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Flyers invoke their Bullies history to rev up the fans

ROY MacGREGOR

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 7:34 PM EST 29/04/08

The most intimidating fans in hockey know who they are ...Read the full article

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  1. Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada writes: Nasty, nasty bunch of fanatics which could make human sacrifices at Stonehenge seem like a dinner party.

    Effective when the team is on a roll - scary when the team is not doing well.

    It's why you get paid to play sports in Philly - they are nastier than the fans in New York when the team tanks.
  2. Claudius Miraculous from Canada writes:
    The Orange Crush versus Habs Arsonists. Who's more fanatical?
    Toss up...
  3. Jeff O from Canada writes: At least they didn't torch any cars or ransack downtown. Not like those civilized, decent Canadian folks in Montreal.
  4. Pat Billings from CDN, Canada writes: Classless fans all the way around.....it's the Philthy way.

    Remember this is a city that has a court and a holding cell in its football stadium.

    They not only encourage their fans to be violent towards opposing fans but they are proud of it. BTW, they know very little about the actual game that we call hockey.
  5. John Stanton from Canada writes: Pat, go cry in your beer somewhere else. Montreal got schooled tonight again and boy wonder got chased from the net. No anthem booing since you want to play with the crowd.
  6. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: I was playing hockey myself and didn't see the first period. Didn't know they booed the anthem. Of course I believe the Habs fans did the same to the American anthem... no? As in they started it.

    Certainly the beer toss on Richards won't be soon forgotten.

    Good analysis Mr. MacGregor of the Philly fan...atics. Brave lot who would show up there is Hab sweaters.

    Cheers
  7. Claudius Miraculous from Canada writes: I see Pat Billings is keeping it classy -- following the lead of Tom Kostopoulos.
  8. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Claudius.... it's Patricia Billings.... obvious by the constant whining.

    Cheers
  9. Tom Sawyer from Canada writes: I keep forgetting which city burned a dozen police cars after one of the games...hmmm..ah yes the one throwing rocks into the glass walls of their glass house (and of course jumping into the store and stealing stuff) - ha ha
  10. Phoenix Thorpe from Canada writes: How could the Flyers not be inspired by the presence of Ed Hospodar?
    What a loser organization. Ed Hospodar. Claim to fame. In a brawl once.
  11. Trilly B from Canada writes: Let's not forget Islanders fans. :)

    The national anthem booing is off base, whoever "started it". An embarrassment to the city.

    What's worse, Ed Hospodar or a half naked gladiator?
  12. D M from Canada writes: Wow, must be nice to have ESP. This writer should join the psychics hotline.

    "To say he was rattled by this crowd would be an understatement."

    Rattled? Sure. But maybe due to playing badly the game before? Or letting in a few easy ones? He's played in front of big crowds before and played well, why do you think it has to be the crowd? He also played badly in Montreal. The crowd bad there, too?

    They wanted to stay in bed? Because of the crowd? You watch this game? Montreal dominated. They outshot (on net) Philly 17-12 in the first two periods where they were supposedly "affected" by the crowd. Their PP was bad, yes, because they werenīt getting puck support when dumping or carrying it in. They were too busy waiting for the puck carrier to pass them the puck. They only had one shot on the 5-on-3? No, they had one shot ON NET on the 5-on-3. They took shots - off posts, and Biron snagged a nice one. Higgens missed an empty net on a partial 2 on 0.

    If anything, the warm-up might have made it worse for Philly - they took a lot of stupid penalties. (Wonder how long Downie will be allowed to hop over the bench...) Downie, Hatcher, even Richard's cheap shot that got missed. They play riled up like that and they will finally lose...

    Hey, talk about the crowd, how loud they were, etc. etc., thatīs all facts.. but stop changing the game to suit your silly little theories..
  13. graham g from Canada writes: GREAT Referees, a linesman had to give Phillie one on their few powerplays. The refs are colour blind they can't see Montreal uniforms.
  14. John Stanton from Canada writes: D M - who won? I keep forgetting with all these "comments" here... ha
  15. Mike C from Philadelphia, United States writes: I was there last night. I know I didn't hear any booing. Briere taped a message asking respect for both anthems. Canadiens should take a note from that. Before you annoint Price as the next Dryden... win more than one round of the playoffs. Despite the fact there 9 Canadiens on the ice, 4 of which were wearing striped sweaters and whistles... the Flyers still prevailed. Let's go Flyers!!!!!!!!!!
  16. alisa z from United States writes: Kudos to Mike C.....first person to really stick up for the Philadelphia Team and fans. I was also there last night, yes there were some people booing...i did no such thing myself and we should have all respected Danny's message but its kinda of hard to control all 18000 people. I just want to say in reference to the article, Ed Hospodar did no shadow boxing that i saw, but yes he was chanting LETS GO FLYERS, which i beleive there is nothing wrong with that. I would love to have someone document your hockey games to see how your perfect fans respond to our presence in your house. Oh and by the way this is playoff hockey, should we be all warm and fuzzy and welcome you and be happy about it. NOTED IN THE ARTICLE: The scoreboard announcer predicted a "nasty, bloodthirsty" game to answer the "nasty" Montreal Canadien, Tom Kostopoulos, who offered up that controversial "face wash" to a Flyer to end the previous game in Montreal, which Philadelphia had won to even the series at one game apiece. It was more than a facewash, it was a sucker punch if i ever saw one myself. As usual once again the refs were in favor of Montreal and against Philadelphia. But yes we did win the game and gave you 2 goals, it should have been a shutout....cut and dry. Realistically the series should be 3-0 in our favor, because once again those refs in the first game were on the Habs side once again.....
  17. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Who really cares?

