Ed Rendell: "You play football regardless of the weather."

[PhillySane]

The Pennsylvania Governor and ex-Philly mayor had this to say:

"I think it is a joke," Rendell said, "Vince Lombardi would be spinning in his grave."

Adding also, "its symbolic of where we've come as a country."

Yes, Ed, I agree! Damn corporate elitist woosies! Where's your spine!

[Myrina]

1. I agree too!

Seriously, those NFL clowns make enough money that a little snow shouldn't bother them ... they all have jacuzzi's waiting after the game anyway. I remember games being played at Lambeau during snowstorms and the players - as well as the fans - were just fine afterward.

Sheesh. :eyes:

[Missy Vixen]

37. They're not fine anymore

Perhaps you might want to do a bit of reading about retired NFL players and serious health issues. Did you know, for instance, that a NFL lineman's life expectancy is 20 years less than the average?

>I remember games being played at Lambeau during snowstorms and the players - as well as the fans - were just fine afterward.<

Of course they were. That's why the Pennsylvania DOT and state police issued a joint statement yesterday commending the NFL for postponing last night's game, and told PA residents to stay off the road unless it was an emergency.

It's hard to believe that Wisconsin's DOT and state police would consider 50,000 people on the roads during a blizzard a great thing, either.

:eyes:

[eleny]

2. What about the ticket holders getting to and from the game?

If the roads are so treacherous, shouldn't they stay off them for everybody's sake?

[harun]

3. That's why I felt they cancelled it. No problem for the players but the weather

is atrocious to drive in right now here in Philly.

[PhillySane]

5. We had less than five inches

on the ground at game time. And we do have public transportation direct to the stadium. The suburbs west of the city hardly got any snow. This was a network/nfl/money decision, I'm sure.

[Motown_Johnny]

31. I think it is better that they did it, if even one accident took a life

then it would have been a mistake to play the game


I know these things happen all the time and nothing is ever 100% safe, but it is better to be cautious.


We will never know if any lives were saved by this decision but it is a reasonable assumption that it might have.

[GoneOffShore]

79. An abundance of caution.

The motto of the TSA and many Americans nowadays.

And I don't know if there were any road accidents here in Philly last night, but knowing Philly I'm sure there were. And I'm pretty sure that there was at least one shooting. Any of which would have happened, game or no game.

Nothing like an abundance of caution. :sarcasm:

[former9thward]

34. It wasn't a network/nfl decision. They lost money on it.

It was a city decision. The network and nfl makes much more money playing a game as scheduled rather than putting it off to some other night.

[TorchTheWitch]

61. bullshit - I'm in the burbs west of the city

and we're bloody drowning in snow. My street still hasn't been plowed. The wind and drifting is horrendous. There were accidents all over the place last night. No, we don't have public transportation direct to the stadium for the burb dwellers... we hardly have any public transportation at ALL going anywhere, and there's no way to get to the bus and train stops without driving to them unless you're lucky enough to live right on a major roadway that has a bus stop. Damn, do you think it's only city dwellers that go to the games??? NJ and DE had snow emergencies too and I don't here you claiming about the "hardly any" snow they got, or was it the Philly area that miraculously was spared?

Hardly any snow my ass! Come over and shovel my "hardly any" snow why don't you so I can get out the door and try to figure out which giant white mound has my car under it?

Why don't you just admit that you're bent that you couldn't watch the game instead of trying to convince people we didn't have a damn nasty blizzard and the driving conditions were dangerous as hell.

[PhillySane]

66. Okay

I admit it. But the Nutcracker fans were able to get to the ballet last night, so it couldn't have been all that bad.

[October]

86. I-95 was a mess! Untouched. Unplowed.

I don't know why nothing was salted/plowed, but I left the city at about 6-7pm, and nothing had been TOUCHED by PennDot.

[JoePhilly]

65. My father-in-law works for SEPTA and I talked to him last night.

He told me that the public transportation situation was deteriorating rapidly through out the day and that by 8:30 (when I talked to him) that the major concern had been less about getting people to the game, but about getting them out afterward. He said that the buses were going to be useless, and that the rail-lines would be effectively shut-down by midnight, leaving anyone who came via public transportation trapped.

