On my way back to the seat from the restroom at the Phillies-Mets game today, I saw a couple donned in Mets apparel being harassed by Phillies faithful. Upon telling them to leave the Mets fans alone, they turned their anger towards me. (For the record, I was wearing a Phillies cap.) Fortunately, I was on my way back towards my seat so I did not have to endure their taunts for long. Apparently Phillies fans who stand up for Mets fans are no better than Mets fans themselves in the eyes of Philadelphia.

This is not, of course, the first time I have experienced such hostility coming from Philadelphia sports fans, but it got me wondering why they feel a necessity to be this way. Though I am (and have long been) a Phillies fan, I have a lot of respect for our biggest division rivals (as well as any other opposing team) and see no absolutely no problem with their fans showing their support. Why am I in the minority?