At the Vet, trouble in the rubble
By Frank Fitzpatrick
Inquirer Columnist
Though officials did their best to clean out Veterans Stadium before Sunday's spectacular implosion, they apparently left much behind. Here are some of the items contractors have located amid the rubble:
Buddy Ryan's offensive playbook, all three pages remarkably intact.
The tractor-trailer in which Curt Schilling stored his ego between starts. This large container has added historical significance as well, since it also transported Dallas Green's larynx from city to city.
The barrel of rice with which Steve Carlton used to perform his esoteric arm exercises, along with a pot of green tea, an egg roll, and some moo goo gai pan.
Seven Temple football fans, thereby establishing a new Owls attendance record at the Vet.
Mike Schmidt's emotional cocoon.
Randall Cunningham's space suit.
The mirrors Dave Hollins cracked.
Travis Lee's can of oil.
A ticket to the Eagles' 700 Level Fans Annual Fund-Raising Brawl.
Sixteen dead cats - though their deteriorated condition was such that some believe the remains may actually be Howard Eskin's fur coat.
Three unidentified patella tendons.
Vince Fumo's private box, complete with collection plate.
A set of "Joe Must Go" glasses, left over from Franklin Field days, which Tim Rossovich planned to consume for lunch the day his Eagles career ended.
The office cot, tear-stained and slightly scorched, on which Dick Vermeil burned out.
The other half of Rich Kotite's wit.
The bat with which a Phillies season-ticket holder once pummeled that moron who incessantly yells, "Everybody hits, wa-hoooo!"
Tapes of several WPEN-AM Phillies broadcasts. Never been heard.
Vet's reputation survives. Here's what the sports-humor Web site www.sportspickle.com had to say about the Vet implosion:
"After the detonations started and the stadium was reduced to rubble in just more than 60 seconds, the crowd began booing the implosion team for its inability to fell the structure in less than a minute. 'Boooooooooooooo,' yelled one obviously intoxicated spectator. 'I could have knocked that stadium down by myself in less than a minute. You suck!'
"Police arrested more than two dozen of the crowd after fans tried to rush the implosion team and beat them with metal pipes." |
