Robinson honored tonight
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Apr 15, 2008 
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Today is Jackie Robinson Day in the majors and three Yankees will wear No. 42 in his honor – Joe Girardi, Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano.
Cano was named after Jackie Robinson by his baseball-loving father. He wears 24 because of that.
Mariano Rivera is the last player who wears 42. He was assigned the number as a young player and kept it. MLB retired the number in 1997 and Rivera, Mo Vaughn and others were allowed to keep it until they retired. Rivera is the last player from that group.
Several entire teams, including the Rays, will wear 42.
—————
There was some sad news in Connecticut yesterday as long-time sportswriter Randy Smith passed away. His paper, the Journal Inquirer, ran a nice story about his life.
I was 22 when I started covering UConn men’s baseball and way over my head. But my paper sent me everywhere with the Huskies, even to Alaska. Smith worked for a competing paper, but he always would take time to give me advice.
The best? “Write it well, Peter. They all count.”
It’s gone now but there was a bar on East 50th Street in Manhattan named Runyon’s. It was where all the writers and coaches hung out during the Big East tournament, back when there were nine teams in the conference and everybody knew everybody. Believe it or not, coaches used to want to drink with the writers.
Randy and Phil Chardis of the JI threw me a cab once and introduced me to everybody in the place. I learned more about writing on those nights than in four years of college. So here’s to Randy, thanks for everything.
pete . do you think that the hitting was better because it wasnt cold?
great Post, Pete …..
does some one know why joe Giradi will wear # 42 ? jeter and cano i understand but not him.
FYI, ALL….Borowski not only stinks, but was hurt and is now on the DL…oh, yes….the mighty Red Sox ! not !
Pete, that’s a great tribute.
I kind of wish all of the Yanks would wear 42, but even so, better some do it than none.
Pete…posts like this make me especially glad to read this Blog. I am sorry for your loss.
Nice post Pete.
awesome
“FYI, ALL….Borowski not only stinks, but was hurt and is now on the DL…oh, yes….the mighty Red Sox ! not !”
Someone in my league already had Betancourt stashed away – blegh.
He was a good man. I read a lot of his work when I lived in NE and got to meet him a few times.
Guys like Randy are what make good sportswriters. He was actually into the “writing” end of it and not concerned about being a multi-media star.
Its a new generation in that regard these days.
Sad, sad day.
Borowski was throwing 83 MPH last night. That was the speed of the fastball Manny hit out in the 9th.
Pete,
Great post, as a CT resident and UConn alum I had an opportunity to read his work.
Keep up the great work
You know, I think what Jackie Robinson did was brave and amazing. He deserves all the honor and respect we can offer. Retiring 42 is the topper. However, I don’t understand celebrating it again this year. I understood last year because it was the 60 year anniversary, but this is 61, not a milestone. I mean, there are no days for Babe Ruth, Abner Doubleday, Hank Aaron, Ty Cobb, Cy Young or others. Just my two cents.
Jeff: What Jackie did transcends baseball.
Sorry for your loss pete.
I agree with Jeff NJ. It is overdone.
Sure Robinson broke the color barrier.
Did Hank Aron contribute any less to the game?
For that matter Babe?
Al, if you think only black players would want to honor Robinson, do some research.
great post pete
everybody’s been saying this but thanks for doing everything you have been doing. as a current uconn student, thanks for the mention… but more importantly, thanks for giving us some place new to get the yankee news, i think i’m not the only one in saying ESPN’s mlb crew isn’t that good.
…and jeff…i dont think anyone is going to want to celebrate ty cobb…well most people…certain group might…
…and they should have a robinson day…they should honor a couple of other people as well…or at least group them as one whole day, but jackie…its jackie baby.
Jeff NJ……If you pull your head from your ass you’ll understand why. The man unslaved black andlatinos from the white(in baseball) imagine the game without the manny’s, big papis, and bonds… what would it be today. You pleeople whine about everything. Even the good things. burn in hell.
Ahh, isn’t the point that Aaron never even plays without Robinson’s impact?
Borowski now on the Dl go figure
from the last thread.
I had a poll this winter- If you could change one of these two outcomes. Which would it be?
a.losing to Boston in 04
b.losing to the D backs in the ninth inning in 01
I still cant choose between the two.
“Jeff NJ……If you pull your head from your ass you’ll understand why. The man unslaved black andlatinos from the white(in baseball) imagine the game without the manny’s, big papis, and bonds… what would it be today. You pleeople whine about everything. Even the good things. burn in hell.”
“Ahh, isn’t the point that Aaron never even plays without Robinson’s impact?”
I don’t mind him being celebrated, but if Jackie Robinson had never played, someone else would have broken the color barrier. While he dealt with a lot of crap, if he had never existed, we would probably still be where we are today.
“a.losing to Boston in 04″, no question. Game 4, shut the door, Sox swept.
Pete, great post. A great tribute to someone it seems influenced you, your passion for writing and your dedication to your chosen profession.
