Oh what a night....
11-10-08

It was October 21st 1980. Game 6 of the World Series. The Phillies vs George Brett and the Kansas City Royals. When Tug McGraw through his arms up in ecstasy it was as if a city erupted beneath him. I immediately got on the phone with fellow student Michael LaMarra. Mike and I making clandistine plans to cut school for the parade that would culminate at the former John F Kennedy stadium. The stadium gone now; the site occupied by the mecca home of the Flyers and Sixers. 28 years later almost to the date and the Phillies have once again redeemed a championship starved city back to the status of world champs. I'm asked all the time if it was worth getting grief for cutting school to go to the parade. At the risk of encouraging juvenille delinquency and kids cutting school, it most certainly was. Would I understand if my two sons cut school to cheer this Phillies squad?

Well, wait a second. There are some stark differences. I was in high school. My sons are in grammar school. I could hop the bus and train down to Broad and Pattison. The boys would need a car to escort them from our bucolic neck of the woods into the bedlam that was the parade Halloween Friday October 31st. The boys and I will have to find some other way to celebrate. Probably some post season party in my neighbor Kevin's basement. Maybe you've seen or read about my neighbor. Kevin's turned his basement into an all things Phillies shrine that the Phillies themselves could argue has more Phillies swag than their clubhouse. A fun place to hang and watch all sports, especially the Phillies, hanging with my neighbor has been our way of displaying our pride and passion for the red and blue this October. It is remarkable and something I'll always admire about this 2008 Phillies team as my sons and I watched each inning in the post season is the grit and determination this team displayed.

The Phillies never really had that 'single personality' player that made headlines. The team concept was and is their hallmark and their crowning achievement is a testament to their lack of self and total embodiement of working as one unit. Last year this team started knocking on the door with a playoff run and now in 2008 this Phillies squad behind some remarkable pitching, an incredibly strong bull pen and great hitting gave Philadelphia and its fans a long overdue trophy.

What's the lesson? The best part about sports is how it parallels life. Sports offers so many life lessons and this Phillies team and local boy done right Jamie Moyer show us all what it takes to win. Determination, persistence, team play and showing up every day for every inning is how success is achieved. The parade, the champagne, the team rings, trophies are all the spoils of the champs. Put the question to each player on that squad and they'll tell you the road to October 29th and the final pitch to win the series was a life long road. Where are you on your journey? Have you given up or struggled to achieve a goal? Professional, personal or academic look to the model that's won for the winners for years and the evidence is right under your nose. Your 2008 Philadelphia Phillies. For at least the moment, the New Yorkers and fans of other teams have to shut their pie holes thanks to the Phillies winning a world championship. Everyone loves a winner and in Philadelphia one of the nation's toughest and most loyal sports towns, the 2008 Phillies have forever embroidered their way into the hearts of fans throughout the region.

The lesson besides just enjoying the moment is take your work, academic, professional or personal to heart. Make the decision today to strive for excellence. Plan your work, work your plan and let nothing stop you from achieving your goals. It's easy to succumb to presure and get bogged down in the setbacks. There's 162 games in baseball's regular season. The Phillies right around the all star break, way back in July, looked as though they might not even make the playoffs. But they pressed on. They persisted, fought, clawed and not only hung in there but broke the backs of some good teams to hoist the world series trophy on home field Wednesday October 29th. A night, just like the one almost 28 years before many of us won't ever forget. There's a message in their victory. The message for all time. Believe in yourself, give of yourself and work hard with a positive attitude. If you mix those ingredients into your daily routine you too can expect great things. "Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it". The quote made famous by Philadelphian Bill Cosby says much. The New Year is close by make the changes in your life to reach your goals. See 'ya around town.