Are you like me? Were you hoping the Tampa Bay Rays would win the World Series?

This was a team without a winning record in its existence, whose 70 wins last year set a team standard, was 25 games over .500 this year and never faltered, although the so-called experts were waiting for it.

Instead, the Rays finished first in the American League East ahead of the overpriced New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

And, they did it with youthful exuberance, boatloads of young, productive talent, a poised pitching staff, defense and fundamental baseball.

They were the feel-good story of the year.

Despite all that, there was a second reason I was pulling for Tampa Bay: Philadelphia doesn't deserve a championship.

Not to be outdone by the Chicago Cubs, who wailed that they hadn't won a World Series in 100 years, the Philly faithful whined that they hadn't won a major sports championship title in 100 years.

Since the Philadelphia 76ers won the NBA crown in 1983, all four Philadelphia teams, which also includes the Phillies, Flyers and Eagles, no team had won a title.

Boo-hoo.

The City of Brotherly Love drew no sympathy when it tried to one-up Chicago because it still had Michael Jordan and the Bulls (six NBA titles) and the Bears (an NFLtitle in 1985).

Why has Philadelphia been tortured? Chalk it up to karma.

Consider:

n You boo Santa Claus, you lose.

n You cheer Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin being carted off the field on a gurney with a possible neck injury, you lose.

n You boo Syracuse University quarterback Donovan McNabb's being selected on draft day with the Eagles' first-round pick. He led the team to four consecutive NFC Championship games, including to the Super Bowl in the 2004 season. You lose.

You really were disappointed because the team didn't select NCAArushing leader Ricky Williams? You would have lost out on that one as well.

The point is, Philly fans are hard to please. Even former Phillies first baseman John Kruk said if the team won the World Series, they'd expect the team to win it next year.

There's nothing wrong with that, but fans from Philadelphia are notorious for giving its own players a hard time.

Pity the poor Eagles. They're next on the list. While they're battling the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants in the NFCEast, Philadelphia won't be content savoring the Phillies title.

They'll wonder what's wrong with the Eagles. The Phillies won, so why not the Eagles? Or the Flyers? How hard can it be?

At least it's fun to watch Philadelphia fail. But now, with the taste of victory in their mouths, fans will really be obnoxious and unbearable.

Still, the holidays are coming.

Santa beware.

Sam Tallarico is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.