Written By: August McBride

“Nobody Likes Us, We Don’t Care!”

While it was initially used as a sort of catchphrase for the English Millwall Football Club, Philadelphians have wholeheartedly adopted it after it was quoted during Jason Kelce’s now-famous victory speech following The Eagles’ victory at the 2018 Superbowl

(Image Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer)

If I were tasked with advising somebody from outside the northeast coast of America on the state of contemporary Philadelphia and the overall nature of its citizens, I would almost certainly posit the above statement as a central guiding principle for their understanding. This is largely due to the fact that anyone staying in the city for more than a day or so will likely encounter it at some point.

It is no secret that Philadelphia sports fans have earned a nationwide reputation for being passionate to a fault. Bluntly, they are often disliked and mocked even by those who live in different parts of Pennsylvania, so the perpetuation of this catchphrase could be explained away as a response to criticism and a desire to take pride in the community despite it.

Similar to the reputation of its sports fanatics, many from both in and outside Philadelphia feel as though safety and the general standard of living within it is in steep decline. It often seems the only coverage the city receives is that which spells doom for the very stability of its foundation. Former president Donald Trump was quoted saying that “bad things happen in Philadelphia”, and there was a period of several months where I could not watch more than two or three YouTube videos without seeing a pro-conservative advertisement claiming that “radical democrats” have ruined the city. With all this bad press, it is no wonder why so many are intimidated by the prospect of living there or even visiting.

I have noticed, however, a strange conflict of interest in the most vocal detractors. The sense of danger associated with the city is both off-putting and intoxicating to outsiders, and they may often find themselves in an awkward position of projecting hate in order to conform while taking quiet enjoyment in the very things that they mock. It is an odd case of people selectively wringing out their experiences to find and display whatever suits them best, and the sports scene offers no better lens through which to observe this phenomenon.

The truth is that there are plenty of reasons to visit Philadelphia, but the sports fans who are shown rioting in the streets on nationwide news broadcasts help to create a perceived sense of danger around the city that eclipses its true offerings.

Ironically, or perhaps expectedly, those who practice these extreme forms of fandom are only encouraged by this criticism, hence the catchphrase. In their antics, they tend to lean into the persona of wild disruptors of peace, continuing to outdo themselves with a sort of performative chaos. I distinctly remember the exhilarating energy coursing throughout the entire city as The Eagles neared the Superbowl earlier this year. Nobody was necessarily condoning the car flipping or monument scaling that followed each win, but there was a certain excitement in wondering what would happen next, or how long The Eagles could keep winning and prolong the circus.

Assorted chaos spurned by the 2023 Superbowl

(Image Sources: New York Post, NewsOne, Daily Mail)

The negative attention that these people received became a sort of dare meant to challenge them to top themselves night after night. This is where the lines between fabricated hysteria and tangible danger begin to blur, as revelers often catch a taste for defacement and destruction. By fully embracing the sentiment that they would be frowned upon no matter the outcome, these groups of people unwittingly gave credence to the topics of previously unfair criticism.

Similarly, while the wider Philadelphia community could have voiced disapproval for the actions of these excitable sports fans, many have decided to embrace it fully. The fact that Philadelphians now have something so eye-catching to rally around not only means that there are more sports fans than ever, but that city-wide pride has spiked. In response to increasing negative attention, inward encouragement must also increase, and the nature of what is being encouraged means that actions of public disturbance and perceived obnoxiousness will intensify and extend to spaces outside of sports.

In a strange way, outsiders responded in kind. There is a certain high that comes with associating oneself with something that is perceived to be dangerous or risky without truly understanding or fully experiencing it, and there are plenty of people who embody this principle in relation to Philadelphian “citizenship”. The same suburban families who proudly refer to the city as “Filthadephia” will cheer for every one of its teams, identifying with their passion while scorning their outbursts, depending on the convenience of the situation.

(Image Source: Amazon)

The most interesting thing, however, is that Philadelphians will accept whatever is thrown at them. They are happy to have more people on their side, but more detractors ultimately means more encouragement to defy them. It is a self-sustaining cycle in which most everyone is empowered and emboldened by the ruckus caused by one small group, with everyone having the choice of how they act upon their perceptions. Both “teams”, so to speak, will always win in the end. Hypocritical or not, it is easy, and I am sure that most people are happy that it has thus far remained so.