04/25/24
April 24, 2009
High School Teams Will Play to Break Tie, 16 Years Later: Sixteen years after they played to a 7-7 tie, the players of Phillipsburg [N.J.] High School and Easton Area [Pa.] High School will be staging a rematch against their bitter rivals across the river for the coveted Fork of the Delaware -- as men now in their early 30s. Ten thousand tickets to the game Sunday were sold in 90 minutes. "When you actually run out on the field for the game and you just see that wall of people, I believe I will act 16 or 17 again," said Phillipsburg player Timmy Flynn. "The next day I think I will feel about 45 or 50."
You know, I went into those links sarcastically humming Springsteen's "Glory Days" to myself and left it thinking "right on - that's awesome."
And I totally agree with Weedy on this one. This has got to be made into a documentary or 60 Minutes segment or at the very least an episode of "This American Life."
posted by Joey Michaels at 05:59 PM on April 24, 2009
As much fun as this is, I think the actual game is going to be more comedic than epic. The players will be as slow and easily winded as a flag football beer league team.
posted by rcade at 06:50 PM on April 24, 2009
Hmmm.......haven't I seen this one already......yeah, yeah, it was called "The Best of Times" starring Robin Williams and Kurt Russell. Kinda sucky if I recall.
posted by wdminott at 06:55 PM on April 24, 2009
Go for it....you only live once!
posted by jthorpe611 at 07:06 PM on April 24, 2009
It's not the game that I expect to be good. It's just a compelling predicament.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:29 PM on April 24, 2009
The game itself doesn't actually have to be good. Indeed, if I were doing a documentary on this, I'd barely mention the game at all - maybe the final score. There's so many other potential compelling stories in this. In a way, it reminds me (and this is odd) of 'The Full Monty.' Its more about guys reclaiming some good health and positive self-image, you know?
posted by Joey Michaels at 08:58 PM on April 24, 2009
I know someone who played for one of those teams (I forget which side of the river he grew up on). He might be a little too young for this game though.
posted by goddam at 10:25 PM on April 24, 2009
I can see a whole reality TV show being built around the rematch concept. However basketball (college especially) might be a better bet for it.
posted by Newbie Walker at 12:07 AM on April 27, 2009
The halftime show Bruce Springsteen was born to do.
posted by Newbie Walker at 12:14 AM on April 27, 2009
I would love to hear the outcome of this....I remember getting together with a bunch of friends and trying to recapture our youth by playing a football game in our late twenties. The outcome....several sprains, two torn up knees and one broken leg. Basically, the lightest of us was now about at the weight that the heaviest of us used to be, after several years of sitting on our proverbial asses in office jobs (at least some of us), we were pitifully out of shape (and the beer didn't help either!). As Phillipsburg player Timmy Flynn said..."The next day I think I will feel about 45 or 50"...Try 65 or 70!
posted by R_A_Mason at 11:34 PM on May 07, 2009
Awesome. Film it! Film it! Not just a little footage on some site. I want five cameras and back stories on the key participants. This wants to be a documentary.
Also - it sounds like with the reported effects of the training program, these guys have already won.