My Broken Yankee Heart AKA The Yankee Screw

In a lifetime, there are any disappoints. The great joy of my lifetime was when I was finally able to get season tickets. This year, my heart was crushed by the insensitivity of the Yankees to relocating fans in the the home. Moving isn't hard, I moved a few times in my life, with proper planning it goes great. The Yankee fan move was not planned well; and consequently my heart was broken.

The Yankees are chasing the big dollar, luxury suites, high priced seats. So what happened to the ticket holder, most got screwed. I went from the Loge upper deck outfield bleachers.

THIS IS NOT A WAY TO TREAT A FAN!

I am not alone in the Yankee Fan Screw. I wan to hear from all of your who have been screwed. I want to know I am not alone. I am not the only one whose heart was broken.

When ground was broken George Steinbrenner tearful remarked he was doing this for the fans. Yes he did is alright, he gave the fans back for their lack of respect for his owner antics, he screwed us royally.

In honor of this auspicious occasion I have created a new Drink, the Yankee Screw. I am still refining it but so far this is what I have:

1 shot Tequila,

2 shots Amaretto

1/2 Sweet and Sour Mix

1 shot Kahlua

4 ounces club soda

1 ounce tonic

ice

Why those ingredients:

Tequila - The Yankees recruitment is effort targets Spanish speaking countries.

Amaretto - For Joe DiMaggio, one of the great Yankees

Sweet and Sour Mix - For all the Good and Bad Years I remember, the bitter and the Sweet.

Kahlua - It tastes better then the coffee they serve at the stadium

Club Soda - Like the last 7 Yankee teams, it starts out strong then looses it fizzle and falls flat

Tonic Water - for the bitter taste the 2004 ALDS left in my mouth

ice - for all those Aprils and Octobers I froze my behind off in the Loge

Email me and let me know if you got the short end of the relocation stick.

NYY Ticket Licensee Renewal

I got my invoice today, a big fat lie.

Instead of a 41 game plan with seats on the infield I got a big fat downgrade, outfield bleachers.

I was Loge, Section 484, Row D 2002-2008. Now I am Outfield Section 238, Row 22. I was told these seats were comparable to what I had. That person needs an eye exam!

Oh by the way I can have whatever I want if I pay $100 a seat for a half season in the outfield. What away to treat loyal fans.

I called the relocation office useless, they directed me to Yankee box office, they directed me to email the boss. I am now in wait mode.

Stay tuned for updates.

A-Rod, Disappointment, Cheat, Liar and Fraud

Yesterday on ESPN's "Sports Reporters", Michael Kay, Yankee broadcaster and Alex Rodriquez cheerleader admitted he was not shocked but disappointed to hear A-Rod had done steroids. The question remains is how that will alter, or will it alter Kay's perception of of A-Rod from this point on.

Disappointment is when you don't get your toy from Santa, when your parents cancel a planned outing. It is a an emotion generated from the loss of something we look forward to in life. Like it or not, personality and all, we all enjoyed watching A-Rod play. He has talent. Talent that will most likely be overlooked going forward in his baseball career. He will forever be tainted by steroids.

Personally I am neither shocked or disappointed. I blame A-Rods' agent, Scott Boras. An agent is supposed to bolster his client when he or she is insecure. A-Rod requires constant ego maintenance. An agent is supposed to furnish that to his client to keep him from stupid things, like steroids. A-Rod for all his natural talent is highly insecure. He is also image focused. Using steroids and thinking it would not come out is image suicide.

This morning, A-Rod used the lame excuse, I didn't do steroids. Later int he day he recanted, using the I dind't know defens. Alex, Alex, Alex, how stupid do you think people are? They got the records from the Baseball Player's Union. Lying about it intinally only made you look like an ass.

Was I surprised A-Rod went to denial? No, because once again it's his image. If he believes it, it won't be true. Well Alex you can deny it to yourself, but then their is the lab test that says you are a liar. Which would you rather be a fallen legend or an example of a liar and cheat? I personally would take the hit on my reputation for being stupid then for being a liar, then an idiot by admitting it and saying he didn't know. I will admit my mistakes. I have enough self-confidence in myself to admit my many faults; apparently Alex Rodriquez does not. He still believes the A-Rod fairy tale; and this fairy tell has an unhappy ending.

When Andy Pettitte got named in the Mitchell report, I was upset. However Andy came out and admitted to his nasty deed. It proves Andy is a mature person and can handle his own stupidity. When Roger Clemens was accused, he lied, of course, that didn't change my opinion of Roger either, watching him pitch for 20+ year,s you knew it was all about him. And unlike A-Rod, Roger will not be denied Cooperstown, he holds too many records, before he loaded up on the steroids to keep pitching. Alex on the other hand can probably kiss the Hall of Fame goodbye.

