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Big League Stew

Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:53 am EDT

Jimmy Rollins completely loses his mind, rips Philly phanatics

By 'Duk

If you're a professional baseballer, I imagine the list of instructions to getting along with your hometown fans is a short one: 1) Sign a few autographs. 2) Smile 3) Hit lots of HRs

Oh, and then there's 4), which is probably the most important, yet easiest to follow: Under no circumstances should you ever rip the paying fans for being frontrunners, especially when you're in the throes of a division race and especially when you're playing in Philadelphia.

You know, like Jimmy Rollins did the other night on The Best Damn Sports Show.

Understandably, Philadelphia fans are not pleased and their reactions follow the jump ...

The Fightins': "Frontrunners, Jimmy? You mean, for the past 25 years we’ve only supported all those winning teams we had? All (omitted) zero of them? That’s the only time we support our teams? Oh, okay. So when like, our defending MVP shortstop is having a (below par) season and is on pace to score about 70 less runs than he did last year — we should just unconditionally support him? Is that what you mean? Or when that same defending MVP gets benched for not running out fly balls or gets stuck in traffic on his way to a game vs. the Mets — we should just brush it off and cheer you on anyway? Got it. Thanks for the tip, J-Roll."

The 700 Level: "I get it; we're tough on our players. But front-runners? Let's be honest—it's hard to be a front-runner when your squad is one of the all-time losing-est franchises in sports. I won't even get into the Flyers attendance during the worst season in franchise history, or how tough it is to get a seat at the Linc to watch an 8-8 team, (...drawing a blank on any comparable Sixers reference)."

Honestly, if you asked me to list the most fairweather fans in this country, Philadelphia fans would have probably been at the very bottom. Those are some smart and rather loyal folks out there. Hang in there, Cheesesteakers. Your fandom is appreciated here on the Stew!

(Clip ripped courtesy of the technological wizard over on The Fightins')

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20 Comments

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  1. Saro G
    1. Posted by Saro G Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:46 pm EDT

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    Those are some pretty dumb remarks by Rollins. I think it's important for the fans to voice their displeasure with a bad team by not showing up - otherwise ownership might just get fat and happy and remain incompetent, a la the Toronto Maple Leafs (hockey, I know). And to Philly's credit, the fans do show up when the team is good, unlike in Florida.
    And I am so sick and tired about hearing how wonderful Cardinals fans are.
  2. Saro G
    2. Posted by Saro G Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:46 pm EDT

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    And another thing: boohoo if you get booed for making a sloppy error or not showing up to games. It's better than the stupid cheers I hear at Cards games when they score a run when down 10-0.
  3. Philousa
    3. Posted by Philousa Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:24 pm EDT

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    Yahoo just did a story on this very topic. Apparently Philadelphia fans are the fifth most fairweather fans in the country. According to this article, that is.
    http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Ai7SYGDT8K4j6UYoS8KNKcoRvLYF?slug=ys-forbesloyalfans081208&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
  4. Philousa
    4. Posted by Philousa Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:24 pm EDT

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    I just saw 'Duk's Top O' The Order. Sorry for the redundancy.
  5. Jason
    5. Posted by Jason Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

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    Cards fans are the best in baseball. Get used to the idea, everyone else is.
  6. fksdjhu22
    6. Posted by fksdjhu22 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:51 pm EDT

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    That's b.s., He got baited into that response. Of course Philly is a tough place to play. We Philadelphians like it that way. When you suck, you get booed. The funny thing is, as much as Rollins has struggled this year, I haven't heard any boos yet. But there have been other players, Burrell, Eaton, David Bell, who were affected the crowd. Philly fans should boo less.
  7. Brad C
    7. Posted by Brad C Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

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    Rollins did not say anything shocking did he? When a team or player struggles the fans will get on them. Why is this making the headlines? Anything Rollins says gets misconstrued and put under a microscope. As a Cards fan we'll happily take Rollins if you're this upset with him. Ask So Taguchi why we're the best. Where else does a utility player for another team get a standing ovation?
  8. jeffutlaw
    8. Posted by jeffutlaw Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    While I believe Cards fans have their attributes, it is very very difficult for me to call them the best fans.
    Just follow a game thread on vivaelbirdos to see why.
  9. jeffutlaw
    9. Posted by jeffutlaw Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    Better yet, try these comments : http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors/post/Cubs-can-put-Cardinals-out-of-their-misery?urn=mlb,99468#comments
  10. dankhouse22
    10. Posted by dankhouse22 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:35 pm EDT

