Source: Normally, I’m not that big on the “content” that comes from Deadspin, much less any other Gawker website, but I’ll be the very first to admit that they most certainly caught lightning in a bottle with this gem. The gif of the Phillies fans from a night ago is one thing, but the folks at Deadspin put together a truly epic video complete with accentuating slow-mo and music that is definitely worth giving them a click and a view to see.
Long story short, Monday’s Braves vs. Phillies game started off as more or less a snoozer, aside from the Braves’ Ervin Santana striking out eleven Phillies players. But in the 8th inning, someone turned the Game Genie on, and then the Braves and Phillies combined for four home runs, with the score going from 2-1 to 5-1, and then 6-5 after the Phillies got done with their turn at bat. Needless to say, it appeared to be turning into one of those disheartening losses for the Braves where they let the hapless Phillies off the hook.
Fortunately, because the Phillies are the Phillies, and they’re so good at fucking things up, they well, fucked things up. So with just three outs to get in the top of the 9th to secure the win, they naturally load the bases, and set things up for the Braves’ Dan Uggla.
Now Dan Uggla is a guy that lots of Braves fans are not fond of, because in spite of the fact that he is Popeye strong, and hits home runs, he also has a much higher propensity of striking out and letting the team down. He’s also paid an exorbitant amount of money, which nerdy, statistically favoring bean-counting geeks really, really, really hate.
Needless to say, his strikeout problems are known to anyone who follows baseball in the least bit, and in the case of these particular Phillies fans that ESPN decided to highlight, they were pretty much expecting him to maintain status quo, strike out, and put the Braves one step closer to a demoralizing loss.
It was almost like fate being tempted by two negatives, with Dan Uggla’s ineptitude versus Philadelphia’s propensity for failure – which would win (lose) out?
And apparently, the fates decided that Philadelphia being fed defeat is less detrimental to the chaotic stream of life than Dan Uggla coming through in the clutch. And in the most crushing of ways too; a single would have likely put the Braves up by a run, a double by two, but nope, he had to hit a heart-wrenching grand slam, to completely end the short-lived party atmosphere that the Phillies fans had just started less than ten minutes prior.
Seriously though, gif, video, it’s perfect to watch. Phillies fans taunting Dan Uggla, but then immediately being put in their place when he goes yard. I can’t stop watching it. Isolating every single person, to watch the agony on their face in slow-mo. The expressions, the mouthed expletives, the jaws dropping, to the hearts sinking. It’s perfect.
I don’t even care if the Braves don’t beat the Phillies again ever (actually, I probably would). This video pretty much immortalizes so much that is right about the game, and the things that I still do love about watching baseball. And aside from that metaphorical shit, I simply just love watching fans of Philadelphia sports teams miserable and being put in their places.
Owned.
