That’s right, Philadelphia. Calm down, those aren’t Eagles flying the Jersey Shore boardwalk. And it’s not an NFC primetime rematch in the frigid winter conditions of Philadelphia between the Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons. This is a Jersey boardwalk showdown between falcons and seagulls once again down the shore during summer 2024.
Photo Courtesy of UnSplash.com.
Once again in 2024 — Ocean City, NJ has extended its contract with East Coast Falcons. Dating back to 2019, the group of 14 that includes one Eagle-owl, hawks, and falcons have protected against seagulls to provide a leisure experience to beachgoers and tourists alike enjoying the attractions along the nearly three miles of Ocean City’s gorgeous Boardwalk.
If you’ve vacationed in Ocean City, NJ beach or near the Boardwalk, then you’ve probably come into contact with the gulls that perch close to humans and love to feed on french fries and pizza — right from your unexpected waiting hands.
The use of falconry dates back to before 2000 BC. Stealing falcons was punishable by death during the reign of King Edward III. Falconry was documented as being used in America as far back as 1622.
And Philadelphia has a significant history with Falconry as well. Philly continued its tradition of sports firsts when the Peregrine Club of Philadelphia began in 1934. Seven years later, the club was suspended sue to WWII. In 2013, it was brought back to life by Dwight A. Lasure. Lasure was a Pennsylvanian as well.
The Eagles have compiled an all-time record of 21–15–1 against the Falcons, including a regular season record of 18–14–1 and a postseason advantage of 3–1. The Eagles would beat the Falcons in the 2005 NFC Championship Game to advance to their first Super Bowl since 1981. They would also beat the Falcons in 2018 in the NFC Divisional Round before winning Super Bowl LII.
So feel free to indulge in that boardwalk Subway sandwich, Chickie & Pete’s Crabfries, or Manco & Manco Boardwalk Pizza this summer, and rest assured that you’ll be able to do so without sharing and of it with a persistent NJ seagull.
Although you may have to give food — if not thanks — to a Falcon. Limit your thanks to vacation, though. The Eagles play the Falcons on September 16th.
Philadelphia’s Zoo Was a First in America. It’s Community Service Continues to This Day.
If you are looking for the perfect pairing of commitment to the community in Philadelphia, you’ve picked a great combination with the Eagles and the Philadelphia Zoo. The Eagles dedication to the community continues this August 8th which is yet another Eagles Fly Night at the Zoo. The private, virtual event, is reserved for the families of children undergoing treatment for cancer. The virtual event, which features insight from the Zoo Keepers and information about the Philadelphia Zoo. Jr. 76ers and Kids Club events have also been held at the Zoo.
Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons.
Our Philadelphia Zoo was the first of its kind in America. Originally chartered in 1859, the Zoo project was unable to open until 1874 due to the American Civil War. Our Philadelphia Zoo wasn’t just first in America. It houses the first onsite animal care center world-wide and was again first in America to offer a Children’s Zoo as well as orangutan and chimpanzee births in 1928.
The Philadelphia Zoo is displayed six giant wooden Trolls designed by Thomas Dalbo from February 1st until April 1, 2024. The exhibit, called Save the Humans can be viewed for the price of admission to the Philadelphia Zoo. The giant sculptures are made 100% from recycled wood.
Thomas Dambo hails from Odense, Denmark where he was born in 1979. Dambo’s motivation is the creation of art that combines nature, exploration, and adventure in the outdoors and to show the world that recycled goods can be transformed into gorgeous artwork.
The Zoo is complete with Galapagos Tortoises — one of which is Molly — who is 98-years old. She’s seen a lot in her life, including visits from my parents and grandparents, and great grandparents as well.
The Great Depression Made the Eagles. WWII Made Them Champions.
The War Shaped Many Pennsylvania Boys. When They Returned, They Made the Philadelphia Eagles Winners.
It’s been eighty years since American, Canadian, Australian, and British forces landed on the beaches of Normandy to liberate Europe from the clutches of the combined Axis Powers of Germany, Japan, and Italy. From the Pacific Theater to battlefields in Europe, both former and present-day NFL players would do their duty as American soldiers.
Among the American forces who landed and fought their way up the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944 and served all over the world in WWII were many Professional Football Players like Eagles Center and Defensive Lineman Chuck Bednarik who was a waist gunner in the Army Air Corps on a B-24 Bomber for 29 missions.
Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons.
Guard Jack Sanders (formerly a Pittsburgh Steeler) joined the Eagles in 1945 after losing a wrist and his left hand while fighting on Iwo Jima. Eagles Guard Bucko Kilroy served in the Merchant Marines during World War II.
The Eagles saw tragedy from the war, too. Kicker and halfback Michael M. “Nick” Basca was a tank commander for Third Army under George Patton was killed in action. Harry Benson was killed in the Pacific Theater.
Here’s what turned the Eagles from mediocre to masterful in the late 1940s.
It’s now something of lore that a player shortage forced the Eagles to merge with the Steelers in 1943. The Steagles were 5–4–1. The Steelers were 7–4 in 1942. The Eagles in their first decade of existence on the other hand had been a losing team.
In 1944, in an NFL Draft that hardly anyone noticed right here in Philadelphia at the famed Warwick Hotel — the Eagles drafted LSU Star running back Steve Van Buren, drafted Pete Pihos out of Indiana University in 1945, brought back quarterback Tommy Thompson, and acquired halfback Boss Pritchard after his career with the Cleveland Rams in 1942.
After winning seven games in both 1944 and 1945, the Eagles were ready to make a run for the Championship in 1947. After beating the Steelers in the playoffs, the Eagles rallied against the Chicago Cardinals but came up just short by a final score of 28–21. The following year — in a Philadelphia nor’easter — the Eagles would beat those Chicago Cardinals 7–0 to win their first NFL Championship. They would repeat in Los Angeles the following year in 1949.
To this day, the Eagles run from 1947–1949 was the most successful in team history producing two Championships. For those Eagles who brought the lessons of the WWII battlefield back to Shibe Park in Philadelphia — they helped to bring the Eagles from mediocre to masterful.
The $4.9 Billion Eagles Going International Seems Right. But Is It Right for Brazil?
The Eagles are coming to a City near you (well, at least they are if you live in Sao Paulo, Brazil.) Relax, if you live in Philadelphia then you won’t have to travel far for the rest of the 2024–2025 home games.
Jeffrey Lurie’s nearly $4.9 Billion franchise is joining other NFL franchises to go global.
As the NFL contemplates expansion into one of these foreign markets and with more teams playing on foreign soil, several other teams have secured international rights overseas themselves. The Dolphins and Bears have rights secured in Spain. The Dolphins also have rights secured in Brazil in addition to the Eagles. The Steelers have recently secured the same type of rights in Ireland.
Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.
Like any great company going international from the confines of only doing business in America since 1920, it’s an exciting time. But does excitement and opportunity make this right for Brazil and its people?
Undoubtedly, Brazil will reap the benefits of a tourism boost from the presence of the Eagles, Packers, and hordes of their fans traveling to see the game. But the NFL will profit from the broadcast, sale of official merchandise, and revenue from the game.
According to Ticketmaster, the average ticket left for the game is $339.30. It’s an expensive item for a county whose average monthly income is a $750.00. Many of Brazil’s residents cannot afford to attend the game at Corinthians Arena.
And how about an effect on the fans back home?
The Eagles and Packers have a storied history. In fact, the 1960 NFL Championship Game the Day after Christmas was blacked out on TV around the Delaware Valley. Many of my relatives listened to it on radio. Which is appropriate considering in an attempt not to compete with broadcasted high school games on Friday night, the 2024 Eagles/Packers matchup will only be available to be seen with a subscription streaming on NBC’s Peacock.
Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.
Sure — one could argue that if the world stage craves NFL football — well then expansion isn’t just the right move for the NFL but rather a necessary one. Or that both Eagles and Packers should be afforded every opportunity to take advantage of a worldly presence that other NFL teams are benefitting from.
But although Sao Paulo is one of largest cities in South America, for a powerhouse country like the US whose revenue and budget is 3x the size of Brazil — is bringing NFL Football there the right move?
Either way, that is exactly what is happening in September 2024.
Why A Season that Ended in Collapse Doesn’t Diminish the Strength of the Eagles in 2024.
On Tuesday, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie took to the podium for his annual meeting with the Press about the Eagles to talk about season and where he sees the team going.
