Fans say Kate Smith’s belts way better than boos as a tradition

EVERYONE KNOWS that when it comes to a tradition near and dear to our hearts, there is nothing Philadelphians love to do more than boo.

That is . . . everyone in California, Texas or anywhere else outside the region.

Here, in Philadelphia, the tradition that tugs at us with sweet sentimentality is Kate Smith belting out "God Bless America" at Flyers games.

In a Daily News survey of Philadelphia sports fans conducted with the Sport Industry Research Center at Temple University, 43 percent of the respondents identified Kate Smith as our favorite sports tradition.

The "E-A-G-L-E-S" chant was second with 42 percent and the Big 5 was third with 39 percent. They were followed by the Army-Navy game (29 percent) and the Penn Relays (21 percent). Respondents could vote for three from a list of 15 choices.

Booing?

Way down in seventh place with 16 percent.

Flyers chairman Ed Snider said "God Bless America" became a "phenomenon."

"Very exciting," Snider said. "When [Kate Smith] came in person to sing, it was mind-boggling. Who can explain it? To this day, when we play the record with Kate and Lauren Hart, it gets the crowd going."

The song has become synonymous with the glory days of the Flyers. It apparently was first played by the team at the Spectrum on Dec. 11, 1969. Smith's first live performance at the arena was Oct. 11, 1973, and she occasionally sang live from then on.

The Flyers' success when the song played became so legendary that, in an effort to reverse the jinx, Boston stars Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito gave Smith flowers when she was to sing at Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals on May 19, 1974. The Flyers won, 1-0, for their first of back-to-back Cups.

According to a Flyers spokesman, the team is 81-21-4 when Smith sings "God Bless America."

Smith will be immortalized with her own postage stamp, which will be unveiled by the U.S. Postal Service and the Flyers on May 19 - the 36th anniversary of that Cup-clinching game - at the statue of Smith at the Spectrum.

Constantine Tripolitis, of Cherry Hill, said the song is a lucky charm and can be "beyond intimidating for opposing teams." He added that it is also "directly associated with the greatest events in the history of the Flyers."

And the E-A-G-L-E-S chant?

"The E-A-G-L-E-S chant is just cool," said Cindy Sabatino, of Philadelphia, "but I do hate it at Phillies games."