Very emotional. Good read…
“if Jackie Robinson had never played, someone else would have broken the color barrier. While he dealt with a lot of crap, if he had never existed, we would probably still be where we are today.”
Yes, someone would have, and we’d be celebrating that person instead.
And we may or may not be where we are today, you can’t really say that for sure because that’s not how it happened. Maybe we would, maybe we’d be where we were 20 years ago, who knows…..
i agree if jackie didnt do it, someone else would have, but jackie did, and he did it with class and hall of fame production…he was a great player and if he wasnt, it might have set baseball back a dozen years or so in that way…he had the weight of a race on his shoulders and delivered…and from all accounts and knowledge, it seems as if he was full out class.
Losing to the Dbacks in the 9th! With Mo out there that game should have been wrapped up. WS Championships are more important than ALCS, just my opinion
stephen. – you dont get the point. if its not a entire team that wears #42, the player or coach that wears it has a reason why. i am asking whats his reason! THATS IT!
Any reason why anyone in baseball wouldn’t wear 42 on J-Rob Day? Can you be that superstitious about your number? It seems to me that on an occassion like this that everyone should wear it. I commend teams like the Mets and Rays for wearing it. What’s with Hawkins for not wearing it tonight? He wore it last year…
Arguing that baseball is doing too much for Jackie Robinson (and in effect for black players) is just dumb and brings into question the motives behind such complaints.
Think of it as a cost-free affirmative action; an attempt to make amends for denying generations of players the opportunities and wealth a major-league career offers.
Jackie Robinson is the symbol of triumph over baseball’s racist past and the game and baseball can’t do enough to remember why his story is so important.
Imagine the game without Alex Rodriguez people. Or even can without Ken griffey junior back when he was good. Boring.
the Yankees again miss an oppurtunity to make Alex look a bit more likeable, why isn’t he wearing the #42 too… I mean he’s Dominican & American…sometimes I think his PR reps are asleep at the wheel.
Ken*****
it is somewhat strange that some wear it and some don’t. It’s not like those that don’t are protesting, it’s optional as anyone that wants to wear 42 was given permission by the league to do so. Permission, not anything more… So, why wouldn’t everyone wear it?
Durahm Yankee,
Most think we would have swept the Cards as well. Thats what they are taking to account.
Honoring Robinson once a day is a great thing. I do agree, however, that if you’re not careful, retiring numbers league-wise will get out of hand.
Citifield will honor Robinson with the “Jackie Robinson Rotunda”. Personally, that isn’t pretty to the ear. Is there a “Jackie Robinson Museum” already?
*once a year*
place*****
Griffey was pretty good last year….His 2005 wasn’t bad either, even though he missed nearly 40 games that year.
Brandon,
Wouldn’t that be an Alex decision to wear the jersey? Maybe he’ll name his child Jacqueline if it’s a girl.
yeah- you are completly wrong A-rod doesnt wear not because he doesnt respect J. robbinson . Just because he has no connection to him. you get it . maybe the whole entire leage should wear it?! it doesnt work like that!
What Jackie did transcends baseball, his level of play on the field and his achievements off the field should make a baseball fan, of any color, appreciate what he did in his life. Instead of questioning things appreciate what he accomplished and MLBs decision to honor a great man and a great baseball player.
i would say losing game 4 in 2004 was the worst thing happened to the yankees
Granted, but we were 3 outs away from #27, thats a lot closer than 4 games
Imagine having the courage to make tremendous personal sacrifices for which there would be no just compensation in this life, and possessing the integrity to control your natural homicidal rage in the face of constant, evil and degrading slanders. Such monumental courage and integrity in the face of great challenge transcends color and sets the bar for all of us. Girardi will wear No. 42 tonight because he feels it (not fees “like” it). Everybody should try to feel No. 42 tonight.
I don’t think it looks bad that A-Rod’s not wearing it, more people aren’t wearing it than are. My personal feeling is that, if I were a MLB ballplayer, I would feel inclined to wear it because I have no reason not to and it’s to honor someone who did something great for the league and by extension, our country.
Whether we have personal “connection” to Jackie Robinson or not, whether we have educated ourselves or been educated to the extent we should about what he did (and I admit I have not), everyone in the sport most certainly has a “connection” to Jackie Robinson.
al arodien-Alex rodriguez would be able to play major league baseball if it wasn’t for Jackie. What better connection than that does he needs?
wouldn’t-****
Whether you have a connection or not, you should wear the number today. A-Rod has a connection based on his ethnicity, which J-Rob opened the flood gates for all races in MLB. Seems to me that if you play baseball or if you love baseball, you have a connection to Jackie. I don’t want to go as far as to call someone racist for choosing not to wear the number, but I can’t understand why someone would opt not to do so 1 day out of the season.
murphydog, you said it best. Alright peoples later.
