Originally I planned on writing a little feel good story about Opening Day, heading around the league, with a nice little “rah! rah!” feel. That was until I woke up, poured a cup of coffee and opened the Philadelphia Daily News.
Upon flipping through the sports section, I came along an article about a Giants fan that was beaten into critical condition after leaving Thursday night’s Dodgers/Giants game.
Three Giants fans were leaving Dodger Stadium Thursday, when they were followed by two Dodgers fans who started taunting them and yelling “Giants slurs” (whatever the hell those are supposed to be). I guess the “slurs” didn’t get the point across, because they decided to beat the shit out of one of the Giants fans, to the point where he was hospitalized in critical condition. As of today, Bryan Stow, 41, of Santa Cruz, lies in a hospital in a medical induced coma due to swelling on his brain. Stay classy Los Angeles…
I’ll get back to these complete pieces of shit as I digress, but I want to address something first.
I did a little digging about this incident, on sports websites and national news publications, and outside of the LA Times and San Francisco Chronicle, it wasn’t even considered newsworthy enough or it was buried pages back in a sports column. This got me thinking. If this happened in Philadelphia, it would make national headlines. No you say? It was but less than a year ago when a drunk Phillies fan (who incidentally was from New Jersey, not Philadelphia), vomited on a little girl while at a Phillies game. This story made national news and was a featured story on CNN.
Although I’m a native New Yorker, I consider myself a Philadelphian. Aside from the Knicks (who somehow let the Sixers pass them in the standings), my allegiance lies with the Phillies, Flyers, Eagles, Oilers, and Orioles. Philadelphia is my home and is I don’t ever plan on leaving. It’s a city full of history, culture, and great people. Although everything I’ve stated is true, Philadelphia has long gotten a bad rap for being terrible sports fans.
Ever since Eagles fans booed and pelted Santa Claus with snow balls, all Philly sports fans are labeled assholes. This stereotype, which is blatantly ignorant (especially since the Santa incident is a bit dated considering it happened in 1968), because Philadelphia has some of the most passionate knowledgeable fans in the world. Are some Philly fans assholes? Sure they are but my stance is they are assholes in every city (ask Bryan Stow should he come out of his coma).
On the subject of assholes, let’s go back to these shitbags from Thursday night. They are only but a piece of one of the worst fan bases in the country; Los Angeles.
Los Angeles is an absolute joke as a sports city. You would think the second largest city in the country could hold a football team. Nope. They lost the Rams to St. Louis and the Raiders back to Oakland (that’s right, LA fans suck so much, Al Davis moved his Raiders BACK to Oakland). This happened in the same year! The biggest money making sport in the country couldn’t even hold down a football team. As for the Dodgers, while they do have good attendance annually, no one arrives until the 3rd inning. Anytime I watch at Dodgers game on TV, I’m amazed at the empty seats when the game starts. I suppose it’s cool to be fashionably late to a baseball game in LaLa Land. Honestly the only team anyone gives a shit about is the Lakers (and surprisingly the Kings almost average a shutout per game), and that’s more about a fashion show then actual basketball (this is why I respect that Bill Simmons is a Clippers season ticket holder).
Let’s not forget about the violence. When you have to worry about supporting an opposing team because you might get jumped, there’s a serious f*cking problem. Oh, this isn’t the first time a stunt like this has happened. After Opening Day 2009, Arthur Alvarez was arrested with assault with a deadly weapon, after he stabbed a Giants fan in the parking lot after the Dodgers beat the Giants 11-1. Is it Dodger tradition to try and kill an opposing fan after an Opening Day victory?
It doesn’t end with Los Angeles. What about Washington DC? As much as I hate the Redskins, I really have pity for them. Dan Snyder shouldn’t be allowed to own a dog, no less a sports franchise, so I’ll leave the ‘Skins and their sad sack fans alone (Do you guys still think McNabb is the QB to take you to the playoffs?). Our nation’s capital has lost not one, but two baseball franchises in it's history, and after given a third still cannot sell out an Opening Day.
After opening Thursday afternoon against the Braves, the Nationals drew a pathetic 39,055 fans (this was the announced attendance). This was the smallest Opening Day crowd since the Expos left Montreal. There was over 2,000 empty seats (which did appear to be more in highlights). I guess the addition of Jayson Werth didn’t really get the fan base excited.
How about New York? That’s right, you sons of bitches aren’t getting off that easy. Being a native, I’ve seen this first hand. I remember growing up and all you saw was Mets gear. Could it be possible that the Mets were at the top of the league, while the Yankees were floundering? I’m not saying they're fair-weather fans, but it’s amazing how in the late 90’s everyone became a Yankees fan. Funny how that works.
