There is no doubt that my two favorite cities in the country are Boston and Philadelphia. I have called both cities home in my short lifetime, and because of their similarities and wonderful qualities, I am often torn between the two.

For instance, during the short East Coast summer, with its Public Garden and Charles River, Boston is the more beautiful city. Philadelphia, on the other hand, has a richer historical background. The race is close, but with the Liberty Bell and Declaration of Independance, Philly wins by a nose. With all due respect to chowdah, Philly wins the food competition, as nothing can compare with an honest-to-goodness Philly cheesesteak. Factor in the classic soft pretzel, water ice, and Tastykakes, and Philly wins by a mile. The cities are tied when it comes to architecture; Philly's art museum is a breathtaking building, and Boston's Trinity Church and John Hancock combination in Copley Square is a photographer's dream. When it come to beer, Philly is a clear winner, as I would take a Yuengling Lager or Black and Tan over a Sam Adams any day. Philly takes the cake in music, as well, as I've never been a big Aerosmith fan. The Pixies make it a close race, but it's hard to argue with the Roots, the philly soul genre, Bruce Springsteen (adopted, yes, but Philly is where he got his start), Live Aid, Hall and Oates, Boys II Men, and Will Smith. Boston chalks up a win in the We-Made-It-Up category for Patriots Day, the single greatest holiday and sports tradition in American history. On Patriot's Day, the city hosts the Boston Marathon, Marathon-related block parties all over the city, and a Red Sox day-game against the Yankees, all within a few miles of each other. Boston's public transportation is a huge winner over Philly's Septa system, and Fenway Park is a better experience than any of the stadiums or arenas Philadelphia has to offer.

It's clear that both of these cities have a huge place in my heart, but when it comes to sports, I can't give either city the edge. Born and raised in Philly, I am a diehard supporter of the Sixers, Flyers, and Eagles, and I always will be. But a combination of the Phillies' organization's lack of desire to win, their failure to connect with the fans, and an apartment within earshot of Fenway Park led to my passion for the Boston Red Sox. I never imagined I'd be able to cheer for a team outside of Philly's city walls, but it's impossible to spend four years in Boston without falling in love with the city and their baseball team.

And so, it is a weird position to be in, with the Eagles and the Patriots meeting up in this year's Super Bowl. I am forced to cheer against the same fans with whom I, just a few months ago, stood shoulder to shoulder with on Boylston Street as the World Series parade rolled by.

When all is said and done, we are all very similar, the citizens of these two cities. We are passionate about our teams, loyal (sometimes, to a fault), and no heartbreak is great enough to send us away forever. We love winning, but we know our history of losing has only made us stronger. We are knowledgeable and cynical at times, if only to protect ourselves.

I call both of these cities home, but when it comes to football, there is no doubt where my heart lies.

I am one of them.