Chase Utley lost the Home Run Derby last night. But he probably won some more points with Philly fans.

And he did it in a way that just about every Philly fan can identify with.

Utley had a bit of a run-in with fans at Yankee Stadium. The leading vote-getter for the All-Star team was booed as he was introduced for the Home Run Derby. Nothing unusual about that. He plays for Philly. The Phils hold a half-game lead over that other New York team in the NL East race at the break.

There’s also nothing terribly unusual about Utley’s response. What is unusual is that he apparently forgot he was wearing a microphone for TV for the event.

As he was given a lusty Bronx cheer, Utley responded in kind. “Boo? (Bleep) you,” was Utley’s retort, invoking the ever-popular F-bomb.

How do we know this? It was picked up by Utley’s mike.

The All-Star was apologetic after the contest.

“I do want to apologize. It was a poor choice of words,” Utley said. “I didn’t really mean anything by it, I was just joking around with my buddy.”

This isn’t an attempt to let Utley off the hook. What he said – despite it becoming increasingly prevalent in our society – is wrong and he shouldn’t have said it.

Just as almost all of us should not say in any number of times during the course of our hectic days.

Only thing is when we drop that specific four-letter word, our comments are not broadcast on national TV.