The Legend of Ed Snider

" No surprise to any viewer who years in the event you missed the last of 45 years. Were 46 years. Ed Snyder is chairman of Comcast Specter court he is the Philadelphia Flyers. And he is the Philadelphia seventy sixers and his career and life is a story of legends in fact. It's such a good story let's write a book you don't wish into a book what he thinks better. I thought I have a few chapters in mind that this has to do -- well what other chapters is one you're doing right now that I really want to cover because I don't think people understand. The extent of it and that's the Ed snider youth hockey foundation which you're very very excited about. And this is not just a go alone twenty kids this is all over the area right right."

" It's it's all over the area is sold for Philadelphia it's in the suburbs it's in Camden and Pennsauken New Jersey area. We've expanded we've got over 2500 kids in our goal is 10000 kids 10000 kids throughout the Delaware valley throughout the Delaware. And and this is in doubt for years to come I presume yeah we've we've we've raised a lot of money I'd. Whoever puts in one dollar -- I match you with two dollars of my own so. We put in a lot of money and this. We've taken over the city rinks and we have great programs in it and it just a wonderful wonderful. Program and experience for me and and I wanted to be my legacy I wanted to. Outlast me forever quite frankly."

" Well you know I was down on front street restaurant. -- try to cross street under I 95 I think it was the result Brinker saw -- and saw these kids playing. And around such a great sense is one of the rank you're talking -- a."

" With the three of the -- we run completely. To Rizzo rink is one of the two -- that we have programs in three days a week but we don't run industry."

" You know produced a when you're still involved were still involved what a great legacy. The -- 3040 years for enough of -- a lot of people still be playing hockey on the streets the streets of Philadelphia we'll let that's what I'm looking forward to you came here in 1964 the Eagles. All of a sudden you're the man single handedly. Who brought hockey here now hockey have existed before my time here 9066 before retirement 1964. Had a hockey come about. In Philadelphia and become such the sport of rabid interest. Well."

" You know when we did the league had six teams. And they were doubling in size to twelfth. And I heard about it and wanted to get a franchise for Philadelphia wanted to build an arena. -- 76ers needed a facility to play and and I felt that the whole project would be you know successful. So we were fortunate enough to get a franchise and we were voted by the hockey news to be the one of the -- six franchises the least likely to succeed that. Why because of the market did well because hockey had never succeeded in Philadelphia there was. National Hockey League team for one year in the thirties. Owned by a gentleman named Benny Leonard who. -- team had the worst record in the league worst attendance -- really unit listed one year and on top of that there were many minor league teams and they all fail."

" Well you know sedition when I first went to somebody early flyers. Games I would go there on Sunday night. And I remember Joe can't electric cattle like torture organization would get me indices some of the games. And I would go there and it wasn't very crowded in the beginning in fact I remember the flyers. Fan club having cardboard 'cause science join the flyers fan club and all of a sudden in a matter of a few years. It just rocketed and I know and I know and had a lot to do with your commitment to and promotion of it. What do you think really. Catapulted. The flyers into the psyche. Of this --"

" I think that. First -- think hockey is the greatest sport. Spectator sport terrorists I you know I've always felt that way I still feel that way it's. It's so exciting it's fast paced and it's just nonstop action and I think people took to that and I also feel that the reason it hadn't succeeded in the past was because it wasn't presented properly I mean it was played at the old arena and and nearby building a brand new arena the spectrum. And having a great place to play in you know it was a tremendous. Tremendous venue for all activities all sports all concerts and particularly for hockey so. All of that helped and the fact that. In our first year we actually won our division of them to do six teams. We had you know exciting playoffs. We beat many of the established teams in fact we beat each of them once during our first season. Was a big plus it was a European player that helped catapult this team to success one particular candidate yeah well in our third year we we drafted Bobby Clark and that was the start of what I considered to be a great era of Philadelphia."

" Have you ever seen a player. And has that much desire. That much I know there's a lot of them but lot of pleasure that you know there's been a lot of superstars in the league and sometimes Bob doesn't get the credit he deserves I mean you know he was a hard nosed guy who worked. The unit never took a day off you know I never saw him play a big game but he also was extremely skilled. Did you know and he won the queen title he has he won the Hart trophy as the most valuable player for a couple of seasons and a Bob was a great hockey player and he really catapulted Boston to our success without without this."

" Has been very important you're originally from Washington. Given her so many years -- she's not your child's picture -- your -- in many ways and when you say Snyder. Everybody knows you're talking about -- in -- household name yet you also been one of the more private people in this community. Not in terms of your community involvement or the standards you set for your team in your organization. But you're quite. -- shot."

