A Familiar Feeling

Im Pretty sure I've been here before. I have heard these same sounds and felt the same excruciating pain work its way through my gut.

I've seen Brian Boucher carry us to the Eastern Conference Finals only to have Patrick Elias slip past Dan Mcgillis with three minutes left in game seven and effectively bury the puck and my heart at the exact same time.

Ive seen Ricky Manning Jr. Pick off Mcnabb three times sealing our third straight loss in the final step to the super bowl.

I saw Donovan puke up our chances to win that elusive Super Bowl only one year later. (I could go on forever about Mcnabb so ill keep his disappointments to a minimum.)

Then there's Iverson prancing over Tyrone Lue after sinking that three pointer in the NBA finals giving hope to the impossible. Shaq and Kobe had something to say about that though.

In 2004 the Flyers made it back to the Eastern Conference Finals against a very beatable Tampa Lightning team only to lose in game 7. By one goal. Again.

And only last year I saw the Stanley Cup given to the opposing team on my home ice because of a weak dribbler that would of been a routine ground ball for Mickey Mourandi. Not for Michael Leighton... ( I couldn't bring myself to post the video.)

Then there was 2005 when the Phillies finally seemed primed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1993. However, Billy Wagner gives up a Home Run in the ninth inning of a late September game against the Astros, sufficiently blowing a two run lead. Then we go on to lose the wild card by one game to, guess who.... the Astros!

These are only the biggest disappointments that ive endured. The ones that i remember and keep close to my heart like a bottle of napalm. And to think, ive only been around for 20 years. Ouch.

Then 2008 came around and put a wrench in this whole goddamn losers mentality. I kept pinching myself to make sure it was true. We had a team that was good, motivated, and actually went on to win something? And its the PHILLIES? the team that just lost their 10.000th game and had become a national laughing stock because of it? I really could not believe it. The euphoria of a championship and parade settled in like a distant dream that i literally had been waiting for my entire life. But three years later it proved to be that, just a dream.

You knew every minute of the NLCS that something wasnt right. I just didn't want to admit it. The Giants kept winning those games that the Phillies would always win in the playoffs (or at least the past two season's worth of playoff games. Which is probably the only postseason most of the bandwagon fans know...) and we just couldn't hit the ball. The Giants are not as good as The Phils. That is a fact. The Phillies also got beat by a lesser team, which makes this team a great disappointment. Couple this embarassment of a loss with the Eagles losing in a way only the Iggles could and all three of my fantasy teams losing, well were right back to normal. I know most people know Philadelphia sports for the glory and celebrations the Phillies have given us the past two years, but im starting to feel right at home again. Right back in the delirium and panic of a team building you up, then throwing it right back in your face.

Go ahead and stay on the bandwagon folks, its about to be a bumpy ride.

Phuck Forgettable Weekends, Love Philly

Tin Johnson