Should the Eagles’ “Tush Push” be a legal play?

Well, the Birds certainly ran it to near perfection the last few years, and it recently helped them gain their second Super Bowl championship.

In this week’s version of my Yesterday column — reminiscing about sports and pop culture from the 1960s, 70s, 80s and sometimes before and beyond — I’ll take a look at the history of the Eagles’ famed play, as well as recognizable touchdown celebrations of the past.

Also, I’ll reveal the results of a recent Times News Facebook poll on the matter.

Finally, what notable local race driver just turned 85? Who is wrestling’s “Mr. USA?” Was there another “Miracle on Ice?” And did you spend some time with “The Big Chief?”

Numbers Don’t Lie ... In the poll, 76 percent see it as a legal play, while 24 percent believe it should be illegal.

Send me some of your thoughts about it.

How It Began ... Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni started the move when he was the Colts’ offensive coordinator in 2020, running the play for the first time in Week 10 against the Titans.

When he came to Philly a year later, Sirianni ran the play successfully in Week Five against the Panthers, and it also worked six weeks later against the Saints. Former center Jason Kelce referred to it as the “Brotherly Shove.”

In 2022, the Eagles converted 25 of 27 attempts, and made 35 of 42 in 2023.

Elmo and Homer ... In his rookie year with the Chiefs, top-pick wide receiver Elmo Wright caught a touchdown pass against Washington and celebrated with a high-knee dance, which many believe was the first touchdown end zone dance.

Wright began his dance two years earlier when he was a junior wide receiver for the University of Houston. Unfortunately, Wright’s career fizzled, as he spent four years with the Chiefs and split a season with Washington and New England.

Giants’ wide receiver Homer Jones was credited for the game’s first “spike” in 1965. He caught an 89-yard touchdown pass from Earl Morrall and was ready to throw the ball into the crowd. However, Jones remembered the league fine of $500 for the act. Instead, Jones threw the ball down to the ground.

Funky White Shoes ... In 1974, Houston rookie wide receiver Billy “White Shoes” Johnson from Philly’s suburb Widener College took the league by storm with his touchdown and long-catch celebrations, and notably his white shoes.

Johnson’s widening bent knees dance began the must-see halftime on ABC’s Monday Night Football and later on ESPN. It later became known as the “Funky Chicken.”

Fridge First ... There wasn’t a “Tush Push” in our yesterday, but the Chicago Bears’ William “The Refrigerator” Perry was the first defensive lineman to score a rushing touchdown on Oct. 21, 1985 against the Packers.

Perry would add a rushing touchdown, along with a touchdown reception during the regular season, before he carried the ball into the end zone against the Patriots in Super Bowl XX.

Unfortunately, unlike the “Tush Push,” Perry’s push never gained any ground.

California Quake ... Do you remember the Cowboys’ Butch Johnson in the 80s? He created the “California Quake,” as he shook his entire body after a touchdown grab and then pretended to shoot pistols from a holster.

The league came down on Johnson for the shooting image.

Shufflin’ Along Again ... In 1988, Cincinnati rookie fullback Eldreth “Ickey” Woods was the next to make a dancing splash with his “Ickey Shuffle” after scoring each of his 15 touchdowns with a simple in, out and up move. The 6-2, 231-pound Woods also rushed for 1,006 yards.

Unfortunately, Woods only played in 21 games over the next three years due to knee injuries, and his career was over.

More Shufflin ... In the 90s, Deion Sanders created the “Deion Shuffle” after an interception, punt return or a touchdown. His dance was heightened by the Falcons’ — or the “Dirty Birds” — 1998 Super Bowl run under Jerry Glanville. M.C. Hammer was linked to the team and the dance with his “Hammertime” and “To Legit To Quit” songs.

During the same year, Falcons’ running back Jamal Anderson created the “Dirty Bird” dance.

For those who want to try it, here’s what Sanders did:

Step with the left foot, bringing your right foot up to the left upper calf/knee area as you repeat the motion with the right foot, bringing your left peg toward the upper calf/knee area; and then step with your left foot again, repeating step two twice.