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    cardinal fans how bout cubs fans we will take ya jimmy
  11. yogaflame
    11. Posted by yogaflame Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:23 pm EDT

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    Ironically Forbes did a list of the top 10 loyal fan bases and the top 10 most fairweather fan bases.
    St. Louis was the 8th most loyal team
    Philadelphia was the 5th least loyal team
    J-Roll's got a point...
  12. Smooth
    12. Posted by Smooth Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:49 pm EDT

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    Forbes. Yeah, there's a reliable indicator of sports fans. Philly's easily top 5--they're loud and can be obnoxious, but so can New York, Boston, Detroit, Chicago, on and on and on...
  13. Smooth
    13. Posted by Smooth Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:49 pm EDT

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    fact is, midwesterners are usually more laid back, for the most part. philly fans are passionate--and impatient--because of the long championship drought. don't get me wrong--there's a percentage of ignorant fans who boo and just act irrationally. but that's the case in every other city. philly fans live and die with their teams and all they ask is for max effort in return. fans pay these players' salaries--the least they can do is go all out every day. what rollins said was insulting--especially coming from a guy who's been benched twice for lack of hustle or showing up late. there have been about 20 straight sellouts at cbp--even while the phils have been terrible the past two months. they're not playing well, so they get booed. big deal. if rollins can't take that, maybe he is better off in st. louis.
  14. Dan P
    14. Posted by Dan P Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:35 pm EDT

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    Philly fans are ridiculous, they boo'd Santa Claus during a Thanksgiving parade
  15. Mannywood
    15. Posted by Mannywood Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:23 pm EDT

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    Yeah - Maybe Rollins should have lied and gave one of those cookie cutter comments you always get from these guys. That would have been awesome.
  16. swill
    16. Posted by swill Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    I left Philly over 20 years ago and STILL can't root against them in any sport. When I do, for nights afterword I usually have nightmares of the Phanatic tying me down Pulp Fiction style and ramming a log of scapple up my mangina.
    Hmmm....Rollins....watch out, those are some large green fingers.
    Philly fans are many things, but fairweather is proudly not one of them.
  17. J Coop
    17. Posted by J Coop Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:38 pm EDT

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    Cards fans are the best hands down. Much better than you ignorant goons in Philly. Jimmy Rollins will be a Cardinal by next year. You don't like the way he acts/plays, get rid of him, I know the best fans in the country will be happy to cheer for him.
  18. GM
    18. Posted by GM Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:10 pm EDT

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    Im a Philly fan but jimmy rollins is OVER-rated. That MVP award went straight to his head. Cardinals can have his pop-flys leading off the lineup and his lack of hustle everyday.
  19. shaker872
    19. Posted by shaker872 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:16 pm EDT

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    Anyone who is old enough, will remember the day Phillies fans got to Bert Hooten. Just as much as we get on our own players when they are having some tough times, we will get behind them and help them when it's needed. Just ask Bert Hooten, or Jimmie Johnson, or Joe Gibbs, or any Mets fan or Rangers fan who've ever been to a game in Philly
  20. Lilly May
    20. Posted by Lilly May Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:51 pm EDT

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    Hey Jimmy and Ryan:
    Stop crying with your hugh bank accounts. When you have a job you should PRODUCE! If you were in any other line of work you would have been fired.
    If anyone should have squawked it should have been Burrell, etc. He has been treated shabily many times. God bless Pat. He is a gentleman!
    Philaelphia fans are just like any other fans. They go to the parks to forget their problems and for entertainment.They use their hard earned money to support you ingrates. Go find another job Jimmy, You're not very entertaining; get some skills. We don't need you crying all the way to the bank.

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Big League Stew is an MLB blog edited by Kevin Kaduk. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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