Remembering the Yankees, Thank you 61* - koolj23's Blog

koolj23's Blog

Remembering the Yankees, Thank you 61*

Posted on January 5, 2009 at 03:10 PM.

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I watched the movie 61* for the first time last night, and as a Yankees fan, I was reminded for the first time in over a year of why I pull for the Yanks. I was raised a Yankees fan in the unlikely place of Louisiana by a father who told the tales of the Mick, Maris, and Mr. October. I read all of the books about Yankees lore. One of the first chapter books that I read as a child was about Lou Gehrig, my book report in the fourth grade was about Mickey Mantle�s autobiography. Naturally, the 1996 World Series Champion team fit right into my mold of what I thought a Yankees team should be. Pauly, Brosius, and Giardi were the character guys. There was a great, very likable veteren pitching staff, and the team was littered with young studs like Jeter, Bernie, Posada that everyone knew would be gems for years. When I watched 61* last night, I thought those were the days, these guys are the real Yankees. The 96 team was a real Yankees team. The problem is...why can�t I like or even talk myself into this upcoming Yankees team.

The 08 season was the first baseball season that I never really could get into. I played fantasy and had a great time doing that, but the Yankees failed to suck me in. It wasn�t the losing, because I�ve been through those before, and those usually get me going as a fan. One of those Bill Simmons� �nobody believes in us� deals; plus, I�m not a shallow bandwagon fan.

I�ve put some thought into what I don�t like about the Yankees, and I�ve come up with the Giambi signing a few years ago (thought he was overrated), the ARod signing (never thought he was Yankee material), the Johnny Damon signing (hated this one, he was the face of the freaking Sox), the Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, Kevin Brown signings/trades (dumb, dumb, super dumb, and really stupid ideas), and Hal Steinbrenner coming into power (don�t know why I don�t like him, just do). However, even though I disagreed with every one of the aforementioned moves, I got over it really quick and never held a grudge. This past season, the 08 Yankees seemed to be a team of hired guns, mercenaries if you will. A collection (because I won�t call them a team) of players only interested in picking up paychecks rather than swinging bats or fielding grounders. The dugout during games looked like a board meeting, straight faces, no joking around, forced congratulations when somebody actually did something. How can someone be a fan of that? This upcoming season is only going to be worse with the addition of several more mercenaries. I don�t foresee myself becoming a fan of another team or divorcing the Yankees. Since relationships make good metaphors for describing fanhood, I consider myself separated from the Yankees right now. I�m waiting by the phone hoping it rings to hear an apology and the magical phrase �everything is going to be alright.� Somehow, I don�t think that phone is going to ring now or anytime soon. That is the reason my OS profile says favorite MLB team: New York Yankees (pending).

Comments

# 1 ASB37 @ Jan 5

I totally get the detachment you've been feeling about the yanks lately. I too have felt very uncomfortable with the direction of the team the past few years. I would be lying if I said I'm not excited to see tex and C.C in pinstripes, but It also bothers me to an extent. Really what it comes down to is not just winning, but a connection to the team. And like you say it's hard to feel that connection with the Yankees. I hope that changes with this season and beyond.