Philly Fans Uphold Image
It’s bad enough that a malicious Phillies fans flashed a laser pointer into the face of Cardinals hitters Saturday, trying to distract them– or worse.
After the game, a man was beaten to death outside Citizens Bank Park. Here are the heartwarming details.
Tipsheet has been to plenty of sporting events in Philadelphia over the years, we found neither story shocking. Media types in the City of Brotherly Love are quick to defend these fans, but they are what they are.
There is lots of graphic fan fight footage out there on the Internet. (Beware of of the NSFW language. Drunk fans can’t bite their tongue.)
On a lighter note, this fan is kinda fun.
ADAM KENNEDY, TEAM LEADER
The A’s are notoriously cheap, so that team will wait to call up Brett Wallace. That pushes back the start of his contract clock.
In the meantime, he will play third base in Sacramento. And, in the meantime, Adam Kennedy is filling at third base for Oakland while providing needed leadership.
Tony La Russa’s old favorite was batting .282 through Sunday with 14 doubles, seven homers and 34 RBI.
San Francisco Chronicle columnist Scott Ostler suggested the Giants go get Kennedy before the trade deadline. He wrote:
“The A’s and Giants rarely do biz with one another, but the Giants could use a guy exactly like Adam Kennedy. Live bat and great leadership. When Gio Gonzalez got lit up by the Twins on Monday, he fled to the clubhouse. Kennedy told him, ‘What are you going to do, pout in your locker for five innings? Get down there (to the dugout).’ Gonzalez did, helping cheer the A’s to their huge comeback win.”
RICKEY HENDERSON NAILS IT
Speaking of the A’s, the former Oakland great has uttered some memorably odd things over the years. Those Rickeyisms fueled his reputation as one of the all-time great eccentrics in baseball history.
To prepare for his Hall of Fame speech, however, he worked with college speech class to fine tune his content and delivery.
“It’s not difficult for Rickey to speak intelligently,” former major league pitcher and executive Dave Stewart said. “What’s difficult for Rickey is to slow down. When he slows down, as he did [Sunday], he’s clear, he’s entertaining and he’s funny. I was proud to tears. That was my proudest moment in the game to date.”
BUFFALO WON’T BURN ITS T.O.
Terrell Owens, reality TV star and wide receiver, felt the love Saturday when the Bills opening training camp.
Upstate New York is most enthusiastic about his arrival. Slack-jawed rubes cheered his every move on the practice field.
“You know, sometimes I have to pinch myself,” Owens told the Buffalo News. “I realize that I’ve had a following everywhere that I’ve been. I expected nothing different here. I know that the Buffalo fans are very, very fanatic, they’re behind their team 100 percent, and so coming out here I expected nothing less. It definitely gives me an appreciation for who I am and what I’ve done throughout my career.”
On another front, T.O. expressed outrage over Michael Vick’s suspension.
MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE
Questions to ponder while Troy Glaus slowly backs away from left field:
- Speaking of Glaus, who is this guy’s rehab consultant — Mark Mulder?
- Was Julio Lugo really THAT bad in Boston? Was he so bad that the Red Sox spent about $13 million to get rid of him?
- Who could have possibly guessed the Phillies would strafe Todd Wellemeyer Sunday? If sports betting were legal in Missouri, would every Cards fan be rich today?
PLAYING GAMES WITH MILTON BRADLEY
In the Cubs’ prevous five games against a right-handed starting pitcher, manager Lou Piniella started with Milton Bradley on the bench. So when trade rumors surfaced – suggesting the Tigers were interested – Windy City media types played along.
“I don’t pay attention to rumors,” Bradley told the Chicago Tribune. “I’m always rumored. I’m one of them guys that are multi-talented, can do a lot of things. I’m not surprised. It’s just a rumor.”
(Seriously, Bradley said that — apparently with a straight face.)
Alas, this rumor had no merit according to Cubs GM Jim Hendry. That was just some wishful thinking by Cubs fans.
QUIPS ‘R US
Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:
Jay Mariotti, FanHouse: “In a sport that seems to disappoint us more than delight us, meet Mark Buehrle, a throwback antidote to all things selfish, egomaniacal and scandalous in baseball. Remember when pitcher Johan Santana signed for $137.5 million over six years? In the same timeframe, Buehrle re-upped with the White Sox for $56 million over four because he was comfortable in Chicago. Notice how players move to warm, luxurious zip codes when they become multimillionaires? Buehrle still lives in his hometown of St. Charles, Mo., with a wife who went to high school with him.”
Dan Daly, Washington Times: “I’m mystified, I truly am, by the stir caused by this LeBron James video, the one of him getting dunked on in a pickup game. To me, it’s about as significant as Brett Favre getting intercepted by one of those high schoolers he works out with in Hattiesburg, Miss. Would anyone dream of trying to confiscate footage of that?”
Mike Lupica, New York Daily News: “(ESPN analyst) Steve Phillips passing judgment on anybody around the Mets is generally funnier to me than M*A*S*H reruns.”
Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: “Steve Spurrier used to be the Bull Gator. Now I’m afraid he’s just the full-of-bull Gator. In the hearts and souls of many University of Florida football fans, the iconic Spurrier may have just gone from revered Gator to reviled traitor. To many followers of Gator Nation, he may have gone from Fun ‘N’ Gun to fun and done. Everybody believed it was Gators enemy Lane Kiffin who snubbed UF Superman Tim Tebow on the all-Southeastern Conference preseason team, but on Friday at SEC Media Days we shockingly found out it was Gators hero Stephen Orr Spurrier.”
In honor of the old Ball Coach, here is former Gator James Bates talking about his time with Spurrier at Florida.
MEGAPHONE
“You put these guys in, put an asterisk beside their name. To be safe, that’s the only way I see you can do it. I played the game long enough to know it is impossible for players, I don’t care who it is, to hit 70-plus home runs. It just does not happen.”
Baseball great Hank Aaron, on steroid cheats and the Hall of Fame.
Philly has the worst fans in all of baseball…they makes Cubs fans look like angels.
I was emailing my buddies before the Cards game on Sunday, told them all to log online to Vegas and take the “Over” on the Todd Wellemeyer pitching start against the powerful Phillies. The “Over/Under” on Wellemeyer’s Runs Given Up in the game was 48………and, of course, I advised everyone to bet the “Over”…
Like Einstein said standing in front of the soda machine in that ad…
“It’s a no-brainer”…………….
I couldn’t agree more. Who cares about Tony LaRussa and his tolerance of PED using players (Canseco, Mcgwire, Ankiel, Ryan Franklin)? And who cares about LaRuss’s DUI and great youtube video? Or when in 2007, he covered up Josh Hancock’s first DUI, and then two days later Hancock dies driving while drunk and getting high? The real disgrace to baseball is a few clowns playing with a flashlight.
While I admit that the laser pointer thing is extremely immature it sure as hell doesn’t warrant being called a scumbag or anything that bad. Now as for the murder of that kid….that is just damn horrible. Anyone who would beat another person to death is even worth being called a human being. Don’t lump an entire city into one group because of some pieces of crap. 2 arrests have been made in the beating of that kid also.
That man was at a bachelor party in a bar outside Citizens. Nothing to do with the Phillies or their fans. Just like a shooting at Union Station doesn’t reflect on Cardinal Nation. I agree the laser pointing was asinine. Why didn’t the 3rd base dugout cam catch it?
“Upstate New York is most enthusiastic about his (Terrell Owens) arrival. Slack-jawed rubes cheered his every move on the practice field.”
I’m sure mom is proud, Mr. Gordon.
The fight was in a bar. Not at the ball game. 45,000 people sell out CBP every home game and you are going to curse this great city for a pinhead with a lazer pen. Go enjoy your cute little Cardinals in second place. Losers.
Here we go again. Geez, what is it with fans around the country that causes their brain to cramp every time they think they’ve got their teeth into something that will ‘once-and-for-all’ prove that anyone from Philadelphia is a bad person? FACTS: 1. This ‘party’ was at an establishment apart from the activities inside Citizens Bank Park. So, to make the comment that this relates to ‘Philly-Fans’ is sick, reckless, and irresponsible. Yet, somehow so typical of the internet age where integrity and accuracy are not required, only a good/catchy headline is required. 2. Citizens Bank Park and the Phillies promote an amazing family oriented atmosphere at one of the best parks in the majors (maybe if you stepped out from behind your typewriter and actually attended a game or 2 there you might learn something. LIFE DOES NOT EXIST ENTIRELY ON U-TUBE, get outdoors!!). 3. Having been born-n-raised in Philly (lived there 40 years before relocating to FL a few years back) I can tell you that you can attend many, many events (Phils, Eagles, Sixers, Flyers, concerts etc.) and NEVER see a physical altercation of any kind your entire life. Regardless of the ‘hype’ and lies that are printed by outsiders, the truth is Philly fans are the most passionate and dedicated fans anywhere. At some point, you’ve gotta have a look at the ‘jealousy’ factor here and ask yourself what is wrong with fans elsewhere that are soooo focused on looking for anything they can ‘find’ on Philly fans that will make themselves feel-better about their own shortcomings as fans. Grow up. Do your research. If you want to learn about people, spend some time interviewing and talking to a few life-long season-ticket holders in Philly. Find out what kind of people they really are, meet their families etc. Stop hiding behind a keyboard!!
Fans who throw opponent home runs back onto field are losers. Fans who use laser pointers at oppenents are even bigger losers. You will never see Cardinal Fans behave this way.
Let’s give credit to Moe for pulling the trigger on a trade no one thought could ever happen. Also to the ownership for allowing it to happen, this was long overdue. The team must have been convinced at this point that Wallace could not play 3rd base at the major league level to trade him. He should do well in the AL where he can play 1st and DH. This makes the line-up one of the best in all of baseball.
Now all this team needs is a manager. The statistics overwhelming show that Smellemeyer is the WORST starting pitcher in the big leagues and yet TLR keeps sending him out there every fifth day. Just like the stats showed that Chris Duncan had no business being part of the team but yet there he was in the line-up every day. Now he will get a fair evaluation of his ability or lack there of.
How about Brad Thompson or Mitchell Boggs, please? Either or some combination would be much better than what Smellemeyer brings.
Everyone knows Philly sucks, stories like these are old news.