Late-30s, bald (shaved to hide balding), probably mid-level professional, white man wearing Pittsburgh Penguins t-shirt says to table-full of visitors:
"...so we go into town [Philadelphia] yesterday, to look around, and there was like no signs or nothin' anywhere. I was shocked! And I'm wearing my stuff just to represent."The man seemed to be about half proud yet half upset; seemingly nearing tears at times.
As it turns out, this (5'6") man was saddened that the people of Philadelphia (generally) do not appear to be basking in the reflected glory (or misery) of local sporting teams to the degree of the people of Pittsburgh (generally). He seemed to have had an expectation of what would have been an acceptable threshold for civic sports pride and was greatly disappointed by being short-changed in this regard.
"I hardly saw Eagles stuff anywhere!" he finished with a shoulder-dropping huff.
Interestingly, the people at the table he addressed seemed to not only understand his angst, but also empathize. I mean, I suppose I also understand, theoretically, the attraction and loyalty to sporting teams...but I guess I've never seen this other side of hero worship played-out before me like that.
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