless both teams are pressing and just failing to finish). England vs. France in the consolation game (a 6-4 thriller) shows how much more exciting this game can be when both teams commit to the attack. Consider:
• In this WC, there were 308 goals in 104 games, about 3 scores per game.
• 120 goals came in 21 of the games, meaning 188 came in the remaining 83 contests; just over 2 goals per contest. 
• By comparison, other popular sports score more often. The NHL (6 goals per game), MLB (9 runs per game), and football (45 points per game, divided by 7 = 6.4 scores per game) blow soccer out of the water in this category.
• Turtling. Some teams 'turtle' (hunker down and play defense) from the start or if they go up. This is effectively giving up goal-scoring opportunities and hoping that playing your entire team on defense will deny goals to your opponent. It doesn't always work (see England or Egypt vs. Argentina this year), and it is annoying to watch.
• Flopping. Soccer is a unique sport in that theatrics pay off. When a player is brushed, lightly touched, or looked at, the average soccer player falls over, rolls around wildly and grabs a body part (generally, the ankle or head) writhing in pain. Everyone else on the field throws up their hands and looks at the official, clearly expecting a foul will be called on the other team. If it is, 'great.' If it isn't, the nearly-dead player just hops up and starts playing again. Or they keep rolling around if they want to really sell it (and/or just give everyone on the field a break as the ref whistles in an ambulance or whatever). Then they hop up later. To top it off, announcers buy into it completely. They analyze the play, see a player fall over for basically no reason, and fawn over them, bemoaning the 'injury.' Sheeeeeeesh.
• Games ending in penalty kicks. What a terrible way to end any game. But in the knockout stages, this is the way draws are resolved (after an extra period of play). Penalties decided four games in this Cup. One of them went against Germany. Not that I'm bitter.*
• Draws. In this World Cup, 25 games ended in draws. I'm indifferent to those. I guess.
• Certain fouls. Maybe the rules have changed since I was refereeing**, but I was shocked at some of the fouls that got red cards in this tournament. Players both going for the ball . . . a foot comes down in the wrong spot and the player is sent off. Ridiculous in my mind. Related: I don't know how many goals were disallowed due to questionable fouls, but it felt like the refs looked for reasons to keep the scoring down.
• Delays in calling fouls. When I was refereeing, the only time you didn't call a foul upon recognition is when the fouled team had the ball and advantage (in which case you allowed them to play on). In this tournament, apparently, you can call fouls when:
• it happened a half-minute earlier (offsides calls were notorious for this)
• it happened on the other side of the pitch, minutes earlier
• it happened on the other side of the world, days earlier
• Team USA (vs. Belgium). For whatever reason, the USA just cannot master men's soccer.
• The common hairstyle. AI tells me that this "textured crop with a mid-fade is one of the most popular men's hairstyles, combining short, choppy layers on top with clean, faded sides." Alex Baena (below) showcases the look. Many other players did in this Cup. I wasn't a fan; echoes of mullet.

Alex Baena (Spain)

Jury's Still Out

• The expanded format. Increasing the teams by 50%? More teams can be thrilling (see Cape Verde above); it can also mean more 'chaff' can get in, diluting the talent level and making for embarrassing blowouts.
• VAR. This year they used a team of Video Assistant Referees (VAR). In certain cases, the on-field ref could appeal to VAR (and review the footage himself) to determine if any calls needed to be adjusted. I'm of mixed mind here . . . on the one hand, every ref wants to get it right, and if video can aid that, why not? On the other, several VAR episodes this WC caused only drama (going from 'no foul' to 'red card' is a bit much to me). I think this is best used for offsides or offenses that happened away from a referee's vision vs. things he sees and calls on the field.

Final Thoughts

The fact that I watched so much indicates where my heart lies—I love this game. It was delightful to see it on U.S. soil (and thus at reasonable times), I'm glad the games were largely broadcast over the air so I could enjoy them, and the likes listed above outweighed my dislikes. It was fun to see the world come together and celebrate. Until next time, world. See you in four years.

