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<p>Umm . . . because it’s fun?</p>
<p>The players make too much, the tickets cost too much, I don’t care about professional or college sports at all. I also resent that the city used some taxpayer dollars to build new stadiums. I feel the same way about actors. I can’t enjoy watching a movie knowing someone got paid $20 million to make it. </p>
<p>As for your tires costing more than my car, good for you. Until 8 years ago, I never made more than 40K. And 17 years ago I was making 13K. I couldn’t afford to go to sports games, movies or buy new cars. And when I did start to earn more than it cost to live, I saved every penny to be able to send my son to college.</p>
<p>oh - sueinphilly - don’t rain on this parade. This thread wasn’t put up to have a philosophical discussion on the cost/benefits of sports and other entertainment.
I enjoyed baseball from when I was a 8 year old girl (and our family income was very modest). I could never afford to go the games but I loved watching them on TV and even tuned into the radio to follow the games that didn’t make it to TV. I don’t really care how much money they make…it’s all supply about and demand. And though the cost of stadiums can be high…it comes back in revenue from ticket sales and more. CB Park is a terrific venue!
ANYWAY…Lots of people in Philly are walking around smiling and happy today - priceless.</p>
<p>yeah I’m happy for anyone who cares. BFD. This doesn’t impact anyone but the players. I am happy for the people who have jobs working at the stadium because of sporting events. I understand the economics behind it all</p>
<p>[Philadelphia-Phillies</a> Salaries | Philadelphia-Phillies Player Salaries | 2008 Philadelphia-Phillies Salary](<a href=“http://www.sportscity.com/MLB/Philadelphia-Phillies-Salaries]Philadelphia-Phillies”>http://www.sportscity.com/MLB/Philadelphia-Phillies-Salaries)
98,269,880 total</p>
<p>I wonder how much the city of Philadelphia gets of the ~4% city wage tax on these salaries, since technically players might not have to pay it for games played on the road. </p>
<p>I’m sure the people at the bottom of this list will be getting big raises. I hope Pat Burell and Ryan Howard (24M btw the 2 of them) are happy and going to Disney world</p>
<p>We all KNOW they make a lot of money - many of us (I’d say most who are posting on this thread) don’t CARE. They’re providing entertainment. BFD for SURE.</p>
<p>Well, Sue, sorry this is such a negative in your mind. There are lots of blue collar workers who get much enjoyment out of professional (and college) sports. Sports are actually a great equalizer among the classes. Yes, tickets are expensive, but sports bars are not. Pride and excitement about a team can really be a nice respite from some of life’s struggles and can give a city some real energy. I also have found that the fact that I enjoy sports has benefitted me greatly in my career. It is fun to share that interest, attend games and have spirited rivalries with business associates. There are definitely low points in professional and college sports, but the fun and excitement outweigh the negatives.</p>
<p>There’s been such hostility around this election that it was absolutely delightful to see how the Phillies brought everyone together and gave them something to cheer about. I’m hard pressed to remember when Philly has felt so good about itself – much deserved, in my opinion. (And appreciating your support, MOWC, knowing that your feelings are somewhat mixed.)</p>
<p>“This doesn’t impact anyone but the players.”</p>
<p>Then you just don’t get the value of sports. </p>
<p>Rooting for a pro team brings together all classes of people, the commonality being love for the team that represents and unites the entire region— the poor inner city, the rich suburbs, and every place in between. If people need athletes to be their heroes, what’s wrong with that? If this brings a brief respite from election commercials, layoffs, the stock market plunge, crime, then I think there’s value in that.</p>
<p>I’ll be on Broad Street tomorrow dressed in red probably looking like an idiot but I don’t care.</p>
<p>The excitement is at fever pitch in our corner of Phillies country. From what I’m hearing, attendance at my kids’ schools is likely to be relatively sparse tomorrow for the parade. In our house things are a little more low key since we’re actually Boston Red Sox fans, but I’m really happy for the Phils that they were able to take the series after all these years.(Believe me, as a Red Sox fan, I can empathize!) </p>
<p>To all who are going, enjoy the parade tomorrow!:)</p>
