rivalry |ˈrīvəlrē|

For my first post on this blog I wanted to introduce myself a little bit, give some background information, explain the significance this rivalry has on me, and show how it is a perfect explanation of what die hard fans like myself love, hate, and love to hate.

In 1989, I was born in Bethpage, NY; the son of a die hard Mets and Giants fan. Two years later, my family and I moved to Yardley, PA, 35 minutes outside of Philadelphia. As I got older I started developing a strong interest in sports - mainly baseball and football. And since I can remember, mostly due to the fact that I looked up to my father and was strongly influenced by him, I always rooted for the Mets and the Giants. Through grade school, as I grew up, I would constantly argue with and tease Phillies, Eagles, and those annoying Cowboys fans (they're everywhere and I don't know why). The sports fighting/teasing got so bad it got to the point that I would "stay home sick" from school the day after the Phillies beat the Mets or the Giants had a big loss. But no matter what any opposing fan said to me, I still loved my team and hated theirs'.

However, about a year and a half ago, that love was put to the ultimate test. As a freshman at Temple University in Philadelphia, I got the opportunity to work for Aramark, a stadium concessions company. The means that I would not only work at every Phillies home game, but also every Eagles home game. The first thing I thought of when I heard of this job was 'that's nine Mets games and one Giants game... FOR FREE!' So, obviously I took it. Not only for that reason, but also because it is the most well paying job a college freshman can find.

So, I took a beer vending job with the company and started on Opening Day. If you haven't realized it by now, that was the first day of the Phillies' incredible, and rather irritating, World Championship season. Luckily, I got to see the Mets win six of the nine games they played at Citizens Bank that year, but all that happiness changed come playoff time. For the second straight year, the Mets choked in September (it kills me to write that) and the Phillies clinched a playoff berth at home. Not only that, but they also went undefeated at home during the playoffs, clinched the World Series, and had their huge, obnoxious, citywide celebration at my place of employment.

I hated it. And my friends hated me for that. Everyone I knew, even Phillies haters, went to the parade that Friday while I stayed home at my apartment in peace. Everyone was having the best time tearing through Broad Street chanting "champions" while I tried to ignore it. Clearly, I couldn't. Everywhere I looked was happy Phillies fans celebrating, while I seemed to be the only one in the city that wasn't happy about it. When my friend asked me, "You live in Philly. Why aren't you going to the parade?!" I simply replied "I'm not a Phillies fan."

Trust me though, I have tried. People have argued with me for hours saying that I should root for my home team, not their biggest rival. And honestly, I agree. I love the city of Philadelphia, so I should love their sports teams. And on top of that, I live in Philadelphia and work for their sports teams. I should naturally be fan, right? No. Not in the least. I simply cannot help but root against them. I completely despise them (especially Jimmy Rollins) and could never bring myself to root for them. But as a Philadelphia resident, I will proudly say the Mets and Giants are and will forever be my favorites and the Phillies and Eagles my least. Now, that is how you define a rivalry.