*I am. But I concede that the Germans didn't deserve to win.

**They didn't. I checked. Okay, they did, but not in ways relevant to my point.

Go Spurs Go

They did it . . . again. For the seventh time in the past 28 years, the San Antonio Spurs are headed to the NBA Finals. As a Spurs fan since the David Robinson era, I've long admired their [now retired but still influential] Coach Pop, the teamwork they embody, and attitude, even after their championship runs with Tim Duncan ended (in 2016) and they started missing the playoffs (from 2020-2025, after making them for 22 years prior). Now . . . they're back! This post celebrates a great team and season.

How were they built? Mostly through the draft (see here for more details). The depth chart above shows the roster. The players were acquired via:

• draft: Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Victor Wembanyana, Dylan Harper, Keldon Johnson, Carter Bryant 
• trade: De'Aaron Fox, Harrison Barnes, Jordan McLaughlin, Kelly Olynyk
• free agency: Julian Champagnie, Luke Kornet, Bismack Biyombo, Mason Plumlee, Lindy Waters III

As they did with Tim Duncan in 2002, the Spurs 'lucked out' in draft lottery positioning, enabling them to get Wemby first overall in 2023, Castle fourth overall in 2024, and Harper second overall in 2025. The first two won Rookie of the Year in their respective campaigns. But it's not all about the draft . . . free agents and trades are often necessary to round things out. The Spurs have key contributors from both spheres, but none more important than De'Aaron Fox, who came over from Sacramento via trade last season.

Who are their stars? The Big Four are Wemby (the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year and MVP runner-up), Fox, Castle, and Harper. These four players give the Spurs a formidable center and deep backcourt (which also includes Keldon Johnson, the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year). Though not at the same level, the Spurs also have solid forwards in Vassell, Champagnie, Bryant, and Barnes.

Wemby and Fox (image from here)

Castle and Harper (image from here)

What does the future hold? Who knows, of course. Game One in this year's finals is on Wednesday, and the Knicks are formidable. (Sidenote: this is also a rematch of the 1998-99 Finals.) But beyond this year, the team is young and should be competitive for years to come. Do we have another Spurs dynasty on our hands? Far too early to say. But the future is bright in San Antonio . . . go Spurs go!

The Last Manager (John W. Miller)

The Last Manager is a biography about Earl Weaver, the legendary and controversial manager of the Baltimore Orioles from 1968-82 and 85-86. It covers his childhood in St. Louis, minor-league career,  brief foray into the big leagues, years spent at the O's helm, and life after retirement. 

Weaver was a spitfire. He yelled at Umps. He kicked dirt on home plate. He screamed at this players (but never held a grudge). He cussed, smoked, drank, and threatened. Ultimately, he rallied and united his players through hatred—of him.

Weaver was also a visionary. He was years ahead of his time in using data to make decisions. He preached approaches now widely used throughout the sport. He was respected and successful, winning four pennants and one World Series and coaching Hall-of-Famers including Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Jim Palmer, and Cal Ripken Jr.

This book was a fun read, presenting a complex portrait of a man both revered and disdained by friends and foes alike. I wish it was longer. I'd recommend it for baseball fans and middle-aged Orioles fans in particular, whose memories of the players and times mentioned will increase their enjoyment.

Rating: A-

Remembering the 2025 Eagles

The 2025 Eagles Depth Chart

Welp. The Eagles just lost their playoff game to the 49ers, 23-19, ending their 2025 season. It didn't end the way I wanted, but I still enjoyed the year. Here I reminisce on this past season.

The Eagles started the season strong, defending their Super Bowl win from the year prior. At 8-2 after ten games, things looked bright. Then they started melting down, losing the next three games. They rebounded to win three, dropped the meaningless finale, and then blew the game today through shaky offense, tough penalties, and dropped passes.

