My buddy was telling me about a deep conversation he had with his son recently. The guy is Catholic and goes to Mass every Sunday. His kid is less enthusiastic. So the father asked the son whether he believes in God, and the lad told him no.

"What about when you give up five goals in hockey?" the dad asked. The kid is a hard-core puck head and accomplished youth goalie. "Don't you start praying then?"

"Yeah, I guess I do," came the reply.

"Well, then you believe in something."

I'm with the boy. I'm a lapsed Catholic (to the everlasting disappointment of my family) and I'm still not sure where I stand on the Almighty. But when it comes to sports, I definitely believe in something. Karma, mostly.

When I was growing up - and even after I graduated from college - my friends and I spent a lot of time watching bad players on bad teams. You probably did, too. Steve Jeltz at shortstop for a Phils club that lost 95 games. Charles Shackleford in the paint for a Sixers squad that lost 56 games. Bobby Hoying, Koy Detmer, and Rodney Peete under center for a Birds team that lost 13 games - not to mention its dignity.

Through it all, we talked about how we were putting in our time, paying our dues, and doing our good deeds as fans. The hope was that the universe would eventually repay us and replace suffering with success. (As we got older we found out that beer is a fine karmic crutch.) Still, there we were - win or lose (mostly lose), waiting for the interminable cloud cover to lift and the sun to shine down on South Philly.

That time has finally arrived. Last year's World Series run was magical and memorable, one of the most truly feel-good moments this city has ever seen. And the best part is that it wasn't an aberration. The Phils are back in the Fall Classic. After claiming just one title in their first 100-plus seasons, the Fightin's have a chance to win their second World Series in as many years. Makes you a little dizzy, doesn't it?

On the field after the pennant clincher the other night, I was standing with another media type. I started talking about how radically different these Phils are from almost every team I watched before they came along. The other guy just sort of shrugged. He's a jaded journo and he didn't really see the wonder in all of it.

That's because he was staring at the players. He was facing the wrong way. I told him to turn around, to look at the 46,000-or-so people still packed shoulder-to-shoulder in the Citizens Bank Park stands. It's nice what the players have done, but what makes their success special is how it affects the fans, how it alters the collective vibe and shifts the city's default disposition from moody and melancholy to cheery and content. Everyone in the joint was positively beaming. How could anyone look at a scene like that - after so many dark, disappointing years - and not smile in kind?

One final anecdote: Long after the game had ended, long after most of the fans had cleared out, the players and their families lingered on the field. Over on the dirt between second and third base, two little girls ran around as little girls do. They couldn't have been more than 6 years old. While the CBP speakers pumped out David Lee Roth's "Just Like Paradise," the two of them stopped playing long enough to hug and high-five. They're growing up in Philly, and all they know is happiness and victory.

If that's not karmic payback, I'm not sure what is.

Have you seen previews for The League on FX? It's a comedy about a bunch of dudes who play fantasy football. I just got an advance copy in the mail. The characters are almost as ridiculous and depraved as Wax and Sacco.

Start

QB: Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler, Eli Manning

RB: Laurence Maroney, Joseph Addai, Marshawn Lynch

WR: Mario Manningham, Steve Smith (N.Y.), Miles Austin

TE: Brent Celek, Heath Miller, Visanthe Schiancoe

Bench

QB: Carson Palmer, Mark Sanchez, Matt Cassel

RB: Reggie Bush, Willie Parker, Glen Coffee

WR: Terrell Owens, Percy Harvin, Santana Moss

TE: Vernon Davis, Dustin Keller, Kevin Boss

Sunday Sixer

(Home team in caps)

Last week: 3-3

Season: 20-15-1

Vikings +6 over STEELERS: Considering the way Minnesota has played, this line surprises me.

Packers -9 over BROWNS: Former Inky staffer and Page 2 pal Todd Zolecki is a Packers fan. In honor of Zo, I'll ride with the cheeseheads.

Colts -14 over RAMS: I'd take La Salle -13 over the Rams, and the Explorers disbanded the football team years ago.

Saints -61/2 over DOLPHINS: Read a story about Drew Brees in Men's Journal. He eats toast with peanut butter, bananas and honey for breakfast every morning. That's the kind of info you're just not getting in another paper.

TEXANS -3 over 49ers: Had to pick one home team to cover.

Eagles -7 over REDSKINS: Washington just lost to Kansas City (!). Has to be a bounce-back game for the Birds. Right?

Contact columnist John Gonzalez at 215-854-2813 or gonzalez@phillynews.com.