Stan Hochman: Snider-Wolman feud outliving Spectrum

Eventually, Snider swapped his share of the Spectrum for Wolman's share of the Flyers, although the two men disagree on the time and circumstances. "And then," Snider says, "the Spectrum went into bankruptcy. I rescued it, paid the creditors 100 cents on the dollar. It went bankrupt because he ran it inefficiently. What I ran for him made money. What he ran, lost money."

Snider is a disciple of Ayn Rand, who believed selfishness is good. "My philosophy was simple," Wolman said. "I always believed that you do not make any progress on your own and I always treated everyone the same, be it the president of a bank or the janitor. Snider was a step-on-anyone-in-your-way-to-success."

The moment that shattered the relationship? Wolman says he had a $43 million loan lined up with Arab oil men that would have stemmed the tide of red ink. He summoned Snider to Eagles' training camp in Hershey and asked him to sell him the Flyers, saying he needed them as collateral for the loan.

Wolman says Snider agreed, drove home, then reneged on the promise. "The deal collapsed," Wolman said, "and I was ruined."

Snider won't acknowledge the change of heart. "Look at it in a logical way," Snider lectures. "He had Connie Mack Stadium, he had Yellow Cab. The Flyers were a $2 million team that was $2 million in debt. What kind of collateral is that?"

"What a joke," Wolman counters. "Connie Mack Stadium was worth half a million and Yellow Cab was worth approximately $1.5 million."

Which is why Wolman fired Snider as Eagles vice president on the night of the Flyers' first home game, hissing all over Snider's party. The men have barely spoken since.

And if, somehow, an invitation arrived to attend the demolition? "I wouldn't go," Wolman said. "I think it's a disgrace, tearing down the Spectrum. It ought to be preserved and become part of any complex they build around it.

"As a matter of fact, I'm thinking of asking the Historical Society to declare the building an historic landmark. It enabled the city to get a hockey team. It should be saved." *

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