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QuotePhiladelphia Eagles fans, like Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys fans, are everywhere.   Scattered in bars and restaurants throughout the country. Then filling opposing stadiums on NFL weekends.   These days, one very important Eagles fan spends a lot of his time in the Harrisburg Senators' clubhouse.

But Dee Brown isn't just an Eagles fan, he's royalty.
The Senators' newest left fielder, promoted to the Washington Nationals' Double-A Eastern League affiliate last week, is the son of the late Eagles Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jerome Brown.   A 24-year-old from Brooksville, Fla., Brown was selected by the Nationals in the 10th round of the 2005 amateur draft out of the University of Central Florida. (He's not the same Dee Brown who played for the Senators in 2005.)

In large part because of his explosive bat, the 5-11, 235-pound rock has quickly climbed the Nationals' farm system ladder. He homered in his first at-bat for the Senators Tuesday night in Bowie.

"He's a line-drive gap hitter, strong enough to hit mistakes for home runs," said Dana Brown, Nationals' director of scouting, who's in town this weekend for a look at the Sens. "He projects as an average left fielder. If he makes it, it'll be because he hits his way to the big leagues."   If you're wondering why Dee Brown, whose rugged build portrays an NFL fullback or safety, took up baseball instead of football, you don't know Dee.

Or Jerome.

Like his high-spirited father, Dee Brown is an upbeat, easy-going guy. He enjoys fishing and cop shows. He's one semester shy of earning a criminal justice degree at UCF. He's Jerome Brown's son, but he's his own man.  Now his priorities are major league.
"Baseball is more my game," said Brown, who starred at both in high school and college before settling on the diamond after his junior year at UCF.

"Football, I could do it, but I didn't really have the love for that game. You have to really love football, and I enjoyed it, but you really need to love it."
Being Jerome Brown's kid, he'd never escape football anyway, even if he tried. Especially now that he's so close to the city where his father became a legend.

It was with the Eagles in the late 1980s and early '90s that Jerome Brown, Reggie White, Clyde Simmons, Seth Joyner and many others teamed under the tutelage of head coach Buddy Ryan to form one of the NFL's most notoriously wicked defenses.

Then, on June 25, 1992 -- 15 years ago next week, when Dee was just 9 years old -- Jerome Brown and his 12-year-old nephew were killed in a single-car crash in Brooksville.
Jerome Brown was just 27 years old. It was a dark day for Philly fans. That doesn't compare to what it meant to Dee.   "Losing anybody is sad," Brown said from the Senators' dugout yesterday, "but it was just kind of unbelievable.

It took awhile for it to set in. It was tough."
Still, he doesn't mind chatting about his father. Not at all, in fact. "It's a good thing," he said. "It's hard to believe it's been 15 years, but it's a good thing people still talk about it, especially around these parts."

Brown, because he was so young when his father blossomed to stardom, still loves hearing stories about Jerome.

One of his favorites is very familiar to Penn State football fans. It's about the 1987 Fiesta Bowl, where Brown's favored Miami Hurricanes met the Nittany Lions. Miami, also starring quarterback Vinny Testaverde, made headlines with its cocky behavior leading up to the championship game.   Five days before the game, at a promotional dinner with Penn State players, Brown led a Miami walkout. His reason: "Did the Japanese go sit down and have dinner with Pearl Harbor before they bombed them?"  The Hurricanes also showed up to the game in military fatigues, but Penn State ultimately prevailed 14-10.

"We still laugh about that now," Brown said of his friends and family, which includes D.L. and his mother, LaSonya Stewart, Jerome's high school sweetheart.

Dee and Jerome share a lot more than a sense of humor. To look at the Senators' new left fielder is to fondly remember the great No. 99, whose charities and work with kids still define his hometown.   While utilizing the best qualities of his father, Dee Brown hopes to carve a niche for himself in this different game.

"If he can consistently hit with a plan at the plate," Dana Brown said, "he's got a chance."

Quote from: Diomedes on June 18, 2007, 04:21:20 PM
lionize

Quote from: ice grillin you on June 18, 2007, 04:30:45 PM
so it hard being perfect?

Quote from: Father Demon on June 18, 2007, 06:13:21 PM
I bet you missed "lionize"

Quote from: PhillyPhreak54 on June 18, 2007, 05:57:15 PMI won a bet with myself that Dio would be in here saying what he said. Yay me!

Quote from: FastFreddie on June 18, 2007, 07:05:48 PM

Quote from: Father Demon on June 18, 2007, 06:13:21 PM
I bet you missed "lionize"

...even after I went to great pains to point it out?

Quote from: Father Demon on June 18, 2007, 07:13:31 PM

Quote from: FastFreddie on June 18, 2007, 07:05:48 PM

Quote from: Father Demon on June 18, 2007, 06:13:21 PM
I bet you missed "lionize"

...even after I went to great pains to point it out?

Talking to PHREAK and his self-bet.

Quote from: ThirdStreetMafia on June 19, 2007, 08:23:23 AM
Every thread in here always turns from football to stupid... why come on here and post crap on an eagles forum that has nothing to do with football?

Quote from: ice grillin you on June 19, 2007, 08:47:06 AM
i didnt diss you at all...i gave you multiple options

again there is no football right now...honestly trying to engage in any sort of serious eagles talk right now is almost suicide inducing...you literally have to invent things to discuss...and thats no fun

Quote from: SD_Eagle on June 19, 2007, 08:54:57 AM
Rashad Barksdale

Quote from: SunMo on June 19, 2007, 09:04:28 AM
nobody here tries to be a tough guy with anybody, we all just bust each others balls because it's fun.

don't take things personally, numb any sort of feelings or conscience and you'll fit in just fine

Quote from: ThirdStreetMafia on June 19, 2007, 08:57:28 AM

Quote from: SD_Eagle on June 19, 2007, 08:54:57 AM
Rashad Barksdale

Is not gonna make this team

Quote from: SunMo on June 19, 2007, 09:04:28 AM
nobody here tries to be a tough guy with anybody, we all just bust each others balls because it's fun.

don't take things personally, numb any sort of feelings or conscience and you'll fit in just fine

Quote from: PPinDC on June 19, 2007, 09:31:55 AM

farg you SunMo. I hate you. I will kick your numb ass. God you suck. I am tough. lolz.

RJS u r cool tho, lol!

Quote from: Diomedes on June 19, 2007, 01:53:31 PM
Makes me wonder..if someone like Freddie Mitchell died and he wanted to put the Eagles logo on his grave, would Lurie let him?  How does that trademark discussion go down?  How would it be different if it were Dawkins?

Quote from: ice grillin you on June 19, 2007, 04:32:24 PM
sure but you wouldnt be allowed to bring hoagies into the cemetary