Lately, I've been totally soured by the typical Philadelphia fan. I can't believe I was caught up in it. I used to think their passion was something to be proud of, now I realize it's just pathetic. The constant whining, the paranoia, the fickle atttitudes. I'm sorry to be even considered a part of it. :brick:
Anyways, WIP's Angelo Cataldi wrote this great article on his site.
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My co-host for many years on the WIP Morning Show, Al Morganti, has always had a theory that we are the complaint department of Philadelphia sports.
The thrill of victory? Occasionally.
The agony of defeat? Always.
I have often fought that notion, but it's becoming clear now that it is a losing battle. The last few weeks have provided a stage for negativity like none in the past decade at our radio station.
First, there was the Terrell Owens saga, one of those rare stories in which everybody has found a way to be wrong. The Eagles are wrong to act so unwaveringly with a player who is essential to their immediate success. Would it really cost them so much to offer a face-saving compromise to a player who risked his career to play in the Super Bowl? Of course, T.O. is no sympathetic figure either, having pocketed $9 million for his first year as an Eagle and then ignored the last six years of the agreement.
Next was the Sixer nightmare. Even when they made the playoffs, dour coach Jim O'Brien sucked the joy out of that accomplishment, so much so that he was fired after one season. Improving 10 games in the standings is not enough when you are as miserable as O'Brien was in his hometown of Philadelphia. The hiring of Maurice Cheeks was a positive, I guess, but when you've had five coaches in less than three years, the whole situation becomes downright embarrassing.
The situation that best symbolizes the current state of Philadelphia sports is the Ed Wade debacle. Yes, the Phillies have turned their season around in the past few weeks. Yes, they are fun to watch again. And yes, they are contending in the NL East - sometimes while occupying last place.
But the fans of our city are not all pulling for their team this year. The backlash against GM Ed Wade is so strong now that hundreds - if not thousands - of callers and listeners have made it known that they'd rather see Wade get fired than see their team make the playoffs.
That's right. Lots and lots of people are rooting against their own team. They want Ed Wade punished, at all costs.
I first encountered this amazing situation when we had Wade as a guest on our show during a visit to spring training in March. We had agreed to treat the GM in a professional manner - no screaming, no grandstanding - if he ended a years-long boycott of our show. Wade was cordial that day. He ducked no questions.
Within minutes after the interview had ended, we started getting complaints from listeners that we had let him off the hook. Three months later, I'm still averaging three to five e-mails a day ripping me for kissing Wade's butt. Sorry, I plead not guilty. We asked the tough questions. We just stayed within the boundaries of our agreement.
Since then, we have been getting more Phillies calls on our show than we have in at least a decade. For the first time since 1993, they are a major, daily topic of conversation. And almost all of it is negative.
Manager Charlie Manuel has been crucified on our show - with more than a little help from the hosts, I must admit. Jim Thome is under fire for the first time in his career. And Ed Wade is a punching bag, pure and simple.
This is probably the last place where Wade would expect some support, but I don't fully understand the bitterness. The Phils have won nothing with him in charge, granted. And he did fire a Philly icon in Larry Bowa (justifiably, I say.) But he's also put together a fairly talented team. For Wade to be compared to buffoons like Rich Kotite, Norman Braman and Brad Greenberg is unfair.
So what is it?
I say it's style as much as substance. Wade is not the swashbuckler type like Dallas Green. He looks more like the team accountant than the GM. People don't like their sports figures to look like or talk like Ed Wade in Philadelphia.
As the sports calendar moves closer to September, we're looking at one of the most compelling recent times in Philadelphia sports. The start of Mo Cheeks' reign as Sixers coach, the soap opera of T.O. as the Eagles' first game draws closer, and the fate of Ed Wade.
It's going to be a very busy time at the complaint department this summer and fall.
Bummer. Can't commit. I may be going to Mississippi because of work. UGH! A swampy shipyard at the end of June. :zipit:
