In his green tights and golden beak, Birdman jumped onto his seat at Sunday's Eagles-Bucs game, thrust his arms in the air and squawked.
"S-Q-U-A-W-K!!!"
"You can't just walk the walk," said Birdman. "You have to squawk the squawk."
And he does.
At every Eagles game, the caped Birdman flies through the stadium, standing up for truth, justice and winning, home and away.
The Eagles are within two games of their first Super Bowl in 20 years, so it was already a great season for the Birdman when he was plucked from the ranks of Eagles loyalists and named to the Visa Hall of Fans at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
All through 2001, Birdman - known to his neighbors in Thorofare, N.J., as Joseph Ripley Jr. - will have his photo and a description of his exploits on display along with those of die-hard fans of the 30 other NFL teams.
Birdman is already well-known at the Vet. Even in a stadium packed with 65,000 screaming fans, he stands out as he poses and screeches from his favorite perch in the 100 level behind the Eagles bench.
"I don't actually look for him at the games," said event staffer Rafael Corcino of Pennsauken. "Still, I do notice him."
"He is all the enthusiasm of Philadelphia wrapped up in one costume," said Tom Troxell of Wilmington, a die-hard fan who has been coming to Eagles games since his father introduced him to the Birds in 1971.
The Hall of Fans is the "first and only exhibit in sports that recognizes and honors specific fans for their contributions and dedication to the sport they love," according to Visa. Winners are selected by a panel of NFL, Hall of Fame and Visa representatives based on letters from or about fans on why they deserve the honor.
Birdman is the third Eagles fan named to the Hall. The first was Thomas Murphy, known as Green Man for his wig and matching face paint - and his claim that he "bleeds green on Sundays." Last year's winner, Richard Prinz, wrote in his letter that he wanted to show how true Eagles fans "do not throw snowballs at Santa Claus or boo first-round draft choices on national television."
Ripley, 31 and single, is a carpenter for Clemens Construction Co. in Philadelphia and belongs to Local 8 of the Carpenters Union.
"My dream is for Clemens to get the contract to build the new Eagles stadium," he said. "Think of it: Birdman building the nest! I'd die from sheer joy."
