With the Philadelphia Phillies winning their first World Series since 1980 last night, the city of Brotherly Love finally has something to cheer about again.

And all I can say is "Thank God."

Thank God that I don't have to hear the constant whining from my Philadelphian friends about their sports teams underachieving every year.

Thank God that we don't have to review once again the long list of Philadelphia sports failures that's been beaten to death by every newspaper, Web site and television network (particularly that four-letter one) in America.

And most of all, thank God the World Series, one absolutely marred this year by horrendous umpiring, nasty weather and poor oversight and decision-making (cough, cough, Bud Selig), is finally over.

This time Philadelphia and its fans got it what it wanted, and rightfully, what it deserved.

So what about the rest of the sports fans in the Keystone State?

For those Philly fanatics out there, just look about 190 miles to the west, where Penn State is three wins away from playing in a BCS bowl, if not the national championship game, this January.

I mean, who wouldn't love to see Joe Paterno get another shot at winning a national title, especially after missing out on the opportunity in 1994?

I spent four years studying (if that's what you call college) in Pennsylvania, and here's hoping I don't have to spend even four more days there.

But nevertheless, I'd still like to see JoePa - even if it's in the press box for God's sake - raise that Sears national championship trophy one last time.

I mean, how "vindicating" then would that be?

For the 81-year-old coach, it certainly would be.

Because after all the talk - whether he should step down or whether he should leave the program under his own terms - that Paterno has had to endure for nearly a decade now, he, just as much as the Phillies, deserves to feel like a champion one last time.

They always say it's better to go out on top than to burn out and hit rock bottom, right?

Well, we thought we might be seeing the last of Paterno when Penn State finished a lowly 3-9 overall and 1-7 in the Big Ten in 2003, only to follow with a slightly better 4-7, 2-6 campaign the following season.

But an 11-1 run, including an Orange Bowl win, in 2005 had the boss back on good terms in the eyes of fans and the Penn State administration, with the Nittany Lions finishing 9-4 the past two seasons and now currently sitting at 8-0 after last weekend's 13-6 win over Ohio State in Columbus.

There's still work to be done, however.

This weekend's matchup could potentially give Penn State some trouble, with the Lions having to go to Iowa City for a date with the Hawkeyes, while No. 22 Michigan State makes a trip to State College for PSU's final game of the season Nov. 22. 

But I'm serious, folks. If the Nittany Lions win on Jan. 8 in Miami, and that's a pretty big IF still, don't expect JoePa to come back for a 43rd year.

That really shouldn't be earth-shattering news - though we in the media will do our best to give it as long of a run as possible I'm sure - but I haven't heard anyone else say it yet.

In the meantime, let's not forget, since we're speaking on the subject of Pennsylvanian sports titles, that before the Phils' Game 5 Series clincher Tuesday night, the state's last championship came in 2006, when Big Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers to a Super Bowl XL win over the Seattle Seahawks.

So while the Phillies' second World Series championship Tuesday night should satisfy most Pennsylvanians (besides Pittsburgh Pirates fans, wherever they may be) for a little awhile, think about how much higher their spirits would soar if the Nittany Lions pulled off the improbable in roughly two more months.

And who knows, maybe even Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins could raise Lord Stanley this season after a finals appearance last year against the Red Wings (a.k.a. the New York Yankees of the NHL).

Then again, three titles in one year just might be too good to be true for Pennsylvanian standards.