He thought that if the game had been a 1 or 4pm game, that would have been a different story. His view was that the public transportation issue was the biggest driver.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

45. FAIL

How do people in Minnesota, "New England," Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Denver manage not to wipe out half the population on our way to and from games?

You need to understand the dynamics of large stadium traffic. It's really much safer than driving at speed with space. Get in one of these traffic jams someday, and you'll see that everyone is tightly packed and moving really slow.

A politician called the shots here, plain and simple. If you don't follow the league, there's a lot on the line the next two weeks as 3 teams vie for the top 2 seeds, which could be the difference between hosting a playoff game and reaping all that revenue, not to mention giving your team home field advantage.

The way the decision was made calls into question the integrity of the game.

[eleny]

69. How do you know where everyone is driving from

They don't all start out in stadium traffic. And that's the point.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

75. Except for all the hand ringers here who would never venture out anyway...

and who keep this tread alive with all of their whining about it being impossible for them to get to the game in their imaginary world where they go to imaginary football games, there's not a single Eagles ticket holder who has said they couldn't get to the game. They're saying this whole blizzard thing was blown way out of proportion.

I can't believe how many people here assume games in Buffalo, Minneapolis, Chicago, D.C., Denver, "New England," Detroit, Green Bay are regularly canceled due to wind, snow, and a wind chill in the teens.

[eleny]

77. As if people have to live up to your exectations or they fall prey to your nasty name calling

Welcome to my Ignore list.

Please take the last word if you feel the need. I won't see it.

[alp227]

88. yeah seriously rendell is full of crap regarding the situation

Yes, you can play football in the snow (think the Snow Bowl, the 2002 AFC where my Raiders got eliminated by the Patriots), but think about the FANS. How are they gonna come and leave safely in this weather? I've seen the footage of the East Coast snowstorm in the news; doubt that anyone'd wanna drive in that weather.

[soleft]

4. Here in central Jersey people are stuck in ambulances

because other cars are stuck on the roads and there aren't enough plows to get them out.

I guess you could play a game if you give people citations for trying to get to it.

[bullwinkle428]

6. Rendell is an ignorant blowhard. Would he be out there attempting

to rescue those stranded in their cars by the ensuing blizzard?

[leveymg]

7. They really overhyped this storm. Last year we had three in the Mid-Atlantic that were much larger.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

9. Exactly! And after all that, D.C. is open today!!! n/t

[leveymg]

15. To be fair, DC metro got just a dusting and some wind. NY and Boston got a lot more snow

but it's outrageous hyperbole to call this Northeaster, "Snowmageddon".

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

24. I think that's the point I was making. D.C. got nothing, but I'm stuck here in Jersey

and can't get back home to D.C. until tomorrow morning. The irony is definitely there, since the storm came through from the South.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[PhillySane]

10. Yes!

Most of those fans drive big gas guzzling SUV's. Come on. What do you think they're for? Man up!

[DeadEyeDyck]

84. burrrrrr n/t

[Hassin Bin Sober]

14. Tell how YOU have become "sissified" ...

I'm assuming you are American. What's YOUR deal? Do you cry a lot? I'm just trying to understand what you mean by "sissification"

[Creative]

26. I don't make excuses for why something cannot be done.

[ZombieHorde]

18. Who are the sissies? Those who wanted the game canceled,

or those who are complaining about not being able to watch people play a game on schedule?

[fascisthunter]

22. lol

[Creative]

27. Who are they? It's simple, "they" are the whiners...

[LanternWaste]

64. Specifically...?

" It's simple, "they" are the whiners..."


Specifically...? Or is this merely some internalized observation without data, and a convenient opportunity to use your label-du-jour? :shrug:

(Although it certainly seems you yourself appear to be doing quite a bit more "whining" on this thread about some ill-defined notions of "sissification".)

[ZombieHorde]

72. The people whining about a delayed football game are sissies? nt

[Upton]

20. Yep..

America has become a country of wimps..

[fascisthunter]

25. oh brother

football is fucking entertainment... get a grip!

[Creative]

28. And the people of Philadelphia wanted the show to go on.

The sissies did not.

