The Agony of Defeat

July 16th, 2007

So, as always, the inevitable happened. Fate/Destiny took its course. The Phillies notched their 10,000th lose and bronzed their place in history as the losingest team in all sports. Frankly, so what? The only people who really seemed to care, who perched on the edge of their seats in anticipation, who drew excitement from a loss, were the media and rivals–the expected. The players didn’t seem to care, nor did the fans as they stood on their feet, cheering with a perverted sense of pride as Ryan Howard’s third strike blew the digit counter over from all nines. As that fateful bell tolled, it failed to signal anything except the last morsel of the media’s lone bone being swallowed by a predictable, meditated, and trite article that was bound to happen–hardly your crowning achievement or award-winning story. Now what? Go Phillies. That’s all. Instead of trashing the organization that gives you your day job, sports writers, why not get behind the team? Why not lend your hand to the thousands who pour into Citizens Bank Park to watch their Phillies. To cheer and boo with the team. To marvel in their wins. To sulk in defeat. They’re your darlings, your magnificent beautiful sons, when they win, and freakish, hideous monstrosities worthy only of bitterness, unlove, and lashes from the whip when they fail to meet your lofty, unattainable expectations. Show them love, and perhaps, just maybe, the Phillies will trade in the crown of thorns for a trophy.

Entry Filed under: Sports, Illadelph