The reputation of Philadelphia sports fans as having the potential to act like cretins is well-documented, almost to the point that to stereotype each and every fan of the Phillies, Eagles, Flyers and 76ers as buffoons borders on the absurd. With that in mind, to rip and categorize an entire city’s legion of sports fans and their typical behavior is irresponsible at best, yet the performance the Flyers put on Wednesday night inside the Wells Fargo certainly will not help elevate the Philly pro sports fan base’s out of its already negatively-perceived reputation.
During an intermission between periods in the game against the Vancouver Canucks in the team’s home opener, a Hockey Fights Cancer public service announcement appeared on the arena’s jumbotron. The PSA featured Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews and Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, disliked players on teams which have had bitter rivalries with the Flyers over the years. So Flyers fans did what came naturally when they saw those players: they booed them, despite the fact they were representing and speaking to a worthwhile cause which I am confident most Flyers fans wouldn’t boo had it not been for those players’ appearances in the spot.
Sadly, this is yet another example of an event that will damage the reputation of all of Philadelphia’s passionate sports fans. Too bad the folks in the crowd on Wednesday night didn’t take a moment to think about what exactly they were booing.
During an intermission between periods in the game against the Vancouver Canucks in the team’s home opener, a Hockey Fights Cancer public service announcement appeared on the arena’s jumbotron. The PSA featured Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews and Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, disliked players on teams which have had bitter rivalries with the Flyers over the years. So Flyers fans did what came naturally when they saw those players: they booed them, despite the fact they were representing and speaking to a worthwhile cause which I am confident most Flyers fans wouldn’t boo had it not been for those players’ appearances in the spot.
Sadly, this is yet another example of an event that will damage the reputation of all of Philadelphia’s passionate sports fans. Too bad the folks in the crowd on Wednesday night didn’t take a moment to think about what exactly they were booing.
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