The Phillies and a Long Islander, A Love story.

"The Phillies." Four months ago I wouldn't have been able to tell you anything about them, or even that they were a baseball team. Shameful, I know, now that I'm living in Philadelphia I'm beginning to understand that The Phillies, aren't just a baseball team at all. 

I'm from Long Island. My entire life I've been surrounded by Yankees fans and the occasional Mets- lover, but never in my life have I actually felt a close connection to a baseball, or any sports team what so ever. I'm unsure if it's because I was never good at them, or that I have no idea what is going on. 

Anyway, I have finally discovered what is so awesome about our Great American Past time, and it has nothing to do with balls, bats, over priced peanuts, or chewing tobacco.

Philadelphia, is the city of brotherly love, and that is exactly the reason The Phillies win was so phenomenal. I was sitting in my room late on a week night when I heard howling from the street. I looked out my window expecting to see something terrible, maybe an accident?Or worse was some one hurt?  I rushed to the street to find out what all the noise was about. That's when I heard the big news, The Phillies had made it to the World Series. Soon after I dared utter the words "What's the big deal", I was quickly met with shocked faces and disgusted answers.  Apparently, this was the first World Series for the Phillies in an excruciating fifteen years, and Philly was ready for a win. 

The crowd grew until people were hanging from light poles, hugging police officers and running from one end of our enormous campus to the other screaming for their beloved Phillies.  Hundreds of zealous students and myself walked over thirty blocks to city hall, in order to watch the action closer to the stadium. In my entire life, I had never seen such excitement, it was if the entire city had just won the lottery. 

A few days later, the world series began. Everyone squished themselves around the biggest TV they could find in our tiny dorms , to watch the game. Phillies fever swept the school, every class discussion inevitably turned into baseball conversation, every student, employee, and even the homeless painted themselves in red to show support for the team.

Then came the moment of truth, the game that would end them all, we sat on the edge of our seats, crossed our fingers,and then... it rained.

For Two days all of Philadelphia had one thing on there minds. The anticipation was almost to much to handle, even for people like me who are not baseball fanatics, or sports fans at all.

And then the time finally came, we would know if the curse was broken, if our Phillies would bring home the title, and most importantly if we would have classes the next day.

We held hands screamed,yelled, hugged and yes, in case you weren’t lucky enough to hear it so eloquently stated by Chase Utley, The Phillies are World Champions. 

I ran down eleven flights of stairs surrounded by every other elated Temple students and eventually reached broad street. I quickly realized I wouldn’t be running much longer. 

Broad Street is the Main street throughout all of Philly that runs from one end to the other. As I looked towards South Philly I could not see any of the road. Instead I saw millions, yes millions of people headed to City Hall. The Phillies Bliss was shared by all on the walk to Center City. Temple students, police officers, Philadelphians and even the residents of the local homeless shelter were in the streets celebrating together. 

EVeryone was high-fiving, patting each other on the back, and hugging. For a few hours everyone loved everyone, as long as they weren’t rays fans of course.  Black and White didn’t matter as long as you wore red, and every homeless person was just another member of the crowd rather than the outcasts they often are. In a city often full of violence and great divide everyone found understanding in the strangest of places, baseball. For a few hours everyone loved everyone, as long as they weren’t rays fans of course. It was that night, the city of brotherly love. It’s amazing that such enlightenment and compassion could be found through baseball. Is that all it really takes? Maybe we aren’t all as different as we think. As a society we spend hours,days,years searching for a solution to problems like racism, stereotyping, gang violence and hate crimes.  Is it possible that a solution could be a simple as baseball?

I’m not sure that baseball, or any sport for that matter will be the remedy for the cultural afflictions the world faces but, the fact that such a simple, care-free past time could break down social barriers for even short period of time goes to show that these ailments are not incurable. 

As people we need to realize that the problems that consume our society, have been created by people and can be fixed by them as well. The Phillies jubilation is proof that in the end, race, gender and economic status aside, we are people. We have the power to  cast aside the social boundaries we so frequently allow to run our lives. We all do have things in common, and it is not as difficult to get along as we all believe.

If The Phillies won the playoffs everyday, the world would be a better place. Until that day happens I will remember that understanding is not impossible, and that the Phillies are number one.