A lot of ethically questionable things going on in the Philly sports world lately, from Philly fans cheering when Joakim Noah got hurt to, uh, Philly fans cheering when Jayson Werth got hurt, so it's a great time to check the mail bag. And by "mail bag," I mean "questions I've written to myself and will attach fake names to." I've brought along a special guest to help me answer the questions: Jason Weitzel, who runs the excellent Philles blog, Beerleaguer. Let's get to our first question.
JaMarcus from Jenkintown asks: "Is there a code of conduct that sports fans should follow when watching a live event, and have people's morals gotten worse at sporting events in the past couple of decades?"
Is It Ever OK to Cheer When an Athlete Is Injured?
Also, rules for when you can and can’t boo Jimmy Rollins.
Late in Sunday’s game-four Sixers’ dispatching of the wounded Bulls, fans had to be screaming, “Jinx!” as ABC ran a graphic listing the four eight seeds that defeated number ones in NBA playoff history. It was, obviously, a bit premature, but the network was letting fans know that your town’s team was on the brink of something historic. Granted, that history dates only back to 1984, when the playoffs were extended from 12 to 16 teams, but it would still be a pretty big accomplishment if the Sixers pull off the upset.
Junior Seau Killed Football
It might take years or even decades. But if human life means anything, the game is doomed to irrelevance.
Junior Seau didn't just commit suicide last week. He probably killed football itself.
Now, to be sure, both pro and college teams will take the field next fall, and they'll do so in packed stadiums and to awesome TV ratings. The death Seau inflicted on his sport won't work quite as fast as the bullet he put in his own chest—football is simply too popular and profitable to disappear overnight. It will take years, and perhaps decades. But it is coming.
And for good reason. Football—it seems abundantly clear now—kills its players. And as Seau's death may yet prove, it even kills its biggest and brightest stars.
Memo to Andrew Feffer (COO, Washington Nationals): On behalf of Phillies fans everywhere, I’d like to congratulate you on the “Take Back Our Park” campaign you launched in an effort to rid your home turf of Halladay jerseys, Phanatic hats and audible applause this weekend. Sports rivalries in Philadelphia traditionally involve cities with a rich athletic history, like Boston and New York, interstate foes from Pittsburgh, or the stinkin’ Dallas Cowboys. The animosity we feel is borne from decades of hard-fought contests. Your efforts mark the first time we’ve seen a team—one that’s eight years old and has yet to reach the playoffs—actually beg us to despise it. So far, you’re off to a great start.
