It was the hot dog heard ‘round the world.
Fired by a cannon-like “hot dog launcher” by slime-green mascot The Philly Phanatic, it hit one poor woman smack in the kisser giving her a shiner and requiring a hospital check-up.
This sad, silly and unique event was covered by news media across the country and abroad.
”The Phillie Phanatic Almost Shot Someone’s Eye Out.” read one headline.
The victim, Kathy McVey of Plymouth Meeting, told the press, “It hit me like a ton of bricks. . . .Be aware; you never know. I can understand a baseball but not a hot dog.”
Actually, McVey took the incident with good humor and is not upset.
We feel the flying hot dog that walloped a Phillies fan will become a new Philadelphia sports meme like the old image of Santa Clause getting peppered with snowballs at an Eagles game 50 years ago.
Webster says a meme is “an idea, behavior or style that spread from person-to-person within a culture"
Philadelphia sports fans have a reputation as crude, lewd, hostile – sometimes violent knuckle-heads.
Philadelphia sports memes include a judge and courtroom at the Eagle’s games, physically attacking fans of opposing teams and cheering when an opposing player is injured.
Now the flying hot dog meme, which, at least, has a humorous side. Late night host, Stephen Colbert, did a funny monologue on the incident that has been up-loaded to Youtube. Colbert ended the piece by noting that Ms. McVey will be getting free tickets for a future Phillies game. “Unfortunate, those tickets are for corn dog sniper night,” he joked. A photo flashed on the screen depicting a Marine in
camouflage firing a corn dog.