They popped the cork on champagne bottles, poured beer on each other and even sprayed fans with a fire hose to celebrate the end of a long drought.

The Phillies didn't win the World Series, but they sure partied like they won it all after capturing the National League East title for the first time in 14 years.

Less than a week later, the Colorado Rockies swept the Phillies out of the playoffs and the city's championship drought reached 24 years.

Waiting for a parade on Broad Street? Check out the Mummers on New Year's Day because the professional sports teams in this town are more likely to disappoint you in the end.

Jeff Garcia led the Eagles on a remarkable run only to fall three points short of reaching the NFC championship game last January. Then Donovan McNabb returned this season and the Eagles never looked like contenders, sinking to last place in the division.

The Flyers suffered through the worst season in franchise history, but quickly turned it around after general manager Paul Holmgren revamped the roster with key free-agent signings and trades in the summer.

A new-look 76ers team played better after Allen Iverson's departure, though a strong finish cost them a chance to get a high draft pick. Time finally ran out on team president Billy King, who was fired just 17 games into this season and replaced by Philly native Ed Stefanski, the Nets' GM.

On the collegiate level, the ageless Joe Paterno was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and led Penn State to the Alamo Bowl in his 42nd season as head coach.

Jay Wright guided Villanova to the NCAA tournament for the third straight year. Temple struggled in its first season after Fran Dunphy replaced the retired John Chaney.

Lancaster County native Floyd Landis was stripped of his Tour de France title and banned from cycling for two years because of a positive doping test. Landis has appealed.

And the horse racing community mourned the loss of Barbaro, who was euthanized in January after complications from his gruesome breakdown at last year's Preakness. The 2006 Kentucky Derby winner captured the hearts and sympathy of racing fans across the nation with his fight for survival.

A sport-by-sport look at 2007 in eastern Pennsylvania:

FOOTBALL: The quarterback situation in Philly was a hot topic all year long.

Despite Garcia's success last season, the Eagles decided not to re-sign the veteran backup, extended A.J. Feeley's contract and selected Kevin Kolb in the second round with their first pick in the draft.

McNabb was annoyed the team brought in his eventual successor and his relationship with coach Andy Reid and the organization seemed a bit strained.

Still, the Eagles were a preseason favorite to win the NFC. But they couldn't overcome a poor start and lost too many close games.

McNabb got off to a slow start after a quick return from serious knee surgery. He showed flashes of his Pro Bowl form at times, but didn't get much help from a mediocre surrounding cast.

McNabb missed two games with an ankle and thumb injury and Feeley moved the offense in his absence. But Feeley threw seven interceptions in two starts, including one that cost the Eagles a chance to upset unbeaten New England.

Reid had more problems off the field dealing with his family. His two oldest sons were sentenced to prison on drug and gun charges, and a judge likened Reid's home to a "drug emporium." The coach took a leave of absence before the draft and critics called for him to resign, but Reid insisted he wasn't stepping down.

It'll be an important offseason for the Eagles. They must decide McNabb's future and figure out whether they're going to rebuild or retool.

BASEBALL: Jimmy Rollins raised quite a few eyebrows when he said last winter that the Phillies were the team to beat in the NL East.

It took an MVP season by the dynamic shortstop and a historic collapse by the New York Mets — they became the first team in major league history to blow a seven-game lead with 17 remaining — for the Phillies to make that bold prediction come true.

Another poor start and a slew of injuries to key players put the Phillies in an early hole and they spent the entire season chasing the Mets, catching them for good on the final day of the regular season.

Rollins had a career year to give the Phillies back-to-back MVP winners. Ryan Howard, who won the award last year, slammed 47 homers. Chase Utley had another outstanding season and probably would've been MVP if a broken hand didn't sideline him for a month. Cole Hamels developed into an ace starter.

But the league's highest-scoring offense fizzled in the playoffs and the Phillies lost three straight to the red-hot Rockies.

Expectations are high going into next season, even though All-Star center fielder Aaron Rowand left for San Francisco. The addition of closer Brad Lidge in a trade allows Brett Myers to return to the starting rotation, and the Phillies could make another playoff run if they can improve the pitching and add an outfielder before spring training.

BASKETBALL: The only bright side for the 76ers was that hardly anyone saw their losses pile up.

With no superstar in uniform and a poor product on the court, attendance dwindled at 76ers games. Perhaps that was one of the reasons King finally was let go after another miserable start.

Stefanski, who helped build the Nets into a winner, returned to his hometown with the difficult task of rebuilding a fallen franchise. Coincidentally, the team put together a nice stretch soon after the move. Still, the 76ers are destined for the draft lottery instead of a playoff appearance.

HOCKEY: Before the Flyers finished an embarrassing 22-win season, management started putting the pieces in place to restore the winning tradition.

Forward Scottie Upshall and goaltender Martin Biron were acquired before the trade deadline, giving the team another exciting offensive player and a reliable stopper in the net. Free agent Daniel Briere signed an eight-year, $52 million contract in July, the most significant of several offseason additions.

Guided by coach John Stevens, the vastly improved Flyers started strong and seem poised to make a playoff run. But they need to avoid getting in trouble with the league.

Five players drew suspensions for illegal hits, earning the team a stiff warning from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and disciplinarian Colin Campbell.

The Flyers' physical style earned them comparisons to the Broad Street Bullies of the 1970s. If they can win a Stanley Cup like that group, nobody in Philly will care much about those suspensions.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Villanova and Penn were bounced out of the NCAA tournament in the first round and none of the city's other Big 5 schools made a splash.

An improved Drexel squad earned a berth in the NIT, but were eliminated in the first round.

Villanova broke into the Top 25 early this season and could make a postseason run next spring.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: It was a challenging season for Paterno at Penn State because several players encountered off-field legal problems.

Despite the turmoil, the Nittany Lions finished 8-4 and Paterno earned a record 34th appearance in a bowl game.

On North Broad Street in Philadelphia, coach Al Golden may have finally started Temple on a path toward respectability in the Mid-American Conference. The Owls went 4-8 in their first season as a full member of the MAC.

AUTO RACING: Jeff Gordon held off a charging Ryan Newman in the rain to win the abbreviated Pocono 500 in June. Kurt Busch earned his first victory in 51 races by capturing the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway in August.