Memo from Phila to Boston: CONGRATS, we love you guys!

[Phillycat]

I watched the game last night at a bar in Philadelphia, where I live. There were approximately a bajillion Red Sox fans and a solid, oh, handful of Yankees fans.

About half of the BoSox fans were regular lifetime BoSox fans: philosophical, tenacious, and ridiculously hopeful despite their entire lifetimes of history telling them otherwise. I was looking around, trying to figure out who the other half were. These were guys who, back in July, were sitting around the same bar rooting for, well, the Phillies. But since the poor beleageured Phils did not have the opportunity to join in this orgy of stellar October baseball, those curmudgeonly old blue collar contractors and landscapers and mechanics were sure as HELL not going to root for the Yankees.

We sweated for you, Boston. We prayed for you, Boston. Amanda did laps around the pool table, muttering "I can't stand it. I just can't stand it." When Johnny Damon hit that grand slam, glasses were knocked over and I clunked heads with someone jumping up and down in glee. Ryan kept saying, "Don't get cocky, but you gotta BELIEVE."

Two more outs. One more out. My heart was pounding. Where has this team been all my life, I thought.

When the last out finally happened and the bar erupted and in a gesture of goodwill drinks were sent over to the three remaining Yankees fans, I looked over at my man. This is a guy whose father is from Boston, who wore Red Sox pj's as an infant. This is also a guy who never cries.

There were tears in his eyes. He's waited his whole life for this. This is a new chapter of baseball history, and it was his Red Sox that did it, and they ignored the curse and the thuggish Yankee fans and the sportswriters who said it couldn't be done. And some Captain Caveman-looking motherfucker who hadn't done crap in the series came out and hit a grand slam.

It was so sweet.

So, we were pulling for you last night, Boston. We sweated it out with you. And we envied you, being there, after the game, while we made our little celebrations here. We wanted to be with you, up there, walking the streets and listening to the pure unadulterated happiness.

Here's to you! :toast:

[kick-ass-bob]

1. "Amanda did laps around the pool table"

I thought this said "Amanda did lapdances"

:7

[Phillycat]

2. That would have been more interesting.

Although Amanda would just as soon punch you as degrade herself like that. :)

[kick-ass-bob]

3. I loved the post though.

But I just had to be a smartass!!

:bounce:

[Phillycat]

4. Thanks.

:)

[Zuni]

5. Baltimore was for the Sox too

The Orioles and the Red Sox might have had their differences, but for this series, the whole Baltimore area was overwhelmingly Pro-Sox. If there is anything us Marylanders hate, it is the NY Yankees.

[Phillycat]

8. Same with us.

No way were we rooting for the hated Yankees. :)

[sniffa]

6. gracias

you make me Love phiLLy.

"phiLLy, it's Like a, uh, baby new york"

"boston, it's Like a bigger, not on fire Lawrence"

[Phillycat]

12. We're better than a baby New York.

:)

And we're bigger than you, dammit! ;-)

[Zuni]

15. Philly is the 5th Largest city in the US

pop. 1.5 million

Boston -- 20th.
Pop 590,000

[Phillycat]

18. Yeah, but Boston is so pretty.

I have to give them that. :)

I think Philadelphia is the most beautiful place on earth, but I love Boston and I'm so happy for them up there. :)

[Zuni]

20. I like both cities

But being from Maryland, I know Philadelphia a lot better because I have been up there many times (one of my best friends lives in Philly. Not far from Drexel and the University section). I have only been to Boston once. But Baltimore and Annapolis are still MY towns.

on edit---NYC is a great town too. (well except for Staten Island, which really sucks)

[Phillycat]

21. You know, I've never been to Baltimore with someone who knows

their way around. I really would like to do that, because so far all I've seen is the Inner Harbor and a whole lot of slum. There MUST be more to the city than that, and I bet if I went with an insider, I'd see the real Baltimore.

