Golf Fans and Beer: A Winning Combination

by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 13, 2009 11:31 AM EDT Comment 25 comments

Last night, a jackass Cubs fan poured beer on Phillies centerfielder Shane Victorino while he was trying to catch a fly ball at Wrigley Field. It happened during the fifth inning of a Phils blowout of the underachieving Cubs. The incident is ironic in that it happened to a player repping Philly - the city universally recognized as having the worst behaved pro sports fans. (The worst fans are in Miami. They don't care about ANYTHING.)

[Watch the video of the incident at The Big Lead.]

The episode immediately made me thankful that golf fans enjoy beer responsibly at PGA Tour events. The best example of golf fans and beer working to improve the experience is at the FBR Open and its host course, TPC Scottsdale. The 16th hole there is arguably one of the most exciting in golf. That's probably because thousands of co-eds come in from Tempe to sit in the grandstand all weekend and chug down beers in some kind of fraternity ritual.

Since the fans get there good and early and sauced, every great shot becomes a celebration. The ultimate example is Tiger Woods' ace there in 1997.

Look at those happy fans! They're throwing six dollar beers onto the course in honor of Woods! They're not throwing them at Woods, or worse, at Woods WHILE HE'S TRYING TO PLAY GOLF.

What's more is that the fans have an honor system for dealing with their drunken breathren that get a little too many sheets to the wind. They throw them into the nearest water hazard.

Most golfers have a love affair with beer. After all, golf is perfect: exercise, fun, and boozing. So fans also have enough respect to not get in the way of the action. They reserve all of the beer antics for after the shot, or while they're driving a golf cart.

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It cracks me up...

…that we’re recognized as the worst fans in the country over a few incidents and some of those aren’t even accurately retold – i.e. throwing snowballs at Santa.

Meanwhile, something like that actually puts Victorino’s life in danger. A fly ball in the face/head could have serious consequences.

Kind of reminds me of the Cleveland Browns game several years back where they were selling beer in plastic bottles and the fans littered the field with them.

by Double Eagle on Aug 13, 2009 11:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes, by all means...

… his life was in danger. Good grief. Classless? Yes. Sorry Philly fan, your rep extends beyond booing Santa. (Actually, that’s quite funny) You are widely recognized as some of the most classless fans this side of soccer hooligan. Deal with it.

I'm gonna go calm submissive on your ass.

by Dukeshire on Aug 13, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes...

…by people who have zero clue about what goes on in cities all around the country but instead choose to listen to the “conventional wisdom”. Sure, pile on, instead of coming to some games to see what it’s really like 99.9% of the time. The incidents that you can rattle of of the list of “Philly Fans Suck” talking points are few and far between and similar things have happened all over the country.

But don’t let facts get in the way of whatever you want to believe.

by Double Eagle on Aug 13, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know a couple of Philly fans who are obnoxious. But I also know way more Yankee and Red Sox fans who are worse. No one gives a crap that you’re in the AL East and just trade off for the biggest payroll.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 13, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Believe me...

…I know Philly fans who are obnoxious too. And there are certainly obnoxious drunks at the games. My point is only that we don’t have the market cornered. Yankees and Red Sox fans are right up there. And there’s nothing more obnoxious than a Cowboys fan.

Try coming to a Philles/Mets game when the Mets fans start filling up some of the outfield sections and then tell me who’s obnoxious.

by Double Eagle on Aug 13, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've actually been to Philly for an Eagles game, so there's that.

2005 Monday night beat down 42-0. A small sample size, to be sure. And no one said you suck, I said classless. And of course there a similar incidents elsewhere, but your city carries the rep and by most, right on their sleeve. Philly fan wears is like a badge of honor. You are in the minority who feel your city is gentle and kind. And if one can “rattle off” a list on incidents, then there IS a list to rattle. Nice argument: “we’re not classless except for all the times we are”.

I'm gonna go calm submissive on your ass.

by Dukeshire on Aug 13, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait a second...

Who ever said anything about gentle and kind?

If you expect to go to a game and not see the fans giving it to the opposing team and shouting and booing, then you’re nuts. Fans that sit silently on their hands are fans that don’t care.

But there’s a big difference between that and the stuff we’re routinely criticized for like someone throwing a battery at J.D. Drew. The point is, those things are wrong and should be criticized, but to pretend they don’t happen elsewhere is a fantasy, as we saw last night in Chicago.

Don’t pretend there’s only a list of incidents in Philadelphia and nowhere else and then call us classless. There are a small group of classless individuals anywhere you go, so stop trying to make it out like it only happens here.

by Double Eagle on Aug 13, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What are you talking about?

No one said they don’t happen else where. I’ve never implied that. But for a Philly fan to call out another city for acting boorishly is hypocritical, at best.

And of course there a similar incidents elsewhere…

From one of my earlier posts.

I'm gonna go calm submissive on your ass.

by Dukeshire on Aug 13, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wrong is wrong

What’s hypocritical is for someone to act like there’s no right to complain about behavior like that just because incidents like that have happened here. Incidents like that should be universally criticized as opposed to the attitude of “you people are classless, deal with it” or something to that effect.

It should not be tolerated here, Chicago, Cleveland, or anywhere else. I would say the same thing if a Phillies fan did it, 100% of the time. I’ve never acted like that and would not tolerate that behavior out of fellow fans.

