Phillies lifting the city's spirits

PHILADELPHIA  October 17, 2008 - (WPVI) -- It's been said 'Life is like a baseball game. When you think a fastball is coming, you gotta be ready to hit the curve.'

And it seems we're getting a lot of curves lately.

A plunging stock market, home foreclosures, layoffs, and a seemingly endless war in Iraq have left many people feeling worried about our future.

But over the past few weeks, the Phillies have made life for some seem...

Not so bad.

"I think it's a wonderful thing for the city. We've had a lot of bad rep for the city with the crime and everything so this couldn't be a better time for us," said Laura Ammaturo of Northeast Philadelphia. Dr. Frank Farley, a psychology professor at Temple University, says the surging Phillies couldn't have come at a better time.

"We're going through an incredible time in this country. We've got an almost perfect storm of things happening here," Dr. Farley said. "Maybe they'll lift us up for awhile, out of the doldrums that we're getting into."

Farley admits a Phillies loss in the World Series could make the fall from "sports euphoria" that much harder.

But he says fans need to remember: At least the Phils got there.

And there's something to be said about that.

"There are so many ways to get joys and fun out of this life," said Dr. Farley.

"Don't hang your whole life on a sports team winning. That is not good."

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sports, chad pradelli

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