Red Light

"Depend on me like the first and fifteenth..."

2PAC - All Eyez on Me

It's October and while that means a lot of things to many people...for me it's the month when a World Series champion is crowned. Yesterday I tweeted the following: "Just so I don't look like I jumped on the bandwagon, the @Phillies will win the World Series, and go @Yankees..."

Conflict Resolution

I'm from the City of Brotherly Love...Philadelphia for those who don't know. And while I cheer for the Eagles with fervor, it's my affection for the New York Yankees that confuses everyone. New York City is a place like none other, and yes I lived there for a long time, and one of the things I picked up over the years is a love for baseball. I could never cheer for the Mets, since I'm a Philly native...I knew that much, so I began watching that pinstriped team in the south Bronx.

When the Yankees didn't make the playoffs in 2008, it opened the door for my hometown Phillies to win and bring our championship starved town a winner. I was happy for the Phils in '07, and a year later they did what many thought was impossible...and that made me even happier!

I attend a number of Phillies games because I love baseball, and instead of driving to NYC or Baltimore for the Bronx Bombers, I take a quick trip to South Philly. So here is my moment of honesty...I actually like the Phillies, however the Yankees are my team. I know it makes zero sense, and this post is like covering myself with a security blanket.

Can the Phillies win it all...yes they can. They have 3 Aces in Halladay, Hamels, and Oswalt, and they have an American League style of play with Ryan Howard, Rollins, Utley, Werth, and Ruiz. Pitching is the key to any pennant and World Series...so if the Phils bullpen can hold and save games, it'll be a red October in Philadelphia.

Baseball is tricky and anything can happen, so I wanted to write this ahead of the first game to explain my loyalty to the team everyone loves to hate.

Instant Replay

Patience

"Life is just a game...we're all just the same..."

Prince - Controversy

The Phillies and the Yankees are in the midst of the World Series, and because of my childhood in Philadelphia, and New York, I am more neutral than biased.

RESPECT

When Alex Rodriguez signed with the New York Yankees, I'm sure he had no idea it would play out like this. Switching from his trusty number 3, to 13 seemed to get him to an ominous start...however after many ups and downs, he is now playing for all the marbles, in a post season to remember.

Prior to this morning, there had only been one World Series game in the 11th month...in which Derek Jeter added the name Mr. November with a home run that cleared the outfield wall after midnight. Nevertheless, 8-years later the results are the same, as the Yankees defeated an opponent in a World Series game.

The Phillies/Yankees matchup on Halloween started with a Philadelphia 3-0 advantage for the first 3 innings, but it was in the 4th, that Cole Hamels began to falter using a hanging cure ball numerous times that doomed a chance at victory. Rodriguez got his first hit of the series, and naturally it was the controversial kind, as the umpires needed instant replay to call a ball that caromed off a TV camera...a 2-run home run.

Andy Pettitte, Nick Swisher, Johnny Damon, and Hideki Matsui stepped up for New York offensively with timely hits, and aggressive base running. Jayson Werth went yard twice off Pettitte to keep Philadelphia within striking distance, but in the end it was the Yankees 8-5 over the Fightin' Phils.

After the game I had an opportunity to interview ARod, at which many of my family and friends were able to witness on live TV...this is my first World Series, and I'm loving every minute of it.

Otra vez

Primetime

"I don't want to say goodbye, to you...so I'll just say goodnight..."

Mos Def - Goodnight

The Fightin' Phils defeated the Dodgers in LA, 8-6. The score and hits will fool you, however Thursday night was a pitchers duel, that Philadelphia was able to take advantage of.

Very Familiar

The NLCS got off to a cardiac start, as this series is not for the fair weather fan, or faint of heart. James Loney, Andre Ethier, Manny Ramirez, and Juan Pierre, battled the Phillies starter Cole Hamels, but the Dodgers pitching fell apart beginning in the 5th, as Ryan Howard came up big with runners in scoring position, just as he did in Colorado. Raul Ibanez smacked a 3-run homer in the 8th to give Philadelphia the lead for good, giving Brad Lidge an opportunity for save number 3 in the post season.

While the home runs and final 3 outs will get all the praise from tonight, it was the pitching of former Dodger Chan Ho Park...now pitching for the Phillies, that provided a steady balance in the 7th that kept the 5-4 Philadelphia lead. In baseball it's all about pitching, and the guy that makes the most from the mound will give his team the best opportunity to win.

Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Wait 'til Next Year

Victory

"To weak what we do...buck 'em down word life..."

Buck Shot - Black Moon

Pedro Martinez returns to the National League under the bright lights of Wrigley Field, as the Philadelphia Phillies open a new chapter in their franchise against the Loveable Losers.

Primetime

The Phils are the reigning World Series Champions, however this season has had its fair share of ups and downs, from Jimmy Rollins to Cole Hamels things have been different, but like the saying goes...no progress without stuggle.

Now the Phillies are far from pushing the panic button on the season, as they are in 1st place, with about 2 months to go until the post season. Latley the talk has been about new starting pitcher Pedro Martinez taking the place of hometown favorite Jamie Moyer. Sports is all about competition, and sometimes it comes from within. This isn't a bad thing...in fact this can make the Phils stronger as they continue to defend their crown.

Stay tuned. First picth is at 8:05PM ET on ESPN, Wednesday Night Baseball.

28 Years Later

Triumphant

Precision

South Philly

Self-portrait

Phanatical

"We are the champions my friends...and we'll keep on fighting to the end...we are the champions, we are the champions, no time for losers, 'cause we are the champions...of the WORLD!"