Peter,
This is exactly why I check your blog 4-6 times an hour… err I mean day… These stories make this blog worth it because you give personal insight into a profession I admire… Keep up the good work…
Cheers,
Mike
(Copied from last thread, because I didn’t realize we moved on
)
SOS 27:
Seriously, if my arm was being twisted, I would choose 2004. 2001 was disappointing, and like Jennifer said, the way things were unfolding, it sure seemed like it was destined to go the Yankees way. But 2004 was demoralizing. Even if they did not go on to sweep the Cardinals, on paper it looked good for them to win a world series that year.
See, but then you can say, well, if they won in 2001 it was a definite World Series victory, while in 2004, you never know what could have happened after beating the RS. In 2003, they (and the fans) expended so much energy in defeating the Red Sox to win the AL pennant, that the World Series seemed like an afterthought. I know I was not that disappointed in 2003, because I felt beating the Red Sox was somehow the bigger feat. So, I think that 2004 might have been similar to 2003 – the Yankees were supposed to handle the Marlins fairly easily – and you couldn’t necessarily jump to the conclusion that the Yankees would have easily defeated the Cardinals.
“Arguing that baseball is doing too much for Jackie Robinson (and in effect for black players) is just dumb and brings into question the motives behind such complaints.
Think of it as a cost-free affirmative action; an attempt to make amends for denying generations of players the opportunities and wealth a major-league career offers.
Jackie Robinson is the symbol of triumph over baseball’s racist past and the game and baseball can’t do enough to remember why his story is so important.”
“Imagine the game without Alex Rodriguez people. Or even can without Ken griffey junior back when he was good. Boring.”
“I believe people complaining are racis and never wanted this to happened in the first plave.”
1) Why honor Jackie Robinson? Why not honor all blacks and/or latinos?
2) My previous statement was that these guys would still be playing today, Jackie Robinson or no.
3) I have some African ancestry (I’m a total mutt). Please don’t pull the racism card. It makes you look foolish.
Wow! Just when I thought people couldn’t find anything else to bash on Arod.
For Jackie Robinson, it was not simply THAT he broke the color barrier but HOW he did it. I won’t repeat what’s already been said very eloquently by murphydog. But there is a need to remember such self-less acts, especially in a society that is become ever more self-interested, and in some cases even selfish. It is a reminder of what we all can be.
Wearing and retiring uniform numbers is nice; I’m more impressed when people try to emulate a person like Jackie Robinson in the way they live their lives; and in this case, in the way they play the game.
2001 would have meant more in the long run.
I think we’re still so close to 2001 that we don’t fully yet understand how significant that World Series is. In the end, it was much, much more important that we played, but winning wouldn’t have just been about baseball.
Celebrating Robinson does not take away from anyone else’s accomplishments, it’s not a competition or a beauty contest. Wearing 42 is a personal decision. Recognizing him tonight in some way is the point. But players and coaches don’t have to do it. It’s a free country. But I think it’s probably more free because of Jackie Robinson.
I also vote for 2004. That was torture.
yeah…A-rod is never going to change.
Sports writing is a strange business in that you try and scoop your competitors every day, but the true veterans take the young reporters under their wings and teach them how to become a pro. Given the current climate in journalism, ofter times you are teaching the guy who will take your job one day through downsizing. But, still, the vets share their wisdom and knowledge. Undeniably, the sports writing industry often is criticised about how it goes about its job, and deservedly so at times. But what you write about today, Pete, is an example of the honor that is abundant in sports writing, and why it is still a very special undertaking. Sorry for your loss, Pete.
I don’t think anyone on here has actually complained about celebrating as much as just stating opinions about to what length he should be celebrated. I haven’t seen anyone saying he absolutely should not be celebrated.
That said, whether or not someone else would have come along and done the same thing is irrelevant. We do not know who else would have done it or when. We therefore cannot say that the game, or our country’s culture (still far from perfect) would exist exactly as it exists today. We don’t know the ripple effect that would take place if we erased Jackie Robinson from the history books.
Nor do we or should we care. Jackie’s the one who did it and of course he should be celebrated. Should Rosa Parks be erased from the history books simply because she only sat in front of the bus because her feet hurt or because someone else would have come along and sat up front at some point, if she hadn’t?
I’m sorry, but that’s ridiculous to think someone who did something monumental shouldn’t be celebrated because someone else may or may not have done the same thing, eventually…..
Rebecca -
That’s why 2001 was the disappointing year. It meant so much in a different context.
But from a pure baseball fan/rivalry/kick-in-the-gut standpoint, and what might have given more “satisfaction,” I think 2004 was the one. And they had 4 opportunies to win that series, so each night was another kick in the gut.
And it’s also why in the prior post, I chose both.
Maybe some players are just uncomfortable wearing his number. Maybe they feel they should not put on his number because they can not measure up to what Robinson did. Also some players are superstitious and they wont change their number for anything.
Point taken Doreen.