[PhillySane]

29. Yowza!

[fascisthunter]

57. the sissies are complaining

over not getting to see a football game... wuuuuu-ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

[Creative]

68. Sure, the fans are complaining. For they wanted the game that they had paid to see

to be played according to the terms under which they purchased their tickets.

On the other hand, the NFL chose to cater to the sissies and did not uphold their end of the deal.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

83. You know what I think is sissy behavior?

Whining about a war you lost 150 years ago because you wanted to keep slavery.

Now that's sissy.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

46. LOL! You got it right.

For a city that has a tough guy reputation, turns out they're just a bunch of crybabies.

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[October]

85. 2010 NFC East Division Champs

That is all.

[old mark]

11. Ed, thanks for reminding us what an asshole you are! The game was postponed

because of the thousands of people who would have been on the Philly area expressways before and after the game, in winds gusting to 50 MPH and blowing snow.

If you can take time from your busy schedule - setting up your run for National Political Office - you can watch the game Tuesdey night, when there will be no snow.

Oh, and Ed?

You are still an asshole.

One of your former employees,
mark

[FSogol]

12. Our course, Rendell is chauffeured to the game and sits in a heated glass box, but never mind,

gotta ignore common sense and act tough.

[AngryAmish]

13. Remember: snow + Philedelphians = violence

These are the people that pelted Santa Claus with snowballs. They also put batteries in the snowballs and rain them down upon the opposing team. Plus it was a night game, meaning that they will be drunker than usual. They cancelled the game because they feared a riot.

[October]

16. Hyperbole.

/nt

[11 Bravo]

39. Is it also hyperbole to state that Philly fans cheered when Michael Irvin lay motionless, and ...

for all they knew, paralyzed on the field? I've been a Redskins fan for over 50 years, and I thought that was horseshit.
Many, although not all, Philly sports fans are sub-human cretins. (And the batteries in snowballs is hyperbolic? My ass! I know a couple of ex-Redskins, and they were there! It happened, and was widely reported.)

[October]

43. It's equally true

...that the majority does not and did not do as you stated.

I recently took my two children to an Eagles game against the Giants. We had a blast and everyone around us was cheering, having fun and high-fiving the kids.

[11 Bravo]

54. You should be proud that it is only a minority of Pilly fans who are sociopathic assholes.

After all, if it was a majority, then the only team in the NFL which felt a need to include a jail in their stadium would have to start tearing out luxury boxes and start adding cells.

[October]

59. No one said anything about being proud -- just don't fault all of us

[October]

60. And it's NOT the minority who behave well. Don't be stupid.

[11 Bravo]

71. Reading comprehension not your strong suit?

The post clearly and unambiguously referred to a MINORITY as being sociopathic assholes. That is pretty much the opposite of claiming that it's "the minority who behave well". Run along now, and remember, never use the word "stupid" in a post again.

[October]

81. Yes, and spelling is not yours.

Run along, yourself.

Snarky doesn't become you.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

47. and Tuesday...

night game + idiots + snow on the ground

You can't fix stupid.

[Dappleganger]

49. There will also be big black men outside...

better watch out!!

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[PhillySane]

67. Correction

We booed Santa Claus. We pelted the Dallas Cowboys with snowballs.

[name not needed]

73. Well that's what they get for playing for the Cowboys.

[October]

17. I was in Philly last night...

Yes, we had a snow "storm."

The Nutcracker Ballet went on as scheduled -- two shows -- with all the patrons/kids on the roads (including the insane i-95).

If PennDot had bothered to plow/salt/or otherwise CLEAR the damn roads, all would've been fine -- but they did not TOUCH the highways/roads.

It was ridiculous because no one even tried to plow. We've certainly had more snow in the past -- more than the 4-5 inches that came down last night.

[PhillySane]

23. That could also be the reason

No money in the budget to clean the snow anymore. Sad.

[October]

82. I wondered that myself.

I-95 was awful -- and it could've/should've been plowed. We had ample notice on the snow fall expectancy, yet there were few or no trucks out there plowing/salting.

[loudsue]

19. I totally disagree, but then, I don't worship at the feet of American gladiators.

Sports are great, and games and sports are good training grounds for some healthy character traits, when not taken to the extreme. But for cryin' out loud. Nobody needs to risk life and limb to either get to a (VERY overpriced) game, or to play that game, while running, on a slippery field.

