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.