Stay classy, Philadelphia

by Darren Meenan January 22, 2018

Listen, there are knuckleheads in every fan base. It's a shame when a whole group gets painted with the same brush over an isolated incident. But Philadelphia sports fans being jerks is no isolated incident. To some, it seems like violence and destruction is seen as a rite of passage.

Besides booing and pelting Santa with snowballs in 1968, who knows what else went down before the digital age. On Sunday, Philadelphia Eagles fans did their best to live up to their stellar reputation.

It's always classy in Philadelphia. https://t.co/qb0Z1UDMeb
— The 7 Line (@The7Line) January 21, 2018

I, too, have been involved in a couple incidents down in Philly. The latest was in April of 2012. My wife and I watched the Mets lose a Sunday day game, and as we were headed back to my car, we heard "FUCK THE METS!" while a glass beer bottle was hurled our way. Crashing about 10 feet behind us. We didn't see who threw it, and I'm not about to go 1 on 20 with some Philly trash. We chalked it up as "hey, that's Philly for ya" and head home. It's unfortunate.

Booing and heckling are part of sports. That's expected. When we bring The 7 Line Army on the road, we're fully prepared and ready to get our fair share of it, and we dish it back. It's actually pretty fun and adds to the excitement. There is a line though, and it seems like, more often than not, that line gets crossed by Philadelphia sports fans. Are there "bad" Mets fans? Sure. I'm not here to stand up for the entire fan base, or claim that we're all saints. We're not. No fan base is completely clean.

I wasn't too shocked to hear how many of my fellow Mets fans have had horrible experiences down at Citizens Bank Park.

Yes, a Phillies fan tossed a glass bottle at my wife and I a few years ago as we walked back to my car after the game. Calling someone "crazy" on twitter isn't that serious btw. The internet isn't for the sensitive. https://t.co/LtMwOS8SUm
— Darren Meenan (@DarrenJMeenan) January 22, 2018

My car tires were slashed , had to stay over in Camden
— CurlingFan🥌🥌🥌🇺🇸scott (@metsFanscotty) January 22, 2018

Also had a terrible experience at Citizens Bank.
Wife and I were there for a Met game got food thrown at us, fans trying to bait me into fight, during rain delay tried getting into McFaddens, guys elbowing my wife in the ribs. All we did was show up in Mets gear. Never again.
— Curb Your Optimism (@JTDuke11) January 22, 2018

I was at aMets v Phillies game. Mets swept and a guy punched me right in the back in that spot where you lose air. Most disrespectful fans!!!
— DianeP (@DianeP81) January 22, 2018

I too was harassed to no end at a Phil’s - Mets game, and I was behind the Mets dugout. Fissured it would be the safest place. Threatened my wife, tried to bait me into a fight where clearly I would have been outnumbered and nearly killed. Usher only warned them.
— Rob Savage (@MisterMet74) January 22, 2018

I also had a beer bottle thrown at me while I was putting ketchup on my hot dog at CBP. Pretty scary. Some guys then told my then eight year old son to fuck off when he was cheering for the Mets. Classy bunch those philthie fans are.
— Debbie Goldman (@Goldiegirl1024) January 22, 2018

Not quite sure what the solution is, but Philly as a whole just needs to do better. If you've had a positive experience down there, consider yourself lucky.