This blog is one of many blogs about Philadelphia. Here is the previous blog: The City of Brotherly Love: The Introduction of Philadelphia & what the city has to offer.....   Many of us know that the City of Philadelphia is a Football town. Sure, it's won a few of Lord Stanley's Cups (the trophy to the team that wins the championship in hockey), but it will always be a football city because of its blue collar workers and because of WIP, the sports radio talk show. But there is so much that surrounds this wonderful city with lots of history in regards to its sports and those players that were on these teams.            Philly Phanatic (baseball)>>>

The Philadelphia Eagles first came into the league in 1924 as the Frankford Yellowjackets. But in 1933 after a 1 year absence, the Philadelphia Eagles were born. The team struggled until the early 40's, in which they won 2 NFL Championships and yet another in 1960, where Chuck Bendarik led them. However, all 3 of these championships came before the existence of a Super Bowl, so the Philadelphia Eagles team since its inception has not captured a Super Bowl crown. Their next chance at a Super Bowl came in 1980 and then in 2004, losing both times.   Lincoln Field Stadium>>>>>

The original Phillies began when the Worcester Ruby Legs were disbanded and the franchise was moved by the National League to Philadelphia. The Phillies then were formed in 1883, and history was in the making. Now, as the 21st century begins, the Phillies are the oldest, continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional sports.

The first Phillies game was played May 1, 1883 at Recreation Park on the corner of 24th Street and Ridge Avenue. Thirty-three years after their first National League season, the Phillies finally reached the World Series. They did it in 1915 with a powerful team led by first-year manager Pat Moran. In 1935, the Phils met the Cincinnati Reds at Crosley Field in the first Major League night game. After 97 years, the Phillies finally reached the promised land in 1980 by winning their first World Championship. And since then, have been to the World Series in 1983 and 1994, losing both times.                                                                                                           Citizens Bank Park>>>>>>

The city of Philadelphia had been home to an NHL team before for one season; the Philadelphia Quakers during the 1930-31 NHL season. They suspended operations for the next and subsequent seasons until they finally cancelled the franchise in 1936. Philadelphia would have to wait another 30 years for the NHL to return when in 1966, the league awarded an expansion franchise to the city. Flyers was the name chosen for the new franchise as it conveyed the motion and excitement that was to be consistent with both hockey in general, as well as the new Philadelphia club. They won the Stanley Cup in 1974 and 1975 which was won by a group called the "Broad Street Bullies." The Broad Street Bullies remain one of the most popular teams in Philadelphia sports history. The individuals that were most famous in this group were: Bobby Clarke, Dave Schultz, Bill Barber, and Bernie Parent was part of this team also.They then lost in the finals in: 1976, 1980, 1985, 1987, and 1997. Both the Flyers and 76'ers use the same arena.

The 76ers (also known as the Sixers) began play in 1946 as the Syracuse Nationals. In 1950 they played against the Minneapolis Lakers in the NBA's first championship series, but lost. The team moved to Philadelphia in 1963 and adopted its current name. The team's name is taken from the year 1776, when Philadelphia was the political center of the United States, which had just declared its independence from Britain. In the 1966-67 season the squad included center Wilt Chamberlain and won the NBA title.The 76'ers made it to the NBA finals in 1977, 1980, 1982 and claimed the  championship in 1983. They have been to the Championship game once since then, in 2001.

We also have the Wings (Lacrosse) & Kixx (Soccer), The Soul (arena football), and the Philadelphia Park (horse racing). You also have car racing which can be seen at Pocono Raceway for both the Pennsylvania 500 and the Pocono 500. And you can even throw in some golf, because Philadelphia has held some Senior Championships in recent years. Last, you can mention the college basketball teams that have some good rivals and brought a NCAA championships to Philly, Villanova in 1985. Then you have the five universities that are members of the Big 5 are the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Saint Joseph's University, Villanova University, and La Salle University. This is a tournament held between these schools to raise money for the Palestra.

And for those of you that love to listen to talk radio shows, you can listen to WIP 610 Sports Talk Radio. http://www.610wip.com/   Angela Cataldi and his crew can be adicting to listen to and they can even be hard on Philly's sports teams because they believe in honest sports talk. Some of the big names that are with WIP 610 are: Al Morganti, Howard Eskins, and Joe Conklin (does voices).

WIP also hosts the Wing Bowl which has turned into a National event now. http://www.610wip.com/wingbowl/  This event attracts contestants from all over the World to see who can eat the most wings in 10 minutes. The irony of this event is that it starts at 6 am in the morning and continues until 9:30 am. People start tailgaiting for this event at 3 am in the morning. This is something that you should experience at least once in your lifetime, in order to be branded a true Philadelphia sports nut or just looney.

The Philadelphia International Championship Bike Race --(formerly known as the Core States Bike Race and then the First Union Bike Race)

The crown jewel of the 2006 Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling Benefiting Fox Chase Cancer Center, is the Philadelphia International Championship, now celebrating its 22nd year. More than 160 of the world's top professional cyclists descend upon the city of Philadelphia to race in the longest running and richest single-day cycling road race in the United States. The cyclists will compete over ten laps of a 14.4 mile circuit over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Kelly Drive and Manayunk Wall in one of the biggest special sporting events in the United States.

Overall, Philadelphia has been blessed with some tremendous athletes throughout the years. Such names as: Football: Chuck Bednarik(1950's-1960's), Tommy McDonald, Sonny Jurgenson, Wilbert Montgomery, Harold Charmichael, Ron Jaworski, Donovan McNabb  Baseball: Jimmie Fox (1945), Robin Roberts, Richie Asburn, Larry Bowa, Steve Carlton, Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose, Lenny Dykstra. And if any remembers, trading Ryne Sandberg to the Chicago Cubs.  Hockey: Bernie Parent, Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber, Gene Hart, and Eric Lindros    Basketball: Wilt Chamberlain, Julias Erving (Dr. J), Charles Barkley, and Allen Iverson.

Update: Brian Brady did a great blog on :What the heck is the Philadelphia Big Five? Sharing some of the City's history in regards to College Basketball.