Eli Manning knows Philly fans better than most and the New York Giants quarterback recants some of his most interesting moments in Philly.
Philly is known as the city that threw snowballs at Santa Claus. The fanbase has a reputation that proceeds itself. New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning knows first-hand how passionate Philly fans are.
“You go there, and that 9-year-old kid is giving you the double finger,” he said to Neil Best of Newsday. “Not a thumbs-up. Not, ‘We’re No. 1.’ And he said something about my mom; I had to Google what it was. It’s just different. It’s a different culture.”
“Now I see him and he’s got his 9-year-old kid with him,” Manning said, smiling. “Same deal. It runs in the families down there.”
Manning understands what it’s like to play in Philadelphia more than most professional athletes. He’s traveled into Lincoln Financial Field every year for 15 seasons. The Linc is one of the most hostile places to play in all of the NFL. Philly fans should take pride in that fact.
Something about the city of Philadelphia is just different. Oftentimes, Philly fans try to distance themselves from these types of stories, but I’ll never understand why.
The city is better off embracing the villain role and going all in. Snowballs at Santa, double finger salutes towards Eli Manning, and riot punch at Phillies games. It’s something the city of Brotherly Love is known for and that’s not a bad thing.
We can draw the line at throwing batteries, but children giving Eli Manning the double finger salute is undeniably funny.
