Oh what a feeling

A couple of weeks ago in a post about the Giants game, I mentioned the atmosphere in the stands among the fans and the pervasive feeling that Philly fans get when they are optimistic but still have a general sense of foreboding that it is too good to be true and something bad will happen.

I think that unique combination of hope and dread is particular to Philadelphia and perhaps some other snakebit sports towns like Boston (the Red Sox) and Cubs fans. It's the mood that prompted my brother to comment in the days before the Eagles-Buccaneers NFC title game that was awash in stories about how the Eagles had set out to get homefield advantage throughout the playoffs and the impressive record of the home teams in those championship games by saying, "we're such losers, we'll probably lose." It was the same feeling that descended when they saw McNabb being helped off the field after Carolina LB Greg Favors dove into him in last year's championship game.

Now, Inquirer columnist Phil Sheridan has expanded on "the feeling" and maybe its exorcism this year. (see attached link)