Screen Shot 2012-05-04 at 11.22.53 AM

They had bases made… cute

Last night, reader Ryan sent me an email with something that was posted on the Nationals Facebook page. I couldn’t find the link to see it for myself, but that doesn’t matter. The message is a good one:

Emotions will be running high this weekend, so please be on your guard, Natstown. This website is a reminder of the dangerous situations you may find yourself in at the park and how to keep yourself safe. http://www.fansagainstviolence.org/

Hopefully, we will all escape this weekend unscathed and not throw rocks at hornets’ nests again!

 

While the rhetoric surrounding the game (from us, radio stations and even the Nationals themselves) has reached extraordinary heights, we must point out that it’s a sporting event. Entertainment. Despite the military-grade terms being thrown around, it’s all in good fun. Sports rivalries are healthy and the perfect way for the common man (or woman) to feel like he (or she) has a cause to fight for. A greater good, if you will.  

Philly fans get a bad rap, undeservingly so. Bad stuff happens everywhere. This you know. That fucking rhymed! But, especially with our trip coinciding with ESPN’s national telecast on Sunday night, any incident will be yet another line on the endless list of bad Philly fan behavior compiled by the national media. We don’t want that. We don’t want anyone to get hurt, fight, or do anything similarly stupid. 

Our group will come in relative peace. We may take over, but we’re not going to be idiots… even if we’re not all that smart (derp). We’re going to be loud, support the Phillies, laugh at the Nationals, heckle the bejesus out of Jayson Werth, and perhaps have a drink or two– not start trouble or pick fights. I’ve mentioned this to every reporter I’ve spoken to about our trip. It’s a game, folks. And we expect that our rival Nats fans understand this, too… all six of them (I’M KIDDING– look, my tongue is in my cheek, the way chicks do when they make blow job face).  

It’s an early May baseball game. I think that all of us – both Philly and D.C. folk – can agree that there are much more important things to genuinely quarrel over. Sports are entertainment, and that’s the way I’ve always ran this site. Yes, we plan on showing up, being loud and supporting our team, but we also respect that everyone in attendance – Nats fan or otherwise – is entitled to do the same.  And those of you who are coming on our buses will be reminded of that before we leave our fine city. 

Now if you'll excuse me… I have to unbunch my underwear.