SWEPT AWAY

THIS IS going to require a personality makeover for all of Boston. Last night's stout 3-0 victory by the Red Sox ends all the cliches, finally reverses the curse and buries the Bambino. It is a cultural watershed after 86 years. But that's not all.

Boston is no longer the city of lovable losers. Not only is Boston home to both the football and baseball world champions -- the first time this has happened in 25 years (since Pittsburgh in 1979) -- it also hosted a national political convention this year and is home to the Democratic presidential nominee.

So the town's favorite pastimes, politics and sports, are ascendant to a degree not seen since John F. Kennedy and Red Auerbach's Celtics dominated their spheres. But the Red Sox drought was so long, so frustrating, and in too many cases so agonizing that the team, and the city, at times seemed to relish that we were fated to be runners-up -- worthy competitors who could be relied on, in the end, to fall short.

Now the team and the city are winners, no longer deserving of sympathy but admiration. Can we handle it?

Some guidance may be found in the games themselves. For one thing, don't be too quick to judge. The base-running blunder by the Cardinals' Jeff Suppan in Game 3 of the World Series reminded many of the Sox follies of 1986 versus the New York Mets.

The Red Sox had some pratfalls this year, too, but timed them better. Another lesson: Ambitious goals can be reached only one step at a time, and usually with teamwork, when stars and superstars accept limited roles. Curt Schilling's heroics are well documented. But there was also Dave Roberts, who didn't appear in the World Series at all, and only twice against the Yankees, but whose steal of second base in the 9th inning of Game 4 of that series was absolutely crucial and changed everything.

Some minor myths are now ended -- that the Red Sox could never win a world championship in Fenway Park and that the team could survive without speed or defense.

But the larger question is how we will live without the burden that has pressed down on Boston -- and in some ways defined us -- for so many years.

Mayor Menino spoke last night of pride in the team and the city, remembering that his January State of the City speech had predicted a World Series for Boston. For most, the Sox victory is so miraculous and so new that pride will be mixed with caution for some time to come.

Still, the cry "Wait till next year" has a new meaning in Boston. Symbols often last for decades, but not forever. This morning the Curse of the Bambino is not Boston any more than the Old Man of the Mountains is New Hampshire.