If hypocrisy makes you laugh, don't sip a Starbucks coffee while reading the comments about J.C. Romero's run-in with a Tampa Bay fan.That $4 cup of joe will end up all over the front of your shirt.
Philadelphia fans have been weighing in on last week's incident, where the Phillies' reliever slapped down an autograph seeker who got a little too nasty. Again, please put down the cappuccino before proceeding.
"Way to go, J.C. You fired up the team. The guy should keep his mouth shut."
"The smart-[bleep] deserved it. Just because the grown man didn't get some autographs. ... Boohoo."
"The heckler not only deserved what he got, he should have been beaten mercilessly with bats. I have no pity for him. Nobody deserves to take crap from some loser who probably makes $4.50 an hour and then goes home to a broken home with ugly children."
The federal minimum wage is currently $6.55 an hour, but why quibble about the details when there is so much more to laugh about?
Philly fans ripping someone for being a jerk? It's like complaining about police brutality. It's like Bernie Madoff griping about bad investment advice. It's like... geez, how am I going to get these coffee stains out of my tie?
That's what I get for perusing the comments on various Web sites that carried the story. To be a fair, not all fans defend Romero for going after 25-year-old Robert Eaton. By the same token, the rowdiness of a couple million fans over the years does not reflect the Philadelphia sports community as a whole.
At least that's what Philly fans always say when these incidents arise and outsiders take shots at them. Fear not, I'm not going to dredge up the stories about booing Santa Claus or cheering as Michael Irvin lay temporarily paralyzed on the turf.
It's almost cliché to bring up the batteries being thrown at J.D. Drew or how Veterans Stadium was such an Animal House they built a court room to deal with all the drunk and disorderly fans.
But as a fan of CSI: Philadelphia , I must say I was impressed with the episode last fall during World Series. Fans not only taunted the families of Tampa Bay players and officials, one of them poured beer on a nine-year-old boy.
Another of the Rays' family members locked himself in a bathroom stall after fans started banging on the walls and threatening him. Manager Joe Maddon said some brave fan threw mustard packs at his granddaughter.
All that prompted the usual reaction from Philly fans. They said the stories were made up or overblown and their behavior isn't any worse than a lot of places. But if you dare proclaim Philadelphia just another tough sports town, fans would start throwing batteries at you.
They revel in their reputation, which is why I'm going to have to drop my tie off at the dry cleaners as soon as I finish writing this column. How about this gut-buster:
"This guy acted like a child and got pushed. No man deserves to take verbal abuse from another grown man."We can only assume that commenter has never been to a sporting event. Somebody please inform him that grown men taking verbal abuse from other grown men is not uncommon. In Philadelphia , it's a sign of manhood.
Was Eaton abusive when he ventured near the dugout and asked Romero for an autograph? Probably. Welcome to the big leagues, J.C.
He said Eaton was drunk and profane. Eaton said after Romero blew him off, he yelled, "How about you get me some juice?"
Romero spent most of the season serving a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's policy against performance-enhancing drugs. He says he unwittingly used a dietary supplement, but it's doubtful he was simply planning to explain the distinction as he approached Eaton.
"He reared back and kinda grazed my chin and grabbed me by the neck and threw me back," Eaton told the St. Petersburg Times. "I was in shock."
Nobody is claiming Eaton attacked Romero or threw anything at him or made fun of dead relatives. He didn't even pour a beer over Romero's head, though that might have been acceptable by Philadelphia standards.
Eaton's comment was directly related to baseball, and what does Romero expect? He gets suspended 50 games for juicing and opposing fans aren't going to remind him about it?
If Barry Bonds was so thin-skinned he would have been arrested for mass murder years ago. Not that anybody in Philadelphia ever ridiculed Bonds, of course.
One last guffaw:
"Just because you go to a game doesn't give you a right to give people a hard time. Glad the fan got what he deserved."
Actually, just because you go to a game and buy a ticket does give you the right to give people a hard time.
Any self-respecting Philadelphia fan would surely agree with that.
