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Sports fans in Philadelphia are known for fostering an incredibly hostile environment for opposing teams that roll into the city, and Braves manager Brian Snitker made it very clear he thinks the Phillies faithful goes too far while implying the team turns a blind eye to abusive behavior.
Philadelphia literally translates to “City of Brotherly Love” in Greek, so it’s pretty ironic that the people who root for the sports teams that call it home are known for going above and beyond when it comes to making life as miserable as possible not only for their opponents but hometown players who fail to live up to expectations.
Nothing sums up the essence of Philly fans like the time they pelted Santa Claus with snowballs at an Eagles game, but if you’re looking for a more recent example, I’d point you to the chaotic scene that broke out during $1 Hot Dog Night at Citizens Bank Park last season courtesy of Phillies fans who chucked wieners all over the stadium to express their displeasure with a loss.
Common knowledge dictates giving bullies attention will only make them go out of their way to torment you even more, and it seems like Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker recently committed a major unforced error during an appearance on The Steakhouse radio program by deciding to take aim at the Phillies fans who’ve apparently driven him to the end of his rope.
2024 marks Snitker’s ninth year with the Braves, who are looking to bounce back after getting eliminated from the NLDS for the second year in a row at the hands of the Phillies—a franchise the manager has some issues with based on what he had to say during the conversation where he aired more than a few grievances:
“I know after the playoffs last year, my wife’s like ‘I don’t care what you guys are doing, I’m not going back there’…
I’ve had friends go up there with road uniforms in Philadelphia and have seen ushers look the other way and say, ‘You should know better.’
I tell her don’t wear anything with Braves on it either because you’re a marked person. And that home team, they don’t seem to mind that it’s our wives, girlfriends, and families. You know what I mean? Inappropriate stuff being said around the children and things like that and nobody seems to care.”
I’m sure Phillies fans will have a measured and rational response to a man who manages a team that will be heading up to Philadelphia for a three-game series that kicks off on March 28th.