Howard_look_back
Gino Ferretti also writes for PhillySportsDaily.com.  Follow him on Twitter: (@ginosnowballs).

The love affair ended too soon.  Without warning.

We were promised they turn it on when they wanted to turn it on. I believed them.  Who couldn't after watching game 4 of the 2009 NLCS?  But foolish me, I was hoodwinked. It was in fact a one night stand. A quickie. It's always uncomfortable wanting something the other doesn't want as much as you do. We all lost the same main squeeze at the same time. We came home last Sunday night and it was gone.

Where to go? What to do? What to watch?

To say we didn't have rebounds would be a lie. Not many people can say they have three girlfriends on the side, but you and I both know it's not as wonderful as it seems. Two of them are always down for a fling or two and the other one just likes our attention, but doesn't know what to do with it. Either way, they only go as far as third base.

And no matter how hard they try, they are just not the Phillies- at least not in 2010 Philadelphia.


True love is hard to find. And the city of Brotherly Love has had its heart smitten over a band of pretty boy pitchers and rugged sluggers for the past four years. The homers, the comeback victories, and those no-hitters all have led to sugar coated dreams of trophies and parades. And there was one dream come true. The first one in twenty five long, tearful years. The renewing of the vows between the Phils and their fans that had been missing for close to 15 years.

So what can the other three Philly teams do to console the fans now that the Phillies have labored, but didn't deliver the baby?

Adopt one of their own.

Of course, that's easier said than done.  Though all teams have broken through the regular season into the postseason quite frequently since 2001, there has been no championship. A city once distraught over NOT winning a championship since 1983 has now become spoiled by winning one with the 2008 Phillies.

Since 2000, the three other teams have each gone on to the championship game/series once, producing goose eggs each time. If there was a theme song to be played at the end of every loss at the Wells Fargo Center and Lincoln Financial Field, you would be hard pressed to find anything better than Janet Jackson's 1986 smash "What Have You Done For Me Lately"

No seriously.  What have you done for me lately?

Watching the Eagles' large lead over the Titans wither away last week, after unexpectedly pounding the Falcons the week before, has confirmed my confusion over the identity of this team. I don't know if they're good or if they're lucky, but ff it wasn't for a down season in the NFC, the Eagles would have been spending the bye week day dreaming about next season. However, incredibly, the Eagles have a legitimate chance of winning the East, and with the right streak, the conference. They've got the tools, but they're really only as good as the 4th best AFC team.

As much as I wanna see a Stanley Cup atop a gaudy float cruising (Crossing?) down Broad St., the Flyers have many question marks to provide answers for.  Adding some consistency to their power-play would be a good start.  And then there's the revolving door in net.

The Sixers are living up to expectations. Maurice Speights and Spencer Hawes have yet to adapt to Doug Collins' system, and frustration is beginning to mount the mind of veteran Andre Iguodala. Although there's been some hot flashes supplied by rookie Evan Turner and Jrue Holliday, the Sixers are far from being average, let alone mediocre.

It goes without mentioning that first year coach Collins was left with a Gulf spill that would make any BP employee blush. But with a nightly line up written in pencil, there's a lot of time left to erase and play out different options until he finds one to work. Hopefully coach Collins' unwavering commitment to win brings together his young squad. Right now, however, it's tough to watch.

If you are content with dry humping and the yearly tease of going all the way, then you won't miss the Phillies too much. The sprawling saves and sound of D-Wade's ankles breaking provided by an undrafted rookie goalie and a baby faced baller should be enough to keep you engaged. But flirt with cautious hearts, my friends, because the only real comfort for a Philly sports fans is expecting the worst. 

Of course, watching Donovan McNabb get benched usually turns me on.