Had A-Rod fessed up today and been honest the first time, he might have got a pardon from the Baseball Writers. But Alex initially denied the truth, the truth that is plain in a printed lab report. Lying is something the Baseball Writers will not forget. Honesty and open dialog is the basis for their craft. Alex is not honest or open unless it benefits. Why then would they place him one day in the shrine of the immortals? Lying removes his reward for immortality. Had he gone with unknowingly stupid at first, he might have at least gotten an invite.

My parents always said, honestly is the best policy. In this day of tainted role models, what example does A-Rod's no, then maybe I didn't know defense teach our youth. It teaches them to lie, cheat and sneak to be successful. The fast track to disaster.

The biggest thing about this latest A-Rod Drama is the example it sets for those who want to be like him. And that is something we cannot allow. No matter how much talent, how much ability or success you attain, you should not be rewarded for attaining it unfairly.

As Kellogg's and USA Swimming stripped Michael Phelps of his rewards, the same should be done for all athletes who attain their success through cheating. Why it will not upset me if a talent like A-Rod is denied the Baseball Hall of Fame.

It is time to draw a line in the sand, the line of setting a good example. Those who cheated set bad examples, and bad examples requires punishment.

The moral of this tale, stupidity should never be rewarded and honesty is always the best policy.

The Smoking Steroid Gun

Much has come out of the Balco investigation by the DEA and US attorney. Now that discovery is over and trial time is near, the real evidence is available to the press, and they are like kids at Christmas, much to the dismay of to other than Messrs Barry Bonds and lawyers, the US Attorney and now Alex Rodriquez.


Hence a plethora of "shocking" steroid related stories.


Get real, anyone who believes A-Rod and Bonds weren't using roids prior to 2006 must have had vision impairment. Photos don't lie and at the end of 2002, A-Rod's face has the distinctive roids shape: round and pregnant looking. I don't think A-Rod was preggers. That would have been bigger news.


You would think that with A-Rod's money he could have done PEDs in the privacy of his home, much like Roger Clemens.

A-Rod in 2000 Oval Face, no rounding

A-Rod End of 2002 -Roid Use Rounded Face

A-Rod at NYY Announcement 2004, drug free oval face

To pass the NYY physical, A-Rod would have need to be roids free. Or dear old King George would have not signed on the dotted line.

I have no doubt that in the days and weeks to come their will be other shocking announcements. Even some unsuspected players, one not linked to Balco and the Mitchell Report.

As for Alex, his life is in the toilet, let the poor man alone. He's a multi-millionaire, deep in divorce proceedings, and living in the shadow of Derek Jeter and the 32 pages Joe Torre devoted to him in the "The Yankee Years" (By the way I have not gotten there yet, I cannot wait to get to Chapter 8., so far nothing new)

But one last dig, Alex, I would like to congratulate you on your induction into Club Asterisk *. Somehow I think Babe Ruth's record as the All-Time American League Home Leader will never be in jeapordy from you.

The New Joe Torre Book Part 1

Like many Yankee fans, I want to read to Joe Torre's new book, "The Yankee Years". Unfortunately it will not be in the stores until Tuesday, February 3. And of course on that day severe winter storm is heading to NJ and NY.

I read Torre's last book, "Joe Torre's Ground Rules for Winners", it will be interesting to see how this labeled tell-all rates with his philosophy.

I didn't read his first, "Chasing the Dream". His first book didn't do well. #2 was on the NY Times best seller list for several weeks, I predict # 3 will be as well. It's not even out and people are talking.

I personally don't believe in airing dirty laundry in public, that is what the clothes was was made for, so you only have clean clothes viewed in public. So people don't work well and play together nicely, well that part of life. I firmly believe everyone gets their just desserts in the end, and it is not my role to mete out justice because I work with a jerk, even if that justice comes as a book.

If I ever wrote a tell all about my family, first most would not believe it; for all intent and purposes I appear mostly normal. To it a few it might explain the way I am. But then I don't feel a need to explain myself to others. Apparently Joe Torre did.

Torre was heavily criticized by the Yankee and overall sports media for his management style.

Personally I had no problem with it. He never let on his thoughts. That is an excellent management, it forces others to hate you because they can't read you.

He was most of the time composed and cool in the dugout and respectful of the press in interviews. His criticism of the team's performance was minimally aired in public. That really is an example of good management. It is how you build up the respect of your employees, the Yankees, and your bosses, the Steinbrenners.

