We wuz robbed. Or wuz we?

Only an ill-fated, long-suffering Philadelphia sports fan could offer this lament. So sue me. Hey, everyone else seems to threaten to most days.
What’s stuck in my craw?

I’ll tell you what. Super Bowl XXXIV. That’s 39 if, like me, you don’t get Roman Numerals.

You might remember that one. It was played in Jacksonville and featured a team you might recognize in green and silver.

Ring a bell?

That’s right. Eagles and Patriots.

The Eagles dominated the first half, thoroughly confusing superstar Pats’ QB Tom Brady. But the offense failed to really cash in their opportunities.

The Patriots came out in the second half and promptly marched right down the field. Later they went on another long drive to put the game away. Their adjustments were amazing, heralded by most as the key to the game, and the difference between Bill Belichick and Andy Reid. The all-important halftime adjustment.

Of course they were helped in no small way by Reid, and his no-hurry offense in the fourth quarter. So glaring was the Eagles’ use of the clock that Belichick actually wondered if the scoreboard was wrong and his team was trailing the Eagles.

Fast-forward three years. Last weekend. Opening day of a new NFL season.

And lo and behold the Patriots are caught videotaping the defensive signals of the New York Jets.

The incident explodes into Tape-Gate. Everyone has a theory as to how long the Patriots have been doing this, and what effect it all has.

I have only one. Do I think the Patriots cheated the Eagles out of a Super Bowl. Not really.

Do I think it fits perfectly into the never-ending agony of being a Philly sports fan? Oh, you bet.

Hey, how ‘bout those Phils. Only a game and a half out of the Wild Card again.

And one step closer to stabbing us in the heart for the millionth time.