Heres a twist for the ones who say 04. Would you still choose 04 if it wasnt against the red sox. Lets say the united states west california southern los angeles anaheim angels?
Rebecca -
Also, in thinking about it, THAT THEY PLAYED AT ALL was the victory in 2001. As you said, it was so much more than baseball; and it was so much more than winning or losing. (And they did win some real great games at the Stadium for the people who really needed the “miracles,” the “aura” and the “mystique.”)
That’s a nice story about Cano, but I thought he switched from his old number 22 at the Yankees’ request because they were gearing up to put the press on Clemens after the 2006 season?
And the bar that used to be Runyon’s was destroyed in that crane collapse on East 50th street a few weeks ago.
sos, if it was the Angels, I’d still say ’04. I might think a little more about it, because we don’t have to listen to Angels fans as much. And because I do a lot of work up in MA and have to be reminded of ’04 far more often than I’d like. But still, who wants to be the only team to ever blow a 3-0 lead?
I would definitely give it more thought if it were the Angels than the Sox though. No doubt about that.
Does anyone disagree that the 01 World Series was the best one ever played in our lifetime? I know its a painfull one. But all the heroics was darn right excilerating.
The 90 or 91 twins/braves was real good as well. I think they all the victories in that one were by one run.
In my mind, 2001 was tough for a fan base to handle, being so close.
But 2004 not only directly affected our mindset, it also affected another team’s mindset and destiny, the Saux, who went from ‘loveable losers’ (gagging) to a fan base that deems their team a ‘dynasty’ for winning 2 WS in the last 4 years, though they missed the playoffs entirely in 2006, finishing third in the East and were swept in the first round of the 05 postseason, not exactly a dominating four years, at least not enough to be termed a dynasty run, imho.
I always wondered what that 2004 Yankees/Cardinals series would have been like.
**PLUS** the Yankees haven’t won a postseason playoff series since their 2004 mishap.
Peter T . thats great point!!
Doreen–
http://community.livejournal.c.....tml#cutid1
I did that a couple years ago, so excuse the poor writing, but yeah. What mattered was that they played.
I would agree to that SOS 27…. Especially with what was happening in NYC during that time period, of fall 2001…
Very heroic and symbolic, the way the team came back on those back-to-back nights.
Chris NY,
Im 40 minutes from angels stadium. I here their mouths from the 02 playoffs everytime i go there. It did hurt more though knowing that it was boston and the curse was over. I would deffinitely give the callapse for an 01 title if that was the case. Would probably stop going to games for a couple years though.
“I don’t think anyone on here has actually complained about celebrating as much as just stating opinions about to what length he should be celebrated. I haven’t seen anyone saying he absolutely should not be celebrated.”
This is true. I just don’t feel like any human needs to be ‘honored’ on an annual basis. Regardless of who they are/were or what they did.
V: You asked three questions. I have tried to answer them.
1) Why honor Jackie Robinson? Why not honor all blacks and/or latinos?
Paying our respects to Robinson recognizes his enormous personal sacrifices, his individual contributions to the game and to the society as a whole, at a time when we were not walking the walk while we talked the talk. Robinson was bigger than baseball. It’s not about celebrating current players who are black or latino.
2) My previous statement was that these guys would still be playing today, Jackie Robinson or no.
True, but someone would have had to be the first, and who knows if some other “first” would have been as successful? Maybe another man would have wilted or failed and quit. Robinson was “a man for all seasons” if you will, with a legacy that extends far beyond the season he played. Why isn’t that enough to justify this celebration?
3) I have some African ancestry (I’m a total mutt). Please don’t pull the racism card. It makes you look foolish.
Putting “mutt” in the same sentence as “some African ancestry” says it all.
V your below statement might be true HOWEVER it was not until some 20 odd years AFTER Jackie played in the Majors that the Voting Rights Act was passed and the Civil Rights Laws began to change so to say that the change in baseball would have happened anyway at the rate that it happened is much supposition on your part.
The reason why you honor Robinson and not as you say all blacks/latinos is precisely because he was the first and if you have ever read any stories about Robinson you need to know that being first was not a walk in the park so to speak you should read Jonathan Eig’s excellent book about his first season. People who break down barriers and are first in breaking down those barriers should be honored.
IN terms of who wears the numbers today and who doesnt, that is just a way to bash certain people. Are you going to bash the Marlins because they only have 1 player wearing it?? The last thing the MLB should so is make it mandatory that everyone wear it that totally defeats the purpose.
2) My previous statement was that these guys would still be playing today, Jackie Robinson or no.
Just a quick take on Darrell Rasner’s numbers at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre :
W L Era IP H R ER HR BB SO
2 0 0.75 12.0 7 1 1 0 1 10
He’s scheduled to start tomorrow night.
#24 wasn’t available when Cano came up, Tino had it. And to Pete’s point, he’s explaining why Cano chose 24, not why he gave up 22.