Long before Torre book # 2, I have always tried to practice that style. Criticism of employees should be private. It's how they learn to grow and mature. Debasing a human being in public is not necessary and uncalled for; it teaches the person nothing and makes you look like a Jackass.

So like many Yankee and baseball fans I am curious about the new book. Why did Joe Cool feel a need to write it? Was it final flip of the bird to Steinbrenner family? Has he been holding it all inside for years and this is his way of venting?

I don't have those answers.

I am also curious why he partnered again with Tom Verducci. Verducci a long time NY Baseball Writer and not a big George Steinbrenner fan would not have been my choice. I am wondering how much of the book is Tom and how much is Joe. I will read it and try and figure it all out.

If anything this may not have been the smartest political move Joe Torre has ever made, the book isn't even out and people are annoyed. From a financial point, it is excellent, as I stated earlier the book will surely spend a long time on the best seller list. I guess the did it because the cost of living is LA is so expensive.

Andy Pettitte Bargain

I'd like to think Andy Pettitte resigned at $5.5million because the country is in an economic recession, but truly he did it because he wants to end his baseball career as a Yankee. It makes you wonder why the Yankees let him go. Maybe they have finally learned how to staff their pitchers................Nah!

I love Andy, of my all time Yankees, those who lived in my adulthood, Andy, Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter, take 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Why Andy? It's not a knock on Bernie or Derek, Andy in first, because he always gives it his all even when he is awful.

Andy came up as a young pitcher from the minors; it's a hard job; look at the current crop of Yankee AAA pitching talent and what has befallen them. Whenever Andy would lose, the Post and News would start rumors he was trade bait. but he was never traded; and is part of the reason the Yankees have some of those shiny World Series trophies from the Torre era.

Yes Derek is a superstar, but fielding isn't' as demanding as pitching. Pitchers have to think: they carry the responsibility for wins and losses. Derek just as to worry about his ERA, RBIs and Errors.

Yes the Yankees let him go; because of his arm; stupid move when you consider all the money the Yankees had singed to other pitchers who never made it out to the mound in the Bronx. Would I have gambled, yes but I'm biased.

With Andy resigned, his function should be to get all the youth talent ready for a new era. The children of the future need an older mentor, Moose is off in PA on his farm, so that leaves Andy.

But come the new season, who will be the better man pitch for pitch, C.C. Sabathia or Andy Pettitte. CC singed for the money first, being a Yankee second, Andy singed to be a Yankee.

Money can't buy you happiness, but being a Yankee can.

To quote another famous Yankee: "I want to thank the good Lord for making me a Yankee....Joe DiMaggio"

Major League Sports Can Take Lessons

While watching the Inaugural and listening to the comments about our peaceful transition of power; I was struck by how "uncivilized" power transitions are in sports. The outgoing manager, coach, etc is unceremoniously fired; there may or may not be bad comments from the departed manager or the team that fired him. And even when a manager leaves of their own accord to retire or go elsewhere, there is this air of hostility.

Granted American politics is hostile. However it is also democratic. On inauguration Day, the losing and winning parties smile at each other an d behave like civilized humans beings. They may have tossed barbs at each other before or after the election, but for the sake of the greater good they behave like ladies and gentlemen.

While the wining party may have to clean up after the departing party, they just do it. They try and not blame it on their predecessors as it does not accomplish the end goal. It wastes time and they just dig in and get the job done with their new rules. There are few if any temper tantrums. Unfortunately we can't say the same for sports.

Picture this scenario: Woody Johnson, Eric Mangini and Rex Ryan appear on ESPN and calmly announce Eric is leaving for the good of the team and Rex is taking over. There is no public firing and sulking, second guessing and speculating by the sports press on the new head coach; it just happens. But I guess that would result in a lot of dead TV and radio air. It would take away topics from the overpaid sports talking heads. Gee what would they do...well maybe they would actually analyze the teams for a change, instead of playing armchair coach.

Since the next round of end of season mass coach executions will be in the NBA, I challenge the NBA team owners. Leave the sports talkies wagging their tongues, call a press conference and fire the outgoing guy and announce his replacement at one time. Start a trend so we can get rid of this incessant run off on the mouth of weeks of speculation of who the successor will be. Think of all the phones calls from reporters you won't get.

The Great Ticket Relocation

As I previously blogged, the Yankees will invoice me when they get me a set of seats for 41 games. My last communication was the one back in the Fall, that was basically you'll know when we invoice you.

