Fan Watch: Rendell appeals for calm | Philadelphia Inquirer

Wednesday, Nov 11, 11:10 AM

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Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Fan Watch: Rendell appeals for calm

Mayor Rendell, on the phone with Comcast Sportsnet from a campaign stop in Indiana, Pa., appealed for calm in Philly so that the national media will focus on what a great team the Phillies are rather than the bad behavior of the fans.

Meanwhile, fans heading up Broad Street from the stadium were for the most part well-behaved and having a good time. By 11:10 p.m., traffic was starting to flow down Broad Street.

While most of the hardcore Phanatics danced their way toward the Citizens Bank Park exits, scattered fans lingered in the stadium, unwilling to let their long-awaited moment go — even to celebrate.

High above right field, Mike Ruane Sr. and his children Mike Jr.,17, and Reilly, 9, took turns taking each other's pictures against the backdrop of the exultant team on the field. Reilly held up a hand-drawn poster: "Phils in Phive 1/2," the sign said. Her father beamed as the family absorbed the sight.

"We could stay all night," the proud father said.
On their way back to Scranton, the family plans to drive up South Broad St. to take in the riotous celebration. The children, the father explained, have spent their whole lives hearing about such things and deserve to see it firsthand.

"Back in '80, my wife and I were in pharmacy school here," Mike Sr. said. "We just always told 'em about how much fun we had."

Tickets to the game, he said, had not been cheap. But he's raising Phillies fans — and is well aware, as a Phanatic himself, how rare and special these moments are.

"To have my kids here to experience that, it was worth every single penny," Mike Sr. said.