This has been said many times before, but it has to be said again. There are three ballparks in baseball that should never be replaced: Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, and Yankee Stadium. On August 16th, 2006, ground was broken to replace one of those three. Michael “I killed Giuliani’s plan for publicly funded stadiums but mine is a-ok” Bloomberg, George “Yes I really think I’ll win the primary” Pataki, George Steinbrenner, and a host of others were on hand to symbolically break ground on one of the saddest events in the history of baseball; the final nail in the coffin of Yankee Stadium.
I’m not getting all heart-achy and weepy because they’re building the stadium on public parkland. I don’t care. I don’t care that it costs taxpayer money. It’s the Yankees, they’ll be fine, and the stadium will eventually pay for itself. I don’t care that it will overshadow the opening of the new Mets’ Stadium (which we’ll also get into) also opening in 2009. I don’t care that public funds are going to be used to upgrade the subway station at 161st and River, or to build a Metro-North Railroad train station in the parking lot, or to improve the Long Island Railroad and subway stations at Shea. None of that bothers me.
What bothers me is taking Yankee Stadium, one of the most storied stadiums in baseball history, out of the game.
Yankee stadium was built in 1923. In those years it has hosted the World Series 37 times, 16 of which saw the series-clinching game for seven different teams. NFL Championships were hosted there when it housed the New York Giants. Two Popes have held mass there. Joe Louis knocked out Max Schmeling there. Muhammed Ali fought there. For everything that I like about New York City, there is one thing here that drives me crazy. Even after just one year here, the one thing I’ve discovered about this city is that it moves very quickly and nothing stays in place very long. Once something is gone, though, it’s gone quickly, efficiently, and forever.
I’m not even a fan of the Yankees, and I’ve only been to two games at The Stadium, but there’s a feeling in Yankee Stadium. The history in Yankee Stadium is almost oppressive. The things that have happened on the field, the retired numbers, the monuments; everything shows you a franchise that values it’s history, and the stadium feels like an entity unto itself. The Stadium is filled with ghosts. It’s a feeling I don’t get at Shea Stadium. It’s just different.
For a franchise that has always remembered it’s history so well (15 retired numbers, exactly the same uniforms for countless years) they really are blowing that all up here. They are replacing a baseball stadium with the current trend of ridiculous ballparks with restaurants and shopping centers involved. Do you know why they build that ballpark in Kansas City? To distract consumers from the on-field product. When fans go to Yankee Stadium, they go to the ballpark to watch baseball. They’re not there to eat in a restaurant. They’re not there to go shopping. They’re not there to watch a waterfall or go to a fake beach. Yankee fans go to Yankee Stadium to watch the Yankees. 55,000 of them. Every night. You don’t have to distract them with sushi restaurants and fancy shopping because, at the end of the day, no one is going to head out to the South Bronx for a day of fun with the family. They’re going to go there, in a large group if they’re taking the subway, watch the game, get back in the subway and go the f*ck home. Maybe, if they’re feeling squirrelly, they’ll stay up there for a beer to let the huge throngs clear out on the first couple of trains, but probably not. If they drove, they’re going to head straight for their cars. They’re not going to linger around SoBro and look in all the pretty shops.
I know a lot of Yankee fans. I even know some real ones. Do you know the one thing I’ve never heard a Yankee fan say? “Man, this stadium sucks, I wish we had Miller Park. When I come to the ballgame, I want a mascot going down a slide.” Oh, wait a minute, the Yankees don’t even HAVE a mascot. Yankee fans care about going to see the Yankees. The stadium is where they watch their ballclub. It’s not the place they go for dinner. The Yankee fan, the real Yankee fan, likes their uncomfortable concrete jungle. The real Yankee fan appreciates the history of the ballpark. The real Yankee fan doesn’t need distractions.
Do you know the only people who want a new stadium for the Yankees? People who aren’t Yankee fans. There are plenty of columns around the Internet and other media who have called for a new stadium in the Bronx, citing how crappy it is compared to other ballparks. You know what? It is crappy compared to other ballparks. It should completely be refitted and re-imagined. But torn down? No. For three years in the 1970s, the Yankees played at Shea Stadium while they refit The Stadium to what it looks like today. They should do that again. Because, at the end of the day, the Yankees are selling out their history for less seats and more luxury boxes. They’re selling out their fans for “seat licensing fees.”
Last week, I did the AFC over/unders and this week, I planned to check on the NFC.
