I've had the privilege of living in St. Louis for nearly a year and visiting on several occasions (hence my affinity for the Cards). People there, and Missourians in general are warm and laid back, generally unpretentious and considerate, much like Texans in many ways but with a different accent. St. Louis was more South than North from my experience there, with parts of the city subject to racial tensions.
Totally hear you about Philly and other places (Chicago?) - would your friend have been welcomed there with a Rangers jersey?
Hear you about the hurt, too. I felt exactly the same way during the Stanley Cup this past summer with the Canucks coming oh, so close, trying to get their first championship.
“would your friend have been welcomed there with a Rangers jersey?”
In Philly, or Chicago, or NY, or SF, I think my friend would have ended up in the hospital, or dead.
I’ve been reading how bad my Rangers choked, and what a horrible series it was, but I don’t see it. Any series that goes 7 can’t be a bad one. :)