Eagle fans pelted Santa with snowballs. This is how the neighborhood boys and me played football in our backyards. No pads and full tackle. We beat the hell outta each other.
There's nothing like living those days! ...but: for all of those unable to: Miracle is about as close as you can get. Truly: Magic and Brilliance. ...When unity and trust MEANT something! 🤘🤘
I was 11 or 12 when they went to the Olympics and I was in my room downstairs and I remember my 3 brothers and my Dad just started screaming and pounding on the floor which scared the c*** out of me at the time and then I ran up to see what all the commotion was about. I watched the rest of the game with them and the ones that followed. It's one of my favorite memories of my family in childhood.
Veterans Stadium had been torn down by the time they made this movie so they used U. Penn’s Franklin Field as a stand in and digitally recreated the upper decks and outside of Veterans Stadium. Because it’s a college stadium, that’s why there’s a race track around the field. The ironic thing is Franklin Field is where the Eagles played before Veterans Stadium had opened.
In real life, Vince Papale went to college on a track and field scholarship and played 2 seasons with the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League. When the WFL folded in 1975, that's when he got a tryout with the Eagles.
Have you seen “Money Ball”? It’s a true story about the Oakland A’s. Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill are phenomenal!!! They both won Oscars and it won for best picture as well.
Great movie! Amber since you ran cross country you both should watch "McFarland, USA". A true story of a cross country team from California. Kevin Costner stars as the track coach.
There are so many Philly Easter eggs packed into this movie. For example: The fan in the cape trying out for the team is the present owner of Tony Luke's, one of the signature cheesesteak restaurants in Philly.
The guy with the cape is Tony Luke. He owns a hoagie and cheese steak shop in Philly called Tony Luke's. He also starred in a low budget movie the Nail. My dad has a small part in it.
That was Veterans Stadium, aka "The Vet" Was all purpose, baseball, football, college track & field, other events like monster trucks, etc. Cheapest seats were way up near the top, the "nosebleed" section😉
They depict the fan base accurately. Going to a road game in Philadelphia isn’t as horrible as it once was but you still to realize you’re going to get chirped at with some “mustard”.
Two fun football movies with somewhat similar vibes are "The Replacements" starring Keanu Reeves but with a really solid ensemble cast including Gene Hackman as the coach, and "Necessary Roughness" starring Scott Bakula (the "Quantum Leap" guy). I definitely recommend both. For non-football, "The Cutting Edge" is a good one, as is "Cool Runnings".
As for South Philly, this was the late 70s, and also when the movie Rocky came out. So there were constant comparisons of Papale to Balboa. Vince Papale was the real Philly underdog.
One of my favorites! For me it's not just about sports, but more the human spirit. Finding that something deep down inside that fuels and focuses you. This movie does that in an elegant understated way and I come back to it when I need that little extra when dealing with life's challenges.
I am from South Jersey & we root for the 🦅. I remember when Dick Vermeil started as a coach when I was a kid. We still 💕 Dick & Vince around here. I remember old Veterans Stadium Amber & it was huge. We use to always have nosebleed seats all the way @ the top & I use to like to count how many 🍺 beers others were drinking 😅 . Jay I heard old NFL players say Veterans Stadium was their least favorite stadium to play @ because the concrete playing field was brutal along with Eagles fans. 😂 Fly Eagles fly.
The part of Veterans Stadium was played By Franklin Field. That is why there is a track around the field and bench seats. Veterans Stadium was imploded before they started filming. Good catch on that Jay.
Dick Vermeil also had two good years as the head coach at UCLA. The Bruins went 9-2-1 in 1975 and upset number one ranked Ohio State in the 1976 Rose Bowl.
The Opening Song. Yes it's Jim Croce. There is a connection. Jim was from Philly and had just died in a plane crash when the events in the film took place. Being from the Philly area I remember all of it. I was 21 that year. 🙂 Answering April's question about open practices. The Eagles had traded away both their First and Second round draft picks. The Eagles wouldn't have those draft picks for another 3 years when Vermeil took over in 1976. So Vermeil called for open tryouts to create interest and find talent. Cheese steak. To be fair there are many pizza places that make a good sandwich. But the Mecca for visitors has to be south Philly where Pat's and Geno's are. Gotta order it with fried onions 🙂Just Google Pat's Cheesesteaks
True! If we are going to pick nits than Jim died in September of 73 and Dick was hired in the spring of 76. 2 and a half years. The song was not released until after Jim's death and remained on the charts for over a year. So it was still quite popular in the spring of 76 when the film starts. Also Springsteen was just gaining national attention, Rick Wakeman was on tour for his Journey To The Center of The Earth album, the Steelers were starting their 4 SB's in 6 years run and Nixon had just resigned. Ford was President after replacing Spiro Agnew as VP and then Nixon as President. Carter was elected in the fall of 76 but didn't take office until January of 77.
I used to be a security guard at Veterans Stadium, the Spectrum, Wells Fargo Center, Lincoln Financial Field, and Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia and Eagles fans are a unique breed. They really used to be monsters, so much so that a holding cell and judge were set up in the underbelly of The Vet, for unruly fans. It has gotten better in the stadiums, probably out of fear of being barred from attending another game, but the parking lots are pure chaos. I loved it! Yes, Eagles fans threw snowballs at a Santa Claus, but there is a backstory behind it. There had been a big snowstorm the night before the game, it was really cold, and the Santa that they hired for halftime cancelled due the weather. There was a big float with eight fiberglass reindeer, Eagles cheerleaders at elves, and a marching band, but no Santa. Someone working for the Eagles spotted a guy in the stands dressed badly as Santa and had him perform. They picked a drunk 20 year old, named Frank Olivo, in a shabby, sort-of Santa costume to act as Santa. Well, the float got stuck, so Olivo was essentially shoved out on to the field with an equipment bag full of wet towels and no idea what to do. The Eagles were losing the game and then they send some goofy kid out there, with nothing to do, people are gonna get mad. Even Olivo understood why people were pissed, but he did yell at one fan, "you're not getting anything for Christmas!" In later years, Frank Olivo became a beloved figure in Eagles lore, even returning as Santa in 2009. However, fans are prohibited from dressing as Santa when it snows now. Eagles fans are passionate and a little obnoxious, but they are fiercely loyal, even when the team sucks. No one likes us and we don't care.
