The worse heckling I’ve ever witnessed occurred during an exhibition game between the Cleveland Indians and the Philadelphia Phillies the day before they officially opened Citizen’s Bank Park in April 2004. Then-mayor John Street, who is black, was on hand to preside over the pregame ceremonies, and the booing he took from the mostly white suburban audience was something to behold. It went on and on and on, and there was a real rage about it. I lived in Philly at the time and I wasn’t a supporter of Mayor Street, but I almost wanted to race out onto the field and shield him from the abuse.
I doubt I would have had the same impulse if I had been at the Monmouth, New Jersey racetrack yesterday.
OCEANPORT — It was one long happy celebration at Monmouth Park for the great American Pharoah’s latest victory. At least, that is, until Gov. Chris Christie stepped into the Winner’s Circle to present the trophy.
And then, the record crowd of 60,983 booed.
Long.
Loud.
Sustained.
I remember when Chris Christie was popular in the Garden State. He was very popular.
That’s over.
