From the street to the Hall
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Nov 06, 2009 
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Occasionally one by one, but usually two or three at a time, each of the Yankees finished this morning’s parade then made his way along a small walkway, up a set of stairs and into City Hall.
That’s Robinson Cano and Freddy Guzman walking up, and that’s Derek Jeter climbing the stairs.
Between the walkway and the steps, a lot of the players stopped to talk to a group of eight or nine of us who were alternating between cell phone cameras and digital recorders.
“You feel like you’re the President,” Jeter said. “You wish you could thank every fan individually.”
Some highlights from that bit of real estate leading to the back steps of City Hall:
• Joe Girardi summing up nicely what was going through his head during the parade: “I think of guys like Alex because of all that was written about his struggles at times, and how great he was for us in the postseason. I think about the four guys that have been here. It’s been a long time since they were able to do that and it was like they were little kids all over again. I think about The Boss a lot.”
• Jorge Posada’s response when asked if there was a particular sign that stood out: “I saw a picture of Matsui holding a baby, and the baby’s face was Pedro. That one stuck in my head.” By the way, Jeter initially wouldn’t bite when we asked what signed he liked most, then someone told him that Posada had told us his favorite sign. The word “Hideki” was hardly out of the reporter’s mouth when… “Matsu holding a baby?” Jeter said. “Yeah, that was funny.”
• Johnny Damon’s reaction to how many people were there: “I can’t believe people were trying to get autographs because, if you sign one, you have to sign three million. I had to nip that in the bud right away.”
• Alex Rodriguez’s line about the season ending and the team going home. I think he’s said something like this before, but it’s a nice quote: “I wish we could just continue to show up and play for no reason. No umpires. No scores. Just show up and have fun like a softball league.”
• Two good lines from the Captain: Jeter said the parade sounded, ”almost like the stadium when there are two outs.” He also said this experience easily trumps another famous New York City parade. “We were a part of the Thanksgiving Day parade a couple of years back,” he said. “It’s not even close.”
• Mariano Rivera’s reaction to questions about his sore ribs. Basically, Rivera was a little banged up during the World Series (he said it happened late in the ALCS, Girardi said early in the World Series). Rivera called the pain “manageable,” but almost refused to talk about it because “it doesn’t matter now.” Instead, in typical Rivera fashion, he spoke only of being thankful for the moment. “It was something special,” he said. “I never take it for granted and I always want to have this chance to have this. I thank God for that because one day you won’t be able to do that.”
UPDATE, 8:03 p.m.: Ask and you shall receive (this time at least, because I can provide it). I saw some comment requests for reactions from A.J. Burnett, Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia. I can give you two out of three.
Burnett: “It’s more than I thought it would be. I expected a lot of people, but when you look down every street and all you see is heads in every direction, that’s pretty impressive.”
Teixeira: “We see 50,000 a night, and obviously they’re into it, but when you see millions of New Yorkers, it makes you proud that you play for such a great city.”
Sabathia showed up at pretty much the same time at Teixeira and the group of reporters kind of split. I stayed with Teixeira, but I heard Sabathia said he should have invited LeBron James to show him what a championship parade looks like in New York.
Man what a gray couple of days. I have been on cloud 9 since Wednesday and don’t plan on stepping down anytime soon
Chad, great, great stuff – thanks! That quote from Alex is so sweet…….He’s now able to enjoy the game he loves again and that’s a gift. It is kind of sad that there is no more baseball to be played, at least not with his buddies.
I meant great. Damn iPhone spell check
Chad, did you have a chance to s/w AJ, CC and Tex? They’ve never been through this before – what was their reaction?
Chad -
Great stuff. Thanks.
It’s been interesting trying to de-compress from all this. It’s been a long season, and habits are hard to break. But it’s the Nets on YES, not the Yankees. I’ve got the Knicks tuned in, hoping to catch a glimpse of Yankees who may be there, because I don’t watch basketball (unless I have to during March Madness). That’s just sick. LOL
BERNIE!!!!!!!!!!!
At the Knicks game.
And the Cavs coach Brown uses chapstick…
Like chapstick is going to help him learn how to coach
CR9
November 6th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
BERNIE!!!!!!!!!!!
At the Knicks game
is he with the team?