This movie shows so much perseverance. His wife at the time wasn't a rider. She left to try and find something better. He made it better for himself. She missed out. Wish we could've seen her reaction. But its even better that they didn't mention her anymore after that.
They are showing a CGI of the Veterans Stadium that was imploded only months before the movie was green lit so the director was saddened to realize all the amazing shots he missed out on by mere months. The actual filming was at the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field. (Home of the Penn Relays and the Eagles home before the vet. Hence the track)
They filmed portions of this down the street from me! Walking home from the subway after work one night, Passyunk Avenue was filled with vintage cars in preparation for one of the scenes. Shortly after, they were filming "Rocky Balboa," and a few years later, "Creed"! Good times!
This was a fun movie but it definitely takes some liberties. Vince Papale played pro football in the World Football League for the Philadelphia Bell for two years. He was a special teams standout. His play for the Bell earned him a private workout with the Eagles. He did sign as a 30 year old rookie in the NFL, though.
I love this movie so much. I'm an Eagles fan. Down to the tattoo on my leg. And Vince Papale means so much to this team even today. As does Dick Vermeil. Such a great great man. Also hating the Cowbums is in our blood. I truly can't stand that team. Amber your brother is a smart man! Another great football movie that involves the Eagles is Silver Linings Playbook. It stars Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. Also Robert De Niro as well.
My advice from someone who has lived very close to Philly all my life {Southern NJ}. Stay aways from Pat's and Geno's. They are way too commercial now. Instead.. talk to some people and find a local Italian restaurant {people would prob call them "dives". These smaller Italian family run places will have the best food. I wish I could give you a name right now, but I moved down towards the Jersey shore and I haven't been into Philly for a meal for some time now. Trust me, the local Italian dive places are your best bet for a really good cheesesteak. Honestly the cheesesteak in 75% about the bread. You get a great roll, you'll most likely get a great cheesesteak.
back in 1976 Veterans stadium was a multi purpose stadium, used for Football, baseball and other sports that came to the city of Philadelphia, it has since been torn down and Philadelphia has separate Football and Baseball stadiums, Lincoln Financial field for Football and Citizens Bank Park for baseball.
I saw this when I was deployed to Iraq in 2006. Made me feel closer to home even though I’m a Cowboys fan. The scene during the coin toss with the cowboys took me back to my childhood watching the Boys. Thanks for the reaction.
Such a great story and love how they shot the NFL play. So many great memories playing mud football in the rain with my local buds from our neighborhood, lifelong relationships.
Football in the 60s through early 80s was just different. When i was a kid, i grew up around several Houston oilers! Hoyle Grange' and Jr., Curly Culp, Robert Brazille, Dan Pastorini, big Mike, and others. Even Rockets players. I played backgammon once, with Rudy T, Walter Payton and Rick Barry! On a pickup schoolyard game, i was taught to shoot freethrows by the best ever, Calvin Murphy!
I'm going to show my age, but I remember watching Steve Prefontaine in the 1972 Olympics. His untimely death was really a blow to the running community. It was really fun watching your reactions to this movie. I saw it once several years ago and really enjoyed it. Still love it. I'm with you Amber, in that I love to see an underdog beat the odds by sheer grit and stick-to-itiveness. Looking forward to your next sports movie reaction. I agree with the others that Miracle is a fantastic movie based on beating impossible odds. They did what was thought to be impossible and I was lucky enough to watch it as it happened. Just an incredibly emotional game!
Great Movie! But another sports movie you may like is McFarland. Kevin Costner plays a Football Coach that loses his job and ends up coaching Cross Country in McFarland , CA . Another true story and something for both of you.
Stadium- there was no track around Veteren's Stadium, but it did have a baseball field under it. Cheesesteaks- there are a lot of good ones, but I would go with JOHN'S Roastpork & Cheesesteaks. Love the movie and music channels.😊
Great reaction guys. For folks from the greater Philadelphia area, especially for those of us who were to alive to witness these events at the time, films like Invincible and Miracle aren't just underdog sports stories: they are heroic, patriotic films. Two other films that are more than just sports movies you may like are Chariots of Fire (about Olympic runners) and Invictus (uniting post Apartheid South Africa through rugby, starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon).
This movie always makes me miss playing football as a kid. Out on a scrubby dirt field, full-contact, no pads, living our fantasies as our favorite players. It was 1985 and I was Gary Fencik for an hour or so every Saturday night. I really love when he let's his friend know at the stadium and when he asks him if he's ok, his friend replies "I'm good now." It's such a simple statement but shows the depth of their friendship.
Amber, if you like underdog stories “Seabiscuit” from 2003 is for you! Also based on a true story about a n undersized race horse. Not just an underdog story, it has soo much more like this movie had. You’ll both love it!
When you guys come to Philly the best cheesesteak can actually be found just across the bridge in Camden NJ at Donkey's Place. But if you stay in Philly proper then D'Alessandro's and Angelo's are excellent choices as well.
Without limits is a great movie about prefontaine, also running brave is another great runner movie about Billy Mills a Lakota who went to the olympics. Lots of great sports movies out there, can't wait to see more.
Great reaction to a great movie! 19:09 I always like seeing one of my favorite Eagles represented right here, Harold Carmichael #17 the 6'8" giant who played WR for 13 seasons with the Eagles and made the HoF in 2020. I wasn't really an Eagles fan as a kid, but my friend Tommy was a huge fan so I became a fan and learned a lot about the team when we were kids in the 70s. Harold Carmichael was probably my favorite of them all. 🙂 "Centers are super smart." That's very true. And, if you noticed, the center was reading Trinity by Leon Uris (which was a new release in 1976, the year this movie was set in, as I recall), which is a novel based on actual events in the history of Ireland and is NOT an easy read from what I know. I also loved how the first two guys to congratulate Vince after the touchdown was #53, the center, and #57 who Amber thought was crazy earlier. 😀 A great story about a working class guy managed to have a three year NFL career at 30 and become a legend in his city. Even if the real story was dramatized for the movie, the core of it is still true.
