Joe Torre came to the Yankees in 1996. At the time I was an angry 12 year old, furious at Steinbrenner for firing Buck Showalter. This was during seventh grade (I think); I had just outgrown the X-Men and I had stopped buying comic books (ok ok, I'll never outgrow x-men). Joe Torre, Pettitte, Paul O'Neill, Bernie Williams, Mo, Girardi, and Posada became my new team of heroes. I still feel that the Yankees are playing for me, and my city, and my family. I am an immigrant, and to me New York represents the America that I want to be a part of. The president goes to his ranch in Texas because he wants to be with "real Americans" he should come to the BX and see some Americans, especially the immigrants who know what its like to NOT be American and therefore appreciate the opportunity.
When I was in ninth grade I used to argue with my father about EVERYTHING. The only time we ever sat with each other was to watch the Yankees. I really connected with my dad during that time, and I think that for my dad and I (and for countless other father-son pairs) the Yankees are OUR thing.
The word Yankee still has an aura of honor for me and when I wear my Yankee hat or a Yankee t-shirt, I feel like I am displaying my membership in an elite fraternity that consists of the greatest baseball fans EVER.
So, when Torre chose not to accept the offer, I really felt like that 11 year period of my childhood officially ended. To be really corny about it, it was like Charles Xavier leaving the X-Men. A poster on the NYTimes bats blog summed it up well in a haiku:
Since I was a kid
You’ve been New York’s manager
Time to grow up now.
so true. I think Girardi's gonna be great, but it's still gonna be a while until I'm used to Torre not being there.
That's why today was even harder. Clemens I figured would be implicated in steroids, i mean the man has been a monster, and usually players that late in their career are crafty, but he was crafty and STILL had his stuff. It's a shame, and I think Clemens had a great career, but I can't say that I am surprised. I REALLY hope that this doesn't affect his bid for cooperstown, it's something he really deserves and I am fortunate to have watched a legend pitch.
But Pettitte, talk about a punch in the face! He's been around since '96 so we are talking about 11 years. It was so fun to watch him this season, what a tough guy. I think Pettitte's nerves were constructed at the same place they make Volvos. The guy is a TRUCK, his style of baseball is something that people really respect. I considered him to be above steroids. I thought that his success came from a steel heart and not steroid enhanced legs. Well, they say he hasn't done it since a few years ago; I really hope that's true. He is such an amazing pitcher and he the ability to carry a whole city on his back.
BTW how the hell does Selig pick a guy on the Red Sox BOD to do this investigation? I'm not alleging any wrong doing here, but I'd rather they got somebody from a scrappy team like the Royals, or the As. Also, I like how the center of this distribution ring seemed to be in Queens. After last seasons debacle and this...it's probably not the best time to be a Mets fan.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
way to write about the ONE thing that I said I would not comment on.
Hey, you can forgive Pettite. word on the street is that he used hgh to get over an injury, around the same time that clemens game to the yankees. clemens is a bad seed. Pettite just wanted to help his team. also, how is cricket not you and your dad's thing? that would seem to make more sense to me.
also, is that a picture of bavesh's temple in atl? thing is massive. that's all.
Christopher: 1) pops didn't grow up watching cricket, he doesn't even know the rules. It wasn't as big in rural Rajasthan back in the day. 2) yes, it is, i need to send you an J those pictures.
Post a Comment