Final Thoughts, Part I

With Boston’s 5-4 victory over Cleveland last night (screw you Cliff Lee), the chance at returning to the postseason for the 14th straight season officially vanished for the Yankees.  Yankee fans have known this day was coming for a few weeks now, but you never know how you will feel until it actually happens.  As a Yankee fan you do feel some frustration when you look at the standings and see that Boston only leads by 6 games (with 3 head-to-head remaining), and then you think of all the games that should have been won back in April and May.  Still perhaps this will be an October where Yankee fans can finally relax and enjoy the remaining 8 teams who are battling to be number one.  Perhaps no tv remotes will be broken this October and no dents will be imbedded into the walls….that is unless the Redsox win the World Series again.

Also now that the Yankees are officially eliminated, we know that Sunday’s game against Baltimore was the final game ever played on that hallowed ground known as Yankee Stadium.  Luckily I was able to attend, and although it was a long day (nearly 12 hours in the Bronx), it was definitely a memorable one.  I’m going to give you a run though of what I enjoyed and what I found disappointing on Sunday night in Part 1 of this blog entry, and then conclude the blog with my Top 10 moments at Yankee Stadium.  My top moments will be in Part 2, which will be posted sometime tomorrow. 

Disappointments

Something many fans were looking forward to was having the opportunity to walk on the warning track around Yankee Stadium, which was open to any fan who had a ticket between the hours of 1pm-4pm.  I figured there would be a large line for this, however I figured incorrectly that if I reached the gates around 1 that I’d make it in to see Monument Park and grace the field with my presence.  However while the Yankees excel in putting a fine product on the field for the fans, they lack severely in customer service.  From what I’ve heard there was a line around the stadium as early as 10am to get inside, and since they didn’t push the fans along briskly through Monument Park, anyone who lined up after 1pm was not getting in.  Although I waited in line for 45 minutes and listened as numerous employees apologized and promise we’d get in, eventually the annoucement came that Monument Park was full and they weren’t allowing anyone else in.  So much for being open between 1pm and 4pm.

And since it was 2:30 at this time and the bleachers didn’t open until 4pm, myself and Lou the Greek walked over to the players entrance and watched as our favorite Yankees arrived in their $80,000 cars.  To be honest this was probably more fun than waiting in line in Monument Park.  I’ll see Monument Park next year when its open to all fans in the stadium, and anyone can walk on the field if they sign up for a stadium tour which is only $20.  Instead I got to see Spike Lee kiss every players ass that walked by him, a bomb sniffing dog check a bag left behind by a Japanese photographer who rushed inside after Hideki Matsui and Joba Chamberlain come outside to sign some autographs.  I didn’t feel the need to fight through dozen’s of people to get Joba’s autograph, because earlier after being shunned from Monument Park, I got my picture taken with Joba’s father, Harlan Chamberlain! 

Aside from that PR nightmare, the only other problem I had with the night (aside from a group of idiots behind be who boo’d Arod and argued with me that they rather have Scott Brosius on their team than A-Rod) was the Yankees snubbing Roger Clemens and Joe Torre in their player introductions.  Granted Clemens is public enenemy #1 in sports right now, but it’s a bit hypocritical to ignore Clemens when you trot Giambi out there to play first base everyday.  I’ve read Clemens was hurt by this and honestly I don’t blame him.  As for Torre, well I’m sure these little shots at him will continue until he finally returns to the stadium in say 5-10 years.  The same thing happened with Roger Maris, as well as Yogi Berra for over 10 years in the late 80s and early 90s. 

Oh and the fans were only given a magnet that said Yankee Stadium: 1923-2008 when we entered the stadium.  And all I could think to myself was “this is it, not even a freaking pin, cheap!”. 

