OK, I'm sick and tired of all Philadelphia sports fans getting a black eye because of a few isolated incidents by a small number of idiots.  Events at a recent Phillies game have brought out the uneducated and downright lazy Philly fan-bashers once again.  I am here to set the record straight.

Last week an idiot named Matthew Clemmens made an ass of himself at a Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park.  Apparently Clemmens, a 21-year old from Cherry Hill, New Jersey (NOT from Philly), was drunk and disorderly in the stands.  He was using foul and abusive language and then reportedly stuck his fingers down his throat to make himself throw up.  As if this wasn't bad enough, he threw up on a little girl in front of him. 

As soon as this happened other real fans in the vicinity sprang into action to subdue this Douchebag.  By now you have probably seen his mug shot, with Clemmens sporting a black eye courtesy of one of the fans who subdued him until security and police arrived to arrest him.  The problem is that because of the actions of one unruly fan from another state, all Philly fans are being unfairly branded as classless. 

It was the lead story on numerous websites and of course lazy "reporters", such as Michael Wilbon on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption, took their shots.  I even heard from a Mets' fan who said this proves all Philly fans are "classless".  So, because one guy from another state does something stupid at a Philly sporting event, all Philly fans are classless?  I think not.

Philly fans are passionate and there have been incidents in the past.  I won't deny the facts.  Yes, Philly fans threw snowballs at Santa Claus, but that was forty years ago.  That means most of the current Philly fans weren't even alive when that happened.  Yes, a handful of idiots booed Donovan McNabb at the draft, but how is that any different from the NY Jets' fans who boo every single pick their team ever makes?  It isn't, yet the media only mentions a single incident involving Philly fans.

Clemmens was charged with simple assault, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, and related offenses.  What he did was stupid, but it's hardly an indictment of all Philly fans.  I will now provide examples that the national media chooses not to highlight since they didn't happen in Philadelphia. 

- On opening day in Dodger Stadium this year, 132 people were arrested for various infractions.  Obviously all L.A. fans are classless criminals.

- At a February 3, 2010 basketball game at West Virginia University, fans threw objects onto the court and U. of Pittsburgh assistant coach Tom Herrion was hit under his right eye with a coin.  Obviously all West Virginia fans are classless criminals.

- During a December game in Giants Stadium New York fans throw beer bottles at Eagles WR DeSean Jackson in the end zone after he scores a 60-yard TD.  Obviously all New York fans are classless criminals.

- During a playoff game in 2009 between the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets, Mavericks fans poured beer on Kenyon Martin's mother, then poured beer on and cursed at Carmelo Anthony's fiance, Lala Vasquez.  Obviously all Dallas fans are classless criminals.

- Last season in Chicago, a Cubs fan in the centerfield bleachers threw a beer on Phillies OF Shane Victorino while he was catching a fly ball at the wall.  Obviously all Chicago fans are classless criminals.

- On January 23rd UCLA's Kevin Lowe received death threats on his cell phone from Oregon fans the day before the teams played.  Apparently Oregon's student booster club circulated Lowe's cell phone number around.  According to Lowe the first message said, "If you guys win, we'll come to your house and kill your family."  Obviously all Oregon fans are classless criminals.

- On March 22, 2006 Philadelphia Flyer RJ Umberger was knocked to the ice from behind and was slow to get up.  When he got up and skated off, the NY Ranger fans booed him.  Hmm, if you replace Umberger with Michael Irvin and NY fans with Philly fans, I think the national media would still be bringing this one up.  Oh wait.  Obviously all New York fans are classless criminals.

- On October 25, 2005 Houston Astro Craig Biggio's wife was slapped in the face by a White Sox fan after Scott Podsednik hit a game-winning HR.  And that was a game the White Sox won.  Obviously all Chicago fans are classless criminals.

- In October 2005 Pittsburgh Steeler fans threw trash on the lawn of QB Tommy Maddux after he threw three INTs, including one in OT that was returned for a TD by the Jaguars.  Obviously all Pittsburgh fans are classless criminals.  Guess their just trying to be like their franchise QB.

- This one is my all-time favorite in the world of bad fan behavior, yet it never gets brought up.  I guess that's because it didn't happen in Philly.  Anyway, on September 22, 2005 several New York Giants fans taunted the visiting New Orleans Saints fans about Hurricane Katrina during a game at Giants Stadium.  The "home game" for the Saints had to be moved due to the hurricane damage in New Orleans.  One fan asked a New Orleans resident, "Where are your swimmies?  I hope you have your swimmies."  Another Giants fan said, "You deserve what you got."  Obviously all New York fans are classless criminals.

- On September 11, 2005 Baltimore Ravens fans cheer an injury to their own QB Klyle Boller as he reeled in pain on the field.  Obviously all Baltimore fans are classless criminals.

