Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Messing with our Tampa karma

Pat Burrell is messing with our Tampa karma.

Let me translate. This “Tampa effect” has its roots back on the final Eagles game played in Veterans Stadium.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were in town for the NFC title game. It was exactly what Eagles’ fans had been salivating for.

The Bucs were notorious for being unable to function when the temperature was below 32 degrees. So it was expected they would shiver through a humiliating farewell to the Vet.

It turns out the Eagles – not just their stadium - were the ones sent to an icy grave.

I won’t bother with the particulars, other than to wonder if Joe Jurevicius and Ronde Barber are still running.

We gained a measure of revenge last fall the Phillies beat the Tampa Bay Rays to end our championship drought at 25 years, a quarter century of fans’ frustration.

The Tampa karma continued for the Eagles when the Buccaneers played an integral part in the Birds’ improbable – some might say miraculous – entry into this year’s playoffs.

The Eagles needed about 1,000 things to happen on the final Sunday of the regular season just to have the opportunity to get into the post-season. But most of all they needed Tampa to lose to the hapless Raiders. Yeah, sure, the Raiders were going to fly across the country, then top the Buccaneers, who desperately needed a win to stamp their own entry into the post-season.

Yes, miracles do happen. Jon Gruden and the Bucs went belly-up, losing their fourth straight game by blowing a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter and falling to the Raiders. Then the Bears joined the party by losing to the Texans, and the Eagles kicked in the door to the playoffs by dismantling the Cowboys.

That’s when people noticed where this year’s Super Bowl is being played. That’s right. Tampa. Our old pals. The Eagles took the first step to that goal Sunday by whipping the Vikings in the climate-controlled comfort of the Metrodome.

But there’s been a hiccup on the road to Tampa. The karma has been messed with. And by the guy who led that glorious parade in October.

Pat Burrell will take the field next year for a team that played in this year’s World Series.

It just won’t be the Phillies.

Burrell yesterday signed a free agent offer with the Phils’ World Series foes, the Tampa Bay Rays. It’s a two-year deal worth $16 million. He’ll likely be the Rays’ designated hitter, meaning he won’t have to patrol left field for them.

You can’t blame Burrell. It became fairly obvious after the Phils signed Raul Ibanez that he didn’t fit in their plans.

But it does put a chink in the Tampa karma that’s been floating around the city.

So if the Eagles don’t make it to the Super Bowl, in that certain Florida city, we know who to blame.

Of course, that would be the “Pat” answer.

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