<p>ivoryk- Despite somehow losing my “Yankee” gene, I am the most die-hard Philly sports fan there is. I used to wear all my Eagles gear to the Dallas Cowboys-Eagles games, which was truly dangerous. The climate in TN is much less hostile, and I do split my loyalty now with the TN Titans. </p>
<p>I used to go to Phillies games with my grandfather when they played at Connie Mack Stadium. I think I had a pet named Robin Roberts at one point. I guess you can take the girl out of Philly, but you can’t take Philly out of the girl!</p>
<p>WildChild texted me to ask me what size tshirt I wanted.</p>
<p>oh now I draw the line at the Eagles – being a St. Louis (Cardinals – remember when?) football fan… but that’s another story. We’re in the middle of the debate over whether to let daughter skip school tomorrow to go to the parade. It’s hard to argue against Jamie Moyer…</p>
<p>I grew up in Philly. My grandfather worked for the Phillies organization for 40 years. I have very fond memories of going to the Vet with him when I was a little girl, getting to meet all the players, etc. We sent him to a Dream Week which he just adored. He was the classic blue-collar working class guy who enjoyed a nice game of baseball. He was so excited when he retired in 1980 because he always said he retired on top with the WS win over Kansas City. He passed away a few years ago, but I think my mother and I “spoke” with him last night and he was really excited :-).</p>
<p>“I used to go to Phillies games with my grandfather when they played at Connie Mack Stadium. I think I had a pet named Robin Roberts at one point. I guess you can take the girl out of Philly, but you can’t take Philly out of the girl!”</p>
<p>Hey Momofwildchild, maybe we were little girls sitting next to one another with our grandfathers!! I have vague memories of Connie Mack but remember the Vet quite well.</p>
<p>^^ How cool! I didn’t think anyone on here would remember Connie Mack. I remember the Vet, too, of course.</p>
<p>IK,</p>
<p>There will be LOTS more school days. This is a great chance to create a real memory for your D.</p>
<p>One vote here for “the 24 flu”.</p>
<p>ivoryk, can I vote? She’ll remember the parade for years, probably her whole life.</p>
<p>She won’t remember a dang thing from a day in school. Especially if it’s spent pouting about not being at the parade with all the other kids. I vote for ‘her wisdom teeth were bothering her’.</p>
<p>We never actually went to Connie Mack, my dad didn’t like baseball, but I knew that’s where they played. I think it was up near Temple. I do however remember dad taking us to Franklin Field (@Penn) to watch the Eagles, before the Vet.</p>
<p>Is anyone else old enough to remember the Phillies collapse of 1964? We were kids; my brother and I listened to every game on our transistor radios (they had to be angled just right). They had a 6 1/2 game lead with 12 to go, and blew it. We were absolutely devastated. We learned how hard, early on, being a Philadelphia fan would be. So this is especially sweet.</p>
<p>And the heroes- Steve Carlton, Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams (who became the enemy after he lost the 1993 Series)…, Mike Schmidt</p>
<p>My son is going to the parade (I tried to convince him not to, at first, but all his friends are going and it will likely be quite a memory). Just a little concerned about the ‘celebratory gunfire’ (?!) that occurred the night of the win, and the flipped SUVs. Hoping for a fun but peaceful event. </p>
<p>Sue, I can understand your perspective on sports (I sometimes wish I had a greater interest–but, usually I don’t, lol). The one thing I can see is the ‘social unity’ it provides – everyone is excited about the same thing. Except, in Philly, most often they are unhappy about the same thing, lol! I’m always interested in differing views about issues…including ones that are outside the mainstream…it’s fun and often enlightening.</p>
<p>Even though I’m not a sports fan–it was really touching to open the newspaper and see the headlines and photographs on Thursday morning. :-)</p>
<p>S2 is a freshman at H’s alma mater outside of the city. He and a bunch of friends hopped on a train and headed downtown on Wednesday night. Said he’s never seen anything like it. So fun, so exciting! Of course, he and buddies were lucky to find a cab back to campus in the wee hours of the morning. Oh, he did make all of his classes yesterday!!! </p>
<p>Several of his prof’s have cancelled classes today for the parade…but not all!!! Maybe that last one will come to his senses this morning!!! Go Phillies!!!</p>