“Especially with what was happening in NYC during that time period, of fall 2001…”
That’s actually a good point that I didn’t take into account. The entire country wanted the Yankees to win that year and it seemed like we were destined to with the way we kept coming back through the whole playoffs.
There is more than one way to honor someone, just because someone isn’t wearing the number for the day doesn’t mean that they don’t appreciate what the past players have done for them and the game. Following a person’s like Jackie’s example goes a lot father than wearing his number for one day (IMO).
*farther not father
“I just don’t feel like any human needs to be ‘honored’ on an annual basis. Regardless of who they are/were or what they did.”
So wait, now I don’t get to celebrate my birthday???
Celebrating Robinson, George Washington, MLK, etc… serves the purpose of reminding ourselves how we got to where we are and also serves as a way to educate children about critical points and critical people in history. I was never a big history person in school, but I still can recognize its importance.
You can look Rasner’s #’s all you like but there is a big difference between the minors and majors. we go thru this every year he is just a great AAAA pitcher, marginal at best Major leaguer
longtime,
good point.
Igawa has impressive numbers in the minors. That says it all.
One thing that has me puzzled. The League retired Jackie Robinson’s number because of all he did. One reason behind retiring a number is that it is a singular honor meant to say “no one else can do what he did.”
While some players might feel that wearing his number gives honor to Jackie Robinson, couldn’t those players who are not wearing his number be giving it just as much honor? Couldn’t a way to look at those players who do not wear the number be that they don’t feel they deserve to wear it? This isn’t a slight on those who do. This is a personal decision, and it just seems petty and frankly it dishonors Robinson’s memory for fans to pick on a player for his decision to not wear the number. Robinson would probably have looked for them to make their own choice, without regard to race or creed. Isn’t that the larger message about honoring him in the first place?
“Isn’t that the larger message about honoring him in the first place?”
Yes.
Oh…I would rather have the 2001 title…that was a horrible and immediate letdown, rather than 2004 where you could see it coming a mile away, once Game 5 was over. We lost that series with our worst…Quantrill the LP in game 4 and Loaiza in game 5. Game 7 was a nauseating, foregone conclusion.
2001, after the Jeter/Brosius heroics…the Yankees wanted it so badly. Game 6 was a bizarre aberration, but after Soriano’s HR gave us the lead in Game 7 we all could taste it…and the collapse of Mo in the bottom of the ninth was awful.
Honestly, on the list of Bad Yankee Playoff Losses, Game 4 of the 2003 WS (Jeff Weaver) was worse than anything that happened in 2004. I think being able to come back in Game 7 of the ’03 ALCS and win it made what happened in 2004 easier to swallow…but losing that WS to the freakin’ Marlins was more than I could handle.
“So wait, now I don’t get to celebrate my birthday???”
Hell that cant happen. Last saturday was mine and its the only day i get any attention and do whatever i want.
I think their should be more hollidays(celebrating important past events and people)and less work days.
“So wait, now I don’t get to celebrate my birthday???”
Second try here.
That cant happen. Mine was saturday and its the only day i get to do what i want plus get attention.
We need more holliday(events and people celebrated). Which then would mean more days off and less work.
test
flunk
We need to have Robinsons b-day be a holliday. IMO we need more hollidays(events and people)than we already do. That would mean more days off and less work.
B-DAYS ARE THE BEST!!!
“mel
April 15th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
flunk”
So. Its cool to flunk. Get with the program.
S.O.S 27,
Congrats on another great questiom and topic.
I was devastated losing in ’01. But hands down I would rather have beaten Boston in ’04.
I’m sure you and all Yankee fans have had a taste of it, but I live in Mass. and it set off a reaction that is hard to comprehend unless you witnessed it in person. Red Sox fans have always been an obnoxious lot. Beating the Yankees like they did is something Yankee fans are going to hear about till we go to our grave. There’s also a mean spiritedness to Red Sox fans that wasnt there prior to ’04. The Red Sox “Nation” would not even exist if the Yankees had swept that series like they should have.
Both results were disappointing. But there’s more of a lingering effect from the ’04.
I had a poll this winter- If you could change one of these two outcomes. Which would it be?
a.losing to Boston in 04
b.losing to the D backs in the ninth inning in 01
S.O.S 27
That is a tough one. Winning the world series in 01 would have been magical, especially with what our great city went through that year. The Yankees brought life and magic back to NY when we needed it most no matter what the outcome was. That series was spectacular.
Losing to Boston in 04 was, I believe, such a collapse that I don’t think Torre or any of the guys have recovered from. Mentally it tore them up. How do you win 3 in a row and lose the next 4? I honestly believe that losing that series carried over to the last 3 post seasons.
So if I were to pick one, I would have to say losing to Boston in 04..but it is close.
mel,
nfl schedules are out.
Colts have a brutal schedule.
