Philadelphia’s historic Palestra shows off everything great about US college sports
SunSport was in the iconic arena to watch a local derby between 'Big 5' rivals La Salle and Villanova
PLAYING amateur sports in the United Kingdom, you expect to games to take place on muddy pitches or crumbling gym built in the 1920s.
You'd expect grimy windows, uncomfortable chairs, black and white photos lining the walls and trophies collecting dust in wooden cabinets.
The Palestra, historic Philadelphia's historic college basketball venue, had all that.
What you wouldn't expect on this side of the Atlantic, however, is to have 6,500 fans in attendance and ESPN cameras beaming your game to millions across the nation.
The Palestra, which has its own museum and was the subject of a documentary, also had that.
We'd arrived at the University of Pennsylvania to one of their beautiful red brick buildings that held a great secret inside its walls - an historic arena that has been dubbed the 'Cathedral of College Basketball'.
A $2million regeneration 20 years ago couldn't hide the obvious age of the grand old building, which has seen tens of thousands of future stars play on its court since opening on January 1, 1927.
It has certainly seen better days - the windows were cracked, the chairs uncomfortable and the paint peeling - but that's all part of the charm.
Usually home to the men and women's teams of the University of Pennsylvania, inside last Saturday were players from two other Philly teams, the La Salle Explorers and Villanova Wildcats.
La Salle, one of the worst teams in the country right now, entered the game having lost all seven so far this season, while Villanova are the reigning NCAA national champions.
Problems were mounting for the Explorers and rookie head coach Ashley Howard, who had his top three players out injured.
Howard is not only a rookie in his first season, but had been top assistant at Villanova to Jay Wright, helping lead the Wildcats to national titles in two of the last three seasons.
To put it mildly, a whitewash was expected.
There are some uncomfortable truths about the NCAA and college sports in America - the exploitation of the athletes and the university's making millions of their talents - but this was the game at its best.
It's a cliche as old as the Palestra, but form went right out the window for this Philly derby.
Cheere don by thousands of fans - current students, alumni, professors and local kids filled the crowd - La Salle were incredible.
By half-time the undermanned Explorers had an improbable three-point lead built through hustle, determination with some ballsy shots falling.
The crowd were in wonderland, but the Villanova comeback seemed inevitable.
In the second half, the Wildcats finally woke up and through Eric Paschall and Phil Booth - who will both likely be playing in the NBA next season - eventually took the lead and never let up, eventually winning 85-78.
Villanova will have to play tougher games and put in better performances if they want another national title this season.
But coach Wright, himself a Pennsylvania local, knows the importance of a 'Big 5' win - especially one at the Palestra.
He said: "I love it, it's exciting, it brings me back to my childhood every time I step in this building.
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"Then once the game starts, I just know crazy things are going to happen."
Protege Howard added: "It was a classic 'Big 5' battle, a dog fight to the end.
"I love it [here]. As a Philly guy I don't think it gets any better than that."
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