Baseball Overload

I recently visited Philadelphia, no not for a baseball game, but rather to simply enjoy the history. I soon found my self surrounded however, by the one thing I was trying to stay away from. The Phillies. The first warning was when I noticed that 90% of the people I had seen so far where wearing Phillies jerseys, 4 hours before game time, on a subway that didn't go NEAR Citizens Bank Park. My second sign was when we got off. The train had 2 signs blinking. One of them said the train line. The other one said "Go Phillies!". OK, Thats cool, there passionate about there team. Then it got worth. Me and the 2 people I was traveling with got off at 5th street, and went directly to the National Park Visitors Center. Right next to the information desk, was a public art project. I've seen this before, some city's have frogs, cows, etc. And they are given to artists who are supposed to paint on it something that symbolizes the city or something like that. After they are painted or designed or whatever, they are auctioned off, and put in public places. Cool, smart idea. But Philly did things differently. Instead of doing something smart and relevant, like perhaps the liberty bell, Philadelphia's public art is the Phillie Phanatic. And now, the national park service had bought one and was displaying it at the welcome desk. As I tried to look past the Phanatic, I noticed an even more alarming sight. The a large portion of the Welcome Centers back wall had a HUGE Phillies video board, which basically only told you where and how and why to buy Phillie tickets (as if there's some available). We exited and went to independence hall, 100% Phillie free. Lunch however, was much different. We ate lunch at a food court, where I decided to step inside of a gift shop. Thats when I saw it. The store, had only 1 wall of actual Philadelphia Stuff. The rest, was Phillies, with a little room spared for the Flyers and what ever there MLS team is named. The even had a feature length movie, starring the one and only Phillie Phanatic (Did you know the Phanatic makes a 6 figure contract, not to bad for a furry dancer with free tickets, I would pay FOR that job.). After I buy some baseball cards, we go to the National Constitution Center ( I highly recommend it, and make sure you get the ipod touch tour!!!!!!!). The Constitution center was just as bad, dedicating a whole aisle to the Phillies. However, the real horror set in at the train station, where I met face to face, my biggest fear. Team Ice Cream. Yes, at the McDonald's, there was a Phillies mcflurry. Complete with red and blue M & M's with Phillies logos on them. And then, at the news stand, they where selling Game Day Magazines, Thats right, the exact same ones at the stadium. But it doesn't stop there, they where also selling SUBSCRIPTIONS to it, just in case you weren't die hard enough. Why must the pirates suck?????