Sights Set on a Championship

KYW Newsradio Team Coverage

Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter is excited about the possibility of the Phillies nailing a world championship, but he's still not uttering the "P" word -- as in parade.
 
KYW's Mike Dunn reports that Mayor Nutter watched game four at the ballpark and plans to do so again tonight.  But for his day job he's only sporting a red tie.
 
City officials have been very quietly working with the team on contingency plans for a parade, but no one will talk publicly about it -- including the mayor:

(Nutter:)  "It's certainly something that we are quite well aware of, but it is the thing that we don't talk about."

(Dunn:)   "(Phillies president) David Montgomery would be on the phone right away if you did, right?"

(Nutter:)  "Just a little bit!  So we look forward to game five tonight."

So mum's the word -- and it'll stay that way until the Phils actually lock it up. 


KYW's John Ostapkovich reports from West Philadelphia that some Drexel University students paused in their studies on Monday to cheer on the Phillies.

Dozens of Drexel Dragons (right) bunched around a master of ceremonies for chants, cheers, and contests: a capella song renderings, Harry Kalas impersonations, even the "last out" of their imagination. 

Student Bill Ling, with bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th, unloaded a shot hear round the quad.

(Ostapkovich:)  "You certainly hit nicely over there."

(Ling:)  "I think so."

(Ostapkovich:)  "Does that pressure compare in any way to what the Phils will feel or the Rays tonight?

(Ling:)  "This is the World Series.  This is the biggest stage in baseball, and nothing can compare to the pressure that they're going to have tonight.  One game to go.  I'm sure they're feeling the world on their shoulders right now."

He's got the right attitude:

(Ling:)  "Let's go Phillies!"

Some Drexel students got their game faces on, especially Justin Robinson who painted his face half red and half white.  A freshman, he plans to watch the game in a campus rec room because his dorm floor is a little too "metropolitan":

"There are two Mets fans on my floor, so every time I put a Phillies sign up, they tear it down.  We've proved them wrong.  Who's in the World Series?  Who's one game away from winning it?  And who choked again this year?"

If memory serves, the answers are, the Phillies, the Phillies, the Mets.  Justin's prediction:

"We win tonight in Citizens Bank Park and the city's going to go into an uproar."

...while the Mets' Shea Stadium is being demolished.

(Photo by KYW's John Ostapkovich)

 
KYW's Jim Melwert reports that for at least some Phillies fans, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat runs in the family.
  
Dennis Benedetto (left in photo) and his son Steve were celebrating the game four win at the ballpark on Sunday night. They have tickets to game five, and it brings back Phillies memories for both of them.

For dad, he thinks of the 1980 World Series championship:

"We sat and I stuck a helmet on his head in the middle of the room, and he was wobbling because he was only -- not even three years old. And I made him sit there and cheer all the time. And now we're doing it for real."

Steve has a different memory:

" '93, I was a sophomore in high school after Mitch Williams gave up the home run to Joe Carter. I remember my dad looking at me and apologizing to me for raising me as a Phillies fan. And now we can exorcise the demons."

Steve has to catch a 8am flight on Tuesday. He was planning on going straight to the airport after an all-nighter on Broad Street.

KYW's Mike DeNardo reports that Phillies fans were delirious after Sunday night's electrifying 10-2 defeat of the Rays that puts them one victory from winning their second World Series ever.

Rays' manager Joe Maddon's formula of "9=8" meant that if you play hard for nine innings, you'll be one of the eight teams in the postseason. The Phils have a formula of their own now. It's "1=infinity." One more win, and they'll set off an immeasurable celebration. 
 
Philly fans know their math:

"One more, and we're done. It's over. We're winning it all!"

And in game four, it was Joe Blanton pitching and hitting his way into the hearts of Philly fans:

"How often do you see a pitcher knock it out like that? And did you hear them chant 'Let's go Joe?' A lot of local heroes today."

One more win, and the 2008 Phillies will become heroes for life.