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys (9.5 wins): Every team in this division has their over/under set at .500 or better. This is Vegas’s way of saying “how the f*ck should we know?” The problem with the NFC East this year is that all 4 teams are legitimately good and, by extension, have difficult schedules. It could be an ugly thing this year to see all four team have division records of 3-3. I was happy TO was going to be leaving the Eagles. I was, unfortunately, hoping he’d be leaving the division. However, if McNabb annoyed Owens, I can’t wait to see what happens when Bledsoe throws one of his patented 5 INT games. That being said, I have a bad feeling Terrell’s going to be on his best behavior this season and, barring a serious Bledsoe meltdown, America’s Team is in for a good year. Over; 10-6
Washington Redskins (9): I expected to see the 9 games tag having dropped after Clinton Portis injured his shoulder, but it appears Vegas thinks he’s going to be starting game one. The are also hanging a 9 win season on Mark Brunell. Luckily, it seems like Portis won’t miss any of the season and, if he does, it will be only the first game against the patchwork Vikings. I’m trying to buy this team as legitimate, but I just can’t, no matter how hard I try. Under; 8-8
Philadelphia Eagles (8.5): Minus TO and Donovan McNabb happy with something to prove. They have still Todd Pinkston, who was their leading receiver before the Terrell Owens debacle. They have basically returned to their 2003 offensive weapons, with everyone three years older. Will losing the TO drama help the Eagles’ cause? No, but their schedule probably will. While most of their division will be wrestling with difficult games for the first eight weeks, the Eagles will be looking at the Texans, Niners, Packers, Saints, and Bucs between divisional match-ups. I heard they showed Rush Limbaugh this schedule and he laughed heartily between snorts of Oxy. That being said, I have a feeling the Eagles are still going to be in recovery this season. Under; 7-9.
New York Giants (8.5): The top of the Giants schedule is the most brutal in the division and possibly the most brutal in the NFC. In the first seven weeks of the Giants’ season, they draw the Colts, Eagles, Seahawks, bye, Redskins, Falcons, and Cowboys. They don’t have a “gimme” game until week 8 and only have 4 all season. As a bonus, the Giants will probably be playing a meaningful, good game every week. As a negative, they’ll probably be losing as many as they win. As much as it kills me, it’s the Cowboys division but I’m hoping for a Wildcard. Over; 9-7.
NFC WEST
Seattle Seahawks (10.5): Can they escape the Curse of the Super Bowl Loser? Since 2000, no Super Bowl loser has followed it up with a season over .500. Can the ‘Hawks beat that trend? Probably, but I don’t see another 11 win season in their future. That, and the fact 9 wins will probably be enough to take this division, I’ll say over .500, but definitely not over 10.5. Under; 10-6.
St Louis Rams (7): They have the same top 3 weapons that guided them to 6-10 last year. I’m guessing the same this year. Under; 6-10
Arizona Cardinals (8): Eight wins for the Cardinals? Are they serious? Look, I understand the thought process of pushing this team to victory with some good acquisitions and some good drafting, but not in the first season. Emmit Smith couldn’t get this team above .500, why would one thing Edgerrin James will? There are two major questions that will be addressed this season. Was Manning so good because Edge was protecting him? Or was Edge so good because Manning was protecting him? I think we’re going to find out it was a lot of both, and Kurt Warner doesn’t have any fright factor at all. Matt Leinart won’t see action until at least next season and, if all that wasn’t enough, Denny “There’s only one reason I’m still a coach” Green is still the coach. The Cardinals improved the window dressing, and got themselves a new house, but they still have only had a single over .500 season since moving to Arizona. Maybe if the prove themselves ready to build the team around Leinart next year, they can have a second. Not this year. Under; 4-12
San Francisco 49ers (5): Still without any real front office direction and still with about 20% of their cap as dead money, the Niners really need to overhaul themselves from the top down before they’ll really be able to get back to any sort of success they had in the 80s. Barring one of those miracle runs teams sometimes have, another karma paying year for the Niners fan. Under; 3-13
NFC NORTH
Detroit Lions (6.5): Ah, the division that defines whether I’ll get a plug from Eric this week and how venomous it will be. The Lions are being helmed by Jon Kitna who, while I loved him as my backup quarterback during his career year a couple years ago, he’s not going to be the guy that turns the Lions into a contender. Under; 5-11