Though their record was 11-6, this year didn't look magical like last—offensively. The run game was often paltry. The entire offense would disappear for halves at a time, going 3-and-out way too often. And it looked stale, predictable, and weirdly lame. Their stars still got their yards, with 1K seasons for Brown, Smith, and Barkley, but it just wasn't the same. People blamed everything from new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo to a banged-up offensive line to . . . whatever. The kicker wasn't as good as normal either. Today, it was a sadly representative showing: the kicker missed an XP, the offense dropped several balls, committed key penalties, and ultimately lost them the game.

At least their defense was amazing. I love a good defense, and Vic Fangio's unit continued their dominant play most of the year, looking overmatched or overwhelmed only a handful of times. Draft picks Jihaad Campbell and Andrew Mukuba shined in spots; the others played consistently well outside of CB2. That unit was the highlight of my year.

Their in-season pickups varied. They brought in RB Tank Bigsby and LB Jaelan Phillips, both of whom made an immediate impact. Their other trades weren't great and didn't solve the problems they had at CB2.

What makes these end-of-season games so hard is knowing who won't be back. With several key free agents, the Eagles cannot afford to keep them all. Here are the big names:

Offense: 

- Dallas Goedert, TE. He's had a great run in Philly but I don't see him staying.

- Lane Johnson, T. He's not a free agent but spent the last part of the season injured, and he is old. Will he retire?

- A.J. Brown, WR. He's not a free agent, either, but runs his mouth a lot and may be out the door.

Defense:

- Jaelan Phillips, LB. The in-season pickup would love to stay (I've read) but we'll see if they can afford him.

- Nakobe Dean, LB. Dean has gotten better over the years but is prone to injury. Love to see him stay, too, but we'll see. 

- Reed Blankenship, S. This undrafted find was great for the Birds for past four years. Don't know if he will re-sign.

Special Teams:

- Braden Mann, P. Punters matter, and hopefully he will be back.

There is a lot of talent in the list, but the Eagles should still have their core intact for another season at least (two if they manage it well). Looking ahead, I hope they:

- fire their OC (sorry, Kevin, but this unit needs a change)

- sign as many of the above free agents as they can

- rest/heal up. I wonder if the O-line looked off because of their extended run last year

Fittingly, today's message in church was on Luke 10:17-20, where Jesus shares with 72 of his disciples where they should find their joy. The answer? In neither success nor comfort, but that their names are written in heaven. That is our ultimate joy. 

The Laudable Logo

I admire logos and enjoy studying them; sometimes, I am even drawn to (or away from) an entity based on them. In hockey, I like the Calgary Flames (see logo above), for example, in part because Macgyver mentioned them on his television show during my formative years. But the mere mention was insufficient; I was drawn to the team by Macgyver's hat, with sported their logo (see below). I've been hooked every since.

Why do logos matter? Why is their role so important? Whether in sports, businesses, universities, or other spheres, a good logo can have a powerful impact. Google's AI summarizes, mentioning how logos are:

. . . visual symbols [that] build brand identity, create emotional connections with fans through the mere exposure effect, and convey a team's values and history.

The AI answer focused on sports, but the attributes are broadly applicable to any entity where branding and recognition matters.

Logos are symbols, and a picture is worth a thousand words. It is impressive how much a simple logo—even a minimalist one—can convey. In fact, sometimes the best logos, and even the most informative, are not overly complex designs meant to convey every facet of an entity in a symbol, but rather a simple design that communicates a few key truths. Let's look at a recent one, sticking with hockey: the Utah Mammoth.

In 2024, the Phoenix Coyotes (who were previously the Winnipeg Jets) moved from Arizona to Utah. Their first year, they were known simply as the Utah Hockey Club, but they donned a new brand for this year and became the Utah Mammoth. Their logo impressed me. It is, appropriately, a mammoth, but note two other pieces of information conveyed:

- the crown of the head is a mountain range

- the tusk is oriented to be a 'U'

So in a simple logo, it communicates at least three things: they are the mammoth, they play in Utah, and they are near mountains. Pretty cool.

