I’ve noticed a disturbing trend in the sports section of the Voice. In the past month, two articles have not only criticized the sports fans in my hometown, the most passionate city in the United States, but also have used the conduct of these same fans as an excuse to bash the city where our own Constitution was written in the long, hot summer of 1787.
And so, in defense of the great city founded by William Penn and settled by Ben Franklin, I present the following reasons why any person, having recognized the plight of the Philadelphia fans, would understand why we boo and agree that in the same situation as Philly fans, they too would boo.
First off, the fans of Philadelphia are the Judge Judys of the sports world?they don’t like putting up with bullshit. Examples of said bullshit abound in the history of every major sports team in Philadelphia. Our football team, the Eagles, dismantled one of the greatest defenses of all time in the early ‘90s and gave us head coach Rich Kotite in return. Our hockey team, the Flyers, traded every member of its farm system, including dominating center Peter Forsberg, as well as every hot dog vendor and hockey puck it could find for the most brittle pretty boy of all time, Eric Lindros. Our basketball team, the Sixers, once traded No. 1 NBA Draft pick and future hall-of-famer Moses Malone in a three-way deal for also-rans Jeff Ruland and Roy Hinson. Our baseball team, the Phillies, has never made a significant free-agent signing in its history, unless you count the underachieving Gregg Jefferies, limiting our prized free-agent catches to players like Terry Adams and Andy Ashby. There is a reason you’ve never heard of these guys. When this bullshit occurs, and seemingly more often in Philadelphia than in any other major sports city, the fans exercise their fundamental right as fans and boo.
Secondly, sports teams in Philadelphia lose most of the time. Case in point: No major sports team in Philadelphia has won a championship in my lifetime. Furthermore, the Phillies, as a franchise, date back to the late 1800s, but have won only one world championship during that time. Their next one is due in 2080. The Eagles have never won a Super Bowl and have only even been to one; the Flyers, although consistently better than average, have lost in their last five Stanley Cup appearances The Sixers, the last Philadelphia team to win a title, in 1983, have yet to find the correct corn-rowed design in Allen Iverson’s hair to put them over the top. Fans are so starved for successes that there actually was some debate about whether to hold a citywide ticker-tape parade for a minor league hockey team that won a championship a few years back. Most cities would need a holding cell under their stadium to deal with all the fans sick and tired of this ineptitude.
Finally, I will address the specific incidents where Philly fans have been most criticized in their history. Yes, we did boo Santa Claus at an Eagles game in the early ‘70s, but only because he was drunk at the time, making a mockery of all things that Santa Claus stands for, such as being sober. Yes, we did boo first-round draft pick Donovan McNabb on draft day a few years back, but that’s because fans wanted the sure thing, running back Ricky Williams, and not another pick based on potential like former Eagle selections Leonard Renfro, Lester Holmes and Antone Davis. Yes, we did cheer when Michael Irvin ended his career, twisting his neck on the Vet Stadium turf. But Michael Irvin is an overrated asshole. And yes, we did boo Kobe Bryant three weeks ago at the NBA All-Star game because fans in Philly always thought he was too phony and stuck-up; his condescending comments towards the fans during last year’s finals didn’t help the matter, either.
Next time you hear of Philadelphia fans committing a raucous act of booing and then being trashed by the media all over the country, realize that this booing does not come without well-supported reasons. Instead of criticizing Philadelphia, simply let us enjoy our cheesesteaks, Tastykakes and Yuenglings and feel our pain. Besides, when we finally do win a championship, you will see a festival of love so immense that even Judge Judy will shed a tear of happiness. E-A-G-L-E-S?EAGLES!
Liam Dillon is a first-year student in the College and sports editor of The Georgetown Voice. People who put ketchup on cheese-steaks make him cry.