Macho, "tough", is part and parcel of what's wrong with this culture. We need a little less bravado and a little more THINKING, reason, good sense.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

21. Yeah, and why did the Vikings move their game?

Wusses can't play with a few bits of roof in the field?

Sheesh.

But, all that snow in Philadelphia might have impacted the tailgate grilling.

[obxhead]

30. I have a feeling that this decision was based entirely on money.

When was the last time the wealthy did something for the common people.

I think they were mostly worried about a lower turnout that would bring lower sales of everything at the stadium.

[PhillySane]

32. Obstructed view, better ratings Tuesday night

who knows. The point is, traditionally, football is always played in the elements. Its one of the things that makes it more interesting as a game. Philadelphia played in the "fog bowl" back in the 80's against Chicago. You couldn't even see the players. Probably what the network and the NFL didn't want a repeat of. If safety truly was the reason, it's probably a first for this. Green Bay, Buffalo, and other teams have all played their share of games in blizzard conditions.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

48. Why would there be better ratings on Tuesday night?

Sunday Night Football is always one of the top five programs of the week, and you'd have an almost captive audience on the snow bound east coast.....

[Missy Vixen]

38. The NFL actually makes more money off TV broadcasts and

merchandising than selling tickets and concessions at the game. It's more profitable for them to play to an empty stadium than to postpone.

This was a decision by state authorities who believed there would be a large number of people stranded, with no hope of help, during a blizzard. Evidently, nobody else read the press release from Pennsylvania's DOT and state police instructing those who insisted on driving to equip their cars with a survival kit.

:eyes:

[PhillySane]

40. The Governor wanted the game to be played

Did you read the original post? The mayor of Phila. said he applauded the NFL's decision. The game can only be postponed by the NFL.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

52. The game was canceled because the mayor declared a snow emergency

The mayor had many good reasons to get the league to cancel the game. The NFL would have played the game had the mayor not pulled the plug.

[Missy Vixen]

53. Oh, well, that makes it all okay

Was the governor out rescuing people that got stranded in what all weather measurements believed would be a monster blizzard? Is it typical for the Pennsylvania DOT and state police to offer a joint statement telling the citizens of PA to stay off the roads, period?

Good for the NFL.

[Dappleganger]

50. Football has turned into a rich man's game

from a venue which used to be geared towards the working man.

[ladjf]

33. The postponement sounds like the work of the almighty accountants. nt

[jwirr]

35. Its not about the football - who is going to drive there to watch the

game and what kind of chaos would that cause.

[PhillySane]

36. You don't know Eagles fans

they're a pretty diehard crew and LOVE chaos.

[October]

44. Like I stated above, we were at the ballet... and the shows went on

Same city -- same route (I-95) to get there!

[onenote]

55. You're seriously comparing the two events?

When did the Ballet start? Around 7? How long did it last? 2 hours or so? When did it end? Probably around 10 pm? How many people would be attending the ballet? Around 2500?

Compare that to a 3 hour plus football game starting at around 8:30, ending close to midnight, with a potential crowd in excess of 65,000.

[October]

58. I'm just having some fun...

Having been to BOTH events...

Everyone else is talking about people driving...and I was stating the facts.



Why is DU becoming so pissy? EVeryone's in a perpetually bad freaking mood.

[LynneSin]

41. The real reason they cancelled it was not because of hazardous driving conditions...

but the fact that a stadium-full of drunk, crazy eagles fans would have access to snow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bounty_Bowl

Bounty Bowl II
Bounty Bowl II

Dallas Cowboys Philadelphia Eagles
(1-12) (9-4)
10 20
Head coach:
Jimmy Johnson Head coach:
Buddy Ryan

1 2 3 4 Total
DAL 0 3 7 0 10
PHI 0 17 3 0 20

Date December 10, 1989
Stadium Veterans Stadium
Location Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Favorite Philadelphia -17
Network CBS
Announcers Verne Lundquist and Terry Bradshaw
After rumors spread that Eagles coach Buddy Ryan had put a bounty out on Dallas kicker Luis Zendejas during the first meeting two weeks earlier, the Eagles fans were more than rowdy when the rematch was held in Philadelphia.