I could give a lot of other examples, from Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign logo (widely ridiculed) to some of the most iconic company symbols (widely praised), but I'll stick with this one today. When you see a logo in any sphere, take a moment to study and enjoy its design. What is good about it? Bad? Why does[n't] it grab you? And why does it matter?

Gutted

It's been a hard year in Baltimore. A few months back, I did my annual post about the Orioles and their struggles this year. Generally, teams that have little hope of playoff contention start selling off players on expiring contracts . . . and the Orioles did so this past week, unloading a whopping nine players (see graphic for the names).*

As MLB rosters carry 26 players, that means the Orioles traded away just over a third of their team. It gutted them . . . and me. Their new-look roster:

The Orioles underperformed this year, and that's been hard to see after two-plus seasons of respectability (even excellence). And yet . . . you never want to see your team dismantled. You want to see them turn things around. There is a lesson here.

There is a time and a place to make changes. I get that. And baseball is a business. I get that too. But it is more than just numbers and wins and successes. In a way, there is a family element here impossible to ignore. Love or hate a given player, we root for a team and stick by them through thick and thin. We enjoy the success and endure the defeats. But we do so together. The situation reminds me of something my pastor said in a recent weekly email to the congregation:

Perhaps we all reach a point in life where we find our joy in the ‘doing’ of life more than in the achievements of life . . . I [now] value the experience more than the outcome. And I prioritize the people I am with over the activity I am performing. For me, it has not always been that way.

I know what he means. There was a time where I would have wanted the O's to sell off people. But now? I'd rather see Cedric Mullins (I'll miss him most) make an amazing catch in the outfield. Or Ryan O'Hearn hit a clutch home run. Or even one of the newer Orioles contribute in some way. Do I want them to win? Absolutely. But I want them to win; the "them" is now more important to me than the "win." Good thing I'll never own a major league club. 

*In return, they got 16 prospects. Most experts gave them middling grades for the deals.

Enduring the 2025 Orioles

It's been a long year in Baltimore

Each year, I blog about the Baltimore Orioles. The tone last year and the one prior were positive, full of hope based on solid play, a good (young!) core, a promising farm system, and good records. This year has been another story.

The Orioles have struggled on both sides this year. 

- Their pitching, predicted to be poor, has been. They were unable to re-sign Corbin Burnes (who got injured with his new team, anyway). They have three key players injured (Grayson Rodriguez, Tyler Wells, Kyle Bradish). The replacements (Charlie Morton, Kyle Gibson, and others) have been a disaster. There is some promise with Tomoyuki Sugano, and Zack Eflin is sometimes okay, but things have been rough all around.

- Their batting, predicted to be good, has not been. Their core remains, but most players have slid from their previous performances. Jackson Holliday has been a nice highlight, Cedric Mullins remains solid, and Gunnar is doing decently well, but it's been disappointing in general.

Looking at their depth chart (current as of today), I still really like their fielders. If only they could start hitting more, and improve the pitching.

One highlight this year has been the return of all-orange uniforms (a nod back to the 1971-72 seasons). Those have been a (literal) bright spot.

Years like this make one wonder 'what went wrong?' Their offseason free agency losses (Anthony Santander and Corbin) have not produced for their respective new teams, so no regrets there. Injuries are never predictable and always lamentable. I think the real problems must be in:

- free agent pitching (or lack thereof)

- some bad trades last year (giving up some good prospects for people that haven't panned out)

- coaching? (hard to know why everyone would take a step back)

There's blame to go around, but in general . . . they're still the O's. And you stick with your team through the ups and downs. They may turn things around still—they have been 15-8 in their last 23. Go Birds!

One Last Look

The Eagles' Super Bowl defense in a picture

Two weeks after the Super Bowl, the Eagles are still on my mind. I'm sorry! Here is one final post, focusing on the defense. 

