Phlicker
also know as @PhillyBeerGuy
So first off...Hi! Long time no read/write on my end. I've been a bit absent from the boards over the summer for a variety of reasons, but I thought that a transaction that transpired over the past few months deserved public recognition.
Back during the months of February and March when thoughts turned to Spring Training and another glorious summer on the 90 ft. diamond, a few threads (such as [topic="30875"]this one[/topic]) were started where CP'ers got to boast about the prowess of their chosen team. It was shortly after the shortstop for my squad, Jimmy Rollins, proclaimed the Phillies as the "team to beat" in the NL East. In one of those threads, a NY Mets fan caught site of my praise for the Fightin's and issued a challenge. After several exchanged PM's a dual wager was agreed upon, both for the season record and head-to-head series. It was on.
Early on, the Phillies were indeed "the team to beat", as everyone seemed capable of beating them. After digging themselves a 4-11 hole to start the season, I fully expected to hear something...anything from "Mr. Met," but alas, I did not. I found it unusual, as most of the Met fans I know in this area are quick to crow when their team is on top. Surely I'd hear something after the Mets opened up one of their many double-digit leads, no? Not a peep. Such strange goings on...
I've never hidden my dislike for NY fans, primarily for the same reason that most people outside of the Delaware Valley hate Eagles fans, but mostly because so many of them seem to live around here. For whatever reason there was a mass migration from NYC and North Jersey, and they all settled in Philly territory (cost of living, maybe? It certainly isn't because Philly's any cleaner than Manhattan, that's for sure). Because of this they are able to drive down the street to an away game for their team(s) and turn it into what is essentially a home game (Not so much with football, but not for lack of trying). That they choose to do this rather than go to their own home stadiums (albeit a longer drive) is what keeps me from getting tickets to Phillies/Mets, Flyers/Rangers, etc. games. It aggravates me. They aggravate me. I fully expected my wager partner to aggravate me.
He never did.
I was prepared to dislike him.
Now I want to buy him a beer.
You see, not once during the season did this NY fan ever post or PM to rub it in my face, nor did he ever make any derogatory comment towards my team or the fact that he seemed to have the wager (at least the larger of the two) in the bag. Not one single boast. In fact, shortly after the Phils swept the Mets on Labor Day weekend and then proceeded to give it all back (and then some) to the tune of a 7 game deficit with less than a month to play, I PM'ed him to cry "uncle", offer my congratulations, and inquire as to how he wanted me to settle with him.
He turned me down. Told me that it had been a back-and-forth season for both teams and that we should wait it out and see how things finished.
Unbelievable.
Then the truly unbelievable happened and the Phils caught lighting in a bottle at precisely the same time the Mets began to unravel at the seams. I for my part never commented on it (as I was holding my breath waiting for the other shoe to drop), but even after the unthinkable happened, this gentleman offered me nothing but congratulations and wishes for good luck in the playoffs. What? Are you kidding? Every other Met fan (the ones that seem to take over CBP) would have given some backhanded compliment coupled with something like, "Well, they were lucky to even get there...it never would've happened if the Mets hadn't fallen apart...you guys backed into it, etc. etc." Not this guy. He took it in stride, congratulated me again, and settled our wagers promptly (which were a box of choice to the best record and a premium 5'er for best head-to-head) with perhaps the nicest 5'er I've ever received.
So, thank you Anthony (tone-ny). You are a true gentleman, and have changed my opinion of Mets fans forever. I look forward to the day that I can share a Don Carlos Robo with you from the box that arrived last week, and to hopefully many years of our teams struggling for supremacy at the top of the NL East (hey, anyone but the Braves, right?).
Back during the months of February and March when thoughts turned to Spring Training and another glorious summer on the 90 ft. diamond, a few threads (such as [topic="30875"]this one[/topic]) were started where CP'ers got to boast about the prowess of their chosen team. It was shortly after the shortstop for my squad, Jimmy Rollins, proclaimed the Phillies as the "team to beat" in the NL East. In one of those threads, a NY Mets fan caught site of my praise for the Fightin's and issued a challenge. After several exchanged PM's a dual wager was agreed upon, both for the season record and head-to-head series. It was on.
Early on, the Phillies were indeed "the team to beat", as everyone seemed capable of beating them. After digging themselves a 4-11 hole to start the season, I fully expected to hear something...anything from "Mr. Met," but alas, I did not. I found it unusual, as most of the Met fans I know in this area are quick to crow when their team is on top. Surely I'd hear something after the Mets opened up one of their many double-digit leads, no? Not a peep. Such strange goings on...
I've never hidden my dislike for NY fans, primarily for the same reason that most people outside of the Delaware Valley hate Eagles fans, but mostly because so many of them seem to live around here. For whatever reason there was a mass migration from NYC and North Jersey, and they all settled in Philly territory (cost of living, maybe? It certainly isn't because Philly's any cleaner than Manhattan, that's for sure). Because of this they are able to drive down the street to an away game for their team(s) and turn it into what is essentially a home game (Not so much with football, but not for lack of trying). That they choose to do this rather than go to their own home stadiums (albeit a longer drive) is what keeps me from getting tickets to Phillies/Mets, Flyers/Rangers, etc. games. It aggravates me. They aggravate me. I fully expected my wager partner to aggravate me.
He never did.
I was prepared to dislike him.
Now I want to buy him a beer.
You see, not once during the season did this NY fan ever post or PM to rub it in my face, nor did he ever make any derogatory comment towards my team or the fact that he seemed to have the wager (at least the larger of the two) in the bag. Not one single boast. In fact, shortly after the Phils swept the Mets on Labor Day weekend and then proceeded to give it all back (and then some) to the tune of a 7 game deficit with less than a month to play, I PM'ed him to cry "uncle", offer my congratulations, and inquire as to how he wanted me to settle with him.
He turned me down. Told me that it had been a back-and-forth season for both teams and that we should wait it out and see how things finished.
Unbelievable.
Then the truly unbelievable happened and the Phils caught lighting in a bottle at precisely the same time the Mets began to unravel at the seams. I for my part never commented on it (as I was holding my breath waiting for the other shoe to drop), but even after the unthinkable happened, this gentleman offered me nothing but congratulations and wishes for good luck in the playoffs. What? Are you kidding? Every other Met fan (the ones that seem to take over CBP) would have given some backhanded compliment coupled with something like, "Well, they were lucky to even get there...it never would've happened if the Mets hadn't fallen apart...you guys backed into it, etc. etc." Not this guy. He took it in stride, congratulated me again, and settled our wagers promptly (which were a box of choice to the best record and a premium 5'er for best head-to-head) with perhaps the nicest 5'er I've ever received.
So, thank you Anthony (tone-ny). You are a true gentleman, and have changed my opinion of Mets fans forever. I look forward to the day that I can share a Don Carlos Robo with you from the box that arrived last week, and to hopefully many years of our teams struggling for supremacy at the top of the NL East (hey, anyone but the Braves, right?).
