Jimmy Rollins: Philly Fans Are Front Runners

It seems that Jimmy Rollins' magical season of 2007 is becoming a memory more distant with each passing day. His stats are down from '07 (which isn't to say bad, just back to normal), he's been benched for not hustling and showing up late, and now J-Roll has committed what is considered in some circles as an unforgivable sin: He took a shot at Phillies fans.

Rollins and teammate Ryan Howard appeared on Wednesday's edition of "The Best Damn Sports Show Period," with host Chris Rose and co-host John Salley. Taped in Los Angeles, Rollins was asked if Philadelphia warrants its reputation as a tough sports town.

"It can be, yeah," Rollins said. "There are times, like, it's one of those cities ... I might catch some flack for saying this, but, you know, they're front-runners. When you're doing good, they're on your side. When you're doing bad, they're completely against you." (...)

When Rose and Salley contended that many cities have fans who boo and cheer accordingly, likening it to a "family," Rollins said, "I hear you. But, for example, Ryan is from St. Louis, and St. Louis, it seems like they support their team, they're out there and encouraging. In Philly, can't be no punk."

So not only has J-Roll played the "front runner" card, but he's also played the St. Louis card ... a popular point among players frustrated with their fans: "well St. Louis never boos anyone, boy I'd love for our fans to be like them" or something similar. But here's what Rollins has done: Somehow, he reached the stratosphere among Philly fans for his 2007 MVP season ... and managed to knock himself off that perch. With the response that Philly sports radio has received from this, he seems to have had his lifetime "untouchable" pass revoked. Wow.

The funny part is that Comcast in Philly regularly runs a Rollins spot during Phillies games where he talks about how great the Phillie fans are, and that "if you're not winning, you'd better be out there trying your best." Well, despite being swept by the Dodgers, the Phillies are still tied for first place in the East. But something tells me that for the rest of the season, Jimmy Rollins had better be out there trying his best.