Bad sports, good sports: Baseball park puker just what Philadelphia fans need
It’s not every week that the major sports websites mention vomit right on the front page. We were just that lucky this week, as a baseball “fan” in Philadelphia provided us with such an opportunity. I know the national media was aching for yet another reason to badmouth Philadelphia sports fans. They now have one.
I have taken my kids to a number of baseball games over the years and always had good experiences. The Phillies put on a great show, and Citizens Bank Park is really a fantastic venue. I have never attempted to take them to an Eagles game, as that can be a very different experience, particularly back when they still played at Veterans’ Stadium. Baseball games, however, have always seemed to have a more family-friendly atmosphere. Michael Vangelo, an off-duty police captain from nearby Easton, found the ballpark to be a less hospitable place for his family on Wednesday. Matthew Clemmens, a drunk idiot from New Jersey, was abusive to Vangelo and his two daughters from the time they arrived, according to Vangelo. Once Clemmens’ friend was ejected, the abuse became even more pronounced. Eventually, Clemmens jammed his fingers down his throat and vomited directly on Vangelo and his 11-year old daughter. You read that correctly: he intentionally threw up on them.
What exactly goes through someone’s mind to produce that result? This is so far beyond my comprehension, I don’t even know where to start. First, I can’t imagine getting so drunk at a baseball game that I lose control. If nothing else, you’d think the price of the beer would be enough to limit the drinking. Still, many people look for any excuse they can find to drink excessively, so a baseball game is as good a reason as any, right? Once you’re drunk, why not be abusive to the nearest family? I mean, how dare they show up and try to enjoy themselves? They must have done something to ruin Clemmens’ evening, I’m sure. What choice did he have? A heave of the contents of his stomach would show them, right?
I will defend Philadelphia fans to the end, being one of them. We are passionate, and demand a lot of our teams. I don’t think twice about booing an unacceptable performance. Over the years, though, the actions of a handful of idiots have given us a reputation of being a bunch of drunken morons, ready to cheer the injuries of opponents and boo beloved holiday characters. On the radio this week, I heard someone say that the real story is just that our idiots are dumber than everyone else’s idiots. I like that. Matthew Clemmens is a perfect example.
Bad sports, continued:
2) Cleveland Browns second-year running back Chris Jennings was arrested Saturday morning for punching a bouncer outside a bar in Cleveland. The bouncer apparently wouldn’t let Jennings’ friend into the club as his clothing didn’t meet the club’s dress code. The nerve.
3) I am not sure where to start with this one, but how bad a guy is Ben Roethlisberger? I know that the D.A. has decided to not charge him with any crimes, but the more that comes out of the police report about the alleged sexual assault that occurred in Atlanta, the worse this sounds for Roethlisberger. This story is not going away, and it’s not going to get better. It sounds like the NFL or the Steelers will suspend Roethlisberger at some point. Either way, I think he is getting off easy.
Good sports:
1) Former Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who is sure to be a top 5 pick in the upcoming NFL draft, is not waiting to sign his first contract to commit a significant chunk of his future earnings to his alma mater. This week, he committed a donation of 2.5 million dollars to improve the school’s workout facilities and to endow a scholarship for engineering students. Impressive.
2) Check out this soccer goal. That is some serious skill.
3) Ubaldo Jimenez, in only his third full season with the Colorado Rockies, pitched a no hitter on Saturday night, the first no hitter in Rockies history. He walked six, but none after the first batter of the fifth inning.
Bad Sports, Good Sports appears every Monday
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Allan, good posts on both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ sports.
Was it Hunter Thompson, back in the 70s, who suggested that Philadelphia fans would boo a rescue at sea, and throw empty beer bottles at the lifeboats? I wish you luck in your efforts to set the record straight, but you have an awful lot of hearsay to overcome. Me? I’ll be attending a Union game at Chester this summer, so I’ll get to see – firsthand – how soccer fans in Philly behave.
Speaking of soccer, thanks for sharing the link to that goal in the Inter/Juventes game … great stuff … that’s one reason they call it “the beautiful game.”
As for the other “football,” you may be right (though I hope you’re wrong) about Big Ben. Me? I’ve always liked the guy, and enjoyed watching him play … and through thick and thin, I remain a proud citizen of the Steeler Nation, even down here, in Cowboy Country.
As always. thanks for reading, Jeff.
I realize that I am paddling upstream in my efforts to change common perception of the average Philly fan. Idiots like this Clemmens guy sure don’t help matters.
As far as Roethlisberger goes, he’s a good QB and has been a strong leader for that team, but he has to realize he is throwing that away with his foolish (if not illegal) behavior. I can’t root for a guy like that.