Latest Baseball Images
In this photo taken Sunday, June 28, 2009, New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, left, pats closer Mariano Rivera on the stomach after Rivera's bases-loaded walk forced in a run in the Yankees 4-2 victory over the New York Mets in their interleague baseball game at Citi Field in New York. It was Rivera's first career RBI. Moments later, Rivera earned his 500th career save in the Yankees victory. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
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In this photo taken Sunday, June 28, 2009, New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, left, holds his swing as New York Mets catcher Omir Santos catches ball four from New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth inning of their interleague baseball game at Citi Field in New York. Rivera drew a bases loaded walk on the play for his first career RBI. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
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In this photo taken on Sunday, June 28, 2009, New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera stands at first base after drawing a bases-loaded walk for his first career RBI in the ninth inning of the Yankees 4-2 victory over the New York Mets in their interleague baseball game at Citi Field in New York. Shortly after, Rivera earned his 500th career save in the same game. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
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In this photo taken Sunday, June 28, 2009, New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera swings as he fouls off a pitch during his ninth inning at-bat against New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez in the Yankees 4-2 victory over the Mets in New York. Rivera drew a bases-loaded walk for his first career RBI. He followed that act by earning his 500th career save. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 28: Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting a homerun in the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium on June 28, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matt Kemp
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 28: Hiroki Kuroda #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium on June 28, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Hiroki Kuroda
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 28: Hiroki Kuroda #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium on June 28, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Hiroki Kuroda
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 28: Franklin Gutierrez #23 of the Seattle Mariners runs to first base after hitting a single in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 28, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Franklin Gutierrez
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NEW YORK - JUNE 28: Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees prepares to bat in the ninth inning against the New York Mets on June 28, 2009 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Mets 4-2, (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mariano Rivera
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NEW YORK - JUNE 28: Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees makes a catch for an out against the New York Mets on June 28, 2009 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Mets 4-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Derek Jeter
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-29-2009 @ 8:20PM
baknizbgoodeatin said...
Should've been you, Happy Youngster.
Reply
6-29-2009 @ 8:24PM
brucekins said...
Loyal to their city is right, look how many fans show up to philly games than tampas lol
Reply
6-29-2009 @ 8:45PM
sandy wilson said...
Whitley doesn't do his research. From looking at the St. Petersburg paper, most of the comments from Rays fans were negative toward the "victim." His whole article is based on tired stereotypes.
Reply
6-29-2009 @ 8:57PM
kevinmsmith22 said...
How about this...
We stop bothering athaletes for their autographs or even stop concerning ourselves in the lives of others when we have not been asked into said lives?
Maybe we can find out about this cherub Mr. Eaton, swing on by his work and say, How 'bout those erection problems you were having?
Maybe we should lose the "right" or "priviledge" to give a hard time, or we should just lose the priviledge to provoke someone and then cry when held accountable for what we said or how we've acted.
Personally, I don't care about either of these people. I'm just tired of anyone/everyone calling themselves a "victim".
"He didn't give me an autograph." "He teased me."
ALL OF YOU GROW UP!!!!!!! We have real problems to solve in the world today.
Reply
6-29-2009 @ 10:55PM
Kit said...
Sadly, events like this seem to happen with a bit too much regularity. (I.E. Mark Cuban, Randall Simon, etc.) No one will ever know for sure what was said or what provoked this incident with Romero or the fan. Sometimes the fans go too far, other times the players are too thin-skinned or tempermental.
What I, as a long-time Philly fan of all 4 sports in this city have an ongoing problem with, is the moment an incident occurs involving our fans or one of our players, references are made immediately to incidents of long ago that are supposed to indicate the type of fans that we are or the type of people that live in the Phila. area. If the author of this piece, or any other writer who makes these references to those incidents ever bothered to do his homework he would find another side to these stories and other things about Philadelphia. For example, the "Santa" who got snowballs thrown at him, has been interviewed many times. He was a last minute substitute and was a slender man and looked ridiculous in the suit. He has been quoted as saying that had he been in the stands and saw what everyone else saw, he himself would have thrown snowballs, too. He laughed then when it happened and laughs today telling the story. This is not meant to excuse the behavior of the fans but these writers need to stop making it sound like there was a public burning at the stake fueled by an angry, rebellious mob.
