Gonzo: Sweeter than Sweet

Philadelphians have opened their arms to Mike Sweeney. He couldn't be happier about that.

If you didn't get a hug from Sweeney on Sunday, you were one of the few. Before the Phils finished off a three-game sweep of the Padres in San Diego, the Fightin's favorite waiver-wire acquisition hit his first home run since late May. He was excited and so were his teammates. After Sweeney rounded the bases in the seventh inning and returned to the visitors' dugout, a spontaneous free love fest broke out - and quickly spread all the way back to the East Coast.

Out in California, everyone from Domonic Brown to Jimmy Rollins felt Sweeney's sweet embrace. If the Gatorade cooler had limbs, Sweeney almost certainly would have made the inanimate object hug it out and bring it in for the real thing.

"I'm just embracing being [with the Phillies]," Sweeney told The Inquirer. No word on whether he then hugged the baseball beat writers who made the trip to the Left Coast.

Back here in Philly, all sorts of people - warm and fuzzy from watching Sweeney - texted and tweeted about joining the open displays of affection. On Monday, the subhead on Philly.com's sports page said "wants a hug from Sweeney."

It shouldn't be surprising that the town has taken to Sweeney. Around here, it happens with guys like him all the time. Philadelphia has a reputation for being populated by surly, unwelcoming natives who can't wait to fire verbal darts at athletes using personalized blowguns. But when it comes to fringe players who produce a little bit or hustle or connect with the city's sensibility in any way, the locals can't wait to throw open their doors and invite them to stay awhile. It's counterintuitive but true.

Koy Detmer was a third-string quarterback without much talent, but he endeared himself to some by taking out an imaginary belt and pretending to whip the Packers sideline during a clash in 1998. The Eagles lost that game, but Detmer and his neck beard won over quite a few fans.

Sal Fasano didn't play here for very long. He had a small batting average but a big bushy mustache, which was good enough for two fan clubs.