The Power of the Yankees Brand

I am a Yankees fan. That’s hardly news to anyone who knows me. That also doesn’t make me different than millions of people in the New York area and millions more throughout the US and around the world. However, I can humbly say I am far more knowledgeable about the game than the average fan. I understand the 40 man roster, Rule 5, free agency, arbitration and have an in-depth knowledge of players on every roster, particularly those in the American League. I know every one of the Championship years.

But what I understand best is that the Yankees are far more than the most successful major league baseball franchise; they are a worldwide brand. Furthermore, I appreciate that the Yankees brand is “Ruthian”. It stands above the current ownership, management, even its players. The brand is bigger than Derek Jeter, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig. Even bigger than the Babe, if that’s possible.

The Yankees Brand is American history, a worldwide phenomenon, and an international icon.

I am 23 years old so I’ve grown up in an era of Yankees excellence. My first game was in 1995 and I remember my dad telling me about the first baseman #23 ”Donnie Baseball”, a Yankees great, and how he would soon retire. I also remember him telling me that Yankees don’t have names on their uniforms. He told me that if I wanted to be a serious Yankees fan, it was my responsibility to know who the players are. He made me memorize the retired numbers in Monument Park (in order of retirement). And he made me appreciate that not every year was a great one. He explained that just a few years earlier the Yankees had a losing record, and that during most of the 80s, the late 60s and early 70s, the franchise had a long drought of non-post season appearances.

I understood that the Yankees were bigger than the record of a particular season—that the Yankees brand was, is and will always stand for greatness, regardless of their record that year. The Yankees stand for striving for the highest goal, without being satisfied with a “good job, good effort”.

Everything about the Yankees is special. Their nameless uniforms, Monument Park, the façade, pinstripes, the interlocking NY. There is nothing ordinary about the Yankees brand. That’s why I hate red hats and pink gear. Bastardizations of the logo and Yankees gear, while in keeping with MLB guidelines, are fine for the other 29 teams. Not for the Yankees, I believe.

So I will only wear a blue hat, pinstriped shirt with no name, and use the logos with respect. I apologize for using the logos in this blog post without permission. Though done with only respect, the logos are ones to be protected.

Because the Yankees Brand is special and like none other. And a true Yankees fan never forgets that, no matter what the pennant race situation may be.

Jorge Posada: A Yankee for Life

Today is an incredibly emotional day, a day where one of the greatest Yankees of all time officially said goodbye to the game of baseball. It is another mark of an ending era in Yankees baseball, and in my life. Jorge Posada was a staple of my childhood, one of the faces I remember from when I first started to understand and love the game of baseball and sports in general. It was those Yankee teams of the mid-late 90s that ignited my passion in sports, and it was that passion that eventually inspired my decision to pursue a career in sports, and I consider Jorge a huge part of that.

Watching Jorge in the press conference this morning was really tough and surreal for me. Watching him get emotional when speaking about his family, and his Yankee family and brotherhood with Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, I could not help but cry (Luckily, my puppy Jeter was there to lick away my tears, he was sad too). But I was not at all surprised to see Jorge so emotional, because that's who Jorge is. He played with an unparalleled fire and passion and wore his emotions on his sleeve always. He was consistently real and honest with the media and the fans, one of the many reasons he is so loved and admired by all who followed his career.

Today I want to congratulate Jorge Posada on a phenomenal career worthy of heavy HOF consideration, and I want to thank him for all the moments: that bloop double in the 2003 ALCS, placing the tag on the flip play, talking smack to Pedro from the dugout, hitting the first homer in the new Yankee Stadium, to his final postseason where he was the only Yankee to show up for every last at-bat. Thank you Jorge for the countless number of wonderful Yankee memories that I will cherish forever, and thank you for being a true Yankee from beginning to end.

I love you Jorgie and I hope to see your name in Cooperstown one day.

HIP HIP, JORGE!

