What's it like?

What's it like to be on the happy end of a championship game?

Philadelphia doesn't exactly have the best track record in championship games over the last 25 years. Ok, that's kind of a lie. Since 1983:

the Phillies have made 2 trips to the World Series. In 1983 they lost to Baltimore (way too early in my life to know about that one) and one of the worst moments of my life in 1993. (That's the YouTube Link...I saw it the first time, I don't need to be reminded of it)

the Sixers in 2001 vs the Lakers (I wasn't really expecting much because of the Shaq and Kobe duo but AI walking over Tyrone Lue made EVERYTHING PERFECT)

the Flyers in 1984 lost to Edmonton, in 1986 lost to Edmonton (again too early in my life to matter), in 1996 they got swept by the Detriot, another crushing defeat. The powerhouse Flyers missed the #1 seed by 1 point but destroyed their Eastern foes all in 5 games and they couldn't win ONE against the damn Red Wings???? Although I feel that the 'Legion of Broom' T-shirts Detriot created was the worst part of the sweep. (Apparently the Internet doesn't recognize that happening. Maybe it was just a mean trick...yes that's it.)

The Eagles in 2004 lost to the Patriots. That damn 4 minute drive killed me. McNabb was sick/hurt but TO was fine. Better than fine, in fact; I don't know why they didn't just pull the ol' 'TO make it happen play' at least once.(That would be a play action to Westbrook, then McNabb just heaves the ball to a wide open TO, which was 6 points every time. Well except in the 05 opener when DeAngelo Hall picked it off when McNabb got hit and broke his sternum or the sports hernia thing, whatever...doesn't really matter).

That's 0-7 since the last parade.

That doesn't include the other horrible playoff moments like the Flyers giving up a 3-1 lead in the conference finals to the HATED New Jersey Devils, or wasting the prime years of Allen Iverson with a group of not worthy to be the next 5 at a pick up game, or the Ed Wade era (which actually lead to the current team being STOCKED batting wise) or watching Buddy Ryan's amazing defense have absolutely NO OFFENSE to speak of.

I've been watching SportsCenter and just watching how happy the Celtics are especially Kevin Garnett just makes me wonder will a Philadelphia team do it again? Logic says of course but then you remember the Cubs are at year 100 of their drought, the Red Sox bitched for 86 years about it, and then there's teams like the Marlins that won 2 in 10 years when the Phillies haven't won one in 27 years. Some say Philly is cursed, The Curse of Billy Penn but I don't buy into that. Let's face it - we choke, ok - that's what happens. It's not because buildings are taller then William Penn.

I look at that picture and see KG on ESPN crying and can't stop wondering how great it must be to have all the rooting and watching, and buying the jerseys and tickets and hats be rewarded by something other then an early post season exit.

I guess the reason we all root is on the hope of that reward, or maybe its the journey of rooting for a team mired in mediocrity with small glimpses of hope that gives us our reward. I mean anyone can root for the team that constantly wins, but its far more difficult to follow a team thats best season was 7-9. But we do it anyway, maybe the reward is knowing no matter how bad it is this year we aren't going to give up and we know next season will be better. Maybe that's the whole point of it all, finding in ourselves the strength to show up for the next game of the horrible season.

Or maybe it all comes down to wanting to see your team act like kids at Christmas after becoming the best.

Either way I want to know what it feels like to be part of the best team in a sport.