" I -- okay. It's funny I think I am -- particularly in crowds in its its I'm not shy among friends you know in this small group but. I shy away from big crowd suffice if I'm able to you do yeah. Is that just the way you grew upper it's just part of I guess my personality."

" Everybody always says that people who were powerful and you know been successful they -- the kind of lives and read what what can make you happy. Well I mean what makes obviously you know you've got a lot of activity gets flyers and sixers come to aspect to core. You've got a lot of things going on some other things we're gonna talk about a few minutes -- your involvement in the -- Jack awareness foundation all these organizations. What makes you. Don't you wake up on a Saturday morning her whenever but make sure that."

" Well first -- family. My kids my grandkids. I loved to work. And when I'm now working their loved to play tennis. You know I love to work out keeping good shape. So I I have a lot of activities that I really enjoy it."

" Through tremendous -- he could we're just -- rich but you know also going back to that early days and you know as a lot of sports writers in town who hate the past. They really do. Elected to -- they're very forward looking all of us want to be sort looking but the the fact is that the passenger associated with his majestic in its floors. Okay vouchers to Stanley Cup wins but the competition want to read your figure you may know this picture but this is your record. As an owner along with the Philadelphia Flyers. Is. -- seconds. Editor somewhere. 1812. Wins. You did you know that he -- didn't 1812. Wins for the flyers. Over 1812. Games. That you lost. One you have teams lost thirteen sixteenths 181213. Sixty and 457 ties -- that's it that's it. Darn good record there it is right there on the screen. I don't think anybody I can't imagine anybody -- football team playing you know sixteen games a year and have that kind of record. I mean that's that you record."

" Or you know. -- say that studies so what I've never I never saw that that before but someone told me that we have the second best record to the Montreal Canadians since we've come into Italy. And you know I'm proud that I'm not sure that's correct but someone told told me that recently but. Everyone talks about the two cops and we haven't had a cup for all these years and believe me no one hurts more than I do. Because we haven't had the cup I've been working hard and all of our people and working hard and we just haven't crossed that threshold however. We've been to the finals many times. You know and it's hard to get there I mean there's thirty teams in the league. Of course through our history there were Arnold which thirty teams but there were always a lot of teams we had to beat out and then. You know we were in the finals I think. At least three times in the eighties we were in the finals a couple of other times in the seventies. You know we were in the finals in the 90s96. Right yeah. -- and the bottom line is it's hard it's very hard but it's I think our fans. While some. Some people may you know be naysayers because we haven't won a cup and so long I think our fans appreciate the excitement that we created and the fact. That we have succeeded. To a degree we haven't won the cup but we've we've been in the hunt most of the time."

" We you know as another purchasing things I was that couple games this year and I was at the player won a playoff games in Pittsburgh. And I were his you know we certainly there's sort of a time more for me because back there at the beginning. To all these young people and babies -- Crowd -- tough crowd you're demanding here. But unlike the other teams in Philadelphia the fans of the flyers. Seem to deal with. Setbacks are are unfortunate moments a little better than most. Get his old brewing here there. But the fan base is so loyal to the team because you know there are what is -- eighty games yes price is 88 to 82 a lot of excitement you know. Lot of entertainment for us a little while they do that this is less is a -- and disappointing. They don't walk away from I don't believe flyers fans walk away and say life will never be the same as we know it because we lost there's so much tradition there -- potential."

" Woods it's a combination of tradition and I think they appreciate the fans are very very intelligent. They really are the the defense of Philadelphia they let you know when you're doing a lousy job. But I think they really know that we try our best way that we do everything in our power to win and that's all they care about. If they felt that we were goofing off we weren't spending the money we weren't trying to improve the team. They wouldn't be as well. And so because of that I think we've we've been we've we've had disloyalty we've had this great fan support and we really needed."

" Now we want to get into an interest in subject here professional athletes. Generally viewed as you know what I know have been hampered. In the modern era. And I don't want to -- and steroid scandal consists not affecting you. But you you you have a certain requirement for your athletes an awful lot of people know that they come -- dressed. Yeah okay they leave dressed very popular and others step toward truth taught -- take off in the car but they walk in that way. They are there absolutely. So pleasant hockey players to fans. And there's no none of that league it's just too much ego maniacal stuff to do see some other sports. And you and they do community service is this part of the deal that would have to do well -- set your standard or someone else."

" Well it is it is the standard of the club but the players do it willingly I mean hockey players are not pampered but he despite the fact that you know. They've grown up and enduring their use they were stars on their teams and so forth but. For whatever reason. It doesn't go to their head and and and we just have a fortunate situation where hockey players are that we not only in on the flyers but I think throughout the link."