Back in the New York Groove

On September 13, 2011, I recapped the Giants' Week 1 loss to the Washington Redskins, noting how disappointed I was in the way the Giants played. My conclusion read as follows:

While the eventual returns of star defensive ends Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora should ignite the D, this performance from Big Blue making it very difficult for us Giants fans to be optimistic. Here's to hoping they'll prove me wrong!

Here we are, January 16, 2012, heading into Conference Championship week and the New York Football Giants are alive and better than ever.  The eventual returns of Tuck and Osi DID ignite the defense, though I never could have predicted back in September the kind of impact that youngsters Jason Pierre-Paul and Victor Cruz would have on this season. Both of them are so energetic with a unique ability and drive to make big plays, Cruz on the offensive side and JPP on the defensive side. And let's not forget about Eli Manning, who's having a career year and set an NFL record for touchdowns in the 4th Quarter, constantly rising to the challenge when the game is on the line.

With two big wins against crosstown rival Jets and division rival Cowboys to end the season, the Giants earned their first playoff berth since 2008. And with an impressive Wild Card week win at home against the Falcons (where the Giants defense allowed ZERO points), Big Blue steamrolled into Green Bay in an incredible upset where they flat-out dominated the 15-1 Packers, the reigning Super Bowl Champs.

So the red-hot Giants head to San Francisco next Sunday for a rematch at Candlestick against the 49ers. It will not be easy to beat the 49ers phenomenal defense that's coming off a big win against the New Orleans Saints. But I can't be anything but confident in this Giants team that has come together when it counts the most and is playing their best football since the 2008 Super Bowl.

After Week 1, I hoped the Giants would prove me wrong. Regardless of what happens next, the G-men have certainly exceeded all expectations and have made me proud to be a Giants fan.

LET'S GO BIG BLUE!

Movies, Chinese Food, and most importantly, BASKETBALL

This Christmas will be the best one ever.

Needless to say, I am THRILLED about the return of the NBA. The labor situation was really looking bleak and I was very nervous that basketball season was a lost cause. I remember the 2004-2005 NHL lockout and the dip in fan interest and league success that followed. It really would have been such a shame to lose the NBA season coming off such a phenomenal and exciting one (one of the most exciting seasons in years, in my opinion). To lose all that was gained this past year would not be good for the future of professional basketball. From a personal standpoint as a full-time sports fan, it's always tough when the baseball season ends since football games are only a few times a week. Basketball fills that void and provides the excitement, drama, and heartbreak that us sports fans live for. It would have been a sad, sad winter without the NBA.

Thankfully, owners and players learned to compromise, and did so with enough time to squeeze in a 66-game schedule. The market is as busy as ever right now as players, agents, and teams are frantically looking to make deals in this crunched period of time before the season. Can't think of a better way to hype up basketball fans for an great season soon to come.

Can't wait for 5 back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back basketball games starting with Celtics at the Garden. LET'S GO KNICKS!

My team's color isn't pink.

There are few things that bother me more than pink hats. Now, I'm not referring to the breast cancer awareness stuff or the Victoria's Secret clothes. I'm talking about the pink team logo hats scattered throughout the crowd at every sporting event in America. Coming from a woman's perspective, this clearly isn't a sexist knock on women at games, since, of course, I am one of them. HOWEVER, I am not one that will ever be found in a pink hat.

Wearing a pink hat is a red flag to the common sports fan, and the connotation is not positive. The highest rated definition of "pink hat" from urbandictionary reads as follows:

An overzealous, bandwagoner typically female fan of a recently successful local pro sports franchise. Characterized by the brand spanking new officially licensed pink team hat. Typically spends majority of game chatting on cell phone, waving to tv camera, asking idiotic questions & being a stupid annoying nuisance in general.

By wearing a pink hat, you're essentially acknowledging the fact that you are wearing it because your husband/boyfriend is a fan or because being a fan is "trendy" (something of that sort) and you don't actually know anything about the team.

