Double dose of Pennsylvania? Help!

Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell is rooting for the Eagles and Steelers. [AP photo]

Don't look now, but the prospects of an All-Pennsylvania Super Bowl -- featuring the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers -- are growing each week. And while that might seem like a dream match-up to NFL fans, some of us in the host city might be shuddering at the idea.

As if dealing with Philadelphia Phillies fans during the 2008 World Series wasn't enough, an Eagles-Steelers finale would send a double dose of fans from the Keystone State to Tampa Bay. And that's something not lost on Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell.

The New York Times reports that "Rendell says an Eagles-Steelers Super Bowl would send happy, rowdy Pennsylvanians rushing to Tampa, Fla., whether they had tickets or not. And he would become the de facto mayor of Tampa for two weeks."

According to Rendell, 25,000 Eagle fans -- many without game tickets -- invaded Jacksonville in 2005 when Philly made it to the title game. Now imagine at least double the fans here in Tampa Bay -- and maybe now you've stopped smiling.

"Eagles fans and Steelers fans are such enthusiastic blue-collar rock 'n' rollers, there may not be much left of Tampa when they get done with it," Rendell told the Times. "[Fla.] Gov. Crist is a friend of mine, so I will offer to send the Pennsylvania National Guard down to help."

Oh great. Even more Pennsylvanians.

Comments

[Paul]

The Steeler's fans are OK but The Eagle fans?
It would probably take more than the National Guard to control these nuts.

Let's all hope for a better scenario than Steelers/Eagles.

[Jimbo]

I don't know who this editor is (cause s/he was too chicken to sign their name), but that's arrogant and close-minded to act like that.

The sentiment leading up to this game has been, "It's fantastic to have a Super Bowl in Tampa" - until the people are from PA, then it's a disaster? No wonder Philly and Tampa Bay teams have such a rivalry, and it's not as much about the Philly phans as the media's lead people to believe. It's the elitist attitude of Tampons that keeps it alive. I hope you get everything you deserve and more in Tampa on Feb 1! Can't wait to make the trek across the Howard Frankland for the event of the year!

FLY EAGLES FLY!!!

[Mike]

Not these fat slobs again!

[John]

Philly fans have the rep for being so awful because of years of FACTS and things that ACTUALLY HAPPENED, so don't pretend to be so outraged & offended when people bring it up... I've been there & I've seen them here and they live down to expectations every time.

[John]

Go eagles!!! I would love to see a superbowl thats from good ole pennsylvannia! I dont like the steelers but gotta love those eagles! Its finally donavan mcnab's year to go to the superbowl and hopefully win

[Brett]

Why is there a guy playing a banjo in this picture? Seriously.

[Gostrydr]

Philly baseball fans are ok. They come every year to Clearwater for their team and are great. Eagles fan however just suck. They are the worst fans in the entire NFL. PA can keep them!

[Gus Gruerio]

The banjo is used by the "Mummers", a Huge event in Philly is the Mummers day Parade

[steve]

what an ignorant article....as a former PA resident, I have readily observed how "soft" the residents of tampàbay are. They are indicative of their local (and i use this word very carefully) "pro" team, the sucs. Since your area is flourishing so much economically, maybye you don´t need the superbowl...but, oh, thats right, this is the land of the service industry..so you ´REALLY need it to create more of your highly skilled positions at winghouse, hooters, mons, housekeeping at the beach, etc. hahaha.

[Jimbo]

No, every sports teams' fans, not just Philly's, are like that, John. How about just a few weeks ago when Seattle fans threw snowballs at the Jets, the same exact incident that happened in the early 90s with Eagles fans throwing snow balls at Dallas, yet they aren't chastised, criticized, or even much press about it; in fact, ESPN thought it was funny! How about when U of Kansas, during their kickoff, chants "Rip their f*%&#%g head off!" - something no team in Philly has done - yet no one outside Lawrence, KS, cares?

There's tons more of examples in sports where the fans have gotten a little too much into it, yet most of them go unnoticed - unless it happens in Philly. Why is there a double standard? Bucs fans are just as drunken and disorderly as every other team in the NFL, so don't act like Philly's the only one with said people.

Brett, the guy with the banjo's from one of the String Bands from the Mummers parade. It's basically Philly's version of Gasparilla, sans the pirate theme and "storming the city" idea - you know, a reason to get drunk and party! it's just as much fun as Gasparilla, except you do have to wear a few more clothes or you'll freeze to death.

[drummerwinslow]

I have received personal assurances from the Philadelhia orginization that its fans will be of the highest comportment, should their team be involved in the football contest to take place in Tampa. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!! Ha ha ha ha ha!!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!! Ha ha ha ha ha!!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!! Ha ha ha ha ha!!!

[Robert]

Having been a life-long Eagles fan and Philly resident until a week ago, I'll tell you that the anti-Philly fan sentiment is all hype. Admittedly, they were bad in the Veteran's Stadium era, but that's almost as old as the 21st century. The article I read on these pages about our fans during the World Series was nonsense. (We poured beer on a 9 year old--please. Spilled? Maybe.) I've been to about 20 Eagles games and 1 million Phillies games, and I saw a fight once.

Now, Pittsburgh fans are another story. I've seen them get in the faces of frightened woman who happen to be wearing the wrong Jersey in Sports bars. In Pa., it's Steelers fans that are the real concern.

Go Eagles!

