WHY I BELIEVE IN THE CURSE

On August 15^th, Sports Illustrated posted a front page cover story about Dustin Pedoria titled “Heart of the Red Sox.” Immediately I joked in my head that this has got to be the curse all over again. You know, that strange "curse" talk about whomever is on the Sports Illustrated cover is cursed afterward? Anyway, I quickly forgot about it and to be honest, I don’t need to read about Dustin Pedoria and the dreaded Red Sox, it’s aggravating to me.

Yesterday I had a doctor’s appointment and I saw the cover again in the magazine rack in the waiting room and I realized something. With the Yankees thriving and the Red Sox imploding, maybe the curse DOES still live, just in another form. Man, I hope so.

I loved “The Curse of the Bambino” and since childhood, I bought into it. It was amazing to me to see that Sox team play some really good baseball, but then, in a flash, it was all gone. Bucky Dent, Aaron Boone, Bill Buckner, Babe Ruth and so on, all great memories for any Yankees fan. It was incredible the way it played out for years. I remember travelling through Boston for games at Fenway and seeing the Reverse Curve sign and seeing it defaced by a desperate fan who took a risk to change the Sox fate... Reverse the Curse it then read. Wow..."It must have sucked to be a Sox fan", I used to think.

I know some Red Sox fans and before the Red Sox won in 2004, they were beaten down, angry and annoyed with the Yankees. They would tell me that the Yankees bought their championships, yet, in 2004, it seems as though the Red Sox did too, weird right? After they won, they'd tell me the Yankees were finished and they’d tell me every year that the Red Sox were here to stay. Yeah, the Yankees made the playoffs every year except for 2008, but we never won again until 2009.

But I realized something important about Yankees fans... one thing Yankees fans don’t do is give up on their team. Do you remember 1987? How about 1988? Those years as a Yankees fan were brutal. We sucked and we had a stretch of sucking, but one thing was certain, Yankees fans never gave up. Yes, the stands were empty, but the fan base was always there. I remember feeling terrible, but I knew we’d win next year, and a year became a decade and suddenly, with Buck Showalter, we had a shot, but fell short against the Mariners in 1995. I remember where I was and I remember the heartbreak.

When Don Mattingly retired, I couldn’t believe it. “What is he doing? We almost made it!” I remember thinking. Well, no one could have predicted 1996 and beyond, but for a die hard Yankees fan like me and so many like me, the Yankees were back and never giving up on our team paid off for 5 more championships. It was beautiful.

Right now the evil Red Sox are imploding and if I can latch onto a little luck and just stare at that Sports Illustrated cover for another 2 weeks, I feel the vibe of the curse all over again. The curse is alive and well Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s just in a different form and while the Yankees are a great ball club, there’s nothing wrong with getting a little help on the side. A little luck, a little curse against the Red Sox. I’ll take what I can get.

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WHY MANTLE & MARIS ARE STILL INTRIGUING TODAY

When I was a kid, my dad told me a story about the 1961 home run race between Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. When he told the story, it was the greatest event of his lifetime, and you could tell. His eyes would get big describing the tension and how Yankee fans took sides. many loved Mickey Mantle and wanted him to win it all because he was a fan favorite before Roger Maris ever put on pinstripes. Others, and there were far less, were rooting for the underdog, Roger Maris to win the crown. Ultimately though, there were many that just didn’t want the Babe to be knocked from the top. After all, 60 home runs in a single season was a huge accomplishment, but to have anyone else do it would almost be unheard of. After all, it was the Babe’s record and it wasn’t meant to be broken.

My dad was an usher at Yankee Stadium starting at 15 years old. He’d hop on a subway alone to get to work in the Bronx everyday for a few years. It was the way it was back then and for my dad, a Yankee fan, it was a dream come true.

The 60’s were an interesting time in the Bronx. The Yankees were still very good, but things went downhill after the 1964 season. He was there for a lot of it and learned from the best at the stadium, his peers, the other ushers. They were men much older than 15 and they’d been ushering since before he was born and probably saw the Babe Ruth play. They taught my dad the tricks of the trade. “Once you get the people to their seat. Stand there for a minute and shake your pocket so the change rattles around in there,” they’d tell him. “The people will HAVE to tip you then.” And they did. Before that tip, he wasn’t making any tips, after that, he was rich, a $10 week was huge.