Now, I understand why the pink hats are made. Most women like the color pink, a girl at a game would be drawn to the pink hat and a man would think of it as a nice gift for his wife/daughter/etc. There's no doubt that the items sell. However, I think the pink hats conflict with the brand. That might seem like a silly thing to say, but there's no doubting the role color plays in brand recognition. When you see a robins egg blue jewelry box, you know its from Tiffany's. It's so recognizable that the "Tiffany & Co" on the box is really unnecessary. Team colors are vital to the image and recognition of the team brand. When you see a shamrock green jersey, you can immediately identify it as a Celtics jersey without even seeing the logo. Picture that shamrock green jersey in your mind, and now make it pink. Taking away the team colors eliminates a very important aspect of a team's image and brand.

Personally, you will never find me wearing a pink hat. There's a reason my football team is often referred to as "Big Blue" and not "Big Pink". Pink is not a team color, so wearing it does not best represent the team.

You can color me a more serious fan.

MLB 2011: Epic Beyond Measurable Proportions

I've been sitting here for 20 minutes trying to write this blog post but I'm truly at a loss for words. I think that speechlessness accurately expresses what I witnessed last night. Mind blowing. The best night of baseball I've ever seen, and I don't think I'll see anything quite like it ever again.

The collapses of the Boston Red Sox and the Atlanta Braves are unprecedented. No team in MLB history has blown a 9-game lead in the month of September, and on September 28, 2011 TWO teams did just that. Now, it's no secret that I am a diehard Yankees fan to the maximum, you won't find a bigger fan. So needless to say, I wanted to the Red Sox to lose. In fact, I found myself in the interesting position of very badly wanting the Yankees to lose (if Mark Teixeira doesn't hit in the ALDS, I might lose my mind). But this is beyond just my own personal satisfaction with the epic demise of my least favorite team in sports. Objectively, as a baseball fan, this was the best night of baseball I have ever watched.

The Rays were down 7-0 and I'm thinking, the Orioles have to come back or the Sox are the AL Wild Card. As much as I wanted the Rays to come back, I didn't even consider that to be possible. Allow me to go on a tangent, but the Yankees by no means surrendered this game-- I WISH THEY DID! The criticism I've heard about the Yankees not playing their starters into extra-innings two days before the ALDS is simply unfair. The Yankees had a 7-0 lead in a game that meant nothing to them and were starting the playoffs two days later, not to mention they hadn't had a day off in two weeks. Girardi brought in two relievers, Luis Ayala and Cory Wade, with sub-2.00 ERA's going into last night's game, two relievers that will be on the postseason roster, and it was those two relievers who gave up the runs that put the Rays back in the game. So as much as the Yankees may dislike the Red Sox, this game was by no means thrown.

I can only imagine how the Red Sox felt, watching the Rays comeback just minutes before taking the field again after a rain delay in Baltimore, with a 3-2 Sox lead in the 7th inning. The rest goes something like this: Papelbon struck out the first two batters, followed by two doubles to tie the game, and a single by Robert Andino that Boston's $142 million dollar left fielder Carl Crawford couldn't come up with. Just minutes later the Red Sox, in their clubhouse, watched Evan Longoria's second home run of the game hook inside the left-field foul pole for the walk-off win that ended the Red Sox 2011 season and completed arguably the worst collapse in baseball history.

My final point of all this: MLB is seeking to add a second wild card to each league. With this addition, this night would have never happened. The Red Sox, Rays, Braves, and Cardinals would be lining their players up in preparation for a one-game playoff and the incredible 162nd games of the 2011 season would have been absolutely meaningless.

POSTSEASON BASEBALL HERE WE COME!

Football days are here again

After a long CBA-filled offseason, the NFL is finally back in action, and Week 1 certainly wasn't lacking in the drama department. While I love a good defensive battle, I think Thursday's opening game was exactly what us football fans were looking for. Super Bowl MVP Quarterback vs. Super Bowl MVP Quarterback.. is it really shocking that the score reached a 76 point total?! And with the final play at the goal line, you couldn't have written a much better script to launch the NFL season.

