Great uses for Crisco include making pie crusts flaky and delicious, cookies and cakes soft and frosting fluffy. Sunday in Philadelphia, Crisco was used for preventing excited Eagles fans from climbing light poles after the NFC Championship Game against Minnesota.
The workers who applied the grease to the poles called themselves the "Crisco Cops," according to FOX 9 in Minnesota who caught the workers in the act.
It does seem a tad bit excessive, but considering the reputation Philadelphia fans have built for themselves, the city can't be blamed for taking some sort of preventative measure. After all, an intoxicated fan could have climbed a light pole and started throwing things at people below, or even worse, just fell off.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross Jr. also advised businesses that planned to close Sunday to take precautions against fans.
"To avoid any problems with celebrants ... on Sunday, January 21, 2018, the 15th Police District respectfully request and suggest that if you own a business located in the area of Frankford and Cottman Avenues, and your business will be closed, that you have grates locked and secured in order to protect your property. Please remove anything outside your business -- trash cans, flower pots, etc," Ross wrote in a memo.
"If you are a bar owner, the 15th District is requesting that you sell alcoholic beverages in plastic cups and refrain from selling take-out bottles."
WISHFUL THINKING
The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a 148-124 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday.
Former Cleveland head coach David Blatt noticed that result from the other side of the globe.
Blatt, who guided the Cavs from June 2014 through January 2016 before he was dismissed, referenced his former employer ahead of Sunday's Turkish All-Star Game.
"I hope we don't give up as many points as the Cavaliers gave up last night," he said.
His wish didn't come true as his team allowed 151 points, three more than the Cavs gave up to the Thunder.
Blatt is now in charge of Darussafaka Spor Kulubu, but it's clear he keeps track of the Cavs while overseas.
GETTING THE JOB DONE
Pita Taufatofua, better known as the shirtless Tongan flag-bearer from the 2016 Summer Olympics, qualified for the Pyeongchang Olympics in cross-country skiing following a last-gasp effort Saturday.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Taufatofua clinched his Olympic berth with a qualifying performance at an event in Isafjordur, Iceland.
"I gave it absolutely everything," he told the Journal. "I died at the end."
Taufatofua, who had not competed on snow before 2016, had needed to meet standards in five races by Sunday's cutoff. He was able to reach the mark in four roller-skiing events, then locked in his berth Saturday after driving across Iceland in what the Journal described as avalanche conditions.
He had previously eyed qualification in Poland two weeks ago but was unsuccessful. An effort in Armenia last week failed, too.
Taufatofua competed in taekwondo at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He was eliminated in his first bout.
He said he has "no idea" how he will fund the trip to South Korea for next month's Olympics but told the Journal he is already planning his role in the opening ceremony.
QUIZ
Who were the Philadelphia Eagles hosting in 1968 when their fans threw snowballs at a man dressed as Santa Claus?
ANSWER
The Minnesota Vikings
Sports on 01/22/2018