Phillies make Tugger Proud

My earliest memories of life on this planet involve a golden retriever about five times the size of my three year old body. This guy had a big nasty mouth with a jagged gum-line covered with drool and slobber that often made it's way to the carpet and couch pillows unbeknownst to the authoritative figures at 6 Constitution Drive. I certainly didn't tell.

Tugger was named after the late Philadelphia Phillies closer, Tug McGraw, who threw the final pitch in the 1980 World Series that crowned his team champions for the last time - until now. Until Brad Lidge threw a whiffed upon slider rendering the Phillies World Champions.

Now I'm not saying that this is in proportion to the Red Sox win of 2004, because that was the greatest moment ever in sports, but this is a big deal. Not only because the Phillies haven't won in 28 years, but Philly also hasn't held a championship in any major sport since 1983. So it was up there with Cleveland as the country's most deprived sports town. And plus - its Philly.

Philly has forever sat in the shadows of New York and DC like that awkward middle child that never reached full potential or met expectations. In my opinion, sports became an avenue to get back at NYC, DC, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and for some reason Dallas for becoming more recognized and successful cities (ok, not Dallas).

So all the booing of Santa Claus and cheering when Micheal Irvin was carried off the field with a career ending injury was really just a release of pent up insecurity.

But I'm predicting a Philadelphia renaissance aided by a World Series win, but driven by economic fundamentals like low cost of living, a strong job market that is less "juiced" than NYC but pays almost as well, and fantastic accessibility to New York, DC, the Jersey and Delaware shores, and the Pocono Mountains. Plus there are some unbelievable BYOBs. Philly is also heavily involved in a growing movement in green building, sustainable development, and an overall balance of profit and social responsibility.

All of this makes a high city wage tax and homicide rate much more tolerable. Ok, the homicides are not that tolerable, but much of the crime and violence in Philly is clustered in specific areas that, of course, you'd rather not visit.

People are actually moving to Philly. That's correct, and I'm one of them. Of course I'm a bit biased having grown up in the area with friends and family still around, but the said advantages are really what did it for me. I'm planning on buying a house soon and seeing where the city goes.

So come to Philly, check it out - Tugger and Tug McGraw are no longer with us but a city rich with potential certainly is.