Performing the National Anthem, guitar.
CR9
November 6th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Performing the National Anthem, guitar.
nice
Doreen
My husband usually watches the Knicks by himself and I go watch something else but tonight he gets company.
pat -
My husband is all about college basketball and March Madness, not so much the pros. He’s still on his way home from work, and I can’t believe I’m reduced to watching a basketball game to glimpse a few Yankees. Pathetic.
They have a “celebrity row”????????
Sammy Sosa: The Next Michael Jackson?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....nt.11.html
Tom in N.J.
November 6th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Sammy Sosa: The Next Michael Jackson?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c…..nt.11.html
weird
I count myself among the luckiest– at Game 6, and tickets to be inside City Hall Plaza. Was so great- and such a fun celebration of the Yankees. I finished undefeated on the year at the Stadium (7-0), and it was the perfect bookend to the best, most fun season in a decade. It’s sad that this particular team won’t play 100% together again. They were a lot of fun.
Oh, and Robbie cano looked veryyyyyy hungover– a well earned hangover at that! Party up guys.
They have a “celebrity row”????????
It’s like the MSG version of Legends Seats.
Chad,
How digya get such a prime spot?
Interviewing Tex at the Knick game.
Said he went to bed 8:30 a.m. the night they won.
Reggie is there with Bernie.
Alex and his Hat are there.
CC is getting an ovation – just taking his seat. Sitting with his wife & Jay Z.
where is the matsui pedro pic? i see this.. anyone remember it?
http://www.survivinggrady.com/parade.jpg
Doreen
Was it worth feeling pathetic for?
CR9
November 6th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
BERNIE!!!!!!!!!!!
At the Knicks game.
*****
A friend of mine texted me this morning to tell me he spotted Bernie picking up his bags at baggage claim coming off the red eye from Vegas at 6:45. I was a little disappointed cause I thought that meant he would be at the parade
pat -
Oh, yeah!
Tom in N.J.
November 6th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Sammy Sosa: The Next Michael Jackson?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c…..nt.11.html
********
Maybe all of this waiting for his call to the Hall of Fame is making him pale…..
Joba’s there too. They’re getting introduced. Mekly & Robi & Guzman. Taking pictures center court to the tune of NY, NY.
The Poor Knicks. This game is not about them at all, it’s about LeBron, and now the Yankees. How far they’ve fallen.
Whenever I hear people mention the “core four” or the “old guard” I feel a little sad for Bernie.
It hasn’t been about the Knicks for awhile now.
At the risk of sounding pathetic, I think this week has caught up with me. I can’t keep my eyes open so I am turning in early.
Good night Yankee people!!!!!
Does anybody know if CC was under the weather during the WS? He looked terribly uncomfortable in Game 4 and I was somewhat surprised by his semi lack of enthusiasm at momenta after the WS.
Goodnight, Erica.
Remember CC will be on Jay Leno tonight doing the top 10 thing
watching a recorded version of the yes postgame from the other night. (at the time, i had mlb network on.) so fun to see the joy on the “core four” faces!
Carl -
Is it being done remotely? Leno films in CA, right?
And I thought Letterman did top 10. Does Leno do it, too?
I was there at 6:30 AM. Front row seats. What a day. New York really showed up today.
“Is it being done remotely?”
It’s called something like 10 questions and they do it by Skype.
Carl Your comment is awaiting moderation. November 6th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Doreen November 6th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Carl -
Is it being done remotely? Leno films in CA, right?
And I thought Letterman did top 10. Does Leno do it, too?
No Idea, I don’t watch either of em.
Carl Your comment is awaiting moderation. November 6th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Doreen November 6th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Carl -
Is it being done remotely? Leno films in CA, right?
And I thought Letterman did top 10. Does Leno do it, too?
No Idea, I don’t watch either of em.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....8;c_id=mlb
says something about a 10 at 10 whatever that means
Even during parades… Pop-ups are Arod’s kryptonite!
http://tinyurl.com/yeffgf8
For someone who has barely been with the team Guzman is all over the place.
Taking it all in I guess
Thanks, pat and Carl.
I don’t usually watch Leno. Letterman only on occasion.
(I’ve heard of skype, though.
)
Thanks Carl.