I don’t blog about hockey too much.  I leave that to the “hockeyheads” on the PP2 blog, as I don’t know as much about hockey as they do.  I do however know a little bit about marketing, especially on the web.  Turns out?  So do the Flyers!  That brings us to today’s post.

Ian Laperriere is a player on the Philadelphia Flyer’s fourth line.  He’s a “mucker and grinder” in nhlspeak (a team player that gives up his body/health on every shift.).  He’s 36, (old for hockey), he’s a French Canadian (see the goalie character from Slapshot), and he’s a hell of a good sport!  He was selected to be spokesperson in a promo for the  Flyers Soles for Souls campaign sponsored by Kiwi shoe polish.  That they considered him in the first place to be the spokesperson for ANYTHING is just brilliant marketing, (again French Canadian, THICK accent).  This campaign would be a mouthful for anyone.

Say “Flyers Soles for Souls sponsored by Kiwi Shoe Polish” out loud.

Now do it with a French Canadian accent. Tough huh!?!?  But wait… it gets harder.

The day before Ian Laperriere had to shoot this commercial?  He had SEVEN TEETH knocked out!  (Occupational hazard when you are a “mucker and grinder!”)  Of course he still showed for the shoot because he is as tough as nails.  That they still shot it, that he allowed the footage to be used, and that it is currently the promo running on TV and Flyers.com is half the brilliance.  The other half is that they did the same with the bloopers! (below.)

Big Ups to the Flyers, Kiwi, Comcast, Laperriere, and to the millions of web folks that made the web video viral.  This is no-fear web marketing. When things go wrong, or get bungled, that is your best chance at web gold sometimes.  The idea of “endorsement” in this day and age is a joke.  Every celebrity that HAS a cause…plugs on their own Facebook, Twitter and Blog.  So, to think Ian is really a big fan of KIWI is a notion that died in the 1950’s.  The client is paying to have product “A” next to Celebrity Endorser “B” and get it in front of many consumer eyeballs as possible.  As this video gets sent and resent around the internet, they are getting a lot more eyeballs then they would have if this promo starred Mike Richards and all went smoothly…

“The only reason I took steroids was for health purposes.”– Mark McGwire.

Really?

Wow Mark,  because all these years that I looked at your ginormous head and biceps, I thought you told us you DIDN’T do steroids?  Okay, you feared persecution and “didn’t want to talk about the past.”  But now that you finally come clean, you tell us you only took them for your health.

I guess I should let you in on a “secret.”  I didn’t want to say anything, but i KNEW you took them all these years.  But I THOUGHT you were taking them so you could shrink your testes,  develop “backne,”  liver failure, baldness and extreme violent irritability.  Turns out you were taking them for your “health.”

McGwire is another in a line of celebrities to ask for forgiveness for breaking rules.  He’s also another in a line  of celebrities to do it really, really poorly.  The Native American’s did not approve of having their image captured on film.  They feared the act would steal their soul.  I think there’s something to that, because the greater the celebrity,(more film) the more vapid and less contrite these apologies seem to get.

So Mark McGwire wants us to forgive and re-accept him because he needed steroids for his “health.”  Mark McGwire dererves to wind out his days in celebrity anoynimty like Shoeless Joe Jackson.  If he wants to coach?  Let him coach in some Venezuelan league or overseas, without spotlight.  McGwire doesn’t care about baseball, he cares about celebrity.  He deserves one, but not the other.