    Let Philly fans continue to embarass themselves with these silly antics of theirs.

    Let them exhume Kate Smith and have her fight Ed Hospodas while broadcasting, "God Bless America" in their pre-game ritual for all I care...

    The Habs need to take a lesson from Sid Crosby and the way he responded to that Hatcher goon after he took out Crosby's teeth a few years back. Get back on the ice and skate around him like a pilon and put the puck in the net a few times.

    The Habs need to beat this team is on the ice... More desperation, more traffic in front of Biron and stop shooting from the outside for Gawd's sake.

    Ignore the winged monkeys on this thread. They are Leafs and Sens fans and know nothing about winning.
  18. Mike C from Philadelphia, United States writes: Thanks Alisa. Nice to hear from someone without rouge, bleu and blanc glasses. No Leafs or Sens fan here R Miller... just because you're days away from an NHL city doesn't mean you have to be bitter.
  19. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Mike C from Philadelphia, United States:

    No bitterness here, Mike C from Philadelphia, but a ton of Leafs and Sens supporters on this thread...

    Flyers getting up 3 goals and then taking a head shot like that on Bouillion was a cheap shot...

    Hatcher's talents are limited and his foot speed is very suspect. Hopefully, the Habs will take advantage of those facts in Game 4.

    May the most talented and deserving team win this series.

    Cheers.
  20. Jeff O from Canada writes: It's hilarious to see all the frustrated Hab lovers pointing fingers at the "classless" Philly fans who "embarrass" themselves with "silly antics."

    You want embarrassment and silly antics?

    How about Guy Carboneau defending a gutless sucker punch by one of his players? How about the loyal supporters trashing their city and shaming Montreal in front of the entire world? How about people in the news the next day saying that they're ashamed to call themselves Montrealers?

    But never mind that. A couple of hundred idiots in Philly booed our national anthem! What an outrage!
  21. Dan Paslawski from GoHabsAndFlames, Canada writes: Hatcher's cheap shot was a cheap shot whether it was 3-0 Flyers or 3-0 Habs. I sure wanted the Habs to pull it out after that.

    I think it's sad that the fans (and to some degree the players) compromise the integrity of the game with a win at any cost mentality. I don't think that's sport. The Flyers have always been first in line when it comes to lowering the integrity of the game, even back when Bobby Clarke ruled on the ice. But this is not a Flyers, or even a hockey mentality. It is a cultural mindset that says it doesn't matter how you win, but that winning is everything. I'm cheering for Sid and the boys who are reminding us what it's like to watch hockey played passionately without compromising the integrity of the game.

    Dan
  22. Mike C from Philadelphia, United States writes: Cheers to you too RMiller... well said. As for Dan's rant... please. You're going to bring up Bobby Clarke? How soon we forget that in the 72 Summit Series, Clarke was one the best players for Team Canada and was a key player in the 76 Canada Cup... if he has a red maple leaf on his sweater, you love him. Hatcher's shot was on the puck carrier between whistles, not after a goal when he wasn't looking. It was no cheaper than the sucker punch on the tough guy Timmonen. He's a big fighter. Gutless punch from a gutless punk.
  23. Dan Paslawski from GoHabsAndFlames, Canada writes: Hatcher took a run at Boulion from behind when Boullion wasn't looking. That was a dangerous cheap shot that certainly deserved the major and misconduct (and probably a suspension). I won't defend what Kotsopulous (spelling) did, as it was not much different, but could hardly be classified as dangerous.

    Clarke was a great player and competitor but sometimes he went over the line. As much as Canadians might not think so, his deliberate two hander on Kharlamov in the Summit Series was a cheap shot. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but a cheap shot nonetheless.
  24. Pat Billings from CDN, Canada writes: Taking cheap shots on unsuspecting players (checks from behind, elbows..etc) is called Flyers hockey. It's coward hockey. Their fans love that stuff....most likely because they've never played hockey.

    Look at Timonen, he started to talk smack after a goal then he cowered instead of facing the music. That's Flyers hockey.