I’ve had my own personal experiences being a fan of a different team at New York sporting events. I’ve had beer hurled at me at a Yankees/Orioles game, and pelted with peanuts at a Phillies/Mets game. While I’m smart enough to ignore assholes stupidity, not everyone is, so fights do occur, which is what the antagonizing asshole wants.
Let’s not forget about the John Rocker incident. In case you forgot (New Yorker’s still haven’t), the former Braves closer gave an interview to Sports Illustrated in December 1999, ripping apart the Mets and the City of New York. Granted a lot of the things he said were ignorant (but pretty damn funny), and made Rocker look like the hillbilly racist redneck he is, Mets fans were completely outraged. Calls poured into WFAN with threats of pelting him with D batteries, quarters, and even possible death. Not saying what Rocker did was right, but he made these moronic statements after being continuously hassled while warming up in the bullpen during the playoffs, and taking the mound to the chant of “Ass-Hole”.
This isn’t the first time New Yorkers have threatened violence on an athlete. In 1985 the Yankees signed pitcher Ed Whitson. After a rough start to his Yankee career, Whitson constantly received hate mail from fans and verbal abuse that was so vile; he wouldn’t let his wife attend home games. Shortly after the numerous threats (and a bar fight with then manager Billy Martin), the Yankees dealt him back to the San Diego Padres. Whitson’s next trip to New York for a series with the Mets he received a death threat to his hotel room and had to be escorted to the stadium with the commissioner’s security team. New York doesn’t fight opposing fans; they’d rather go right after their own players. Way to make the city proud New York.
I lived in Atlanta for a few years in the late 90’s, and it was the most bizarre sports city I’ve ever lived in. Fair-weather isn’t a word in Atlanta; it’s a way of life. I recall buying Braves playoff tickets at the window on game day, and sitting within 20 rows from the field.
I remember Week 1 of the 1999 NFL season. The Falcons had just come off a Superbowl loss to the Denver Broncos. I was lucky enough to score sold-out tickets to Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. Running back Jamal Anderson hurt his knee early in the game and the Falcons lost the game 13-10. After the game it was found out Anderson was out for the season. The Falcons didn’t have another sellout the rest of the season, and fans couldn’t watch home games on TV due to it not being a sellout.
Don’t even get me started on the Hawks and Thrashers. The Hawks attendance was so bad my buddy Melvin and I would buy $10 rafter tickets and move almost court side on a regular basis. I also attended the inaugural game for the Thrashers. While it was sold out, it was obvious residents of “The Little Apple” (that’s what I was told they call it when I first got to town), had no idea what hockey actually was. No wonder they lost the Flames in 1980.
I’m sure I can make points about every city that has a sports team, but what is the point. The only real city that gets the wrap is Philadelphia. While some fans do embrace it and jump on the stereotype (remember, assholes in every city), most intelligent fans will laugh it off because we know (I spoke to a few friends today about the incident in LA and the first thing they all said was “you know if it happened in Philadelphia it would be national news”). If you live or have lived in Philadelphia, you know it’s true.
Here are a few little tidbits about what shitty fans we are here in Philadelphia.
- As Cliff Lee prepares to take the mound against the Astros tonight, it’s the 130th consecutive sellout. This is the second longest active streak in baseball. Only the Red Sox have a higher sellout streak (which is somewhere in the mid-600’s). Before opening day already over 3 million tickets have been sold. It’s also nearly impossible to find a Flyers or Eagles ticket in the city, that doesn’t come from a scalper of Stubhub.
- Speaking of Lee, he turned down the Yankees lucrative contract offer NOT because of the New York media or the rumor that a Yankee fan poured a beer on his wife during the World Series (another class move), but because he wanted to play in Philadelphia. He made it clear he never wanted to leave here the first time and jumped at the chance to return because he wants to win, loves the city, and loves the fans. He feels the fans are the 10th player on the field, and here in Philly we embrace this.
- Flyers forward Mike Richards and Jeff Carter both signed long term contracts to stay in Philadelphia (12 and 11 years respectfully). Sure they’re Mexicans in sweaters, but they embrace the city and the passion behind it.
I can continue about Philadelphia (just as I’m sure people in other cities can make their own case), but I actually want to watch Lee dismantle the Astros offense (currently 2-0 in the bottom of the second), but if I can sum up the average Philly fan it would be passion and loyalty.
Do Philly fans boo? Yes, name one city that doesn’t. Do we chant opposing players? Yes, it’s our job. Do we get on our own players? Yes, it’s part of the passion. Do we live and die with our teams? Without a doubt.
Don’t believe the media hype. I’m proud to be a Philadelphia sports fan. We’re the best fans in the world!
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