BEARS 8:15 p.m. ET
2 Vikings 1 p.m. ET
3 JAGUARS 1 p.m. ET
4 BYE
5 Texans 1 p.m. ET
6 RAVENS 1 p.m. ET
7 Packers 4:15 p.m. ET
8 Titans 8:30 p.m. ET
9 PATRIOTS 8:15 p.m. ET
10 Steelers 4:15 p.m. ET
11 TEXANS 1 p.m. ET
12 Chargers 8:15 p.m. ET
13 Browns 1 p.m. ET
14 BENGALS 1 p.m. ET
15 LIONS 1 p.m. ET
16 Jaguars 8:15 p.m. ET
17 TITANS
Play gm in 04 for a moment. Would Torre have been out the door?
In 95 we fired our manager for blowing a 2-0 lead to Seattle.
SOS 27 – I agree, great question and I have to say, the 2004 loss is more painful. I’m still not over it. The 2001 was awful, but the whole Sox thing just makes 2004, for me much worse. But I guess, as someone asked, if it weren’t the Red Sox, I would probably pick 2001.
Frankly, I think we have waited long enough and it is time for number 27.
Rebecca
Thanks for sharing that piece of writing.
murphydog -
I think you took the “mutt” statement the wrong way. I have been saying that about myself since I can remember – I am such a hybrid of nationalities, a few of which I’m not even sure of to this day!
Doreen–Sure. If only it would come that easy with the thesis. I’ve been working all day and have next to nothing to show for it and am all out of ideas.
SoS,
Home games are caps?
Haven’t looked at the Pats yet. They’ll probably make them default a few games anyway.
I’m having a good time looking at the preseason NBA picks. All the ESPN guys had my team finishing 7,8,9, or 10 in the west. Who knew?
I understand why they had Jackie Robinson Day last year, but I feel that this year it’s a little much and entirely disingenuous. Where was all this love the 59 years before last? They should just call it “MLB Panders to Black America Day”. “Hey, where bleeding black baseball fans, and have almost no American-born black players, so let’s use the name of Jackie Robinson to try to woo them back.” And, for those of you really looking to honor Jackie, you can buy a replica “Jeter 42″ t-shirt for $25. There are a few players who advanced and shaped the game and should be honored with their own day, Jackie gets his because of money.
Great post, Pete.
FWIW, the crane that fell and crushed that building a few weeks back was the building that housed Runyans.
Lupica (who I don’t particularly care for) recently wrote a great piece on Runyans.
mel-yes
pats
CHIEFS 1 p.m. ET
2 Sun., Sep. 14 at Jets 4:15 p.m. ET
3 Sun., Sep. 21 DOLPHINS 1 p.m. ET
4 BYE
5 Sun., Oct. 5 at 49ers 4:15 p.m. ET
6 Sun., Oct. 12 at Chargers 8:15 p.m. ET
7 Mon., Oct. 20 BRONCOS 8:30 p.m. ET
8 Sun., Oct. 26 RAMS 1 p.m. ET
9 Sun., Nov. 2 at Colts 8:15 p.m. ET
10 Sun., Nov. 9 BILLS 1 p.m. ET
11 Thu., Nov. 13 JETS 8:15 p.m. ET
12 Sun., Nov. 23 at Dolphins 1 p.m. ET
13 Sun., Nov. 30 STEELERS 4:15 p.m. ET
14 Sun., Dec. 7 at Seahawks 8:15 p.m. ET
15 Sun., Dec. 14 at Raiders 4:15 p.m. ET
16 Sun., Dec. 21 CARDINALS 1 p.m. ET
17 Sun., Dec. 28 at Bills
“where” should be “we’re”
mel-I’m having a good time looking at the preseason NBA picks. All the ESPN guys had my team finishing 7,8,9, or 10 in the west. Who knew?
————————————————————
One word. Andrew Bynum.
One more. Pau Gasol
SOS27 -
Torre wasn’t out the door, because his team was still winning divisions, had beaten the Red Sox for the pennant the year before (albeit losing the WS), and was still in the glow of the 3 prior consecutive WS titles. Firing him then would have seemed petty, I think.
Now, in 2005, I think they could have made a case for a change, but I was always of a mind that a manager can only do so much – he can’t hit or pitch.
SoS,
Thanks. I’ll never understand NFL’s uneven scheduling. With such a short season do you need to play teams in your own division twice?
Looks like you’re matched up with Phoenix (subject to change). Who do you guys put on Shaq & Amare?
S.o.S: Mind digging up the jets?
did anyone see what tori hunter said about wearing #42 ! thats what i said earlyer. You need to have a reason to wear it! (i think its on yahoo.com) not just wear it because its cool!!
“S.o.S: Mind digging up the jets?”
Why?
