Every passionate fan base has a stereotype. But it’s not always the same from sport to sport in a given city.
Cubs fans are not at all the same as White Sox fans, though they unite under one banner for the Blackhawks, Bears and Bulls. Mets v. Yankees aren’t even remotely close. Patriots fans might be the biggest bunch of loyalists on the planet, yet they pull a complete 180 once spring hits and the Red Sox get started.
But there’s one fan base that’s consistent across the board. Philadelphia fans. You can call them passionate, tough, miserable, whatever. The preferred termed may just be ruthless.
Now, on a special day, like let’s say Opening Day, you’d think everyone would be enjoying themselves. New beginnings, everyone starts the year in first place, all of those lame cliches. That’s not saying a loss is acceptable for any team, but if a guy has an off day, you might let it go. Especially if you, I don’t know, just agreed to at 13-year relationship to the tune of about $330 million dollars.
Not in Philadelphia though.
Bryce Harper found that out really quickly.
Oddly enough, Harper didn’t address that in his postgame press conference. Maybe he didn’t hear it or maybe he didn’t want to touch the idea if he didn’t have to. No one asked about it postgame, so it made life easy for him.
One day of booing is nothing though. As much as Philly fans are ruthless, if you perform, you can win them over — which Harper probably will. (Lord knows he has enough time, too.) Dealing with that on a daily basis over 81 home games will wear on you.
That shouldn’t be a problem for Harper, but can you imagine being a star player and coming into a city where you expect everyone to love you and the first day you don’t play well they already boo you? There are plenty of athletes who’d be bothered by that.
