Philly fans' profanity causes controversy
Excuse me for writing a headline without any news in it, but there is a spat going on across the Internets today that needs our attention.
Philly fans' profanity causes controversy
Jonathan Tannenwald
Excuse me for writing a headline without any news in it, but there is a spat going on across the Internets today that needs our attention. A soccer blogger and Manchester United fan in Charlotte, N.C., named Ethiene Rodriguez, has taken to the website EPLTalk.com to roast the Sons of Ben for chanting a few profane things during Wednesday's game.
Not surprisingly, the ensuing uproar has drawn in a bunch of soccer fans and bloggers across Twitter, including BigSoccer.com's Aaron Stollar and the Washington Post's Dan Steinberg. Both of them actually like Philadelphia fans, believe it or not. Though if it makes you feel any better, the former told me by email that he would be happy for you to hate him.
So, fine, I will take the bait and jump into this thing. I am no fan of Philadelphia sports fans' vulgarity, and have made that clear in writing on Philly.com before. But the author's argument has multiple significant flaws in it. Let's take them apart, shall we?
Rodriguez's point based around two chants she heard at Wednesday's game. I'm not going to name them directly, but if you've been to a game you've heard them. Especially the one that is uttered when the opposing goalkeeper takes goal kicks.
Criticism of the goal kick chant is fair game in my opinion, especially because of how easily the noise carries in the small confines of PPL Park. But I guarantee you that if the Sons of Ben yelled the Spanish word "Puto!" as many supporters clubs in MLS do, there would be no controversy whatsoever.
It says something that no one complains about the use of a Spanish chant that is even more vulgar than an English chant. There, I said it. Make of it what you want.
As for the other chant, to be perfectly blunt, it does not actually exist. If you're sitting in the stands (or indeed the press box), you might think initially that the "Come on the U!" chant sounds like something else. But if you take two seconds to properly listen to the thing, you'll realize what the Sons of Ben are actually saying.
I'd close with this. EPLTalk.com is a pretty well-established website, with lots of analysis and even the occasional honest news story - especially about coverage of soccer on American television. I read it on a fairly regular basis.
But so far as I can tell after multiple searches, this is the only post the author has written for the site. Furthermore, the author directly admits to being an American who has only been to Old Trafford once.
Which causes me to conclude two things. First, the author hasn't spent nearly enough time around actual English soccer fans, because they're just as capable of rampant vulgarity as the Eagles' and Flyers' finest diehards.
And second, if she went to Old Trafford and didn't hear any vulgarity, then the place really has become a soulless cash register. There's a very good reason why even the United fans at the Linc on Wednesday showed up wearing green and gold over their red.
UPDATE: The author and EPLTalk.com's editor have issued a retraction after many commenters explained the actual words in the "Come on the U" chant. So keep calm and carry on, or something like that.
Philadelphia goons think that vulgarities are part of the sporting event experience. It's sad.— RightWingHypocrite- Let's please come up with a new chant for opposing goal kicks!— phillysports33
- While not offended, I would be most pleased if the SoBs could be a little more creative. Perhaps an ode to the brain trust that posts here to the tune of "I've been working on the railroad"? I've been posting on a website All the live long day I hate soccer and writers As my brainless posts display Can't you hear my potty Sh-te mouth It's Philly's born right to cuss My inane thoughts are buzzing Let's face it, I'm an -ss!— Oreland827
@phillyguard...nice sideways jab. Well played.— soccerdad1150- @ michaelb68 see you at the convention http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20100723_Speakers_of_Klingon_gather_in_Essington.html#comments— phillyguard
- Sons of Ben = Poser Wannabes. And annoying ones at that.— michaelfb68
PS To those who say things like "Its Soccer, who cares".. F U- In England, especially Manchester, guys utter a certain vulgar "C" word to describe a certain part of the female anatomy as constant in their conversation as we use the word 'like'.. As in like you know, like what the Sons of Ben like supposedly said.. So anyone who acts offended at Philly fans uttering profanity is full of um.. hot air.
- whole lotta nothin about a whole lotta nothin 'sport'. hardly worth the bandwidth to post— spittooncj
- Uhh, its soccer, no one cares!— FL
Gee, and the "Sons of Ben" website makes a big point on their website of stating that they will not accept profane shouts or cheers from their membership and will revoke the membership of anyone who violates that policy. ........I guess it just LOOKS good to say that on the website and is good for public relations, huh? You don't have to really mean it or enforce it.- Yo! Youse think Filly fans are vulger? F--K YOU!— Larry Byrd
- Did any of the MU players fall to the pitch, holding their ears, hoping to draw a yellow card?— rmpchf
Comment removed.
exactly. where can adult males go to be adult males? not to be vulgar and violent... but to escape all the whinning that happens everytime there is the slightest vulgarity or violence. sports are our last refuge and you're surprised when we resist your family-friendly agenda? YOU are the one who is out of place.- Vulgar language is completely acceptable at the soccer stadium. This is a sport for adult males and not for the family. So if you don't like it, don't go!!!— my3cents
- I'm an American who used to live in England and attended many matches when I lived there. My local side, Norwich City, was not even in the Premier League and I can assure you that the language I heard at those matches far exceeds what the Sons of Ben said on Wednesday night. In fact, I was seated two sections to the right of the Sons of Ben and after the first goal kick chant, I didn't even really notice what they were saying. Their noise faded into the rest of the noise at the Linc. I suggest Ms. Rodriguez thicken her skin a little. Besides, if you're going to be a bandwagon jumping Man Utd. fan, you deserve what you get.— PattyB23
- Comment removed.
- this is just a pathetic piece of writing to fill up some space, please think of something better— LeftField
- I stopped reading after i realized he was talking about a girl.— Tough* Juice*
- She's a United fan who is not from Manchester. Enough said.— Timmy
this is just another example of bigotry against Philly. one chant was flat out not profane, the writer just needs to have their ears checked. The other is a common chant used worldwide, frequently more profane than here. But the writer wrote an article based not on fact but on reputation. If Philly was a skin color they'd be racist.— Pelti- Soccer is boring and european soccer players are whinny and deserve to be called girly names.— fresa63
- please inform Madame Butterfly that if her delicate sensibilities are so easily offended by misinterpretations and an occasional F bomb that is used in the very same fashion across MLS, then she doesn't know a thing about soccer/football and should stick to something far less offensive, like embroidery. Heck, the Old Firm in recent years have had songs and chants ranging from F The Pope to asian players eating dogs.— stormrider
- Comment removed.
- The stuff that is heard in the stands of the EPL is not for the meek. Nothing the Philly fans are chanting could compare.— Stairs08
- Sorry, but don't they KILL people in Europe over this game?— jven1021
- Philly fans using profanity, what a surprise. Class act those Philly fans are. New team, same pathetic and embarrassing fan base.— JerseyExit63
- jonathan is typically a man's name, yes? stop crying.
- Is there any chance that you have the influence to put the kibosh on that dreadful new forum format?— Bazalite
Reach Jonathan at jtannenwald@phillynews.com or 215-854-2330.
