PHILADELPHIA — Can you believe these fans of the futile Phillies?
Jon Gosselin, America’s most hated reality-TV star, now officially lives on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. But yesterday, Gosselin, who’s about as likely to win the Father of the Year award as the Phillies are to sweep the Series, returned to his roots in the metropolis of Wyomissing, Pa., to show whom he’s rooting for.
You guys can keep him.
Or how about this guy?
Donald Nesmith, who was hanging out in front of an airbrushed T-shirt shop off Philadelphia’s South Street, has been a die-hard Phillies fan for 15 years. Only he sure has a funny way of showing it. He was wearing a Yankees jersey, because he just likes the design of it, he said.
Man, this guy must be catching holy hell, wandering around with the enemy’s colors on, right? Well, not exactly.
“I haven’t gotten too much of a reaction lately,” Nesmith said with a shrug. The worst that happened was a female co-worker called him a traitor, but don’t worry, with the help of a patient therapist, he’s going to come out all right on the other side.
His jersey’s strangely got the Liberty Bell stitched on the sleeve, and Nesmith says New York was its home first. It wasn’t, but it’s nice to know that, even when it comes to their most iconic symbol, Philadelphians are willing to surrender to New York.
It’s pretty much the same story all over Philadelphia. If the Phillies are as soft as their fans, the Yankees could walk away with the Series in four with George Steinbrenner on the mound and Kate Hudson in the bullpen. These fans are softer than the bread their beloved cheesesteaks are served on.
Quite simply, things happen in Philadelphia that would never fly in New York. And we don’t mean the fact that the city thought it would be a good idea to erect a statue of Rocky in front of its prime cultural institution. (Psst, Metropolitan Opera. See if Jean-Claude Van Damme is available.)
Bill Feltovic, who was waiting in line for a sandwich at Jim’s Steaks, can’t muster much anger for the Bronx Bombers. “I have no reason to hate the Yankees,” he says. “They have tradition.”
He is, however, royally ticked with The Post’s cover featuring Shane Victorino in a dress. Sorry. Leggings were too hard to Photoshop.
But wait. Here comes a real Phillies fan. He’s got a logo T-shirt and a red jacket on. Step up, brother. How about defending the team?
“I’m from Baltimore, and I’m just here for the Pearl Jam concert,” he said.
Figures.