Lary Bloom
Writer, Editor, Teacher
The Bloom Blog
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Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Yankees Go Home
At dinner the other night, in a place so elegant that baseball talk somehow seemed inappropriate, two friends briefly expressed their hopes for the success of the New York Yankees in the playoffs. They are both longtime fans. They watched DiMaggio at the Stadium in his prime. So they can be classified -- as opposed to others whose memories extend only to recent winning seasons -- as real fans.As my dinner companions talked of the present-day Yankees, I decided that, well yes, if the Yankees prove successful this year I will at least take comfort in knowing that it cheered two good friends. It wasn't a convincing argument, however. Here's what I also thought while they were talking: If the Yankees lose, if they are somehow knocked out of the baseball playoffs, a national holiday should be declared.
I don't remember feeling that way as a youth. In fact, I was disappointed when Bill Mazeroski hit that seventh game homer in 1960 to give the Pirates the World Series. But the Yankees became, in the Steinbrenner era, easy to despise. Particularly for anyone whose heart is elsewhere, as mine has always been.
This morning, I had to consult two newspapers and ESPN just to be certain that what I read at 2:20 a.m. was accurate. That the Bronx Bombers had bombed. It seemed odd to me that I could get comfort from this, almost enough to ease my disappointment that the Cleveland Indians had been been eliminated from playoff contention on the last day of the regular season. I say almost. Because those of us who are loyal to teams like the Tribe have finite chances. Each time we come close we understand that it may be the last time for those of us who have been around for many seasons, while Yankee fans can take comfort in knowing their team will be re-stocked with premium players. The rest of us will simply summon our springtime optimism, even though we know where such foolish acts lead.
This is a case of sour grapes, perhaps. But that's being a fan. In the meantime, I cheer the Yankees 2005 demise. It's good for the soul.
Posted by:Lary Bloom at 4:56 AM
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