" I can get into the other teams over the spectrum and especially with -- Wachovia. He did it yourself. I remember seeing pictures of you with a helmet -- and no construction helmet on check in this thing out. Finance it yourself. Never you know went to the public. The governments for help you make a tax breaks but -- standard. Has to be good --"

" What is it it's it's a good feeling but sometimes I. I feel that may be. But I shouldn't of done it because when you look at all the other facilities in the state of Pennsylvania they've all had. Massive infusion of capital from the state in the city. Yeah but but not only here but in Pittsburgh including. An arena is being built for the penguins right now by the gambling whoever got the gambling license there."

" But get on the other hand if all goes back to some personal conviction in your life. You were. -- of the I'm Rand foundation. Society. I'm not to have you started the stories -- and -- that's -- I was a society for the folks who don't get affected your just tell me what that's all about. And all of that put us like you tell them."

" Well. When I was in my forties actually. A friend of mine told me to read the book. Atlas shrugged because I was puzzled by the way many owners and other people that I was dealing with how they were operating in. I read the book and I really believed in her philosophy of objective as some. Tell me what that managed here. Well it means. -- is a I mean this table was a table you know right in and if you reject mysticism and all forms and you deal with reality. But I also and he's also the ritual is very important for the individual is important and the individual has to be healthy -- you know. Be able to want to work and accomplish whatever he can accomplish up to his abilities. And and that's what makes people happy so that the level so the collective is is is improved if the individual chapter right."

" I."

" Welcome back to voice of reason on the Comcast network and can you believe this video. I mean Kate Smith singing god bless America how did you get Kate Smith to come to Philadelphia and she was basically forgotten personality. From the fifties and sixties and all of a sudden -- resurrect her what she couldn't believe it when she came here."

" Well it -- Basically we started playing the recording. -- Schoenfeld. Who is in charge of all -- marketing at the time came up with the idea because people a lot of people in those days believe there -- standing for the national anthem. So one night he decided to play god bless America and of course everybody looked around it was very unusual in those days because everybody played the national anthem and we won that game and after that I -- superstitious so what he was the one that had to pick when we would play and we had a great record. And then -- we were in the you know -- can define it when I'm heading for the Stanley Cup and everything else. He got in touch with her -- and they've -- she's Huckabee comes to hockey game has changed but she eventually came with -- of the and and she loved it and you know it's it's legendary of course we have a statue over outside of the spectrum imminent I was a Pall -- at her funeral."

" And she cannot it when she came here the crowd the crowd noise she just couldn't believe how popular closing credits to this day. We have good duet. With Lauren Hart right Jean art's daughter and her and when we play at the crowd there's such -- extent -- going to mix together now sixers. For years now you better than you -- the man overseeing the sixers in the management. There -- a lot of people who feel that the press in this town especially. Didn't give the sixers to credit they deserve this past year when they lost a star player Elton Brand. To even get into the playoffs yeah and so I you know a lot of the press became and I have to tell us something I have no problem -- us. The print press and I'll say it. -- press can be very. Very very hypocritical. You know it's a -- is crucial -- show. Last game and in some different approach at all but they treat the sixers like their failure this year in the fact is they -- to supposed to get to the playoffs."

" Well. Maybe we were supposed to get that -- because we've got their last year but of course after we lost Elton Brand it was a big blow to us. And it started. In my mind with the fact that everybody be little. The signing of Elton Brand because he didn't fit in immediately well. It was it it it would needed to transition and unfortunately he got hurt before the transition was complete Elton -- be a big asset to the seventy sixers. And furthermore. We did make the playoffs and we won two games against Orlando in Orlando is just knocked Boston out of the playoffs. You know so we don't you know I don't know where it when the show's gonna hit."

" They're going to bear on Father's Day and so but they just want -- you know and this time. We don't know where they're going to be about that time right but we're happy Father's Day six. Five children. 66 children fifteen grandchildren grandchildren had to keep track I keep trash and spun out it's I got great grandchildren great kids and very happy happy -- and now let's talk about some of the special moments in your life. Certainly. The Russian red army team. And I believe 976 straight. I remember that he has that he come out this controversy about hey you with the time I believe. Were upset with -- Soviet Union because of its policy over in the release of pictures from Soviet Union and other things -- We set a fun day for you."

" I was incredible. The of course is everybody that was there the memory of that day is is spectacular. We had won the cup two years in a row and this was the year after we have won the second competence in January. And we were the defending champions and -- team which is really an All-Star team of pros and toward Canada and and part of the states and -- was undefeated and everybody felt that we had there. We have to stand up for the National Hockey League and they were hoping that we would keep them and it was the first time in our history of the broad street bullies in that era. That all Canadians were rooting for the Philadelphia Flyers normally they hated us and they said -- you know. All this stuff so. We were playing negate the advantage of and as usual fashion may have checked a little harder than there used to and they got mad and walked off the -- and they weren't going to come back. So I went down below and -- Eagles and who was then the players association Clarence Campbell who was to presently we all. Met down there and highest in the -- they've been paid yet in Clarence Campbell said they haven't been paid for all eight games 25000 game while dailies. Big money but they're gonna go back with 200000. Yankee dollars. And we said you don't come back you don't get paid. So they -- got hobbled and talked in Russian and."