For years during the mid-2000s, I would be in attendance at Eagles Training Camp at Lehigh University. Each year in the August, there was Jeffrey Lurie, watching intently in the Pennsylvania sun and eyes covered by sunglasses as he proudly observed his franchise.
His Philadelphia Eagles.
It’s Been 30 years since fourty-two year old Jeffrey Lurie purchased the Philadelphia Eagles for $185 Million in 1994. While it’s true that Lurie is not the most successful owner in Eagles history — his franchise is not only a beloved Philadelphia tradition since 1933 — but also the strongest that the Eagles have ever been.
Both nationally and internationally.
This year is another anniversary for Eagles leadership. Fourty years ago in December of 2024 — Eagles owner Leonard Tose’ plan to move the Eagles to Arizona after not getting the immediate support that he requested from the City of Philadelphia to build Skyboxes in Veteran’s Stadium — was exposed by the Philadelphia media.
Shortly after in April of 1985, Norman Braman and Ed Leibowitz bought the Eagles.
Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.
This month, the news broke that the Eagles will play Eagles to Sao Palo Brazil in the first ever NFL game in over 50 years and the first ever in South America on Friday evening, September 6th.
Lurie’s continued growth of Bert Bell’s 1933 visionary team for all Philadelphia — not just for Frankford — hasn’t seen the success of the “Happy Hundred,” a group of investors who owned the Eagles during the Championship years of 1949 and 1960 before the NFL/AFL merger.
But longest-tenured Eagles owner has won a modern-day Super Bowl in 2018, which still the crowning victory for any NFL team between the NFC and AFC Conferences.
While behind the scenes, he has accomplished much more.
When Lurie borrowed $185 Million to buy the Eagles in 1994, after contemplating owning other sports’ franchises like the New England Patriots, the Eagles were far from championship caliber. The last World Championship had been in 1960, last Super Bowl appearance in 1981, and the exileration of Buddy Ryan’s Gang Green Defense had not brought the Eagles any closer to a title.
Since 1994, Lurie has delivered on a consistent contender in Philadelphia as he promised. When the Eagles were farthest from that promise, he has always took decisive action. Rich Kotite was out in 1994, Ray Rhodes in 1998, and a rebellious Chip Kelly in 2015. He even parted ways with Super Bowl winning coach Doug Pederson in 2021.
What Lurie has delivered is a consistent, quality, on-field product. Under Eagles Coach Andy Reid (coached in the Super Bowl) the Eagles were the class of the NFC in the early 2000s. They appeared in five NFC Championship Games, one Super Bowl, and six NFC East Titles between 2000–2010.
Then we enjoyed the euphoric sensation of the 2018 season that delivered Eagles’ fans almost everything that they wanted (I said almost.) The Eagles outmaneuvered Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and the New England Patriots to to bring home the Lombardi Trophy, ran the Minnesota Vikings out of Philadelphia in the NFC Championship Game, and made a huge defensive stand against Julio Jones and the Falcons in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game. Jones now plays for the Eagles.
And last season — a year of nearly Eagles perfection — saw the Eagles lose the Super Bowl to Andy Reid and the Chiefs 38–35. If we had time left on the clock, few in the greater the greater Philadelphia area think that the outcome couldn’t have been different. It could have been another Broad Street Parade once again.
The Philadelphia Eagles, Jeffrey Lurie’s $185 Million investment — now a reported value of $5.6 Billion — are reportedly the #4 most popular NFL team in 2024 according to SportingLad.com. In 2022, the Eagles made $598 Million in revenue. The Eagles have an outstanding 34.1% international fanbase according to gambling.com, which is one of the highest in the whole NFL.
And now, they are an international sensation as well. In March of 2022, the Eagles became the 19th NFL Team to enter the NFL Global Market, securing rights in Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. Last year during the Super Bowl, the Eagles even hosted an international watch-party in Accu, Ghana sponsored by GATE Africa. In 2022, they were the first team in the NFL to enter the African market.
Certainly, the Eagles don’t as yet garnish the international the fame as the most popular international team (unfortunately the Dallas Cowboys) but with their current upward trajectory, all the reason exists to believe that eventually they can claim the the position of the NFL’s number one most-popular international team.
Looking back on those August summer days of seeing Jeff Lurie proudly on the sidelines at Training Camp, it’s no wonder why.