Highlights

Okay where do I begin, well I already mentioned taking my picture with Harlan Chamberlain.  I wasn’t going to bother approaching the crowd that surronded him, but after being rejected from entering the stadium, I figured why not.  He was extremely friendly and very patient with all the fans who were crowding him for autogrpahs and pictures.  Plus he was nice enough to pose doing the patent Chamberlain fist pump in our picture.  Then to see Joba be the only player to come out to sign autographs, well it makes you realize how nice it is to have the Chamberlain family be apart of the Yankee organization.  Kevin Millar gave the fans a wave and promised to come back out after he changed as well, but I was long gone by then.  Although Yankee fans give Millar a hard time, there’s something between him and the Yankee fans, I don’t know maybe its a twisted form of respect. 

Afterwards I headed inside to watch batting practice, and was able to get a spot right on the railing, which was great because I got a great view of the players screwing (namely Phil Coke and Damaso Marte) around in the outfield and was able to shake Reggie Jackson’s hand when he walked by.  Reggie up close is really showing his age, but I’ll give him credit for acknowledging the fans.  And of course Spike Lee was attached to his ass, as he must be lonely since there aren’t many Knick fans left for him to talk to.

After 6 hours of waiting around, the pregame ceremonies finally began.  Personally I enjoyed every second of it, although I’ve read a few columns of people complaining that it was too much like old timers day or the All-Star game celebration.  To a degree that is true, but the bottom line was Sunday night was for the fans, and the fans always enjoy cheering their hero’s in person.  The actors dressed as former Yankee players was a bit cheesy, but it was kind of cool to stare down into centerfield and see the #5 looking back at me. 

Aside from the Torre & Clemen’s omissions, I think the organization did a nice job including all the past and present Yankee greats, although I could have done without Jesse Barfield being included with the greats of right field.  The Derek Jeter chants were running rampant, and it’s clear to me that in 20 years or so Jeter will probably be remembered as the most revered Yankee of all time, surpassing Mantle, Mattingly, O’neill or whomever else holds that title as of today.  Some of the biggest cheers came for Phil Rizzuto and his wife Cora, Bobby Murcer and his family, Mickey Mantle and his son, Reggie Jackson, Scott Brosius, Tino Martinez, Paul O’Neill (who would have received the biggest if not for….) and Bernie Williams. 

Bernie finally made his return after a 2 year absence, and the fans let him know they were glad to have him back.  There was a rumor floating around the stadium that Williams may play an inning of the actual game in centerfield, however that proved to be false.  I feel bad for anyone who couldn’t enjoy the ceremonies, because whether you like the Yankees or not it was a special night for the game.  I still hear people argue that “the ceremony was more about the players than the stadium” but to me the stadium is just concrete and bricks.  What makes the stadium such a magical place are the people that play there and the fans that voice their displeasure and their joy.  We are losing our place to enjoy the game we love, but next April we will have a new home, which will eventually be filled with moments and memories which will last another 100 years. 

Oddly the game which was basically an exhibition had a playoff feel to it.  I’ve only been to one playoff game in my life (last year’s loss to Cleveland) but the fans seemed far more into Sunday Night than they did last year.  The electricity in the air definitely had a World Series feel to it, as if the fans were saying if we are not making the playoffs, at least win the last game at Yankee Stadium.  

And finally we were given one last chance to say good-bye after the game, as Derek Jeter addressed the fans with a heart felt speech and then led the team on a lap around the field (which at this time was surronded by riot cops and men on horseback).  It was a strange moment because it felt like we were saying good-bye forever, which is somewhat true since the stadium will be no more, but yet the team is obviously not going anywhere.  What I’ll remember the most from those last few minutes (aside from the fan who made a Barry Sanders like run past 10 cops and a horse before taking a beating worse than the NY Stock Market) was watching all the players surrond the mound and scoop up dirt for their own private collection.  And the last picture I saw on the scoreboard before heading through that tunnel one last time was Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada posing together for a picture, which was only fitting since these 4 are the only remaining players of the dynasty teams which kept the stadium alive the past few seasons. 

That’s it for Part I, be sure to catch my top moments at Yankee Stadium in Part II tomorrow.  Thoughts or comments can be sent to josephgallo@sportstalkbuzz.com.  Again if you have any memories you’d like to share, leave them below or send me an email and I’ll be sure to include them in tomorrow’s blog.  Until then, see ya!.

 

 

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