The Phillies are a better team with better coaching, and a superior organization. They play in a better stadium and have better fans in a better city. Tampa was outclassed throughout the series.

Deal with it....Or don’t

I’m off to watch a parade.

No, I don't think you can make the leap from booing to throwing sharp objects. It's cool to disparage Philadelphia and it's fans. I get that. I just think it's really ill-informed. Did you listen to the players and the coaches and the owners? They get it. It's a hard place to play, but it's a GREAT place to win.

We have special, long-lasting boos for those that have wronged us. And for a team that's lost 10,000 games - there are a lot of people who have "wronged" us. But what Kruk said is true, no one on this team will ever buy his own drink in Philadelphia again. And Mitch Williams is forgiven.

As far as the Rays go? They're a great team. Assuming that they keep them together, we're going to have lots of opportunities to Boo BJ and Eva in many post seasons to come.

Well, thanks for the explanation of Philadelphia booing etiquette. If an opposing player is really good do you also throw sharp objects?

I guess we in St. Pete are under-booers. We generally reserve our scorn for players who have done us wrong in some way --Coco Crisp and Aubrey Huff are the only two I can think of.

I cannot find someone who can verify if Santa was drunk. That could be because a) he was not drunk or b) IT WAS 1968.

As far as BJ Upton goes, he deserved the boos. Just like Shane deserved them in LA. We boo those that are great, and the greater you are, the more you are booed. The players get it - Shane LOVED being booed - it's the other fans that get their feathers ruffled. You'll recall the "Eva" chant for Longoria? Notice that stopped as soon as it was clear he posed no threat due to a nasty, and ill-timed slump? Booing is Philly tip of the hat to a competitor. Unless you're Bud Selig. Then we really do hate you.

First, I want to thank an earlier poster for contributing the term "overbooing." I really like the idea that there's some booing "norm" that some fans may exceed. And if fans are too polite, can we accuse them of "underbooing?"

Secondly, I've read posts now from several Philly fans excusing the Santa-booing incident because said Santa was drunk. So please fill us in...why was there a drunken Santa on the field? And really, wouldn't you rather be known as the city that boos Santa than be known as the city where Santa can't get through the day without drinking?

And finally, speaking of over-booing, it seemed to me that Philadelphia fans were specifically booing B.J. Upton when he came up to bat, and I couldn't figure out why. He's not an offensive guy -- was that just an example of "overbooing", or had he offended the Phillies in some way?

OK, Philadelphia, enjoy your championship. See you next year,

A Rays Fan

Jay Leno mentioned the Phillies in his monologue last night...and the (presumably Dodger-loving) audience booed!

That Tampa specifically is going to receive boos. People seem to forget that the Bucs took the last game at the Vet, after being owned by the Eagles, and then proceeded to destroy the Raiders. So, Philly fans (rightfully so) feel that was a missed Super Bowl opportunity. Then you have the Lightning taking out the Flyers. Then add in a fan base that didn't even see their squad in September, let alone all season, and Boos are understandable, maybe not defensible, but seriously.

Since when is booing so bad? I really don't get this. We LOVE our team, and we HATE your team. So what? It's just a game, and the players are pretty well paid to weather some boo-birds. Lighten up! And the Santa thing? Was in the 60s. And he was drunk. Drunk Santas deserve to get booed, but this incident is well past the statute of limitations. It's lazy to keep going back to one example.

It is really becoming quite tiresome to hear all the references to the Santa Claus incident...that was FORTY years ago for chrissakes! It seems to me that when I watch sporting events in other cities I hear boos all the time...imagine that. Sure, some Philly fans can be loutish and major league asshats but that can hold true for fans everywhere. However, I can't recall continual references to fans leaving the stands to beat up first base coaches every time there is a game in Chicago. Hmmm, curious.

If one is going to hold court on Philly fans, it would be nice if people dug a little deeper.

Santa was drunk and falling out of his clothes.

People didn't know Irvin had a career threatening injury. I remember that game, and its rep has grown to borderline ridiculous. People act like the fans knew he was seriously hurt. And they also act like it was the whole stadium, it wasn't. Those teams hated each other and Irvin was a jerk of the highest order. I'd never root for a serious injury, but let's face it, people don't watch football because they are peacenicks. I know that people won't accept my argument, but so be it. Fact of the matter is, many a fan secretly breathe a sigh of relief when they learn a major weapon from the other side will either miss the game, or was taken out of the game. I find it funny that people constantly point to this, and conveniently forget how repugnant michael irvin actually is, and then on the other side blanket the whole stadium as having booed. They didn't.

The booing of the Rays, I thought it seemed more good natured. Even if it wasn't, what are you going to do? I think given all the rep, the fans were awfully well behaved. I've seen junk EVERYWHERE. But its the convenient media narrative to harp on the philly fans, but I don't expect that to change.