There is only one good thing I can see to come out of the SEPTA strike - it gave a large contingent of disgruntled Phillies fans something else to gripe about.
What a bunch of short memory ingrates!
I am certainly not talking about ALL Phillies fans, just the loud ones who go on talk radio and force themselves in front of the TV cameras to give all of us a bad name.
You know the ones who were complaining about Charlie Manuel, Cole Hamels, Brad Lidge and Ryan Howard, aka the 2008 Manager of the Year, The 2008 World Series MVP, the 2008 Closer of The Year and the 2009 NL Championship MVP. The "what have you done for me lately" Phillies fans blamed that group for not winning the World Series - that would be the 2009 World Series, the Phillies first back-to-back appearance in team history, after winning its first World Championship in 2008 after a 28 year drought.
Yep, we sure have a lot to complain about.
This is not a new phenomenon, it is uniquely Philadelphia. I have a friend who was a stand-up comic in Philadelphia. After the 1908 World Series win, he joked tat Phillies fans immediately said, "They suck. They can't do it next year."
Fast forward to 2009 and the joke becomes real.
To the 2009 Phillies I say "Thank You." What a wonderful ride you are taking us on - I know its not over yet. With a front office brilliant at filling holes (Lee, Pedro, Ibanez and Feliz), a core group of great players still coming into their prime (Howard, Rollins, Werth, Utley and Victorino) and some great Rookies ahead of us (Taylor, Drabek and Brown), I know you could return to the World Series again and again.
Thank you for a team of fine men who are wonderful role models for my kids. Thank you for caring enough about the city to get involved in community and charity events. Thank you for this most memorable time in Philadelphia sports history - I know this may never happen again.
And for the Philadelphia sports fans who may still be griping - relax. It is okay to enjoy this. I know we have been burnt before by false prophets like Eric Lindros, Sean Bradley and Von Hayes. I know you have watched Joe Carter, Chicago Fog and Magic Johnson steal your dreams.
Let it go. It's okay.
This team won a World Championship and it may not be the last. This is the like the Eagles teams of the late 40's and the Flyers of the early 70's. This seems to happen once every 30 years, so it may be a long time before this ever happens again.
Enjoy the moment. You'll have plenty of time to gripe in the years ahead, believe me.
