Everybody wins today
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 18, 2008 
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The Yankees beat Virginia Tech 11-0. Like that matters.
What did matter is that the Yankees came to campus and gave people who have been going though a tough time a reason to smile.
Several of my fellow beat writers said that when the team stopped at the memorial to the 32 victims of the shooting, a young lady asked Derek Jeter to pose for a photo with her next to the stone placed in memory of her fiancé. If that doesn’t choke you up a little, nothing will.
The Yankees signed every autograph, Johnny Damon hugged the Hokie mascot and Tech coach Pete Hughes, a Red Sox fan from Massachusetts, said he will never look at the Yankees the same way again. One of his kids was running around the field wearing a Red Sox shirt with a Yankees jersey over it.
Good job by the pinstripes today. If good karma has any influence on the season, the Yankees should have a great 2008.
Great job, Yankees……I am proud to be associated with a team that recognizes that there is life outside of baseball.
Hughes’s kids were cute. It really looked like a nice day for everyone.
I watched most of the game on MLB.tv, it was very, I guess “touching” is the word. From the 32 balloons being released to all the fans in the stands wearing either Yankees or VT gear enjoying themselves the Yanks really did a great thing, I’m proud of my boys!
Coming to camp in shape, competing for jobs and the affection of a new skipper, having enough pitching at the start of the season for a change, A-Rod’s (the enigma) still in pinstripes and now, a perfect emotional focal point to set the stage for the season: carpe diem. (Somehow that steroids stuff is starting to seem a long time ago). All they have to do now is stay healthy for two more weeks and they will hit the ground running.
Yeah, I’d say it was shaping up pretty good.
But you still gotta play the games, as the Captain would say.
I know it has been said but this sure makes me proud to be a Yankee fan!
I’m going to have to catch the replay, but it’s a wonderful gesture.
And Murphydog says it very, very well.
CARPE DIEM!
The best thing, I think, was that each player, while were on base, were all smiles talking to the VTech players. Just seems like a fun day for everyone.
Nice job by the Yankees. Though it doesn’t heal the wounds, it has to help at least for one day. It’s hard to understand just how important sports are until you see how impacting they can be… like 9/11
This was a very meaningful game, but I can’t wait for the other kind of meaningful games to start!
When I was a kid, someone gave me a book called “And on the Eighth Day God Created the Yankees”, about the faith of members of the Yankees.
God had a good 8th day, and I’m proud of my team today…
I am really happy for Coach Hughes. I wrote last night how much of a standup guy he was when he recruited my nephew to BC. A first class guy……even though he is a Red Sox fan! lol
Lots of things to be happy about this spring. However, this tops it all.
Its a day to be very proud of being a fan of the pinstripes.
I am so proud of the entire organization today. what a great way to give back.
Great game.
I got my Yankees/VT hat signed by Jeter, Girardi and Giambi.
I think I shocked Dave Eiland when I recognized him for an autograph.
I asked Shelley Duncan if he could sign a baseball “Red Sox Suck” and he said he couldn’t do that anymore.
Quote of the day, I asked Giambi who would win in a fight, Farnsworth or Duncan? He said he wouldn’t want any part of either of them.
Quick story about Coach Hughes.
During his home visit with my nephew, his mother myself and my wife (his aunt) were present. Hughes says to my nephew, (he is a catcher) “You remind me of a young Varitek”.
Silence befalls the room. He is told that he is talking to a room full of Yankee fans! lol
I said to him, “That’s not going to get him to BC”!
He quickly changed gears and said jokingly, “how ’bout another Posada”.
To which my wife replied, “That’s better”. lol
He’s a first class man. I am very happy the Yankees did this for his program.
Its an uphill battle to build a baseball program at VT. If anybody can do it, its Coach Hughes.
His next game is Thursday against my nephew’s BC team in Blacksburg. I told my nephew to make sure to go to the memorial and pays his respects.
One last note. Dan Shaugnessey’s son also plays for BC and his dad and I attend as many games as we can. He’s actually a very nice guy. Great father, who wrote a must read book called, “Senior Year” about his son’s senior year of HS.
He also wrote an excellent column about 10 days ago telling Red Sox fans to chill out with the “Dynasty” talk.
Said in no uncertain terms that while its great to see the Red Sox success, they are not yet a Dynasty.
Gutsy column since his bosses (the Globe) are part owners of the Red Sox.
Anyway, I just thought I’d share that he is really a good guy.
Arod-”what does Veritek look like with his mask off?”
Vinny – That’s great.
You could tell the Yankees really wanted to be there from Girardi going up into the stands during the game and Alex sitting in the VT dugout. Even Hal and Randy Levine were there. It was just another special act by the classiest sports team around! I am so proud to be a Yankee fan.
