Charlie

How did Charlie Manuel rise to the lofty heights of Philadelphia sports scene in an environment that chews up and discards those perceived as unintelligent or "player coaches"?

Easy, he WON.

Contrary to the world's jaded perception of us Philly sports fans, we're all about two things: the over used sports cliché "leave it all on the field", and something even simpler, winning.

Just two years ago people were openly and sometimes loudly calling for Charlie's head. But now after two division championships and a World Series title, Charlie has probably forever secured himself a place in the hearts of Philly sports fans alongside those including Dick Vermeil, Bobby Clarke (and the entire Cup teams of the '70s), Wilbert Montgomery (and the entire '81 Super Bowl losing team), and most notably Dallas Green and the '81 Phils roster, as well as the great Sixers teams of the '60s and '80s.

No, Charlie won't rival Gene Mauch for toxicity or on-field strategy, but neither will he rival Mauch for his abrasiveness and failures.

Charlie came here with a solid reputation as a teacher of hitting with considerable credentials to back it up. But he also had a questionable legacy as a manager, having seemingly underachieved in Cleveland with a roster chock full of stars and even a few blossoming Hall of Famers.

But he has taken a group of emerging stars on a team with a gritty personality to the pinnacle. While the club has yet to demonstrate the ability to be consistent in the grueling marathon that is the regular season, he has captured the brass ring, and that is really what big time sports is all about (other than money, obviously).

And, in doing so, he has allowed his now-perceived-as charming personality to blossom, and the fans have eaten it, and him, up (are you listening Andy Reid?).

Whatever happens in his remaining years as Phils' skipper, Charlie has been adopted as a Philadelphian, as have the entire 2008 Phillies roster. No longer are Kim Baptiste and Dave Hollins more revered than Matt Stairs in the City of Brotherly Shove. And Charlie's oft-ridiculed IQ has now reached genius proportions simply by achieving the ultimate baseball accomplishment (for a ballclub) — World Champions.