Dallas Cowboys 24, Good Guys 0

My maiden post (i.e. pissed off rant) will outline the three ways you knew this game was over before your dinner got cold:

1. McNabb’s inaccuracy: missed Jackson on a sure TD and missed a wide-open Maclin (albeit arguably catchable despite being a shitty throw) for a possible TD (at least a first down and a long gain).  After the Jackson miss, we were treated to Donovan’s now-irritating “aw shucks” smile.  On both occasions, the Eagles could have grabbed some much-needed momentum.
2. Much like this season’s second game against the Giants, zero pass rush.  The difference today was, obviously, they couldn’t get away with it.  Romo was way too comfortable; the first time he was touched resulted in a feeble head slap/personal foul/roughing the passer call that moved the ball another 15 yards.
3. Andy’s time management and play-calling: c’mon, how many more times do we need to witness the brutal clock management?  With the first half winding down, the offense looked confused and moved without any urgency.  During one sequence, in their time-honored tradition, they let a good 20 seconds run off the clock and then called the time out – half over.  The Eagles then move the ball down the field fairly effectively to open the second half, only to line up for a 53 yard field goal attempt.  With the game slipping away, but not yet out of hand, why not run the ball on third down and then run or pass on fourth down to try to pick up the two yards needed for a fresh set of downs?

So there it is.  One drive into the third quarter and it was clear that this game was over.  All before dinner time, all before your meat and taters got cold.

Over the years, I would consider myself an apologist for the Reid/McNabb regime, but how can the Eagles come out so uninspired for this game?  Win and get the bye.  Win and host a game.  I hope I’m wrong, but based on today’s body of work, we could be in for more of the same next weekend.

Read my in-game tweets of dejection and despair here.

EL SUPREMO CHAMPIONSHIP T-SHIRTS that are no longer accurate!

While most of you slept last night, my Fantasy Football league, the SJPFFL, was playing itself out in the most dramatic ending in our history. My team, FUTLER, was down a single point to Mike Finegan’s EL SUPREMO in the fourth quarter with 0:23 left on the clock. Sidney Rice was my last active player and needed only ONE POINT, (ten yards in our scoring) to make me a winner. Unfortunately Rice was out of both time, and field. (Vikings were at the 6.)

So, as Favre and company lined up, the ONLY thing that could make me a winner was a touchdown to Sidney Rice. Miraculously? That is EXACTLY what happened.  Favre dropped back put the ball up and let Sidney Rice make the same great TD catch he has been making all year.  Oh, and I won my entire league on that final play of regulation. Incidentally, I was only in the finals because I beat Jeff Butler’s CROOKED SHILLELAGH squad by a single point, also in the waning moments of a Monday Night Football game. Both Mike and Jeff were gracious in defeat, and the children of Nicaragua and other third world countries are enjoying the EL SUPREMO CHAMPIONSHIP T-SHIRTS that are no longer accurate! Dewey Defeats Truman?  Supremo Stomps Futler… HA HA HA…

So, in the most unlikely of unlikely fashion, I won my first Fantasy Football title. I will say that again. I won my first, ever, fantasy title. I have been in my league since the mid to late 1990’s. It’s a league made up of family, old friends, and guys I have become friends with one draft day at a time over the last decade plus. Every one of these guys know how to play, every one of them plays 14 weeks, regardless of record, and everyone puts up a hefty $300ish to be involved. That makes the Championship Pot? A Cool $1000.00  bucks! ( Oh, and ps…  This is a very timely and welcome jackpot based on the expenses I incurred LAST MONTH!)

I had the best regular season record, by a lot, a stud starter at every position, (before the injury to my TE, Owen Daniels then I “got by” with TE by committee.) Below are the studs that carried me the entire way. Brees, Jones, Jones-Drew, D. Jackson, S.Rice. Prater, and Owen Daniels (replaced after injury by Fred Davis.) The number next to them is where they rank by position overall by our scoring.

The 2009 Futler Championship Squad!

Next up? I will be visiting my good friend Wolf to get that coveted SJPFFL trophy. When Wolf helped me move my couches into my new house a few years back, he pointed out that the top of my entertainment center would be an excellent place for that trophy… he’s right! I will be sponsoring a keg sometime this winter so my league mates can come look at it!

Thanks to Jim Beach, my league’s Commish (who already has check in mail as that is how this league rolls and has for a decade!), that ran another great year. Every picky piece of bitching minutia I brought up over the regular season blasting the rules, the scoring, and web site we use!? I formally, respectfully and whole-heartedly take back….