The reason the game (and season) resonates with me is defense. Everyone talks about the offense—Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, and that fabulous offensive line were indeed amazing. But I believe the reason for the Birds' success this year is defense.

The Eagles' defense went from nearly last in the NFL last year to the best this year. After sputtering to a 2-2 start, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio made some changes and the results were immediate (and effective).

I love defense. And the Super Bowl was a clinic in how to play it. The Kansas City Chiefs didn't cross half field until late in the third quarter. Their points were scored in garbage time, when the game was already decided. The Eagles got after them at every level: the defensive line (6 sacks without blitzing, one of which produced a fumble), the linebackers (an interception and general smothering play), and the secondary (a pick-six and big stops). It was amazing to watch (if you are an Eagles fan). And it wasn't new; all season long, the team has played great defense at every level. Watch the NFC Championship and Super Bowl highlights. Amazing. So how did they get there?

How do you build a defense? How do you make the worst unit in football into the best? It was a combination of good drafting, player development, quality free agent pickups, and a willingness to change what isn't working. (Note: starting lineups generally list 12 players, showing 'regular' and 'nickel' formations, so the below numbers reflect that total.)

- Good drafting (and undrafted pickups): this unit had eight starters drafted by the Birds, seven of whom were still on their rookie deals. (One more, Reed Blankenship, was an undrafted free agent.) In the below graphic, only three players were offense . . . the Eagles built this team through good drafting.

- Player development: a handful of defensive players (drafted or otherwise) didn't seem to play that well in the last few years, only to break out this year. That matters and points to good coaching. It is easy to write off players who don't pan out in a year or two, but the Eagles have consistently shown patience in this area.

- Free agent pickups: the Eagles had three on D. Darius Slay was traded to the Eagles years ago, and re-signed with them. He has been a veteran leader in the secondary. C.J. Gardner-Johnson was on the team in 2022, went elsewhere in 2023, then signed back in 2024. He is an example of a player who excels in a specific system; he has been excellent on the Birds both years on the team, while he struggled in his year elsewhere. Finally, linebacker Zack Baun was the find of the year. Relegated to special teams on the Saints, he signed with the Eagles for cheap and ended up an All-Pro (which also points to player development).

- A willingness to change what isn't working. What may be missed in the Eagles' success this year was their two big misses: 1) they signed Bryce Huff to a big contract. He didn't perform and was benched a few games into the year. 2) they signed LB Devin White, who was the expected starter. He didn't work out and was cut a few games into the year. Why does this matter? Good coaches get the best out of their players but also identify the ones that aren't working out. Even though Huff and White had more money (or attention) on them, the coaching staff made changes based on need and not 'flash.' It paid off.

Jalen Hurts was the Super Bowl MVP. And he had an amazing game. But me? I would have given the award to the entire defense. "Defense wins championships" is the common wisdom in the football world. Yet awards show what we really value; the last time a defensive player won the NFL MVP was 1986 (Lawrence Taylor). Since then, over 30 quarterbacks have taken home the award, with the rest being running backs. Super Bowl MVP stats are similar; they are almost always QBs. So the defense can get disrespected, which points to a final reflection: excellence doesn't always get recognized. You can be the best—and be a key part of a championship team—without getting accolades. And that is okay . . . we're not called to collect trophies, but to be faithful in the tasks given to us. 

Go Birds. Thanks for a great season. And thank you, defense. You gave us something to cheer for in an uncertain time. UPDATE: one Eagles fansite just released a 2024 defense highlights video. Check it out!

Parading Around

On Friday, we did a day trip to Philly for the Eagles' Super Bowl parade. This post recaps that experience . . . and what a day it was.

The party: me, my three kids, my friend, one of this kids. Six total.

The plan: leave at 6:30am, get to Wilmington Delaware to catch a regional rail to Philly, watch the parade, and do the same in reverse.

