I believe it was Dorothy Gale in the 1939 movie classic "the Wizard of Oz" that uttered the famous line" "Toto, I don't think we are in Kansas anymore".

The Atlanta Braves might be mouthing a similar phrase to their owner Ted Turner, who now owns the rights to that movie: "Ted, I don't think we are in the 1990's anymore".

The St. Louis Cardinals completed their first round sweep of the Bravos in the 2000 Major League Baseball Playoffs. In so doing, they welcomed Atlanta to the new millennium. For the first time in nine years the Tomahawk choppers are going to have to find something to do during the middle of October instead of playing baseball.

The Red Birds closed the deal in the city of Atlanta. This is quite appropriate. This is the same city where the Rams captured Super Bowl XXXIV eight months and one week ago. This is the same city where the Cardinals were sent back to the Gateway City humiliated after blowing a 3-1 National League Championship Series lead almost four years ago.

Ding Dong, the witch is dead.

The Cardinals were purely and simply the better baseball team in this series. They absolutely, positively deserved to advance to round two of the playoffs.

In the first two games, the Red Birds jumped all over future Hall of Famers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine. St. Louis scored twenty-four runs in three games. Ten of those twenty-four runs were scored in the first inning. Are we sure that Mike Martz is not running the Cardinal offense?

By dominating the Braves in round one, the Home Team not only earned streams of confidence but also earned the kudos from the national media. Major League Baseball's self-proclaimed expert mouthpiece Tim Mc Carver boldly exclaimed that St. Louis is the team to beat in this 2000 Major League Baseball post-season marathon.

The Cardinals are viewed as a dangerous team. Perhaps not a series favorite, but a team that opponents dread would dread to play. Plus, as chronicled in this space last June, history may be on the Red Birds side. Let's review that history lesson:

Eighteen years ago in 1982, the Cardinals won their first National League Eastern Division Title and NLCS before capturing their last World Series Championship over Milwaukee.

Eighteen years before that, the 1964 Cardinals overcame an 8 _ game deficit in August to win the National League Pennant and eventually defeated the New York Yankees in the World Series four games to three.

Eighteen years before that, in 1946, the Red Birds of Musial, Marion, and Schoendienst captured their third world series championship of that decade thanks in large part to a legendary run by Enos Slaughter: scoring from first base on a Harry Walker single.

Eighteen years before that, in 1928, the St. Louis Cardinals won their second ever National League pennant, only to be swept by Babe Ruth and the New York Yankees four games to none.

Yes, it's time for all those closet Cardinal fans to don the red and white. It's time for all those media members that were absent during the regular season to jump on the bandwagon. It's time to start creating witty and clever songs and slogans for this team.

And it's time for Tony La Russa and his troops to put round one out of their heads and immediately start to focus on round two.

The sweep over the defending National League Champions is now ancient history. The Cardinal must start preparing for, focusing toward and worrying about the Giants or the Mets immediately, if not sooner. Both teams hold the 2000 regular season series edge over St. Louis. Both teams are more than capable of sending the Cardinals to their winter homes. In the same vein, the Cardinals are very capable of defeating either San Francisco or New York. Regardless of the opponents, this 2000 NLCS should be a good one.

We urge the Home Team to beware of Round Two. The Cardinals need to approach these games as if they were their first playoff games. You may recall that the 1996 Red Birds swept San Diego in Round One before being eliminated by Atlanta in Round Two. You may also recall that the St. Louis Blues in the spring of 1999 swept the Los Angeles Kings in round one of the NHL playoffs before being eliminated by Dallas in Round Two. You may finally recall this January, the St. Louis Rams knocked off their perceived top challenger Minnesota in Round One of the NFC playoffs before coming from behind with four minutes to play in the game to defeat Tampa Bay in Round Two.

MEMO TO THE REDBIRD MANAGER AND HIS ASSOCIATES: Congratulations on your Round One sweep over Atlanta. This was a memorable symbolic accomplishment. But it is only the first. There are still two rounds to go. Your magic number is eight.

Time will tell you will welcome the Mets to the Gateway City on Wednesday or whether you will travel to Tony Bennett's city by the bay. Regardless, it will be a difficult series. It should be that way. Post-season baseball is a rough marathon. Gentlemen, be prepared for anything and above all be prepared to play. There are two plateaus remaining.

Gentlemen, beware of Round Two.

So Cardinal fans everywhere get to enjoy this ride for at least another week. They have demonstrated to folks across the fruited plain their passion and desire. A legion of red and white clad followers swarmed Atlanta like Sherman. Cardinal Nation captured Turner Field and their fair-weathered spoiled yuppie fans. It was quite impressive.

Now it's time for the NLCS, Round Two, with this thought: if the Mets defeat San Francisco, the Cardinals will hold home field advantage for the NLCS. Should the Giants advance to round two, the series will start at Pac Bell Park. Regardless of the location, we know that St. Louis does enjoy a distinct home field advantage thanks to the locals. It should be both interesting and fun to watch.

This is God's most perfect game that will be played at one of its best settings.

Perhaps Dorothy was prophetic in the Wizard of Oz.

There IS no place like home.