Author: Steve Leinert
If there are two Eagles that know what it's like to win in Philadelphia, it's Harold Carmichael and Al Wistert.
Both have played in championship games for the Eagles and both were inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday.
"This is great that Philadelphia thinks that much about you to be considered as one of their favorites, I guess you can call it, and it's a great honor for me," said Carmichael, the team's Director of Player Programs.
Carmichael, who played for the Eagles from 1971 to 1983, was a four-time Pro Bowl player. The 6-foot-8 receiver remains the Eagles' leader in career receptions with 589.
Carmichael was inducted into the team's Honor Roll in 1987. More recently, he is among 110 players named on the Pro Football Hall of Fame's list of preliminary nominees for the 2009 induction class.
Perhaps joining the Philadelphia sports legends Thursday will be a prelude to a trip to Canton, Ohio.
"I hope people are paying attention to it and maybe I get to the big one," Carmichael said.
Prior to the gala event Thursday evening, Wistert spent part of the day at the NovaCare Complex. He met Carmichael as well as head coach Andy Reid and a number of players, including quarterback Donovan McNabb and members of the offensive line. He also watched practice.
Wistert, an offensive tackle for the franchise's 1948 and 1949 NFL championship teams, was given the royal treatment.
"It's marvelous to feel that people really do appreciate what has gone before," said Wistert, who played nine seasons with the Eagles (1943-51). "I haven't had any big fuss like this made over me in years past. "It's like a beautiful dream. Coming back here, so many years later, at almost 90 years of age, and being received the way I have been.
"I feel like I'm dreaming. It couldn't possibly happen to me, but it is happening to me right now. It's wonderful. This is pretty late in life for me, so I'm more than appreciative."
Wistert said he was surprised people in Philadelphia still cared about what happened so long ago. But Wistert was a special player. So special, in fact, that his #70 jersey is one of just seven numbers retired by the Eagles.
Wistert, who was selected to play in the NFL's first Pro Bowl, recalled what it was like to bring home a title to the city and said it was much like his feelings on this very day.
"On top of the world was a good way to put it," Wistert said. "That's the way I felt. That's the way I feel now."
