“3 … 2 …1”! The crowd counted down the last seconds of a W it could hardly believe. The Philadelphia Flyers are on their way to Chicago and their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals since 1997. After an unlikely entrance into the playoffs, and a miraculous comeback in Round 2, incredulous fans watched the Flyers skate smoothly through Round 3.  [Pinch me – I want to know I’m awake!]  By the “1” count, we were all true believers.  “The Broad Street Bullies” Were Back!  Hallelujah!

What a night for the Flyers! They proved their worth to a packed house with play after amazing play. It had all the improbable elements of a Hollywood sports flick, except it was real! A new coach sets a championship tone, a replacement goalie plays far beyond everyone’s expectations, an injured Jeff Carter scores a powerful goal just back from surgery off a newly mended foot, and the captain, Mike Richards, performs magic twice, while facedown on the ice. (Pity the fool who ends up playing Richie in the movie version.)

What a night for Kate! Running around with my first press pass, a kid in a candy shop. Who can I annoy first? Who can I annoy most? Media personalities? Flyers employees? The players? How about, all of the above? (Ok, I really tried not to annoy the players. This was their night, so I gave them a pass, said my congratulations to the few I knew, and sent them on their merry “winning” way.)

“Oh! Oh! There’s Marshall Harris!”

“Well, well, well, look who’s got her very own press pass! You think you’re big time now?” he laughs. Ha…ha…Marshall thinks he’s funny.

“Oh! Oh! There’s Marc Farzetta!” Since I’d been on –air in the Tastykake studios that very morning, Marc and the WIP crew got a double dose of Kate that day! Thanks for letting me visit the suite guys!

And in a suite not so far far away, more friends! Matt Cord and Marisa Magnatta of WMMR.

I notice several of my favorite Wachovia Center guards do a double take when they see me coming. Oh that’s right! I’m not wearing my usual Sixers crop top and white go-go boots. And, there’s ice where the court should be!

I realize I’ve grown accustomed to running the Wachovia Center as if it were my personal playground. (Can you call racing from stands, to locker room, to suites, to concourse, and back to the court before the next timeout playing?) It’s easy for me to forget that when the Sixers aren’t playing, my dressing room is being used by OTHER people! Oops!

Suddenly, amidst the celebrations and high fives, I hear cries rising up from the crowd. “Don’t touch it! Don’t do it Richie!” He’s about to accept the Prince of Wales Trophy. That’s just superstition right? Well, it is now! He’s not only touched it, he hoisted it up and led the charge straight into the Flyers locker room. Give them that, the Flyers are fearless.

They believed in themselves when no one else did. They’ve been through the crucible of a tumultuous season, losing streaks, bad press, a controversial coach change, and a scandal in the locker room. And here we stand, Conference Champions.

During their odyssey from heart-wrenching “try-hards” to heart-thumping “ice warriors,” this team has raised up an impressive legion of new hockey fans. Now, I know that in this town there has been a certain stigma attached to what some would call “bandwagon” fans. GET OVER IT! There’s electricity in the air. There’s an entire city massing behind a team that’s earned its stripes the hard way.  That’s not “bandwagon,” that’s respect.  “R-E-S-P-E-C-T !!!”  The Aretha Franklin and Kate Smith kind. Get your Jerseys before they run out of Orange.  And, you veterans out there – find a newbie, give him/her a hug, and welcome ‘em aboard.  It’s going to be a hell of a ride. 

In my humble opinion, cheese steak will always prevail over deep dish pizza. Take that Chicago!

Send photos of you showing your Flyers Pride to talktokate@phillyin.com

World Cup soccer could be heading to Philadelphia 2018/2022.  Philly needs your help to bring it home.  I would not be posting this if it was a lost cause, but cities around the world are petitioning for the World Cup to be held in their city.  Apparently we are sitting at number two for total votes in the world, so go to www.gousabid.com/city/local/philadelphia-pa/ or sign the petition below, to help bring the biggest sporting event right here to our home town.

Spread the word!

Ahhh!  Spring!  Flowers, sunshine, birds chirping (and invading my house – a story for another day).  But, more important than any of that – hot dogs and baseball – or more to the point, the “Fightin Phils” taking the field again.

The first Phillies game I can remember attending was at the Vet.  My sister and I had gotten free tickets out of a package of Ballpark Franks.  What a place. What an experience.  What a game.  (Even if we were further from the field than the Goodyear Blimp.) 

That day, Shelley insisted we leave early so as not to have to “fight the traffic.”  Now, I know, this is a time honored tradition here in Philadelphia.  But, it’s one that I think is pretty stupid.  (Just so you know – Very Uncool!)  I remember looking back over my shoulder, the lights of Verteran Stadium burning brightly enough to give you a good tan, and hearing the crowd go wild.  “Ooohhhh!  What just happened?  Something just happened?”  I turned in my tracks and wanted to run back in.  Shelley only managed to head me off by promising to put the game on the radio during the ride home.

