In his article (“Whole lotta love for those Yanks, Vanguard Nov. 6), Art Chenoweth attempts to make logical arguments for why one roots for the Yankees. The problem is that logic has so little to do with being a sports fan. If you are going to make the attempt, however, at least get the facts straight.
Randy Johnson did not leave the M’s to go to the D’backs. He went to Houston, albeit briefly. The reasons for his leaving aren’t totally clear, perhaps it was money, perhaps he was simply tired of watching five-run leads evaporate at the hands of the (then) pathetic M’s bullpen. If you are still going to fault him, how about Roger Clemens who left the Boston Red Sox, the team that nurtured him, to get more money, first at Toronto then at New York? (Or maybe they both just wanted a shot at the big World Series Ring)
Next, how can you possibly say that you dislike the D’backs because of the salaries they paid, when you are comparing them to the New York Yankees? Is it only acceptable that the Yanks outspend everyone in baseball because they have been around longer? The D’backs are trying to build revenues by creating a desirable product – a winning team. Is it more honorable to pay low salaries and have no fans, like the Expos? Further, many of the high-paid D’backs have actually deferred a portion of their salaries in an attempt to help the fledgling organization make it through this building period.
Joe Torre is no doubt one of the classiest and smartest managers in baseball. However his move to play bench players in game six was not an extraordinary move, it is simply good baseball. Even the rookie Bob Brenly got that move right. In fact, both teams had the same number of position players in the game that night, 12.
As to the ethnic mix of the Yankees, did you somehow miss the stellar play of Tony Womack, Danny Bautista, Miguel Batista and Eruziel Durazo? Does Byung-Hyun Kim not count since his play was less than stellar? Baseball has players from over 53 countries and virtually all ethnic groups. Baseball overall is gloriously colorblind when it comes to player talent, I don’t believe there is any team in baseball that is significantly more or less diverse than any other. Where baseball fails diversity is in the ranks of coaches and managers, here New York and Arizona are equally lacking.
On a side note, while Jeter is no doubt a fantastic player, his blocking the base path move that you refer to was illegal (which is why it was repeatedly replayed). It was a good move, only because he wasn’t called on it.
While the fans cheering of Paul O’Neill was certainly a touching moment, for me to find him charming it will take more than one awe-shucks moment to make up for his years of whining at umpires and helmet throwing. There are many things to like about O’Neill, he works hard and he plays to win. Class and charm? That’s pushing it.
As for heroics, the D’Backs coming back after suffering three tough losses was equally amazing. To refuse to fade behind the legacy that is New York. To refuse to give up in the face of the best closer in baseball. Either team can be eulogized because this was quite simply one of the best World Series ever.
You can love the Yankees for their history. You can love them because they play good ball. You can hate them because they win so often. You can hate them if you love the Mets or the Red Sox. You can hate them because it is a tradition in your family. It is not a question of logic, there is no right answer. Perhaps hating the Diamondbacks for their uniform isn’t as silly as it sounds.
Anne Kennedy
student
Graduate School of Business