By Rob Charry
It was always going to be tough for 2019 to top 2018, which has to be considered the best year in Philadelphia sports since WIP became a full-time sports radio station in the late 1980’s. A parade in February 2018, four days after the 2017 season ended with the Eagles first Super Bowl championship, and another in April of 2018 for Villanova’s second NCAA title in three years, sets a pretty high standard.
But, 2019, did see three of our four pro teams seriously contend for titles, even though they all fell short.
The Eagles began the year by sneaking into the playoffs, stealing a win in Chicago and jumping out to a two touchdown lead in New Orleans, before running out of a gas. They are ending the year, sneaking into the playoffs once again and earning a third straight postseason appearance.
The Sixers lost a second round 7 game playoff series on a last second shot that bounced several times before landing in the basket to the eventual NBA champs and appear to be one of several contenders for their first NBA finals appearance in 19 years.
The Phils signed Bryce Harper, won their first four games impressively and had us thinking playoffs and even World Series in April and May but then played poorly or mediocre enough to get their manager fired, failing to finish over .500 again. Hiring Joe Girard to replace Gabe Kepler though, seems to have universal approval.
And while the Flyers didn’t make the playoffs in 2019, and changed coaches again, they seem to have finally found a goalie and, may find themselves back in the playoffs in 2020.
In the college scene, some major changes in the Big Five, with the planned changing of the guard at Temple—Aaron McKie, already a Philadelphia legend, replacing another Philadelphia legend, Fran Dunphy, who himself had replaced a Philadelphia legend in John Chaney. The unplanned was Phil Martelli being asked to leave at St Joe’s—his replacement is Billy Lange.
While things are already looking up for 2020, with the Eagles ready to host a playoff game on Sunday and the other three major pro teams appearing to be headed in the right direction, 2019 wasn't that bad a year after all. They were plenty of highs—the double doink, Bryce Harper’s walkoff slam, the Eagles' late surge, along with the usual lows.
You can relive all the highlights when WIP’s annual Year in Review airs this week and next week:
- Tuesday 12/31 - 2am-5:30am
- Tuesday 12/31 - 10pm-2am
- Wednesday 1/1 - 2am-5:30am
- Wednesday 1/1 - 6am-8am
Top 10 Philly sports stories of the year
1. Nick Foles vs. Carson Wentz
6. Double Doink Game
7. Eagles beat Cowboys to save 2019 season
10. Fran Dunphy replaced by Aaron McKie
Top 10 Philly sports plays of the year
5. Carson Wentz to Miles Sanders in corner of end zone - December 15th
Carson Wentz throws an absolute LASER of a TD to Miles Sanders.(Via @thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/YscTmLrK7U
— USA TODAY NFL (@usatodaynfl)
December 15, 2019 6. Carson Wentz to Dallas Goedert vs. Cowboys - December 22nd
9. Packers denied at goal line - September 26th
