Sometimes, it's a little easy to be cynical when the Flyers bust out "God Bless America", but I still always sing along and it still always gets me.

Last Saturday, I was at the game and for the life of me, I couldn't figure out why Lauren had her own phone out. I thought, she's done this so many times that there's no way she needed help with the words. I thought, maybe it was to sync up better with the video or something.

I had no idea she was facetiming with Mr. Snider so he could see "God Bless America" one last time.

I'm glad I was there for that.
- johndewar

When they mentioned it on the broadcast that she was facetiming with Mr Snider I got chills and knew he was in bad shape. I was hoping he could hold out for this run. I am glad Pat Bowlen got to have one more run in football and wished the Flyers could do it for Mr Snider.

Definitely got me more upset than I thought it would. He meant so much to this team and I appreciate the write up, Bill. I am going to focus on what remains from Snyder and laugh about the good that came from him. There are countless stories, some of which Bill mentioned. I am getting a good kick out of the other team names the Flyers could've had.

Thank you, Ed. For not naming us the Philadelphia Huskies, and so much more

I always think about how Snider was the perfect owner for Philadelphia sports. He never seemed bigger then his fans.

Just think about the owners.

Lurie. He talks but you don't know what he says because he tries to be so smart.

Harris. Bunch of financial guys playing with a franchise.

Phillies group. I know smallwood has become the face but for a while you really didn't know who owned them.

Snider just seemed to be the perfect owner for that franchise and this city.

Wow...very sad news. RIP Mr Snider, thanks for all you've done.

R.I.P. Mr. Snider, great owner & man. Maybe the Flyers can gain some more motivation from this tragedy & win one for the Man & beat the Caps! Good luck.

I always think about how Snider was the perfect owner for Philadelphia sports. He never seemed bigger then his fans.

Just think about the owners.

Lurie. He talks but you don't know what he says because he tries to be so smart.

Harris. Bunch of financial guys playing with a franchise.

Phillies group. I know smallwood has become the face but for a while you really didn't know who owned them.

Snider just seemed to be the perfect owner for that franchise and this city.
- J35Bacher

Guess who owned the Sixers the last time they were relevant in this city?

Thank you, Mr. Snider.

Guess who owned the Sixers the last time they were relevant in this city?

Thank you, Mr. Snider.
- johndewar

Indeed.

This may just be my perception of stories written and biased opinions, but it seems like the difference between Snider and other other owners in various sports is the method by which decisions are made. Just seems like Ed based his decisions on what was best for the Flyers and fans, and those decisions were appreciated and became great financial decisions, whereas so many other owners are strictly focused on finances. How much will that cost? Can we fit that in our budget?

If you build it, they will come, right? Seemed to work for the Flyers

Thank you, Mr. Snider. RIP

Thank you, Bill, for this blog and the one a short while ago.

This may just be my perception of stories written and biased opinions, but it seems like the difference between Snider and other other owners in various sports is the method by which decisions are made. Just seems like Ed based his decisions on what was best for the Flyers and fans, and those decisions were appreciated and became great financial decisions, whereas so many other owners are strictly focused on finances. How much will that cost? Can we fit that in our budget?

If you build it, they will come, right? Seemed to work for the Flyers
- YuenglingJagr

He was one of us, in terms of passion for the team to win. His decisions, even when they questionable, were made because he wanted to win. Think about how much you love the Flyers. Realize that Ed Snider loved them even more.

Well said Bill. As always you capture the spirit of the thing perfectly. It feels like we lost a relative today. It's painful. We have lost an icon. What Ed Snider brought to the city of Philadelphia and it's fans was unmatched by any one individual in my lifetime. Snider was the rare owner that matched the fire of his city's fanbase-and this city is easily one of the most passionate fanbases going. A man of vision, whose desire for the Flyers to win was never questionable, who wore his heart on his sleeve as much as any fan. That passion that Ed Snider had may have led to some poor decisions in the cap era, but the intensity of that passion was unquestionable. Even beyond sports, Ed Snider's impact on the community, with his charitable work and the Ed Snider Youth Hockey program will live on. In closing, Thank You, Mr Snider, for all you have given to me and to the city of Philadelphia. RIP.
- Jsaquella

Very well said, Jasq and Bill.
Thank you both.

He was one of us, in terms of passion for the team to win. His decisions, even when they questionable, were made because he wanted to win. Think about how much you love the Flyers. Realize that Ed Snider loved them even more.
- Jsaquella

So true, he was the last of dying breed: the sports owner who cares more about his fanbase and the on-ice success of the team than he does about the bottom line. I had the pleasure of meeting him a few times, and, though he didn't know me from Adam, he was happy to chat for a few moments about the Flyers and the NHL in general. He will be greatly missed.

How must if feel to be a player and carry on this legacy now?
- - to be on the ice have that history on your shoulders?

