Lessons learned

Thanks to a sterling start on Sunday from Joe "Fat Joe" Blanton, the Phillies are coming off a much-needed sweep of the hated, depleted Mets. Of course there were two other games won, one of which was attended by yours truly. No better way celebrating the Fourth of July with the American pastime. Except maybe by sitting alone on your front porch with a single sparkler.

But that is neither here nor there. While at the game on Saturday I conducted what in restrospect I'll call a "social experiment" in heckling. This is to say I learned the player you can't criticize at a Phillies game without facing the collective shunning of everyone within earshot. This is not unlike learning that Michael Jackson is one person whose death would force MTV to play music videos again. A sacrifice that proves worthy.

"You suck, Chase!"

Those were the uncouth words that drew the piercing glares of some 75 fans in the vicinity of section 142. The situation was that he missed a ground ball. It was not an error, sure, but Jimmy Rollins drew mordant shouts just innings earlier on a similar play. Granted, Chase is having a vastly superior season to Jimmy, statistics-wise. Also I suppose it was easier to see Jimmy's play unfold from our left-field vantage point. I'm going to avoid any racial connotations.

The reaction was akin to shouting "Hail Satan" at a genuine colored lady wearing her best church crown at a Baptist Church on a Sunday morning. And I suppose that Religion fervor can make for a good comparison to die-hard sports fandom, especially considering the crowd on Fourth of July. These fans ditched a presumable cornucopia of holiday and family options to support their team (not me of course, I had nothing else to occupy my holiday besides that lone sparkler).

So what, if any, conclusions can be drawn from this little episode? That Chase "Fucking" Utley is well on his way to becoming the most celebrated athlete in Philadelphia sports history. And one insults him at your own peril, especially when surrounded by thousands of the most orthodox baseball fans in the Delaware Valley.