Unfortunately, Week 1 didn't leave me with much to smile about. I spent all offseason trying to forget about the Giants late season collapse, fighting to erase that ice cold December 19th game from my memory. The Giants floundered in the offseason, failing to resign TE Kevin Boss and WR Steve Smith--2 of Eli's favorite targets--not to mention the DELUGE of injuries during preseason that left the Giants looking rather limp. But the team still has many strong points, strong enough to beat the Redskins right? Wrong. The Giants depleted defense looked lost, making Rex Grossman look like a good quarterback (let's be real, he's not). And while the offense looked promising to start the game, they quickly declined as the Redskins defense simply owned them.

While the eventual returns of star defensive ends Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora should ignite the D, this performance from Big Blue making it very difficult for us Giants fans to be optimistic. Here's to hoping they'll prove me wrong!

Jeter's Return

I've observed over the last 24 hours, the Yankee Twitterverse has been hyper critical of #2 and I am struggling to understand it. Without even touching on what he's done for the franchise throughout his career (which is A LOT), why is the guy getting criticized after one game off the DL?? My dad and I strategically purchased tickets to the Yankees last game before the All-Star break hoping to see the big DJ3K, with the assumption that it might take Jeet a couple days to get back into the swing of things, pun intended. He had only 2 rehab games after a calf injury.. not saying it wasn't enough, but I certainly wasn't expecting a 4-4 performance fresh off the DL. And I know there are solid arguments that can be made for why Jeter should be moved down in the batting order,  but honestly, do you really think it would make a huge difference one way or the other? I personally don't think so.

Maybe I'm biased because of my extreme loyalty to my hero, but I think last night's game was lost because of AJ being AJ, not Jeter leading off.

Stat & Melo

NBA playoffs, this is new territory for me. I don’t remember the last time I watched the playoffs with real rooting interest. The addition of Amare Stoudemire (M.O.T.) caught my interest and the team began the season looking semi-competitive. With the mid-season addition of Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks now have a foundation of 2 real stars to build off of.. and don’t count out my boys Landry and Toney (and Chauncey’s not chopped liver either!). They actually have a real shot to pull a big upset and make it through the first round—after all, beating Boston isn’t an unusual occurrence in the Big Apple. But whether they survive the first round or not, this team has a future and I’m looking forward to see what’s yet to come for my Knickerbockers. NYC BASKETBALL IS HERE TO STAY!



One of these things is not like the others.



7pm Sunday night. Think Spike is making the trip up to Boston?

ps. The Red Sox are 2-10. I know we’re talking basketball but it just had to be said.

The day I met the guy who runs the Yanks.

I walked into the back room at WFAN's Breakfast with a Champion event when an average-height, middle aged man with big blue eyes shook my hand and said, "Hi, Brian Cashman."  ...as if he needed any introduction. A surreal moment, shaking hands with the man who is not only a hero of mine but has probably shaken the hands of all of my heros when welcoming them to the greatest franchise in the history of sports.

Brian Cashman and I

You would expect a Yankees executive to be rather intimidating and standoffish, but Brian was nothing of the sort. He was extremely friendly, kind, funny, and honest. Cashman passed around his STUNNING 2009 World Championship ring, took pictures, and shared many different stories with us in those 30 minutes in the back room, from memories of George to thoughts of the players to the jokes he likes to tell his kids. (He didn't seem to be such a fan of Kei Igawa--I don't blame him.) During the event, Cash and Mike Francesa discussed many different aspects of the Yankees. He was very honest the entire time, and even though it may have gotten him in a bit of trouble with the press later on, I really appreciated it and enjoyed it greatly.  (also, fascinating how a small hypothetical comment can turn into headline news.)

Cashman seemed very calm for a guy with such a high pressure job. Brian Cashman may be the General Manager of the New York Yankees, but he's also just a regular guy. No act, no BS.  Just a real, genuine, nice, and clearly very intelligent guy.  And for the record, Bill Madden doesn't know what he's talking about, Cashman refuted everything said in that article.

I certainly hope that Cashman will stay in New York for many, many years to come. Meeting him was an honor and a great experience, and I hope to meet him again some day sooner than later.

To win or not to win.. is this really a question?

