Other than Dallas Cowboys fans, there isn't a fanbase that's enjoying having the NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, more than Philadelphia Eagles fans.
The Eagles won their first Super Bowl in February, so their fans have been on a high since the first Sunday in February, even if the calendar is almost into May.
"Of all years to be here, in Dallas, which hasn't won anything in the past 20-some years," Eagles fan Tyler Jardine, of Philadelphia, told the Philadelphia Inquirer on Thursday.
"They had to go ahead and buy the draft from us -- [Dallas owner] Jerry Jones bought the draft out of Philly, even though we put on the best show the draft has ever seen. So we came down here for a couple of reasons: To remind them that Philly still put on the best draft, and also, that we are world champions."
Ryan Dougherty, 29, from Flourtown, told the Inquirer that he came down with a few friends from work, all fans of different teams.
Dougherty said the highlight of the Fan Experience exhibits for him so far was hearing E-A-G-L-E-S chants. "Especially in Dallas. You gotta love hearing that," he said. "It's been fun so far; a lot of Eagles fans, it's been nice."
Has he been taunting Dallas fans?
"Not much, but I have asked them if they have any playoff gear from last year," Dougherty said. "So far, I've gotten no response."
As for Michael Thompson of Doylestown, Pa., he's glad that with the Eagles' championship, he can show pride for his team without worrying about what fans of opposing teams have to say to him.
"It's great to be a Philly fan right now," Michael said. "We're the champs and everybody understands it now, at this point, and they have to respect it ... Philadelphia is becoming the sports capital that it should be."
Rocks for brains
Players should throw baseballs, but the University of Mississippi is warning student spectators to stop throwing rocks.
The Oxford Eagle reports that Ole Miss officials are letting students back into an area near the visitors' bullpen at Swayze Field. But Athletic Director Ross Bjork is warning that there had better not be a repeat of the rock-throwing that plagued games last weekend against the University of Georgia. If there's more trouble, Bjork said the university could explore cutting down on student seating.
Security cleared the right-field terrace after students ignored repeated warnings to stop throwing rocks.
Ole Miss is hosting LSU this weekend.
The visitor's dugout and bullpen will switch sides of the field next year after renovations, leaving students farther from the visiting bullpen.
She said it
From Janice Hough of the sports humor website leftcoastsportsbabe.com:
• "The San Jose Sharks could have found a better way to distract from the NFL Draft than to lose by a 7-0 football score."
• "The NFL Draft: When many young men will have their dream come true. Including those who breathed a sigh of relief, 'Well, at least I didn't get drafted by the Cleveland Browns.' "
• "NBA admits they missed goaltending on LeBron James at the end of the Cavs-Pacers Game 5. Silly league. Don't they know superstars never goaltend? Or travel for that matter."
Sports on 04/28/2018