[Zuni]

22. Baltimore is an underrated city. There is a revival going on in some parts

It does have some really bad parts though.
Baltimore lost a lot since the loss of manufacturing really hurt Baltimore, which was a factory/port town.
Many parts are coming back. Yuppies and young people are buying old rowhouses in some sections, like Canton and fixing them up. Canton, which 10 years ago was a pretty seedy waterfront area is now one of the most expensive areas of the city. A lot of young people have revitalized that area. 15-20 years ago the Inner Harbor was a run down slum. Now it is full of shops, nightclubs, bars, stadiums and resturaunts. Fells Point is another former seedy area that has become the best place to go barhopping in town.
I know Baltimore really well. I used to live in a pretty neat apartment near Johns Hopkins University and where Memorial Stadium used to be (the old stadium---pre-Camden Yards). That is a beautiful section of town, in the Northern Part of the City. Most of the North side is actually pretty classy. There are a lot of mansions, luxury apartments towers, upscale Rowhouses there.
The area where my dad grew up, and where much of his family lived -- in the southern and western parts of the city---now those areas are either burned out rubble or crack filled warzones.

[Nightowl_2004]

24. A Year ago I visited Baltimore on a summer vacation

It was amazing! A Truly awesome City (Yes, I had an insider guiding me around to all the sights) I fell head over heels in love with it in the very short time I was there. The funny thing is, a few months after I got back to Portland (Oregon) The Oregonian ran a huge front page article in it's travel section about what an amazing place Baltimore has become. The article very accurately summed up all my feelings and just raved about the city from start to finish.

[Zuni]

25. It is 'Charm City'

I am glad you enjoyed Maryland.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

7. I love these bar stories

Bars are, beyond a doubt, the best place to go through these crucibles, because when you win the camraderie is like nothing else, and when your team loses, the commiseration and good will shared (as you indicate in your story) really helps ease the pain.

Thanks for sharing.

GO SOX!

[WilliamPitt]

11. I smuggled a bottle of champagne into my bar last night

Had the bartender put it in the back room, in the cooler, made her swear to only bring it out after the last metaphorical dog had died, and made her further swear to throw it away if it was rendered moot.

She handed it to me, and I stood on the stool. "Hell has frozen over," I shouted, and soaked down the room with champagne.

Never got so many hugs in my life.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

13. I'm thinking I may spend Nov. 2nd in a bar.

:)

[Phillycat]

14. I had to work early today, but I didn't care.

I wasn't going to watch that at home alone. And I wouldn't have missed the resultant celebration for the world. Did I end up going to my man's house, in the OPPOSITE direction of my house, afterward? Yes I did. Did I get approximately 4 hours of sleep? Yes I did. Did I get stuck in traffic on the way back into the city this morning? Yes I did. Was I late for work? Yes I was.

Did he get a little "My Red Sox finally fucking won" nookie? Yes he did. Was it worth it? YES IT WAS.

[WilliamPitt]

9. Thank you from Boston

and let's remember all this goodwill come Super Bowl time...if you get me. ;)

[Phillycat]

10. Heh. Heh heh heh heh heh.

One battle at a time, my boy. One battle at a time.

[Zuni]

16. Boston might very well have it's best year ever

1. World Series
2. Pres. Election
3. Superbowl

Boston will be the place to be in 2005 if all this happens.

[Phillycat]

17. And the World Series might be Texas vs Massachusetts.

Interesting. :)

[Phillycat]

19. Little kickedy-doo-dah.

[Cuban_Liberal]

23. It was sweet, speaking as a Card's fan!

Any time the Yankees lose is great! Here's looking forward to a 7-game Series at Fenway and Busch!

:hi:

[Phillycat]

26. Woo hoo!

I think they'd be tougher for the BoSox than Houston. Your Cards are pretty amazing this year!

:hi:

[Cuban_Liberal]

27. Uh HUH!

The Cards ROCK this year!

:hi:

[Phillycat]

28. Thwackity.