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Remember that time you were going to get an awesome deal on that autographed Wayne Gretzky jersey on eBay, and someone swooped in with a last-second bid and stole your prized item?
Chances are that person was from Philadelphia.
And that sweet parking spot you noticed right next to the gate of you local arena, and just as you were pulling in, some jackass swerved in and took it?
More than likely, that car had Pennsylvania plates and 76ers sticker in the back window.
Philadelphia may be known as the City of Brotherly Love, but in the world of big-name free agent shopping, Philly is getting a reputation as a stealth-bombing, wildcard city that creeps in through the window in the middle of the night and carries free agents off to the South Philadelphia Sports Complex – home to the Eagles, Phillies, Flyers and Sixers.
The Philadelphia Eagles made waves Friday, scooping shutdown corner Nnamdi Asomugha from right under the New York Jets’ nose. Reports around the NFL were that Asomugha was destined to go to either the Jets or Dallas Cowboys. But instead, the Eagles landed the most sought after free agent on the market, and shocked the league and its fans.
But this isn’t the first time a Philadelphia franchise has pulled off a surprise move. Earlier this month, the Flyers acquired returning NHL veteran Jaromir Jagr, who appeared to be headed back to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he won two Stanley Cups. But instead of a happy reunion, Jagr jumped ship to the Pens’ state rivals, even though the Flyers weren’t even mentioned among the candidates to land the former Hart Trophy winner.
This winter, former Cy Young winner Cliff Lee was all but fitted for pinstripes. But before the Yankees could convince the ace pitcher to sign on the dotted line, the Phillies brass appealed to Lee’s wife, who enjoyed her brief time in Philadelphia a year earlier. That was enough for Mr. Lee, who stunned baseball pundits and joined forces with Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt to form one of the greatest starting rotations in the history of the major leagues.
Maybe Philadelphia’s sports franchises are just better than others at keeping their best-laid plans away from the prying eyes of the media, who have been blindsided by these player moves. Or maybe we give too much credit to the media.
Whatever the case, the next time a big-name free agent is shopping his wares to the highest bidder, don’t be surprised if that player ends up pricing homes in the 215 area code.
Chances are that person was from Philadelphia.
And that sweet parking spot you noticed right next to the gate of you local arena, and just as you were pulling in, some jackass swerved in and took it?
More than likely, that car had Pennsylvania plates and 76ers sticker in the back window.
Philadelphia may be known as the City of Brotherly Love, but in the world of big-name free agent shopping, Philly is getting a reputation as a stealth-bombing, wildcard city that creeps in through the window in the middle of the night and carries free agents off to the South Philadelphia Sports Complex – home to the Eagles, Phillies, Flyers and Sixers.
The Philadelphia Eagles made waves Friday, scooping shutdown corner Nnamdi Asomugha from right under the New York Jets’ nose. Reports around the NFL were that Asomugha was destined to go to either the Jets or Dallas Cowboys. But instead, the Eagles landed the most sought after free agent on the market, and shocked the league and its fans.
But this isn’t the first time a Philadelphia franchise has pulled off a surprise move. Earlier this month, the Flyers acquired returning NHL veteran Jaromir Jagr, who appeared to be headed back to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he won two Stanley Cups. But instead of a happy reunion, Jagr jumped ship to the Pens’ state rivals, even though the Flyers weren’t even mentioned among the candidates to land the former Hart Trophy winner.
This winter, former Cy Young winner Cliff Lee was all but fitted for pinstripes. But before the Yankees could convince the ace pitcher to sign on the dotted line, the Phillies brass appealed to Lee’s wife, who enjoyed her brief time in Philadelphia a year earlier. That was enough for Mr. Lee, who stunned baseball pundits and joined forces with Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt to form one of the greatest starting rotations in the history of the major leagues.
Maybe Philadelphia’s sports franchises are just better than others at keeping their best-laid plans away from the prying eyes of the media, who have been blindsided by these player moves. Or maybe we give too much credit to the media.
Whatever the case, the next time a big-name free agent is shopping his wares to the highest bidder, don’t be surprised if that player ends up pricing homes in the 215 area code.
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