We Philadelphians take a lot of cr@p from people but we are really full of passion and heart and grit, and we are loaded with underdog stories. That’s what makes us special. ❤
@Rob Squad Movie Reactions THANK YOU! For reacting to this movie there is only one other reaction on YT to this film. It's such a great film, you guys are the best!
One of the best sports movies ever is Hoosiers starring Gene Hackman. A true story, more or less, about a small Indiana high school basketball team and their pursuit of the state championship.
Great movie for sure. I hadn't seen it in a long while. Greg Kinnear played, Dick Vermeil. You may remember him for his portrayal of the medivac helicopter pilot in "We Were Once Soldiers" with Mel Gibson. Another movie to consider watching that is with this sports theme based on a true story is, "The Rookie".
So, if you love sports movies, would you guys please react to Miracle? It's probably my favorite sports movie of all time, and I'm not even a hockey fan.
I have a clear memory of playing frozen field football with a bunch of kids when we were teens. I also remember waking the next morning unable to reach over and turn off the alarm, or move at all for that matter. This movie is as inspirational as RUDY.
A great old sports movie you guys should check out is “The Fish that saved Pittsburgh” from @1979. Stars Dr J (Julius Erving) and Jonathan Winters. I saw it in the movie theater as a kid and is still one of my all time favs
You made my night with this one!! I recommended this from the very beginning of your movie channel. Being that I'm a Philly gal born and raised. I'm a die hard Eagles fan!!!! I have met Vince Papale numerous times and have his autograph. He is so sweet! GO BIRDS!! 🏈🦅💚 Yes, were kinda brutal. Especially With the Cowgirls .. We threw snowballs at Santa. 😅 Smh
As far as cheesesteaks in Philly go stay away from the two tourist traps Geno's and Pat's those are barely average. Personally I'd go with Dalessandros, Woodrow's, or Chubby's. There used to be a food truck that had the best ones I ever found in Philly but it's been so long I can't remember the name.
I was impressed with Amber's instantaneous recognition of Jim Croce. My mom was in high school and college in the late 60s and early 70s, so I know music of that era better than my own. People my age and younger (you two) usually don't seem to know that kind of music, so it was refreshing to see.
Next up : watch "Goon" the original one. So funny and good!!! ❤ Yall! You keep my husband company while he's suffering from injuries and illness. Thank you for what you do, and keeping good music and movies alive.
Did you guys react to "Remember the Titans?" Denzel Washington stars in it and it's about H,S. football. So good. Also, the Junction Boys. Thats about Bear Bryant before he went to Alabama. Tom Barringer from Platoon plat bear and thats another real good movie. From about 14 until my early thirties, we would play pick up, tackle football Sunday Morning before the 1:00Pm game. I was 15 at the time this movie took place. Giants fans HATE the EAGLES. by the way, the Giants sucked in 1975. Then go to the bar when we were old enough and watch the 1Pm and 4pm games. 18 was the drinking age then. We live on Long Island but sometimes we would go to Central Park and play just because it was cool to do it. Then hang out in the city all day. So much fun. We always had a big game on Thanksgiving as well. Up until our late 20's we would usually get 20- 30 guys. Starting at about 25, a bunch of us would go to an away Giant game each year. Hotel for three nights. No wives and Gf's. But after that it slowly dwindle down to nothing. The last year I played I was 32 and I think we had 10-12 guys total. Wives, the great bro killers. LOL. Starting in our late 20's, most of us played in softball and or baseball leagues too or instead because it was safer. And the bars would sponsor teams and that meant discounts on beer. Several years, 5 or 6, our team was good enough that a topless bar sponsored us. That was like the Holy Grail of all things. Not only did we get discounts at the topless bar and were encouraged by the girls working their to go. But a few times a year, some of the girls came to watch us play as well. Talk about Glory Days. LOL. But I played baseball/softball since forever. Like 7 or 8 organized. That was fun too and it was from April till the end of August. So longer. But just not as much fun.
Miracle is another great movie based on a true story of the ultimate underdog story. Also, Little Giants is a football underdog story that is so cute and hilarious!
Angels in the Outfield was always one of my top favorite sports movies. Pulls all the strings you’d want from a movie. You should put that one on the list of films to watch
This reminds me of the NFL player's strike in 1974 from July 1 - August 10, so the entire preseason roster was walk-on rookies from open tryouts. I was 20 and fantasized about being a Lion for a moment and then remembered my lack of talent while playing ball in high school. I excelled instead at wrestling in the 167 weight class. I live in Kansas City now. We have a pretty good team, lol.
Have you all seen The Replacements? it's a comedy football movie, great fun movie: The movie was loosely based on the 1987 NFL strike, specifically the Washington Redskins, who won all three replacement games without any of their regular players and went on to win Super Bowl XXII. Though the film is a story of the replacement players, the Falco-Martel quarterback controversy is quite similar to the one in the post-strike Washington controversy between Doug Williams and Jay Schroeder.
"Prefontaine" (1997) and "Without Limits" (1998) are both Steve Prefontaine movies which Amber surely must have seen one of, but maybe not both. And then another true underdog running story is the story of native American Billy Mills, an Oglala Sioux, who still stands alone as the only American to win the Olympic gold medal at the 10,000 meter distance (Tokyo Olympics 1964)-- the movie from 1983, "Running Brave". Thumbs up!