Chicago Bears (9): Likely a walk in the division, the first three weeks of the Bears season is all division games and likely will set the tone for their season. The Bears shouldn’t even face a challenge until week 4 vs the Seahawks and, by the time they hit their roughest stretch in November vs the Dolphins, Giants, and Patriots, the should be safely in the division lead and rocking a 5-2 record. Looking closer at the Bears’ schedule, they have no reason not to run through this division and possibly even challenge for the NFC Bye. Over; 12-4
Green Bay Packers (6): I know Favre doesn’t want to go out on the type of season the Pack turned in last year, but he’s unfortunately putting the Packers in an awkward spot. They can’t cut him because it would incite their fanbase and they can’t really build around him because of the cap space he’s taking up. On the other hand, they know they’re going to sell out their house ever week, so they’re just kind of carting Favre and some other guys around him. They didn’t really rebuild their line in the offseason, thus guaranteeing Favre will be under duress from every solid pass rushing team. Favre doesn’t scamper very well these days and it smells like another long year for the fans in Green Bay. Under; 5-11
Minnesota Vikings (8): Patchwork team with a new coach. This is one of teams that could either fly off the handle and win 12 or struggle all season and win 6, hence your over/under of 8. I vote for the latter. Under; 6-10
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons (8): The Falcons are another team set at 8 because Vegas has no idea what to do with them. For two years now, Alge Crumpler, a tight end, has been their leading receiver. Doesn’t seem to me like a recipe for success, especially when your Quarterback puts himself in injury’s way every other play. Eventually, this running around is going to catch up with Vick, in the form of a hard, concussion giving hit, or sprain. Between that and his tendency to throw as many interceptions as touchdowns makes this another rough year for the Falcons. Under; 7-9
Carolina Panthers (10): Every season, the league has one high expectation team that turns in a sub-par season. Even though the Panthers are one of those teams who seem to be a sweetheart favorite in the NFC this season, I’m saying there the random disappointment team of the season. Under; 7-9
New Orleans Saints (7): After a tumultuous season last year where someone thought it was a good idea to give them a “home game” at Giants’ Stadium, they finished the year with only three wins. The stars are really aligned for the Saints to have a good season this year: they got a huge draft pick who can hopefully be a work-horse for them, two good wide receivers, and a new quarterback who 1) has had five pretty successful seasons with the Chargers and 2) isn’t Aaron Brooks. The Saints are my sleeper pick of the season. They have an average schedule, they’re coming back to New Orleans in game 3 to a likely sold out house. They have the karma and they kind of have the tools to be a surprise this year. The Saints are going to turn in a quality season this year. Over; 10-6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8.5): I really have no idea what to expect out of the Bucs this year. I don’t know whether Chris Simms is for real or not. I’m going to say that Simms doesn’t match last year and the Bucs turn in a disappointing season. Under; 6-10
Quick Hits
- This is the time of the year I’m really upset that my cable provider doesn’t offer a baseball package. The Red Sox are finished and I want to watch the AL Central and I have to deal with the 1 or 2 White Sox games I get per week from WGN. Unfortunately, living where I live now, ESPN will only show Yankee games on their local affiliate, which in turn get blacked out because of YES. Can someone explain to me why this happens?
- Yes, the Red Sox are finished. They are about to get swept out of their house. Thanks for playing, Boston. No East title. Not yours. Sunday night’s game was why, in a nutshell, that Papelbon is not Mo and why Rivera is unfair. The Yankees are not only crushing the Red Sox out of the division, but out of the Wildcard race, too. I expect payroll whining to start over at ESPN.com within the day.
- Overpaid for an over-rated Damon, huh? I’m ecstatic he’s thrown that shit in your collective grills, Sawks Nation.
- It was also another reason it’s such a shame that all the drama with A-Rod is going on, because it’s taking press away from the MVP-caliber season Jeter is having
- Two games of the Yanks/Sox series ended after the Boston subway system stopped running for the night. Why in the world does your subway system stop running?
- I heart Melky Cabrera. I can’t help it.
- If Evander Holyfield has a family, make him stop. He’s going to die in the ring
- Dodger fans are getting real uppity for a team who took until late July/early August to clear .500.
- The Giants looked pretty good in their pre-season game this week. I hate getting excited about pre-season games
- The NFL should reduce the pre-season by 2 games and go to an 18 game season.
- Late season baseball and football starting. I love this time of year
It’s late, I just finished watching the Boston Massacre. See you on Thursday in wrestling.
