Where were you when the world stopped turning?

Where were you when the world stopped turning? Alright now don't worry I am not about to break out into a song by Alan Jackson. I'm talking about May, 1 2004. Don't remember it? Then you probably are not a Philly sports fan. If that is the case let me fill you in.....

May 1st 2004:

It has been 21 years since Philadelphia fans have felt the surge of victory in their veins that comes with winning a national championship. The last time Philadelphians had that was when the 76ers captured the title in 1983, so technically speaking it has been even longer since Philadelphia had a title that really mattered.

Let me pause here and ask the Chicago and Boston fans to never suggest they had it worse then us. Chicago you may have the Cubs, who may never win a title ever and Boston you may of had the Red Sox, but you guys also had the Bulls, Bears and the Patriots getting it done. Philadelphia, well we flat out had nothing. Zip. So don't go there.

Needless to say, Philly fans all over were desperate to bring back a title to the city of brotherly shove, any title. So desperate that we found hope in a horse. But not just any horse, a horse named Smarty Jones. It didn't matter that Smarty was technically born and raised outside of the city limits. He was from southeast Pennsylvania and that was close enough! On May 1, 2004 living rooms were packed, sports bars were filled and all eyes were on Smarty.

After 5 hours of pre-race analysis, interviews with high pitched short little men and a very awkward sing along of "My Old Kentucky Home" (even the die hards of Philly sang along with help of the subtitles at the bottom of the television) the horses entered the gates. Then, he did it.

I remember very clearly the first thing that went through my mind...." It's over?". To be honest I could not believe that I watched 5 hours of television for a 2 minute race (2:04 to be exact), I don't know what I was expecting but it came up short. But it did not matter because Smarty... no, WE won the Kentucky Derby and for a brief moment the world stopped. The curse was over. Right?

Wrong. When the dust on the race track settled and Smarty Jones pranced to the winners circle the commentators began to talk about the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. You see, most Philly fans had neglected to realize that although winning the derby is a tremendous accomplishment it was merely 1 of 3 wins needed to truly have claims to the crown.

This is where our story takes a twist and becomes eerily similar to so many Philadelphia sport stories. In the two weeks between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Philadelphians of all ages bathed themselves in smarty apparel and even hung Smarty flags from their homes. I think it is fair to say that Philadelphia held nothing back in backing this horse, they gave him their whole hearts. Some may call it a rebound relationship after the Eagles and Philadelphia split up for a few months when the Eagles only put up 5 points on Carolina in the NFC title game. However you view it, Philly fans were in for another heartbreak.

To make matters worse that Philadelphia Stallion went and won the Preakness. The city was licking its lips. Every house had a flag. Then, several weeks later came the Belmont Stakes and like clock work our hopes and dreams of holding the triple crown were over. You see it was right as the entire city got behind him that he bucked and kicked us right in the heart. The brutal kicking was actually caught on tape by a south jersey bystander.

You see friends and fans there is a moral to this story. Rebounds are always a bad idea.

So where were you when the world stopped turning?

-Toogood