rumiNATION

If you know me at all, you know that I waver between tolerance and extreme dislike when it comes to sports fan(atic)s. Be it the way they take the games so seriously, or be it the way they refer to a team of players who they've likely never met as "us". And, due to proximity, Philly fans are usually the immediate target of this distaste. My favorite is how, in Philadelphia, "they" lose games but "we" win them. (IE: Did you see the Flyers game this afternoon? I can't believe they lost to the Rangers again. At least we beat the Penguins yesterday, though.)

Well, Philly fans, after a road trip to Newark, NJ this past Sunday to see the Flyers take on the NJ Devils - I can truthfully say that you are not the worst fans in the world. While there were a few scattered patches of classy people in the arena, the majority of seats were filled with people who seemed to be present not to support their home team but to hate the away team.

The most glaring example of this was every time (four, to be precise) the Devils scored a goal and the arena played triumphant music, the Devils "fans" didn't cheer their player - they took the opportunity to chant "You suck!" Presumably this was directed at the Flyers goaltender, or maybe the whole team in general. To me, though, it came across as telling your team's player that he sucks for scoring a goal. Kind of weird.

Runners up to this phenomena were:

1) I think at least three time we heard large sections of the crowd singing, "If you really hate the Flyers clap your hands. If you really hate the Flyers clap your hands. If you think they really suck and they'll never win a cup, if you really hate the Flyers clap your hands." Clever. (ish). But repetition of childrens songs with snarky words kind of loses steam with each trip to the well.

2) The family friendly chant (again, said MANY times) of - "Rangers suck, Flyers swallow." Cute.

Now, I am willing to admit that Philly fans are not necessarily "classier" than this. (Please don't comment about throwing snowballs at Santa Claus. That was like 20 years ago.) But I feel as though Philly fans, surly though they may be, are actually somewhat informed about the sports they watch. And they generally blend their taunting of the opposing team with actually cheering (or booing... nevermind) their hometown heroes.

Or maybe I'm just biased. Not sure. All I know is that I won't be going to see any hockey games in Newark again.... ever.