Philadelphia 76ers forward Mike Scott has never been a big-name superstar. The second-round NBA Draft pick back in 2012 began his career with the Atlanta Hawks, and later played for the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers. Then, Scott was included in a trade that brought Tobias Harris and Boban Marjanovic to Philly in February. He quickly became a fan favorite off the bench, which resulted in him signing a two-year contract extension with the franchise in June.
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NBA players are pretty recognizable, especially a guy like Scott who stands at 6-foot-8. But apparently, when the 31-year-old basketball player ventured to Lincoln Financial Field prior to the Philadelphia Eagles' season-opening win against its rival Washington Redskins, Philly fans failed to recognize Mike Scott.
Even worse is that Scott, a Chesapeake, Virginia native, is a huge Redskins fan. (Note: if you wear rival colors in Philadelphia, you're NEVER coming out of there without a whirlwind of insults coming your way.)
At the tailgate, Scott reportedly got into an altercation with a group of Eagles fans. Video shows that the group of tailgaters brought a coffin, which sources told PhillyVoice.com Scott wanted a picture in front of because "it was a funny thing to see at a tailgate." The coffin displayed a shirt that read 'Party Like It's 1991,' referencing Washington's last Super Bowl win.
Some people speculated the coffin was meant as a jab at late-Washington safety Sean Taylor, but those claims were never confirmed.
Upon entering the Eagles tailgate, Scott wasn't met like a Philadelphia basketball star, but rather, as just another black man wearing rival colors. Witnesses told PhillyVoice.com that the tailgaters began hurling insults and racist slurs at Scott.
"Though some fans in the area initially engaged in the sort of accepted hostility you expect between division rivals — "F*ck the Redskins!" and "F*ck you!" were among the insults directed his way — witnesses say tailgaters who escalated the situation directed racial slurs, specifically the n-word, in Scott's direction in the area by the coffin."
— From Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice.com
That's when a haymaker-throwing, alcohol-induced brawl erupted in the parking lot. Scott was the centerpiece, as Philadelphia fans descended on him from all angles. Video circled social media before TMZ Sports later obtained the clearest footage of the wild fight.
Mike Scott Fight Video
The Sixers released a statement saying the team was investigating the incident and added no further comment, but reportedly do not plan on discipling Scott for his involvement. The NBA franchise is "reviewing their team policies regarding security at public events," even though Scott reportedly was accompanied by security to Sunday's game.
Philadelphia police were not called to the scene, and no charges were filed.
This isn't just a lesson on not being idiots and fighting rival fans over an NFL game, this is also, sadly, yet another example of racism in plain sight. Racial insults descended on the Sixers' Mike Scott because of the damn Redskins jersey he was wearing, and nothing else. It's sad that the Philadelphia sports fan base reacted this way, but honestly, Philly is a savage place for rival rans to go.
Hell, even Santa was attacked in the "City of Brotherly Love."
This article was originally published September 10, 2019.
