The Phillies Win The Series And The City Erupts

Here are some great images from last night's celebration.

Is anyone out there going to the parade?

PHINALLY!

Do you know what's great about this picture?
Everything!

With one pitch, almost 46 hours after game 5 of the World Series was suspended because of rain, Brad Lidge helped erase 25 years of sorrow and frustration that had settled into the very bones of Philadelphia sports fans.

When the final strike was thrown, I stood up from my couch and quietly extended my arms towards the ceiling.

Then, I walked over to my kitchen and took out a frying pan and a serving spoon - and walked down the driveway into my cul-de-sac in my pajama pants and slippers and sounded out the call that many Philadelphians had been yearning to hear for a quarter century.

I was alone, of course, because I live in the suburbs.

One of my neighbors was dragging some trash out to his curb and saw me. He looked at me with a puzzled expression, turned around and said, "Go Phillies. Woo!"

I really didn't care.
I just kept on clanging.
Somewhere in the distance, I heard someone else banging some pots and pans together. So, I wasn't totally alone.

Then, I heard car horns blowing, excited cheering and fireworks.

It was surreal.
It's been so long since this town has experienced a sports championship, I was sure I was dreaming.
Could this be happening?
It couldn't be.

Before game 5 started, one of the announcers touched on something rather sweet.

When Boston won their first World Series, many people in Boston went to graveyards the next day to visit relatives who never lived to see it. They wanted to tell their moms, dads, brothers, sisters and friends that their team had finally done it.

They mentioned that the same might be true in Philadelphia. I thought this was actually a really nice thought. I am sure that if my grandfather were here, this would have put a smile on his face. He was born and raised in Philadelphia and he watched every game he could. Sometimes, he would just listen to the game on the radio. After all, he was born in 1914. So, he was no stranger to the simple pleasure of just listening to the game.

He, like so many others, passed before he could see this happen. A generation of Philadelphians have been waiting for this day to come. I have waited since the night of my tenth birthday. In the early morning hours of October 22, 1980 - the Phillies won their only other title. It was so thrilling to me. I remember that I had the next day off from school. It was the perfect birthday gift.

Twenty eight years later, I was surprised to feel that ten year old still stirring - wanting to celebrate, again.

Now, I am not a huge Phillies fan. I root for the Flyers. For many years, I turned my back on this team because it seemed that their ownership team didn't care about the fans. They were easy to ignore. They lost more games than they won for a long time.

This year, I went to a game in early May. They won that game in the 11th inning on a night that seemed just as cold as last night. After that, I didn't really pay much attention to this team. So, I won't jump on the bandwagon. This day belongs to the true fans of this team.

This is your day.

No one can call this city jinxed, today.
William Penn is no longer an issue.
This day does not belong to the fans of some other team.
This day does not belong to the fans of a team that just came into the league a little more than a decade ago.

This day belongs to a true sports town and some of the most die-hard sports fans in the world.

This day belongs to Philadelphia and its citizens - its sports fans.
They are some of the longest suffering and most loyal fans in the history of professional sports.

Today, the city of Philadelphia stands alone - on top of the baseball world.

Let it sink in, Philly.

This day is yours.

Guns 'N' Roses To Release "Chinese Democracy" On 11/23/08

This is good news for all you Dr. Pepper fans, out there.
The soft drink manufacturers promised to give everyone in the US a free Dr. Pepper if GNR released "Chinese Democracy" before the end of 2008.

Apparently, the album is only going to be available as a Best Buy exclusive.
And, if your calender is in front of you, it's slated for a Sunday release.

For some reason, music execs think this album is going to save the holiday shopping season for the music biz.
Unless it is a gargantuan, instant-classic album, I don't think so.

In fact, I don't really see this doing much for the music business beyond the Christmas season - unless it is a stone cold classic.

Either way, it's been ten years since we have really heard from Axl Rose.
I will be curious to see what the most expensively produced album in the history of the record business sounds like.

The iPod - 10/21/08

I haven't done an iPod blog for a few weeks. So, I thought today would be a good day to throw one at you.

Enjoy it!

Q-Tip - Gettin' Up
Wyclef Jean - Fast Car
Snoop Dogg featuring D'Angelo & Dr. Dre - Imagine
Aimee Mann - One
The Finn Brothers - Won't Give In
Ray LaMontagne - You Are The Best Thing
The Pretenders - Boots Of Chinese Plastic
Kings Of Leon - Sex On Fire
The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound
The Verve - Appalachian Springs

An Album You Should Own - 10/10/08

The Who - Quadrophenia

It is a widely held opinion that "Tommy" is an overrated album and that "Quadrophenia", while well-regarded, is equally underrated.

Over the years, I have come to agree.

The album was the band's attempt to examine the birth of itself in the heyday of mod culture. For all its good, the album is a complex piece of work that might have just been too complex for its intended audience. Pete Townshend attempted to create a narrative about a confused, young mod named Jimmy. His personality was meant to reflect that of the four conflicting personalities at work in the band.

