Debunking Danny Green’s Comments About Philly Fans

John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia released his newest episode of his podcast, “Takeoff,” late Thursday morning. His guest for this episode was Sixers forward Danny Green. Green, who missed the final four games and change of the Sixers antagonizing series loss to the Atlanta Hawks, made some interesting comments about Philly fans.

 

Here are the two quotes that particularly stood out to me:

 

“We’re the number one team in the East, still playing well, and in some games they’ll boo us – but with a guy like Ben (Simmons), and other guys, I think they need to stick behind them and stick by them as long as they can, until the horn blows. And even then, he’s here. He’s given so much to the organization and the city, on and off the court, that he deserves that respect and that support.”

 

“…I think that’s something that needs to change…I love our fans, but when things aren’t going well, they can turn on you. That’s the one thing I would disagree with or dislike…They need to be riding with us, regardless.”

 

I’ll let you digest those comments however you feel you need to. To help you digest, I will also leave this here.

 

 

Why Danny Green Is Wrong

 

It is very clear to me that Danny Green seemingly came into Philadelphia with a preconceived notion about how Philly fans act. How he could make the comments above, after being here for approximately six months, when four of those six months featured games in front of an empty Wells Fargo Center, is beyond me.

 

Furthermore, as Green so elegantly mentioned, the Sixers were the #1 seed in the eastern conference this year and had a 29-7 record at home during the regular season. So, Daniel, when exactly were you able to form this opinion about how Philly fans are when things aren’t going well?

 

For the sake of argument, let’s say Green is referencing the playoffs, specifically the Hawks series. In that series, the Sixers lost three games at home to an inferior opponent, including a game seven and a game five where the Sixers blew a 26 (TWENTY-SIX!!!) point lead.

 

So excuse me, Mr. Green, for Philly fans not patting the team on the back after one of the most humiliating playoff losses in city history. I’m so sorry that it was hard for the fans to have your back after such a catastrophic collapse that many fans (including myself) have began to question whether having a vested interest in sports is even worthwhile.

 

This belief that Green has about the way fans should be is so inconceivable to me. You want the fans to be okay with losing? After game five, and after ultimately losing the series, what do you want the fans to say? Get ’em next time? Miss me with that BS. I, along with probably every other Philadelphia fan, are so freakin’ tired of “We’ll get ’em next year.”

 

 

This is especially true for Sixers fans, who had to sit and wait through five years of intentional losing now famously known as “The Process,” and haven’t seen a Sixers team hoist the Larry O’Brien since 1983. Then this year, with the Sixers having easily their best opportunity to end that aforementioned title drought, only to lose to a lesser opponent, and you have the nerve to say the fans are too hard on the team?

 

These comments are especially questionable coming from someone like Green, who has three championships under his belt. To come into this city, and after being here for six months say that the fans care too much and that they need to ease up a little is incredibly out of pocket.

 

Another thing that fascinates me about these comments from Green is that he is currently an unrestricted free agent. The fact that he would make these comments about the fans publically, before free agency even starts, signals to me that he isn’t planning on re-signing with the Sixers.

 

To that, Philly says good riddance. You don’t like Philly, Philly doesn’t like you.

 

Green Is Also Wrong About The Fans Relationship With Ben Simmons

 

Danny Green said that Sixers fans need to stick behind Ben Simmons, “Until the horn blows.” Well Daniel, since you are clearly very out of touch with this city and fan base, I’ll let you in on a little secret: that horn’s blowin’.

 

Sure, there have been Ben Simmons haters all season long, even here in Philadelphia. This is in part because of how polarizing of a player he is. That’s going to happen when you’re a point guard who refuses (notice how I didn’t say can’t) to shoot the basketball outside of the paint.

 

What I would say to my good friend Danny in this situation is that during the playoffs it seemed as though Sixers fans were actually cheering Simmons on when he was at the free throw line. They might have booed after he missed, but that’s perfectly reasonable for a guy that shot 37% from the charity stripe and quite literally cost the Sixers wins because of it.

 

Exhibit A:

 

Exhibit B:

 

Hell, I’ll even take my point about Sixers fans having their player’s backs a step further. That’s right, I’m playing the Markelle Fultz card. That kid literally forgot how to shoot a basketball, and all Sixers fans did when he checked into games or put up shots was cheer as loud as they have for anyone. So no, I absolutely do not believe that Green’s statements about the fans not, “Sticking behind their players,” have any validity behind them.

 

Exhibit A:

 

Exhibit B:

 

Once again, to Danny Green I simply say, miss me with that BS.

 

Why I Take Green’s Comments To Heart

 

Are Philly fans some of the toughest fans in sports? No question. However, what Danny Green said about Philly fans today is the same thing that has been said about Philly fans since that one dude threw snowballs at Santa Claus in the 60s. Sure, there are a few bad apples in the Philly fan base, but that’s true everywhere.

 

Just take this season’s NBA playoffs for example. There have been fans running on the court, throwing water bottles, calling players racial slurs, and chucking knuckles in the stands. Here’s how many of those things happened in Philadelphia: zero.

 

The only thing that did happen in Philadelphia was some idiot fan dropped some popcorn on Russell Westbrook. Guess the only of of those five situations that was on ESPN’s, “The Lead,” bottom line the next day. That’s right: popcorn guy.

 

In no way am I condoning any of these acts, but if you were to rank all of those instances in order from worst to bad-but-not-as-bad-as-the-worst, I’m putting popcorn at the bottom.

 

This has been the narrative that the national media has leaned into for years and years and years. Everyone paints Philadelphia out to be this miserable city that’s going to beat you up and spit on you, then slash your tires on the way out. In reality, fans can be out of control everywhere. But when it happens in Philly, it’s, “See? Typical Philly.”

 

(Perfect example of this):

 

 

That’s why what Danny Green said tickles a nerve for me so much. People from outside the Philly area are going to read or listen to his comments and say, “See? Typical Philly.” Ask any athlete who gave his all and left his heart on the line for a Philly team, and they’ll say how much they love Philadelphia. They’ll say it’s a tough town to play in, but it comes from a place of heart.

 

As a Philadelphia sports fan, I’m sick of being dragged through the mud. You should be too.

 

 

By Matt Szczypiorski | July 8, 2021
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