In Philly, They Can Lose With Best of Them

How hurt were Philadelphia Eagles fans Sunday over the team’s loss to Tampa Bay in the final game at the Vet?

So hurt that Ron Rapoport reported in the Chicago Sun-Times that Jim Convey, the flamboyant Eagle fan known as Torchman, said, “This is what my entire life has been as a Philadelphia sports fan. It’s fitting. We’re a city of losers.”

So hurt that one policeman, assigned to prevent trouble at the game, told the Philadelphia Daily News, “I’d rather had a win and the trouble.”

So hurt that William Bunch wrote in the Daily News, “ ... Philadelphia has now refined the art of defeat the same way we once set the standard for locomotives and Stetson hats.”

Even worse: Another Daily News reporter, Don Russell, saw a man, about 30, sitting along a ramp at game’s end with his head buried in his knees, his shoulders heaving in sobs.

“It can be said,” wrote Russell, “without fear of contradiction that there is nothing sadder than a grown man with tears streaking his green-painted face.”

“Are you OK, pal?” Russell asked.

“He leaned forward and vomited.”

Trivia time: How much money did Green Bay Packer players get for winning the first Super Bowl game in 1967?

Tough it out: The Masters controversy has already had one fallout for the players and Martha Burk hasn’t even called for a strike yet.

GolfWorld noted that with no commercial sponsorship on TV, Cadillac will not provide courtesy cars to the players, many of whom usually drive them to the tournament in Hilton Head, S.C., the following week.

Bring him back: Dana Stubblefield, San Francisco 49er defensive tackle, was asked, after Steve Mariucci was fired as head coach, who he’d like to see become the team’s next coach.

“Steve Mariucci,” he answered.

How about Shaq? Chicago Bull guard Jalen Rose says Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves is the best player in the NBA.

“A lot of people talk about who they’d take in their fantasy league or who’s the best player,” he told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “I say there is no question.”

Another view: Charles Barkley says of Shaquille O’Neal, “I can guard anybody but Shaq. He’s unguardable.”

Crying in Seattle: Columnist Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times, writes, “The Sonics have lost at home to Denver, the Clippers and Cleveland. That’s not a losing streak. It’s a cry for help.”

Maybe his words helped. They next beat Memphis and Dallas at home.

Trivia answer: $15,000, at the time the largest single-game shares in the history of team sports.

The losing Kansas City Chiefs received $7,500.

And finally: After Mariucci was fired, Bill Callahan of the Oakland Raiders was reminded that he is the longest tenured major pro coach in the Bay Area.

“I don’t know what that means,” he said to the San Francisco Chronicle. “Just hang on for dear life, I guess.”

-- Shav Glick