Cole Kicks Off

Our Phavorite Phillie Cole Hamels takes the mound today and he's focused and ready to get back to his day job. Here's part of the story from Andy Martino at the Philadelphia Inquirer:

In the last six months, Cole Hamels has won four postseason games and the most valuable player award in two series, chatted with David Letterman, appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, spoken about education in Malawi, and began a transition from baseball phenom to mainstream celebrity.
Hamels, 25, is scheduled to start today for the Phillies in an exhibition game against Canada's team in the World Baseball Classic, marking the end of a hectic, shortened off-season for the pitcher.
Constantly in demand after the World Series, the young ace admitted that the experience was draining, but said that he was eager to return to work.
"The off-season is supposed to be time to be off," Hamels said. "We want to be able to get right mentally, but me and my teammates haven't really been able to get away, and that hurts you a little. . . . But we have a job to do now, and we're excited about that."
He added: "At this point, you almost have to forget about [winning it all], pretend it never happened."

If that's what it takes, then let's pretend it never happened. We know that Cole is grounded, focused, real. Git it done, Cole!

Ahhhh, spring!

As baseball spring training begins anew the fans are once again juiced.
Forget that Philadelphia hasn't had a world champion professionsl sports team in 25 years - 25 long, barren years. That means there isn't a kid (or a college student or young adult) around who remembers the last Philadelphia world championship.
How sad!
And yet the Philadelphia sports franchises continue to pitch their wares, raise their prices and string the fans along with promises of a better day tomorrow. And the fans (poor suckers that they are) continue to buy it.
Sure, I know that Philly teams have won division and conference championships in the interim. That's fine. But no Big Enchilada. And unless the fans get the Big Enchilada, it's not good enough.
Let's put it this way: Suppose you supported a political party that hadn't won the White House in more than 20 years. How long would you expect to keep contributing to and working for that party if it kept losing and losing and losing. How much support does anyone owe to losers?
Hey, I'm a loyal guy but loyalty has its limits. Defeat is a bummer. And a loss is a loss. Period.
The fans deserve a world championship - any world championship. So, here's my message to the Phillies, Eagles, Flyers and Sixers: Git It Done!