Not much sympathy for the Devil(‘s owner)

If there is one way for the owner of a professional sports franchise to illustrate his distance from the rank-and-file fan, it generally involves a helicopter.

The Philadelphia Union found that with Jay Sugarman in September’s U.S. Open Cup final, though he was able to laugh it off. Now another Philly-connected owner has whirlybird-ed his way into idiotic excess.

Josh Harris, owner of the Philadelphia Fighting Hinkies and New Jersey Devils, needed a quick way to get to a Devils game Sunday, so he landed his helicopter on the soccer field at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark … during a youth game.

There’s some good news and some bad. On the bright side, it wasn’t Harris’ chopper. Just a charter, because Harris is still the relatable-type of private equity bajillionaire, albeit one that doesn’t deign to join the unwashed masses on Amtrak.

The bad news: Harris’ entourage chose to pin the blame on a lack of communication between his charter company and the school. Harris has a standing agreement to use St. Benedict’s field as his personal helipad, as long as those on the ground know that the soccer field isn’t for, you know, soccer at those times. Sorry, under-13 kids.

Harris has since reached out, in a statement through the Devils, offering a sincere apology and an open invitation to a forthcoming Devils game as Harris’ guest. That’s the least Harris can do, so don’t expect much sympathy for that little gesture.