The Ortiz Jersey
Again, catching up a bit - but in case you missed it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/14/sports/baseball/14jersey.html?em&ex=1208404800&en=beb30cd4426cc6c4&ei=5087%0A
When I first heard about it, last week I guess, I didn’t think much of it. Then a Yankees PR spokesperson, a combination of Baghdad Bob and Kevin Bacon as ROTC/Omega Pledge Chip in “Animal House”, came out and insisted “All is well! Nothing to see here!” As the article notes, a couple days later in a scene eerily reminiscent of Geraldo Rivera going into Al Capone’s vaults, the media gathered as they went searching. Unlike Geraldo, the Yankees actually found what they were looking for - but like Geraldo, they looked pretty silly in the process.
Then we hear that the Yankees will press criminal charges against the rogue construction worker (though I’m at a loss for what those charges may be), followed by Hank Steinbrenner publicly requesting physical harm be done to said construction worker… which would seem far more prosecutable as a criminal act, imho. Randy Levine apparently wants to prosecute under the little known “impersonating a true Bronx resident” statute.
Joking aside, good to see that the Yankees will put the shirt up for auction - and the proceeds will benefit The Jimmy Fund (the Red Sox pet charity since the Ted Williams days, which fights children’s cancer and has done wonderful things over the years)… so at least something positive comes of this silliness.
But I couldn’t help thinking that this goofy embarassment is something that the Sox would’ve undertaken in the past in some paranoid attempt to avoid any “curse” and avoid the Yankees from getting in their heads [sic] - but now the shoe’s on the other foot, I guess.
One other point from the article: “Yankees Universe”. Wow, I thought “Red Sox Nation” was goofy - but after Hank ridicules the idea (rightfully so), the Yankees feel like they have to try and keep up, so they create their own “club”. Well… isn’t that special?!
Memo to the Yankees: Just cuz the roles have reversed and its the Red Sox now winning WS titles, it doesn’t mean the Yankees have to devolved into pathetic little puppies chasing the Sox around in sophomoric attempts to mimic their every move. The Sox do a lot of things right these days - but the hoopla surrounding Red Sox Nation is annoying… a sad day for the Yankees when they don’t realize and try to copy the Red Sox with an even more pathetic “Yankees Universe”.
Just sad… yet amusing at the same time.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Am I alone in finding that a little Hank Steinbrenner goes a long way?
April 18th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Not sure exactly what you mean… but I love Hank Steinbrenner. He’s even better than George ever was, and I suspect he’s just warming up. He’s been on the scene less than a year, fer crissakes - and already… so many gems! It got boring when George slowed down… so much better theater with a blustery Yankee owner stoking the coals.