Proud To Be From Philly

I've always been proud to be from Philadelphia. The cheesesteaks. The Liberty Bell. South St. Olde City. All things that made me proud to be a Philadelphian. But when it comes to sports there really hasn't been much to cheer about in Philly in recent years. The last major sports title the city won was in 1983 when the Sixers beat the Lakers. Sure we came close a few times. The Phillies losing to the Blue Jays in the 1993 Series. The Sixers losing to the Lakers in the 2001 NBA Finals. Even the Eagles barely losing to the New England Patriots in the 2005 Super Bowl. We've been close but never quite got over the hump. It got so bad I was sort of resigned to the fact Philly would never be home to a champ again. Until this year's Phillies made the playoffs.

By beating the Tampa Bay Rays, four games to one, in this year's World Series the Phillies have not only given the city a reason to celebrate, they've also afforded me a chance to express how proud I am to be a Philadelphia. This group of Phillies with stars like Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Cole Hamels, Pat Burrell and Jimmy Rollins, and blue collar guys like Shane Victorino, Geoff Jenkins, and Jayson Werth achieved something Philadelphians have been waiting decades for.

Philly has long been known for its list of losers. The city had been craving for a moment like this. I can just imagine what Broad Street is like right now. Thousands of people clad in the red and white. People driving around in their cars honking their horns. I can feel it even though I'm hundreds of miles away. It reminds me of the time the Sixers won the title in 1983. I remember my dad, my brother and me piling in the Chrysler LeBaron and cruising around the neighborhood, after the final horn signaled the end of the game, honking that horn until we knew it was acceptable to call it a night. It was a moment I'll never forget. I was happy for my city that night. And although I'm notwith family on this go round, it feels just as sweet. Thanks to the 2008 Phillies, on this night I'm proud to be from Philadelphia.