This was great. I remember watching it back in the day. But I agree with a previous commenter that 'Miracle' is one of the best true story sports movie that I've ever seen portrayed on screen. Would be GREAT to see you guys react to it. ❤
I did some research before I visited Philly for the best spots to snag a cheesesteak. Seemed like the best options were John's Roast Pork, Jim's South Street, or Tony Lukes. I ended up trying John's Roast Pork, and holy shit was it good. The Roask Pork sando was insane as well. Only other place I tried while I was there was Woodrows, and it was awesome, but its a fancier cheesesteak, so only go if you want something upscale and a bit pricier.
While our pick up football games never were purposely that violent, I did accidently break the wrist of my roommate (he ran into me putting his hands up to stop) and dislocate the jaw of my cousin when we both went for a fumble. So it's close to accurate.
I watched both the Dallas and NY games on tv back then. Totally was a big Randy White fan. He’d recently gone to Dallas out of Maryland. When he hit papale I had no idea who Vince was but I remember yelling at the tv. ‘Welcome to the NFL’ when white annihilated papale! Ha! But I also was yelling at the tv when the eagles decided to punt in the giants game. I cussed all the way til Papale caused that fumble!!! Wish I had known his story back then. Wow!
As a long time Ravens fan, I rooted so hard for the Eagles at this past year's Super Bowl. They have been pretty dominant this year & that's saying a lot about how far their franchise & entire organization has come.
Eagles have had a lot of great teams but have a history of failing at the last hurdle. Dick Vermeil the head coach in the film took them to the superpower in 1980, lost to the Raiders. Lost the superbowl with TO and McNabb in 2005 and had some great teams under Buddy Ryan but had terrible injury luck. Cunningham missed 2 full seasons with knee injuries when they had the best defense in football. Made the playoffs with a 3rd string QB 1 year.
But the VET had theater seating type chairs that folded down, not bleachers. BTW,I love movie sooooo much, I must have seem it 100 times. At the end, not ashamed to say that I cry and cry and cry. I mean the soundtrack, I know the words to every song they used. Kirk Acevedo is one of my favorite character actors and Elizabeth Banks is so beautiful.
Mark Wahlberg Started in a boyband New kids on the block, but left before their breakthrough "Tonight" is a fun song, later on Mark returned to music as the rapper Marky Mark - "United" was a bit of a hit in the Netherlands. As for movies: done quite a few, but "The perfect storm" is a real gem. Elizabeth Banks (Janet) also in "The hunger games" movies, "Walk of shame", "Movie 43", "Zack and Miri make a porno"
I took Food Safety Certification training at Penn State. We watched a video of health inspectors checking out Pat's and Geno's (the two biggest cheesesteak places in Philly) and some of the people in our class vomited when they inspected their fridges. Both places were closed until they cleaned out the congealed fat that lined the fridge and all the rats congregating under the grease traps. The best cheesesteaks in Pennsylvania (tours all the county fairs) is Vince's cheesesteaks from Allentown (HQ).
Eagle fans pelted Santa with snowballs. This is how the neighborhood boys and me played football in our backyards. No pads and full tackle. We beat the hell outta each other.
The greatest true sports film is "Miracle" about the 1980 US Olympic hockey team. I challenge you not to cry.
We all watched that! That was the greatest miracle!
Brian's Song does it for me
They did a reaction too "Miracle" a couple days ago. Just saying! Good on you man! Such a good film!
“Miracle” with Kurt Russell is my favorite sports movie by far. And a true story I remember well.
Me too. It was much more than a hockey game
100%
There's nothing like living those days!
...but: for all of those unable to: Miracle is about as close as you can get.
Truly: Magic and Brilliance.
...When unity and trust MEANT something! 🤘🤘
Yeah I've been dying for them to react to Miracle.
I was 11 or 12 when they went to the Olympics and I was in my room downstairs and I remember my 3 brothers and my Dad just started screaming and pounding on the floor which scared the c*** out of me at the time and then I ran up to see what all the commotion was about. I watched the rest of the game with them and the ones that followed. It's one of my favorite memories of my family in childhood.
Veterans Stadium had been torn down by the time they made this movie so they used U. Penn’s Franklin Field as a stand in and digitally recreated the upper decks and outside of Veterans Stadium. Because it’s a college stadium, that’s why there’s a race track around the field. The ironic thing is Franklin Field is where the Eagles played before Veterans Stadium had opened.
As a lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan, this movie holds a special place in everyone's heart here in the city.
Great reaction, and thank you.
In real life, Vince Papale went to college on a track and field scholarship and played 2 seasons with the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League. When the WFL folded in 1975, that's when he got a tryout with the Eagles.
Have you seen “Money Ball”? It’s a true story about the Oakland A’s. Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill are phenomenal!!! They both won Oscars and it won for best picture as well.
Don't forget Chris Pratt. Ha
Thats my favorite movie of all time/ despite not being a baseball fan so much. How could you not be romantic about baseball 💟💟
They did not win oscars bro.. nominated.. yes.
Moneyball*
One word.
Great movie.
"Pete, you're a good egg."
Great movie! Amber since you ran cross country you both should watch "McFarland, USA". A true story of a cross country team from California. Kevin Costner stars as the track coach.
There are so many Philly Easter eggs packed into this movie. For example: The fan in the cape trying out for the team is the present owner of Tony Luke's, one of the signature cheesesteak restaurants in Philly.
The guy with the cape is Tony Luke. He owns a hoagie and cheese steak shop in Philly called Tony Luke's. He also starred in a low budget movie the Nail. My dad has a small part in it.
That was Veterans Stadium, aka "The Vet"
Was all purpose, baseball, football, college track & field, other events like monster trucks, etc. Cheapest seats were way up near the top, the "nosebleed" section😉
They depict the fan base accurately.
Going to a road game in Philadelphia isn’t as horrible as it once was but you still to realize you’re going to get chirped at with some “mustard”.
Bull Durham, Tin Cup, The Rookie, Major League, Friday Night Lights., and Mystery, Alaska. These are sports movies we watch over and over!
