With 2017 coming to a close, it is only right to take a look back at Philadelphia sports in the past year. From outstanding breakout seasons to hiring new coaches, a lot has occurred in the City of Brotherly Love from a sports perspective.

   The Process has indeed been trusted. The 76ers started 2017 right going 10-5 in the month of January and giving us a glimpse of just how bright the future is. Sixers fans were also able to enjoy the fantastic rookie campaigns of Joel Embiid and Dario Saric. The Sixers rookies finished second and third in Rookie of the Year voting, although they seemed to be the two most deserving players for the award. The 76ers started the 2017 offseason making moves. They traded up for the first overall pick and selected point guard Markelle Fultz in June  and later signed sharp shooter JJ Redick along with center Amir Johnson in July. And in the early months 2017-2018 NBA  season, Philadelphia fans are finally seeing how phenomenal Ben Simmons really is as he seems to be recording a double double every night. The Sixers as a whole have started the season strong with a record of 13-14.

   The incredible start for the Eagles has the entire city singing “Fly Eagles Fly!”  New acquisitions in Alshon Jeffery, LeGarrette Blount, and Jay Ajayi have reinforced a roster in which many young talents took the leap to elite.  Carson Wentz played like a legitimate MVP candidate in his 13 games of 2017, and he has only scratched the surface.  The feel good story of the year was wide receiver Nelson Agholor, who has completely turned his play around, from one of the worst at his position to a Pro Bowl candidate.  This excellence combined with victorious battles in the trenches on both sides of the field resulted in the Eagles team that could do what no Eagles have done before: win a Super Bowl.  However, Carson Wentz’s season came to an abrupt end in Week 14 due to a torn ACL.  For Eagles fans to receive the parade down Broad Street that they desperately crave, they will have to rely on a forgotten legend: Nick Foles, who just happened to have the best season an Eagles quarterback has ever had in 2013.  Regardless of what happens in 2018, the Eagles have made great strides as a team, have a young core who is locked up for years, and a terrific head coach.

   The mystery of the Philadelphia Flyers continued throughout 2017.  The team offers more questions than answers: Is aging captain Claude Giroux still elite?  When will they be more than a fringe playoff team?  Is head coach Dave Hakstol competent at the NHL level?  The Broad Street Bullies missed the playoffs last season, prompting them to fully embrace their youth movement.  Rookies Nolan Patrick, Robert Hagg, and Travis Sanheim have all seen significant playing time this season, with second year players Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny improving their craft.  With all eyes turned to the future, it seems as though some have forgotten to perform in the present; the Flyers went on a 10 game skid in late November into the first week of December, leading to calls for radical changes.  However, the Flyers are far from out of the playoff race, and their performance in 2018 could easily negate their subpar finish to 2017.  Hockey is a game of momentum, and it can shift on a dime.

   Oh yeah, the Phillies play in this city, too. The past year was not kind to the Phillies as they finished last in the NL East with a record of 66-96. On the brightside, the Phils got to see a glimpse of up and coming stars Rhys Hoskins and JP Crawford. Hoskins took the MLB by storm hitting 18 home runs in just 50 games. After the season, the Phillies made a coaching change hiring Gabe Kapler as their new manager. Although 2017 was rough for baseball in Philadelphia, young stars and a new manager give fans hope for a turnaround in 2018.

   It truly is a great time to start following Philly sports.  With every team stockpiling young talent and opening up their payrolls to sign talented veterans when the time is right, we could be on the cusp of something the likes of which the city has never seen.  A golden age of Philly sports could be right around the corner, one that has so many parades that the city will have to repave Broad Street.  For now, we hope the Eagles continue to fly, the Phils continue to fight, the Sixers keep on processing, and the Flyers stay bullying.