Philly isn't pretty

**andlikethat...** · 05-20-2010, 07:54 PM

Maybe this is the reason why I hate soccer and the French.

10:19 AM ET 05.20 | Former French international Robert Pires has turned down an offer to join MLS team the Philadelphia Union. According to reports in France, the former Arsenal star rejected the Union's overtures because the quality of the city does not live up to his expectations. Pires explained that he would prefer to retire than move his family to a city that wasn't "beautiful."

MLS Daily

Pires rejects Philly's offer because city isn't pretty

**TEX** · 05-20-2010, 08:12 PM

Typical French.

**thoth** · 05-20-2010, 08:24 PM

what a douche. ugh and we're getting ripped on in the comments section by dipsh1ts from DC and McCordsville, indiana. Hulk want smash.

**Lolly** · 05-20-2010, 08:28 PM

Not good. Still, wonder how much was lost in translation?

**eldondre** · 05-20-2010, 08:55 PM

yeah, who wouldn't want to play soccer in Chester

**Malloy** · 05-20-2010, 08:58 PM

There are a few beautiful areas in Philly...but its hard to call the majority of the city 'beautiful' Chestnut Hill = beautiful. Bella Vista, not so much. I like both areas (BV more) but I couldn't call it beautiful with a straight face.

**Sycamore** · 05-20-2010, 08:59 PM

I would rather retire than work in Chester too.

**Dayman** · 05-20-2010, 09:21 PM

Originally Posted by Malloy

There are a few beautiful areas in Philly...but its hard to call the majority of the city 'beautiful' Chestnut Hill = beautiful. Bella Vista, not so much. I like both areas (BV more) but I couldn't call it beautiful with a straight face.

I dunno, i was driving around Fairmount tonight and it was quite pretty, I guess our red bricks and straight grid streets aren't maze like and incomprehensible to the French ethos. Maybe he should move to Quebec and be rude to touriste Anglais.

**raider.adam** · 05-20-2010, 09:26 PM

He's French. He was pissed because there was a smoking ban.

**redpinstripes** · 05-20-2010, 10:08 PM

Fug him. Doesnt sound like the type of player that anyone around here would want anyhow.

What bothers me is how freely some media outlets seem to cheer any opportunity to put Philadelphia down. How long do we have to endure comments about our fans? I think Philadelphia fans are the greatest.

Sure there are *******s. But I dont recall the dude who threw a beer in Victorino's face getting anywhere near the play that barfy-guy from NJ got. Nor does anyone ever balance with the really sweet scene of the father/daughter foul ball from last season. I get pretty fugging tired of the '68 Santa snowball deal.

There are only a few US cities that can even come close to European cities in terms of beauty. I'd be interested to know which cities in the US he would consider.

If he had some heart he'd come in a minute to show it. And he would be warmly recieved for doing so.

**andlikethat...** · 05-20-2010, 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by redpinstripes

Sure there are *******s. But I dont recall the dude who threw a beer in Victorino's face getting anywhere near the play that barfy-guy from NJ got. Nor does anyone ever balance with the really sweet scene of the father/daughter foul ball from last season. I get pretty fugging tired of the '68 Santa snowball deal.

Great points

**MGM** · 05-20-2010, 10:34 PM

It's soccer. Who gives a sh*t?

**Pitt** · 05-20-2010, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by eldondre

yeah, who wouldn't want to play soccer in Chester

Winner. Stupid, stupid, stupid place to put that stadium.

**UnleashThePhury** · 05-20-2010, 10:46 PM

He was wrong?

It's called filthadelphia for a reason. The few clean and nice parts of the city are the minority, not the majority. And even then it is not uncommon to find crime there.

**romano** · 05-20-2010, 11:00 PM

Whatever, dude probably has never set foot in the city. Way to show class, slam an entire city you've never even visited. As far as who cares about soccer, the first two games at the Linc averaged 30,000 and Union has sold out of their 12,000 seat season ticket allotment, not bad for an expansion team in a sport nobody cares about.

**DocAwesome** · 05-21-2010, 12:09 AM

It's nothing to get worked up about. People slam other cities, usually cities they've never seen before, all the time. On this site included.
The right way to approach it is to not to get defensive, and respect the fact that he has an opinion, understanding that opinions are like *******s. Most the posters there likewise probably have no idea what they are talking about, but hey if they get off by putting down any city, let them think what they want. At the end of the day, most people are smart enough to recognize idiots in real life or online - which helps explain why tourism - first time and repeat - to Philly is booming as opposed to your average vocal and bitter poster's city.

**Sailaway** · 05-21-2010, 12:26 AM

They do, but it's really annoying. In my experience, Philadelphia has a pretty bad reputation outside of this general area. Maybe this is partly deserved, but some I think is undeserved.

I think Philadelphia is more beautiful of a city than a lot of people - including some here on PS - want to give it credit for being, and has strong potential for being abso-freakin-lutely gorgeous, given the right initiatives and investment. My attachment to this area is strong enough that I changed careers, in part, just to stay in the area. Perhaps I'm a little biased.

**Bleeper** · 05-21-2010, 01:23 AM

Given Philadelphias less than stellar reputation nationally/internationally I was hoping the Soccer Stadium could have been built out in one of the bucolic suburbs-Valley Forge-Great Valley-Exton-West Chester -Voorhees etc..

Show off the regions better side for a change. Most vistors only see the wretched industrial scenes along I-95 . I'm not a bit surprised this frog said something like this.Look around and you have SW Philly,Camden,barren riverfront. Stereotypes start with a hint of reality.

The guy thinks all of the Philadelphia region is a gritty ,ugly industrial pit. He's not the exception hes the norm and thats a problem considering
the many great neighborhoods in the city not to mention the abundance of beautiful areas in the suburbs-which make up 80% of this region.

**Sailaway** · 05-21-2010, 01:32 AM

Yep, that's it. People tell me the same thing about NJ. You fly over it and you can smell the refineries. You drive through it and all you see is sterile industry, no beauty. NJ is considered by many/most to be one big chemical swamp (oh, and now, home to guidos). Philly should avoid NJ's mistakes.

I think even just razing the areas just around 95 and putting up nice homes and scenery would go a long way towards improving Philadelphia's image.

**Dayman** · 05-21-2010, 01:35 AM

I was at the waterfront earlier this week and thought, "Why can't this be bustling?"

I don't know why we lag behind cities like Boston in these categories. All I know is that we should be better than them as our nation's birthplace and it's a damn shame we're not.