Like many sports fans, especially those of us living somewhere other than where we grew up, I have “my” team and the home team.

Even occasional readers here may have picked up on the fact that I’m a Phillies fan. I’ve been cheering on the Phils since the days when I was young enough to be fooled by hearing the radio announcer say, “Pittsburgh three, Phillies one,” and thinking he meant that the Phillies had won. I’ve cheered for Robin Roberts, Clay Dalyrimple, and Johnny Callison; Larry Bowa, Greg Luzinski, Tug McGraw, and Steve Carlton. Now I’m thrilled to follow the play of Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, Rollins, Howard, Moyer, Myers, Lidge, and the rest of this year’s National League Champions.

And then there’s the “home” team. Home for the past years has been central Florida. Miami and the Marlins are several hours away, and besides they’re in the Phillies division so I’m usually rooting against them. However the former Devil Rays, now officially just the Rays, are close by. The Trop is less than an hours drive away. In past years there hasn’t been much to cheer there. Most of the time I’ve lived in this area they’ve been out of contention pretty early in the season. But they are the “home” team, and this year has been quite different. All through the summer I felt that this team was for real. Last night they proved that by holding off the Red Sox and wrapping up the American League crown.

So this year the World Series will be between “My” team and the “Home” team. Make no mistake, I’ll be cheering on the Phillies all the way. I can hardly wait for things to get started Wednesday night. I’ll be just as thrilled watching this years Phils hold up the World Series trophy as I was watching Tug McGraw beating his glove against his leg many years ago. But if they outcome is different and it’s the Rays celebrating I won’t be nearly as disappointed. All in all it’s been a really good baseball summer.