And why is it that when these stories are told and embellished there is never made a counter argument for all of the great things done in this city in support of our teams, players, and good causes. The "Flyers' Wives Fight for Life Carnival" held annually that breaks new records every year for donations and money raised. The "Eagles' Fly for Leukemia" and the ALS fundraiser, also. The constant sellouts of Eagles, Flyers, & Phillies games. The turnout & emotions for the celebrations of the lives of Richie Ashburn and Harry Kalas. The record-breaking attendance at Cooperstown for Ashburn & Mike Schmidt. All the wonderful, good things that fans AND the players do behind the scenes that don't get publicized. Again, I make no apologies for the sometimes boorish behavior of the fans, particularly if it causes injury. But, just know we are NOT some crazy, drunk mob at every game waiting for our chance to attack. And also know, if you ever, EVER need volunteers for a cause or even to help one sick individual, I can't imagine a better place to be than the city of Philadelphia!!
Reply
6-29-2009 @ 11:47PM
Scott said...
Amen!! These writers bring up the same crap over and over. It get's boring..
6-30-2009 @ 9:58AM
85 said...
"I'm not going to bring up the tired booing Santa story, or the Michael Irvin thing, but let me quickly mention the booing Santa story and the Michael Irvin thing."
Yawn. I'd love to hear an honest story about what it was that the clown said to Romero. He, like every other athlete, takes verbal abuse on a regular basis. I saw a clip today where Romero had a good-natured back and forth ribbing with Mets fans earlier this season, including where he makes a joke about "his big steroid arm" after the fans were bringing up the suspension. It at least raises the question of what else the guy said or did to precipitate the incident.
It's not right when anyone does it. But yes, yes, of course, Philly fans are animals. Heaven forbid a new or original thought on the subject.
Reply
6-30-2009 @ 6:56AM
houstonrockets87 said...
50 games for juicing? thats bullshit. do your research. He asked the Phillies about the supplement he was taking and was told that it was fine (6 0XO extreme). I'm pretty sure that a Fox affiliate paid to have 6 0X0 extreme tested and it turned out that it is tainted with andro, which isn't on the label and is illegal. How is that romero's fault and how is that juicing?
Reply
6-30-2009 @ 12:01PM
billyp01 said...
k, lets look back at what the lakers fans did when they one the championship, nobody wrote stories about how bad l.a. fans are.. its a tired sterotype that you can find in any stadium.. i cant tell you the shit i get when i go see the flyers play the devils in their stadium.. its part of the game and the "home field advantage"
Reply
6-30-2009 @ 1:08PM
chilly16 said...
Uhh who is David Whitley? Beating a dead horse much? DId you copy and paste this whole article together? You FAIL! Try again
Reply
6-30-2009 @ 1:29PM
Hello Mark said...
i am a fourteen year old boy living in the philadelphia area, rach year i attend roughly 20 phillies games, maybe two eagles game, and a couple flyers and 76ers games. i support all the philadelphia teams. quite frankly, i am tired of sports reporters annd fans from out of town trash talking our fans for being rowdy. what are you mainly basing this off: that one christmas game in the 70s' when we through some snowballs at santa claus. big fucking deal. we had a 0-11 record by then, so we had every fucking reason to be mad. so when i attend a philadelphia sports game, and see a handful of people that are a little out of line, i laugh. no matter where you go, any majot sporting event throughout this country, you will always find fans that are obnoxious, rowdy, drunk, heckling, scraggly looking people. so the next time i hear some more bullshit about how 'HORRIBLE' philadelphia sports fans are, i will call you out on it. but i guess that would only be following the stereotype that i will be stuck with. i would only be a'the typical philadelphia fan". and im ok with that, its better to have a backbone then be like jello.
Reply
7-04-2009 @ 3:21AM
jr said...
yo, i had family members there and they saw the whole thing. eaton pushed J.C., so the guy got what he deserves.
Reply
7-04-2009 @ 7:45PM
Chris said...
Mess wit da bull; get da horns!
Reply
7-07-2009 @ 3:48PM
ginaamo6 said...
Just so we are clear, this stuff happens in all major league cities. it is only reported about philadelphia fans because people enjoy using tired and overused sterotypes. by the way not all philly fans are like what is reported in fact less than 1/4 are rude, crude and inappropriate, but since when do people like hearing about polite fans from philly. because of one santa claus incident we forever will be known as rude fans. Reporters like Whitley need to move on and realize we are not all like the people in this unresearched report
Reply