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WARNING: You're about to read the tale of a pathetic fan's undying loyalty to the most pathetic sports franchise in the history of professional sports.?

Okay, so I'm a weird brand of sports fan. But what Philadelphia sports fan isn't? We booed Donovan McNabb before he even put on an Eagles uniform - four NFC championship games and one Super Bowl appearance later we still boo. We booed Sarah Palin in October when she dropped the puck for the Flyers home opener. Heck, we even booed Santa Claus.

We cheer for our teams week in and week out, year in and year out, with nothing to show for it.

Until now.

You see, I'm a 21 year old Philly phantic. Prior to last month's World Series championship for the Philadelphia Phillies, no Philly franchise had won a professional sports title in the previous 25 years.

That means in my two decades of life, I've never had the opportunity to experience what a championship feels like as a diehard fan.

And no wonder why we boo.

I've watched expansion teams win championships - the Marlins and Diamondbacks come to mind; I've watched the teams I hate most hoisting trophies.

But this year it all changed.

The Phillies, the only team in history to have 10,000 losses, gave me my first sense of what a championship feels like. And boy does it feel great. Nobody expected it - myself included - but to beat the Rays in the World Series may actually be one of the greatest moments of my life -- and no I'm not joking.

And that's why I'm writing about it.

I'm supposed to write about local sports and school sports, but how many chances will I get to write about a Philadelphia championship? Maybe never again.

I was watching the championship parade days after the final game ended and kids skipping school lined the streets on a weekday. Several said they skipped because it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness a Philly title.

This could be the only chance I have to write about one.

So to Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels and all of the world champion Phillies I say 'Thank you.' Thank you for showing me what it feels like to root for a winner; what it feels like to root for a champion.

The curse has been broken, the floodgates are open, let's win another…but I'm not going to hold my breath.

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