(narrative by Deion Sanders)

Donovan McNabb is a nerd. A lovable, super-talented nerd. And Philadelphia is having a hard time identifying itself with his nerdiness. Contrary to popular belief, this love-tolerate relationship has nothing to do with the infamous booing on draft day. It has to do simply with the fact that McNabb is kind of goofy, a bit of a martyr and not as manly as those in the City of Brotherly Love expect the fearless leader of their beloved Eagles to be.

The beauty in this much-analyzed relationship is that it may be perfect, if laying claim to the Vince Lombardi trophy as either player or fan is your goal.

In the post-game media kiss-a-thon after the Giants loss to the Eagles, Donovan offered himself up to Deion Sanders and Company. Deion has been all a tizz over his certainty that McNabb cannot wait to get himself out of Philadelphia. He can’t say it enough. And McNabb did not do much, as in nothing, to dispute it. Actually, he threw a log on the fire by suggesting it would be a very bad idea of Sanders were to get Momma McNabb on the phone, as if she would spill the beans once and for all: McNabb hates it in Philly.

But would he be happier elsewhere? Nah. This is where it’s all going to happen. This city is the bed McNabb and fans made for themselves. Together they will learn that motivation to excel comes from unexpected places. McNabb may have felt snubbed by the draft day booing, the benching in Baltimore, and the thousands that gathered to get Jeff Garcia’s autograph when Garcia took the reigns of the team and the hearts of the city in 2007 after McNabb was injured, but it has fueled him to always seek the love of the city. And that may be the very reason that the Eagles win the Super Bowl.

It’s fair to say that most Eagles fans appreciate Donovan McNabb and all that he has accomplished as the Eagles quarterback. Many are aggravated that they are lumped in with the vocal minority that single Donovan out, never believing that he can lead the team to the ultimate victory. However, they ought to be thankful that the McNabb-bashers are out there, because it’s those voices that are motivating 5 right now. The pats on the back don’t do it for this guy. He loves himself some tough love, and that’s what Eagles fans are famous for delivering, or withholding as the case may be.

Every time McNabb and/or the media rehash the draft day booing or some other McNabb-isode, the city of Philadelphia takes another step toward winning an NFL Championship. McNabb will lay his head on the pillow at night and say, “I’m going to show them one day. And when I raise that trophy I will think of only my team and my family, and those that supported me through the good and the bad. Those that doubted me? How do you like me now?”

And after he wins it all as the leader of the Philadelphia Eagles, he very well may bolt, making the biggest snub of all one that he alone delivers.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 13th, 2009 at 10:39 pm and is filed under Fantoo Blog Home. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.