Union falls; Avant comes up small

Yesterday we wrote that the Philadelphia Union not only had to win, but had to win big to stay alive in the Major League Soccer playoffs.

You see the MLS decides these affairs on the total number of goals scored.

Didn’t much matter. The Union did not win big. They didn’t even score. They got shut out in Houston, 1-0.

Still, we’ll salute the Union for making the playoffs in just their second year of play.

And, of course, for making Chester a major league town again. In case you didn’t know, the Union play their home games at PPL Park on the Chester waterfront.

In the meantime, the Philly sports world continues to buzz about Eagles wide receiver Jason Avant.

Why, I have no idea.

Avant is working his way into becoming a very good slot receiver for the Eagles. He’s a guy who works the middle of the field, makes tough catches, and moves the chains.

After the Eagles resurrected their season by working over the Washington Redskins and then crushing the Cowboys, Avant made it clear the team would not be welcoming any fair-weather fans back on the bandwagon.

In so doing he became the darling of talk radio. Not that it really matters. Avant is not the first pro athlete to open his mouth and prove just how out of touch he is with the fans.

He has every right to say it. Fans don’t have to like it, and they usually make those feelings known. The guess is that Avant will get an earful Monday night when he takes the field vs. the Bears on Monday Night Football. Another lovely opportunity for Eagles fans to be typecast on national TV.

When questioned about his comments after practice yesterday, Avant didn’t blink for a moment. He continued to take a hard line.

“Let’s get this clear,” Avant said. “I will not apologize for what I said. What I am saying is that there are faithful fans – faithful Eagles fans – and we love those fans.”

We hear you, Jason. But here’s the thing. Those loyal fans you love are the same ones who rip you when the team is playing poorly. That’s a fan’s right. It doesn’t mean they are jumping on and off the bandwagon.

You would think that every pro athlete in this town would know there is no such thing, in particular when it comes to the Eagles. We are all fans. We love the team. We love them so much that we rip them when they disappoint us. That has nothing to do with a bandwagon.

Athletes don’t seem to comprehend that. They are paid millions and apparently believe the fans who fill all those seats every week, who buy all those jerseys, who listen to talk radio, watch TV and buy newspapers are simply supposed to clap politely when their “Dream Team” gets off to a 1-4 start.

It doesn’t work that way. Clearly Jason Avant doesn’t get it. He’s not the first. He won’t be the last.

I hope he catches 10 balls for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns Monday night.

But if he coughs up a ball late in the game, costing the Eagles a game, I’ll be the first to rip him.

Oh, and one other thing. I and all the rest of those “bandwagon jumpers” will be here giving this team our heart and soul every week when Avant is long gone.

We were here before he got here, we’ll be here when he is little more than a memory.

You’d think these guys would understand that by now.

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