Philadelphia fans traveled to New York in 1999 to boo future star quarterback Donovan McNabb at the draft. They booed McNabb after he won the NFC title. In fact, Donovan McNabb may be the most booed man ever to win 65% of his games.
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As the Stanley Cup Finals wrapped up in Philadelphia last night, we in the television viewing audience got to witness another in a long series of disgraceful acts by Philly sports fans.
The arena-shaking boos that rained down as Lord Stanley’s Cup was carried onto the ice highlighted a classlessness that is unparalleled throughout the rest of the hockey world. However, to understand the depths to which Philadelphia sports fans sink in order to maintain the image of “Worst Sports City in the World†we have to go back…
Way back. Â All the way to 1949, in fact, for the first noteworthy self-shaming in Philly.
That was when the Philadelphia Phillies were forced to forfeit a game against the Giants after an onslaught of glass bottles from the stands lasted over 15 minutes.
At the 15-minute mark, fans were surely finishing freshly-purchased containers to rain down onto the playing field, and umpires wisely ended the contest. This first (and only) attempt at public art in Philadelphia was widely misinterpreted as anger at a blown call against Hall of Fame Phillies outfielder Richie Ashburn.
By the 1960’s Phillies fans had learned to focus their rage.
Dick Allen, the first prominent African-American player to don a Phillies uniform, was initially only the subject of racial epithets and casual obscenities when he joined the team in 1963.
That all changed when white teammate (also a noted bully & racist) Frank Thomas whacked Allen with a baseball bat during practice and a fist-fight ensued. Thomas was subsequently fired from the team, and Philadelphia’s fan base responded by throwing fruit, ice, trash and flashlight batteries at Allen… every time he took the field. The abuse prompted Allen to wear a batting helmet while fielding, earning him the nickname “Crash Helmetâ€.
By the late 60’s Philadelphia’s bad manners had spread to the NFL’s Franklin Field, where the Philadelphia Eagles were wrapping up a 2-12 season.
The halftime entertainment was supposed to be a cheery Santa Claus, but the man hired to play Santa never showed. (Conversation with agent: “You booked me where?†“Philadelphia. Franklin Field for halftime at the Eagles game.†“Well I ain’t showin. That’s a death sentence. Those people are awful. I’d rather be in Jersey.â€) The hired Santa is reputed to have spent the day at a racing track in New Jersey.
The Eagles responded by picking a fan out of the crowd who was already dressed as Santa, handing him a large sack, and sending him out onto the field. Because the float that was supposed to convey Santa Claus around the field got stuck in mud and slush, fan-Santa had to hoof it. By the time 20-year-old Frank Olivo reached the south end of the stadium, hundreds of snowballs were raining down on him from all sides and heights.
“That’s when the booing started,†recalled Olivo. “At first, I was scared because it was so loud. But then I figured, hey, it was just good-natured teasing. I’m a Philadelphia fan, I knew what was what.â€
If Franklin Field was bad, though, Veterans Stadium was pure hell.
It was due to the notorious violence and bloodshed in the 700 level of The Vet that Philadelphia became the first NFL team to build a courthouse and jail within the confines of its stadium. The court, complete with a regular judge, expedited the weekly trips by Eagles fans from seats to cells.
But the proud tradition of going to a sporting event to make a monumental ass of yourself and your city had only just begun.
Philadelphia fans traveled to New York  in 1999 to boo future star quarterback Donovan McNabb at the draft. They booed McNabb after he won the NFC title. In fact, Donovan McNabb may be the most booed man ever to win 65% of his games.
Philadelphia booed the World Series Champion Phillies at the ring celebration, and brawls broke out as the title flag was raised at Citizens Bank Park. They booed Sarah Palin as she dropped the ceremonial puck at a Flyers game last year, and they booed NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman as he walked onto the ice last night.
The only thing that Philadelphia fans have ever certifiably cheered for was Michael Irvin’s career-ending neck injury. As the Hall of Fame receiver lay crumpled on the Veterans Stadium turf, Philadelphia broke into a rousing round of applause.
So it was no surprise when Flyers fans booed the Cup.
Nor when they booed the Conn Smythe Trophy and its presentation to Finals MVP Jonathan Toews.
It was not surprising when they booed as Bettman congratulated the Flyers on an excellent season, or when they booed (louder) as former Flyers player and draft pick Patrick Sharp hoisted the One True Cup jubilantly over his head.
No classless, horrendous act is surprising in Philadelphia after a fan intentionally vomited on an 11-year-old girl in May, another sprinted around the Citizens Bank field before getting tasered to the ground in April, and yet another drank from a beer bottle in June… did I mention that this particular beer-drinking Phillies fan was 4 years old?
It is expected now. Par for the course. A shame in the Land of Shame.
So when Flyers fans disgraced a noble presentation (The Cup) in a still-noble sport (hockey) it was not surprising. But it was still disgraceful. Still a pathetic example of a sports fan base with no regard for tradition, honor, or even their own players and teams.
As Flyers and Blackhawks players skated shoulder-to-shoulder after the game shaking hands in a long line of respectful sportsmanship that dates back more than a century, the Philadelphia fans booed.
Players who had moments before been waging bloody warfare, driving each others bodies into boards and ice, were still respectful of the game itself and of their fellow players who gave as much to get this far. So these ice warriors congratulated each other on having played their hearts out for the game they love.
And Philadelphia booed…
The contrast could not have been more striking.