Aside from that, the album is a monumental triumph on many levels. It's production is almost flawless and the band plays each song with absolute abandon. The album also features some of the best use of synthesizer on record, too. At its core, the album features an amazing coming-of-age story. Many of the compositions are the most honest and reflective that Townshend has ever written.

The songs are some of the most enduring in The Who's catalogue. "The Real Me", "The Punk Meets the Godfather," "I'm One," "5:15", "Bell Boy," and "Love, Reign o'er Me" are direct and powerful, even in their quietest moments. In fact, the music was so complex that the band struggled for years trying to reproduce the songs live. Roger Daltrey and Townshend actually came to blows during a soundcheck where Townshend was left unconscious.

To this day, when I hear "The Real Me" it sounds like a locomotive that builds enough speed and power to bore a hole in the earth. I never, ever grow tired of hearing it. It's one of those songs that actually make me sweat when I hear it. When I listen to it, I actually remember why I wanted to be a musician in the first place. It is raw and undeniable.

With Quadrophenia, The Who was at the peak of their powers.
It's absolutely an album you should own.

Further listening: "The Who Sell Out", "Tommy", "Live At Leeds", "Who's Next"

Bruce Springsteen - Barack Obama Rally - October 4th, 2008

Here is some video for you.  It is short and it might make you dizzy.

But, that's how I felt after about three hours.

So, why should you be different?

Bruce Springsteen - Barack Obama Rally - October 4th, 2008

On Saturday, Mike and I went to the Obama rally in Philadelphia. We took the R6 into the city from Conshy.

I love the train. It’s so hassle free.

We walked off the train at Suburban Station and crossed the few blocks to Benjamin Franklin Parkway, arriving at 22nd Street around 2:00pm. It was a long time in the sun waiting for the program to start.

But, when it all began, I got the real feeling that I was taking part in something monumental. It is clear to me, at this time, that Barack Obama has captured the imagination of people from different neighborhoods, as well as diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds.

To see the 50,000 people standing there united in the common cause to elect this man to the presidency was truly inspiring. To see my friend Mike antagonize the idiot in front of us was just plain funny.

Amos Lee warmed up the crowd with a short set that finished with the Sam Cooke classic, “Change Is Gonna Come”. Each time he sang the chorus, it drew applause. People closed their eyes and nodded their heads in clear agreement.

At that point, Ed Rendell and and Bob Casey, Jr. took the stage and helped introduce Bruce Springsteen.

Springsteen took the stage to wild applause. Wearing a plaid shirt and sunglasses, it was clear that Springsteen showed up ready for a fight. His acoustic rendering of “The Promised Land” was terse and bouncing. His right had strummed the guitar and pounded-out a beat that shook the subwoofers on the speakers that hung from two cranes on either side of the stage. He spoke with eloquence in lean, clipped phrases that extolled the virtue of the American dream. He spoke of playing at the Main Point, to the delight of the Philly faithful who remember.

One of the biggest cheers came when Springsteen said, “We tried this four years ago. This time, we’re winning.” He spoke of America as a sacred home that has been robbed and looted for the last eight years. Before finishing his set with “The Rising”, Springsteen spoke about” wanting his country back” and talked about how “…not even a thousand George Bushes and Dick Cheneys” could destroy our American dream. He exhorted the crowd by saying, “Let’s build that house. Let’s build that house.”

The crowd left the rally walking on air. Today, I opened the newspaper to the most recent polls, which revealed that Obama is leading in eight of twelve different states that Bush won in 2004. McCain’s numbers are slipping.

Obama is winning in Ohio.
Obama is winning in Pennsylvania,
Obama is winning in Florida.
Obama is winning in North Carolina.
Obama is winning Virginia.
Obama is winning in Iowa.
Obama is winning in Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada.

He is leading in California, Pennsylvania and New York. He has pushed McCain’s campaign out of Michigan.

Oh, Republicans….you’ll always have Texas.
So, don’t worry about that.

With one month to go, the election is about to get dirty. That much is certain. Ed Rendell said as much before Spingsteen took the stage. With two debates to go, Obama needs to take the gloves off and knock John McCain out. Now is not the time for diplomacy in the debates.

It is time to take our country back and make it great, again. It’s time to rescue our fading American dream from the hands of the Republican party and the wild, unchecked greed they allowed to ruin this great nation’s economy, cost so many Americans their jobs, and destroy our nation’s reputation abroad.

It’s time to take our house back.

As of tomorrow, we have 29 days before we begin the greatest reclamation project in America’s history – the people taking this land back.

Let’s make this happen.

Bruce Rocks For Barack

Bruce Springsteen will play an acoustic show tomorrow in Philadelphia. The concert is a great way to get yourself registered to vote. Plenty of volunteers will be there to help you get registered, if you aren't already.

If anyone wants to come along, drop me a line.

Details are:

Saturday October 4th, 2008
Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 20th and 22nd Streets
Philadelphia, PA

Gates open: 2:00 p.m.
Program starts: 3:30 p.m.

FREE AND OPEN TO
PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENTS & STUDENTS
However, tickets are required. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Preferred viewing tickets are also available and will allow you to get even closer to the stage. They can be obtained by visiting one of the Campaign for Change offices listed below and volunteering to help elect Barack Obama.