2004 flashback: Super Bowl XXXIX, color iPods & more

The News Journal

Steve Jobs (center) of Apple with Bono (left) and The Edge of U2 celebrate the release of the first iPod with a color screen.

We won't blame you if your memory regarding late 2004 and early 2005 is a blur of excitement, green face paint and tears.

It might be hard to believe, but it's been 13 years since the Philadelphia Eagles gave the New England Patriots the business at Super Bowl XXXIX, falling just short of winning their first NFL championship.

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For some Eagles fans, it's just about the only thing they can remember from that time, stretching from Week 1 when the Eagles beat the New York Giants on Sept. 12, 2004, to the big game in Jacksonville against the Pats on Feb. 6, 2005.

While a lot has changed since then -- Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is the only player on either team who played in Super Bowl XXXIX -- we figured it was a good time to flash back to what happened in the world during the 2004 season.

Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid talks with reporters at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on Feb. 1, 2005.

It was a time when President George W. Bush beat John Kerry for the presidency, the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami killed more than 200,000 people and Eminem's "Encore" topped the charts.

With Eagles fans back in the same position of obsessively daydreaming about beating the Patriots while largely ignoring everything else going on in the world, here's a look back at what was happening the last time the Eagles landed in the Super Bowl.

Sept. 12, hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg releases the single "Drop It Like It's Hot"

Sept. 12, tennis player Roger Federer wins his first U.S. Open

Sept. 15, NHL lockout begins

Sept. 17, Barry Bonds hits his 700th home run

"The Sopranos" won Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmy Awards on Sept. 19, 2004.

Sept. 19, "The Sopranos" (drama series) and "Arrested Development" (comedy series) win at the Emmy Awards

Sept. 22, "Lost" debuts on ABC

Sept. 24, Major League Baseball announces the Montreal Expos will move to Washington, D.C.

Oct. 26, Apple releases the fourth generation iPhone with a color screen and picture viewing

Oct. 27, the Boston Red Sox win their first World Series since 1918

President George W. Bush (center) waves as he and his wife Laura are introduced ahead of his victory speech by Vice President Dick Cheney (left) on Nov. 3, 2004.

Nov. 2, President George W. Bush is re-elected, defeating Democrat candidate John Kerry

Nov. 8, "Halo 2" released for Xbox

Nov. 11, former chairman of the Palestinian Liberation organization Yasser Arafat dies

Nov. 26, 265,000 gallons of oil spill into the Delaware River from the Athos I tanker

Nov. 30, "Jeopardy!" contestant Ken Jennings finally loses after winning 74 games in a row and taking home $2.5 million

Oct. 1, World Cafe Live in Philadelphia first opens

Oct. 10, "Superman" actor Christopher Reeve dies

Dec. 26, former Eagles defensive end Reggie White dies

Dec. 26, Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami killed more than 200,000 people

Jan. 15, 2005, figure skater Tonya Harding boxes a mailman in New Castle's former Gator's bar

Jan. 16, "The Aviator" and "Sideways" win best film honors at the Golden Globe Awards

Feb. 1, Canada becomes the fourth country to legally sanction same-sex marriage

Contact Ryan Cormier of The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier), Twitter (@ryancormier) and Instagram (@ryancormier).