There's been a lot of negative talk on this blog about the bandwagon nature of Rays fans. That they're all these idiots who suddenly love the team because they're winning and what not. Well, I've had enough of it. As you can probably tell, I'm rooting for the Rays (which I guess makes me a bandwagon fan as well). So in honor of the Rays fans getting mocked time and time again, I'll direct my ire squarely at Philly fans......of all sports.
I will say one thing about Philly area fans, they are dedicated. But completely deranged. So let's look at their stunning achievements over time.
- In 1999, fans jeered Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin as he lay on the field for 20 minutes, suffering from a neck injury that ended his career.
- That same year, fans threw D batteries at St. Louis Cardinals outfielder J.D. Drew, who held out for a year after the Phillies drafted him and eventually signed with the Cards instead.
- Matthew Scott, the only person in the United States to have received a hand transplant, was asked by the Phillies to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the team's home opener in 1999. The pitch, from his transplanted hand, dribbled over the plate. The fans booed.
- Eagles fans famously blasted Santa Claus with a shower of snowballs at halftime of a game as St. Nick circled helplessly around the field before stadium officials rescued him.
- The Redskins mascot and the Hogettes once were attacked in the stands.
- During this MLB season, during a game against the Mets, Phillies fans cheered a Jose Reyes injury, then booed when he was found to be OK.
- Former Redskins kicker Mark Moseley, who had the first kickoff ever at the stadium while he was playing for the Eagles, didn't look forward to playing there. "It was always a tough place to play," he said. "The crowd was always rowdy and nasty, some very rough people. One time I got hit in the head with a bottle. It was a good thing I had my helmet on."
- Philadelphia fans famously booed native Kobe Bryant when he came to town for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game.
- In 1981, the Eagles faithful bombarded the visiting Dallas team with snowballs - some of which allegedly contained batteries. Ex-Philadelphia mayor and current Pennsylvania State governor (and fanatical Eagles fan) Ed Rendell is widely believed to have thrown the (battery-free) snowball that smacked the Dallas coach in the head.
- Recently egged the Redskins bus after the Skins beat down the Eagles in Philly.
- Phillies fans were actually proud to be fans of the first MLB team ever to 10,000 losses.
A drunk, passed out Phillies fan? That never happens. Oh wait, yes it does, all the time in fact.
So let people mock the Rays fans all they want. At least Rays fans won't pass out behind the wheel of running car in park.
Go Rays.
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