Charlie Manuel Wants Phillies Fans to Boo More? Say It Ain’t So
June 2, 2009 by travis boyer
Filed under Fan News
Oct. 29, 2008 was the night that all the demons were exorcised. A championship for the first time in 25 years brought an end to all of the stereotypes associated with the Philadelphia sports fan, especially the booing.
However, Charlie Manuel has not received the memo on the new etiquette practices for the Philly fan. When it comes to our world champions, we don’t boo, period.
Sorry Charlie, but it isn’t going to change anytime soon. In 2008, the floodgates opened, and this city and this fanbase embraced you and your team forever.
So sue us if we are a little grateful for the title you delivered. We had to wait through the Omar Daals, Marlon Andersons, Travis Lees, and Jose Mesas of the world before we could count on Cole Hamels, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Brad Lidge to end the championship drought.
Now, I see what Manuel could be driving at.
The Phillies are 12-14 at home while posting a baseball best 17-6 road record. The fans have failed to light a fire under the team when the going gets tough. I applaud Manuel for trying to make his players that much more hungry to repeat and not become complacent, but leave the fans out of it.
In the fan’s mind, the moment in the sun will not cease until October rolls around again with the chance at possibly another World Series title or when the crown is passed on to another club.
Consider a year-long moratorium on booing and being overly critical of this ball club. Something this foreign should come as unusually comforting for a Philly fan. Any argument about another team in this town not being able to get it done should be muted.
You can get frustrated at times, but do not get rabid. Passion has its boundaries in this rare circumstance in this fan’s existence.
A concession I’ll make is that the Eagles are fair game. Their reign in Philadelphia is over; the town has been painted red.
Sorry, Charlie, the boos will not be cascading down any time soon.
The only thing you will hear closely resembling boo is Rauuuuullllllll.