Baseball Obsession!  Mine started sometime shortly after watching “A League of Their Own.”  (Just for the record, coach; it’s the reason I refused to play softball in school.  Why couldn’t the girls play hardball?  It was hardly fair.)  I had to content myself playing catch with the brick wall on the side of the house, and playing ball with the neighborhood boys down the street.  That was when I was forged as a Phillies fan, under the influence of my grandfather who was tried and true.  He bled Phillies Red and collected big “P” memorabilia.

One day, especially, lives on in my “baseball memory” of childhood.  I talked my best friend, Rebecca, into throwing a ball around, but couldn’t find any of my brothers’.  “Wait!  I know where one is!”  I scrambled up the stairs to Dad’s office and found a ball with some “scribble” across it.  (We had a bunch of these in the house.  I was too young to know WHY.)  I couldn’t exactly read it, but was pretty sure it said “Mickey Mouse.”  I remember wondering why anyone would write that on a ball, but figured one of my brothers had done it.  So, I snatched it, and off we went to play . . . in the rain.  That night, my father sat me down.  He spoke calmly, but I could tell he was upset with me.  “OK, I’m not going to yell, but . . .”;  to his credit, he didn’t yell.  He just looked ruefully at the beat up, bedraggled ball, and explained who Mickey Mantle was.  Apparently, he had “The Oklahoma Kid” sign it for his father during a business meeting years before.  It was just one of several “inspired” mistakes of my childhood.  Call it my “Sandlot” moment.  “Sorry dad!  I love you!”

After the Phillies won the National League Championship, then broke my heart (I forgive you, “Wild Thing”), I remained true, wearing my Phillies hat everywhere – even, occasionally, to bed.  (Mom swore to me, that I would go bald wearing that hat. – I thought of it as “taking one for the team.”)  Lenny Dykstra, Darren Daulten, Curt Shilling, Mitch Williams!  I can just hear Harry K announcing their names.  Those were my boys!

Happily, for me, and for all of Philadelphia, the Phillies have again risen to the top of the game.  I was sad to see the Vet go; but, Citizens Bank Park is a wonderful place to watch a game.  In addition, it’s home to one of my other favorite places.  McFaddens Ball Park.  It’s a great place for the “ticketless” to watch a game.  (And even when I have a ticket, you can often spot me there before or after a game.)  What a place to be when the Phillies won the World Series!  (Say, I’ve got a great idea – let’s do THAT again!) 

By the playoffs last year, I was so caught up in Phillies fever, I was accused of making Citizens Bank a part-time job!

Anyway, it’s great to see the Phils back in town.  I can’t wait to get to a game.  If anyone has an extra ticket, feel free to let me know  I like my hot dog with extra ketchup!

The Phillies will be home all this week: May 17th to 23rd. For tickets, check out the Phillies website:

http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/ticketing/singlegame.jsp?c_id=phi

“History will be made.”

I don’t know what NHL marketing guru dreamed up this year’s playoff slogan, but I would be willing to bet they didn’t anticipate the Flyers potential to justify it. Tonight, the Broad Street Bullies – 2.0, will attempt to accomplish what only two teams before them have.

After barely squeezing into the playoffs with an overtime shoot out, many had written the 09-10 Flyers off. “They need to make major roster changes!”, “They have no consistent goalie!”, “They party too much!”, came the cries from the “peanut gallery.” After their big Round 1 win, people seemed much happier, and content. Ok, it was nice that they had made a run, and proved they weren’t the lazy, inconsistent team that the “talking heads” had accused them of being near the end of the season…But no one was convinced that they would have what it takes to keep going. And after the first three games in Round 2, let’s face it, even the Flyer’s staff had probably started planning their summer vacations.

But now, like the ’42 Toronto Maple Leafs, and the ’75 New York Islanders, they will be fighting for their lives, and a spot in the history books.

Momentum. In sports, it can mean a lot. In the playoffs, it can mean everything. Game 7. Go ahead, call them underdogs, you’ll only fuel their fire.

Will “History Be Made” tonight? We can only wait and see.

Best of Luck to the Philadelphia Flyers on behalf of the entire PhillyIn team!

Do YOU have Flyers Fever?!?! Send me pic of you, your kids, you car, or your pets, in your Flyers gear! And we may post you here on PhillyIn.com. Email pics to talktokate@phillyin.com

Rasheed Wallace Shows his Flyer Pride!

Looking for cool Flyers gear?! Check out Casey Custom Sneakers.com

Girls, do you have a hard time finding cute sportswear for you? Alyssa Milano has a great line of fan gear for the ladies. Pick up some cool Flyers gear made for a woman! Touch by Alyssa Milano

Thanks to my Flyers guru, Mark McAllister, for assisting this Hockey novice.