1 Sun., Sep. 7 at Dolphins 1 p.m. ET
2 Sun., Sep. 14 PATRIOTS 4:15 p.m. ET
3 Mon., Sep. 22 at Chargers 8:30 p.m. ET
4 Sun., Sep. 28 CARDINALS 1 p.m. ET
5 BYE
6 Sun., Oct. 12 BENGALS 1 p.m. ET
7 Sun., Oct. 19 at Raiders 4:15 p.m. ET
8 Sun., Oct. 26 CHIEFS 1 p.m. ET
9 Sun., Nov. 2 at Bills 1 p.m. ET
10 Sun., Nov. 9 RAMS 1 p.m. ET
11 Thu., Nov. 13 at Patriots 8:15 p.m. ET
12 Sun., Nov. 23 at Titans 1 p.m. ET
13 Sun., Nov. 30 BRONCOS 1 p.m. ET
14 Sun., Dec. 7 at 49ers 1 p.m. ET
15 Sun., Dec. 14 BILLS 1 p.m. ET
16 Sun., Dec. 21 at Seahawks 1 p.m. ET
17 Sun., Dec. 28 DOLPHINS
SoS,
That’s what I mean, who knew?
They’ve been finding a way to do it, though. Bynum played 1/3 of the season. We got Gasol missed 11 games since we got in February.
Looks like we have Gasolina, but might not be able to use the Bynumite.
Rebecca, “Optimist Prime” is one of the better screen names I’ve seen. Nice job. Good writing, too.
Rebecca,
That was such a loaded question. But out of respect for you, I’ll leave it alone!
SoS: Cos I’m a Jets fan.
CM: Thank you
Jeff Weaver has landed: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....index.html
Doreen,
04 was the third time in a row that we lost in bad fashion. I guess Yankee fans got a little spoiled. The all or nothing mentality.
2004 loss changed a generation’s view of the rivalry. It completely upset the traditional Yanks vs. Sox apple cart – young kids in Boston will carry that year as a badge of honor for their lifetimes. Us NYY fans will hide in shame when it’s brought up – it will be timeless from that respect.
2001 was easier to stomach, considering the attitude of the NYC area at the time – our grief tanks were already on empty.
ummm…are the giants no longer an NFL team? not one schedule you posted has them on there!
Another really bad deal for Scott Boras as Jeff Weaver signs a MINOR league deal with Brewers. Boras insisted that he get a 3 year deal and he has now been relegated to the minors. if h e doesnt make it on the roster by June he can become a free agent.
Weaver should have stayed with the Cardinals when he had a chance the best he ever did was when he worked with Dave Duncan.
By the way Rebecca –
I loved your pictures from Fenway Park. I’m glad you had a good time there, even if the Yankees didn’t cooperate. I haven’t been to Boston in ages and ages, and when I went it wasn’t baseball season, so I’ve never been to Fenway (but I kinda like the music), but had a great time there. Back in the days BC (before children), everytime my husband and I visited a city we imagined what it would be like to live there. It was a fun exercise and I wish we’d been adventurous enough to do it; instead, we’re NJ surburbanites!
“murphydog -
I think you took the “mutt†statement the wrong way. I have been saying that about myself since I can remember – I am such a hybrid of nationalities, a few of which I’m not even sure of to this day!”
Exactly. My grandfather has confirmed English/Scottish/Irish/Italian/Austrian/French/Seminole/African (escaped slave), among others.
My family has been race-blind since coming to America
Steve, I totally agree. Having the sux come back in 04 totaly took away from 2003 when Boone hit that home run…(best Yankee game I was at!)
How wacky is this season? Nobody’s reached 10 wins yet and these are your division leaders:
Baltimore
Kansas City
Oakland
Florida
St. Louis
Arizona
And so far the AL East looks like the best division.
Rebecca,
I’m so sick of playing the Pats in our home opener every year.
Also, I just found an old list of books that you recommended. I’m planning reading all of them.
SOS27
I blamed 2002 on David Wells.
Oops! And the rally monkeys.
“Looks like we have Gasolina, but might not be able to use the Bynumite.”
Yes you are correct. While your throwing nicknames out there. You also have hoggomite Mr M(me first)V(vein)P(polarizing)
We have no answers for the big men. Shag im not too worried but Amare is a handfull. Duncan looks like he’s aged over night. Very slow on both sides of the court. I sort of wish we didnt sign him for an extension this year. Good luck with Denver. Youll need every point you can get.
’01 is still, to this day, the single hardest sports loss I’ve ever had to deal with. There’s no way in hell we should have come that close and still lost. I still get aggravated every time I see clips of it or think about it.
But… If I had to do it over again, I’d take the loss in ’01 if we could win in ’04. While 2001′s loss was a swift kick to the groin compared to the slow suffocation of 2004, it hasn’t had the same lingering stench that ’04 had. Four years of smug floating down from Beantown, and the Sawx replacing the Yankees as MLB’s marquee team has been unbearable. I’d have to go with 2004 just to right the ship on the rivalry again.
Sara
April 15th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
ummm…are the giants no longer an NFL team? not one schedule you posted has them on there!
They decided to retire on top.
