October 27, 2003

I AM GLAD THE YANKEES LOST

By James Eugene*

I must confess that I am glad that the Yankees lost to the Florida Marlins in the World Series. It avoids a whole host of ridiculous stories (although it creates some other ridiculous ones, such as a fuming owner).

I am glad that the Yankees lost the World Series, because now we will not have a ticker-tape parade. Every time the Yankees win, there is a ticker tape parade. Now if the Yankees won once every twenty years (like some other baseball team that plays in New York City) maybe a parade would be warranted. But the Yankees seem to win every few years so can we spare the parades.

Moreover, there would have been stories about the mechanics of the ticker-tape parade. First would be the cost of the parade, and then would be the stories about who was going to pay for the cost. Then the inevitable stories about how the City cannot afford it or there is a budget crisis and the money can be better spent on schools and seniors, and can't business pay for it. Then the City asks businesses to pay for it, and then there is a new round of stories: Is it ethical for the City to ask for the business community to pay for the costs of a ticker-tape parade? What does the business community expect back from the City in exchange for paying for the ticker-tape parade? Who contributed to the ticker-tape parade? What are their business dealings with the City?

Yes, we have been through this before. And it is all so predictable. It's like the newspaper editor on auto-pilot who assigns a new reporter different from the one who wrote the story the last time to write the same old sorry story this time. The reporter of course goes after the story with a zeal as if she is the first to ever write about the topic when it has been done dozens of times before!

Another reason why I am glad the Yankees lost is that I think we have begun to lose our 9-11 perspective when it comes to "heroes". After 9-11, we all agreed that sports stars were just another group of entertainers. They were not heroes, not people to worship or admire and society lowered the adoration notch to a more healthy level and paid more attention to our police officers, fire fighters and teachers. However, over the past few years, the reality check of 9-11 has slowly faded. Oh yes, we still like our cops, we still respect our firefighters, but how about those Yankees? Geez, it's a tragedy if the Giants or Jets lose! And if my Knicks do not make the playoffs, off with the Dolans' heads!

Somebody remind us that we have troops dying everyday in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mind you, I am not saying not to enjoy and have fun and laugh, just realize that the Yankees losing is not life and death. Maybe the Yankees losing will give some people a reality check. And before another sports team gets a parade, I want a parade for some of our City workers.

I am glad the Yankees lost, besides, I'm a Mets fan.

THE MAYOR AND BASEBALL.

I had to laugh at our Boston born Mayor claiming to be a Yankees fans after growing up a Red Sox fan. And as the two teams played, the Mayor feigned being a Yankees fan, but he wore red socks.

I must confess that I would have loved it if the Mayor said, "I am rooting for the Red Sox. I grew up a Red Sox fan, am not a big baseball fan, but the Red Sox were my first baseball love. That much said, I do not think that baseball is so important that my position on this series matters much." Political suicide? Probably not. Honest? Probably so. Would it have cost him a single vote? In the end, I really doubt it. Did saying he was rooting for the Yankees get him a vote? I really doubt that as well.

But the decision to be a Yankees fan points out one thing. Bloomberg is a politician, and no longer the businessman running for office. So I do not want to see any campaign themes about Bloomberg not being a politician. But you know we will see one anyway.

* James Eugene is the pseudonym of a veteran of NYC government affairs. Inside The Big Apple will appear exclusively on the Empire Page. If you want to send tips or column ideas to James Eugene, email them to jameseugene@empirepage.com.