Saying that 2018 has been kind to the city of Philadelphia would be an understatement. Since the turn of the calendar, the Eagles have won the super bowl, the flyers made the postseason, the Sixers won a playoff series and Meek Mill has been freed. Being a resident of the greater Philadelphia area myself; I can attest to the fact that it feels like the city just cannot lose.
This all started back in late January when the Eagles throttled the Vikings to the tune of a 38-7 victory in the NFC title game. Fans piled into the streets in celebration, feeling that their team was invincible. It was in this moment that Philly began to feel like a championship town. We had all the requirements: young and talented teams, an anthem (Dreams and Nightmares), and the greatest fan base in professional sports.
In the coming months the Eagles held their first ever super bowl victory parade, The Sixers went on an 18 game win streak en route to a top three playoff seed, and the Flyers got set to take on the hated Penguins. There was a buzz around the city that could be greater than the excitement surrounding our founding fathers.
2018 hit a minor speed bump when the flyers were dispatched by the Pens but the dark cloud would not last long around Philly. Just days later, news broke that Philly's own Meek Mill would be released from prison and was expected to be in attendance as the Sixers attempt to win their first playoff series in six seasons. The team would go on to win game five and advance to the Eastern Conference semi finals.
Now for Philly's beloved son, Meek Mill. For this article I am going to put aside the details of his arrest and the accompanying social justice issues that have accompanied them. Meek Mill is one of Philly's proudest exports and his hit song "Dreams and Nightmares" became the anthem of this season's Eagles team and by default an anthem for the city itself. Him being free has turned the excitement of this city all the way up to ten.
So far 2018 has been a dream for Philadelphia and its fans, and a nightmare for any opponent who crosses our path.
