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.
Thanks for everything Sheil and good luck! As with most readers, I looked forward to your posts more than any other reporter on Philly.com. As has been said by many, you'll be missed!— mish798798- Good luck Sheil, I have enjoyed your articles for the most part— northeagle
- Best writer on this site is leaving. Can we get Gonzo back?
- One of the few guys worth his salt here. Damn dude, your player by player breakdowns were the best. hope you continue doing those.— ChampAnderson
- Best of luck on your journey Sheil .— phillafuN
- I notice Philly mag is the lucky recipient of your talent. You may want to talk to their tech folks about clicking on links and getting a whole lot of nothing; you'd hate to write a great column and have it be read as "Database error"— drbob1
- Shiel, All good things come to an end that's a curse of being an adult. I don't begrudge you moving along, that just progress. I, myself was born and raised in Philly and moved away to better opportunities. Having found better fortune for myself outside of Philly I wish you well in your new endeavors.
Your work was always one of my pleasures and kept me returning.
I don't know where you're going or what you'll be doing but I do know you will be a success.
Good luck and be careful and above all stay safe.— Dexter - I will miss your incisive writing and cogent analysis. You are a real loss to the readers who seek reasoned information concerning Eagles Football. Good luck with your next chapter.— johnny eagle
- Sheil, ur posts were very insightful and interesting. Ur posts showed who deserved rightful credit and who deserved blame week after week. Good luck in ur next position.— krh66
- MTC was the best Eagles blog. What's next, ESPN? If so, set that moron Merril Hoge straight.— p-diddy
- You will be missed. Whoever you are.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- Check that. Looks like they already fixed the tech problems.— drbob1
- Good luck Sheil! I have appreciated your column and will greatly miss it— Jack Schank
- I can't believe the Eagles traded Sheil. This is as bad as letting Dawkins go.— armchairGM
- Sad to see you go Sheil, you covered the Eagles better than anyone else. Philly.com will have a difficult time trying to replace you. Good luck with your future endeavors.— hoyaray
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