Philadelphia fans get a bad rap from the national media and one former Eagles star believes the passion of a rabid fanbase is simply misunderstood.
During an appearance at the 2021 Mid Penn Bank Celebrity Golf Tournament, Michael Vick was asked about fans in the city and the label that comes with such huge expectations.
“That’s real. That’s a real thing. I didn’t experience it until I got here, but I learned to embrace it said via NBC Sports Philadelphia. It made me better. Coming into the stadium, I always felt like you’ve got to be a crowd-pleaser. That’s what they expect. They went and got the ‘chip a couple years ago, now the expectations are higher. You wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Vick was responding to 76ers stars Dwight Howard and Danny Green criticizing fans in the city who were upset that Philadelphia choked against the Hawks, with Ben Simmons playing the worst series of his career.
Fans in this city expect their athletes to compete, show heart during that competition while exuding the blue-collar work ethic that Philadelphia is known for.
The city isn’t for everyone, and Ben Simmons could be the next star to exit for less demanding pastures.