Goodbye Old Friend

Lou Angotti, Billy Cunningham, Ed Van Impe. The Who…….

It was an era before Corporate America took over the sports world. When Chicago Stadium was not the United Center, before Candlestick was a 3Com, it brandished the coolest of arena names – The Spectrum.

Kevin Loughery, Joe Watson, Fred Carter, Irv Kosloff, The Doors….

It was a jewel when built in 1967, but like all of us time got the best of it. Crowded concourses, too few restrooms, and limited luxury boxes took its toll on the old girl.

Bernie Parent, Steve Mix, Doug Favell, Cream….

Transposed against the aging JFK Stadium and the asphalt jungle called Veteran’s Stadium, The Spectrum had a distinction of class and eloquence in South Philadelphia.

George McGinnis, Bobby Clarke, Gene Hart, Orest Kindrachuk…..

So many memories---Stanley Cups hoisted, NBA banners hung, numbers retired.

Dave Zinkoff, Barry Ashbee, Doug Collins, Kate Smith….

Windmill dunks, backboards shattered, rough play with Russians.

Julius Erving, Rick Macleish, Fitz Dixon, Cowboy Bill Flett…..

The players now lace their skates and tie their sneakers in opulence in The Corestates/First Union/Wells Fargo/Anyone with Money Center.

Bill Barber, Bobby Jones, Fred Shero, Grateful Dead….

You can get a beer for $7 and watch the game at one of the many bars in the new digs, but I never could quite figure out why someone would pay $80 for a ticket and sit in the bar. But some unquestionably do, it’s a new era.

Andrew Toney, Don Saleski, Dave Schultz, Caldwell Jones….

Gourmet food is available. Sushi? Prime Rib? Lobster tail? It is there for the asking.

Mel Bridgeman, Harold Katz, Paul Holmgren, Ed Snider, Kiss….

A suite fit for royalty can be had…..for a royal sum. Soft drinks are included in the five figure price I hear.

Tim Kerr, Darryl Dawkins, Illka Sinisalo, Pete Peeters, Bruce Springsteen

Prime parking you desire? For a fee…..of course you can.

Daryll Sittler, Maurice Cheeks, Brian Propp, Lionel Hollins, Pink Floyd….

Tony Luke’s is right down the street. Get a roast pork grinder with provolone, but hide it in your sock on the way in.

Pelle Lindbergh, Moses Malone, Peter Zezel, Clint Richardson, Rick Tocchet, The Doobie Brothers….

Easy access to routes 95, 76, and the Walt Whitman Bridge.

Ron Hextall, Jeff Ruland, Kjell Samuelson, Matt Guokas, Jimmy Lynam, Genesis…

The bricks fell reluctantly, the old girl was tough…built so sturdily that even strategically placed dynamite couldn’t take her down.

Keith Acton, Mike Gminski, Roy Hinson, Eric Lindross, Charles Barkley, Mark Zumoff, Earth, Wind, and Fire….

And now we will watch her go away piece by piece, chair by souvenir chair until we shop on what was once hallowed ground.

Mike Keenan, Hersey Hawkins, Rod Brind’Amour, Armand Gilliam, Frank Zappa….

Goodbye old friend. It won’t quite be the same without you.

Charles Shackleford, Garth Snow, Murray Baron, Chris Therien, Jeff Hornacek, Shawn Bradley, Derrick Coleman, Scott Mellanby, Jerry Stackhouse, Clarence Weatherspoon, John LeClair, Dana Barros, The Mothers of Invention, Hulk Hogan, Eric Desjardins……..