Bidding farewell, and thanks
When I first started back in 2008, in my introductory post, I tried to lay out exactly what this blog would be about. But the truth is, I really had no clue. And that was part of the fun.
Bidding farewell, and thanks
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
My phone rang at about 7 p.m. on a Friday evening in late February 2009.
On the line was a reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle, David White. Hours earlier, he reported that Brian Dawkins and the Denver Broncos had agreed to terms on a new contract.
It seemed strange for a San Francisco reporter to be breaking news that mostly involved the Broncos and Eagles, but White, who couldn’t have been nicer, explained to me that he had a rock-solid source. He said he had been receiving angry e-mails from Eagles fans, who were in disbelief that the franchise was letting one of its all-time greats get away.
There have been plenty of memorable moments during the last four years, but that night when I left my then-girlfriend (now-wife) waiting in a Center City restaurant for over an hour while I tracked down the Dawkins reports really stands out.
When I first started back in 2008, in my introductory post, I tried to lay out exactly what this blog would be about. But the truth is, I really had no clue. And that was part of the fun.
I guess that’s a long way of getting to the point here: This will be my final post on MTC.
The Eagles have been a lot of things over the last four years, but boring is not one of them.
There was the final Sunday of the regular season back in 2008 when the Bucs, a 12.5-point favorite, somehow fell to the Raiders to keep the Eagles’ playoff hopes alive.
Easter Sunday, when the Birds dealt Donovan McNabb within their division to the Redskins and moved on to the Kevin Kolb era.
Andy Reid surprising everyone by first signing Michael Vick and then handing him the starting job over Kolb a year later.
And of course, last summer’s spending spree.
There are countless others that have made this job such a blast.
Bill Walsh is known to have said that no football coach should stay in the same place for more than 10 years.
I don’t know what the proper expiration date is for a blogger, but it’s been a great run. I want to thank everyone who has read, commented, e-mailed, Tweeted, etc. You let me know when I was off-base and when I had stumbled upon something worthwhile.
I also have to thank my great colleagues at Philly.com. I was an avid reader of the site before I started working here, and that will continue now that I’m moving on.
So, keep in touch, get ready for training camp, and remember: Never call a run-pass option down by the goal line.
Shiel, I am completely gutted by this news. One more post letting everyone know where you're going (if to another publication) so that we can follow you there. I really hope it's another publication because it would be a real shame if you were leaving journalism as you're one of the few quality writers in a world of unthinking talking heads.— Toronto Eagles Fan- Best wishes on your future endeavors. Man will suck not seeing MTC really liked what you brought to the table solid reads with proven facts to back it up. You kept your ego outta the way and for that I am sure you will do well wherever you are headed. Please tell us if it's covering the Eagles!— glove69
- Good luck in your future whatever path you choose. Thanks for the updates. You did a great job.— billtfla
- Sheil - you will be missed here. You provided solid, factual information without becoming a homer or a negadelphian. I wish you success in your future endeavors!— knighn
- Sorry to see you go Sheil. You could tell you put a lot of effort into writing a fun, informative blog. Good luck, you'll be missed.— BirdsC23
- now you know why you shouldn't go on vacation. in any case, you did WKPS proud, even if you said "there's nothing to worry about here, its only the preseason" prior to 2011's disaster, specifically in regards to the run defense. yep, i remember everything.
but you had a good blog. too bad they let old farts like les bowen stick around stinking up the joint. what a waste of payroll. - Sheil, gonna miss the chats! You were the anti-Domo in your chats and I mean that in a good way.— RockStar
- Sheil, I do hope that you are leaving on your own accord, and not part of the newspaper trying to cut costs. I was a writer who got cut from a paper because they needed to cut costs, and it was amazing to watch as the paper laid off writer after writer (the ones creating the content). They cut every department down to bare bones, except for the ad sales team...which is just short sighted, as without quality writers you have no product, and without a product, no one will want to buy ads...nose to spite the face.
In any case, best of luck with whatever your future endeavors are. You and Kate Fagen were, in my opinion, the best writers this paper had to offer...now you are both gone.— JTR - First, Kate left and the Sixers coverage suffered. Now you and the Eagles. Next Murph and the Phils. Great idea for coverage focused on quantifiables instead of uninformed opinion!— Leegles
- I'll just echo the main sentiment of the above comments. Your column was the first thing I would usually read after a game. It showed an unbiased style, with facts to back up the assertions. We're all gonna miss you. I hope this move is one you chose, and were not forced into. Best wishes for your success in the future.— dlscholt
- Sheil = gospel.— The Criddler
- Living half way across the country, MTC was my best way to get detailed analysis of all things Eagle. I am devastated that Sheil is moving on. I almost hope he stays in the east so he can break down two eagles games each season. In terms of coverage on the Eagles, Sheil lapped the field a couple times, no one else is even close. Very sad.....— pking222
- Oh man, bummer! Sheil, you are definitely my favorite source of eagles info. Hopefully you don't get replaced by some idiot member of the vocal minority... Good luck, you'll certainly be missed!— DigroJones
- Wow! How often is it that the comments are unanimous in praise for a departing writer? The really funny thing is his twitter page he linked to above; almost all of his posts today look like they are the answer to the question:" So, where are you writing next, so we can read that website?"— drbob1
- Shiel, thanks for everything. Your work was always much more informative than the sports writers for Philly.com. Don't know where I'll get that from now.— Ascher
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