Two fun football movies with somewhat similar vibes are "The Replacements" starring Keanu Reeves but with a really solid ensemble cast including Gene Hackman as the coach, and "Necessary Roughness" starring Scott Bakula (the "Quantum Leap" guy). I definitely recommend both.
For non-football, "The Cutting Edge" is a good one, as is "Cool Runnings".
Love those movies!!
And The Replacements was "loosely" based on the 1987 strike season, which Amber's great uncle was a ref during.
Agreed, you’ll love the replacements
Add Major League to the list of fun underdog teams
The scene of the little kid wearing a home made Papale jersey was actually Vince's son and his daughter was the quarterback in the schoolyard
The Phillies also played at Veteran Stadium, so that may have been the warning track that you saw, From far away it looks like a running track!
As for South Philly, this was the late 70s, and also when the movie Rocky came out. So there were constant comparisons of Papale to Balboa. Vince Papale was the real Philly underdog.
One of my favorites! For me it's not just about sports, but more the human spirit. Finding that something deep down inside that fuels and focuses you.
This movie does that in an elegant understated way and I come back to it when I need that little extra when dealing with life's challenges.
When Vince Papale Was found then drafted it was about the same time Rocky came out. Many people of Philly think of Papale as thier Rocky.
I am from South Jersey & we root for the 🦅. I remember when Dick Vermeil started as a coach when I was a kid. We still 💕 Dick & Vince around here. I remember old Veterans Stadium Amber & it was huge. We use to always have nosebleed seats all the way @ the top & I use to like to count how many 🍺 beers others were drinking 😅 . Jay I heard old NFL players say Veterans Stadium was their least favorite stadium to play @ because the concrete playing field was brutal along with Eagles fans. 😂 Fly Eagles fly.
The stadium was the old Veterans Stadium. The Eagles and the Phillies played there
The part of Veterans Stadium was played By Franklin Field. That is why there is a track around the field and bench seats. Veterans Stadium was imploded before they started filming. Good catch on that Jay.
Dick Vermeil is still with us at 87 and he could probably still teach some people how to coach.
Dick Vermeil also had two good years as the head coach at UCLA. The Bruins went 9-2-1 in 1975 and upset number one ranked Ohio State in the 1976 Rose Bowl.
@@KingsFanForever He may have beat my Buckeyes but i'm still a fan.
Never saw a coach more committed to his players.
The Opening Song. Yes it's Jim Croce. There is a connection. Jim was from Philly and had just died in a plane crash when the events in the film took place. Being from the Philly area I remember all of it. I was 21 that year. 🙂
Answering April's question about open practices. The Eagles had traded away both their First and Second round draft picks. The Eagles wouldn't have those draft picks for another 3 years when Vermeil took over in 1976. So Vermeil called for open tryouts to create interest and find talent.
Cheese steak. To be fair there are many pizza places that make a good sandwich. But the Mecca for visitors has to be south Philly where Pat's and Geno's are. Gotta order it with fried onions 🙂Just Google Pat's Cheesesteaks
Jim Croce died in 1973. Vince Papale took place in 1976.
True! If we are going to pick nits than Jim died in September of 73 and Dick was hired in the spring of 76. 2 and a half years. The song was not released until after Jim's death and remained on the charts for over a year. So it was still quite popular in the spring of 76 when the film starts. Also Springsteen was just gaining national attention, Rick Wakeman was on tour for his Journey To The Center of The Earth album, the Steelers were starting their 4 SB's in 6 years run and Nixon had just resigned. Ford was President after replacing Spiro Agnew as VP and then Nixon as President. Carter was elected in the fall of 76 but didn't take office until January of 77.
Forget Gino’s or Pat’s. D’Alessadro’s or Chubby’s in Roxborough are better than those tourist traps.
Don't forget Ishkabibble's on South.
Geno's and Pat's are mediocre. So many better places.
I used to be a security guard at Veterans Stadium, the Spectrum, Wells Fargo Center, Lincoln Financial Field, and Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia and Eagles fans are a unique breed. They really used to be monsters, so much so that a holding cell and judge were set up in the underbelly of The Vet, for unruly fans. It has gotten better in the stadiums, probably out of fear of being barred from attending another game, but the parking lots are pure chaos. I loved it!
Yes, Eagles fans threw snowballs at a Santa Claus, but there is a backstory behind it. There had been a big snowstorm the night before the game, it was really cold, and the Santa that they hired for halftime cancelled due the weather. There was a big float with eight fiberglass reindeer, Eagles cheerleaders at elves, and a marching band, but no Santa. Someone working for the Eagles spotted a guy in the stands dressed badly as Santa and had him perform. They picked a drunk 20 year old, named Frank Olivo, in a shabby, sort-of Santa costume to act as Santa.
Well, the float got stuck, so Olivo was essentially shoved out on to the field with an equipment bag full of wet towels and no idea what to do. The Eagles were losing the game and then they send some goofy kid out there, with nothing to do, people are gonna get mad. Even Olivo understood why people were pissed, but he did yell at one fan, "you're not getting anything for Christmas!"
In later years, Frank Olivo became a beloved figure in Eagles lore, even returning as Santa in 2009. However, fans are prohibited from dressing as Santa when it snows now.
Eagles fans are passionate and a little obnoxious, but they are fiercely loyal, even when the team sucks. No one likes us and we don't care.
This movie shows so much perseverance. His wife at the time wasn't a rider. She left to try and find something better. He made it better for himself. She missed out. Wish we could've seen her reaction. But its even better that they didn't mention her anymore after that.
They are showing a CGI of the Veterans Stadium that was imploded only months before the movie was green lit so the director was saddened to realize all the amazing shots he missed out on by mere months. The actual filming was at the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field. (Home of the Penn Relays and the Eagles home before the vet. Hence the track)
They filmed portions of this down the street from me! Walking home from the subway after work one night, Passyunk Avenue was filled with vintage cars in preparation for one of the scenes.
Shortly after, they were filming "Rocky Balboa," and a few years later, "Creed"! Good times!
