You Call This Brotherly Love??!!

This Sunday the Giants travel to the armpit of the east coast*, Philadelphia, to take on the rival Eagles. But beginning this weekend, for the first time in 25 years, it’ll be different when Big Blue comes to town.

This Sunday the Giants travel to the armpit of the east coast*, Philadelphia, to take on the rival Eagles. But beginning this weekend, for the first time in 25 years, it’ll be different when Big Blue comes to town. Philadelphians finally have a champion in their midst in the Phillies, and is it impossible to think that FINALLY having a winner will mellow-out the most miserable fan base in sports?

(*I spent the summers of my youth at summer camp just outside of Philly and can speak from experience that it is a horrible, horrible place).

Well, that’s a BIG maybe. Remember, these were the fans that infamously booed both Santa Claus and an unconscious Michael Irvin. Finally being home to a champion doesn’t necessarily mean that Eagles fans will become any less hostile towards visitors - remember, the baseball team won….the football team is still a loser.

To test my theory, I made the rounds at Giants practice today asking players what kind of reception they expect Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

We start with a trio of players; Barry Cofield, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka, who wasted little time giving me their answers.

Next I headed over to indestructible offensive lineman David Diehl.

Diehl makes a good point. Our fan base here in New York is just as rabid as any other. While New Yorkers on the whole show more class than Philly fans, we’d be just as tough on visiting teams if Big Apple sports were on a comparable win streak.

I’ll give the last word on the topic to Antonio Pierce. The guy makes a hell of a sound bite, and after you listen to him, you’ll see why I saved him (the best) for last.

So much for my theory!! But there’s no big surprise really - the Giants expect a rough reception in Philly regardless of the current sports climate there. I’m convinced that until Philadelphia sweeps titles in the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, they’ll be the rowdiest fans in all of sports. On second thought, even that might not do the trick. So I ask YOU….what will it take for Philly fans to lose their distinction as the nastiest fans in all of sports??

(And please don’t say another Rocky movie).
-Matt Estreich, special to Bobby v. The World