I am a huge Mets fan. That’s been documented way too often in this column. Even I’m sick of reading it. But what people do not realize is that if Yankee fans didn’t try so hard to put Mets fans down, I would probably love the Bronx Bombers, too. I just felt the underdog needed defending and before I knew it, I was a Yankee hater. However, for a brief time, that wasn’t the case.
Having been to Met games in the past, in 1996, my father came home from work with Yankee tickets, and not just any typical tickets – we were going to the home opener.
This was Joe Torre’s first home opener and it was also the first year without Don Mattingly. I remember going to the game and this woman in front of us was so sad to see Mattingly go that every time Tino Martinez got up to bat, she would hold up a sign saying, “Bring Back Donnie Baseball.” While I am sure other fans were upset at Mattingly’s departure, they were more upset with her distraction, leading to a chant of, “Put your sign down,” which she did, thankfully, because she was sitting directly in my path.
Anyways, the game was weird, because I had never been to a baseball game before where it snowed. It did, and there was the home plate umpire wearing short sleeves. Crazy. I was freezing with my jacket on, but it didn’t bother me. The Yankees were playing great baseball. It was a fun game.
The Yankees won 7-3 and I went home happy with the free cap I also received at the game. I wore that cap all year, cheering on the Yankees, while cheering even harder for the Mets during the 10th Anniversary of the team’s 1986 World Series win. But it was The Yankees who won in a thrilling World Series against the Braves.
I’ve been to many Yankee games since, but that year was the only time I ever visited the stadium where I felt like I was part of something special. Now, I’m sad to see it go.
Despite my little bickering with Connolly about who has the better team, this year, I would love to see the Yankees win. Wouldn’t it be amazing to see the World Series played at Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium one final year?
Speaking of the Yankees, I believe they made the best trades before the deadline of any team in the MLB. The addition of Ivan Rodriguez was smart, as he replaces Jorge Posada and brings valuable veteran leadership to the team.
The addition of Demaso Marte plugs a whole in the bullpen while Xavier Nady fills the loss of Hideki Matsui. The Yankees are now at full strength and because of the Red Sox, Dodgers and Pirates, no longer have to worry about Manny Ramirez anymore. They may just make the wildcard after all.
Why do I love sports so much? Well, only in sports, can you retire before your contract expires, decide to come back and basically threaten your team with a return, and be offered $20+ million dollars to stay retired, go home, and do nothing.
I read Phil Mushnick’s column in the NY Post about his opposition to instant replay rules during the Little League World Series. I am not sure if I disagree or agree with him. On one hand, I believe the better team should win, and if an error is caught and corrected; well, that allows the better team to pick up a deserved victory. On the other hand, human error is part of the game; why change it? And if our own little leagues in Throgs Neck, Castle Hill, Pelham Bay, Van Nest, Astor, Bronxchester, Pelham Parkway and others cannot benefit from these replays during the season, why bother using it at all?
It has come to my attention that at least two Bronxites will be competing in the Olympics, starting this week. I am attempting to reach out to them, but for those who follow every aspect of the game, look for Taraje Williams-Murray, 23, and Timothy Morehouse, 30, as they attempt to win gold in judo and fencing, respectively. Represent the Bronx proud.
And finally, check out the special guide to the GHI Bronx Tennis Classic right in this paper. Yes, the one you hold in your hands right now. Exciting, isn’t it? The world-class tournament runs from August 9-17 at Crotona Park and is free to the public, with the exception of the August 17 finals. I hope to see you all at the matches.