This was a fun movie but it definitely takes some liberties. Vince Papale played pro football in the World Football League for the Philadelphia Bell for two years. He was a special teams standout. His play for the Bell earned him a private workout with the Eagles. He did sign as a 30 year old rookie in the NFL, though.
I love this movie so much. I'm an Eagles fan. Down to the tattoo on my leg. And Vince Papale means so much to this team even today. As does Dick Vermeil. Such a great great man. Also hating the Cowbums is in our blood. I truly can't stand that team. Amber your brother is a smart man! Another great football movie that involves the Eagles is Silver Linings Playbook. It stars Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. Also Robert De Niro as well.
Agree on Silver Linings Playbook, but more of romcom/drama sports theme based on the Eagles. It is a good movie to react too.
dont forget the other eagles movie starring Tony Danza the garbage picking field goal kicking philadelphia phenomenon.
Would be nice if you pause it when talking. You lose so much!!!
I’m sorry. You don’t get to see hardly any of the movie. Too much conversation.
My advice from someone who has lived very close to Philly all my life {Southern NJ}. Stay aways from Pat's and Geno's. They are way too commercial now. Instead.. talk to some people and find a local Italian restaurant {people would prob call them "dives". These smaller Italian family run places will have the best food. I wish I could give you a name right now, but I moved down towards the Jersey shore and I haven't been into Philly for a meal for some time now. Trust me, the local Italian dive places are your best bet for a really good cheesesteak. Honestly the cheesesteak in 75% about the bread. You get a great roll, you'll most likely get a great cheesesteak.
I am an Eagles fan, born and raised 30 miles west of Philly, we are every bit that crazy and then some
back in 1976 Veterans stadium was a multi purpose stadium, used for Football, baseball and other sports that came to the city of Philadelphia, it has since been torn down and Philadelphia has separate Football and Baseball stadiums, Lincoln Financial field for Football and Citizens Bank Park for baseball.
The Song is "I've got a Name " by Jim Croce. You've listened to Croce before, so that's why the voice sounds familiar.
I saw this when I was deployed to Iraq in 2006. Made me feel closer to home even though I’m a Cowboys fan. The scene during the coin toss with the cowboys took me back to my childhood watching the Boys. Thanks for the reaction.
As for the sports cinemaphotography, this is some of Mark Ellis' best work. I now look for sports movies with him in the credits.
Such a great story and love how they shot the NFL play. So many great memories playing mud football in the rain with my local buds from our neighborhood, lifelong relationships.
Football in the 60s through early 80s was just different. When i was a kid, i grew up around several Houston oilers! Hoyle Grange' and Jr., Curly Culp, Robert Brazille, Dan Pastorini, big Mike, and others. Even Rockets players. I played backgammon once, with Rudy T, Walter Payton and Rick Barry! On a pickup schoolyard game, i was taught to shoot freethrows by the best ever, Calvin Murphy!
I'm going to show my age, but I remember watching Steve Prefontaine in the 1972 Olympics. His untimely death was really a blow to the running community. It was really fun watching your reactions to this movie. I saw it once several years ago and really enjoyed it. Still love it. I'm with you Amber, in that I love to see an underdog beat the odds by sheer grit and stick-to-itiveness. Looking forward to your next sports movie reaction. I agree with the others that Miracle is a fantastic movie based on beating impossible odds. They did what was thought to be impossible and I was lucky enough to watch it as it happened. Just an incredibly emotional game!
I was just in Philly to see my brother and it is a beautiful town if you wanna go to visit. There is plenty of stuff to do👍🏼
Great Movie! But another sports movie you may like is McFarland. Kevin Costner plays a Football Coach that loses his job and ends up coaching Cross Country in McFarland , CA . Another true story and something for both of you.
Stadium- there was no track around Veteren's Stadium, but it did have a baseball field under it.
Cheesesteaks- there are a lot of good ones, but I would go with JOHN'S Roastpork & Cheesesteaks.
Love the movie and music channels.😊
As a life long Cowboys fan it is hard for me to admit that I really like this movie but it is one of my favorite sports movie
The coaches name is Greg Kinnear, was not the pastor/dad on 7th Heaven, Stephen Collins was the pastor/dad. Greg starred in Is Heaven for Real.
Great reaction guys. For folks from the greater Philadelphia area, especially for those of us who were to alive to witness these events at the time, films like Invincible and Miracle aren't just underdog sports stories: they are heroic, patriotic films.
Two other films that are more than just sports movies you may like are Chariots of Fire (about Olympic runners) and Invictus (uniting post Apartheid South Africa through rugby, starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon).
My favorite movie… ❤ such a badass capture! I loved your reactions.. thank you! 🙏🏽
This movie always makes me miss playing football as a kid. Out on a scrubby dirt field, full-contact, no pads, living our fantasies as our favorite players. It was 1985 and I was Gary Fencik for an hour or so every Saturday night. I really love when he let's his friend know at the stadium and when he asks him if he's ok, his friend replies "I'm good now." It's such a simple statement but shows the depth of their friendship.
Any Given Sunday has about the best inspirational speech of any sports movie out there. Unbelievable cast as well.
Steaming Willie Beaman
My fellow church members here in Eagles country had to learn grace when we found out our new pastor was a Cowboys fan😣
Trust everyone Amber, nobody needs a man wearing a cape on the team 😂😂
"Was this when the Cowboys were good? When people STILL talk about?" LOL that comment had me lol, thank you. Go Birds
Jim Croce is singing the opening song.
Amber, if you like underdog stories “Seabiscuit” from 2003 is for you! Also based on a true story about a n undersized race horse. Not just an underdog story, it has soo much more like this movie had. You’ll both love it!
Great recommendation
Good recommendation. And Elixabeth Banks stars in that movie too.
Such a great movie, another in that vein, though from a different angle is secretariat, both stories are amazing, both still make me cry.
Yes! I was a crowd extra in that movie it was such a fun time watching the filming of the big race!
@@christinehorror8178 I bet! Sounds fun!
