Record cheesesteak is all Eagles fans can savor

This article was first published on Dec. 28, 1998.

They whine. They boo. They've even thrown snowballs at Santa Claus.

Philadelphia's notoriously fickle sports fans wrapped up another dismal season yesterday, barely mustering the energy to cheer and chide the Eagles to their 13th loss of the year, a franchise record.

But fans were thankful for the world's largest cheesesteak , a record-breaking culinary creation that was assembled and served up free - courtesy of the Eagles and Quality Foods - along Pattison Avenue hours before kickoff across the street at Veterans Stadium, where the Eagles eventually lost to the Giants, 20-10.

At 365 feet, 7 inches long, the 1,790-pound cheesesteak measured just a few inches longer than a football field, earning it a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records, said Eagles spokesman Kim Babiak.

In Philadelphia, "we're known for our cheesesteaks," said Mike Paquin, 31, a toy collector from Lansdowne who showed up early and only to taste his favorite grub. "We're certainly not known for our sports teams lately."

It was an awful lot of hoopla for an otherwise unceremonious ending to an abominable year that tried the patience and understanding of fans generally not known for their charity or goodwill toward men on the field.

"I think next year, Lurie should give us a discount," said Don Villone, 44, of Springfield, Delaware County, taking a break from the second quarter of the Eagles -Giants game to catch a smoke near his seats way up in the 600 level.

Villone, a season ticket holder for 23 years, spoke regretfully of the $230 he spent for 10 tickets this season. If not for the tailgating ritual of drinking and eating in the parking lot before each game, he said, the entire season would have been an even bigger waste of time and money.

"If you buy a product at a store that's broken, don't you refund it?" Villone asked. "Well, was supposed to put a professional team on the field, and he didn't."

For the second time this season and only the third time since 1995, the Eagles failed to sell out the Vet for a game, said team spokesman Derek Boyko. The Fox television network bought all unsold tickets to avoid a TV blackout.

Shortly before the 4:15 p.m. kickoff, the stadium was only half-filled. With typical Philly flair, the few fans paying attention lazily applauded wide receiver Irving Fryar during a brief retirement ceremony before the game. Fryar, 36, who spent the last three seasons with the Eagles, is leaving after 15 years in the NFL.

Only minutes earlier, the crowd had heartily booed coach Ray Rhodes, who is likely to leave today after watching the Eagles progressively worsen during his four seasons at the helm.

Despite the doom and gloom, plenty of fans tried to be optimistic.

"It's not that we're looking for perfection," said Stan Gunn, 31, of Bristol Township, attending his third game of the season. "We just want a winner so bad. I'll tell you - anyone that wins a championship in this town, they will be immortalized."

Gunn watched with his nephew, David Vitelli, 16, of Kensington, from seats in the 200 level. He had gotten the tickets as a Christmas present.

"I feel that we're in a no-lose situation," Gunn said of the Eagles. "If we win, it's good because we beat the Giants. If we lose, we get the second pick in the draft."

They weren't holding pom-poms, but Debbye Wolfe and longtime friend Pam Andreavich were especially charitable toward their beleaguered team.

"I'm a die-hard football fan," said Wolfe, 43, a teacher from Lansdowne. "I've been one since birth."

No matter how bad the Eagles play, she said, "they're still my team. I believe in them 100 percent."

Wolfe and Andreavich have been friends for 10 years and season ticket holders in the 650 section for nine years. They had nothing but sympathy for the team.

"It is a job, after all," said Andreavich, 35, a teacher from New Castle, Del. "It's like getting yelled and screamed at by your boss, and your boss is 60,000 people."