This may just be my perception of stories written and biased opinions, but it seems like the difference between Snider and other other owners in various sports is the method by which decisions are made. Just seems like Ed based his decisions on what was best for the Flyers and fans, and those decisions were appreciated and became great financial decisions, whereas so many other owners are strictly focused on finances. How much will that cost? Can we fit that in our budget?

If you build it, they will come, right? Seemed to work for the Flyers
- YuenglingJagr

That's what is lost on so many owners today.

I don't begrudge anyone for being rich and making money. I truly don't.

But when you own a professional sports team, it truly sucks when ownership views it as an investment to make money and not a partnership with the fans and the community.

Ed Snider understood that. He understood that winning consistently, investing in the team, would solve all problems. That treating fans well, players well, and not screwing over taxpayers and giving back to people who didn't have as much was a GOOD thing. Because in professional sports, loyalty matters.

How you treat people matters in all walks of life. But Ed Snider understood that it means a little bit more in professional sports, where people dedicate time out of the one life we get to a set of highly paid athletes who currently have 1 out of 16 chance to win a championship on any given season that you even qualify for the playoffs.

I'm as loyal as I am to the Flyers for a number of reasons. But one of the biggest is that Ed Snider gave as much of a damn as I did

Truly a sad day. As written earlier for a man I never met, I feel a tremendous loss today. Over the years I really appreciated Mr. Snider charitable work throughout the Delaware Valley.

RIP Mr Snider your legacy will last forever.

ES patches come Thursday. Let's go boys and get on a run for Mr. Snider!

Very sad day in Flyer land. I think it's awesome that he got to see his team clinch a playoff spot before his passing. It was also very cool that Lauren Hart had him on FaceTime during God Bless America. I'd love to see the boys make a deep run in his honor.

Bill Meltzer: A Tribute to Ed Snider
- bmeltzer

After the victory on Saturday, someone posted with pride that Wayne Simmonds is everything that this member hockeybuzz believes a Flyer should be. Simmonds is tough, he isn't perfect but he works hard and he's willing to will his team ro success with his leadership. I believe all of this as well. Simmonds might be the Rick Tocchet of this era.

Wirh all of that said, when I think of Es Snider, I think about how we would get beaten up in the late 60's and we were once embarrassed so bad that he promised it would never happen to this franchise again.

In terms of acquiring and drafting the right pieces, so far the future looks promising but I hope Hextall doesn't lose site of Ed Snider's dream. The defensive prospects look outstanding but the most recent forward prospects look small as far as Jordan Weal, Nick Cousins and Travis Konacny go. I'm not saying these can't be successful, I'm saying hopefully we can grab some forwards like Simmonds moving forward who can push back.

How must if feel to be a player and carry on this legacy now?
- - to be on the ice have that history on your shoulders?
- FlyersFirst

This could be a crazy playoff season. Two things can happen. They could fall to pieces and get slaughtered by the Caps. Or they could really become a team that is focused on a run for Mr Snider and kick everyone's teeth in.

I kind of believe the Denver Broncos did their best to be the second option in that equation since their owner is in bad shape with Alzheimer's Disease.

He was one of us, in terms of passion for the team to win. His decisions, even when they questionable, were made because he wanted to win. Think about how much you love the Flyers. Realize that Ed Snider loved them even more.
- Jsaquella

Most of our arguments hold the same passion when we're on the same side.

what Mr Snider has done for the City of Philadelphia goes well beyond just bringing the Flyers and the family atmosphere of the organization. His founding of the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation which I have the privilege to volunteer with for years has opened up the ability to kids from the city of Philly and Camden to play hockey as well with work with the kids off the ice with their schooling and just how to be better people. Thanks to Mr Snider many of the city rinks were not only kept open when they were on the brink of being closed down, he also had them renovated.

Mr Snider was a great owner but more importantly, a great man.

Sorry for the loss flyers nation and thank you mr. Snider for the rivalry. Good luck moving forward boys.

I hope and know that Mr. Snider is proud of his team, and the one this year. I'm glad he saw them claw into the playoffs, just like he clawed his way up.

I hope this team makes noise. I hope they do so (frank)ing badly.

Thanks Mr. Snider. I've been off and on crying all morning.

One of the saddest days in Philly sports history. I feel like I've lost a family member.

Thanks, Ed, for all that you've done for this city. Thanks especially for bringing us the Flyers and wearing your passion for us, the fans, on your sleeve. You'll be truly missed. Never forgotten.

Let's go Flyers! Bring the Cup home for Ed.

Thanks for including so much detail, Bill -- I learned plenty from reading this.

I'm really sad right now, as a fan. Because I know Ed Snider cared about this team as much as I did.

That is not the case with other owners. It just isn't.

He cared because he always knew it was his skin in the game to start it. And knowing that...man.

It's just a sad day.
- AllInForFlyers

It feels like we lost a family member because that is what Snider brought to the organization. the fans were made to feel like family too.