Saturday
Nov012008
Phillies Parade
Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 8:24PM
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Phillies Parade"]
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Well the long wait is over. The Philadelphia Phillies -- those Fightin' Phils -- have won the World Series following a 28-year drought. And this was in a town that hadn't had a championship of the four major teams in a quarter of a century. Mind you, there are other towns that have had it worse, like Cleveland, Buffalo, and Seattle, but I put it to you that Philly fans were hurting for it the most.
As a life-long Philadelphia sports fan, I must say that I couldn't be prouder of the Phils this year. I have a vague recollection of the '74 and '75 Flyers champions, and I remember fondly the '80 Phillies, the '83 Sixers behind Dr. J, and the Super Bowl-contending Eagles of '81 and '05. I was a die-hard Flyers fan in the mid 1980's with their great teams that always wound up losing to The Great One (timing is everything, I guess). One of the saddest sports memories I have is watching Joe Carter smack that series-ending home run off Mitch Williams. And for the record, it was a good pitch, and Wild Thing had one of the best seasons that year a closer could ever hope to have.
Which brings us to 2008. This team, led by the manager with a heart of gold, Charlie Manuel, defied their skeptics and lived up to their potential. And to do it at home during one of the most bizarre games in World Series history just topped it off. While watching Brad Lidge's final pitch, I had a rush of emotion flow over me, the likes of which Philadelphia fans can only vaguely recall -- until now.
To further celebrate, I decided to "excuse" my son from school and took him down to the parade with a couple million of our closest friends. Both he and I had a blast, and I know this will live long in his memory.
Now, as the dust settles, the late night interviews come to an end, and the golf bags get ready, we can only bask in the afterglow of this truly momentous occasion. And of course cheer on the Eagles, Flyers, and Sixers, each of which have .500 records or better as of this post.
[/caption]
Well the long wait is over. The Philadelphia Phillies -- those Fightin' Phils -- have won the World Series following a 28-year drought. And this was in a town that hadn't had a championship of the four major teams in a quarter of a century. Mind you, there are other towns that have had it worse, like Cleveland, Buffalo, and Seattle, but I put it to you that Philly fans were hurting for it the most.
As a life-long Philadelphia sports fan, I must say that I couldn't be prouder of the Phils this year. I have a vague recollection of the '74 and '75 Flyers champions, and I remember fondly the '80 Phillies, the '83 Sixers behind Dr. J, and the Super Bowl-contending Eagles of '81 and '05. I was a die-hard Flyers fan in the mid 1980's with their great teams that always wound up losing to The Great One (timing is everything, I guess). One of the saddest sports memories I have is watching Joe Carter smack that series-ending home run off Mitch Williams. And for the record, it was a good pitch, and Wild Thing had one of the best seasons that year a closer could ever hope to have.
Which brings us to 2008. This team, led by the manager with a heart of gold, Charlie Manuel, defied their skeptics and lived up to their potential. And to do it at home during one of the most bizarre games in World Series history just topped it off. While watching Brad Lidge's final pitch, I had a rush of emotion flow over me, the likes of which Philadelphia fans can only vaguely recall -- until now.
To further celebrate, I decided to "excuse" my son from school and took him down to the parade with a couple million of our closest friends. Both he and I had a blast, and I know this will live long in his memory.
Now, as the dust settles, the late night interviews come to an end, and the golf bags get ready, we can only bask in the afterglow of this truly momentous occasion. And of course cheer on the Eagles, Flyers, and Sixers, each of which have .500 records or better as of this post.
Reader Comments (1)
I am so jealous that my younger brother ( Matt ) and nephew ( Hi Jacob ), as well as a slew of other friends and family, got to go to a Phillies World Series celebration parade down Broad street before me. For my first one in 1980, I was a newer employee working for ARAMARK in Philadelphia, the company that actually has the contract to concession most of the food for the major sports facilities. Being one of the low men on the proverbial totem pole, I was not allowed time off to go to the parade, even though the building I worked at was on Independence Square, just mere blocks away from all of the jubilant celebration. Ah, the benefits of seniority. Looking back, especially because I changed jobs a short time later, I should have just called in sick that day. You don't think they would have thought I was going to the parade, do you?
But I digress.......
This year I almost flew up from Atlanta just to attend this years parade, but sadly the only other person who can open up our work building is at a convention in Las Vegas, the bastard.. But luckily, I can live this years parade vicariously through the eyes and blogs of family and friends.
Maybe in another 28 years in 2036.
Maybe next year .