[bigness]

Typical of all "sports writers" across the country. Just re-print what everybody else says without ever going to Philly or talking to a fan. For some reason, the press loves to print crap about Philly fans when every other stadium in the country is the same. I've been to Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and DC wearing my Eagles gear and get food thrown at me, people coming up to me and giving me crap all game long (until I stand up and the little biatches crawl away) - it's part of the deal when you go into "enemy territory". Stop being such little girls (love the "Tampon" quote above!), man-up and learn how to represent your team matter where you are. And stop crying because the Tampon Gay Sucs can't get into the playoffs!

[Jimbo]

Actually, bigness, that's really the demonym for people over in Tampa (I'm a St. Petersburger); I wish I could take credit for it, though!

[Mike]

Well, what a crock. I am from Pittsburgh now living in Tampa.. and guess what if ya didn't already know.... half of us Pennsmen already live here... I don't even have enough fingers and toes to count how many Steeler bars are in the bay area.. Besides, the Eagle's are not our bitter rivals, and if 100K more Pennsmen come down to Tampa for a backyard brawl at the Superbowl, you're gonna like it and that's a promise .

[Cal]

Shudder all you wish! We're coming whether you like it or not so prepare yourselves NOW while there's still time! Has anyone ever told you people in Tampa Bay that you're a bunch of whiners?? OMG! The WORST of any city I've ever visited!

[Been There]

John 9:48 a.m. - so what you're saying is that there is NO OTHER city that has bad fans, right? And the fans in Tampa Bay are the best, most well behaved fans in the entire NFL?? HA! I beg to differ. We went to a Bucs game about 2 years ago (I won't go back to that stadium). We were threatened and my young daughter (13) was even STALKED by one of your fat fans there in Tampa who followed her and her aunt all the way to the entrance of the ladies room calling them every name in the book along the way. The guy wasn't just drunk he was fall down, carry me into my bed, sloppy drunk!

Funny thing is, I've also been to an Eagles game in Philly and was NEVER treated as badly as we were in Tampa! You all don't deserve a Super Bowl here anyway. God only knows why they decided on Tampa as the host city! A place where you all are stupid enough to allow a great coach like Tony Dungy slip through your finger tips! That's sheer stupidity!

Yea, John, your fans are the best! *COUGH*Bull$heetCOUGH*

[Mark]

I personally don't care who's coming to town for the Super Bowl...as long as they're spending their money in our town, that's all that's important!

[russell]

i grew up in pittsburgh and have been an eagles fan all my life.you are all just jelous because no one is hardley from here .. i have never seen a tampa jersey any place in pa but i see dallas, san fran vikings ,bears, ect, ect, maybe it's those rabid fans your jelous of maybe they should bus in the moon lake area to make things even at bucks games

Philthy fan who lives here and slams the Tampa Bay area. If you don't like it, please go back to your snow filled sewer. You left that lowlife pit for a reason. Now that you have found it is worse here for you because most people here aren't scum, like yourselves, GO BACK! You guys make Yankee fan look like the classiest bunch on earth. That's a difficult feat to accomplish.

[CMart]

Man...do these TB fans ever stop crying? Can you imagine what the children are like there, if this is what the adults are like?

[Dee]

I am a STEELERS fan born and bred. I have lived in the Tampa Bay area for over 25 years and I RESENT the implication that the Steeler fans are rowdy!! There are no better fans that STEELER fans. They follow their team all over the country and at every away game there as many STEELER fans in attendance as there are for the home team. We are loyal fans and so pround of our team that we WOULD NEVER do anything to embaress them. I can't say how the Philadelphia fans are but I'm sure they would act appropriately. I follow the Bucs and always cheer them on but...The STEELERS are and always will be my first love. GO STEELERS!!!!

[Philly Fan For Life]

This coming from people who live in a state where they believe in CLOSING schools instead of finding extra funding for educating their ignorant children who, by the way, grown up to be ignorant adults, as are amply observed here on this board.

Thank god I'm from Philly where I got an ACTUAL education and was accepted into an ivy league university as opposed to the losers here who pray that they will receive a sports scholorship because they certainly CANNOT go on their F.C.A.T scores!

If you want a civil sports game why don't you all host the national checkers championship or something like that. This way, you'll all be assured that you'll get as much excitement as your used to getting here in the newly wed/nearly dead state. See, the problem here in this area is that you all know absolutely NOTHING about being dedicated fans! You don't understand Philly's love for their football team because it completely eludes you and your capability to love a team so much that no matter what they do, you stick by them! Your grand father stuck by them, you father stuck by them, you stick by them and you are teaching your kids to stick by them! Get it? No, I didn't think so!

If you want FOOTBALL - REAL take your knocks FOOTBALL- they way FOOTBALL is supposed to be played, with dedicated fans who have stuck by their team through thick and thin and who have been fans for generations, then cowboy up and quit your crying! And make sure your sister makes it snappy and takes my order at Hooters when we walk in with our Eagles jerseys on.

[Chuck]

fine, you all dont like it, move the game to State College and let 100+K Pensylvanians go to the game... throw in some snow and we'll have a real Superbowl

[Rick]

All too funny!!! People will be people folks, some are rude and some not it has nothing to do with sports fans. I was born in St.Pete and have been a Steelers fan ever since I can remember. I have been to Buc games with the Eagles and did see some BAD people but no more than the regulars around TAMPA.