As such I have been watching the ticket relocation page. Last Sunday, it said the full season relocation was done and they were in the 41 game relocation. Well that must be an error, because when I checked today, the Yankees stated they were back on the full season relocation and the 41 game relocation had not begun.

Well I am not particularly anxious to part with my money to the Yankees; I am eager to see where I will be sitting. When I originally dove into season ticket ownership, The Yankees called me the 1st week in January; offered me my seats; then promptly invoiced me.

Despite the age of computerization, the Yankees appear to be doing seat assignments with a pencil and eraser. Its very frustrating; its getting closer to Opening Day, and I hate offering my guest a ticket at the last minute.

On that note, this year, I will be soliciting for an Opening Day guest through a letter wrintng contest; those of your who want an early jump; you will have to state why you deserve to be my Opening Day 2009 guest. Details will follow in another blog shortly.

Nothing About Baseball or Sports

The country has been besieged by “Sully Mania”; Sully being the nickname of the Captian Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, III of US Airways flight 1549 that ditched in the middle of Hudson River on Thursday afternoon. What is so special about this man that all, young and old are fixated on him; outside of the hero part; he is a symbol of hope in bleak times; he may even overshadow the Inauguration of the new President.

On Tuesday Barack Obama will be the 44th President of the United States. In a period of hard economic times, record unemployment and business failures; he promises change; he promises to put America back to work. However for those of us waiting to see what the new administration will bring; we remain hopeful, but guarded; Washington has a way of working; and generally it is not to the benefit of the majority of American voters, but to the benefit of the few. Americas are skeptical that we have become a country of “me first, you later”. Captain Sullenberger represents the hope that “me first” can be banished from our society.

If the new President restores the US economy he will go down in the record books as a hero. He has a lot to overcome, because he is up against a crowd of rich and powerful me first people, Wall Street. To fix the economy, bad trading, lending, and business consolidation practices need to be stopped. Wall Street has been artificially inflating stock prices for years based on earning reports. Stock has been used like cash in business merger; one of the primary reason our economy has plunged. Stock like credit cards has no value unless the business succeeds.

So on Thursday afternoon, when Captain Sullenberger choose a water landing on the coldest day in NYC, he showed that there are still many Americans who aren’t “me first”. He represents the ability of people to make the better choice; the choice that will benefit the majority, not the minority. There could have been losers Thursday US Airways, lost an airplane and got a lot of negative crash publicity. However the plane will be covered by insurance and all the crash publicity has been countered by the ability of a flight crew to get everyone back to their families alive.

On Tuesday the new administration will ask all to make some sacrifices; while they fix the economy. Wall Street and big corporate executives need to take the biggest sacrifices. Much of our economic waste starts at the top of companies, with extravagant salaries, perks and bonuses. I say this; if one man could make a life or death decision based on what is best for all; then a handful of powerful and rich people can make a decision to sacrifice their extravagance to benefit the a majority.

“Sully Mania” is the promise that it might happened; that Americans will sacrifice to benefit the majority.

And for those of you people who still treat out soldiers like lepers. Remember this also; sacrifice is the heart of military personnel. They give up a lot for our freedom with the hope to protect those who cannot. Captain Sullenberger was one of those military men, before he became a commercial pilot. Maybe that made his decision easier Thursday; he was use to sacrificing.

We all want a nice comfortable life. But how comfortable must it be? It does not need to be extravagant. We need to make sure we have food, clothing and housing and a salary to pay for it. Being a common person is not a bad thing; however being an uncommon person someone who thinks of their self first and how to be as rich as possible is a very bad thing.

America is the land of the common person; granted our Founding Fathers were men with money and estates; however those men gave up their easy lives to establish this country. Had the Revolutionary War ended differently; all would have died on King George III’s gallows.

Its time for executives and unions to make sacrifices, to help this economy; follow Captain Sullenberger’s example and think of others, and not yourselves.

New Yankee Stadium

As the Yankees gear up the staff by spending too much, construction on the stadium continues. The seats must all be in, finally, because seat assignments have begun. After 4 weeks of filling full season ticket holder requests, the Yankees have moved onto the 41 seat ticket plan holder. People like me. I hope it's not another 4 weeks.

In the meantime, some Yankee management might not get to Opening Day. Subpoenas have been issued to investigate the funding and overspending of public money. It's nerve a good idea to bilk public money when the economy is going to hell and state budgets are being cut beyond the bone. Scandal and rumor about how the Yankees got the funding have been circulating for a year, and now Yankee executives will be questioned.

As to Opening Day... I am looking forward to it, now that the Giants went down to the Eagles last Sunday. Time to pay attention to baseball. As to football, lets go Steelers!!! I can't stand the Eagles.