Open Letter to Donovan McNabb, Desean Jackson, Ryan Howard and all athletes

Dear Donovan McNabb, Desean Jackson, Ryan Howard and all other athletes,

Philadelphia has been called out recently by Mr. McNabb and Mr. Jackson for booing their own players.  And, Mr. Howard, who has been booed throughout the worst season of his career, recently asked a reporter if “Want to trade places? Want to see what it’s like?”

Mr. McNabb, you appear to be a gentleman who enjoys a good meal or two.  If your favorite steakhouse served you a couple of subpar meals, would you continue to go there or would you try another spot until you heard things were back to normal at your favorite spot?  I think you’d try another restaurant.

Mr. Jackson, you appear to be someone who appreciates good rap music.  If Snoop Dogg released a couple of albums produced by Clay Aiken that were as bad as that collaboration sounds, I would think you might not purchase those records and maybe wait for Snoop to hook back up with Dr. Dre or self-produce an album.

Those are the options you both have in those respective instances.  Us fans, we don’t have that option.  There aren’t any other football teams or baseball teams that we can support until our under-performing players/teams get it together.  Fans had to spend their hard-earned money on an Eagles in season in which you, Mr. Jackson, admitted to taking off because you didn’t want to risk an injury before renegotiating your contract.

Sure, we can stop attending games and watching on television, but that’s not realistic when we’ve been lifelong fans and have traditions made around the games of our sports teams.  For us, these games are bigger than you.  We’ll be following these teams long after you are finished with your careers.  If fans of every under-performing team stopping attending games and watching on television, then your (players) incomes would drop dramatically.  I doubt you, current athletes, or future athletes want that.

Our only recourse to realistically express our frustration is the BOO.  It doesn’t mean we don’t like you.  All athletes go through dry spells.  That’s fine.  However, when the same struggles continue without any positive changes or improvements we BOO.  Restaurants bring in new chefs.  If the chef isn’t up to standards, patrons will stop showing up until productive changes are made.  Our Boo equates to us not showing up at a restaurant.  That’s how we express our displeasure since there aren’t any other local teams for us to lend our support AND that’s not how Philadelphia rolls away.  We are a loyal bunch.

No one forced any of you to become a professional athlete.  With that comes great financial reward and fame.  Public criticism also accompanies that fame and fortune.  If you can’t handle it, stop playing.

Mr. Howard, you asked if someone wanted to trade places with you.  I do.  You make $25M a year or $154,320.99/game.  I will stand at second base for a game and let a sold-out Citizens Bank Park BOO me for three hours, the length of an average game.  If you give me a helmet, they can throw batteries at me.  Ya see, that game’s salary would pay off the student loans that I wrestle to make payment on every month.  I understand it’s not easy hearing the BOOs and public criticism, but that doesn’t make it any harder than first responders’ jobs or not knowing if you can make this month’s mortgage…EVERY MONTH!

I work in the record industry. The pinnacle to our success would be a #1 record.  We’ve been close at #4. If we ever do reach #1, I may get a modest bonus and gold record to hang on my wall.  When you reached the pinnacle of your success, a World Series Championship, millions of people lined the streets of South Philadelphia to applaud you.  Yeah, I’d trade places with you.

You’re having a terrible season.  You’ve had a few below-average seasons now.  If us common folks underperform for a couple of years we get fired.  You don’t know that stress.  If the Phillies fire (release) you, you still get another $60M.  Would I like to suck at my job and get paid $60M to be fired?  Sure. You don’t even have to worry about your job being outsourced or eliminated.  Hell yeah, I’d trade places with you.

When’s the last time you flew coach? When is the last time you shopped at a thrift store, not by choice but by necessity?  When’s the last time you bought a new car, hoping you just didn’t get scammed?

Fuck yeah, I’d trade places with you!

Mr. Howard, I’ve been a big supporter of yours and I wish you hadn’t uttered those ridiculous words.

We boo in Philadelphia because we care.  I’m sorry if that hurt your feelings, but the industry is set up so that we must BOO because we can’t shop or dine somewhere else.  Your teams are the only joints in our awesome town.

I wish you all great success in the future, please just stop ripping the Philadelphia fans.  We showed you all great amounts of love in the past.

Sincerely,

Violations Greg

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