If Football's a Religion, Why Don't We Have a Prayer?: Philadelphia, Its Faithful, and the Eternal Quest for Sports Salvation Review

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(More customer reviews)There are certain sports teams that come to mind as having a set of fans that transcendeth all understanding. The 'Cubbies' from Chicago come to mind. And Brooklyn, don't forget Brooklyn who agreed with the newspaper that the three most evil men of the 20th century were "Hitler, Stalin, and Walter O'Malley." O'Malley moved the "Boys of Summer" to Los Angeles.
Philly, on the other hand stands out as a city that has four professional teams, a tremendous collection of fans, and a football team that hasn't won a title in 45 years. Suddenly they stood a chance. The Eagles stood a chance and Philadelphia went crazy.
This is the story of the Philly fans and their magical year that in the end ran out of pixie dust. It's a great read. It also fits in very well with the book 'Next Man Up,' even though that book is on the Ravens.

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The last time a Philadelphia professional sports team won a championship, Ronald Reagan was in the White House and Return of the Jedi was number one at the box office. No city with all four major sports has gone longer without one. The local NFL franchise, the Eagles, has not won a title since 1960, putting its devoted fans through decades of futility and heartbreak.

Peppered with riotous anecdotes about the grandstand brawlers and football lunatics who make Philadelphia one of the most entertaining places in America to watch a game, If Football's a Religion, Why Don't We Have a Prayer? is the hilarious day-by-day account of the operatic passion of Eagles fans in the buildup to the team's first Super Bowl appearance since 1981. With outrageous detail and beer-on-your-shoes reporting, New York Times sportswriter and longtime Philly resident Jere Longman reveals what happens when the losingest sports town in America finally has a shot at winning it all.
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.