In dramatic fashion, the AL East will be decided in the final days of the season.  The Yankees and the Rays neck and neck, the division title is for the taking.  With an ugly loss for Tampa and a rainout for the Bombers, the Yankees are currently a half game up on the Rays.  The Rays have a game today and tomorrow with the Royals and the Yanks have a double header with the Sox today and one final game tomorrow.  The Rays have the better head to head record so their magic number is down to 3, meaning the Yankees need to win one more game than the Rays do.

But with both teams already guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, does it really matter?  I change my mind every 5 minutes, but right now I'm going with yes. but I'll play a little devil's advocate and look at both perspectives:

On one hand, the Yankees will be playing October baseball (the real kind) no matter what.  If they don't win the division, they will not have home-field advantage at all during the postseason and will face the Twins.  Though the Twins have a better record and have been much hotter lately than Texas, the Yankees actually play the Twins pretty well.  Potentially facing the Twins doesn't really scare me...I mean their number 2 starter is CARL PAVANO for crying out loud.  However, what DOES scare me is the thought of possibly facing Cliff Lee twice in the ALDS.  Accepting the wildcard now could allow older players to get their rest and be fully prepared for a long postseason run.  After all, the division title won't matter without a World Series Championship.

But this is the New York Yankees we're talking about, and we want it all.  There's no holding back in New York, no accepting defeat of any sort.  To quote the wise DJ Khaled, all we do is win, win, win, no matter what.  It's a shame that the rain had to spoil the game last night because Girardi had the Yankees top lineup ready to play.  With the doubleheader today, it will be hard for Joe to justify having 35 year-old players in 18 innings today and another 9 tomorrow.  But whoever is playing in each of these games better be playing to WIN.  With the Rays loss last night, the ball is in our court, and this is our division for the winning.

Ultimately, in these two big games today for the Yanks, my focus won't be as much on the division as it will be on Andy and AJ.  Seeing good things from them today would make me feel so much more confident going into the postseason, even as the wildcard.

Ahhhh October Baseball, my favorite time of year.

"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing."

On July 13, 2010, the greatest owner in the history of team sports passed away.  George M. Steinbrenner III.  In the eyes of many, that M could stand for Mean, Maniacal, Manipulative, Materialistic, Mouthy or Menacing. And while George certainly fit those descriptions at times, he was also Majestic, Marvelous, Masterful, Merciful, Mesmerizing, and Matchless.  Matchless in the way that no Hal or Hank or anyone else could ever compare to the greatness that was The Boss.

I was a spoiled young Yankees fan as I grew up in the 90s and believed that the Yankees always won the World Series.  Every Fall there was Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and another World Championship for the New York Yankees.  I remember staying up way past my bed time on a school night in 7th grade, November 4, 2001, as I cried my eyes out watching the trophy slip through the finger tips of my beloved Yanks and Mariano Rivera, who I thought was nothing less than invincible.  The Yankees were not the World Champions, and I thought the world was coming to an end (and thinking of that heart-wrenching night still pains me as if I were 12).  Little did I know how blessed I was.

I was fortunate enough to be at the stadium a week ago for the memorial ceremony for George, and watched all of the players of today march out to Monument Park along with the Steinbrenner family and various Yankee greats including Yogi, Reggie, and Donnie Baseball in a truly beautiful and sacred moment.  But what really got to me was when Tino Martinez and Joe Torre's faces appeared upon the ginormous screen in centerfield, taking me back to my childhood that took place during one of the greatest eras of Yankees baseball, bringing tears to my eyes.  In that moment it was clear: it was all thanks to The Boss.

As the boys head into the last week of a hard-fought season, with the magic number of a playoff spot down to 1, I bet you George is looking down upon us, with fire and compassion in his eyes, thinking... "What the hell are you doing?! Win the goddamn division already and then bring number 28 to New York!"  I couldn't agree more.

Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing.  Breathing first, winning next.