What happened: 

We left on time, got 15 miles down the road . . . and got a flat tire. Pulling over by a BGE substation, we called a tow truck, but when their time of arrival was (potentially) an hour or more, we opted instead to put the spare on ourselves and return home, get my friend's van, and try again.

We left (again) from our home, but this time at 8:00am. The last train departed Wilmington at 9:30 . . . and it takes about that long to get there. It was going to be close. We made good time but couldn't find parking once we arrived; that, plus a long line and uncertain status of the last train (would we fit or not?) led us to keep driving to Philly.

We arrived in Philadelphia at 11:00am, slowed by bad traffic outside the city. Mercifully, we found parking easily (at 8th and Market Street, just east of city hall). The parade started at the time we arrived, but we suspected we had time to get in place; they started at the stadium and would take hours to go north on Broad Street before snaking around city hall and heading northwest to the Art Museum.

people standing on the johns . . . dicey  move

Finding a good spot was hard (good spot meaning we could actually see the buses once they came through). Seven years ago, we had done something similar but taken the train and arrived much earlier; this time, we were dozens of people from the front. As the barriers prohibited crossing the main thoroughfare, we were stuck on the east side of the route. We snaked around city hall (north, then south, then north again) before ending up in Love park. We ended up with a reasonable view given the circumstances; 80 feet from the road. The map below shows the route (in red) and were we parked/walked (in black).

our view

We got as close as we could and hunkered down to wait. And then . . . something magical happened. Jason Kelce, recently-retired Eagles legend, just happened to walk right through the crowd about 10-15 feet from us:

It was very cool to see him with the fans. (He would later jump onto the parade route and walk down the street with the team.) At one point, a fan handed him a beer, he chugged it, and kept walking.

As we waited, the crowd really pressed in. I started growing concerned for my youngest, who could have been smothered. I kept a small bubble around him as best I could.

Finally, around 12:45pm, the buses came into view. The crowd went wild, phones went up, and I had to keep lifting my youngest above the throng so he could see. (I'm still sore . . . but it was worth it.) The below video was taken by my daughter.

There were more buses than I remembered from last time. At least five, maybe seven or more. It may have taken 20 minutes all told for them to go by, based on the slow pace and frequent stops. The players were spread throughout (the owner, coach, GM, and Jalen Hurts were in the front bus . . . probably more, but I couldn't see everyone). We saw Jalen, Zack Baun, Dallas Goedert, and a few more people I don't recall now. Each one of us may have seen different players based on where we were looking.

After they passed, the crowds largely dispersed, forced by the barriers to head east. I then noticed they had modified Love Park's iconic sign to read "Love, Hurts." Nice.

Heading east led us to Reading Terminal Market, where we swung in, waited in a long (but fast-moving) line for Beiler's Doughnuts, and then kept heading back to our car, stopping one more time for Philly's Pretzel Factory twists (or a cheesesteak). 

We left around 2:30pm, getting one last view of the Linc (the Eagles' stadium) on the way out. 

We got home at 5:30 or thereabouts; traffic was predictably slow getting out of the city.

Reflections

It was a long day . . . was it worth it? The kids gave a resounding "yes." We couldn't get as close as I hoped, but it was very cool seeing Kelce so close, and it was a fun atmosphere regardless of your view. "Everyone is so nice here," said my daughter. (I definitely saw some tense moments between people jostling for a view, but that aside, she was right.) It is fun to be in a crowd of people united. To celebrate regardless of personal inconvenience. To enjoy the moment.

Would I do it again? Depends on how quickly the Birds win their next one. It is a chore going up and back in a day. But you never know when you'll get moments like this, so taking advantage was wise.

Go Birds

That was satisfying. Yesterday the Eagles won the Super Bowl by clobbering the Chiefs, 40-22, and it wasn't that close (they were up 40-6 before putting in their reserves and yielding two late TDs). This post looks at their year.

