Rays Fans Can’t Handle The Sad Truth
I have a couple of problems with Tampa Bay columnist John Romano’s recent crybaby rant entitled, “Phils’ fans live down to their reputation.” While no one at Philly SportsCast condones throwing anything or yelling at kids – it is just beyond tasteless – we do, in fact, wholeheartedly condone giving as much shit as possible to players and fans wearing Rays jerseys at Citizens Bank Park.
Children were cursed at, and one 9-year-old boy had beer poured on him. A Rays family member stayed locked in a bathroom stall because, he said, Phillies fans were banging on the walls and threatening him.
That’s a mess and really not worth of the character Philly fans have.
However, what is worth it is that the Phillies have a three games to one lead in this series and have won every game at home in the 2008 playoffs. There is a reason for that and there is no doubt in my mind that the fans have played a very large part in this team’s playoff success.
Look, this is not a question of Rays fans being sissies. This is not about being offended by “Rays suck” chants. We’re talking about behavior more suitable for a prison yard than a family ballpark.
But some words should not be used, and some lines should not be crossed. And from talking to the Rays on Sunday, the Phillies fans trampled all over every acceptable line of decency.
When you write something like that, you are pointing out that the Rays, and their fans, can’t handle it. This is the World Series. This is the big time. If the Phillies win tonight, a strong argument could be made that the fans of this city, especially the small percentage in that ballpark, got them over the hump.
After that who cares about a little spilled beer – all we’ll be drinking (and spilling) in this town is champagne.
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2 Comments so far ...
This guy is a fool. I was at last nights game, and to say the taunting was mild is an understatement. As a veteran of many Mets/Phils match-ups, this was NOTHING. Sure some of the players got it, Longoria with the Eva chants and Johnny Gomes getting mullet-head, but a far cry from the Fag chants at Piazza and the gook chants at various asian Mets. Tampa needs to grow at set and realize what East Coast baseball is all about.
Comment on October 27, 2008 06:31 pmTotally agree. I think this story was written in advance of the series and was pulled out when it got rough for the Rays.
While that is an overstatement for sure, you know there was gonna be a “Philly Fans are Animals” story written by some clown during this series.
Comment on October 28, 2008 08:26 am