Michael Paluska from ABC Action News Tampa Bay found himself outside Raymond James Stadium, hoping to capture reactions from Buccaneers fans following their Monday night game against the Philadelphia Eagles, which the Bucs lost 25-11, bringing their 2023 NFL season record to 2-1.
Unfortunately for Paluska, his live broadcast became a target for Eagles fans who provided him with a lively Philadelphia-style welcome.
“These are not the live shots you want to do after the Bucs loss, because people are coming out here, they’re yelling in front of the camera, They said it looked more like an Eagles home game out here. But you know there’s a lot of things that happened…And I’m trying to get through a live shot.” :Paluska said.
He humorously mentioned that it felt like an Eagles home game due to the enthusiastic Eagles fan presence. Despite the interruptions and distractions, he tried to maintain his professionalism and complete his live broadcast.
Philadelphia Eagles fans outside Raymond James Stadium gave this ABC Action News: Tampa Bay reporter a warm Philly welcome following Monday night’s game. pic.twitter.com/36NB1jpz6c
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 26, 2023
Live shots at sports events often come with unpredictable challenges, from fans using colorful language to unexpected gestures and even unplanned moments of nudity. Paluska might have wished he had Samantha Rivera from CBS Miami, who once famously pushed a Las Vegas Golden Knights fan out of her live shot during the Stanley Cup Final, to help with security.
In this particular case, the Eagles fans’ behavior was relatively mild, with most of them simply cheering and chanting “Go Birds,” a battle cry well-known to Philadelphia residents. Despite the disruptions, Paluska attempted to find a Buccaneers fan to interview, but he couldn’t escape the Eagles fans’ enthusiasm.
When he asked an Eagles fan what the Buccaneers did right despite their 14-point loss, the response was humorous, “Nothing.” When it came to what the Eagles did right, the answer was, “Everything.”
Paluska did his best to maintain control of the situation, requesting that those around him refrain from using profanity, as it seemed one Eagles fan was on the verge of doing so. He maintained his composure and, despite the chaos, handled the situation admirably.
While Eagles fans often have a reputation for rowdiness, it’s worth noting that most of them behaved themselves in this instance. However, it’s safe to assume that Paluska might think twice before volunteering for any special assignments in Philadelphia in the near future.