It may be more fun with a football.

You can see the results of a Times News Facebook poll regarding the above mentioned celebrations in next week’s column.

Valley’s Favorite Driver ... If there is one name that is synonymous with Indy Car racing in the area, it is Mario Andretti. Nazareth’s famous son recently celebrated his 85th birthday.

Andretti, who won the Indy 500 in 1969, captured the IndyCar series four times and recorded 52 wins and 65 pole positions over 407 races in 31 years. He also notched 12 victories over 12 years on the Formula One circuit. Andretti is the only driver to win the Daytona 500, Indy 500 and a Formula One championship.

Over the years, Andretti’s name has been mentioned in numerous movies and songs. One of the more popular song references was Amy Grant’s “Good For Me” in 1991, and a relatively unknown one was Charlie Daniels’ “Uneasy Rider” in 1973.

Another Classic Game (Item): Do you remember “The Big Chief” tablet?

It was a product of the 60s, and most of us were enamored with it due to the red cover of an American Indian chief in full headdress.

The tablet was made with newsprint paper and features widely spaced lines, easier to use for those learning to write.

It was a gimmick of a simple tablet that sold us.

Another Miracle On Ice? ... In late February and early March in 1960, the USA Hockey team won its first gold medal when it defeated Canada, the Soviet Union, Sweden and Czechoslovakia — who were the top four seeds in the Winter Games that were held in Squaw Valley, California. The U.S. team won all of its seven games, and it was coached by Jack Riley.

Tommy Williams was the lone player to log minutes in the NHL. He played for 17 seasons for Boston, Minnesota, California (Golden Seals), Washington and the WHA New England Whalers.

Vinyl History ... A prior “Tush” was back in 1975 when ZZ Top released “Tush” (Texas version of touch) from their album “Fandango.”

By the way, the No. 1 song that week on “Casey Kasem’s American Top 40” back in 1976 was the theme from “S.W.A.T.” Remember that show?

WWF/WWE Wrap ... Each week, I’ll look back at a former wrestler who we watched growing up.

Do you remember Tony “Mr. USA” Atlas?

Born Anthony White in Roanoke, Virginia, Atlas is famous for his military press slam, as well as for being the first man to press slam and pin Hulk Hogan. Atlas was a three-time “Mr. USA.”

After beginning his career in 1974 in the NWA, Atlas appeared in the WWWF in 1979, and would often feud with Jesse “The Body” Ventura on who had the better physique. Atlas teamed with Rocky Johnson — father of The “Rock”, Dwayne Johnson — to form the “Soul Patrol.” They defeated The Wild Samoans in 1983 for the tag-team title, and were the first African American championship tandem.

Atlas moved on to the NWA and gained heavyweight and tag-team titles there before he returned to the WWF in 1990 and began wrestling as “Saba Simba,” portraying himself as a street person discovered by Vince McMahon. He moved on to wrestle for World Championship Wrestling and the independent circuit.

Overall, Atlas compiled an overall record of 1,541-446 with 158 draws. The 70-year-old is still active and wrestled in a tag-team match Jan. 2.

Memory Lane ... Each week, I’ll look back at a former player, manager, coach or media personality from our yesterday.

In keeping with the sports’ dance theme, does anyone remember Philly’s unofficial mascot Yo-Yo?

He was a homeless man from the city who managed to find a home in the Palestra for Big 5 college basketball games, as well as the Vet for Phillies’ games. Yo-Yo, whose real name was Harry Shifren, was a short, stout, lovable and likable character who loved to create his own dances at timeouts or between innings.

At college games, he would emerge from the corner, while he often was found in the Vets’ box seat area. Longtime Vet organist Paul Richardson would play a rendition of “Hava Nagila” when Yo-Yo was spotted. He was also frequently spotted on college basketball and Phillies’ broadcasts.

Yo-Yo passed away at age 71 in 1979.

Your thoughts are always welcomed; email them to tnsports@tnonline.com