Dick Jerardi: Was that Mia Hamm in Ashburn Alley?

THERE WILL BE some fiction mixed in with fact in this journal. When I can figure out the difference, I will let you know.

A fact

The Phils beat the Dodgers, 3-2, in Game 1 of the NLCS with one big inning - the sixth, when they scored all three of their runs. Chase Utley's postseason issues ended with that two-run skyball homer. And Pat Burrell, 4 days after playing hero in Milwaukee, did it again with the game-winning homer. He got the last word on the field, talking to Fox's Ken Rosenthal before heading into the clubhouse.

Possible fiction

It's about an hour before first pitch when, while strolling Ashburn Alley, I stumble over a soccer ball. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mia Hamm chasing after the ball. Mia and Nomar. I thought Nomar was still in

Boston, had retired or both. The

soccer ball reminded me Nomar was on the Dodgers' bench. Mia was quite nice.

Nice touch

Fox had Harry Kalas voice-over the Phillies' lineup during its opening. Larry Bowa, who got a very loud cheer when introduced before the game, did the same for the Dodgers.

Very disappointed I had to miss Bill O'Reilly last night. It is nice to know Edward R. Murrow lives on at Fox News.

Very nice touch

Moments before the Phillies took the field, a "Beat LA'' chant started up among the perfectly choreographed towel wavers. Suddenly, it was the old Boston Garden or the Spectrum. Where were Kareem, Magic and Worthy? Probably winning another championship.

It was, however, kind of hard to stare at those two AIG signs under the third tier in right. Hope their corporate executives enjoy their next junket - to

Bayonne.

Spare a few billion

Loved the perch Marcus Hayes, Ed Barkowitz and I had high above leftfield, even if Burrell was a rumor below us and the foul pole blotted out the Center City skyline. Yes, I did have a great view of the Turf Club, in case you were concerned.

Press box cash

Barkowitz did some quick math on the auxiliary press box seats and figures the Phillies would have gotten $10,000 (seat price and concessions) during the regular season for the

approximately 240 seats that

normally would have been sold. Triple it for the NLCS.

This Spin alone is no doubt worth the 10 grand, but maybe not all that extra cash the Phillies would have gotten for NLCS tickets out there.

Who wins?

Usain Bolt running 100 meters or Manny jogging 90 feet while admiring his screaming, 420-foot double off the top of the railing in center? Hayes, who was in Beijing, said Bolt wins by 10 meters.