We've already been through the first three stages of grief (shock, pain, anger) over Dawkins' departure, but before we can move on to stage five (calm rationalization) we need to bulldoze our way through stage four: reflection. So that means ranking where losing the greatest Iggle of the last two decades fits in the worst Philadelphia sports moments of the last 20 years.
I submit it ranks pretty high. Discounting untimely deaths of sports figures (because that's an actual tragedy, not a sports one) and the destruction of the Vet (it sucked, but it didn't make me want to stop watching sports altogether, here's my top ten:
Moments that just missed the cut:
Oct 2007: Phillies swept by Rockies in first round of playoffs
Aug 2005: Terrell Owens threatens holdout
Mar 1993: Reggie White signs with Packers
Jan 2004: Eagles lose NFC Champs to Panthers, 14-3
Dec 2006: Allen Iverson traded to Nuggets
10 -- Dec 1994: Eagles lose last seven games to finish 7-9
Included in that streak was a 31-19 loss to the Cowboys where Randall Cunningham had a fourth-quarter interception returned 100 yards for a touchdown. That was my 18th birthday.
9 -- Jun 1997: Flyers swept by Red Wings in finals
Sweeps are always painful. It had been 10 years since the city had seen great hockey, and that unstoppable “Crazy Eights” line got run over in Ron Hextall’s last chance at a Stanley Cup trophy.
8 -- Jul 2000: Curt Schilling traded to Diamondbacks
We all knew it was coming, we just didn’t know that all the Phils would get back in return were Omar Daal, Travis Lee and Vincente Padilla. Nothing like trading a Hall of Famer for a 20-game loser.
7 -- Jun 2001: Lakers and Kobe beat Sixers in the finals
Why did it have to be Kobe? And did the Lakers really need another one?
6 -- Sep 1997: Hutton fumbles, Eagles lose 21-20 in Dallas
The only regular season game on this list, but undoubtedly the most painful. Tommy Hutton handled the ball more than 800 times in five NFL seasons. Losing a FG snap in the last seconds of a Dallas game is the only one anyone remembers anymore.
5 -- May 2000: Flyers lose conf finals after leading 3-1
The Flyers became the first team ever to lose the conference championship when up three games to one. And they did it to Marty Brodeur and the Devils. And Eric Lindros was killed on the ice in the start of decisive game seven. Good stuff.
4 -- Jan 2005: Eagles lose Super Bowl to Patriots, 24-21
The Patriots were clearly the better team, so there’s some solace in that. But they had the ball with a minute left down by three, and instead of throwing up some points on the board all Donovan McNabb could throw up was air.
3 -- Oct 1993: Phillies lose WS on Joe Carter’s walk-off homer
I’ve finally forgiven Mitch Williams for this blown save. I still haven’t forgiven him for the three other blown saves he had this postseason.
2 -- Feb 2009: Brian Dawkins signs with Broncos
I think this is that bad. Dawkins is (was) the only Hall of Famer on the Eagles, and through all the ups and downs Dawk was always there fighting. He’s the only player in NFL history to have a sack, a fumble recovery and a TD catch in the same game. He’s had at least one interception each of the last 13 years. He has been to seven Pro Bowls. When he held up the NFC championship trophy four years ago, it was one of the greatest sports moments in the city’s history. When he left last week it was one of the worst.
1 -- Jan 2003: Eagles lose NFC Champs to Bucs, 27-10
As bad as Dawk leaving is, it doesn’t top this disaster. This was the Eagles final game at the Vet. They had beaten Tampa in the playoffs the two prior seasons. They took the opening kickoff 80 yards. They were up 7-0 in the first 30 seconds of the game. The Eagles were going to win and go to the Super Bowl. We all knew the Eagles were going to win and go to the Super Bowl. It was obvious the Eagles were going to win and go to the Super Bowl. And three hours later, when they lost a one-sided disaster, none of us understood how or why they weren't going to the Super Bowl. This was the year the Eagles should have won it all, and I’m still waiting for Andy Reid to explain it and apologize adequately.
OK, we're past the mourning now. Next week I'll do the top 10 happy moments and we'll roll with that right into the Phils season.
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3 comments:
Gah. I miss Dawk.
*sniff*
It's OK, man. Let it out. Jimmy Rollins still loves you.
Captn, I think you missed the stage I'm in right now. Denial, I don't want to think about it. I will not think about it until the season starts. Go Phillies.
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