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.
OK, this one stinks. Shiel, you've done a great job covering the Eagles. Good luck.— Elbarad- thanks for the info! You did a great job. Good luck to you— connorjr
- This comment has been deleted.— Owner of Junod
- Worst comment Ive ever seen. Way to back it up with an example. — uunderstandben
- Sheil, I've been fearing this day would come for some time. Your work here has been head and shoulders above the rest of the Philly Sports Writers. It was only a matter of time before you got scooped up by a a Nationwide organization. I will miss sorely your excellent break-downs of every Eagles game. I'm sure I'll get to enjoy reading your work somewhere else before long however. Best of Luck to you!— soybot
- Say it ain't so, Sheil! You will be missed.
- But how will we know what the heck is really going on out there in Eagle Land? Thanks Shiel and good luck!— otown philly fan
- Good luck Sheil. Your work will be missed.— sore richard
- i hope its not another job with philly dot com ..this site S U KS and glad to be rid of it! will definitley FAVORITES the next place YOU GO !!! good luck man! hope mike mayock has picked you up ,, two of the best 'young' football voices. GOOD LUCK Sheil !— daveH
- thanks, sheil. you will be missed. and this shows the classy way to go out, versus the bitterness don mckee showed just a day earlier. imagine that, a man MUCH younger than him showing maturity and grace.— The Boston Strangler
- Wat?! Nooooo!!! MTC is going away? Now what am I going to read for good Egles analysis and news?! There is virtually nothing else that I can stomach on this site, MTC was the only writings with any intelligence end analysis behind it. Or course I wish you the absolute best. You have to to tell us where you're going to be do we can continue to read your excellent material!— reb
- Congratulations, Sheil! Thanks for all the great analysis. You will be missed!— borntosuffer
- I am honest when I say that this was the only thing that I read on this site. You are good at what you do and are probably going to be better compensated for it where ever you are going. All the best.— mwalks
- Excellent work you did here Sheil, you will be missed for sure, good luck in the future. Use these comments on your resume, its very rare to read mostly (if not almost all) positive comments for any writer anywhere. Now that says a lot. Ignore that dumb first post and Mike Mamula wasnt better than anyone anywhere.— peteike
- Good riddance— Lemur
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