The Boys are Back in Town

As I headed over the George Washington bridge, I could feel the excitement flow through my body.  It's that time again, time for Yankees baseball.  Game 3 of the home opening series, my first return to the stadium since that late, magical night in November.  Upon arriving, you could tell that this was the home of the champions by more than just the $4 increase in parking, but by the atmosphere of the crowd, the clear feeling of accomplishment.   The new championship gear in all the stores on River Avenue, the added 27th signage above the concession stands in the stadium, and the new 2009 pennant flying high on far left edge of the facade.. finally, the 27th championship us Yankee fans spent the past decade longing for.  However, this feeling of accomplishment comes hand in hand with the even deeper desire to bring the feeling back in 2010.

I kicked back in our new upgraded seats, took a whiff of the hot dog and beer scented air, looked out onto the field and thought HOLY COW.  But this night was not about the late Phil Rizzuto; all eyes were on 24 year old Phil Hughes.  Phil is still young but has had 3 years in the majors to prove himself.  We've seen glimpses of greatness from him, but he has yet to prove his consistency.  After beating out Joba, Mitre, Aceves and Gaudin for the spot, Phil's time to shine is now.  His first outing was not perfect, but it was encouraging.  5 walks isn't swell but aside from that his stuff looked pretty good.  Phil made one other mistake; surprisingly, it made me happy.

Never would I have imagined myself rising to my feet to applaud a homer from a member of the opposing team at Yankee Stadium.  But when Hideki Matsui sent the second pitch he saw from Hughes into the right centerfield bullpen, I couldn't help but cheer, along with the rest of the stadium.. it was a very bittersweet moment.  I miss seeing Godzilla in pinstripes and will always be a fan.

4 more quick points about last night's game:
1)  Everyone was Mariano Rivera.  Ok, so the 42 on every player's jersey was really for the original 42, Jackie Robinson, but number 42 on pinstripes sure looks like Mo to me :)
2)  Robinson Cano, named after Jackie, hit 2 homers and made a great play.  I think Robbie is one of the more underrated players on the Yankees.  He's been on fire to start off the year and I'm predicting big things from him this season. *knock on wood*
3)  The captain and love of my life knocked in 2 RBI with a homer and a double and played some quintessential Derek Jeter baseball.  Never ceases to amaze.
4)  In his 9th game as a Yankee, Curtis Granderson came up with two triples.  I'm very impressed with the way he plays the game as well as his demeanor and intellect.  If you ever hear or see an interview with him, you'll notice that he is incredibly well spoken and has a selfless Jeter-like attitude.. and he's got me loving him already.

So the Bombers take the first 3 series of the 2010 season and are lookin' pretty good.. but there are plenty of improvements to be made and still much more baseball to be played!

Let the good times roll

Today, Sunday March 14, 2010, is a beautiful day.
...except it's rainy and miserable outside and I'm sick in bed with strep throat.
so why is today a beautiful day?

SELECTION SUNDAY!
March Madness, I didn't take much interest in until high school, and its a real shame that I didn't.  Its a beautiful thing, for 2 reasons.

1) It's so much college basketball, the best in the NCAA, all day every day.  Its incredibly exciting and just so much fun.  a fantastically entertaining tournament, whether your team is in it or not, but fortunately mine is.  I'm so very excited to watch my Terps.  Greivis Vasquez, though actually just a jerk if you see him around college park (he loves himself, are you shocked?), has had an excellent season and if he plays smart and doesn't get too cocky, I honestly believe he can lead this team deep into the tournament.  FEAR THE TURTLE

2) When March Madness comes to its end, my favorite time of year soon begins... you must know by now that I'm talking about baseball season :)   Sunny days and great baseball, just around the corner. and I can't wait!

But until then...


Maryland, we're all behind you
Raise high the Black and Gold
For there is nothing half so glorious
As to see our team VICTORIOUS
We've got the team boys,
We've got the steam boys,
So keep on fighting, don't give in
M-A-R-Y-L-A-N-D
MARYLAND WILL WIN!

An Epic Football Sunday

Though baseball is typically my topic of discussion, today it's all about the pigskin.  You'd think after watching the Giants shove their heads up their rear ends all season long that I'd prefer to spend the day watching reruns of SVU or writing my PR ethics paper or doing ANYTHING else.. but even though my G-men are at home picking their noses, I'm oddly as excited as ever for this football Sunday.

