Eric Hartline – USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia Phillies left fielder, Domonic Brown was taken to task recently by fans in the left field bleachers for his cautious play. Rightly so, he deserves to feel the heat.
Brown finds himself the current target of fan irritation with both his own and the team’s performance. Phillies fans are known for shining the bright and often unpredictable spotlight on players who they perceive are not giving their all. Just ask Ryan Howard, John Mayberry Jr. and Jimmy Rollins.
Shed no tears. It’s the price that athletes like Brown pay for their poor play and seemingly cavalier attitudes. Despite their lackadaisical efforts, dugout cameras simultaneously pan these same players laughing and having a great time like misbehaving children.
And, when things are going well these same athletes bask in misplaced hero worship. Clearly, they are not heroes, just gifted athletes blessed with extraordinary physical talents. Yet, they often act as if signature giving is a monumental sacrifice, especially when they consider such an act an intrusion on their personal time.
Fans get it right most times. They boo the right player at the correct moment. Negatively, Phillies fans can be hypercritical and loudly vocal. Positively, they are exceptionally knowledgeable and died-in-the-wool supportive of deserving players’ efforts.
Sadly, players like Brown act as if they’re owed fan allegiance. How quickly they forget that their self-indulgent lifestyles are the result of the people who buy tickets to the games. Their attitude often comes off as arrogant.
Despite what some media pundits would propose, however, it’s not just about the astronomical money many gifted athletes are being paid. It’s more than that and making it all about the dollars lowers the astute fan to a mindless, moronic level.
At heart, fans care about the quality of work, or in this case, play. Maybe the boos would be less intense if Brown and his colleagues would show some remorse over their deficient efforts. Fans get the sense that these guys simply don’t give a hoot about the game.
For what it’s worth, the sellout streak at Citizen’s Bank Park ended late last season. The end came as a direct result of the Phillies losing trend. Nothing in the early 2013 season leads one to believe that will change in the near future.
Players who believe they have no obligation or responsibility to a loyal fan base should not kid themselves. Fans vote by putting their butts in the seats – or not. Playing before a house that’s largely empty tends to remove the smugness and swagger from faux-heroes.
It’s past time for Brown and others to get with the program. Until they act accordingly, let them feel the heat.
