Ivey played baseball up until high school, mostly at first base. He still follows the game and has watched the playoffs dutifully.
"I definitely don't like the Yankees," he said. "They never were my team growing up. I don't even own a Yankees hat. Wait, actually I do. My pop bought it for me as a gift the last year they were in the old Yankee Stadium, so it's a collector's item. That's the only Yankee hat I have, but I will never put it on my head."
Still, being a Mets fan, it can't be easy for Ivey to root for one of his team's rivals, can it?
"I know it's a rivalry [between the Mets and Phils] but you still have to root for the National League to pull it out," he said. "I don't want the Yankees to win. I'd rather have the Phillies go back-to-back. It hasn't been done since the Cincinnati Reds, so hopefully they pull it out. I definitely don't want the Yankees to win.
"I'm a big baseball fan. I love the history of the game. I haven't been able to get to any games, I've been busy. If I can get a ticket and get over to a game, then I will."
Forward Jason Kapono, who has attended some Phillies games during his stay here, including the NLCS clincher against the Dodgers, didn't hesitate when asked who would win the Series.
"Oh, Phillies in six, man," he said. "I think they sneak out one in the first two, then take it in six."
Kapono was happy about Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel's decision to go with Pedro Martinez in the second game. "He's a big-game pitcher."