Not to get off track, but to make my point, it was a simpler time back then, less to watch, less to do, which is why the Mantle and Maris home run race was so exciting in 1961. It was bigger than anything coming out of New York and it spread fast.

Once Mantle started to fall short and Maris started picking up steam, the whole Yankee Universe started to back their new hero collectively. Sure, there were many traditionalists that didn’t think Roger Maris had any business snagging the home run record from the greatest Yankee player of all time, Babe Ruth, but everything happens for a reason, and in that 1961 season, it was time for change.

The home run was deep to right field and Maris’s swing looked like slow motion, but it sailed into the stands and at that moment in 1961, so many emotions ran through people’s minds. Many were sad, but the majority of Yankee fans rejoiced. After all, once it was clear Roger Maris was the guy, you had to respect the feat. Besides, it was another Yankee breaking the record, not a Red Sock...not a Cub… it was Roger Maris, another New York Yankee, not only did the record stay in the family, but it put Roger Maris on the map. Once a quiet kid out of the Indians organization, this kid had a new home, the Bronx, with new fans, all of Yankeeland.

My dad talks about that moment fondly, because the whole summer made sense after that especially after winning the 1961 World Series as well. It’s the Yankee way. After that, there were so many other great moments that just made sense too after that, Bucky Dent’s home run, Aaron Boone, the Derek Jeter flip play,even Jim Abbott’s perfect game and Reggie Jackson cranking out 3 home runs in 1 game in 1977… all Yankee moments through baseball history, all that were supposed to happen to no other team but the a New York Yankees. That's why Derek Jeter finally recorded 3000 hits and that's why Mariano Rivera is now charging closer and closer to the all time Saves record of 601 currently held by Trevor Hoffman. Not because he's Mariano Rivera, but because he is the Great Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees. All of these moments are truly beautiful. It’s tradition that runs so deep, it’s tremendous. And not only that… it’s our Yankees destiny.

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WHY HE CHOKES UP LIKE BUCKY DENT

(Photo: AP)

I was having a discussion with my son the other day because he was swinging a bat that was clearly too heavy. But, to kids, they want to do what their peers do and want to use what their friends use, hence the bat that their friends use too. Well, sometimes it just doesn’t work.

“Choke up like Bucky Dent and maybe you’ll crank it out of here. “ I said to my frustrated son. “Who’s Dent?” he asked. I thought about it for a second. To every Yankee fan he offered one of the greatest moments in sports. To Red Sox fans, he’s Bucky "Bleeping" Dent. I went through the whole story about how the first pitch coming out of Mike Torrez’s hands was fouled off by Bucky and it hit him in the foot. Dent went down hard, but got up, regrouped and as he was about to get back to work, the bat boy ran over with Mickey Rivers' bat. The next pitch was cranked over the big green monster and I just remember watching him in the box before he hit it. Bucky Dent was choked up unusually high.

It’s a moment I’ll never forget because at that time in my life I was a kid, who, you guessed it, didn’t like to choke up. After Bucky hit his homer, I remember not being embarrassed about choking up anymore. Believe me, I didn’t know why I was choking up, I just figured if this little guy named Dent could crank it out, so could I. After all, I was little and I wasn’t that good at 7 years old so I needed all the help I could get. Over time, I started hitting, and I started using my legs and running too and eventually I was the spark plug of the team, and it goes back to Bucky Dent choking up.

Now, I’m in the middle of the baseball field with my 8 year old who’s telling me in so many ways that it’s not exactly “cool” to choke up. Reluctantly, he choked up. I chucked it in and he creamed it over first base into right field. “Yeah, choking up probably isn’t a good idea.” I said smiling. My son glanced over and smirked, he had a sparkle in his eye, “Did you see that?” he asked. It was a breakthrough. Sure, baseball season is over for him now, but he’s already told me we’re gonna practice through the winter so we’re ready next spring.

