It is my favorite time of year. Spring is beginning to bloom, summer is on the horizon and the Phillies season is about to begin.
My history with the Phillies and sports in general is not a great one. Sports to me was torture. As a child, I played soccer and was a part of several swim teams, but never anything too serious. Organized sporting events were just things that kept me away from television or books, things that I would much rather be focusing on.
Watching sports on television was even worse. I remember watching football games on Sunday nights with my dad and not understanding. “Alias” was on. Why weren’t we watching it? This was back in the day when TV shows weren’t online the next day, adding to my pain.
The Phillies were an organization I never had a problem with. Unlike football in general. I don’t get it, it’s boring, lets not fight about it. My dad was never a really hardcore baseball guy, at least it never seemed like it.
My love affair with the Phillies started at an older age. I will be honest, I was a bit of bandwagon-er to start off with. As the Phils scraped by in the 2007 season to win the NL East over the Mets, I couldn’t help but be interested. My lack of knowledge in the sport was my downfall and I gave up. The Phils didn’t continue much further that year so I didn’t miss much.
The next year, as the Phillies began to exceed the previous years accomplishments, I began to pay attention. I began to watch games just as I was doing homework or messing around on my computer. This is when I slowly started to become a fan.
As we all know, our good ol’ Phils went all the way that year. My fandom at that point, however, was not ravenous enough for me to be too excited. I did not go to the parade, but I wanted to. More because I felt like it was an important moment for my city than anything else.
In the course of that season, I really learned the rules and lingo of the American pastime. Just from observing and a bit of light googling, I was becoming a bit of an aficionado. I was really getting into it and enjoying it.
More than just enjoying it, something about baseball really captivated me. I have always loved team sports. The thrill of competition. It’s not something I have ever been too good at but the adrenaline rush of a good game is like nothing else.
When it comes to the Phils, I get choked up. That sounds incredibly lame but I have a deep connection with this team and what they represent.
There is something about these guys that makes up the Phillies. They seem like amazing people. You get the undeniable feeling that they’re all friends. The “I would love to have a beer with them” factor is huge.
It’s hard to put into words but I think it has something to do with the memories I have associated with the Phillies that really moves me. Phillies, to me, means warm air, tan skin, meeting new people to buy you beer, Citizens Bank Park and so much more. The ambience that the team gives is indescribable.
More than anything, having a large group of people come together for one purpose, escape the daily grind and modern conveniences and just have fun. The Phillies represent the hopes and dreams of a blue-collar city, citizens who work too hard and get paid too little. The Phillies are what we need.
My name is Jamie Santoro. I am in debt, over worked and tired. I am a Phillies fan.
Read Pat Gallagher’s view on the great American past time
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