Philly Trip Not Worth the Risk, Bucs Fans Say

St. Petersburg Times ^ | 1/15/03 | Wes Allison

[Physicist]

Like Don and Teri Adams treatment at the hands of union goons?

That's politics. In that case, Philly is far worse than its reputation. If only the mafia would take over the corrupt apparatus and clean it up!

[TroutStalker]

Being from central PA, we always thought everything in Philly was about (corrupt) politics.

[mhking]

Don't show up wearing the opposition's colors

Which means that Tampa fans shouldn't make the trip. 'Nuff said.

[E Rocc]

If you want friendly fans, come to Cincinnati.

I went to the first game at Paul Brown Stadium. My section was 2/3 Browns fans, with a significant portion of the rest Kentucky fans wearing Tim Couch jerseys. >:)

-Eric

[wku man]

Yeah, right. I'm not sure what planet you're from, but Bucs fans aren't making excuses for anything, and this fan is predicting that after Sunday, the Iggles will have to live with the fact that they got beaten in their last game at the Vet. The Bucs are ready this year. I look forward to facing Tennessee in San Diego. If I'm wrong, remind me on Monday, and I'll eat the approprite serving of crow. But that won't happen...the Bucs are gonna do it this year.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[Starboard]

I heard some guy on SportsTalk radio this morning say that in 'the Vet' its safer to be on the field than it is to be in the stands!

[Ditto]

Is this true? Are Philly fans more rowdy than fans in other cities, or is this just journalistic overreaction?

It VERY true. The same goes for baseball which in most places has more laid-back fans. Not in Philly.

[Physicist]

When Irvin had his career ended in that sorry excuse for a stadium, Philly cheered!

That was one of the shameful incidents I had in mind. It's good to cheer a hard hit (seeing Mike Vick get plastered was sweet, even for a die-hard Hokie like me), but of course the cheering should stop when the trainers come out.

But who knew at the time that Irvin would never play again? And who was cheering when that became apparent, long after the game? Get back to me when you have the poll numbers in hand showing that Eagles fans were pleased about that.

[Media Insurgent]

NFL fans are probably the rowdiest, but baseball fans can be pretty bad too. I made the mistake of wearing an Orioles cap to Yankee Stadium a few years back, for a game where the Yanks weren't even playing the Orioles. About 50-100 drunks in the bleachers started pointing at me & chanting "Baltimore sucks! Go home!" for about 5 minutes. I just smiled and didn't anwer back, so there was no violence, but the security guard told me that the last Orioles fan to sit in that section had to be escorted out for his own saftey under a barrage of beer cups and various other projectiles.

I think the key is for visting fans in any sport is to stay cool, don't mouth off, and have a sense of humor if people start ribbing you. There is absolutely no excuse for someone assaulting you because of who you root for, but you have to use common sense. Walking into a bunch of drunk, adreniline-charged young males in a mob-mentality environment is a sensitive situation. The slightest perceive provocation can lead to violence. Just be smart, and the worst that will happen will probably just be verbal abuse.

[Catspaw]

I live in Green Bay. We may tease folks who show up in opponent's colors for a game, but we don't beat the living crap out of these opponents--we invite them to our tailgate parties if they don't have one of their own, and if they come to a late season game & are ill-prepared for the weather, we give them warm clothes to wear.

We don't have to have a court in Lambeau field. We don't have to have warnings not to wear opponent's colors to the game. We don't have travel agents refusing to book trips to Green Bay for games.

Face it: Philly fans are the worst in the League.

[Physicist]

I'm not sure what planet you're from,

Earth, the planet where the Bucs can't win the big game. ;^)

[amused]

Is this true? Are Philly fans more rowdy than fans in other cities, or is this just journalistic overreaction?

Philly fans are Raiders fans without the fancy costumes.

[End Times Sentinel]

But, face it. The Eagles' fans deserve the sorry reputation they've gotten.

When Irvin had his career ended in that sorry excuse for a stadium, Philly cheered!.

Then by that logic, the Denver fans would be just as bad, correct?

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[the tongue]

I live in the Philadelphia area but haven't been to an Eagles game since 1983. Not because of rowdiness, but because I find pro football boring as hell live. Anyway, it was the opening game of the season, playing the Redskins in a year when the Skins were good, and the Eagles were lousy. My brother got the tickets through a contractor friend of his who was trying to bribe my brother the insurance adjuster for more work. We had spectacular seats in the lower level, right behind where the Skins wives were sitting. The wives were quite obnoxious in a visiting stadium, but it doesn't excuse what happened to these poor women. They were quite exuberant throughout the whole game, which the Skins won handily. Every time they cheered and waved their tomahawks,epithets were thrown at them along with food, beer, and other things, including FULL beer and soda cans. There was one Skins fan who was walking around with a full Indian headdress and makeup. I read in the newspaper the next day that this guy was beaten up by several Eagles fans, and refused treatment at an area hospital, pleading with the cops,"Just let me get the hell out of this asylum." So are Eagles fans nuts? Absolutely!!! And here in the Delaware Valley, we wouldn't have it any other way.

[Catspaw]

I may just watch the game as an interested observer and not pick any team to cheer for or against.

[Duke809]

It VERY true. The same goes for baseball which in most places has more laid-back fans. Not in Philly.

When was the last time you were at a Phillies game? Unless the Mets are playing. Then the trouble usually is started by a Mets fan.

When the Phils are playing interleague and the Yankees come in, the place is packed. Everyone talking baseball. No fights, no nothing.

Since 95 there haven't been enough fans in the stands to even start a fight anyway.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

But who knew at the time that Irvin would never play again? And who was cheering when that became apparent, long after the game? Get back to me when you have the poll numbers in hand showing that Eagles fans were pleased about that.

Talk about rationalizations! The post game poll showing the Eagle fans level of displeasure? Come on, it's a little late for all that. (And I despise Dallas)

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Good to see that that the tried and true, "Hey, everybody else does it", can still be trotted out. Do you accept this argument when evaluating other issues?

[End Times Sentinel]

We don't have to have a court in Lambeau field.

I'll take your word for that.  However, there are courts and holding cells in Seahawk Stadium, Reliant Stadium, Ford Field, and Gilette Stadium, and it seems to be a trend in newer stadiums.

We may tease folks who show up in opponent's colors for a game, but we don't beat the living crap out of these opponents

Nor do Philadelphia fans.  However, wearing opponents colors, roaming the walkways yelling profanities trying to incite the home fans will likely result in getting the crap beat out of you sooner or later.

Trying to generalize the entire fandom of Philadelphia by the actions of a few is about as accurate as me saying that all Green Bay fans will hang their coach's dog if he turns in a 5-7-2 record.

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[End Times Sentinel]

I think you're missing my point. 

Examples of boorish behavior happen EVERYWHERE, however, when they occur in Philadelphia, the preception and media coverage is markedly different.

 

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”