THOUGHTS FROM A SEPTUAGENARIAN. This one was almost painful for me to write because, if you've followed my columns, you are aware that I have been a Philadelphia sports fan for the past 70 some years. I have made the statement often in the past that "when you cut me I bleed cheesesteak" and I don't apologize for it either. Phillies and 76ers along with the Flyers as well as the Super Bowl LIX champion Eagles. I'm all in and I was just hoping that I wouldn't have to endure a repeat of what transpired after the first Super Bowl triumph for the Green & Silver.

Let me backtrack to 2018 when the Birds won Super Bowl LII but did not get to make the traditional trip to the White House. Word leaked out, whether it was factual or a rumor is still a matter of debate, that Philly was only going to send a small contingent and not the entire team that evolved over protesting during the national anthem. That was immediately characterized as a "political stunt" by White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. In fact, the night before the scheduled visit by the team, the Trump administration rescinded the invitation stating that "the vast majority of the Eagles team decided to abandon their fans" by not showing up.

So, with that being said, I was a bit concerned that the same scenario would be played out here in 2025. Luckily, that will not be the case.

A spokesperson for the club has confirmed that the invitation that President Trump referred to while signing an executive order on February 25 has been extended and that the team has enthusiastically accepted the invite. Now it's a matter of setting a date along with the logistics for the visit to the White House.

Strictly as a fan, I'm elated that the team has decided to head to DC for two reasons. The first is that it may be the only time in their professional careers that the players and coaches plus other team personnel would be invited to The White House.

The second is that by not accepting the invite you're turning down the office and not the person. Glad that this group of Birds were able to see the distinction that the invitation to be a guest at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue was not extended by Donald Trump but by the President of the United States.

You may think that it's just a matter of semantics. Trust me when I tell you it's not. There is a big difference.

Book it Dano!