Despite that I spent almost 15 years in New York City, despite that I’ve now lived in Los Angeles for nearly two years, despite that I spent four years in New England, my sports allegiances are still with the city where I was born, Philadelphia.
Even if you’re not a sports fan, you’ve probably heard stories about Boston or Chicago’s droughts. And perhaps, if you’re a trivia nut, you know it’s been 24 years since Philadelphia has won any type of professional sports title. (No city with teams in the four major leagues – NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA – has ever seen such a drought.)
But did you know the Philadelphia Phillies (that’s a baseball team if you’ve been living in a cave ‘til now) are closing in on their 10,000th loss?! Okay, true, they’ve also been around for 125 years, a lot longer than any NFL, NHL, or NBA team and longer than almost all MLB teams, but 14 losses from today will usher in a nice, big round number that might not be matched for decades to come.
It’s hard to be proud of such an achievement, yet my head does not hang in shame for them. Instead, I guess I feel fortunate that I was one of the 60,000+ fans who saw them win their one and only World Series title way back in 1980, 3 years before the 76ers won the NBA crown that started the drought.
Recently someone told me the drought was brought on by a curse because the city erected a building in the 80s taller than William Penn, who stands atop City Hall. (For centuries there was a law prohibiting the city from doing as much.) I don’t really buy into such hooey. It’s just a dry spell, and sooner or later the Eagles, Sixers, Flyers or maybe even Phillies will bring home another championship. In the meantime, I’ll salute the Phillies’ 10,000th loss, which will probably come sometime in July. Because it’s not whether you win 9,999 games or lose 10,000, it’s still all about how you play the game.
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I am a Phillies fan. Without the existence loss there could be no exisnece of win, and so I cheer your post – especially having put it in context of 125 years.
posted by Dev on 6-14-2007 at 4:54 am
Please, 24 years isn’t that bad. Barring some superhuman comeback by the Cavs in this year’s NBA finals, Cleveland will have gone 43 years without a championship (although our streak doesn’t include the NHL, which was only in Cleveland for 2 years).
posted by Jason P on 6-14-2007 at 7:40 am
The Arizona Cardinals have won only 2 playoffs games since 1920.
posted by Chris on 6-14-2007 at 7:49 am
Pity Poor Buffalo. They’ve never had a championship in ANY Sport EVER. Not only that but when they DO manage to get close or in the finals there is a choke (wide right) or bad call (skate in teh crease) or something which royally dashes their hopes.
That and they have to live in Buffalo, which is a fair bit worse than Philly overall
posted by Jack on 6-14-2007 at 8:50 am
First, I live in the Philadelphia ‘burbs, and the sports fans especially for the Eagles are inescapable. Everyone knows about the Billy Penn curse though. That one’s no secret. Also, I though you might like to know that there are shirts proudly proclaiming the drought. They say…”no cup, no ring, no trophy, blah blah blah, since 1983″ The kid who sat in front of me in my first period class wore his shirt at least 3 times a month.
posted by leofishy on 6-14-2007 at 9:30 am
Could be worse – I’m a Toronto Maple Leafs fan and they haven’t won the cup in my lifetime!
posted by Terry on 6-14-2007 at 10:56 am
I blame
shoe fly pie
cheese steaks
kate smith
perogies
and
Schmidt’s beer.
ah yeah and Pat Burrell
posted by Mark Schofer on 6-14-2007 at 11:07 am
I blame
shoe fly pie
cheese steaks
kate smith
perogies
and
Schmidt’s beer.
ah yeah and Pat Burrell
posted by Mark Schofer on 6-14-2007 at 11:07 am
HEY!
don’t blame the cheesesteaks!
although i suspect you’re right that shoo fly pie is the cause of all the world’s woe…that and birch beer
posted by melanie on 6-14-2007 at 11:49 am
Go Spurs Go.
posted by priscilla on 6-14-2007 at 2:13 pm
As Jason P says, Clevelanders laugh at any town that’s had such a recent championship claiming a “drought.” Somehow, because we can’t hold on to a hockey team, our lack of titles counts less in the trivia books. How many Americans pay that close attention to the NHL, anyway?
posted by Kathleen on 6-14-2007 at 2:52 pm
Don’t blame Shoo Fly Pie! That is some of the best stuff around!
posted by Karen on 6-14-2007 at 3:23 pm