Remember Us?
I know you probably read the title and thought this was going to be another bash piece on the Philadelphia fans. Wrong! I am a Philadelphia sports fan, I get happy when they do well and are frustrated when they don’t. I’m not a person who “boo’s” but if you choose to that’s your preference. I will cheer as a sign of approval when something happens to benefit the positive outcome of the team. This is not what this post is about since we beat that to death last week. It is about the responsibility athletes,coaches and personnel have toward us, the fans.
There has been some historical actions and statements made by Philadelphia’s sports figures that are scarred our minds. There is the Ricky Watters “for who ?,for what?” on that opening September Sunday at the Vet (RIP) in the late stages of a game when “for me,that’s why” was the answer to the question. Then there was Allen Iverson, coincidentally dubbed “The Answer” spouting out about the reason for not taking his job seriously, Practice, ya’ll talkin ’bout practice. Lets not for about Erik Lindros’ mommy and daddy bitching and complaining and more recently a member of our currently beloved Phillies spouse not thinking before she spoke.
Fans are always criticized and it seems Philadelphia is the baseline for bad fan behavior. Fairly or not, it is the passion for which the fan sees the game. To the fan, it is an event. It is something that people take money they don’t have to attend a game. It transcends all walks of life. The fan doesn’t want to see players smiling at each other, posing for pictures and exchanging pleasantries. The fan doesn’t want to hear its their job. The fan wants sacrifice. The professional athlete,coach and front office fails to see that in many cases.
Philadelphia fans want accountability. The want someone to have the guts to take responsibility, sincerely! (Hear that Andy Reid). Words are empty, actions are complete. Many athletes and coaches get it, some don’t.
Since I mentioned it, lets start with the Eagles. Their fans are rabid. When they smell blood, the want to taste it too. Eagles fans really aren’t difficult to gauge. They want honesty and effort first. Buddy Ryan won nothing with arguably the best defensive talent EVER assembled. Defense in and of itself did not win championships for Buddy. Buddy however fed off the fans. He was anti-scab, anti-owner and anti-establishment. He looked fans in the eye and told it like it was. Dick Vermeil spent a relatively short time here in Philly. He got to a Super Bowl and was embarrassed. He failed to sign a kicker going into the playoffs and it cost him a game. He was a California guy. Didn’t matter, he showed emotion and talked TO YOU not down at you. Both guys showed a responsibility to the fan. The current coach Andy Reid talks DOWN at you. He at times believes its inherently his right to not tell the fan anything. He throws words out to a microphone that mean nothing. He is the winning-est coach in Philadelphia Eagles history. Don’t matter, he shows a lack of responsibility to the fans.
Philadelphia football fans may like aloofness in their teams but its rather simple. Leonard Tose,loved. Brahman and Lurie,not. Jaworski and Cunningham respected, McNabb shown the door. So there you have it. Eagle fans want the team to show a little responsibility and grant them respect!
The Sixers have a fan base that is “street smart”. They know what a good product is, and even when the product may be sub-par, they will respect those that show a responsibility toward them. Pat Croce is a public relations genius. He is successful, a motivator and most importantly remembers his roots. Fans loved Pat because he knew what his responsibility was. The players were of split personalities but in the long run Sir Charles and A.I. knew what and where their responsibility was, ultimately with the fan.
The Flyers may have the smallest but most loyal and blind fan base. The front office of the Flyers starting with Ed Snider, teach their personnel what their responsibility is when they are wearing the orange and black. Most of the Stanley Cup teams of the early 70’s still remain in the Philadelphia area and are active in the community. It wasn’t until recently that waves showed up in the water. Ill give Eric Lindros a mulligan because it was his parents that were rocking the boat, but Chris Pronger is showing a lack of responsibility to us. His act was amusing in the beginning but his recent bouts of ornery attitude is growing thin. Chris, although you are a transplant, it IS our business if you will help us win the cup. We do not live in a world of Dr Seuss. Wise up! I could fill this page with players who would love to bond with us.If you choose not to, then politely decline to be abrasive and move on and do your job. Flyers fans are loyal and deserve better. Mr Snider knows what the organizations responsibility is, just ask him.
I purposely saved the best for last. Our new found heroes. The city’s true Champions (although it is going on 3 years),the Phillies could almost do no wrong. Pat Burrell got one hit in the World Series and rode on the lead wagon in the parade! Aaron Rowand ran into a wall and left. Jim Thome, the guinea pig used to build these Phillies, came and went. These guys all knew their responsibility to us, and we remembered. The jury is still out on Jaysen Werth but when he allegedly made a comment by the batting cage in spring training, the city went nuts. (Cue the lynch mob). Werth back pedaled a bit and got a little bit of love this week in a story where he spoke highly of Philadelphia. He gets it! The problem however is the timing of your statements and who says them. Sarah Madsen, the wife of Phillies set up man Ryan, has the fans in a rage. In a nutshell, she doesn’t like us and can’t wait to get back to Cali. Hey Sarah, do you have a calender? Its April, your husband has just started a season of unprecedented expectations. Are you nuts? This is a total lack of responsibility and respect.
There is no problem leaving Philadelphia in the off season to relax. When your husband plays for the city’s most popular team and the closest to glory, you have to expect to be “bothered”. Sorry Sarah..smile! (cue up Hall & Oates)
What prompted this post is what now appears to be a double standard by our fans, at least some of them. Why are you attacking the background of the writer of the Madsen story? She said it! Its quoted! It isn’t Ryan’s fault, but doesn’t he have the responsibility to address the context of this? I really don’t care about his wife, but it stings. We expected Cole Hamels to show some responsibility and stay focused (your words not mine) so why not Madsen.
The franchises in this town and every other town have a responsibility to you the fan..don’t let anyone tell you any different.
Tags: Philly Fans
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