Missannelli vs. Bayless
The blogosphere is abuzz this afternoon after yesterday's on-air battle between ESPN 950's Mike Misasnelli and ESPN's Skip Bayless.
Why is this relevant here at MTC?
Because I know for a fact that there is a group of you out there (which I include myself in) that can't stand when a member of the national media goes back to the same general, played-out descriptions of the Philadelphia fan.
And specifically, the Philadelphia Eagles fan.
That's where Bayless comes in.
On ESPN's First Take, Bayless referenced Philadelphia when talking about Mavericks fans.
"I worked in Dallas for quite awhile, and they've been drinking [alcohol] for years and years and years at Cowboy and Maverick games, and trust me, not ever, ever has there been any history in Dallas, Texas of this kind of Philly-style, rude, crude, dangerous behavior in the stands, especially at a Dallas Mavericks game," he said.
Well, that didn't sit well with Missanelli, and he invited Bayless on his radio show to discuss the comments.
What ensued was pure comedy.
Missanelli exploded on Bayless, with the frustration that many of you have undboutedly felt over the years apparent in his voice.
He asked Bayless for evidence in the last 10 years of the type of behavior he mentioned on TV.
Bayless could not produce any, instead going back and referencing his days as a reporter at the Vet.
"So let's go back to the Vet," Missanelli responded. "So we're never going to live that down here in Philadelphia because of nitwits like you who rip us and make it a modern day thing, right?"
Bayless threatened to hang up, and Missannelli urged him to stop crying, saying he wasn't like the lightweights on First Take.
"I don't insult anybody on first and 10 when I debate with them and you're the lightweight," Bayless said. "I don't even know who you are. What's your last name?"
At which point Missanelli had the best line of the debate.
"Google me," he said.
Finally, near the end, Bayless tried to explain where he was coming from.
"If you ask anybody outside the city of Philadelphia about whose city has the worst reputation for fans, it's Philly," he said.
"And you know why that is, Skip?" Missanelli responded. "Here's why that is. Because you journalists outside of Philadelphia are too lazy to do any real research, and you're relying on perceptions that are 18 years old when they were at Veterans Stadium when you covered the Dallas Cowboys."
Amen.
Anyway, I've written way too much on this, and written words don't do it justice.
Click here to listen to the full exchange, and (as if you need encouragement), feel free to offer your take below.