10 Reasons to Look Forward to 2013 for Philadelphia Fans

Anyone who followed sports this year (and probably most who didn't) knew Philadelphia had a rough 2012 on the sports front. I am going to be honest it took me longer than I would have liked to come up with 10 things for fans of the city of brotherly love to look forward to. However, with a new year beginning, it's time to turn the page on last year and look towards a future that may not be as bleak as some would think.

10.) Bryce Brown and LeSean McCoy

Though the Eagles have a lot of positions to rebuild this offseason, running back is certainly not one of them. LeSean McCoy has proven himself over the last three seasons and is one of the top running backs in the league. When Shady went down with a concussion halfway through the season, rookie Bryce Brown stepped up and dominated with both power and speed. Whoever the Eagles eventually hire will be able to build a running attack that is as good as any in the league.

9.) Jrue Holiday

This season Holiday has burst out of the gates. Averaging 19 points and 9 assists, Holliday is playing at an All-Star level. After being highly touted coming out of high school, Holliday had not lived up to his early fame until now. Along side shooting guard Evan Turner, the 76ers have a young backcourt that they fans can be excited about for years to come.

8.) New Phillies

The Phillies didn't make the major moves that some had expected (Josh Hamilton) but they did make some great additions that will help the team this season. Ben Revere is a young speedster that will fill the vacancy left in centerfield and can consistently get on base. Former Ranger Michael Young is a proven hitter that is a career .301 hitter. At 36, he is aging, but will be a great addition to the clubhouse. Finally, a more under the radar pickup, Mike Adams is a true 8th inning setup man that this team lacked last season and will help to bridge the gap to Jonathan Papelbon in the 9th inning.

7.) A New Regime for the Eagles

Since 1999, Andy Reid has patrolled the Eagles sidelines. He was a great coach for the first ten years of his career but in the last four years, he began to hurt the team. The team should respond well to fresh face and the new strategy that he brings with him. Much of the fan-base was angered that the past two seasons roster on paper, had immense amount of player talent that was been wasted. It will be interesting to see what changes will be made to better utilize the talent on the roster and what adjustments in personnel the new head coach will make.

6.) Andrew Bynum's Debut

Let me first say that even if he never plays for the Sixers it was still worth to take a shot on him (that is, unless Nik Vucavic continues dominating in Orlando and becomes a star). With that being said, reports surfaced today saying that Bynum could be back as early the All-Star break. As long as the Sixers don't plummet too far down the standings (no promises there) Bynum's return could have a huge impact on the Eastern Conference playoffs. There are still a lot of question marks surrounding Bynum and his knees but as this is a post about optimism, I will refrain from mentioning that he could easily re-injury himself bending down to tie his shoes (Oops). Fans are almost equally as excited to see how dumb his hairstyle can get. 

5.) The Eagles Draft

The Eagles haven't had a selection this high since 1999 when they picked Donavan McNabb with the second overall draft pick. With the fourth choice they will be able to choose an impact player that will start right away. Look for the Eagles to take an offensive tackle like Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel or a cornerback like Dee Milliner out of Alabama. It would also not be surprising if they looked to trade out of the fourth pick to try to grab another first or second rounder and rebuild this team. Also, the management hopefully will have hired a coach by that time (no guarantees). 

4.) Claude Giroux

Giroux proved last year that he is one of the most exciting players in the NHL. With 93 points he was third in the league in points and second in assists(68). This year he will look to continue to grow as he is expected to be named the Philadelphia captain. With most of the young core back around him, he again should be one of the best, most exciting players in the league.

3.) A Healthy Phillies Team

The 2012 season for the Phillies is one that most fans will want to forget. With Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Roy Halladay all out for significant time, the team was never able to recover from early season struggles. With all three healthy coming into the year, look for the Phillies to be back at the top of the NL East once again. 

