What We're Reading
Foul called on chants by Philly's fervid fans
- Philadelphia Inquirer, Tuesday, September 28, 2010 1:07 PM
The new home of the Philadelphia Union, PPL Park, is a sight to behold, but what is being heard at games has offended some
people. Certain chants from the certain sections of the stadium have
prompted management and leaders of fan groups to intervene.
Union president Tom Veit said "I don't think anybody realized the impact that 2,000 people can have on a
stadium," in reference to the Sons of Ben, a rabid supporters' group that has its own section and entrance and a few salty chants in its repertoire. "We're never going to take away the spirit of that
section, but we want somebody sitting in the next section to be comfortable."
Some of the sings are pleasant, such as the group theme song, "I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover." But most
of the season, Sons of Ben called out, when an opposing player took a goal kick, "You suck (expletive)!" They shout "Sucks!" after each visiting player is introduced. Mike Naioti,
vice president of the 5,200-member Sons of Ben, said the group has worked with the team to tone down some chants, although "the language we use is no different than in the majority of all the stadiums
in the league."
The chant that draws the most attention, irking parents who attend games with children, is one where the Sons aren't saying what it sounds like they're saying. Naioti said
he couldn't understand the complaints - until he watched a game on TV and realized that, from a distance, the phrase indeed sounded like a two-word curse that rhymes with "Le Toux." (Sebastien
Le Toux is the Union's leading scorer.)