CBS Sports touted the game as "Bounty Bowl II," complete with wanted posters and the offending players, with the bounty posted, as part of the network's pre-game opening, and it lived up to its expectations as a media event. With NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue in attendance on gameday December 10, 1989, the Veterans Stadium crew did not remove the snow that had piled up for several days. The volatile mix of beer, plentiful snow, the bounty and the intense hatred for "America's Team" led to the Eagles' notoriously rowdy fans throwing everything within reach. Notable targets included back judge Al Jury, who was knocked to the ground by a barrage of snowballs; Cowboys punter Mike Saxon, who was targeted in the end zone; and Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson, who was hit with snowballs, ice, and beer as he was hastily escorted off the field by Philadelphia Police. Johnson later called the fans "thugs".

Verne Lundquist and Terry Bradshaw announced the game for CBS, and they spent the afternoon denouncing Eagles fans and dodging snowballs aimed at the broadcast booth (broadcast booths are traditionally open during broadcasts). Even the Eagles' players were struck. As Eagles defensive lineman Jerome Brown stood on the players' sideline seats pleading for the fans to stop throwing things, he too was hit.

Future Pennsylvania governor and Eagles fan Edward Rendell got caught up in the fallout from that game when he admitted to a reporter that he was involved in the bedlam. The then-former Philadelphia district attorney and future mayor and governor had bet another fan $20 that the fan couldn't reach the field with a snowball; Rendell lost. As a result of the chaotic melee, the team added security and banned beer sales for their last remaining home game of the regular season.

The Eagles won the game 20-10.

[PhillySane]

42. Yea, you're probably right

we should have a dome.

[LynneSin]

62. Dome teams are a giant fail in the playoffs when they have to go thru cold city teams for the win.

How many times has Minnesota failed for the playoffs because their road to the superbowl took them thru a cold weather, un-domed city.

Philly needs the cold!

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

56. And the snow on the ground will be gone on Tuesday? The mayor...

...pulled the plug Sunday night because they'll have all of the snow out of the Link by kickoff Tuesday night?

FAIL

[LynneSin]

63. It's already melting today and Philly only got about 5-6 inches.

I can assure you they are in there trying to get rid of every last snowflake.

[CreekDog]

51. no, not in lightning

and not when fans will be putting their lives in jeopardy (and those of public safety officers sworn to protect them).

i like Rendell but he says some whoppers when he doesn't think before he speaks and this is one of them.

[PhillySane]

70. .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plfhh2CBv90

[PhillySane]

74. Ed Rendell Update: "We've become a Nanny State"

"that won't allow people to use their own better judgement."
-paraphrasing here

Ed was just interviewed on the local sports talk station and strongly defended his earlier position. He ended the interview by calling the host a "wus" and hung up.

My man Ed. We need that spirit in the White House.

[ncteechur]

76. yep shoulda played

[MilesColtrane]

78. Three words: The Ice Bowl

We may have been denied a classic game.

[PhillySane]

80. Right?

Oh the good old days.

[mrmpa]

87. I love Rendell-I've met him 4 times & he's great

[rufus dog]

89. has there been any discussion regarding NBC in this decision

They end up getting a Tuesday night prime time game out of the deal!

[alp227]

91. not to mention at this time of year there's not much on primetime

besides Christmas/New Year specials, reruns, and movies. But tomorrow, the Kennedy Center Honors are on CBS for those who aren't interested in football, starting after the NCIS rerun.

[Awsi Dooger]

90. The Roger Goodell influence continues to spread

I'm convinced that decision would never have been made prior to his dainty term as commissioner.

Ridiculous restrictions on defense, including no tickling the QB above the neck or at the knee or lower. Massive fines. Absurd concocted playoff overtime rules when there was absolutely no need for them, as evidenced by this season, with a whopping 2 of 19 overtime games won on the first possession by the team winning the coin flip.

Goodell wants prancing touchdowns by unrestrained offenses, and 18 games worth beginning next season. A snow plow 3-0 treat like Miami/New England 1982 would leave him trembling, even though Sunday night would have been a famous game while Tuesday figures to be another lopsided tame conditions snore.

Kudos to Rendell for applying a massive dose of sanity. His only fault was not going far enough.