Boo Who?

The Phillies came out swinging in game 1 of the World Series, with a solid performance from top to bottom. They were led by their phenomenal pitcher, Cliff Lee, who pitched what would have been a complete game shutout if not for an error by Jimmy Rollins in the bottom of the 9th to allow a run. Chase Utley's bat hit 2 homeruns off of Yankees' ace C.C. Sabathia, and the Phils came out with a decisive victory 6-1.

Great pitching and great hitting by the Phillies, and as usual, classless fans for the Yankees. Not surprisingly, the franchise with 26 World Series Championships, who have made the postseason in 14 of the last 15 years, and has been the standard of prominence to which baseball organizations attempt to reach, had its fans booing in the 8th inning of Game 1 of the World Series. Now this is for any fan who goes to a game and boos their team: stay home. Save your money. If you think for one second that the New York Yankees feel better than you do about their 6-1 loss in game 1, you are not only mistaken, but you are an idiot. These players give everything they've got in each pitch and at bat, and for the Yankees, it is usually enough to come out with a victory. However when you are playing top-notch competition like the Phillies, they are going to get the best of you on occasion.


It boggles my mind how one can call themselves a fan of their team, when they boo them through their tough times. That's like calling yourself a good boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife, when you cheat on your significant other because they've gained a little weight. It's nonsense. A true sports fan cheers for their team when they are 10-0 or 0-10. That's what being a sports fan is all about: the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat. The players we love to watch perform for a living, when they win, it is more exciting than it could possibly be for any of us watching at home or from the stands. When they lose, it is more crushing than any of the fans could understand.

Now I present to you the 5 most notorious booers in sports:

5. Boston Celtics - sure, everything is great for the C's now that Danny Ainge went out and got KG and Ray Allen, and you won your first title since the 80's, but what is going to happen when these old guys retire? Ask Paul Pierce, who dealt with the boos for years before their arrival.

4. Boston Redsox - Someone please justify booing Jonathan Papelbon, who up until his game 3 meltdown against the Angels this year, had a 0.00 ERA over 26 innings of postseason ball. Please explain.

3. New York Yankees - not just last night, but year after year, if the Yanks don't win the Series, there will be a scapegoat. Torre is gone. A-Rod has dealt with it plenty. So if it doesn't happen this year, it'll probably be on you, Girardi.

2. New York Knicks - Knicks fans would boo Jesus Christ himself if they drafted him in the first round. I know a lot of people miss out on the NBA Draft, but if you have a chance next June, tune in for the Knicks first round pick, whoever the poor kid will be next year.



1. The City of Philadelphia - The "City of Brotherly Love" may be all giddy right now over the Phillies, but what happens after The Series? Back to boing McNabb, the Flyers, and whoever it is that you boo for the 76ers now that A.I. is gone. They have booed Santa Clause and threw hundreds of snowballs at him at an Eagles game. These guys booed Kobe (who is from Philadelphia) when he won the All-Star MVP in Philly. Hello? The fans at the game vote for the All-Star MVP! Fitting however, because it would appear as though they were booing themselves.

Hate crimes...against a sports team?

You are a Cowboys fan, but everytime Tony Romo does so much as sneeze you hear from every friend you have about what a tool he is. The Yankees drop a regular season game to the Royals two days after clinching the AL East with Jeter and Arod resting on the bench, and you get a phone call about how they have no chance in the playoffs this year.

What is it about some teams that people just plain hate? The fact is, this is a rare occurence and only happens with a few teams in all of sports. There are rivalries and perhaps some heat between teams, but I would argue that there are four specifc squads across the four major sports that people either love or hate. There is no grey area.

That first team is the Dallas Cowboys. Roger Staubach, Troy Aikmen, Emmit Smith and a long list of other Hall of Famers that helped to shape this game called themselves Cowboys. They are nicknamed "America's Team", but are despised by the majority of NFL fans. Looked at as one of the most successful teams in history makes them a perfect target for ridicule and criticism. If you are a Cowboys fan, you have had the luxury of enjoying winning many times. If not, you have enjoyed laughing in the face of Dallas fans just as much.

Second, we go to the NBA. Everyone loved Michael Jordan. Everyone loved Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. However, Kobe Bryant is hated in most areas of the country, and it is a bi-product of being a part of the Los Angeles Lakers. The Boston Celtics have won more championships, and the Bulls were a more dominant force in Jordan days than any other team in history. But the L.A. Lakers, perhaps as a product of constant celebrity and wealthy appeal, are the most hated team in the league year after year. Their success will continue for a long time, as will the spite from Clippers fans everywhere (all 12 of them).

Next we move to the NHL, and when you thing fighting and sheer dislike, you think the Detroit Red Wings. I watch hockey once every decade or so, but when I do happen to watch a game it is the Stanley Cup. The Red Wings are usually somewhere near, and I along with many others, cheer against them as if we in America actually care about hockey.

Finally I saved the best for last. When you think history across all sports, the team the epitomizes greatness and has more championships than any team in any sport, you think The New York Yankees. Now I capitalize the word "The" before their name because, well, they are that good and they deserve it. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Reggi Jackson, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez. I just named seven names off the top of my head that spans approximately 80 years worth of baseball, and in 100 years form now every name will be known by a fan. The rivalry with the Red Sox is one of the best in sports. Babe Ruth is the best player baseball has ever known. And George Steibrenner is the best known owner in sports. The Yankees are hated in all parts of the world, but the fans that have been there and can truly stand by their team, have been subjected to more greatness than any true fans around.

So next time one of these teams comes on the television, think about this article and ask yourself why you hate them so much...

Then forget about that, down a beer, and continue to boo them for no reason whatsoever!

Freeway Series

As much as I would love to see a "Freeway Series," I just don't see it in the cards for both South land teams. In the National League, The Phillies both have the pitching and wood. Them getting Cliff Lee has proven that the World Champs have not lost a step to repeating this year. In the AL, The Yanks have shown it is their World Series to lose. Acquiring CC and Burnett, they definitely have the best pitching in all of the 4 remaining teams . And what did your grandpa always tell you growing up? "Pitching wins you games." So I am calling Yanks and Phills, World Series. Yanks in 6. Great year for the two SO CAL teams. Just not this year unfortunately.