Another scar on reputation of phillies' fans

    Philadelphia sports fans have a reputation across the country for acting agressively. Many fear the weekend’s beating death outside a bar near the baseball stadium will be a tragic black mark on local professional games.

    Philadelphia sports fans have a reputation across the country for acting aggressively. Many fear the weekend’s beating death outside a bar near the baseball stadium will be a tragic black mark on local professional games.
    Credit: “Phillies @ Nationals (May 16, 2009) – 22” photo by Garyisajoke.

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    [audio: 090729pcfans.mp3]

    In the 1930’s they burned an effigy of Ty Cobb. In the 50’s when an outfielder broke his leg chasing a fly, fans booed him for missing the ball. Fans threw snowballs at Santa Claus in the 70’s. Historically, Philly fans have earned their reputation for nastiness. But University of Pennsylvania Sports Historian Bruce Kuklick says those antics are nothing like the crime that happened outside the stadium.

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    Kuklick: To tie it up with the general obstreperousness of Phillies’ fans is wrong. Phillies’ fans are impassioned, they are often jerks and slobs. But they are not like the soccer hooligans that often get talked about in Europe.

    Soccer games in Europe are sometimes marred by group violence and riot behavior.

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