Game number 1 leaves me torn between my city and my favorite players.  When it comes to baseball, I never root for the Mets (unless its a 1986 World Series-like situation, of course) but I actually like the Jets and if you asked me to rank NFL teams in order of preference, I'd list them as my #3.  But who's #2, you might ask?  Of course it's the Indianapolis Colts.  Peyton Manning is not only brother to little Eli but he's one of the best quarterbacks of all time.  

The Jets/Colts game is on now so i'm gonna have to cut this post short but all i have to say about game number 2: Favre vs. Brees. out of control

I think I've decided to pull for my city.. J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS

27 going on 28

                                          

TWENTY-SEVEN.

Unbelievable. It was almost 3 months ago now and it still completely surreal. Everything about the 27th World Championship seems like a fairy tale to me.

For starters, let me briefly touch on that STADIUM. My dad and I were lucky enough to grab some 25 cent bleacher tickets to an exhibition game against the Cubs in the new stadium, and spent maybe 30 minutes watching the game and at least THREE HOURS checking out the new home. I'm not sure words can describe how unbelievable this stadium is.. I swear I thought I was in heaven. You can hate the Yankees and say all you want about all the money they spent on the place.. get some $15 bleacher tickets and check it out. I guarantee that you will be amazed.

Skipping ahead to October, with my clicking skills and a hell of a lot of luck, I landed tickets for me and my dad to 3 of the greatest games of the 2009 postseason.

1. I sat in the cold upper deck during Game 2 of the ALDS when A-rod sent Joe Nathan's 3-1 pitch into the Yankee bullpen to tie the game at 3 in the 9th, as well as in the 11th when Mark Teixeira lined a walk-off homer down the left field line, earning his first ceremonial pie in the face from AJ Burnett (A new tradition added by AJ to a season full of come-from-behind wins)
2. I endured 5 hours and 10 minutes of freezing rain from the left field bleachers where I witnessed yet another game-tying bomb from Alex in the 11th, followed by Jerry Hairston's game winning run on an error in the 13th.
3. At only the age of 20, I reached one of my life-long dreams: November 4, 2009 I witnessed my Yankees win a world championship.

I experienced such a rollercoaster of emotions during these 3 games in the Bronx. The rush you feel when you watch Alex Rodriguez swing the bat and carry the ball over the fence in the same exact way that you imagined he would... It is spectacular and it almost feels like magic.

I'm running out of steam for the day but I can't conclude this without mentioning the fact that this championship was significantly sweeter because it was against the Philadelphia Phillies. As I mentioned in the first entry, I live in South Jersey just a hop and a skip from Philadelphia. If you aren't already aware you should know that Philadelphia itself has a huge inferiority complex. I honestly like the city of Philadelphia, however, it's not New York and they know it. New Yorkers could care less about Philly but Philadelphians DESPISE New Yorkers. Philly fans felt that this World Series was their opportunity to prove their superiority over the Big Apple. We all know how that story ended and the ending couldn't have been sweeter. It was simply beautiful watching my boys shove a sock in the mouths of all those who tortured me for all of my life and the fact that the Phillies final loss went to good ole Pedro Martinez was the icing on top of the most delicious cake I ever imagined.

Que es su padre, Pedro?

Good Morning Alex

So about a year ago, I created a blog with the intent of updating it frequently. However, I have not updated it since my first post and for some reason am unable to remember how to get back in to that account. Soooo I'm posting my first post from February 7, 2009, and hopefully I will stick to the original plan and be better at updating in 2010...

Whoever is reading this: hi! I'm Carolyn, I've been meaning to do the blog thing for quite some time but I never really knew where to start but recent events have inspired me to get it going...what the hell, right? So before you sink yourself into my rants and ramblings there are a few things you should know..

1) I'm very much a girls girl but I LIVE for sports. I'm crazy, nuts, passionate, and all the rest that a sports fanatic is. I get very emotional about my teams and when people say "calm down, it's just a game, its just sports" I really have to hold myself back from punching them in the face. Because if you're a real sports fan, you know its SO MUCH MORE than just a game.