We got home and I pulled up You tube and of course, Dent’s homerun is on there. We watched it together and as the ball went over the green monster and the video clip ended, my son looked at me and said “That was cool.” As he went into the other room to watch some Spongebob, he asked me… “Just curious, do they make Bucky Dent Jerseys?”

"Yeah," I thought... "it looks like Jorge Posada's." Note to Santa… another request is on the way.

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THE YANKEES RALLY CRY... WIN

I love blowouts when the Yankees play. I love good, clean hits, runs and rallies. I love winning streaks and dominant pitching, much like everyone else who loves the game of baseball. Well, the table is set for what seems to be the most important weekend in Yankees/Red Sox history. OK, maybe I’m being overly dramatic, but the point is clear; The Yankees are in first place, tied with the Red Sox and they are coming in with a 7 game winning streak. The Bombers are clicking night after night and if the passion for victory wasn’t clear before, it is now.It goes back to every big play against the evil Red Sox, and one of my favorites has to be Bucky Dent crossing home plate after his historic 3 run home run in the 1978 AL East division playoffs. It was beautiful then and beautiful even today when I hear Bill White's home run call.

I often think about Derek Jeter making a brave catch in foul territory and then sailing straight into the stands face first. That's heart, that's passion, that's wanting to beat the evil Red Sox so bad, you'd do anything to make sure it happened.



In all the games against division rivals, no games are more important than these 3 this weekend in Boston. I firmly believe that winning against all division rivals in the second half of the season is crucial, but beating Boston always feels the best for me. Seeing Derek Jeter fist pump after a victory means this is big and this weekend, we'll him do it. Seeing Alex Rodriguez crack a home run against Jonathon Papelbon brings smile to my face every time. While Alex isn't there, there's plenty great hitting from the Yankee lineup to keep the line moving. Hell, I just want to beat enough to make me smile the next 3 days.Bottom line, you need to win all 3 all or at least win every Series. The biggest test is against the biggest rival. It's tonight, no bullshit New York… this is it. Treat it like a playoff game. Do it for the fans and do it for you.



Look, I love a Yankees win but I love a Red Sox loss more, especially this time of year. Keep the hot hitting coming; Do you hear me Mr. Granderson? You have proven to be a true leader of this Yankee team and your leadership is needed more than ever right now. How about you Jeet? Can you continue to set the example for strength, passion and victory? I know you can. Teixeira, crank it over the big green monster, once, twice or 3 times, we love it. Gardy... run your ass off. This is it, make your point.

So, what's the key to the weekend? Great pitching for 1 and continuing the hot hitting for 2. I’ve preached about how I’d love our rotation be: 1-CC Sabathia, 2-Bartolo Colon, 3- AJ Burnett, 4- Freddy Garcia and I’ve explained my reasons in WHY FREDDY GARCIA IS THE YANKEES ROCK. I believe that formula can help this team in any big playoff or any big series.

Bartolo Colon has the confidence and the drive to get a win tonight. Freddy Garcia has the experience and the heart and creative ability to get hitters out, every time he's out there. The wild cards of Colon and Garcia have turned into assets and they are the key to the Yankees this year.

Big Bart has an important job tonight. He can’t think, he needs to motivate and dominate. Motivate the Yankees and dominate the Sox with his stuff. He needs to go 7 strong and he needs to make his pitches count. Once he does and once the Yankees own the Red Sox in the offense category, it’s just a matter of keeping them down. The evil Sox always fight back so that means once Colon gets the hook, Robertson, Ayala and Cory Wade need to tee up Mariano Rivera. No runs can score. They need to be the stopper.

Pitching, Pitching, Pitching is the name of the game tonight. It's my message to the Bronx Bombers. Just win. Do everything you have to do to make sure these Red Sox know that there isn’t room for them in the AL East anymore. Bottom line, Red Sox Champs are so 2004. It’s 2011 now. We will win it all again, not them. Why? Because we’re the God damn New York Yankees, that’s why.

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