FOR THREE WEEKS! Then it’s on! See you next year ARSE CLOWNS!!!!!   I dedicate this victory to the Scarlet Mites, FingerBang, Taints, and McDaigo squads over the years that came close but couldn’t win it!

Good Luck…

So I guess we didn’t get the Series we expected.   That sentiment works two-fold for me.   On the one hand, I really did not expect the Phils to have this much trouble with a Yankee team I thought they matched up really well against.  And on a personal level?  Two years ago, never would I have dreamed I’d have experienced a World Series/Post Season in Philadelphia the way I did this year.  To be that close to team I grew up with, on the field, in the media room, in the locker room, and even with my friends for a few innings?!  It was a dream series in more ways then one.

On a professional level, I had the privilege and the proximity to get photographs that will get huge page views throughout my parent company and on a personal level,  I will cherish those photos  for a lifetime.   (I don’t even mind that I broke the bank on some lenses just for this occasion!).  I also got to be shoulder to shoulder with  some of the best photogs in the business and got to be a fly on the wall to how they go about their craft.  I learned more then I could ever put in a blog, before I even got my camera out of my bag.  These guys and girls, their equipment, and their expertise are something to behold.

And speaking of being a  fly on the wall?  The sights and sounds of this series will give me stories for a lifetime.  (Like I need more stories for this life!).   Working in Philadelphia and being older then the average player,  I am immune to the star-power of the current players (for the most part anyway!).   But when I saw a Jay-Z, or a immortal players from my youth like Reggie Jackson and Mike Schmidt, Phillies alum like Darren Daulton and Micky Moriandini,  national broadcasters I looked up to like Peter Gammons and Joe Buck,  the cast of Glee running amok in the interview room, Biff Henderson shooting a spot for Letterman, the great Philadelphia sportswriters and brodcasters I grew up enjoying  like Jason Stark,  Big Daddy Graham, Chris Wheeler and Les Bowen.  And of course, the palpable absence of one Harry Kalas.  His name came up often by the locals and the nationals alike with a great fondness and sense of loss.  When I got my press pass this year, the first pass I ever had for the Phillies, Harry the K was who I most looked forward to meeting.  Harry died April 13 of this year, before I even used my pass for the first time.

So to positively paraphrase something Cole Hamels said, “BRING ON NEXT YEAR!”  I think the Phillies learned an awful lot from this Post-Season and should be awfully proud of what they accomplished.  Like the team I followed I also learned a ton.  Here’s hoping we both get to apply those lessons to the Post-Season next year!

Tony Romeo

Here is a Link to all the World Series content I produced:

Tony Romeo on the field at World Series 2009

Here are all my blogs from the Series:
World Series Game 3 Blog

World Series Game 4 Blog

World Series Game 5 Blog

World Series Recap Blog

Mid term grades have arrived.  That was never a fun time at the Beach residence circa 1982.  It meant rushing home, heading to the mailbox and promptly destroying the damning evidence of my schoolwork “progress.”   Luckily, the days of withholding evidence from the parental units are over. 

As the picture to the left implies, the NFL is a seriously mismatched league right now.  There hasn’t been such a concentration of putrid professional teams, in recent memory, as exists in today’s NFL.  Anyone who has been dumped from their Suicide Pool should really just……sign up again next year-we love donations!  So, without further ado, I’ll give you one man’s take on the State of the NFL, halfway to the playoffs.

Teams That Remind You of How You Feel the Morning After Mixing Large Quantities of Cheap Draft Beer, Whiskey Shots, Martinis and Wine

32.  St Louis Rams – Remember the days of the “Greatest Show on Turf”?  Me neither.  Probably something that happened 100 years ago, which, coincidentally, was the last time Dan Dierdoff had a fucking clue about football.  I would rather be subjected to a marathon Jonas Brothers concert than sit through 3 hours of his asskissing, moronic ramblings.  F-

31.  Oakland Raiders – JaMarcus is the worst QB since Akili Smith.  At least the Bengals noticed that quickly and let him go.  The Raiders?  They still play this bad joke.  The owner is the worst in sports.  The head coach punches women.  And, he’s fat, which, as we all know, is more unforgiveable than putting some mouthy bitch in her place.  The fans are even retarded, getting dressed up like its Halloween at the Home for Middle-Aged Guys Who Had Their Lunch Money Stolen in High School.  My Oakland inside source (some obviously trustworthy fella I met at a titty bar who noted his credentials as having ”grown up in the Bay Area”) told me Al Davis was contacted by the Canadien Football League in reference to being an expansion franchise.  Apparently Al said, “No, I’m holding out for another Vince McMahon league to open and fold.  I just know Derrius Heyward-Bey would be a top 200 receiver in that league.”  F-

30.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Any football team with an 81 year old owner who also happens to like soccer (aka as cool a sport as watching paint dry), is in trouble.  He goes out and hires a 10 year old to coach, who is really 32 but, was only hired because he came real cheap.  The Child-Coach promptly pouts, fires his only qualified coach before the season and then turns the offense over to an underqualified and ill prepared QB.  Enough about the train wreck of a coach, lets get back to the owner.  He is 32 million under the cap but, is sinking his funds into his soccer team.  About the only good thing he did was fire Tony Dungy, and his ridiculous ears, and hire Jon Gruden, giving Tampa their final championship until there are teams playing on the friggin Moon. What a bleak picture for the present and future.  Would the last Bucs fan please turn out the lights and throw himself off that stupid looking bridge outside of Tampa?  F-

29.  Cleveland Browns – The owner, another soccer fan (are you seeing a trend?) hires a guy fresh off an epic late season collapse.  His best player beats up a fucking midget.  His QB’s are so bad, Ryan Leaf put a call in to see if he could try out.  Of course, his call went unanswered, since they just fired their GM.  The fans are even planning a show of disgust by not sitting in their seats next home game.  And, somehow, someone out there is surprised this team sucks?  Please stand up so you can be certified as an assclown.  F-

28.  Detroit Lions – Well at least the owner isn’t a known soccer fan.  But, he did keep Matt Millen on the payroll about 7 years longer than he should’ve.  Then again, he never should have plucked the artard from the booth anyway.  The city is going to shit, the football team has been there for maybe forever?  At least Stafford has a chance and Megatron, just an awesome nickname by the way, is one of the best.  Wouldn’t it be cool if they used their next ten top 5 picks on WR’s?  Again.  F-

Teams That Remind You of How You Feel the Morning After Mixing Large Quantities of Cheap Draft Beer, Whiskey Shots, Martinis and Wine  BUT at Least Remembering to Drink a Glass of Water and Take a Tylenol Before Passing Out

27.  Washington Redskins – Where to start.  Its almost too easy.  Worst owner in the NFC.  Worst GM in football.  Not that Vinny Cerrato is really a GM.  Or anything more than Snyder’s figurehead and fuckbuddy, for that matter.  Worst coach in football.  Maybe worst ever, outside of Wayne Fontes and Rich Kotite?  Overpriced, underperforming talent on the field.  Could Jason Campbell run a powder puff football offense?  Didn’t think so either.  The only good thing I can say about them is I’m +$250 betting against them this season and plan on upping that on a weekly basis.  F

26.  Kansas City Chiefs – Their coach never even played football.  What the fuck is that all about?  No wonder they slurp cum through a cocktail straw.  F

25.  Seattle Seahawks – At least they gave us those puke neon green uniforms, if only for one week.  A team couldn’t win a circle jerk playing in those duds.  And a quarterback that looks like Bruce probably enjoys having having his salad tossed more than tossing footballs.  Like Bruce.  Throw in a WR with the most mispronounced and misspelled name in the NFL and you have all the makings for a 4 win season.  F

24.  Tennessee Titans – Jeff Fischer put on a Peyton Manning jersey at a fundraiser and said it was good to feel like a winner.  Was the only time their country music listening, cowboy hat wearing, shitbag fans got excited all year.  Remember when LenDale White was fat?  Diet=bad idea since he couldn’t run through a line of nuns nowadays.  F

