My beloved Yankees. Why must they hate you so? Why must they call you the Evil Empire when all you have done is continue the legend that is baseball?
Could it be that they are jealous of you, my precious Yankees?
Could it be that they covet your 26 World Championships or 39 American League pennants? Could it be that you hold the club record for wins in a season at 114 in 1998? Could it be that you have 34 players in the Hall of Fame? Is it because you have retired 16 numbers - not including J. Robinson - and have Monument Park to celebrate those players? Is it that you've produced 20 MVPs, 5 Cy Youngs, 8 Rookies of the Year, 2 Triple Crowns, 11 World Series MVPs and 7 ACLS MVPs?
Or is it that your owner loves the game so much that he'll do whatever it takes to get a win? Is it that he is unabashed in his monetary efforts to bring the best to NY? Is it that he will completely finance a new stadium effort without digging into the pockets of the taxpayers? Is it that deep down inside these mean spirited haters want an owner like you have?
Or is it that guys like A-Rod will take on a new position in the height of his career to be a part of your lore? Or a veteran like Bernie Williams will sit until he works out of his slump? Or is it that when they watch D. Jeter they get jealous of his love of the game and wish their own team's players played with that much passion day in and day out?
My beloved Yankees. Forgive the haters. It's just that they haven't quite gotten around to abiding by the 10th commandment. They covet you and in so doing, hate you. Of course who am I to tell you, my Yankees, of how to handle this hate? You've been around since 1903. You've seen worse. You've heard worse. And you continue to play right on into October with your head held high.
Could it be that they are jealous of you, my precious Yankees?
Could it be that they covet your 26 World Championships or 39 American League pennants? Could it be that you hold the club record for wins in a season at 114 in 1998? Could it be that you have 34 players in the Hall of Fame? Is it because you have retired 16 numbers - not including J. Robinson - and have Monument Park to celebrate those players? Is it that you've produced 20 MVPs, 5 Cy Youngs, 8 Rookies of the Year, 2 Triple Crowns, 11 World Series MVPs and 7 ACLS MVPs?
Or is it that your owner loves the game so much that he'll do whatever it takes to get a win? Is it that he is unabashed in his monetary efforts to bring the best to NY? Is it that he will completely finance a new stadium effort without digging into the pockets of the taxpayers? Is it that deep down inside these mean spirited haters want an owner like you have?
Or is it that guys like A-Rod will take on a new position in the height of his career to be a part of your lore? Or a veteran like Bernie Williams will sit until he works out of his slump? Or is it that when they watch D. Jeter they get jealous of his love of the game and wish their own team's players played with that much passion day in and day out?
My beloved Yankees. Forgive the haters. It's just that they haven't quite gotten around to abiding by the 10th commandment. They covet you and in so doing, hate you. Of course who am I to tell you, my Yankees, of how to handle this hate? You've been around since 1903. You've seen worse. You've heard worse. And you continue to play right on into October with your head held high.
posted by jch at
11:52 AM
13 Comments:
Amen.
I was a huge Yankee fan in the 1970's. Still love Thurman (God rest his soul), Lou, Reggie and the crew. The Yanks of the 80's and early 90's were fine. I even liked the Joe Torre story, and didn't mind the great teams in the latter-1990's.
But I do truly hate the Yankees of the 2000's. There is absolutely nothing to admire about the team of the past 2-5 years - zippo.
Just as I hated the Notre Dame's of the 1970's-90's - I don't care who beats the Yankees - as long as someone does. I will not rest easy until this lazy, slothful, disgustingly rich monster is put out of it's misery this year.
Warmly,
Kent F.
The Yankees have not been liked since I can remember, and my memory goes back a few years. The Cleveland Indains were the big Yankee rivalry. I remeber when we first got a TV while we were on the ranch in the midddle of New Mexico. Daddy and I would sit, (lay in the floor), and watch the Yankees play on Saturday afternoon. When I got to see them play in Yankee Stadium in 1967, I thought life would never get any better. Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berrera, Whitey Ford, and Roger Maris all played the day Glo and I went to Yankee Stadium. I regret that my Dad never had the opportunity to see them.
Then life did get better and we were blessed with three wonderful children, with three wonderful spouses. Then life got even better because we now have five beautiful grandchildern. Life just keeps getting better.
Ira, you keep plugging and your Dad and I will take you to Yankee Stadium, and you can watch your heros play a great game.
Love,
Dad and Grandad
This will go down in my book (oh yes, I have a book) as one of the 10 greatest blogs of all time. Thank you Joe. My sentiments EXACTLY.
When you get to be like me, you never wash the first yankee hat you were given (by my grandfather on my first game at the stadium), you sing "root root root for the YANKEES" instead of "HOME TEAM", and you still get teary-eyed thinking of the first yankee team you grew to love: Ricky Henderson, "The" Don Mattingly and Dave Winfield - all announced, of course, by the great Yankee Shortstop Phil "Scooter" Rizzuto.
Baseball uniforms just look silly without blue pinstripes.
Wow Joe, you must have lots of bumps and bruises from running into things as a result of the blindness your Yankee-love has produced! And worse yet (based on the other comments) , you seem to be spreading the contagion!
Go Cards!!
Love you guys,
rob
Consider the payroll...
rooting for the Yankees is liking rooting for Walmart, rooting for Barry Bonds, pulling for the tobacco industry in a lawsuit.
The playing field is hardly level. No other sport in America allows one team to pay salaries that potentially outweigh all of the teams that it may meet in the playoffs. If it were the twins paying close to 200 big ones per year, we would all be hating them.
If the Yankees are so special, why not support a salary cap, then see how they do?
Sorry for the rambling... you had it right on college football. Dead wrong on the Yankees.
yea, yea, yea...enough baseball talk. kick off is in 9 days. gig'em ags,
M&D
Steinbrenner doesn't love the game; he loves the Yankees and he loves his wallet. None of the big money owners love the game; they love the money the game brings them.
If they truly loved the game and the competitive spirit of it, they'd create a system where Kansas City has as much of a chance to win as the Yankees do. As it it now, I know right now that Kansas City has no chance to win the 2006 World Series. And I hope with all that it is in me that the Yanks crash and burn this year to show Big George that money can't buy everything.
It brings a smile to my face to know that, after 2000, the Yankees and the Twins have won exactly the same amount of championships.
Darn you, Dan!
Guess where I'll be on Sept. 9? At the Yanks/BoSox game sitting not too far away from A-Rod.
Dan, join the good guys already. Life will much less stressful and much more enjoyable.
Oh, and by the way Dan, Giambi is batting .270 and is on track to be named Comeback Player of the Year. You don't think any of your beloved Sox were on roids? C'mon.
Joe...when I get started on the Yanks, many of my facts are not entirely correct...so some of my other points might not be so accurate either, but...
I'll look for you in the crowd on the 9th...2 teams that can't pitch. It'll make for good entertainment
We're always thinking of you guys. All the best.
Sorry bout your unhealthy fixation... I gotta go with Rob Fitz and the Cards!
David Coffey
it's easy to love the Yankees. who doesn't want to be a fan of the 'hotshot' team that wins all the time. it feels good. but what about the fans of the teams who don't win all the time? those are the true fans. my amazin' Mets may not have the record that other clubs hold, but the fans stand behind them nonetheless. not because it's easy, but because it's hard.
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