Editor-In-Chief
ahimes@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
For Fall Break last weekend, I finally got a Sunday off to watch football. Watching the Eagles’ game with my family, consists of yelling, stomping, throwing things and even cussing at the players. Those four words anger me every time: “It’s just a game.”
Sports is so much more than just a game. In times of need, win or lose, my teams have always been there for me.
As a big Philadelphia fan, I have had my heart ripped out numerous times. The ‘93 Phillies, which Joe bleeping Carter ruined for everyone. The 2001 Sixers, after a game one thriller where Allen Iverson stepped over his competition to give us a 1-0 series lead only to lose in five games. The 2004 Super Bowl losing Eagles and the 2010 Flyers, who lost the Stanley Cup after coming back from down 3-0 against the hated Boston Bruins. I’ve only felt the joy of winning it all once.
It happened Oct. 29, 2008, in my senior year of high school. Things were weird for me. I lost hope in college. My grades were terrible, I had just quit my job of three years and things with my girlfriend were awful. But at least I had the Phillies.
When September started, hopes of another division title seemed remote. The Mets were ahead, and it would take a crazy run to catch them. But my team did come through. The Phillies were NL East champs for the second straight year, and it was once again Red October.
The Phillies easily won the Division Series against the Brewers and headed to Los Angeles where they took a 4-1 series. Just like that, the Phillies were World Series bound.
That’s when life try to throw me curve balls. I lied to my dad about numerous things. He found out and I felt like the worst person. I had quit my job and was low on cash. But it was the final step for the Fightin’ Phillies. They were taking on the feel-good team of the year, the Tampa Bay Rays. That was my only happiness.
I watched game one in my high school’s newspaper and yearbook room. In the first inning, my favorite player Chase Utley hit a two-run shot to put us on the board first. I knew the ace Cole Hamels could handle it from there, and he did. The Phillies won game one and took home field advantage. When they headed back to Philly tied at a game a piece, I knew the Philadelphia magic would give us all that we needed.
I missed game three because my girlfriend was leaving for the week. But I knew Jamie Moyer would take care of business. With my parents in Mexico and girlfriend gone, I discovered Pat’s Bar in downtown Denver. It was a Philly bar filled with my favorite teams’ banners all over the walls.
I was home again.
The Phillies destroyed the Rays in game four. With one game left until we were champs, I couldn’t sleep.
On a rainy Monday, the Phillies took the field. They went up 2-0 after the first and had all the momentum. The rain kept coming and everyone wondered if that would cut the game short.
The Rays tied the game in the top of the sixth inning, and the game was suspended. Are you kidding me? The city’s first world championship in 25 years gets put on hold?
The game didn’t resume for two days. It started with a bang. Geoff Jenkins blasted one off the left-centerfield wall for a leadoff double. Jayson Werth batted him in to give the Phils the lead.
The Rays quieted down the crowd with a game-tying homer, but Utley saved the day by throwing out a Rays runner at home to keep it tied. The Phillies led off the home half of the seventh with a double, and Pedro Feliz hit the game-winning RBI to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead.
In the ninth, Brad Lidge came out to close. With two outs and two strikes on Eric Hinske, the bar went silent. On the next pitch, it was over. Lidge fell to his knees as he looked up to the sky. Carlos Ruiz ran to the mound to hug him and Ryan Howard knocked them over as the entire team ran to join the dog pile. It was the happiest moment in my life.
On Halloween I spent the day watching the Phillies parade. Many players said something to fire the crowd up, but Utley said the one thing every Philadelphian had on their minds: “World f***ing champs!”
Nothing could bring me down from that point on. My luck changed. I was accepted to an awesome college. Things turned around at my house, I even got nominated for homecoming royalty.
There are obviously things that are more important than sports. But don’t tell me it’s just a sport when I go to my teams to find my happy place. A game can make or break my whole week. I am happy with that.
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