23.  Buffalo Bills – I saw JP Losman playing in a UFL game over the weekend.  He’s still the Bill’s best QB.  Yesterday, I saw a little kid pick his nose and admire his findings before attacking the dripping gob like it was Megan Fox’s shaved va-jay-jay.  That kid would be a better head coach than Dick Jauron.  F

22.  Carolina Panthers – Jake Delhomme is obviously color blind.  It was probably caused by Steve Smith punching him in the eye.  On a personal note to Jon Fox-give the fucking rock to DeAngelo Williams.  He’s a top 5 fantasy pick-stop giving his short TD’s to Jonny Stewart, you jerkoff.  D-

21.  Jacksonville Jaguars – Jack Del Rio lost his team last year.  Yet, they gave him another shot.  And he has produced.  What?  I have no friggin clue.  I do know one thing.  They suck.  D-

Teams with as Much a Shot at the Playoffs as You Have at Winning a Beer Olympiad Versus a Beach/Wolf Entry

20.  San Fran 49ers – They have the support of the large, local gay community.  Don’t know if thats true.  It may be true of the gay support that PhillyPage2 receives.  Thanks for pushing us at the meetings Tony!  Not gay is Mike Singletary, who is probably still a serious badass.  Can you imagine one of his guys questioning why they should be playing hard when they suck?  I would pay to see Mike casually rip off their face and use it to wipe his ass.  D

19.  Chicago Bears – Always thought Lovie was the worst name ever for a giant black guy.  Name aside, I’m sure he’s wanted to knock that annoying smirk off Jay Cutler’s grill more than a few times.  I know I’d like a shot.  D+

18.  Miami Dolphins – How teams haven’t been able to stop the Wildcat yet is beyond me.  I could see it working if they had at least one actual NFL WR.  Why not stack 9 in the box and single the outside guys?  And, if you stop their ‘Cat, you stop them.  Now, about that teal uniform they hoist upon their unsuspecting, and even slightly heterosexual, fan base?  Fail.  D+

17.  NY Jets – I kinda like Rex Ryan.  Good bloodlines.  He’s fat, aggressive and cocky-traits I admire in men.  But, somebody forgot to tell him that Mexicans should be doing all the shit lazy Americans don’t wanna do and not playing QB in the NFL.  I don’t know if Mark Sanchez is really Mexican but, I do know he isn’t good enough to win football games.  D+

Teams that Remind Me of Kirsten Dunst – Definitely Some Things Like But One Absolute Deal Breaker

16.  Arizona Cardinals – Some team has to win the NFC West and, along with it, the right to be ass raped by a wildcard squad.  C-

15.  San Diego Chargers – Norv Turner still has a job.  I could coach this team better.  And that includes making halftime adjustments on my normal Sunday heavy load.  Lots of talent yet, they scare nobody.  And, its sad to see the great LDT in his death throes as a relevant player.  C-

14.  Green Bay Packers – If their offensive line wasn’t as bad as listening to Tim McCarver, they would probably be 10 spots higher.  But, as we’ve all learned, the game is won up front.  Unless the game happens to be banging your wife, in which case the game is won in the backdoor.  C

13.  Atlanta Falcons – Too inconsistent to be taken seriously or to make a deep run.   Kind of like Romes and his commitment to PhillyPage2!  C+

12.  Houston Texans – See Falcons, Atlanta  C+

11.  NY Giants – The Saints exposed the Giants secondary.  Then Arizona did.  Then the Eagles did.   Then the wind exposed Eli Manning’s candy arm to match his beefy vaginal lips.  C+

10.  Pittsburgh Steelers – They’ll go as far as Troy Palamalu takes them.  Which likely will be to the sidelines with yet another injury.  Is there anything more annoying then a smug Steelers fan?  Maybe its just I hate them so much as they’re the team I’ve lost the most money betting for and against.  Its not even close.  I might be 0-150.  And, as anyone who has plunked down a few hard earned ducats knows, that will inspire some deep hatred.  B-