Raiders fans have stabbed people in the stands for Pete’s sake. Meanwhile, we’re classless and don’t get to complain. Perfectly logical.

by Double Eagle on Aug 13, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let me help you out, again...

hyp⋅o⋅crite /ˈhɪpəkrɪt/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [hip-uh-krit] Show IPA
Use hypocritical in a Sentence
–noun 1. a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, esp. a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.

You can complain all you want, but your city applauded while Michael Irvin lay motionless on the field. Sorry, things like that don’t happen everywhere.

I'm gonna go calm submissive on your ass.

by Dukeshire on Aug 13, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And let me help you out

Maybe you could point out where I ever applauded Michael Irvin being injured or anything else of that sort? Maybe you could point out where I ever supported bad fan behavior of any kind.

No? Then maybe you should reread that definition and try and understand it this time.

by Double Eagle on Aug 13, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As an individual you may be against such displays,

but as a representative of Philly fan as a whole, and you are in context of this conversation, it is hypocritical not to accept responsibility for the behavior you are yourself criticizing.

I'm gonna go calm submissive on your ass.

by Dukeshire on Aug 13, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe you should reread this thread

It should not be tolerated here, Chicago, Cleveland, or anywhere else. I would say the same thing if a Phillies fan did it, 100% of the time. I’ve never acted like that and would not tolerate that behavior out of fellow fans.

I will not, however, accept responsibility for acts that happened outside of my control.

by Double Eagle on Aug 13, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're attempting to deny that it goes on there more often that other cities.

A losing argument, under any circumstances.

I'm gonna go calm submissive on your ass.

by Dukeshire on Aug 13, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Once you’ve been branded as the worst fans in the world, then every little thing shows up on ESPN while other cities get a pass. So, I’m saying that you’re not getting an accurate picture of what goes on here.

And even if you were, the issue was you calling me a hypocrite when I clearly denounced bad fan behavior coming from my fellow fans. Why don’t you try criticizing those who cause the problems instead of lumping everyone together and projecting your biases at the rest of us?

If you can show that it happens more here than everywhere else, that would be interesting because what you’re going to do is rattle off the talking points of the last 40 years that include a few incidents here and there that everyone likes to talk about. If 10 incidents in 40 years is so drastically worse than everywhere else, then OK, you win.

by Double Eagle on Aug 13, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good lord.

Why don’t you try criticizing those who cause the problems instead of lumping everyone together and projecting your biases at the rest of us?

That’s a fair argument, since I don’t know every individual sports fan in Philadelphia. And 10 incidents in 40 years? (Random) That sounds like a small number but can you name 10 in Milwaukee, or Kansas City, or Green Bay or…. My point is your history exists for good or ill. And my personal experience with friends and others I’ve met from Philly is that they relish being “tough” fans and their reputation for being, wee, mean spirited. You can have the last word, because this is going nowhere…

I'm gonna go calm submissive on your ass.

by Dukeshire on Aug 13, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and...

…it looks like you’re a hypocrite too. Classless Seahawks fans throwing ice balls at Jets players and coaches. Barbarians.

http://www.ganggreennation.com/2008/12/22/699936/seahawks-fans-pelt-the-jet

by Double Eagle on Aug 13, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, I'm not a hypocrite.

I said, twice, that this behavior does go on elsewhere. Just not to the degree it does in Philadelphia. (or NY or Oakland, to name two). If you want to compare fan behavior between Seattle and Philly, you will come out looking worse that you did going in.

I'm gonna go calm submissive on your ass.

by Dukeshire on Aug 13, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and they tossed the wrong guy !

Are you kidding ? “Santa” was rousingly thumped with snowballs – on national TV – during an Iggles game. Santa was also booed during a parade. And an injured Cowboy was booed as he was takend off the field on a stretcher. The old 7th level of The Vet was notorious for lowlifes and drunks.

I thought that play by Victorino was amazing. – but if he had been forced to take his eyes off the ball, you can bet he’s a good enough athlete to duck and cover – not take a baseball to the head..

That clown should have been jailed for wreckless endangerment – but the other lovely Phillies fans wouldn’t point out the guy who did it – how about throwing the entire row and the row behind them in jail for conspiracy ? I have no idea why they didn’t look at the video – not like he wasn’t in plain sight.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Aug 14, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Chicago’s fans are really obnoxious. Went to Wrigley field last year and they were just drunk all game. It was fun, but they didn’t care about baseball.

Miami sports fans are terrible. They’re the worst to me. Florida should have zero sports teams.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 13, 2009 11:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ugh, The Big Lead? Really?

(PS. Nice post.)

by Chris Mottram on Aug 13, 2009 12:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Haha, if Good Phight had it, I’d like to em. I swear!

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 13, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think there were about 18 non-shitty blogs that had it.

/hates TBL with an overwhelming passion.

by Chris Mottram on Aug 13, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t read TBL, just took the lazy man’s approach and went to Ballhype.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 13, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What I find interesting is that Philly fans aren’t just obnoxious at home. We get a pretty good number of Philly fans at Braves games down here and they are almost as rowdy here as at home – they just don’t have quite as much backup as they do in Philly. Luckily, Braves fans generally just try to have a little fun with them instead of fighting.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Aug 14, 2009 1:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs