Over the years, Philadelphia fans have booed Santa Claus as well as their own star players. They've even booed a guy who just helped the city win a friggin' World Series title—while he was getting his ring. Boooo! Admittedly, there are some things fans have cheered. Like Michael Irvin's career-ending neck injury and a fan being tased on the outfield grass. Things reached their nadir last season, when Citizens Bank Park played host to arguably the most heinous incident in the history of sports: A drunken fan intentionally vomited on an 11-year-old girl. The truth is this: All told, Philadelphia stadiums house the most monstrous collection of humanity outside of the federal penal system. "Some of these people would boo the crack in the Liberty Bell," baseball legend Pete Rose once said. More likely, these savages would have thrown the battery that cracked it.
Google image search result #1: Phillies fansIt seems like the author of this article has it out for the City of Brotherly Love, for "savages" like me and Nadine. The fans I know and love are some of the best and most loyal fans on earth, and that's a "most loyal" based on science and being able to count the Phillies caps while walking around the city on any given day. I want to argue further but I haven't had any coffee yet, and this dude's reaction pretty much sums up everything I would have wanted to say:
I think the worst fans are the ones that don't boo. These are professional athletes, not kids. They are paid to do this. We should expect everything from the Phillies. We buy tickets, jerseys, and hats. We read about the Phillies year round. We get excited every March when baseball season approaches. Is it so wrong to voice our opinions? I'm glad I am part of a city that cares so much about their teams. Let's face the facts. Phillies fans aren't any more misbehaved than other passionate fans in Chicago, New York, and Boston. If GQ wants to find fans to call the worst, they should look at a city where no one shows up at the ballpark. Philadelphia Phillies fans line up every game to get the last few standing-room-only tickets. Contrary to what the media might say, we aren't buying tickets just to boo our team. We are doing it because we love the Phillies, we love the ballpark, and we love baseball. We are the best fans in America. We show up to every game, read every article, call the local stations, and watch every game on television. Yes, we are loud. That's what comes with being a passionate fan.Feel free to get all nostalgic about your favorite fan moments in the comments.
3 comments:
I recall an Eagles home game in the last few years when a ref was starting making a call but then lost his focus and paused for a second to regroup and get the call right. It only took the slightest hesitation until 30% of the Linc started booing him.
But that's what you get, ref. Do your job right and you don't get booed. If you fuck up, we'll let you know it. Do you want thick skin or to be babied all your life?
If Phillies fans are the worst fans in baseball, then why do the fans, ballpark and city play such a large role in bringing players like Cliff Lee back to the team (not to mention making players like Jayson Werth-less super-salty that they're stuck on teams that by definition suck)?
Just sayin'.
favorite fan moment: brett myers' walk off sabathia in the 2008 nlds.
dare i say, couldn't have happened without fans who understand the minute details of the game as well as we do? listen to that crowd, gq douchebags.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SULvnBmxa5k
Post a Comment