Finally We Get to the Actual NFL Teams Portion of this List

9.  Baltimore Ravens – I think they already went through their slump and are now ready to get on a roll.  Solid team that can beat you alot of ways.  Ray Rice looks like the RU Rice, sniffing the endzone and making plays.  Joe Flacco looks like the Delaware Flacco.  Since none of us have ever watched a Blue Hens game, I can only guess he was just totally awesome and stuff.   But, look out for the Baltimore entry.  Its not just all Defense anymore, although Ray-Ray looks good again.  And he hasn’t stabbed anyone in a few years now so, thats all good.  B

8.  Philadelphia Eagles – Mike Vick is where he belongs, sitting on his ass.  Best thing Big Fat Andy has done since signing on 54 years ago.  The loss to the Raiders may have been the goofiest result in league history.  The Birds should be able to beat them playing 9 guys.  I think Reid took the blame for that one although nobody knows for sure as he is technically deceased at his press conferences.  Which reminds me of a tough question that popped into my head while pleasuring myself in the shower the other day-how long would Malin Ackerman (http://www.flickr.com/photos/magazinecafe/3091995483/) have to be dead before you opted to bang a fat chick instead of dropping one in her corpse?  My initial thoughts were a week but, I found that slightly repulsive.  So, now I’m thinking 6 days.  B

7.  Dallas Cowboys – Tony Romo is back with Jessica Simpson.  Although she’s really fucking hot, why bother?  I’m sure there are other top shelf pieces of ass he could violate so, why go the retread route?  Just goes to show he may not be capable of good decisions when it matters.  At least the owner is a monumental douche, always ensuring his players will look like good people.  How big does one’s ego have to be to think that, because you know oil, you can be GM of a pro football team.  You know the scene in Fight Club when they’re talking about who they would like to fight?  Jerry Jones makes my top 10.  And, because of my well known disdain of just about every human, living and dead, thats saying something.  B

6.  Cinncinnati Bengals – Can’t believe they’re this high either.  But, if not for an incredibly lucky last second play, they would be 7-1.  Tough to argue with that.  Their uniforms are still horrific and Marvin Lewis still seems to get outcoached every game.  And, isn’t everyone really just worn out from Chad Ocho’s tired act?  I doubt his Grandmom even likes him anymore.  It does warm my heart to know his Dad and Mom never liked him in the first place.  B

5.  Denver Broncos – Josh McDaniels looks like the annoying kid that you hated growing up.  For you Berliners, that was Jeff, obviously.  And the fans yelling in-com-plete after every opponent’s incompletion?  The gayest thing since the Wave and waving hankies.  Can we PLEASE stop that shit at Phillies games, by the way?  Its embarassing to a great sports city.  Despite all that, these guys are actually decent.  Brian Dawkins is a great addition.  He’s still The Man, albeit old and juiced up.  B+

Looking Forward to Championship Sunday and a Most Super of Bowls

4.  New England Patriots – The defense was supposed to be weak.  They’re one of 3 teams with less than 100 points allowed.   Tom Brady was going to take awhile to shake off a year’s worth of rust.  He looks to be fully back from the little knee situation.  And, by way of running up the score their last two games, they seem to have the 2007 swagger back.  There is lots to hate about them.  Belicheck’s hoodie.  Belicheck’s cheating.  Belicheck’s genius label.  Belicheck.  But, look out for these guys.  A-

3.  Minnesota Vikings – Did anyone doubt Favre would torch the Packers at Lambeau?  Sometimes his greatness is overstated.  Like his 47 comeback wins.  Some of them are laughable to put into that category-punch it into a search engine sometime for shits and giggles.  Regardless of his place in history, Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels don’t even exist on the same planet as Brett.  He seems to be the missing piece to an extremely talented team.  Plus, its the only football player my wife would fellate.  Shitty thing is that includes me.  Anyway, they excel at all facets of the game and will be tough to beat.   A

