2008 Woodie Awards
Penn's Palestra: Truly one of a kind
Michael S. Miller Jr.
Issue date: 12/7/04 Section: Athletics
As you fi rst enter the gym from the ticket window side a plaque greets you before you enter. "To win the game is great, to play the game is greater, but to love the game is the greatest of all." Nearby is a section recognizing the legendary Hawk, St. Joseph's mascot, who made its debut on the Palestra fl oor on Jan. 4, 1956. The Hawk fl aps its wings throughout the entire game without stopping. It has been named college mascot of the year numerous times by Sports Illustrated. There is a fake scoreboard next to the entrance to sections 211 and 210 listing the all-time record of the Penn vs. Princeton match-ups. Penn leads the legendary series 114 to 95.
The Palestra has a sections of the museum for almost every decade in the 20th century. The 1970s section is labeled "a decade of prominence." "A Quaker decade," plaque shows Penn's .799 overall, .907 Ivy League and .800 Big five winning percentages in the 1970's.
A picture celebrates the streamers fans would throw onto the court after their team scored the first points. "Streamers... it was as traditional as a Philly cheese steak, soft pretzels or Tastykakes," said Speedy Morris, former La Salle coach and current St. Joseph's Prep coach. Penn students have also been known to bring a rollout through the student section during games. A rollout is a huge paper banner that starts at the top of the student section and makes its way down to the bottom row. By the time the banner is completely rolled out the whole crowd can see what it says. At a game a couple years ago a rollout boldly read, "Keep tradition where it belongs, let's bring the Army-Navy game back to Philadelphia." The Penn students come from all over the country to receive an Ivy League education but they also get an education in Philadelphia sports history.
White brick lines the corridor with black paint directing fans to the different sections. Simplicity is the key here; the Palestra may be a 5-minute subway ride to the Sports Complex on Broad Street, but youʼre worlds away once inside. The concourse captures endless moments and faces throughout the rich history of the building. Julius Erving (UMass), Bob Lanier (St. Bonaventure), Chris Mullin (St. Johns), David Robinson (Navy), Kerry Kittles (Villanova), Jerry West (West Virginia) all have pictures in the museum. The High School Legends section is dominated by the famous picture of Wilt "The Stilt" in his Overbrook High jersey, stretching his wingspan, looking like it would reach all the way down 33rd street.
The Palestra has a sections of the museum for almost every decade in the 20th century. The 1970s section is labeled "a decade of prominence." "A Quaker decade," plaque shows Penn's .799 overall, .907 Ivy League and .800 Big five winning percentages in the 1970's.
A picture celebrates the streamers fans would throw onto the court after their team scored the first points. "Streamers... it was as traditional as a Philly cheese steak, soft pretzels or Tastykakes," said Speedy Morris, former La Salle coach and current St. Joseph's Prep coach. Penn students have also been known to bring a rollout through the student section during games. A rollout is a huge paper banner that starts at the top of the student section and makes its way down to the bottom row. By the time the banner is completely rolled out the whole crowd can see what it says. At a game a couple years ago a rollout boldly read, "Keep tradition where it belongs, let's bring the Army-Navy game back to Philadelphia." The Penn students come from all over the country to receive an Ivy League education but they also get an education in Philadelphia sports history.
White brick lines the corridor with black paint directing fans to the different sections. Simplicity is the key here; the Palestra may be a 5-minute subway ride to the Sports Complex on Broad Street, but youʼre worlds away once inside. The concourse captures endless moments and faces throughout the rich history of the building. Julius Erving (UMass), Bob Lanier (St. Bonaventure), Chris Mullin (St. Johns), David Robinson (Navy), Kerry Kittles (Villanova), Jerry West (West Virginia) all have pictures in the museum. The High School Legends section is dominated by the famous picture of Wilt "The Stilt" in his Overbrook High jersey, stretching his wingspan, looking like it would reach all the way down 33rd street.
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