Eagles fans donate thousands of dollars to Commanders fan's cause

Happy Thursday! Super Bowl LIX is just ten days away.

We have a Flyers loss and a Sixers win to discuss, but first let’s talk about the wild journey of Tailgate Ted.

In the email today:

• ❤ Eagles fans end feud with Commanders superfan in heartwarming manner

• 👿 Devils avenge Monday loss, shut out Flyers

• 🏃‍♂️ Sixers top Kings in another track meet for fourth win in a row

  • 📆 This Day in Philly Sports History

  • 📊 Poll

  • 🔗 Links

  • 📺 Coming Up

Commanders superfan "Tailgate Ted" did not have a great trip to Philadelphia for the NFC Championship game.

First, Ted was relentlessly mocked online for asserting at a tourist restaurant that his band of Commanders fans, numbering in the dozens, "took over this place." At least one member of his travel party declared that Commanders fans had taken over not just the Hard Rock Cafe on Market St., but the entire city of Philadelphia.

Bryson Stott, among others, was not having it.

Next, Ted watched his Commanders get lit up 55-23 at Lincoln Financial Field. He was taunted in the stands while the Eagles abused Washington on the field.

Then a funny thing happened.

Tailgate Ted challenged Eagles fans to help out his fundraiser to fight lung cancer. And, one week after raising tens of thousands of dollars for California wildfire victims in advance of the Birds' game against the Rams, Eagles fans stepped up again.

It's fascinating how visiting NFL fans continuously fail to grasp a fairly simple concept: A few dumdums who go viral do not represent the character of the Eagles’ entire fan base.

So let's spell out some facts as clearly as we can. Birds fans:

• do not want your team to win;

• are not at the game to ensure that you have a pleasant time;

• will probably take offense to claims that you've "taken over" their sports venues (or the city itself); and

• can still be kindhearted individuals who recognize that the world is bigger than football.

If you're interested in donating to Tailgate Ted's fundraiser, you can find it here. As of Thursday morning, the effort is closing in on $25,000.

The Flyers played nearly a complete game on Monday night in a home win over the Devils. Nearly complete, because despite mostly dominating play, it was a one-goal game with a minute left.

Last night, the Flyers played far less than a complete game. After a scoreless first period, the Devils scored four times in 13 minutes en route to a remarkably easy 5-0 win.

John Tortorella preaches discipline. That’s crucial for a Flyers team long on want-to but pretty short on can-do.

So the coach had to loathe seeing his team take seven penalties through two periods.

The Devils potted two of their four second period goals on the man advantage. After that, the Flyers changed goaltenders, maybe a tad late.

The third period was a glorified free skate, with the only question eventually being whether the Flyers could avoid the shutout.

No such luck.

The Flyers cannot dwell on this lopsided loss, as they are on home ice tonight against the Islanders.

Joel Embiid’s seemingly endless absence shows most notably in the Sixers’ dismal record as they cling to play-in hopes.

As the season wears on without him, though, where it’s really showing up is in the style the Sixers have to play without him, often right from the tap.

Oubre Jr. and Yabusele are both listed at 6’8”. Edwards is said to be 6’7” but certainly doesn’t play that long. Gordon and Maxey are both in the vicinity of 6’3”.

As such, a lot of Sixers games anymore resemble high-skill pickup games with both teams getting a lot of good looks and plenty of transition points.

The Sixers have played 16 games in January. They have held their opposition below 100 points twice this month — and it’s not like the Nets or the Bulls are all that talented.

Then again, if giving up an average of 116 points a night through the first 15 games of the season means Maxey at least got his, maybe that had to be good enough.

Maxey had it working again last night, leading the Sixers with 30 points (the 14th time this season he’s had that many) as they won their fourth in a row. Eric Gordon (14 points) and Kyle Lowry (13 points, eight assists) turned back the clock for the Sixers.

Domantas Sabonis had a triple double (13 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists) for the visitors, but the Kings only managed to shoot 10-41 (24%) from three-point range. The Kings’ starters all scored in double figures while their bench only contributed 15 points.

The Sixers will try to exact some measure of revenge against the Nuggets (who beat the Sixers by 35 points nine days ago) at the Center on Friday night.

📆 This Day in Philly Sports History

On January 30, 2002, Jeremy Roenick became just the fourth U.S.-born player in NHL history to reach 1000 points.

📊 Poll

Results from Tuesday:

🔗 Links

• ⏱️ NBA commissioner Adam Silver floated the idea of 10-minute quarters.

• 👀 An Ohio State defensive coach has been placed on administrative leave.

• 🏒 The Utah Hockey Club’s not-yet-rejected team names include “Mammoth” and “Wasatch.”

• 🚚 Winter isn’t leaving any time soon, but Phillies Truck Day gives you hope.

• 🏆️ Of course Bill Belichick thinks the NFL should rename the Lombardi Trophy.

📺 Coming Up

Games before our next send.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

• Flyers vs. Islanders, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)

Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow.

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