    They've been outhit every single game against the Habs. The only toughness the Flyers have shown is through cheap shots and after the whistle.

    Habs only need 1 game in Philthy.....then we can return the favor in Montreal.
  25. Mike C from Philadelphia, United States writes: Philthy huh? I did't see any torched police cars, or looted stores in Philly after beating the Caps. Seems to me the only thing dirty was St. Cat's street the other night.
  26. Pat Billings from CDN, Canada writes: We'll take burnt cars....it beats being the murder capital of the U.S....aka. Killadelphia.

    Did you know that Philthy has more murders (usually over 400) than NYC on annual basis....obviously per capita but also in absolute numbers. NYC has like 6x the population of Killadelphia. They love their guns.

    Please stick to your thuggish Flyers. It will be less embarassing.
  27. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Mike C from Philadelphia:

    Few more points here, Mike!

    1. Glad that you didn't hear the boos in Philly, but your Quebec born goaltender, Marty Biron, did. He told the sports media there that he didn't like it at all. I would think that it might be a bit discouraging for a Canadian player to have their national anthem booed while playing in their home rink... Don't you think?

    2. re. your cheap shot at Halifax being bitter about not being an NHL city.... I don't give a Ken Linseman's ar$e about what you think about my city. We have more hockey talent living in Halifax in the off season with Sid Crosby, Glen Murray and JS Giguere alone than Philadelphia has during the regular season. Please remind me as to which hockey superstars that the City of Philadelphia is producing these days?

    Halifax is also "days away" from hosting the World Championship of Hockey where some of the most talented players in the World will play.... I re- emphasize the word, "talented."

    Cheers.
  28. Mike C from Philadelphia, United States writes: The thuggish Flyers are beating the the Mis-Habs. I'll stick to that any day. That's all that matters. Say anything else you want... the Flyers are leading...again. In case you missed it... Montreal lost, again. Now get back to tending the french fries Pat.
  29. Alberto Bayo from Canada writes: Jeez...it's 2-1 Flyers...not 3-0. Captain K and company will solve Biron, and prevail...GO HABS GO
  30. Mike C from Philadelphia, United States writes: Well, if nothing else, I was certainly entertained by the sobbing, and finger pointing of the rouge, bleu, and blanc faithful. I just hope you have your chin up when your beloved Habs are shaking hands this weekend after the Flyers finish them off. I hope there is a sale on Kleenex so you wipe each other's tears. By the way Alisa... I've been to the Molson/Bell Center with my Flyers sweater on... if you ever go to a game there, wear your colors... there is no passion is those seats. GO FLYERS!
  31. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Shame that Lou Smith from Philadelphia hasn't shown up with his insights on this series yet...
  32. steve allan from Canada writes: Philadelphia is a filthy dump, an ugly city populated by ugly people. Yeah there might have been a few yahoos who booed the U.S. anthem but it was only a handful, not the thousands who booed the Canadian anthem and chanted the world's most obnoxious chant - USA, USA, USA.

    And there were no fans in Montreal spitting and punching Philly fans. What a bunch of animals.
  33. M Liggins from Perth, Canada writes: A shame if Philthy wins, they won't get much further than the next round, despite the mouth breather fans. As to Clarke et al, yes they were goons, still goons in the opinion of most, along with the team including that cement head Downer.

    2-1 lead ? Enjoy it, these things can be somewhat transitory.
  34. John Stanton from Canada writes: It's hilarious how the so called Canadiens fans arent talking hockey.....why? Because their team is getting schooled!! Why? Because their weak a$$ team has only 8 Canadians and most of them are french canadian! Love the Russian chicken brothers too. They look funny running from hits.
  35. Badges? We don't need no stinking badges from Canada writes: Stanton....The Canadiens have 16 Canadians on the roster, 7 from Quebec....Idiot
  36. Pat Billings from CDN, Canada writes: Stanton...Look at the stats. Nobody is running the Habs out of the building. Remember we've outhit your supposed tough Flyers team every single game. The Flyers lead in cheapshots and being cowards, that's it.

    Biron, the 30 yr old career backup goaltender is playing over its head, that's the difference. Like most backup goaltendres, it's only a matter of time before the law of averages catches up to him.

    I wonder what kind of cheapshots your thuggish heros will resort to then.
  37. Tom Sawyer from Canada writes: Badges...nice try....Latendresse, Begin, Bouillion, Gorges, Kostopolous, O'Byrne, Price were the only Canadians on the ice for the Canadiens last game - actually only 7. Hardly Team Canada.

    Billings - stats are meaningless without a W beside the TEAM result. Your vocabulary of SHOULDA COULDA WOULDA is for losers. And whining about thugs, mean fans, etc. is simply silly but guess you cant be too happy with the poor (but expected) performance of Montreal.
  38. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Badges..... no they don't. And only 7 dressed for the last 2 games.

    nhlnumbers.com

    Cheers

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