" Instead we come back so they finally came back and we have to be annihilated them and everybody impact. He was happy and you're happy to you I was very you're you're certainly major point is also another night when the I happen to be on a golf driving range. About four -- five years ago or six years ago. Maybe mingle more with Al -- And I just happen to run into have. And I sent us from Philadelphia. And he talked about the night that the saint Louis blues went up into the stands. -- there that night of."

" Course not only was I there that night it was the craziest thing I ever did and all my numerous flight out here are fighting what they were fighting in the stands. And then they were coming back on the ice you know and I jumped down on the ice. And actually went across the ice and Al arbour was there and I should have pitcher players and control them in -- gonna have all kinds of problems. Anything control my players he wipes his head on his head there's all kinds of blood -- one a year cops hit me over the head with a club. While and then they arrested my had to get him out of jail -- tentative it was crazy."

" I was ID and then the fans rules surprised his players had their sticks they're coming up to originally wasn't it wasn't her first. Most shining moment that's for sure why in your career. Has controversy not followed you every owner for every owner organization. Gets in controversy in this town. The Eagles. -- you know I mean of course we got great years last year obviously his best. But there all the owner insurance attacked him you know there's only so much animosity. I don't you don't hear fans talking -- and Schneider and an angry way they know USA I hate to use the word but you're. Your bigger than life to a lot of people a lot of people don't really know a lot about you but they know you've been pretty go to order for a long time and fan friends. But why there's no real controversy had Eric lindros and you know Bobby Clark left a couple of times but we -- know that you love Bobby Clark she -- Clark so why why is different of congress."

" Well I mean. I think there has been controversy I mean you know it's a long career but I've been fortunate in the fact that it hasn't been overwhelming and and you know I'm I'm a lucky guy so far and you know but. You know we have to start winning that we have to get past the first round of the playoffs for both teams and and that's that's my."

" images superstition earlier your superstitious guy Larry I am is it true that you watched every. Flyers game on the road on television. Yes you do this you never miss -- never wherever you are now and wherever I am because we have this thing called slingbox right seat to watch and learn what you wherever I am okay so you're you have. You have the whole package of the flyers you're never missed. -- what happens or something -- or the sixers with sixers what's the what's the what's happened -- both teams are. Playing on the same night you just come back and yeah I flip and flip out there both on the road how emotionally. Emotionally you yet. When you watch a game I was watching. That came one game I went to and I think we're behind. That was the game went on 321 Pittsburgh yeah fourth camp and I got pretty. And hookups but there's going inside where is it different for you."

" No I I'm still I still very intense X games and in fact. Lot of my friends storing more sympathy if they don't know because I'm not socializing. And I'm sort of focused on -- people walk away if you're losing. They want to he would do they not want to be around you if you lose it. You know I think I think that is the case although I'm still I'm still pleasant I think -- and I'm not happy here. Yeah so your phantom I'm I'm a big fan and then of course it's it's my life it's my work it's my business you know."

" Another sixers are different thing that's most different. What you have you all these smaller teams you have different personalities. And I senior would courtside a couple of times -- in recent years but I think I know -- courtside -- you seem to really get into it can mean really stand up and everything and the sixers you know as much now about basketball. As you do about hockey."

" Well I've always known a lot about I played basketball in -- you know unknown to many people I think I know a lot about basketball and maybe not enough because you know we haven't done much but we've got to you know I think we're on our way it was a good young team."

" Now I want to give the website for the hockey foundation case anybody's interest in getting involved okay and the website as you can see on our screens right there. He -- snider youth hockey foundation. Thousands of children are involved with the want to get a young person involved you want to help -- you want to be involved here. This is a good thing also what I want to talk about a book. Although a few words involved in with the association -- the daily news I believe this god bless spectrum this is a history the spectrum right that place has special meaning to write."

" And has tremendous meaning to me and the book is really a wonderful book. What's it about well it's it's mostly pictures and and it's mostly the history and the great events that happen that the spectrum it's just a fabulous book if."

" You can do anything differently and -- this is not. The and then career because we know you're gonna be here a long time and your forward looking person. What would you have done differently in your time. It's not just with the Comcast organization -- before that was there what are their -- anything different."

" As far as my business career she -- you know basically. I'm really very happy with with my life and what's happened I can't really think of anything I do to but I wish we had more championships."