2) I love baseball. Football too, and college basketball (Go Terps!) but baseball will probably be the general focus of this blog. People who say that baseball is boring are just not intellectual enough to be able to appreciate the beauty of America's greatest pastime. Sorry if that offends you, but really it's the truth. Because there is nothing more exciting about 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th with the bases loaded- when every single pitch could completely redefine the outcome of the game. It's thrilling and I am completely mesmerized.

3) Carolyn = New York. I have lived in South Jersey just 15 minutes outside of Philly for virtually my entire life but I am a New Yorker at heart. My entire family is from the city or North Jersey so I've been raised in the world of New York sports-- so you can throw all thoughts of calling me a frontrunner out the window. That infuriates me. So you should know, as much as I try to hold back my biases, this blog may posssssibly be frequently focused on the New York Yankees-- love them or hate them, they are the greatest team in sports history. Fact. I think it pretty much goes without saying that I am a DIE HARD Yankees fan. I could go on all day. I also worship Derek Jeter, not just because he's very good looking, but because he is what baseball is all about, or at least SHOULD be. I could go on all day about him too. (random fact: about 3 weeks ago I got a puppy and I named him Jeter.) I'm also a die hard NY Giants fan, still holding onto the fond memories of Superbowl XLII (18-1 HAHA!!!!).

So just keep those things in mind, but I always welcome a good healthy debate (but if you're a Red Sox fan or an Eagles fan... be warned: I may bite.)

I admittedly was slightly aloof this past baseball season, it was really just painful. I've spent the past couple days with my nose buried in The Yankee Years, written by the greatest manager of all time, Joe Torre. It's like a fantasy for me, recreating the magical moments of my childhood when the Yankees were just...sigh. (I just sat here for 5 minutes trying to find a way to describe those Yankees and I'm at a loss for words.) However, today's headline on ESPN.com certainly snapped me right back to reality: "REPORT: A-ROD TESTED POSITIVE"

Let me preface by saying there's nothing that has proved this to be legitimate, barely any hard facts have been given, it is unstated what the "substance" exactly was...these reports are lacking a lot of information right now so I'm not throwing anyone under the bus so fast. But UGH.

First let me say, I defend the guy so much and it gets exhausting. He's a fantastic athlete, there's no doubt about that, steroids or no steroids: I mean 104 players tested positive that year and they didn't all win the MVP! But regardless of that, Alex keeps getting himself involved in things that just disappoint me. And as a girl who's just getting so excited for baseball season (PITCHERS AND CATCHERS NEXT WEEK) these reports are just the last thing I want to be reading right now. I want to be able to say he's a Yankee but he keeps making it harder for me to ever do so...really Alex, I want to like you, but you're killing me.

HOWEVER, as far as I know, Alex has not tested positive since then. So while I think Alex often brings these things upon himself, I DO think that the huge magnified glass on him gets a little ridiculous. The steroids ordeal goes FAR BEYOND Alex; the fact that the media is making this into another Alex Rodriguez issue is just BS. Like I said, 104 players tested positive that year-- this isn't about A-Rod, its about MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. With the Mitchell Report and all this other crap, this steroid business has become a WITCH HUNT. What good will uncovering every single player who has ever used enhancement drugs do? How could that POSSIBLY solve the problem?? I don't have any thoughts on a potential solution, but certainly I don't think that all of craze and investigating is solving anything at all...in fact, it's just making the situation worse. It's really just a shame that the media is so focused on picking players apart like this...and to think that this is the industry that I'm striving to be a part of.

Okay, I don't even know if I'm making sense anymore so I can't discuss this any further right now...I'll go off on tangents like you won't believe and probably end up pulling a Plax and shooting myself in the leg (yeah, it never gets old). We'll see if any more scandalous news arises. But until then, back to the book-- the Yankees are about to win the '99 World Series and all is well in the world of baseball.

Peace, Love, and David Cone