1 Thu., Sep. 4 REDSKINS 7 p.m. ET
2 Sun., Sep. 14 at Rams 1 p.m. ET
3 Sun., Sep. 21 BENGALS 1 p.m. ET
4 BYE
5 Sun., Oct. 5 SEAHAWKS 1 p.m. ET
6 Mon., Oct. 13 at Browns 8:30 p.m. ET
7 Sun., Oct. 19 49ERS 1 p.m. ET
8 Sun., Oct. 26 at Steelers 4:15 p.m. ET
9 Sun., Nov. 2 COWBOYS 4:15 p.m. ET
10 Sun., Nov. 9 at Eagles 8:15 p.m. ET
11 Sun., Nov. 16 RAVENS 1 p.m. ET
12 Sun., Nov. 23 at Cardinals 4:15 p.m. ET
13 Sun., Nov. 30 at Redskins 1 p.m. ET
14 Sun., Dec. 7 EAGLES 1 p.m. ET
15 Sun., Dec. 14 at Cowboys 8:15 p.m. ET
16 Sun., Dec. 21 PANTHERS 1 p.m. ET
17 Sun., Dec. 28 VIKINGS 1 p.m. ET
SoS,
Dude you’re killing me. If you’re going to insult my guy, spell it right. Vein is in your arm, where you do your crank. Vain is the personality trait that you seem to be referring to. While we’re at it a weather vane sits on the house and rooster spins around in the wind.
New thread….
Doreen
April 15th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Oops! And the rally monkeys.
————————–
Dont forget the stupid thunder sticks. I cant stand being in that stadium. I think we should get the rally squarrell going when we play them.
CM-What hurts more is that it was a broken bat base hit. I would have preferred a homerun instead.
“Does anyone disagree that the 01 World Series was the best one ever played in our lifetime? I know its a painfull one. But all the heroics was darn right excilerating.”
Exactly. That’s why I pick 2004. In 2001, I was upset that we lost. But at least we were treated to some fantastic baseball. Give credit to the D-Backs for their play. But 2004 should have been ours. We had a huge 3-0 lead. The fact that we couldn’t win one game out of 4 is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to this franchise. In fact, I rank it second on my list of the most horrible things that have happened in my lifetime (September 11th being the first, of course).
ARGH! The Thunder Sticks!!!! How could I forget those!!!!!!!!
(At least they weren’t cowbells.
)
SoS,
You live in OC? I saw a banner ad at ocregister.com for “Wicked” at the Pantages.
Did you read last year about the 100+ citations that Angel Stadium got for rat violations?
Doreen,
Someone mentioned cowbells at the Trop. They used to have them @ Arco Arena in Sacramento because Phil Jackson called it a “cowtown”. But they’re banned now. It would drive me nuts if I had to listen to them.
mel,
No.About 40 minutes from the stadium.
Thats where i saw it at. The Pantages. If your close. Its worth making a trip to see it. Worth every penny.
mel,
They should have done away with the kings name as well and went with what shaq suggested. QUEENS.
lupica actually wrote something about runyons last week, i believe it was next to the building wehre the crane collapsed in mid-town, eitehr way great story and keep the updates coming
Any more news on what happened between Mo and Moeller last night?
when there is an equal percentage of general managers and owners of color as there are on the playing field then maybe there won’t be a need for a jackie robinson day in baseball. the new battle for equality in baseball is in management and ownership.
one group that could reach out and help this transition is the sabermetric community that is becoming more and more influential in baseball. there are almost no people of color at places like baseball prospectus. sites like”fire joe morgan” should think about what’s behind their humor. i don’t think jackie robinson would find them so funny.
Boston in ’04 hurt more for me, not to mention the trash talk coming from my Red Sox friends. The D-Backs loss was hard to take, but nothing like choking away a 3-0 lead to the team I hate more than any other professional franchise.
And that also opened the door for the end of the curse. That whole postseason was nauseating. I feel in some ways the Yankee franchise still hasn’t recovered from that ’04 series.
I have a lot of respect for Jackie Robinson, and all he has done for baseball, and everything he went through to accomplish what he did. I thought it was a moving tribute last year when players donned his #42 for the 60th anniversary, but like another commenter mentioned, why are they doing it again this year? I really don’t understand why there has to be a “Jackie Robinson Day” in baseball. Sure it’s a nice gesture. But baseball has already done more than enough to pay tribute to this man. There are SO MANY other great players in baseball that have done so much for the game, why does only Jackie get this honor?
Babe Ruth almost single handedly saved the game itself from the turmoil that the 1919 Chicago “Black Sox” created. Was he given any special honor?
I’m not saying Jackie doesn’t deserve tribute, but I think baseball is doing way more than is necessary. The man was a great baseball player, he didn’t invent the sport.
Again, I mean absolutely no disrespect. I just think enough has been done.
I used to deliver the JI.
I would read the Smith article about the Whalers in between the houses.
62 is too young.
Is there anything else that A-rod can be called out for?