Fehr says MLBPA to look at why Bonds is unemployed
This reminds me of the kid that had no friends in school and had his mother go to complain about it. Seriously. Look at fixing the hgh problem. Bonds is universally unliked. Move on.
I just got back from the game, it was great. I got Jeter, Giambi, Ensberg, Patterson, and Moeller to sign balls. I was so close to getting Girardi and Damon.
George Steinbrenner used to be fond of saying, ” Owning the Yankees is like owning the Mona Lisa …. there’s only one of them”.
Today, the Yankees made their owner as proud as a team could possibly be, top to bottom.
Vinny: That’s great! Too bad about Shelley not being able to sign that any more…and great response from Giambi!
Kyle: Dang, that’s a lot!
Vinny & Kyle: I’m jealous you got to be there.
Kyle – glad you enjoyed the game and got so many autographs. What time did you have to get there? On TV they were saying that people were lining up at 6AM
it’s really cool to hear responses from fans who were at the game
and ofcourse i am very proud to be a yankee fan!!!
Many, many kudos to the Yankees players and everyone in the organization for a job well done!
To me the best part was the end when the VT team was waiting to “good game” the Yankees…I don’t know why – I am so used to the Yankees doing it amongst themselves that it was nice to see them participate in something so “collegiate”
Pete, you forgot this is Life, where good deeds go unrewarded and bad deeds go unpunished.
(P.S., Houston Rockets will NOT match Michael Jordan’s number tonight.)
Go Wookies –
Oh, Pish-tosh! This was a great day for VT, for the NYY and for the fans of each.
I’m really enjoying reading all of the posts on this today.
You have some of the most entertaining and insightful posts I read here SJ44. Thank you for sharing that great experience with us.
The least the Yanks could have done was let the Hokies score a run or two….
this was a great day for baseball. After a scandal ridden offseason this showed why we love the game. The Yankees are a world class organization and the VT community is a world class community. I remember turning to baseball after 9/11 just to feel normal again. I am sure this game helped the VT community to heal as well as keeping some of these great baseball figure humble!
Earlier today someone posted a link
http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/st.....=menu368_2
to view videos from today, now it isn’t working. IS anyone else having problems?
One of the guys on my Summer baseball league attends VT and said that was an incredible experience and it sure looked like something that most of them will remember forever.
Good job by the Yankees……very classy indeed
jennifer – I just tried the videos on that link and they played fine for me. I’m sure they are getting tons of hits though, so there may be people that experience difficulty here and there.
Well I saw Mariano pitch today for Trenton Thunder squad….peeked over at Moose pitching for Scranton.Lots of Japanese photographers to catch Matsui.I was one of the fans at the fence getting Marianos autograph.Not to Hot today,got A Jax and Vechionacci to sign as well,after their game.
Tommorrow the Yankees are doing their annual benefit for the Boys and Girls club of Tampa Luncheon.I am attending for my 3rd time,and unfortunately I have an extra ticket that cost me $250.00.Its a chance to get autographs from almost all the 25 Man Roster plus old time Yankee greats.Hopefully I can sell it before it starts at 1130AM.
Great job by the Yanks, the front office, YES, and everyone involved. I’m glad I was able to watch that today. It was clearly something special to behold.
Seriously, they easily could have brought a bunch of AAAA players and some of the ST invitees on the roster, and VT would have been just as grateful. But Girardi brought the regular lineup with him, and that was obviously huge. At least for a day, this game put a lot of things into perspective.
UtilityMan
I’m sure you can find someone on here to take the ticket off your hands. Heck if I didn’t have to work tomorrow I’d fly down.
Have fun!!! tell the players that the fans appreciated what they did today. 
Wolf, I got it to work, I ended up saving them and was able to watch it.
Really classy act all around. I’m going to try and stay up late just to watch the encore on YES.
Great job by all the Yanks (esp. Mr. George Steinbrenner), and we’ll go for the good karma and GOFERIT-Yanks!
Hope this great move done by the Yankees serves as a good example to the rest of MLB. And hopefully, ousters that apathy they have of not reaching out a bit more to communities in need. These teams make lots of money, it would be nice to see more of this every once in awhile.
Am Proud to be a Yankees Fan.
Off topic, couldn’t resist this important news story. Donald Fehr wants to know why Barry Bonds doesn’t have a job.
http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/10719589
Note to Don Fehr:
Why doesn’t Barry have a job? Allow me to paraphrase Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign staff: it’s the indictment, stupid.
FYI Saturday 7pm channel 4 Yankees Stadium retrospective.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/a.....bama1.html
I thank the good Lord for making me a Yankee fan.
