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Philadelphia Sports
It was December 15, 1968. The Philadelphia Eagles were playing their last regular season game dreadful at their stadium then home to Franklin Field.
The Eagles eventually lost that day at the Minnesota Vikings and finish the year 2-12. His two victories came only after a 0-11 start, but it cost them any chance that the draft USC running back OJ Simpson.
At halftime, the Eagles held a Christmas parade. Depending on the story you believe, the actor slated to play Santa Claus was well stuck in traffic or alcohol.
In desperate need of a replacement Claus, Frank Olivo organizers booted from the stands. He wore a Santa suit to the game.
Olivo was 20 years old, 5'6 "and 170 pounds. Not exactly your ideal Santa.
As soon as the frustrated Eagles fans have a load of "Olivo Claus" began to boo. Not just a handful of boos, but a cacophony of strident mockery.
Of the things became even worse. When Olivo reached the end zone, started to get thrown by a flurry of snowballs. Not a snowball or two, but hundreds of people.
Sports fans in the city of brotherly love had harangued and harassed Figure imagine more benign and harmless Santa Claus.
This famous incident is often used to illustrate the harsh Philadelphia sports fans. While they tend to express their discontent frequently and loudly, remain some of the most knowledgeable sports fans and enthusiasts in the country.
City Philadelphia is one of 12 metropolitan areas has a team in each of the four major sports leagues in North America: NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL.
Philadelphia is one of four cities in which the four major sports franchises play within the city limits. In fact, the teams play in Philadelphia blocks of each other in South Philadelphia Sports Complex.
In 1980, Philadelphia became the city only to send the four major sports teams to their respective championship games. Unfortunately for fans of the Philadelphia Phillies were only able to capture a title.
The National League City football team is the Eagles. They play in the division of the NFL's marquee NFC East.
Since 2003, the Eagles have called Lincoln Financial Field home.
The franchise last won a champion ship in 1960, but they did reach the Super Bowl in late 1980 and 2004 seasons.
The Phillies have been playing Major League Baseball since 1883. During this time they have won six National League pennants and two World Series, the last coming in 2008.
The Phillies play their home games at Citizens Bank Park.
Perhaps the greatest third baseman of all time, Mike Schmidt, played for the Phillies. Other notables include large Philadelphia Steve Carlton, Robin Roberts and Alexander Grover.
The 76'ers represent the city of Philadelphia in the NBA. The franchise has won three NBA titles, but none since 1983.
The franchise started out as the Syracuse Nationals, but moved to Philadelphia in 1963. They currently play at the Wachovia Center.
Over the years, the 76'ers have had some of the best NBA players on their roster, names like Wilt Chamberlain, Darryl Dawkins, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Charles Barkley and Allen Iverson.
Also playing at the Wachovia Center is the brochure of the National Hockey League. Part of the 1967 expansion of the NHL, the Flyers were the first non-original six teams to win the Stanley Cup. The franchise won championships back-to-back in 1974 and 1975. They have not won a title since then.
The next major professional sports franchise in Philadelphia is the Union. The team is scheduled to begin play in Major League Soccer in 2010. The "Zolos" play in soccer specific field of the Union in Chester. Located along the Delaware River, Chester is located 30 minutes southwest of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia is the home of the Big 5, Division 1 five prominent universities that field teams in college basketball. The Big 5 consists of Temple, St. Joe, Pennsylvania, Villanova and La Salle.
This quintet plays most of their games at the historic Palestra located on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. The Palestra is also known as the cathedral of college basketball.
Not part of the Big 5, but still a Division I school in Philadelphia is Drexel University. His team basketball plays in the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
Of the universities mentioned above, only temple has a team of Division I football Many of Philadelphia sympathize with the Penn State Nittany Lions.
The Lions play their home games at Beaver Stadium in State College, located about 200 miles from Philadelphia.
Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia is home to the annual frequency of Army / Navy game. The venue will host the event in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2013, 2015 and 2017.
About the Author
Ryan Hogan seriously enjoys
Philadelphia sports
. He contributes to PhiladelphiaSmarts, a site dedicated to providing sports and
entertainment information
for the Philadelphia area.
Cornell Basketball @ UPenn (2/7/09) video highlights and analysis