Just for Sport

Note: This post originally appeared on April 6, 2005.

I hate the Yankees for the following reasons:

10. 1996 - The Yankees ruin the only legitimate shot the Rangers have ever had at a pennant in the Division Series by winning games 3-5. Texas’ bullpen is really to blame, but the thought still deepens my hatred for the Yankees.
9. Jason Giambi. Okay, he’s a great guy, but look at him. The entire man is artificial, and he shouldn’t be allowed to play.
8. Bud Selig. You know it’s a problem. SALARY CAP.
7. 1998 - Before steroid allegations, was widely considered the “magical summer” when McGwire and Sosa hit 70 and 66 home runs, respectively. Then the Yankees win the World Series and ruin it for everybody.
6. Grooming regulations. You’re telling me that to be “a Yankee kind of guy” you can’t have long hair or facial hair? They totally ruined Randy Johnson’s look.
5. Roger Maris. Actually, it’s not Maris, but the way the fans and the media treated him. It’s ironic that Billy Crystal, an avid Yankees fan, directed the movie 61*, because I don’t know how you can see that movie and cheer for New York.
4. Roger Clemens. Does anybody really think that it was okay for him to throw the bat at Mike Piazza - much less drill him in the head? There is no excuse.
3. Alex Rodriguez. He set the Rangers franchise back years by tying up contract and playing GM. The icing on the cake? “I feel like it’s me and 24 kids.” This guy has the biggest ego in the Major Leagues, and I wish someone would shut him up.
2. George Steinbrenner. Contrary to popular belief, he’s not that great of an owner. He just has money. Yeah, if I were friends with Donald Trump, I’d buy superstars too, and apparently that would make me a genius, especially if I run my organization like a fascist.
1. East-coast bias. I used to laugh in the face of people who claimed East-coast bias, but I watched Tony Kornheiser on PTI yesterday say that everybody in America should care about what goes on in New York because it’s more important than whatever else goes on in the country. NYC is great, but it is NOT the center of Western Civilization, or the United States for that matter. Personally, I hope that either the Yankees or the Red Sox drop off the face of the earth so we don’t have to put up with the ridiculous overstatement that has become the rivalry between these two teams. There are plenty of other just as legitimate rivalries in professional sports, and I’m tired of America being expected to pay attention to what goes on in New England. I will continue to cheer for the Red Sox and any other team who plays against the Yankees, but that is where my loyalty stops. Baseball needs a salary cap (to reduce the unfair advantage that each team - yes, the Red Sox too - has before the season even starts. Luxury taxes are not enough. Additionally, New Yorkers need to shut up. John Rocker may have been wrong about various minorities, but he was right about New York. I imagine that I may be persecuted for my beliefs, but I’m sick and tired of the Sox-Yanks thing. Both teams have engaged in childish rhetoric in the media, and the fans of each team boo so much that I can’t decide if they’re actually enjoying the game that they’re watching. I’m watching the game on ESPN right now, and Yankees fans just booed because Kevin Millar got injured and they stopped the game to look at him. Let’s be reasonable. Will I continue to watch the Red Sox and Yankees when they play? Probably. I like good baseball, and it would be foolish to admit that the two teams don’t have good games against each other. Just don’t expect me to rearrange my schedule to watch two teams that I don’t particularly care for. For today though, go Red Sox. Please beat the Yankees. It’s the right thing to do.