First, don’t kill the messenger. Second, how rare is it that a major magazine would conduct a study on the worst sports fans in America, and two teams from the same city would tie for the two top spots? Although I can’t say I’m surprised. In its latest issue GQ ranks the top 15 worst sports fans in America, and have the Phillies and Eagles fans tied for first (or worst). The magazine claims that its rankings are “heavily researched and highly scientific,” but don’t offer details. But their conclusions mostly make sense. On Eagles and Phillies fans:
The truth is this: All told, Philadelphia stadiums house the most monstrous collection of humanity outside of the federal penal system. “Some of these people would boo the crack in the Liberty Bell,” baseball legend Pete Rose once said. More likely, these savages would have thrown the battery that cracked it.
Rounding out the Top 5:
3. West Virginia University. The school led the nation in intentionally set street fires from 1997 to 2003, lighting up an unmatchable 1,120 blazes. That includes 120 in a single night to celebrate a football win over Virginia Tech in 2003 and sixty infernos set to celebrate advancing to the second round of the NCAA basketball tournament in 2005.
4. Oakland Raiders. The Silver and Black have attracted an unholy fan base of hell-raisers, gangbangers, and inveterate knife-lickers, all of whom firmly believe that skipping town for an away game is well worth the parole violation.
5. University of Maryland basketball. March 31, 2001: Mourning a Final Four loss, despondent fans loot local homes in order to burn the stolen furniture. They melt a cable line that leaves 30,000 residents without TV service. Total damages? $500,000.
As you might imagine, the GQ comments section is the best part. Excerpt (censoring mine):
GQ sucks f***ing b***s
Posted 3/19/2011 10:24:25pm
by gqsucks
lol @ philly fans being douchebags in commenting on an article about how they are douchebags
Posted 3/19/2011 12:44:45pm
by GeorgeSanders
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- thethreatlevelmidnight - Mar 21, 2011 at 6:31 PM
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The best part from the Maryland blurb:
1) April 4, 2006: Students light street fires, throw bottles, and try to tip over a bus—after a win by their women’s basketball team.
