This past week started very poorly for the Phillies but ended on a high note.
Coming off a tough series with the Florida Marlins in which the Fightin Phils lost the final two games, including a gem thrown by ace Cole Hamels, the Phillies rolled into Flushing hoping to put some distance between them and the Mets. Mission accomplished, sort of. After one of the most amazing comebacks in recent history, the Phillies failed to capitalize on the momentum built from winning the series opener and looked flat the following two games. The Phils won one inning, while the Mets won 26 innings. The Phils simply lucked out and won the right inning, avoiding a sweep.
On top of their struggles on the field, the Phils have had to deal with some off the field issues as well. Reigning MVP Jimmy Rollins was late to Saturday’s game and was summarily benched by manager Charlie Manuel for breaking team rules.
After the debacle in New York, the Phillies came home to face the Atlanta Braves a game …
No!
I did not wait 25 years, watch another city lift the championship trophy almost 100 times, and suffer through a Jim McMahon/Jeff Kemp/Pat Ryan/Brad Goebel Eagles team to have an Arena Football League team be the ones who get the glory for finally bringing a championship to this city.
So I better not see a parade down Broad street next week with the city painted teal and black, or have Benjamin Franklin Parkway turned in Matt D’Orazio Way. And while team co-owner John Bon Jovi can throw a free concert if he wants to, do not dare deck out the Billy Penn statue in 80s era Bon Jovi attire.
Let’s take this for what it is: a minor league team won a championship - something that’s been done in this city many times before. In hockey the Phantoms have won two Calder Cups. In indoor soccer the Kixx have won two MISL championships (most recently last year). And in lacrosse the Wings have one six championships, while …
Move over Eagles, the Philadelphia Soul are the hottest football team in Philly, and the newest city champs, having won ArenaBowl 22 Sunday. The Soul beat the reigning champion San Jose SaberCats 59-56 in their first ArenaBowl, withstanding a tense late 4th quarter comeback by San Jose.
Both teams scored on their opening drives of the game. Soul Quarterback Matt D’Orazio threw seven touchdowns and ran for one other score. Philadelphia scored on all six of its first-half possessions and took the lead for good with three consecutive touchdowns in the second quarter.
That’s not to say that the SaberCats gave up. San Jose made things very tense in the final minutes, scoring 14 points in 11 seconds in the final minute of the game. Philadelphia scored with 40 seconds left in regulation, after receiving the benefit of a defensive pass interference call on 4th down on a play in the end zone. D’Orazio then hooked up with Phil Bogle three plays later to seemingly seal the game …