The Team

Two years ago, the Eagles lost the Super Bowl to the Chiefs. That team was amazing but fell short. (Still, there are lessons in a loss.) This year's team featured 20 players from that roster (by my count) plus 33 others; turnover happens quickly in the NFL (consider: only 4 players remain from their last Super Bowl victory in 2018). The depth chart is below: note two injuries on defense (to Nakobe Dean and Brandon Graham) affected, but didn't deter, the Birds from success.

The Highlights

There are many . . .

Offense

- Saquon Barkley

What a player. What a pickup. Coming over as a free agent from the New York Football Giants, signing Saquon was considered a risky move by some given his age. It wasn't; he rushed for over 2,000 yards in the regular season, had several amazing playoff performances, and modeled humility to boot. He won the NFL offensive player of the year for his achievements.

He is a true team player and talent, the latter of which is perhaps best epitomized by his 'reverse hurdle' earlier this year:

- The Offensive Line

The Eagles have a history of strong offensive lines, and this year was more of the same. Lane Johnson, Mekhi Becton, Cam Jurgens (who replaced Jason Kelce), Landon Dickerson, and Jordan Mailata simply dominated. Mekhi in particular has a powerful story—written off as a bust, he came to Philly and resurrected his career. He could be seen crying often on the sidelines in thankfulness and joy.

- The Regulars

Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert have put together a string of successful seasons in Philly. It's fun watching them play.

Defense

- What a turnaround. Last year, the defense sputtered and looked lost. This year, they were the best. And defense wins championships. There was elite talent at every level, and new coordinator Vic Fangio put them in position to be successful. Several players drafted from years (Nakobe Dean, Nolan Smith, Jalen Carter, Milton Williams) past stepped up and performed at higher levels; free agents pickup Zach Baun went from special teams player to an all-pro; and this years' draft picks transformed the secondary from one of the worst units to one of the best.

This defense completely dominated in the playoffs, with a +13 turnover margin in four games. In the Super Bowl in particular, they looked unstoppable. 

Staff

- Nick Sirianni, head coach redeemed. 

Nick had a rough year in 2023, watching his hot 10-1 Eagles skid to a 11-6 finish and first-round ouster in the playoffs. There was talk of firing . . . instead, he stayed on and changed his approach. With two new coordinators and a new mindset, it worked. He righted a team that felt lost last year . . . quite an achievement. Generally, you don't come back from losing the locker room . . . Sirianni did.

- Howie Roseman, GM extraordinaire.

I don't know how he does it, but Howie finds ways to draft well, supplement through free agency, and sign the key players to long-term extensions in fair (but team-friendly) deals.

- Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio, new (to the Eagles) coordinators.

After last year's trainwreck, the offense and defense needed makeovers in the coaching department. Enter Kellen and Vic. The offense looked off at times, but found ways to win through it all. The defense skidded to a 2-2 start but caught fire and never looked back. 

The Amusing

- A.J. Brown's Book Club

During a lackluster game (where Brown was frustrated by a lack of targets), he was spotted on the sideline reading a book.

The book ("Inner Excellence") became an instant bestseller.

- ELGSES

During the playoffs, Philadelphia's mayor led a crowd in an Eagles chant, only to mis-spell Eagles during it. The Internet reacted predictably.

- "Exciting Whites"

Reed Blankenship and Cooper Dejean, two players in the Eagles secondary, are they only two white people on the defense. They became known as "exciting whites" based off of a meme about wine (read more about that here). You can buy shirts, folks.

- The fans

Eagles fans don't disappoint. Memes and videos about them don't, either.  

- Go Birds

This is a phrase specific to the region around Philly, and is the east coast version of 'aloha.' It means basically whatever you want it to mean.

The End

It is nice to see the Birds get their second championship in seven years. But even better is the way they played together this season. Throughout, it was clear you could describe the team with one word: "unselfish." Different players dominated different games. Everyone stepped up. And now . . . they are the champs. Go Birds.