Posted on Wed, Sep. 10, 2003
at Philly.com
Stallone
at the Linc was an Eagles surprise
The Eagles' most effective
stealth play Monday was the one that brought actor Sylvester
Stallone to pump up the crowd for the Eagles' first
regular-season game at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Eagles learned last
month that ABC, which televises the Monday night games,
was planning to air a video promo featuring Stallone.
Team officials, sensing a Rocky moment, went through
ABC to ask Stallone to also come to the city he
immortalized on-screen.
"He was about to go to Europe,
but he was gung-ho about [doing] it," team president Joe
Banner said yesterday.
For years, the team has been
showing a Rocky video to end pregame festivities. As
the presentation concluded Monday, the Linc's
cameras turned to the north end zone, where Stallone,
wearing a No. 22 Duce Staley jersey, jumped and waved.
With wife Jennifer Flavin
and brother Frank, Stallone stayed in owner Jeff Lurie's
box until the game was nearly over.
The Birds put up the Stallones,
traveling in a party of seven, at the Four Seasons Hotel.
"We hid him away. We didn't want to ruin the surprise,"
Banner said.
The Stallone brothers,
however, were seen on 18th Street near Rittenhouse Square
Monday afternoon with a small entourage. They stopped at
Maron Chocolates/Scoop de Ville. While picking up ice cream
(and tipping $8 on a $12 order), Sly spotted T-shirts
reading, "Life is short... Eat dessert first," and
bought four.
The Stallones also visited
artist Perry Milou's studio/gallery, where they talked
about art and palette knives for 15 minutes. Stallone
signed one of Milou's pieces and gave him his home address.
Milou plans to send him a painting.
Thanks to Bill Eaton for
the tip!- Craig Zablo
