Let's hope it really is a Philly Thing

Who is your team?

Let's face it, in eastern Sussex County, fans love their Pennsylvania teams.

Since we don't have a professional sports team to call our own, it’s left up to Sussex Countians to select teams they want to support.

Since we are on the eve of a Super Bowl, Philadelphia Eagles fans are over the moon as their Birds prepare to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

It's hard to believe that the Eagles’ Super Bowl win in 2018 is the only one in franchise history.

But not everyone in Sussex is an Eagles fan – it seems to be based on geography. People on the eastern side of the county tend to root for Philadelphia teams, while those on the western side tend to root for Baltimore teams, including the Ravens.

And staying with Pennsylvania teams, there are a lot of Pittsburgh Steelers fans in the county as well.

Of course, this is a generalization because there are Sussex folks who support a variety of professional teams.

There are those who are passionate about the Washington Commanders (can't get used to that name).

And that's not to say there are not Eagles and Phillies fans in other parts of the county.

Why the Eagles?

My theory about the support of the Eagles in eastern Sussex County is that the multitude of people who have come to this area are from Pennsylvania and upstate Delaware, and they brought their support of the Eagles with them. Nearly everyone in my wife's family with ties to New Castle County are die-hard (and I mean really die-hard) Eagles and Phillies fans. If the Eagles win the Super Bowl, many of them will be in the middle of the celebration parade.

A lot has to do with where your roots are. Then there are those who could not care less.

In any case, I'm pulling for the Eagles to win the Super Bowl to keep harmony in the family.

Orioles and Colts

I grew up a Baltimore Orioles and Colts fan. My father and I attended many games over the years and collected Baltimore memorabilia for years. I have dozens of tubs packed with cards, books, plaques and autographed photos and balls to prove it.

Worst memory: I won tickets to the 1979 World Series when the Orioles were up three games to nil and ended up losing four straight to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Best memory: Attending the Sept. 5, 1995 Orioles game when Cal Ripken Jr. tied the consecutive games played record set by Lou Gehrig at 2,130. I couldn't get tickets for the record-breaking game the next night, but the game before was a magical experience at Camden Yards. The Iron Man went on to play 2,632 straight games.

When the Colts left Baltimore at night March 28, 1984, I didn't think my dad and I would get over it. We were in a state of limbo until the Ravens came into the NFL in 1996. Although we support the Ravens, it's not the same.

My father was such a fan, he organized benefit basketball games in the 1960s with Colts players who traveled around during the off-season playing basketball. The likes of Johnny Unitas, Raymond Berry and Gino Marchetti played full tilt and took no prisoners on the court. They were serious players.

The Seaford High School gym was always packed to overflowing when the Colts came to town.

The players relied on the games to make extra money. It was a very different time.