It’s not uncommon to finish out the Thanksgiving weekend feeling embarrassed by how your family behaved. This past Thanksgiving, though, it wasn’t that “one cousin” who made me cringe. It was my bigger, metaphorical family — Philadelphia Eagles fans — who had me saying, “Oh my god, you are, like, so embarrassing.”
Listen to the audio edition here:
You might have seen this viral video by now, but in case you missed it, let’s recap:
The Birds lost to the Bears on Black Friday — which came right on the cleats of their thumping from the Cowboys (the COWBOYS!) just five days before. Disgruntled fans blamed both losses on Eagles Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo, chanting “Fire Kevin” and even leaving the Bears game in the fourth quarter. I know: some City of Brotherly love we are, right?
But then, over the weekend, as-yet-unidentified fans took their frustrations directly to the source by hurling eggs at Patullo’s house — where he lives with his wife and children — in Moorestown, N.J.
And just like that, we’ve got ourselves yet another national-headline-making foul play by Philly sports fans.
Hey, Philly? If you want to get past the throwing snowballs at Santa rep, you know what you don’t do? You don’t egg someone’s house in the name of your team. Actually, you know what you just shouldn’t do, period? Egg someone’s house because you’re mad at them. Like, for anything. Seriously, can we all grow up?
Philly sports fans have a well-earned reputation for bad behavior that goes back decades. (Remember drunk court at the Vet?) But targeting a coach at home is a new low that reflects the assholery that is increasingly the norm in nearly every aspect of our society. Disagree with someone? Call them hurtful names on social media, lead a cancel campaign, call their employer and get them fired … egg their family home.
It’s time for a reset.
A strategic “BOO” is one thing …
Look, I’m not a fan of Coach Patullo, either. In this current chapter of Philly sports malaise, it would be better if the Eagles and their lackluster OC parted ways. Like any failed relationship, it’s better to cut ties when things lean ugly.
But you know what’s leaning even uglier these days? Seeing our city’s fandom fall apart from true meanness.
I’m all for a strategic boo. Hell, I’m woman enough to admit I have booed, proudly, at Lincoln Financial Field. Sometimes it’s important to send a message that we don’t like what we see. Even Eagle’s legend Jason Kelce appreciates disgruntled fans’ part in the overall scheme of things.
But can we have some perspective here? The Eagles have an 8-4 record, are leading their division, have a clear pathway to the playoffs — and have hit a rough patch. Rather than hang in there like the ride-or-die fans our team deserves, we toss boos on the first drive of the game. And then some jackass follows it up by tossing actual eggs at a man’s house, where his family lives?
The honorable choice fans made to practice kindness instead of contempt to someone having a tough time did something important. It showed the world that Philadelphia fans — despite the alleged, permanent chip on their shoulder — actually do possess the ability to take the high road.
Aren’t you tired of the narrative being that we actually suck — as people?
Aren’t you sick of hearing all those morally grandstanding outsiders saying, “What do you expect from Philly? They killed Hitchbot. They, with their Karen-haircuts, steal baseballs from kids. They punch police horses. They throw batteries at the opposing team. They projectile vomit on little girls … on purpose.”
I sure am.
“But wait,” you say. “Isn’t our rough’n’rowdy behavior all part of the charming, No One Likes Us, We Don’t Care mentality that Philadelphians cherish so deeply?”
Well, here’s an inconvenient truth: It actually does matter if people like us, at least a little bit.
Picture this: You get your wish, and Patullo gets a one-way ticket to Palookaville. The streets erupt with glee. Finally, now we can get somebody who can actually treat our offense like the Cadillac it is! Call up Frank Reich!
Now imagine trying to hire the best new OC after he learns that the previous guy who had the job was run out of town on the heels of fans egging his house because the team lost two games in a row.
To be clear: This is not a call for Philly fans turning over a new leaf and becoming … chill. It is possible to keep our don’t-mess-with-us ethos without sending out the bat signal to the entire world that we’re actually miserable people to be around.
Exhibit A: A lighted “Fire Kevin Patullo” street sign, strategically positioned at Pattison Ave.
That’s funny. Cathartic. Pointed.
Exhibit B: Throwing eggs at Kevin Patullo’s house
Mean. Embarrassing. Bully behavior. And — oh, yeah —actually illegal.
A wake-up call to be better
I hope that this latest, ugly chapter in our sports-fan history is our wake-up call to be better. Because the other damaging headline swirling this week about the Philly sports world is that — get this — we aren’t even a top sports city to begin with. According to The Washington Post, Philly doesn’t even crack the list of America’s Top 9 Sports Cities.
Obviously, the Post couldn’t be more wrong. If I were a betting woman, I’d wager that kids in this region probably learn the Eagles fight song before they do the national anthem.
And it’s precisely because of our fan enthusiasm that Philadelphia’s sports ecosystem shines so brightly. The rush of taking to Broad Street after a big win; the pleasantries exchanged between passersby on game day; the secret language of “I love you” or “it’s nice to see you” hidden in the phrase “Go Birds” — it’s all part of a beautiful tapestry of fandom that I know, not-so deep down, is one of the best things about our city.
The story we want people telling about us is what I know to be true: That sports fandom in this town is a family affair. These are our own. And we love them, even as we hate on them.
Just look at what happened in 2023, when Phillies shortstop Trea Turner was having a lousy year. Sports pundits and fans were slinging insults and boos at the poor guy, which — shockingly — did not result in Turner playing any better but, demoralized, playing worse.
But then, inspired by a social media call to action from Phillies devotee Jon McCann, fans took a different approach. Instead of tough love, McCann suggested, let’s instead show Turner some real love by giving him a standing ovation every time he came up to bat. So they did. He responded. And his season totally turned around.
The rest is history. Netflix made The Turnaround, a documentary produced by Barack and Michelle Obama about this heartwarming moment in Philly sports history. It won an Emmy. We got to see Trea Turner smile, and we got to feel good about ourselves. It’s one of those Philly fan moments we can look back upon and feel proud of.
The honorable choice fans made to practice kindness instead of contempt to someone having a tough time did something important. It showed the world that Philadelphia fans — despite the alleged, permanent chip on their shoulder — actually do possess the ability to take the high road.
As McCann puts it in The Turnaround, “It’s nice to be nice sometimes.”
Would a similar approach make Patullo perform better from the sidelines? God no. I am with you in urging Patullo to try literally anything else. But I urge Philly fans to also try anything else than spreading hate (and egg yolks) to our beloved Eagles over a couple of bad games.
As for those eggs you want to sling? Donate them to a community fridge. Groceries are expensive. Philadelphians are hungry for more than another Super Bowl win.
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