In defense of Phillies fans ... not Philly fans

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Much as I hate to agree with T.J. Simers, Philadelphia is dingy.

I lived in Philly from 1986 to 1998 and was back last summer for the U.S. gymnastics Olympic trials. Downtown was dirty. It was impossible not to almost trip over garbage every couple of feet. All the buildings, even the historic City Hall topped with the looming figure of William (Billy) Penn and the world-famous art museum, needed a good scrubbing.

But the Philadelphia baseball fans are not the bums, the goons, the losers some might think. They are not Eagles fans either. They aren’t prone to throwing batteries or booing injured players. They do love the sport and have been patient with the losing.

They aren’t uncritical or particularly forgiving (J.D. Drew will always be a pariah for following Scott Boras’ advice after being drafted second overall by Philadelphia and then choosing to sit out a season rather than take Philadelphia’s offer). And who can blame them?

Listening to the Dodgers-Phillies games on alternating satellite radio channels Thursday while driving home from UCLA, I was struck by the crowd noise. It is more enthusiastic, somehow, than the noises made in Chicago or Los Angeles.

Cubs fans want to win so badly but don’t expect to.

Dodgers fans want to win, but if it doesn’t happen, something else good might.

Phillies fans want to win, and if it doesn’t happen it will hurt last night, today, tomorrow, next week, next month.

It’s a cool sound.

-- Diane Pucin