The LuLac Edition #3956, December 15th, 2018

SANTA GETTING BOOED IN PHILLY 50 YEARS ON

It was fifty years ago today that Santa Claus was booed in Philadelphia. Then he was pelted with snowballs. It showed the true attitude Eagles fans had for losing.
In a moment that will live in Philadelphia Eagles lore, fans at Franklin Field booed and throw snowballs at Santa Claus. It was the last game is a miserable 2-12 season for the Eagles. At halftime of a 24-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, a substitute Santa was used after the man they hired was a no-show. Fans unhappy with his appearance or feeling like the Grinch began booing and hurling snowballs.
It was a bad season made worse that by winning two previous games, the Birds had missed a shot at the top draft pick.
The Eagles had a Christmas Pageant at halftime every season, but due to the weather, the plans were scaled back. The substitute Santa Claus, 19-year old Frank Olivio  came to the game wearing a Santa suit. As a band played “Here Comes Santa Claus”, Olivio came on to the field with the cheerleaders as fans expressing their displeasure loudly. As Olivio left fans began hurling snowballs in a giant Bah Humbug to the Eagles halftime entertainment.
Once Eagle fans realized they were not going to finish last in the '68 season and  not draft O.J.  Simpson. Losing all composure, they just  let the big man in red have it.
I heard Ed Rendell say on TV one year that he was one of the fans hurling those snow balls. If I ever run into him again, I’ll have to ask.
In the meantime......a little bit of poetry to mark the occasion.