RJM posted:Utley was cheered for being a very good player and a member of a World Series winner. But I guarantee for most Philadelphia fans blowing up a Met is still icing on the cake. This is a fan base who cheered Michael Irving getting blown up and laying still on the field.
I lived in the area for eighteen years. My kids grew up there and still live there after college. Philadelphia fans are bipolar and psychotic. More entertaining then watching a Philadelphia team win is listening to sports talk radio after they lose.
I was at the game with Irvin...nobody realized how bad he was hurt. That may or may not have changed any behavior but the legend is way beyond the true story. Plus even the most unreasonable cowboy fans I know will agree Irvin was a scumbag and didn't feel bad for him.
Utley is revered for winning yes but more due to how he played and his approach to the game. His attitude and comments were never anything but class, he never ripped the fans - he was the face for the generation.
Rollins, Howard, Burrell, Chooch, Hamills, Victorino were / are honored but nothing even close to Utley. The only thing similar to Utley and that generation of Phillies is Bobby Clark and some of the Broad Street Bullies - from 35 years ago.