2.  Indianapolis Colts – When you say things like Peyton Manning may be having his best season, you are really saying something.  Not that I’ve heard anyone say that but, it sounds pretty fucking impressive.  He is money though.  Anyone who doesnt enjoy watching Freeney and Mathis come off the ends and attack the passer obviously never played defensive line.  And, since I know thats true of all 5 of you who will read this, forget I said that.  A+

1.  New Orleans Saints – Ladies and Gentlemen thanks for wading through the 2500 previous words.  For that, I give you your Super Bowl Champions.  The defense is a ball hawking unit that can shut down the run and pass.  The only thing that can stop that offense is a Hurricane.  Nobody really wants that again though.  I saw enough photoshopped pictures of looting the first time around.  Although some of them were really fucking funny.  A+

My "Entourage" after Game 5 of the World Series.

As I was for the other games in the post-season, I began Game 5 on the field for batting practice.  My routine has been to take a few player shots there, where I have then best access to the players, then I retire to the media room in the basement of CBP.  There I  process the shots, edit the shots, and post the shots.  Since it was the last game, I decided to put that processing off a little bit.  I headed to the 3rd deck and met some of my friends that had standing room only seats. There I watched the game as the fan I have not been able to be the rest of the post season!  I cheered, I got into it with Yankees fans, I enjoyed an adult beverage, and I even bought a stadium hot dog!   It was so awesome to experience that with my friends.  It was the most fun I had at a Series game since 1980.  Me and my entourage! HA!

Soon after it was back to work in the basement, editing and uploading the stuff from earlier in the day, then watching the game on a TV.  The media room was packed.  As the Phillies entered the top of the 9th inning, I packed my stuff to head back to the field for post game.  Being a “cagey veteran” of several post season games now, I knew an out of the way TV closer to the field I could watch the last three outs.  Just like the other games, when I got to the TV no one was there.  So,   I watched quietly rooting the Phillies home.  I was all alone.

Jay-Z texting his friends to say he can't believe he saw me at a Phillies World Series game.

Until Jay-Z and HIS ENTOURAGE showed up out of nowhere !  He and his over-the-top Yankee posse took over my private TV experience in a flash.  To his credit,  Jay-Z was quiet, respectful and smelled awesome!  His hangers-on?  Not so much.  They were all trailed by two MLB Security Guards to protect him and his friends from the crowd, or possibly vice versa.  His posse screamed and yelled so much in pro-Yankee fashion that OTHER Yankee fans that were in earshot headed towards that TV and it became Yankee corner.  One Yankee-Come-Lately faneven asked me to take a picture of him and Jay-Z with his cell phone.  Only a Yankee fan would ask a guy with thousands of dollars of camera gear strapped to his back to take a photo with a cell phone!  I told him he’d have to clear it with Jay-Z, who happily obliged.  So, I took the picture with the guys cell phone.  “By mistake” (translation — on purpose) I took the photo upside down and handed it back to him.  The Phils retired the side, the entourage cursed, the security people cringed  and we all exited in different directions.  As I walked away, I turned to the one Phillies employee that saw the whole thing and whispered, 

“I have been a Phillies die-hard since I was 5, I can’t believe I just watched the last three outs of a World Series game in Philly with Jay-Z!?!?”

Speaking of entourages, if the Phillies and Pedro can somehow win game 6 in New York, an “Entourage of Pitchers” is what we will need to win game 7.  All pitching hands on deck to get us that final game.  But, one game at a time…

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If you watch only one clip about the New York vs. Philadelphia fan rivalry, watch this one. The Daily Show decides which city’s fans are “douchiest!”

As I stood on the field for the trophy presentation at the NLCS game clincher in Philadelphia, I had just one thought. That thought was; “PLEASE, please, please Gods of Baseball, let me see this again next week, only next week, let it be a World Series Trophy I see presented!”  That’s all I wished.  Tonight at Citizens Bank Park there is a 50/50 chance that I see that trophy presented.

