I would like the dozens of readers that commented on my Bicycle Hippie finds sobriety column from last week. It certainly was a change of pace from my ranting and raving about government overreach, so much so I’m recounting a sports story from a year’s past.
The date was December 15, 1968, and the Philadelphia Eagles were playing at home against the Minnesota Vikings. With a horrible, 2-11, won-loss record, the Eagles were expected to lose against the division leading Vikings.
54,000 diehard Eagle vans braved temperatures in the 20’s and swirling snow to witness an Eagles loss, and thus their opportunity to get the Number 1 choice in the draft- none other than OJ Simpson.
Sitting in the freezing cold in 30 mph winds with snow blanketing the stadium, fans were getting really nervous when their quarterback, Norm Snead, threw a touchdown pass to take the lead, 7-0. They felt slightly better when the Vikings marched back with a touchdown pass of their own tieing the game.
As halftime emerged and the game tied, boos came raining down from the cold, frustrated fans. They wanted a loss and a tie at halftime wasn’t acceptable.
Part of the halftime festivities was Santa Claus. This was not an ordinary Santa Claus. The real old St. Nick was stranded a few dozen miles away in the blowing snow. Thus the Eagles PR team spotted a 20-year-old fan in the stands with a dime store Santa suit on. They coaxed Frank Olivo to take the place of the real Santa.
Eagles PR Director Jim Gallagher recalled, “He was the worst Santa, I’d ever seen. 5’ 6”, scraggly beard, bad suit. I’m not sure he was drunk, but he appeared to be.”
Olivo was handed an equipment bag full of used, wet towels. This was to be his sack of toys. The plan was for him to be atop a float pulled by fake reindeer. Accompanying him were cheerleaders, dressed as Santa’s elves and a 50-piece marching band.
However as fate would have it, the float got stuck in the snow outside the stadium. So Olivo improvised. Drunk or not he was going to give the fans a show. He threw the sack over his shoulder and walked onto the field to “Here Comes Santa Claus.”
Then the announcer proclaimed “Lets give a warm welcome to Santa Claus.”
Well Philly football crowds aren’t known for gracious behavior and certainly this day enhanced that reputation. No one knew at first whether the earsplitting boos were for the football team that was playing too good, or the ragtag Santa. But soon it became clear. Poor stand-in Santa was pelted with snowballs. Olivo says he was hit by more than one-hundred. Beer bottles, sandwiches and garbage were also tossed at the defenseless Santa. He was hit so many times, part of Olivos headgear was dislodged.
Amazingly Olivo took it in stride. It was his moment of fame. He pointed at one fan who hit him in the face with a snowball and said, “You’re not getting anything for Christmas.”
For his efforts, Olivo received a pair of cufflinks. The Eagles did not draft OJ Simpson, Buffalo had the first choice.
