old_school posted:johnnysako posted:old_school posted: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.
A few weeks later I was at the Eagle Giants game in Phily and a man was walking around with a bloody 88 jersey on and a stretcher taped around him. He was famous that day. Yes, Philly fans are that bad, the prefer blood over wins. I've lived 30 minutes from Philly for 46 years.
That is good work by him...I am sure he got many free drinks in the parking the lot pregame!
They prefer wins - you have been brainwashed like so much of the country, it is a shame.
Dunno - I lived there for a decade and ask any Iggle fan what the greatest Iggle game ever was and you will get one answer - "The Body Bag Game". They did win but that was secondary to the number of players dragged off the field in that game.
Most amusing fans anywhere - by a mile. Many of them actually realize how ridicules they are and still can't help themselves which makes it even funnier. I had a lot of fun with them ...they take as good as they get when they realize you can take it. The people there and South Jersey are really great.