The Great World Series Dilemma

The World Series between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies kicks off tonight at 7:57 PM. As a Mets fan, that is very painful to say. In a season where everything went wrong for our team, where they completely embarrassed themselves time after time, with absolutely no positives to take away from the season, Mets fans must now decide which of the two evils to root for. It's the rotten cherry on top of the worst season imaginable. It is only fitting that it comes to this.

Mets fans are split on the issue, and I'm pretty split myself. There are two ways to look at it: who can I root for, and who would I rather have win? Interestingly, the answer to both questions might not be the same.

Initially, I thought the answer was easy: I want the Yankees to win. There is no possible way that I can root for the Phillies to win. I want absolutely nothing for that franchise and nothing for its fans (apologies to my relatives in the Philadelphia area). As bad as the 2009 season was for the Mets on it's own, having the Phillies as the defending World Champions the whole time made it so much worse.

On the other hand, and I can't believe I am saying this, this Yankees team is the most likeable it has been this entire decade. I always had respect for the Yankees of the late 90s with the likes of Tino Martinez, Paul O'Neill, Bernie Williams, etc. Then they became despicable to me. But this team has gone out all season and had fun. A-Rod looks like a kid again. I love the A.J. Burnett pies to the face. C.C. Sabathia is just an amazing pitcher to watch. Deep down, I have been just a little bit on the Yankees bandwagon since the Mets became unwatchable, but I still had a strong desire to see it crash and burn; I never wanted to stay on for a World Series run.

The point is, if you put a gun to my head, I can root for the Yankees in this World Series. I cannot root for the Phillies. I can have fun talking to family, friends, and co-workers that are Yankee fans as they enjoy their run.

But it's these same Yankee fans who will turn around and constantly rub it in my face when it's all said and done. They have always rubbed it in my face, but this season has left me especially vulnerable. I can do nothing but just take the punishment and laugh with them instead of being laughed at. I cannot possibly wish for happiness and satisfaction for these fans.

Previously, I empathized with Yankee fans, saying that for having such high standards, their championship drought has been rough. Well, I want it continue. I don't want their drought to end. I want them to continue suffering. Yes, it would be more painful for me to see the Phillies win the World Series, especially to be able to gloat about back-to-back championships, but at least Phillie fans are already happy having won last season. If they lose again this year, it's no big deal. So now Phillie fans and Yankee fans are happy. I would rather have Phillie fans slightly happier and Yankee fans miserable than having both be happy. I love the misery of Yankee fans.

So when answering the question of who would I rather win, I have to say the Phillies.

But what does that mean when the games start tonight? I have to root for the Yankees, but I want them to lose. I want the Phillies to win, but I cannot possibly root for them. This is my nightmare.

Prediction: Yankees in 6.