- On December 24, 2003 two fans at a NY Islanders game were dressed as Santa Claus (ironic eh?) as part of a promotion run by the team.  When they went on the ice in between periods along with other fans dressed as Santa, they removed their red jackets to reveal jerseys of the rival Rangers.  They were subsequently knocked to the ice and had their shirts ripped off by Islander fans. Obviously all New York fans are classless criminals.  And obviously incidents involving Santa Claus are only publicized when they happen in Philly a generation ago.

- On September 20, 2003 a San Francisco Giants fan in the Dodgers Stadium parking lot shot a Dodgers fan.  Apparently all San Francisco fans are classless criminals.

- On July 8, 2003 an 8-year old boy at the Oakland Athletics' game against Tampa Bay received burns on his leg from a cherry bomb thrown from the upper deck by another fan.  Obviously all Oakland fans are classless criminals.

- During a game in Oakland in April 2003 a fan almost bit off the pinkie finger of a police officer when the officer tried to help Coliseum security break up a fight.  Obviously all Oakland fans are classless criminals. 

- On April 24, 2003 San Diego Padres third baseman Sean Burroughs was hit by a cell phone thrown from the stands by a fan during a Chicago Cubs game.  Obviously all Chicago fans are classless criminals.

- On April 19, 2003 Texas Rangers OF Carl Everett was hit in the back of the head by a cell phone while playing in Oakland.  Must have been a two-for-one sale on cell phones.  Obviously all Oakland fans are classless criminals.  Hey, there's an awful lot of bad fan behavior on the "laid back" west coast isn't there?  And I haven't even mentioned Raider fans.

- On April 15, 2003  a fan ran out on the field at U.S. Cellular Field and tried to tackle an umpire.  Obviously all Chicago fans are classless criminals.

- On September 19, 2002 Kansas City coach Tom Gamboa was attacked by a father and son who ran out of the stands of old Comisky Park in Chicago during a White Sox game.  Obviously all Chicago fans are classless criminals. 

- On May 16, 2000 Dodgers catcher Chad Kreuter was hit in the head as he sat in the bullpen at Wrigley Field by a Chicago Cubs fan who stole his cap.  Kreuter and several other Dodgers plays went into the stands and an ugly brawl ensued.  Seems that the Chicago fans are giving those classless California fans a run for their money doesn't it?  Obviously all Chicago fans are classless criminals.

- On November 24, 1999 Denver Broncos fans throw snowballs with batteries in them at the visiting Oakland Raiders.  Obviously all Denver fans are classless criminals.  And obviously the national media only remembers when Philly fans throw snowballs.

- On September 24, 1999 former Brewer Bill Spiers was in Milwaukee as a member of the Houston Astros when a fan jumped out of the stands and attacked him in right field.  Obviously all Milwaukee fans are classless criminals.

- There are too many incidents involving hooligan soccer fans to list, so I'll just mention that during a qualifying game for the World Cup in 1998, Costa Rican fans threw batteries and bag of urine (yes, urine) at U.S. players on the field.  Obviously all soccer fans are classless criminals.  And yes, I'm aware that calling soccer fans classless criminals is redundant.

- On December 23, 1995 thousands of New York Giants fans throw snowballs from the stands at the San Diego Chargers.  One of the Chargers equipment staff was injured by a snowball and one fan, named Jeffrey Lange, was arrested after his picture appeared on the cover of the NY Daily News.  The Douchebag probably has the cover framed and hung on a wall in his apartment.  Obviously all New York fans are classless criminals   

- And finally, on August 26, 1986 a knife with a five-inch blade was thrown from the stands at Yankees Stadium at Wally Joyner of the California Angels after they beat the NY Yankees.  Joyner was grazed on the left arm but not seriously injured.  I can't even imagine what the national media would have said about this one if it happened in Philly.  But obviously all New York fans are classless criminals.

Google really is a wonderful thing.  Those were just some of the best ones that I saw.  There are hundreds of other examples of rude, crude and classless criminal behavior by fans who are not Philly fans. 

I'm not trying to say that there aren't some complete knuckleheads at Philadelphia sporting events.  I am an Eagles season ticket holder, so I have seen them myself.  What I am trying to say is that those losers are the exception among the great Philly fanbase.  And bad behavior is certainly not unique to Philly fans, as it has been portrayed by the national media.  I think the few examples I came up, without even really trying, prove my point.  There are bad fans in every city among every fanbase.  To say otherwise is not only hypocritical but downright wrong.

By the way, there was something else that happened during that Phillies game where Matthew Clemens caused a disturbance.  Apparently a fan in that section caught a foul ball later in that game.  He walked over and gave the ball to the little girl on the receiving end of Clemmens' Donovan McNabb impersonation.  That represents the true Philly fans much more accurately than what one dope from New Jersey did.  Not surprisingly, the national media didn't bother to cover that aspect of the story.  That would have actually involved impartial journalism and a bit of work, so I'm not surprised they didn't report it.