Freddie Mercury - We Are the Champions

Philadelphia was once known for their champions and championship mettle. From the 1967 and 1983 76ers, 74-75 Flyers, and the 1980 Phillies. However that was either before my time or I was way too young to remember. Nevertheless, what was once old, is now new again, as the Fightin' Phils, like they did in '80 have emerged victorious.

The Hunt for Red October

The Phillies are the 2008 World Series Champions, hence they are the most recent of the once dying breed of winners in the City of Brotherly Love. Prior to Game 5 the Philadelphia Soul of the AFL were the quasi toast of the town. However as far as this city is concerned, it has been a combined 98 seasons (all the major teams together) since the Sixers gave Philly a ticker-tape parade down Broad Street.

I don't recall '83, as I was just a child, and while Dr. J, Mo Cheeks, and Moses Malone were handed the keys to the city, my family welcomed a new addition, as my sister was born that summer after the fact. Ten years later the Phillies were again vying for supremacy in the '93 World Series, before falling short to the Toronto Blue Jays in 6 games. Now I do remember that, but I wasn't a baseball fan at the time...and while I wasn't apathetic, I wasn't head over heels in love either.

Baseball was always the forgotten sport, as I didn't play it growing up, and I wouldn't watch it on TV, because I thought it was boring. Besides, my father, nor my uncles passed the game down to me, so I followed my brother into futbol, basketball, and football.

Then one day in 1995, everything as I knew it changed when I was officially introduced to the New York Yankees via my friend CJ. He's from Staten Island, and not only did he enjoy baseball, but he also is a Yankees fan, because his mother and father are from the Bronx, so it was in his blood to learn and appreciate the game. Consequently, his fervor had an affect on me, and to this day I remain a loyal fan of the Yankees. As I learned the game, and grew to love it, I started watching my hometown team the Philadelphia Phillies.

Yesterday, I was able to come full circle with Philadelphia, the Phillies, and my affinity for journalism in one memorable trip south down Broad Street.

To make this long story short, I was on the double-decker bus, designated for the members of the working media to cover the celebration. Not only did I ride on the top level, but I enjoyed the love and affection for the Phillies, as my bus drove ahead of the floats the team and management were on.

In a word it was unbelievable. Never have I seen this city united as one. I was waving to total strangers, and I was accepted as a hero. I lead a few cheers of LET'S GO PHIL-LIES, and WE'RE NUMBER 1. I got off the bus and walked for a stretch, shook hands, and kissed babies, all the while, people were calling and texting, to inform me that they see me on the bus, or that I was on television on the bus. When my sister and grandmother saw me on WPVI-ABC 6, that meant a lot. It was the most surreal trip through South Philadelphia that I have experienced in my life.

Tale of two Cities

Success

Can and AG. in DC

Teacher and student

"Friends, how many of us have them...friends, before we go any further, let's be friends..."

Whodini - Friends

The Philadelphia Phillies are back in the World Series for the first time since 1993. The City of Philadelphia is drunk with excitement, as the Phillies are on the verge of bringing a major championship to this famished blue-collar town.

Sunday, October 19, 2008. Today is the first day of the week, and within this week the Phillies will play 3 World Series games, and the landscape of this city can change forever with the swings of a bat, and the pitch of a baseball. I was hopeful that the rest of the week can be as good as Sunday. I was not only on BET in the morning, talking sports on Bring that week back...but I was also mentioned in the Philadelphia Inquirer, in a column written by Annette John-Hall, Black and White are red all over.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008. Game 1. I'd been driving around a lot today and from North Philly to West, everyone is wearing Phillies, jackets, and caps. Even the SEPTA buses have a GO PHILLIES message on the route display sign, which is something I have never seen this late in October. Around 4:30pm, I received a call from the hospital saying that my grandmother had been addmitted for shortness of breath. That was a damper on what had turned out to be a good day leading up to the first game of the World Series.

Grandmom, got the attention she needed and was held over night. I later went to Modell's and purchased a Phillies World Series cap. On my drive home, I had an idea to text a good friend and Tampa native, Candice Dupree about her thoughts and feelings on the national pastime.

6:02:19 PM. I text Candice.

"Hey Can. Hope you are well. I wanted to ask you what your thoughts are on Philly playing Tampa in the World Series? Do you have a team that you are cheering 4?"

9:28:22 PM. Candice writes back.

"Now u should already know that I don't get down with baseball like that."

9:29:23 PM. I retort.

"I do know that, but its both of your cities in the World Series. Hometown and college town. Your thoughts?"

9:45:54 PM. Candice says:

"Well the fact that Tampa has a bunch of youngsters and no "famous" players says a lot abt their team. I know absolutely nothing abt the Phillies."

9:46:39 PM. I reply:

"Okay Can, that's a great answer. Thank you."

The Phillies won 3-2 behind the great pitching of Cole Hamels, Brad Lidge, and 2-run homer by Chase Utley.

The Rays however won Game 2 on Thursday night, 4-2 as Ryan Howard was able to finally get involved, but it wasn't enough as Big Game James Shields pitched a gem, and BJ Upton played well with 2 hits and 1 RBI, sending the series to Philadelphia knotted up at 1 game each. By the way, Phillies also had 2 errors, and that didn't help either...and last but not least, the home plate umpire called a terrible game, but I digress, I don't want to turn this into my own personal soap box for poor officiating.

Game 3 is set for 8:00 PM, October 25, 2008, in South Philly. This is the real test not only for the Rays, but also for the Phillies.

Playing at home for this town is both the gift and the curse.