Is 'Why Can't Us?' new Phils rally cry?

It began as a caller's remark just last Thursday.

In short order, a local sports blog and one of the nation's leading sports blogs began singing its praises as a Phillies rally cry.

Then, T-shirts and mugs were designed to get out the message, and hundreds of items have already been sold, raising money for charity.

Then it spread to radio, Facebook, print and ESPN.

Have folks found the perfect slogan for the Fightin' Phils?

Even if - or because - it's ungrammatical.

Judge for yourself: It's "Why Can't Us?"

It sums up fan frustration and projects a positive attitude in a funny, catchy way, says Dan Levy, who wrote the original blog post on www.the700level.com, a Website devoted to discussing Philadelphia sports.

What Marty from Delaware innocently uttered on a morning XM baseball show could be "the next great new catch phrase," he wrote.

The Phillies, after all, just don't have a chant as fan-embraced as "E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles!"

"I love that the grammar is so bad on it, makes it even more appealing and lovable," wrote Tony in the first comment.

Then A.J. Daulerio picked up the cause on Deadspin, his nationally popular sports blog (www.deadspin.com).

"This is just so endearingly dopey, I'm hopeful it does catch on," he wrote the same day. "... That is a slogan that will last a lifetime.

He begged someone to "Please, please, please, start printing the T-shirts immediately."

Levy, 30, of Cherry Hill, happens to run the 609Design Shop, and faster than a Jamie Moyer called strike, he paired "Why Can't Us?" with a Liberty Bell, and used the magic of online on-demand merchandiser CafePress.com to hawk T-shirts, jerseys, hoodies, a dog T-shirt, an infant bodysuit and a large mug.

"All proceeds go to the fight against ALS," proclaims the Website, www.whycant.us.

The buzz spread on Friday to local sport-talk shows and then the Sunday sports column of the Inquirer's John Gonzales, who learned of the rally cry as the guest of Levy's "On the DL" podcast (www.onthedlpodcast.com).

ESPN's Scott Van Pelt mentioned it on Sports Center over the weekend.

A Facebook page created just for "Why Can't Us?" already has more than 1,440 "friends."

And yesterday, the local blog Philebrity (www.philebrity.com) gave its hearty endorsement under this provocative headline:

"Why Can't Us?" Gathers Steam As Entire City Devolves Into One Fleshy Alcohol-Soaked Sports Brain

Levy has designed sports merchandise before, including gear for a Tony Kornheiser radio show, but he's never seen it sell so fast.

In just a few days, about $5,000 had already been raised for ALS, one of the Phillies favorite charities, he said yesterday.

The bandwagon may have started late, what with the World Series starting in St. Petersburg, Fla., tomorrow.

But Cafe Press ships quickly, so items ordered today might get express-delivered by Friday - the day before the Series arrives at Citizens Bank Park, Levy said.

"They do a good job of turning it around," he said.

In any case, fans are free to chant "Why Can't Us?" and put it on signs, he said.

"My goal is to have Joe Buck say 'Why Can't Us?' on Fox," Levy said of the play-by-play broadcaster. "I think that would be the funniest thing ever."