2.) Flyers vs. Penguins

Last year's opening round playoff matchup between these two cross-state rivals was one of the most intense and exciting rounds of hockey in recent memory. The series featured plenty of goals and even more fighting and big hits. Both these teams hate each other, from the fans to the players to the coaches. Even the star players like Giroux and Sidney Crosby got into it. This is now the NHL's best rivalry and with the teams squaring off this Saturday on Opening Day, fans should expect more of the same. We can only hope for another playoff matchup this coming year and after missing nearly half the season already, these match ups should be as intense as ever.

1.) 2012 is over

The number one reason Philadelphia fans should be excited for the 2013 season is that the 2012 season is done. The Phillies and the Eagles, the two most popular teams in this city, performed dreadfully during last year leaving many of the fans feeling hopeless. However, a new year should bring optimism to all and hopefully all four of the major teams in this town can return to their winning ways.

Hope is a Dangerous Thing

The 2011 Eagles season was a mess from Week 1 on. After preseason expectations were set high, the “Dream Team” crashed and burned. With four games remaining, they had a 4-8 record and nearly all Philadelphia fans had lost hope. For 12 weeks, Eagles fans had given up hope on this team, expecting losses. They had cut emotional ties with games and were able to prepare themselves for what lay ahead each week. Then they won back-to-back games. Rumors began flying that if the right pieces fell into place, the Eagles could make the playoffs after all. All of the sudden, Eagles fans that had long since given up on their team, began to believe again. This hope is what once again let Eagles fans have their dreams dashed. In the past 13 seasons under Andy Reid, it seems that every year, there is a point in the season at which the fans seem to think to themselves, “We can actually do it this year,” and every year that team lets us down. It’s not just that they let us down. It is the way they do it. There might as well be a recipe for Eagles’ seasons of late: Begin the season hyped to win division. Struggle throughout the middle portion of the season (usually when the “Fire Andy” chants begin). Somehow put together a few big wins in a row so that an entire city is back on the bandwagon. Then crush their dreams with a late season loss or in 2011’s case, with another team (the Giants) taking the division away from them at the last moment. Just add water and repeat.

            This year it is another Philadelphia team that is poised to follow this recipe. The 2012 Phillies season has been anything but hopeful. The season began with their two most iconic players, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, on the Disabled List. When Roy Halladay went down in the first month of the season, fans let themselves believe, “If we can just hold on until the All-Star break.” With three of the teams best players missing, no one stepped up to fill the void left by the missing players. Cliff Lee struggled to through most of the first half of the season without a win and when the trade deadline came the Phillies were “sellers,” and Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino were dealt. Season over. Nothing that Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Roy Halladay could do with this roster would put them in a position to make the playoffs. “Not so fast, my friend.” Since losing back-to-back games to the Cincinnati Reds on August 20^th and 21^st, the Phillies have gone 14-4, the best mark in baseball over that span and have lost just two games since September 1^st. In the midst of a six game winning streak the Phillies are gaining ground on the second wild card spot everyday. On the 21^st of August when the Phillies run began they were 10.5 games behind the 2^nd place wildcard spot (held by the St. Louis Cardinals). As things stand today, they are a mere four games back of St. Louis and closing fast.

            As a Phillies fan I can’t believe that on September 12^th I find myself staying up late, “scoreboard watching” to see how far out we will be at the end of every night. The Phillies, like the Eagles do every year, have the city believing in them again. Hope is a dangerous thing to mess around with.  With ESPN.com giving the Phillies just a three percent chance to make the playoffs on September 12th, it is still an improbable feat, but with the run the Cardinals made last season, it seems possible. In all likelihood, the Phillies will fall short of their goal of returning to the playoffs (probably losing on the final day of the regular season with Ryan Howard striking out. Okay maybe I am just cynical…). In all likelihood, the Phillies will take a chapter from Andy Reid and the Eagles, and give us as fans hope, only to destroy that hope in the final moments of the 2012 season. I don’t know what is worse: accepting defeat early on in the season or becoming totally invested in a team then losing. But here is to hoping the Phillies prove me wrong and break the mold. Because, I mean, they are only four games out…