Well, Philadelphia’s wish has been granted! The Philadelphia Phillies are in the World Series! The series, vs. the Tampa Bay Rays, is currently tied at 1-1. The teams head back to Philadelphia today to face off for three games at Citizens Bank Park. Perhaps the best part of the entire championship run is the way the excitement has ignited and transformed the City of Brotherly Love. There is a palpable energy throughout the greater Philadelphia area and it is absolutely exciting. Newspapers dedicate pages and pages to baseball coverage with full page pictures (a full page picture of Shane Victorino now hangs above my desk). I just read a great article in the Philadelphia Inquirer about the Phillies head chef and what the guys eat before games. Another good one was in the Daily News. Reporters went around to popular area bars and had them create drink recipes for each of the players. Everywhere you go, driving through neighborhoods, walking through stores, you see “Go Phillies” signs and other posters. Phillies apparel is flying off the shelves and everyone seems to be wearing their favorite jerseys, t-shirts and more. I stopped into Modell’s last night to pick up a new Flyin’ Hawaiian shirt – to add to my collection – and the place was mobbed. Philadelphia fans are sports fans, in good times and in bad, and we are coming out in droves to show support and help our boys get to the championship. This is a city that thrives on sports. And Philadelphians are more than ready for a championship. The last Philadelphia championship was in 1983 when the 76ers defeated the LA Lakers in the NBA Finals. Since then, the Phillies have traveled to the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Sixers faced the Lakers again in the NBA Finals in 2001, the Eagles squared off against the Patriots in the 2005 Super Bowl and the Flyers just went to last year’s Stanley Cup. Some blame it on the Curse of Billy Penn. A statue of William Penn stands on the top of City Hall and was the tallest building – at least until 1987. In 1987, construction was completed on One Liberty Place. Like other cities, we believe this is our curse, as no championships have been won since, and we hope 2008 is the year we break it. Last time the Phils were in the World Series, Billy Penn was decked out in Phillies gear, but since then he has not been adorned. Now, we wait to dress Billy up until after we win! And now, there are three buildings bigger than Billy. Construction was completed on Two Liberty Place and, most recently, the Comcast Center which now serves as the tallest building in our skyline. But this Phillies fan has faith that this is the year. Go Phillies! – Kimberly Krol, circulation and PR executive, eFlyer editor