Flyers, Devils Celebrate New Season With Street Fights

Sports fans in Philadelphia get a bad rap as one of the worst groups of sports fans in the country. There's the old legend that they booed Santa Claus and there's the factual occurrence of their booing Donovan McNabb. But, as with any sweeping generalization, there's a part based in rumor and legend as well as a part somewhat based in truth. While details are still sketchy about what happened one thing is clear -- Flyers and Devils fans decided to open the season with a bang with some European style hooliganism on the streets of New Jersey and Philly (Note: Fair warning, there are some graphic, NSFW descriptions after the jump).

The Flyers and Devils squared off at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday night. As you might expect, a good amount of the folks in attendance came in from Philly for the game. The Flyers won easily by a final tally of 5-2 and even led 4-0 early in the third. And afterward things got really crazy. It was probably due to a combination of excitement for the start of hockey season, alcohol and general douchebaggery that helped to create fan-on-fan royal rumbles on the streets.

I mean, it's sports. There's alcohol. There are dimwits. This is what occasionally happens and to single out the Philly fans for one video (Ed. Note: the video in question has been pulled down by YouTube.) and some rumors is certainly not indicative of the whole bunch. Clearly some Devils fans are a part of the melee, as well. But come on, it's only the first game of the season. Do these guys really have 81 more fights -- not to mention playoff bouts -- in them? Pace yourselves!

But in all serious, there wound up being a pretty scary situation after some people got back to Philly later in the night.

According to The700Level.com, the fighting managed to find its way back to Philly and it was nothing to joke about. This is an account from one of their readers.

When we got back to the The Arena bowling alley in the Northeast, there were cop cars everywhere and a big brawl taking place. These were all Flyers fans fighting. I don't know why. I guess drinking all day had something to do with it? Anyway, some guy comes walking by with his buddy screaming, "Call an ambulance!" He had been stabbed and his intestines were literally hanging out! There was blood everywhere. We were just a little freaked out and didn't want to be stabbed so we left.

Yeah, people, come on. There's no place for that anywhere especially in sports. Think about that word for a moment. Sports. We're talking about sports. Let's hope for the best for all involved.