Act Like You've Been There

By John McMullen

(The Phan) - An open letter to the callers of WIP and 97.5 The Fanatic:

As a radio talk show host, I realize callers tend to be on the fringes.

In politics, the extremists in both parties are the ones dialing in. In sports, the most passionate and blindly loyal pick up the phone.

So it was more than tough to listen to local sports talk during the World Series. A World Series that was never about New York vs. Philly.

I hate to say this but a one-way rivalry isn't a rivalry. The New York Yankees and their fans could care less about the Philadelphia Phillies. Boston is the Yankees' rival and to a certain degree, the LA Angels over the past few years. Baseball's most storied franchise had the Phils on its radar for the past two weeks and now that's it's over...it's over.

I guarantee the Phillies feel the same way but can their fans say the same?

Let's face it, Philadelphians do have the little brother complex. And I don't get it.

New York is what it is. It's the largest city in this country and the most famous city in the world. Boston is a little brother to New York, So is Chicago, Los Angeles, Toronto, Tokyo, Paris and Madrid.

Everyone is...So, get over it.

Philadelphia is a great city with a great baseball team that came up a little short against a better baseball team. That's no reason to take the leap off the Ben Franklin.

Eighteen out of 20 ESPN "experts" picked the Yankees to win the series because they thought New York had the better team. They don't hate Philadelphia. I picked the Yankees to win in five. I don't hate Philadelphia.

Complain all you want about the quarter billion the Yankees spent to "buy" another world championship but I don't remember anyone defending the poor ole' Tampa Bay Rays last year, who had a payroll one-third the size of the mighty Phils.

The Phillies were World Series champions in 2008 and National League champs in 2009. They are set up for another significant run in 2010.

You now follow one of the elite teams in baseball and have now officially "been there before."

Next season...act like it and worry about the Mets.