Let’s make celebration super, too

There are important stories unfolding this week.

The stock market is going haywire. It took a nosedive Monday, finishing down more than 1,000 points.

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a state court ruling that Pennsylvania’s Congressional map must be redrawn, agreeing that it was unconstitutionally gerrymandered.

None of that seems to matter today. And it probably will not register for a few more days.

At least not until after Thursday. Brace yourself. The city is about to host the Mother of All Parades to celebrate the Eagles winning the Super Bowl for the first time in the franchise’s history.

You read it right. The Eagles are Super Bowl Champions. Yeah, it still sounds strange to say it. The Birds last won a championship back in 1960. That is pre-Super Bowl.

The city has held parades before, of course. We got our feet wet back in the mid-’70s when the Flyers, those brash Canadians who forever won a place in our hearts with their Broad Street Bullies enigma, won back-to-back Stanley Cup crowns.

The Sixers thrilled us in 1983. The Phillies won World Series Championships in 1980 and 2008. Those parades were epic. But they will pale compared to what will unfold Thursday.

Remember the crowds that filled the city for the visit of Pope Francis? This likely will be bigger. City officials say as many as 3 million people could jam into the city to salute the Super Bowl champions.

School districts are shutting down, in part to allow students and staff to take part in the celebration, and – especially in the eastern end of the county – because of the throngs who will pack into every vehicle SEPTA can assemble in an attempt to get into the city. Philadelphia City schools checked in first, saying all schools would be closed Thursday. They were quickly matched by the Archdiocese, which indicated that all elementary and high schools in both the city and suburbs would shut down Thursday.

All of which is testament to the special bond the Eagles have with the region. We’ve been waiting for 58 years, through decades of disappointment, of often coming close, but failing to grasp the brass ring. To say nothing of all those lousy teams we watched religiously all those years.

Philadelphia is used to handling big events. We’ve handled parades before. We’ve entertained national political conventions. We’ve played host to the pope.

So before the party begins, a couple of caveats.

Our reputation precedes us. Naturally, the national media could not resist an opportunity to once again malign Philly fans.

When the Eagles finally plunged a dagger into the heart of our image of losers Sunday night, thousands of people poured out into the streets.

Were some of them a bit too exuberant? No doubt. There was some property damage. Police recorded three arrests. Three. Expect things to be a bit crazy Thursday, even out here in the suburbs.

If you ride SEPTA, in particular the Market-Frankford El or the regional rails, slide over. You’re going to have company Thursday.

Travel early or late, but expect crowds, including those who may not be familiar with the commuting routine.

Remember back when the Phillies won in 2008, many early regional trains filled up early at the western-most stops. Once filled, many of the trains simply converted to express runs, zipping into the city – leaving thousands of would-be parade-goers stranded.

The Eagles have proven to be winners on the field, now it’s time for the Philly Phaithful to do likewise off the field.

The eyes of the nation will be fixed on Philly. Let’s show them how it’s done. They are betting against us. Again. Just as the Eagles embraced their underdog role and rode that status to a Super Bowl championship, it’s time for fans to do the same.

Pack your patience. It could come in handy. Remember, this is a celebration.

The Eagles are Super Bowl Champions.

Let’s make sure the celebration is just as super.