Hey, Look—Hockey Started: Phillies Fans Have Week to Reconnect with World

Tunnel vision can be a funny thing.  You get so focused on one particular item, and the rest of the world disappears.

The best athletes use it to excel at their craft. Goaltenders talk about everything slowing down. I even experienced that a couple times myself in my brief stint as a goalie for Major League Roller Hockey's Capital Crunch.

You're in the zone. You're focused. And on top of your game.

For the past 20 days, Phillies fans have been captivated by their National League Champions.  Oh, we've followed the team all season long, through the peaks and valleys.  But the past three weeks have been intense.

And now, with a full week to savor the team's first World Series berth in almost a generation, Phillies fans are emerging from their cocoons and realizing the rest of the world, indeed, continued to spin without them.

So that financial crisis thing—is that still going on?  Well, if you check StubHub, ticket prices for the Series ain't exactly cheap.  Fear not—Philly fans will definitely be contributing to the nation's economy, snapping up tickets, gear, anything they can to capture the moment. 

A World Series win? That comes around less often than Haley's Comet, so you know the Phillies faithful would be dropping some serious coin if that happens.

There's also that Presidential Election thing. I heard there were a couple debates. I fell asleep during one (it wasn't a baseball night). Thankfully, the Series will be over prior to Election Day, so I can turn my attention to that later.

What's this?

Hockey started?  Really? 

The Flyers haven't won a game yet?

Shouldn't I be upset about this?  I mean, really? The Blackhawks fired their coach already over their start.  Shouldn't we be lighting the torches and leading the "Fire Stevens" chant? 

No? Not yet?

Too happy about the other stuff?  Okay, fine. John, you get a pass. But get that stuff in order, got it?

What about the Eagles? 

Hmm...Ugly win over the Niners? Okay, I'll take that. We have a bye week this week?  Guess I better update my fantasy team. Need a kicker to replace Akers. Rest of the division lost last week? Cool, I'll take that, too.

Okay, so looking at the landscape, things haven't deteriorated too badly while our attention has been diverted. 

Phillies fans, try to keep yourselves occupied the next few days while the Rays and Red Sox duke it out. But come next Wednesday, it's right back to it.

The rest of you, please hold down the fort.  We'd appreciate it.