I was able to watch the first 5 innings on Yes. Very special. Did General Joe ever make it to the Yankee dugout? It seemed he was everywhere in the place but there.
pretty cool to see A-Rod hanging in the Va. Tech dugout for a spell. for young baseball players to be able to hang with him….
Great story and I am very proud to day of the Yanks!
Wow just read Duque hit 81 on the gun. OUCH!!
hey guys Chad Jennings also gave us some good news on a once naughty Yankee’s return
JB Cox impresses
……….and we yankee fans continue to pat ourselves on the back, as though we have accomplished something ourselves………
Aaron where did that come from ?
Can’t be a Yankee fan. Bad grammar, bad spelling, and bigotry give it away.
mel-
Rockets are down by 21, whassup?
Buddy,
Loving every minute of it!
There are 143 pics up at the VT Hokies site, enjoy
http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/gallery/
Oy. It’s Mount St. Mary’s. That’s terrible. I thought it was Mt. St. Mary’s.
Buddy,
I heard that Kobe did a 360 layup tonight!
I see the usual bunch of night owls are here.
LOL, Andrea. It just struck midnight. Did you turn into something?
damn Celtics
that’s why I stayed quiet today I knew Boston wouldn’t lose tonight
I am going on Friday, Golden State vs Houston, was hoping for #24.
I’ve been away for a week and just skimmed the headlines to get caught back up.
Seems like Melky and Duncan got suspensions, Andy’s elbow hurt but it’s all better, Andy brushed back Papi, still not sure if Joba is in the pen or rotation, Yankees did a good thing with Va Tech and Pete still doesn’t understand Alex Rodriguez.
Did I miss anything else important?
Lakers back in a tie for 1st.
Pat Joba’s starts as a BP to kep his innings cap on target, then he will strt the 2nd half as a starter, J.B. Cox also impressed today in his ST debut vs Toronto’s AA team.
keep*
hello fellow night owls…i just got in from having drinks. some Mets fan …my best friend mind you, actually texted me suggesting that the yanks were showboating today.
i asked him : did YOU actually watch the game today or did you just look at the score?
Buddy,
Who cares about standings, didn’t you hear me? Kobe made a 360 layup!
did David Aldrige have to ask that question to KG at that moment I mean wow what a jerk
did David Aldrige have to ask that question to KG at that moment I mean wow what a jerk
Pat; i think you summed it up pretty well
Brandon,
What did ask about the T-wolves owner’s comment that KG was tanking it in Minny?
wow Brandon. Thanks for sharing that link.
no problem Andrea
Mel he asked what KG thought about T-Wolves owner Glen Taylor’s comments about last year around this time he thought KG tanked it and asked for a response on live television, he basically cornered KG to answer that question and KG handled it very profesionally. Good for KG.
oh if anyone is interested Abraham Almonte aka Jose Reyes eat your heart out did his thing today source
mel-
Get me some video of the 360, puh-lease!
yeah thanks for the link brandon; interesting article
damn Dirk caused the Mavs a big game
MikeEff do you see the Abraham Almonte article ?
Thanks. Reading through all the comments probably would have taken another week. Us Yankee fans sure do have alot to say.
Buddy,
Only have the word of the LA Times right now. ESPN highlights doesn’t have it and it’s not on youtube yet.
So, it’ll have to be an urban legend until I get a video link.
Thanks mel, I’ll check back tomorrow AM.
So I’ve come to the following conclusion:
Baseball lives in the east
Football in the south
Hockey in the north
Basketball in the west
Rebecca,
Sounds like a dissertation topic…or a blog thread.
30 yr. old OF Kevin Reese has decided to retire and will accept a Yankees scouting job
SWB
mel: nope. didn’t turn into anything. Just more tired.
“……….and we yankee fans continue to pat ourselves on the back, as though we have accomplished something ourselves………”
You bet your life we have accomplished something ourselves. We have evolved to the point where we can recognize the honor, pride, and dignity that accompanies rooting for a team that took time out of its spring training to play a game against a team whose school had suffered a profound tragedy, and in so doing gave something to that team and that school far greater than a baseball game. It gave those students, faculty, and coaches a reason to smile again and maybe for a brief moment to forget the interminable pain that has been a part of their life since that horrific day last year. So we pat ourselves on the back for choosing our heroes well. What better accomplishment than that, I would ask you.
This was the one and only time I was routing againest my Yankees!!!
I wonder if Modells will have those “VT”/Yankee hats???
Great fun to watch that game, to bad the weather wasn’t to good???
Next year maybe they can play that game during the all-star break??? Like anyone watch’s that game!!
at least Reese is still in baseball. they mentioned him during sunday’s radio broadcast. good luck to him.
“Baseball lives in the east
Football in the south
Hockey in the north
Basketball in the west”
so simple, yet so brilliant.