PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Eagles are one game away from making another Super Bowl. When the Washington Commanders come to South Philadelphia for the NFC championship game on Sunday, the nation will be watching the Eagles — and Eagles fans.
Hall of Fame journalist Ray Didinger, a legend in his own right, tells me the fans have changed a little since the Birds’ first Super Bowl win.
"I think a little bit of that anger — a little bit of that, what people call, hostility that they felt in the stands — I think that's kind of gone now,” Didinger said. “But in terms of being behind their team and making noise for their team and being a significant home field advantage — I don't think that's ever going to change."
In my long time here I’ve never heard area sports fans described better than by the 50-year veteran wordsmith, playwright, TV analyst and all around great guy. His take on why Philadelphia sports fans are so special can be summed up in one word: Loyalty.
"I think the thing that sort of sets Philadelphia fans, apart from other fans in other cities, is just the loyalty factor. I really do think there's great loyalty here. The people come out and they support their teams through good times and bad,” Didinger said.
Ray sees NFL Fans in many other other cities as frontrunners.
"In Philadelphia. That's not true. The fans here come out and support their teams all the way. And if it goes badly, and the team performs badly, and the coach makes some questionable calls, and the players don't seem to give 100% effort — the fans, that'll be tough in that stadium.
“I mean, the fans will boo you, and they'll call names and everything, but the fact is, they're there. They don't walk away and take their money with them. They're there, and they put their money where their loyalty is. That, to me, is what makes Philadelphia a great sports town. … These are smart fans. They know what they're watching. And when they get angry, I look at them as informed consumers."
There is a reason that Ray is in the Hall of Fame. He's clear, he's eloquent. He knows the team and he understands the people who fuel the players with their respect, unbridled passion, admiration, and in certain times, honesty and transparency. What else could you ask for?