When you guys come to Philly the best cheesesteak can actually be found just across the bridge in Camden NJ at Donkey's Place.
But if you stay in Philly proper then D'Alessandro's and Angelo's are excellent choices as well.
The way Amber reacted to Mark Wahlburg, I really want to see her watch Boogie Nights. Just don't tell them what it's about.😂
Without limits is a great movie about prefontaine, also running brave is another great runner movie about Billy Mills a Lakota who went to the olympics. Lots of great sports movies out there, can't wait to see more.
Great reaction to a great movie!
19:09 I always like seeing one of my favorite Eagles represented right here, Harold Carmichael #17 the 6'8" giant who played WR for 13 seasons with the Eagles and made the HoF in 2020. I wasn't really an Eagles fan as a kid, but my friend Tommy was a huge fan so I became a fan and learned a lot about the team when we were kids in the 70s. Harold Carmichael was probably my favorite of them all. 🙂
"Centers are super smart." That's very true. And, if you noticed, the center was reading Trinity by Leon Uris (which was a new release in 1976, the year this movie was set in, as I recall), which is a novel based on actual events in the history of Ireland and is NOT an easy read from what I know.
I also loved how the first two guys to congratulate Vince after the touchdown was #53, the center, and #57 who Amber thought was crazy earlier. 😀
A great story about a working class guy managed to have a three year NFL career at 30 and become a legend in his city. Even if the real story was dramatized for the movie, the core of it is still true.
Little info fou you... When vence was gong to run his 4.5 race in his try out, the real vence was in the back round in a number 56 Jersey..
We Philadelphians take a lot of cr@p from people but we are really full of passion and heart and grit, and we are loaded with underdog stories. That’s what makes us special. ❤
@Rob Squad Movie Reactions THANK YOU! For reacting to this movie there is only one other reaction on YT to this film. It's such a great film, you guys are the best!
One of the best sports movies ever is Hoosiers starring Gene Hackman. A true story, more or less, about a small Indiana high school basketball team and their pursuit of the state championship.
Absolutely! A great movie with the underdog story line.
Great movie for sure. I hadn't seen it in a long while. Greg Kinnear played, Dick Vermeil. You may remember him for his portrayal of the medivac helicopter pilot in "We Were Once Soldiers" with Mel Gibson. Another movie to consider watching that is with this sports theme based on a true story is, "The Rookie".
So, if you love sports movies, would you guys please react to Miracle? It's probably my favorite sports movie of all time, and I'm not even a hockey fan.
I have a clear memory of playing frozen field football with a bunch of kids when we were teens. I also remember waking the next morning unable to reach over and turn off the alarm, or move at all for that matter. This movie is as inspirational as RUDY.
It’s pretty hard to imagine someone just walking on to an NFL squad. It’s amazing he did that
A great old sports movie you guys should check out is “The Fish that saved Pittsburgh” from @1979. Stars Dr J (Julius Erving) and Jonathan Winters. I saw it in the movie theater as a kid and is still one of my all time favs
You made my night with this one!! I recommended this from the very beginning of your movie channel. Being that I'm a Philly gal born and raised. I'm a die hard Eagles fan!!!! I have met Vince Papale numerous times and have his autograph. He is so sweet! GO BIRDS!! 🏈🦅💚
Yes, were kinda brutal. Especially With the Cowgirls .. We threw snowballs at Santa. 😅 Smh
Awesome reaction love this movie much love coming from Philadelphia best cheesesteak in Philadelphia is At Johns roast pork!!!! Hands down
As far as cheesesteaks in Philly go stay away from the two tourist traps Geno's and Pat's those are barely average. Personally I'd go with Dalessandros, Woodrow's, or Chubby's. There used to be a food truck that had the best ones I ever found in Philly but it's been so long I can't remember the name.
Coach Carter is probably my favorite sports movie!
24:47- I'm not even from Philly and I know you're starting a war here. lol
I was impressed with Amber's instantaneous recognition of Jim Croce. My mom was in high school and college in the late 60s and early 70s, so I know music of that era better than my own. People my age and younger (you two) usually don't seem to know that kind of music, so it was refreshing to see.
Next up : watch "Goon" the original one. So funny and good!!!
❤ Yall! You keep my husband company while he's suffering from injuries and illness. Thank you for what you do, and keeping good music and movies alive.
Did you guys react to "Remember the Titans?" Denzel Washington stars in it and it's about H,S. football. So good. Also, the Junction Boys. Thats about Bear Bryant before he went to Alabama. Tom Barringer from Platoon plat bear and thats another real good movie.
From about 14 until my early thirties, we would play pick up, tackle football Sunday Morning before the 1:00Pm game. I was 15 at the time this movie took place. Giants fans HATE the EAGLES. by the way, the Giants sucked in 1975. Then go to the bar when we were old enough and watch the 1Pm and 4pm games. 18 was the drinking age then. We live on Long Island but sometimes we would go to Central Park and play just because it was cool to do it. Then hang out in the city all day. So much fun. We always had a big game on Thanksgiving as well. Up until our late 20's we would usually get 20- 30 guys. Starting at about 25, a bunch of us would go to an away Giant game each year. Hotel for three nights. No wives and Gf's. But after that it slowly dwindle down to nothing. The last year I played I was 32 and I think we had 10-12 guys total. Wives, the great bro killers. LOL. Starting in our late 20's, most of us played in softball and or baseball leagues too or instead because it was safer. And the bars would sponsor teams and that meant discounts on beer. Several years, 5 or 6, our team was good enough that a topless bar sponsored us. That was like the Holy Grail of all things. Not only did we get discounts at the topless bar and were encouraged by the girls working their to go. But a few times a year, some of the girls came to watch us play as well. Talk about Glory Days. LOL. But I played baseball/softball since forever. Like 7 or 8 organized. That was fun too and it was from April till the end of August. So longer. But just not as much fun.
Greg Kinnear played the coach. He was also in "As Good As It Gets" with Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt.
I liked him as Snake Shit in We We're Soldiers.
