Sportsfrog.com

The morning no Philadelphia fan ever thought would come is here. The Phillies are World Champions. Still feels surreal, especially for anyone who is around my age of 28, as it has been a quarter of a century since this town won any kind of major sports championship.

After having my heart broken time and time again by Philly teams in the playoffs, this feeling is almost unbelievable. It is now more than 12 hours since Brad Lidge struck out Eric Hinske and the notion that we won the last game of the MLB season still hasn’t sunk in. Though, every time I hear Harry Kalas’ final call I tear up. Every time I see Lidge crouch and fall to his knees is euphoria, I well up.

Knowing how big a sports fan I am, my mom called this morning to congratulate me. I almost lost it when she was describing how she saw the final out and the “look of joy on that pitchers face when he made that last out.”

I didn’t venture near the city at all last night for Game 5 Part Deux, instead opting for a small neighborhood bar some friends enjoy just on the outskirts of Philly. As first pitch neared you could sense the Philly nerves of “How are we going to flub this one away?” building as the bar filled.

Then one swing of the bat from Geoff Jenkins, a guy who had spent most of the post season doing the crossword in the dugout with So Taguchi, set off a release of nerves like no other. After that, it felt like nothing could prevent us from taking the trophy.

As Hinske struck out, the bar erupted in unison, as the city began a party 25 years in the making.

After the hugs of friends and strangers alike, I stepped outside to start making some phone calls. My first call was to my grandfather, a man who not only tolerated my sports obsession, but encouraged it, along with everything else in my life. A man who means more to me than words here can explain. We talked for a few minutes about the nerves, the game, and the feeling of finally winning the big one. When he picked up the phone, I almost couldn’t get the words ‘We Did It’ out.

Then my sister called. Then I called my brother. Then my Dad. Then a friend in Los Angeles.

All the same conversation, just with different people. In some bar parking lot that I will never forget.

I still can’t believe it has happened. At some point it will hit me, that we did it. The morning has come.

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