U.S. Sports

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1998

Humiliation nothing new for Philly fans

From staff and wire reports

   PHILADELPHIA - Somewhere inside of every honest-to-gosh American sports fan rests just a slice of a Philly fan.
   We all know what it's like to see our favorite team pounded into submission week after week - remember the 1989 Cowboys? - and we all know what it's like to support teams that are supposed to be good but always seem to fall short - hello, Spurs fans.
   You think Texas A&M and Texas are overdue for a college football championship? Try living in Philly where the home team is Bill Cosby University, er, Temple.
   These are the fans who booed Santa Claus because they were in such a sour mood over their football team that day.
   OK, so it was rude. But admit it, haven't there been times when your team is going bad you would have wanted to do that?
   You simply aren't a real fan unless you empathize with the plight of Philly fans, particularly this season's Eagles fans.
   They're the ones wearing skunk suits and paper bags on their heads.
   It's that bad again in Philly, but this tortured town has seen lower moments than this.
   The Eagles' pathetic 34-0 loss to the Cowboys Monday night certainly ranks up with the worst moments in Philadelphia sports history. But the worst ever? Not so fast.
   True, the Eagles' 1-7 record is their worst start in 23 years, and diehard fans hoping for a victory over the hated Cowboys were embarrassed in front of the whole country.
   After sleeping off the effects of another football disaster at Veterans Stadium, they awoke to this headline Tuesday: Pokes 34, Jokes 0.
   Cheesesteak anyone?
   "You put endless hours into doing this stuff, and all of a sudden it blows up in your face," Eagles coach Ray Rhodes said Tuesday.
   But this isn't even the worst Eagles team ever - yet. For that distinction, historians might choose Bert Bell's wretched teams that won 10 games from 1936-40, including records of 1-11, 1-9-1, and 1-10.
   Two years after the Eagles won their last NFL championship, Nick Skorich's club went 5-20-3 in 1962 and '63. And let's not forget Joe Kuharich's team that started 0-11 en route to a 2-12 record in 1968.
   It takes a lot to make it onto the list of all-time low points in Philadelphia sports history. If you're a transplanted Philadelphian, you might want to read this through the fingers of the hand over your eyes. For the rest of us, sometimes it helps a fan feel better just knowing how bad it can be somewhere else. A brief trip down disaster lane in Philly:
   - 1964 - The Phillies were in first place by 6 games with 12 to play and collapsed with 10 losses in 10 days. The losing streak started in ridiculous fashion, with Chico Ruiz of the Reds stealing home with two outs and two strikes on Hall of Famer Frank Robinson.
   Some Phillies fans still have their useless World Series tickets from that year, and manager Gene Mauch is forever vilified for pitching Jim Bunning and Chris Short three times in 12 games on two days' rest in a last-ditch panic that backfired. It is easily the city's lowest sports moment.
   - 1993 - A close second, Mitch Williams. The previously dominant, if unpredictable closer they called "Wild Thing" served up Joe Carter's home run that beat the Phillies and won the World Series for Toronto.
   - 1972-73 - The Philadelphia 76ers went 9-73, the worst record in NBA history. And even with Wilt Chamberlain, the Sixers and old Philadelphia Warriors were forever victimized by Bill Russell's Celtics in the 1960s. The most memorable defeat came after John Havlicek's steal on the final play of the 1965 Eastern Conference finals, ensuring the Celtics' 110-109 victory.
   "Havlicek stole the ball!" Boston announcer Johnny Most screamed. The Celtics went on to win another NBA title.
   And then there was this monumental thumping by the Cowboys, a result that was laughable even to the officials. At one point while the Eagles' inept offense was "driving," referee Tom White tried to keep a straight face while explaining why three flags had hurtled toward the line of scrimmage like toilet paper from the 700 section.
   "Prior to the snap," White said, "false start, the entire offensive line."
   Asked if he was tired of the losing and the embarrassment, Rhodes gave the only response one could expect.
   "Has my rear end been just thoroughly kicked, and am I beat up and wore out? Is that the question you're asking?" Rhodes said, his voice rising from its solemn depths for the first time during his day-after news conference.
   "It's been a long, long year. It's been hard. I ain't going to lie to anybody. I don't think you can endure the type of season we've endured so far and not have stress and be whacked out a little."
   Before you lose any more sleep, Ray, remember Mitch Williams. Think about Gene Mauch and Jim Bunning and Chris Short.
   You are not alone.
   

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