Seeing the trophy presented to the Phillies, however, has a ZERO percent chance of occurring.  The Baseball Gods have the same sense of humor as the Monkey’s Paw from the Simpsons Treehouse of Horror!  I guess next time I should be more specific with my requests of the Baseball Gods.

In any event, Games 3 and 4 have been a home field disappointment for the Phillies and for the fans. I do think that three consecutive home games, all that start after 8pm, take something away from the Philadelphia crowd.  (As does a home Eagles game at 1:00 pm).   The crowds were there in force Saturday to start, but then lessened, and followed suit on Sunday.  Sure when the Phillies gave them something to cheer about, the fans were there, but overall, this was not the Phillies crowd we’ve come to expect.  Maybe the Yankee Mystique makes fans more nervous then boisterous? Or maybe the proximity of the game to New York puts too many New York fans in the seats.   I know a few Phillies fans that had their mortgages paid this month with Yankee dollars they got from selling their Phillies tickets!  All were factors.

Which brings us to Game 5.

I am making a new wish.  I’d like to see a trophy NOT presented tonight. Sure it would be interesting on a professional level as I may never be this close to baseball history, but on a personal level… NO.   While I have given up realistic hope that the Phillies can win three straight, I just don’t want to see the Yankees clinch here.  I don’t want to see them clinch on a night that the Series MVP had it gone the Phillies way, Cliff Lee, is on the hill and not on a night that even MORE of the Phillies faithful will line their pockets with “disappointment dollars” by selling their seats to the highest New York bidders.  Not on a night that this Phillies 2009 takes the field at home for the last time.  The Phils have given us an amazing two-year ride.  Tonight I hope to send the Fightins back to New York with a victory and to salute our Phils one last time at home as the Champions they still are.

Wish I had a monkey’s paw.  Go Phils.

So my first World Series game at Citizens Bank Park was a loss.  Still that does not detract, at all,  from the excitement of being a part of the media for a World Series game.   I was so happy when I took that shot of Jeter, above, because it seemed to foreshadow what I was sure was going to be the beginning of a three game home stand sweep by the Phillies. I was wrong.  Still love the shot!

The Yankees are pretty good, let’s face it.  I heard grumblings last night about calls that turned the game.  But the Yankees are just good.  (Honestly I thought Game 2 was the more “winnable” game of the two losses so far.)  I was on the field to see the Phillies warm up throughout the playoffs and if I said it once, I said it a million times.  The Phillies are a loose bunch that looks like they are having a blast and really enjoy each others company.  The Rockies and Dodgers seemed much tighter.  Joe Torre was reminded me of the somnambulist in the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.   After spending a pre-game with the Yankees?  Turns out the Yankees  are every bit as loose, confident and upbeat as the Phillies. 

During warm ups, former Philly, Michael Jack Schmidt came down to the field. (See Galleries).  Schmidt spent several minutes talking with both Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.  He spent the most time talking to former Yankee great Reggie Jackson.  Jackson is a member of the Yankees staff.  To see the two with over 1000 homeruns talk on the field of a World Series game close enough to flip a Topps baseball card at them was a highlight of my evening.

The second highlight came during the rain delay.  And truth be told, I did not know it was a highlight until someone explained it to me later.  I spent the lengthy rain delay in the interview room you see on Comcast SportsNet.   What you can”t see from TV is that it is lined with about 100 chairs.  As the game was in delay I sat there with camera people, national media, various baseball writers etc.  As we sat there, a group of 5 or 6 very goofy teenish kids in bright red WORLD SERIES jackets descended upon the podium that is used for post game interviews.  They mock interviewed each other, cracked jokes, beat-boxed, sang a cappella, and giggled.  I thought some of the older folks from the BBWA’s heads would explode.   It smelled like teen spirit to be sure!  Later in the evening I learned they were the cast from GLEE that was singing that national anthem.  I was the closest one to the podium, I wish I knew it was them to take a picture for my friends kids!  Damn you Fox!!!

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Here is my Yankees Gallery

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