Greek philosopher Sophocles once wrote, “Do nothing secretly. For time sees and hears all things and discloses all.” Given the fever pitch this area has been in over a certain football game this Sunday, I think the time has come for me to disclose a secret I can no longer hide: I am a Pennsylvania native, and a lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan.
And you know what? I’m not alone here in the WGBH newsroom. There’s Bob Judge, whose technical expertise — among other things — gets Greater Boston and Beat the Press on the air. And Paris Alston, on our web team, calls Philadelphia her second home.
"I feel more of a loyalty to the Eagles than the Patriots, so go Eagles," she explained.
And it’s not just the folks working behind the scenes here at WGBH News.
"I would not root against the Patriots against any other team except my hometown," said Jim Braude — host of Boston Public Radio and Greater Boston and native Philadelphian.
"You can take the boy out of Philly, but you can’t take the Phillies or the Eagles out of the boy," said Braude. "I spent 21 years there, it was a critical part of my life."
This cadre of Eagles fans in my small orbit got me to wondering just how common this phenomenon is. And it turns out, here in Patriots Nation, we Eagles fans are everywhere — hiding in plain sight. We’re stuck in traffic with you on the Pike. We’re huddled with you in peak-hour Orange Line cars. We’ve even infiltrated some of your most hallowed institutions and neighborhoods.
Take the Seaport, a gleaming testament to Boston’s booming real estate market and 21st century economy. It’s there, in the offices of the renowned firm Fish & Richardson, that I meet up with Frank Porcelli.
As Porcelli exited the elevator to greet me, I couldn't help but notice and remark on his Philadelphia Eagles belt.
"Yeah, my wife made this for me," he responded proudly.
Like many of the original Patriots — think John Adams, Josiah Quincy II — Porcelli is a lawyer. His expertise is intellectual property — patents. His clients? The tech firms and startups that are driving so much growth here. Porcelli has lived here for decades, but he is from Northern Delaware.
"I do have a kind of sentimental, nostalgic feeling about that area," said Porcelli. "We have an office in Delaware. They’re all rabid Eagles and Phillies fans. My brother over the years, my father when he was alive ... yeah, it does keep me tied to my roots."
And it’s not just the legal and tech worlds.
Arts and culture? We’re there, too. Andrew Mather does the booking and marketing for Boston’s historic Wilbur Theatre. He grew up in South Jersey, watching the Eagles on Sundays with his grandfather. Back in 2005, when the Pats beat the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX, he was living in Southie. He has not forgotten that experience.
"Between my roommates and my roommates' friends, I mean I was getting it left and right," said Mather. "I felt that I was a little bit of a punching bag."
Despite living the past 18 years here in the Boston area, and the zero championships for his team (while the Patriots have won five), Mather has remained loyal to the Eagles. The reason? His grandfather, sure. But also the infamous — shall we say — passion of the Eagles fan base.
"Patriots fans, they kind of clutch their pearls a little bit," said Mather. "It’s kind of like the vibe I always get from Pats fans around here in comparison to what I know of Philadelphia. So, I kind of have a little pride in a sense that we’re a little rowdier, a little looser."
And there’s more. Hundreds of Eagles fans gather each week at a bar in the heart of the North End. The commissioner of police in Cambridge is a rabid Eagles fan — just check his Twitter feed.
And then there is the coup de grâce, perhaps the Bay State’s most venerable institution: Harvard. Harvard Business School (HBS) is ranked among the top in the world. It's the maker of some of the world’s most successful women and men — and a secret Eagles nest.
"The Kraft owners, family are HBS alumni. We take our life at risk, our jobs at risk wearing our Eagles swag at work," said Amy Burke, who is the associate director of development communications at HBS. She was decked out in a vintage Eagles jersey in an HBS conference room along with some of her Eagles-loving colleagues.
Burke was born and raised in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, just outside of Philadelphia. How big of an Eagles fan is she? She couldn’t imagine watching Sunday’s game without genuine Philly soft pretzels. And she said as much on Facebook.
"A high school classmate that I haven’t seen in 30-plus years messaged me saying this is where I get my soft pretzels. I will go and get them and ship them to you," she explained. "I haven’t seen this guy [or] talked to this guy in 30-plus years! He knows how big of a deal this is."
Burke has now lived here in Massachusetts longer than she ever lived in the Philly area. Her son, born here, is a Patriots fan. She’s counseled him to stay true to that allegiance — even as he attends college at Kutztown University in the heart of Eagles country — just as she has stayed true to the Eagles.
"For me, it really is about my roots," she said. "I love being here. I consider myself a New Englander. I’m very happy to live in this state, pay taxes in this state. But that’s my home."
So, Pats fans, do keep in mind that we Eagles fans among you come by it honestly. Loyalty, remembering where you come from —these are respected qualities around here, too.
And speaking of roots, don’t forget yours. There was a time when you weren’t so different from these long-suffering Eagles fans. It took the Pats two Super Bowl losses before finally breaking through in 2002. And that was during year 84 of the Red Sox's legendary 86-year championship drought.
As for Eagles fans, be careful what you wish for. You might be relishing that lovable underdog role now, but as Patriots fans know all too well after this remarkable 16-year run, success can quickly breed contempt.
As always, I want to know what you are curious about. You can email me at CuriosityDesk@wgbh.org. Pats fans, if you could, please try to keep any hate mail civil. Enjoy the game this weekend.
