Yankees/Yankee Stadium

I don't normally do this, but I'm feeling very compelled to right now.

I am a die-hard Red Sox fan, and damn proud of it. I will never love a sports team as much as I love the Red Sox. I'm actually proudly sporting my J.D. Drew jersey-shirt right now.

This is not about the Red Sox though. This is about the Yankees and the House that Ruth built--which is about to be taken down.

I don't like the Yankees. I'm a Yankee-Hater, like most non-Yankee fans are. Most Red Sox fans (and probably most other baseball fans that are not Yankee fans) hate the Yankees as a team and as individuals. I don't. I can't explain it too too well, but I'm gonna try anyway.

The Yankees, like any team, are often hated because they are (were) good. They are (were) good. They have 26 rings to prove it. But what I hate about the Yankees isn't that. I hate what their front office stands for. Steinbrenner's the one that started the disgustingly large salaries by giving onuses to whether or not a player could pack the house. Brian Cashman isn't one of my favorite people either. He's actually been making some pretty bonehead moves these days..actually he hasn't made any in the past two years really. The Yankees might be glad they didn't sign Carlos Santana right now, but once he starts winning, they won't be too happy.

Now for the players. There are only two Yankees I can't stand. The first being Johnny Damon. He broke my heart. I don't like him for what he did. He's not even that good anymore. He's getting old, his arm is dying. The only thing he's still good at is running..and we have Julio Lugo, Jacoby Ellsbury, and J.D. Drew to do that (yes, J.D. Drew has been known to steal a base or two).
The second Yankee I despise is Jason Giambi. I think he's a pig--he even looks like one. He's slimy. I can't pick out a single attribute about him that I like. He grosses me out. He's not a nice guy in my book.

As a matter of fact, I actually like (yes, like) some of the Yankees. I think Derek Jeter is one of the classiest guys in baseball. Melky Cabrera is a great player, and I hate seeing Joba come out of the bullpen (although that won't happen tonight. I'm not happy about his father, but I'm not sad that he won't be there). Mariano Rivera has a special place in my baseball heart because he blew the games in the 2004 ALCS. I couldn't thank him (or David Ortiz) enough.

Joe Torre has always been on my good side. I have a ton of respect for that man. He's dealt with more attitudes than he's had to (including Steinbrenner's). I must say, it's strange seeing him in a Dodger's uniform--especially since the Dodger's are the Red Sox of the West. I will miss the ever-stoic face of Mister Torre. As for Joe Girardi..I don't trust him. There's something about him I don't like.

The thing that's killing me is that the Yankees are getting a new stadium. I know it's old news, but my heart drops a bit every time I hear that. Yankee Stadium has so much history..You walk in there and you can feel the history. You can feel the aura. It's an incredible place. I've taken a tour and went to a Red Sox/Yankees game last summer. Fenway is the best park, and my home, but Yankee Stadium is a great ballpark as well. I don't see the reason for a new stadium. It threw me for a loop when I first heard it. If I was a Yankees veteran like Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera, I would have tried to stop them from building a new field. It's not necessary. I don't know how much pull those guys had, but that's their home. New Yankee Stadium may be beautiful, but it's not the House that Ruth built. It won't feel the same. I'm not saying it should, but I think they're gonna miss it...I know I will.

You never thought a Sox fan would say such a thing. I don't like the Yankees. I really don't. I respect them, but I don't like them. But like Ben Affleck said, "I would rather utter the words, “I worship you, Satan” than “My favorite baseball team is the New York Yankees."