The Fightins Keep Fightin'

"The Fightins" is such a good nickname for the Phillies. Maybe you've noticed that I really like the name, as evidenced by the fact that I've used it on a few different occasions recently to describe the Mets' closest divisional rival. Derived from the extended nickname "The Fightin' Phils," I actually hadn't heard it until sometime in the middle of this summer, but man it just works.

As any good nickname should, its got a quick, succinct ring, but it's also just condescending enough to be a perfect nickname for the Philadelphia Phillies. I'm not usually one for condescension, and I generally believe in treating everyone and everything with respect, but the Phillies mark one notable departure from this standard way of thinking.

For one, my deep-seeded belief in universal respect goes out the window when someone or something has behaved in a manner so as to abuse or otherwise make me question that respect. Case and point: I'm always friendly to the new kid in school, but if they act like a jerk or do something else to prove they don't deserve that immediate friendliness/respect, it all goes out the window.

Which cuts right to the root of why the Chicago Cubs are lovable losers, and the Philadelphia Phillies are not. Question: Who's the losing-est franchise in Major League Baseball history? Fact: The Philadelphia Phillies, who this year surpassed 10,000 losses since they began play in 1883. While the Cubs, conventionally, are known as "the lovable losers," this affectionate nickname, statistically at least, should really go to the Phillies, right?

Wrong. Because Cub fans, despite the occasional outburst, (which can be forgiven; remember - there have been no World Series championships on the North Side since 1908) on the whole are friendly mid-westerners who handle all the losing gracefully, still show up to support their team through it all, and couldn't be much more grateful when the boys from Wrigley do pull off a winning/contending season. Remember 2003? You genuinely felt terrible for the Cubbies when the overzealousy bug struck Steve Bartman, and the Florida Marlins (who have delivered an extremely undeserving fan base two World Series championships in their 15 year history) went on to win the NLCS and World Series.

Poor Cubbies

When a Cub fan gets out of line, you gently remind him/her of the Curse of the Billygoat, and it's over and done with. They still have your love. Granted it's a different sport, but in Philadelphia, on the other hand, the fans have proven that they can't even handle the recent success of the Eagles with grace, and so when their other teams suck - and still have the stones to call themselves the "team to beat" - you make fun of them because not only are they crappy, but to boot their fans are still incredibly obnoxious and lack any semblance of class. This coming from a fan of New York teams across four professional sports.

Remember Eagle fans cheering when Michael Irvin lay motionless on the Veterans Stadium turf?

You call the Phillies the Fightins because that's exactly the idea - they fight and fight and fight, but they're never the "Winnins," or thereabouts if you catch my drift, and you never feel sorry at all, you just revel in it.

And when they give you a bit of a scare, and they "fight" their way to 2 games behind with a month to play after a four game sweep in their home ballpark, but then celebrate in front of you like the calendar reads September 30 instead of August 30 and they've just clinched the division, you just watch gleefully as your team quietly rebuilds their 7 game lead and positions themselves for a 2nd straight division title. Because the Fightins can fight, but that's about it.

A 7 game lead, I might add, that has dropped again to 5 1/2 following last night's loss. And the Fightins keep fightin', winning in 10 after Paulie Walnuts got himself tossed in the ninth and his replacement, the normally reliable Jake Taylor (er, Mike DeFelice) dropped a popped-up bunt to help spark their 10th inning, game-winning rally.

It was endearing and probably necessary against the A's back in June. It was stupid last night.

But with Pedro on the hill today, (with 5 Ks in his first two innings) the hope is that despite last night's hiccup, the Metsies will rebound to trim that magic number by another couple of games. And maybe within the next week, that impending 2nd consecutive NL East title will become official.

And the Fightins will still keep fightin...for the Wild Card, at least. By then, though, they may be gasping for air.

(Photos courtesy nndb.com, media.philly.com, mets.com, sportsillustrated.cnn.com)