You guys would LOVE "Replacements" with Keanu Reeves! Fantastic sports comedy "feel good " movie!
Without Limits (1998) is about Steve Prefontaine, another good flick
Ive been asking you guys for months to watch this movie...so glad you did and just really glad you liked it as much as I did...wonderful movie.
Miracle is another great movie based on a true story of the ultimate underdog story. Also, Little Giants is a football underdog story that is so cute and hilarious!
Angels in the Outfield was always one of my top favorite sports movies.
Pulls all the strings you’d want from a movie. You should put that one on the list of films to watch
Miracle is a great story about US hockey team beating the dominant Russian hockey team. Recommend it.
A couple of great horse racing movies to see are ❤Secretariat and ❤ Seabiscuit, both are great!! 🐎
LOL "READ THE ROOM JOHNNY" LOL LINE OF THE MOVIE.
As far as cheese steaks go , everyone will say either Pats or Genos, but you should try Tony Lukes cheese steaks as well.
This reminds me of the NFL player's strike in 1974 from July 1 - August 10, so the entire preseason roster was walk-on rookies from open tryouts. I was 20 and fantasized about being a Lion for a moment and then remembered my lack of talent while playing ball in high school. I excelled instead at wrestling in the 167 weight class. I live in Kansas City now. We have a pretty good team, lol.
Have you all seen The Replacements? it's a comedy football movie, great fun movie: The movie was loosely based on the 1987 NFL strike, specifically the Washington Redskins, who won all three replacement games without any of their regular players and went on to win Super Bowl XXII. Though the film is a story of the replacement players, the Falco-Martel quarterback controversy is quite similar to the one in the post-strike Washington controversy between Doug Williams and Jay Schroeder.
Football Movies.
1. We Are Marshall. 2. Remember The Titans. 3. Facing The Giants. 4. When The Game Stands Tall. 5. Friday Night Lights.
Draft Day.
"Prefontaine" (1997) and "Without Limits" (1998) are both Steve Prefontaine movies which Amber surely must have seen one of, but maybe not both. And then another true underdog running story is the story of native American Billy Mills, an Oglala Sioux, who still stands alone as the only American to win the Olympic gold medal at the 10,000 meter distance (Tokyo Olympics 1964)-- the movie from 1983, "Running Brave". Thumbs up!
Running Brave is an absolute favorite!
This was great. I remember watching it back in the day. But I agree with a previous commenter
that 'Miracle' is one of the best true story sports movie that I've ever seen portrayed on screen. Would be GREAT to see you guys react to it. ❤
The Rookie starring Dennis Quaid, keep the sports true stories coming.
Glory Road (Basketball Movie) was very good too! From the same Disney Studios which made it.
You definitely need to watch "Cinderella Man," with Russell Crow. Another Great true story!
I did some research before I visited Philly for the best spots to snag a cheesesteak. Seemed like the best options were John's Roast Pork, Jim's South Street, or Tony Lukes. I ended up trying John's Roast Pork, and holy shit was it good. The Roask Pork sando was insane as well. Only other place I tried while I was there was Woodrows, and it was awesome, but its a fancier cheesesteak, so only go if you want something upscale and a bit pricier.
While our pick up football games never were purposely that violent, I did accidently break the wrist of my roommate (he ran into me putting his hands up to stop) and dislocate the jaw of my cousin when we both went for a fumble. So it's close to accurate.
WRITE A NOTE! BURT REYNOLDS "THE LONGEST YARD" 1974!
Hey Jay and Amber! Speaking of the Giants...check out the movie Facing The Giants...Produced and Directed by the Kendrick brothers.
I watched both the Dallas and NY games on tv back then. Totally was a big Randy White fan. He’d recently gone to Dallas out of Maryland. When he hit papale I had no idea who Vince was but I remember yelling at the tv. ‘Welcome to the NFL’ when white annihilated papale! Ha! But I also was yelling at the tv when the eagles decided to punt in the giants game. I cussed all the way til Papale caused that fumble!!! Wish I had known his story back then. Wow!
As a long time Ravens fan, I rooted so hard for the Eagles at this past year's Super Bowl. They have been pretty dominant this year & that's saying a lot about how far their franchise & entire organization has come.
Eagles have had a lot of great teams but have a history of failing at the last hurdle. Dick Vermeil the head coach in the film took them to the superpower in 1980, lost to the Raiders. Lost the superbowl with TO and McNabb in 2005 and had some great teams under Buddy Ryan but had terrible injury luck. Cunningham missed 2 full seasons with knee injuries when they had the best defense in football. Made the playoffs with a 3rd string QB 1 year.
@@russellward4624 And after all that... Look what happened at Super Bowl 52
@vodoumyers like I said. Theyve got a history of failing at the final hurdle.
But the VET had theater seating type chairs that folded down, not bleachers. BTW,I love movie sooooo much, I must have seem it 100 times. At the end, not ashamed to say that I cry and cry and cry. I mean the soundtrack, I know the words to every song they used. Kirk Acevedo is one of my favorite character actors and Elizabeth Banks is so beautiful.
Mark Wahlberg Started in a boyband New kids on the block, but left before their breakthrough "Tonight" is a fun song, later on Mark returned to music as the rapper Marky Mark - "United" was a bit of a hit in the Netherlands.
As for movies: done quite a few, but "The perfect storm" is a real gem.
Elizabeth Banks (Janet) also in "The hunger games" movies, "Walk of shame", "Movie 43", "Zack and Miri make a porno"
Banks was also in Seabiscuit, a great movie.
I took Food Safety Certification training at Penn State. We watched a video of health inspectors checking out Pat's and Geno's (the two biggest cheesesteak places in Philly) and some of the people in our class vomited when they inspected their fridges. Both places were closed until they cleaned out the congealed fat that lined the fridge and all the rats congregating under the grease traps. The best cheesesteaks in Pennsylvania (tours all the county fairs) is Vince's cheesesteaks from Allentown (HQ).