TheyhateNewYork.com

YANKEES HATERS are everywhere, not just in New England. Theirs can be a full-time pursuit, despising the most successful franchise in North American sports, a team that resides in the greatest city in the world.

Yes, the Phillies will be feeling that love, even if it is misguided. The Phillies will even enjoy some warmth from Mets' fans, many of whom have made the difficult decision to cheer against the Yankees. Perhaps the sight of Jimmy Rollins tonight in Game 1 will convert the "Let's Go Mets" bunch back to their New York brethren.

To Yankees haters, it doesn't matter that it's the Phillies. It could be anybody - trust us. If a team from Havana beat the Yankees to win the American World Series, that would be OK to these folks.

Michael Moorby is the owner of YankeesHater.com. He is a Red Sox fan. He lives among the Yankee heathens in North Jersey. He decided to do something about it.

"When Aaron Boone hit the walkoff home run against the Sox in the 2003 ALCS, it was hard enough," Moorby said in an e-mail. "The next day at work I was chided relentlessly by prideful Yankee fans. During the long winter that followed, I plotted a bit of playful revenge."

His revenge included designing "Yankees Haters" ball caps. He turned the "N" of the Yankees' cap into an "H". In April 2004, he sent two dozen caps to the Red Sox' Kevin Millar. That season Curt Schilling was photographed wearing a cap, and without a towel covering it. That year, interestingly, the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years.

Moorby sent along some tips for watching the World Series if you hate the Yankees. "Pray for Pedro [Martinez] to throw a classic against the Yankees . . . Yankee fans see a mirage of Red Sox logos wherever he goes.

"Pick up a New York paper after a Yankee loss for pleasure reading. No media group devours its own like the sports writers of New York."

Despite these worldly bits of advice, the Phillies have a best-of-seven series against the team with the best record in baseball to overcome.

There is no doubt that fan support can go a long way. Citizens Bank Park has turned into an enormous homefield advantage.

"I suspect that many Philadelphia fans hate the Yankees almost as much as they love the Phillies," Moorby said. "What could be better than having two rooting interests in the same World Series?" *