Published 23:26, October the 27th, 2009
Some fans stuck in the wrong city
Few sports franchises with such devoted followings are based nearer to each other than the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies.
Whether it was for a job, for a relationship or something else, both cities have their share of holdouts. Metro spoke with faithful fans of each team who managed to wind up in the other team’s city.
I’m a YANKEES fan in PHL
Venk Kandadai
Age: 26
Occupation: Cancer research project manager
Living now: Center City, Philadelphia
Originally from: Woodstock, N.Y.
Why you love your team: I was a fan since I was 2.
Ever been given a hard time for your allegiance? It’s never anything more than just in fun. I know how to shut up a Philly fan.
Is it harder to be a Yankees fan in Philly or a Phillies fan in New York? Being a Yankees fan in Philly because in New York there is a degree of a diversity, at least, in loving different types of teams.
What’s your prediction: I don’t think the Yanks can beat the Phils in less than six games.
Erika Studer
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Living now: Center City, Philadelphia
Originally from: Long Island
Why you love your team: I grew up with them. As far back as I can remember, my father sat me in front of the TV watching the Yankees.
Ever been given a hard time for your allegiance? Yes, I have had plenty of Temple students give me a hard time for wearing my Yankees gear. My response is “deal with it.”
Is it harder to be a Yankees fan in Philly or a Phillies fan in New York? A Yankees fan in Philly. They are vicious to anyone but Phillies fans. I am more fearful of wearing Yankee gear in Philly, than wearing it in Boston because at least Boston has a reason not to like us.
What’s your prediction: Of course the Yankees will dominate, but I think it will go to six games. It will be good baseball that is for sure.
Eric Walklet
Age: 26
Occupation: Software developer
Living now: Perkasie, Pa.
Originally from: Connecticut
Ever been given a hard time? I get a lot of flak for it at work. My manager is a big Phillies fan. He joked about potentially sacrificing a former intern — that’d be me — to grant the Phillies good luck.
Is it harder to be a Yankees fan in Philly or a Phillies fan in New York? I think it’s tougher for Phillies fans in New York. I think many New York fans are aggressive about it — especially right in the city — and the Yankees definitely own the city more than other teams.
Sex for tix? Arrest over Craigslist post
University of Pennsylvania graduate student Susan Finkelstein, 43, wrote on her Facebook page that she won $175 at a casino this weekend.
“It’s a shame that still won’t come close to buying a World Series ticket,” a Facebook friend said Monday morning. “I was trying!” she wrote back.
Still jonesing to get tickets, the die-hard Phillies fan allegedly came up with another plan: She offered to have sex with two men for World Series tickets on Craigslist.
Unfortunately for Finkelstein, the men were undercover detectives with the Bensalem, Pa., police. She was charged with misdemeanor prostitution offenses yesterday.
Bensalem Police Director Fred Harran said that Finkelstein “got caught up in it, I guess in the hype of the Phillies World Series, she wanted her ticket at any cost.”
Her Craigslist post only alluded to sex, police said, and her lawyer, William J. Brennan, last night said that she only “colloquially used the words ‘will do anything for tickets.’” Brennan said his married client will ask prosecutors to dismiss the charges.
I’m a PHILLIES fan in New York
P.J. Glackin
Age: 24
Occupation: Grad student, Fordham University
Living now: Belmont, the Bronx
Originally from: Northeast Philadelphia
Ever been given a hard time? Mets fans would always be willing to yell “Phillies suck” but not as much after last October. I always wear my Phillies gear to Yankee Stadium and get comments like “Go home.”
Is it harder to be a Yankees fan in Philly or a Phillies fan in New York? I’d definitely say being a Phillies fan in New York because there was always the annoying Mets fans but now the Yankees fans are speaking up too.
What’s your prediction? I’ll go with Phillies in five.