To the owners of the Phillies,

"If there's something you can do, maybe we push our situation and see if we can make it work."

These are the words of Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch in reference to his team acquiring lefthanded pitcher Dontrelle Willis and third baseman Miguel Cabrerra during last weeks winter meetings in Nashville.

If you are one of the owners of the Philadelphia Phillies (all ten or eleven of you who never come out to get some sun), I would seriously suggest you take a page out this teams notebook. After all, you are the team who gave them their manager. Moreover, by watching how the Tigers "do business", you could possibly make even more money than you are already pocketing.

It is speculated that the Tigers exceeded over a million dollars in season ticket sales on Wednesday alone immediately after announcing the Willis/Cabrerra trade (HINT HINT, Mr. Montgomery). Now don't get me wrong Jimmy Rollins is as enthusiastic as it gets when it comes to supporting his team and you have to love him for it. However, all the optimistic talk in the world can't solve your spotty fourth and fifth starters (Adam Eaton and Jaimie Moyer), and a second year starter who will see the rest of the National League a second time around (Kyle Kendrick). Don't even get me started on our center fielder and third basemen (?)..............

What the fans have in Detroit is what the disgruntled fans of Philadelphia would most likely sacrifice a body part for. Dare I say:

AN OWNER WHO WANTS TO WIN A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's why we loved Pat Croce. In the end, he may have bitten off a little more than he could chew as far as wanting Mr. Snider's job after the Sixers run to the NBA Finals. It is however, safe to say that as long as Pat was overseeing the "operation" that is called the Philadelphia 76ers, the Philly faithful was content in the fact that the team would be a legitimate contender come the season's first tip-off in October. Croce did the unthinkable: For the first time ever, he made the Sixers a marketable commodity. Something not even Doc, Moses, or Charles could do back in the 80's when that last championship banner was raised into the old Spectrum rafters. Sure, the team made some lousy draft picks as well as some lopsided trades that eventually cost Billy King his job. Fact of the matter is, after Croce left it was never the same. Pat gets it and always will. I knew that from the day Pat saved the Sixers from the jaws of death. On that sunny day in May of 1996, Pat was in attendance at the Phillies game and proceeded to shake hands with every human being in the stadium, including yours truly, a then 18-year old dreamer who still, even as he stares down the barrell at 30, longs for a champion in our town to call my own. EVERY fan, sports writer, and local cynic in the tri state area can agree with that.

In the meantime, the owners of the Phillies have historically robbed generations of fans in this town of their baseball to the point where it's a cardinal sin, everyone knows the Eagles are more concerned about "being competitive" than ever winning a Super Bowl. The Flyers try to get it right, but unfortunately and unintentionally, somehow manage to come to a conclusion that leaves us disappointed yet again.

Let's go back to Mr. Ilitch in Detroit. Prior to their blockbuster deal last week, the Tigers payroll was in the ball park of $110 million. This is the SAME price that our beloved Phils are claiming to raise their payroll to in 2008. Detroit is not quite the same market size as Philadelphia. However, by acquiring Willis and Cabrera, the payroll is now more the size of $130 million.

See what an extra 20 million does everybody? No one knows for sure at this moment, but then again, that's the difference between a team who goes for the golden ring, and the team that constantly sells the most loyal fans in the United States a false bill of goods.

All we want is an owner (or "owners") who get it like Pat Croce got it. Hungry, driven people who want to win more than anything. Sure, the bottom line is making money. It's a shame to have all of that money, and not realize that putting a winning product (NOT just a competitive one) will surely coincide with plenty of more money for Mr. Lurie, Mr. Banner, Mr. Middleton (because he needs it the most), and all those other no-face owners of the Phillies who make a living out of crying poor mouth.

All we want to hear are those words: We want to win a championship. Just let us hear it one time gentleman besids it coming fomr a man named Croce. If one owner in this town can convince me that is is true, we will surely see a parade in the near future. But I'm not cancelling my afternoon plans anytime soon.

So in the mean time, enjoy the World Series, Super Bowl, NBA Finals, and (for now) the Stanley Cup on television. Because trust me, it WILL be the closest we get for a very, very, very, long time.

In the meantime, I'm sure John Middleton is somewhere on his mansion smoking one of his cigars. But I'd rather have the one's that Red Auerbach would smoke, instead. You know, the victory cigar......................................