Michael Vick was named the Philadelphia Eagles new started quarterback and the local tabloids in the Phili area took full advantage.
Reporting from Philadelphia now instead of Miami, it's taken a few months for me to get to know the place. During this time I've noticed a lot about the Philadelphia people, culture, food, language (yes, Philadelphia has its own language) and without question, their beloved Philadelphia Eagles (Hockey, we'll have to discuss later).
They seem to hate the NFL franchise as much as they love them. Yet, isn't that the way it always is with love? And, that's a good example! The word, LOVE. It's a good example of a word that is used only in certain context and times in the Phili area. You never dare say "I love you" to your sweetheart when you're sober around the guy's, oh no, that would be a tragic mistake.
However, once 3 or more cocktails, beers or even 3 glasses of wine ( a rare site in the Phili area), have been consumed, you are provided social license to say "I love you" to the mother of your worst enemy if you wanted, and everyone would cheer and give you a big hug too. Provided of course they too have met the 3 cocktail criteria as well. I now know where the commercialized phrase "I love you man" in those Budweiser commercials comes from.
Yep, Philadelphia is indeed a hearty town with hearty people and a hard attitude toward their NFL team. This morning, the Philadelphia Daily News ran the cover piece and image (above) with the easy to read headline "TOP DOG". Should I laugh? If I do, is it because the headline is so outrageous one can't help but laugh? Or, is it that I am saying to myself, "Exactly"!
Perhaps there were other headlines they could have used instead? What about, "Inhumane, Old Yeller Murdering Creep Takes Over Quarterback Position"? Maybe just a bit less subtle than the real headline, but the meaning seems to hold. Even better, "Korean Dog Lynching Society Endorses Vick for QB". This way the tabloid can not only anger sincere Eagles fans, but two minority groups as well.
Personally, it's my belief that Vick has learned his lesson, paid a very dear price for his past deeds and has completed the task needed to fulfill his debt to society. People can and do change.
When do we let a person recover from their past, never? Being the sort of publication they are, the Philadelphia Daily News often spews out these types of sensational headlines for obvious monetary concerns. In practice and in reality, we don't have to support this sort of thing if we didn't go out and buy a copy.
The problem is, it's like having a Phili Cheese Steak sandwich just smoldering and oozing out aroma, smells and mesmerizing taste bud temptations and trying not to eat it, forgetaboutit! YO.., this IS Phili!!!