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Sunday, November 08, 2009

Detroit News: Green: Yankees still carry mystique of Joe DiMaggio’s days

It’s not easy being…

The Yankees are smug and they are haughty. They expect adulation and they are condescending. They demand our respect and reverence. The Yankees are so New York.

So on our side of America’s great divide—the Hudson River—it is easy to hate the Yankees. It is an American notion to hate them with passion, for some peculiar reason. Fie on the Yankees.

I do not regard myself as a fan, in any rooting sense. In my profession, it is not proper to cheer for teams, and certainly not for the Yankees. I regard New York as the city of the uncouth. That is my ancient belief, enhanced because of the brunette who clip-clopped past me one evening on Madison Avenue as I was strolling to dinner and turned around and blew her cigarette smoke into my face.

The peculiar reason, I have concluded, for the mass American hatred of the Yankees is—envy. Plain, powerful envy—in many cases as plain and powerful as jealousy.

Repoz Posted: November 08, 2009 at 05:48 AM | 10 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
Related News: General, History, Detroit, NY Yankees

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1. The Most Interesting Man In The World Posted: November 08, 2009 at 03:42 PM (#3382285)

I thought brunettes only smoked Marlboro Lights, but maybe that's a West Coast thing.

2. Mayor Blomberg Posted: November 08, 2009 at 05:01 PM (#3382320)

Detroit talking. Hilarious.

You could sat rooting for the NYY is like rooting for US Steel or GM, except the Yankees are still in business and turning a profit.

3. cardsfanboy

Posted: November 08, 2009 at 05:06 PM (#3382323)

In my profession, it is not proper to cheer for teams, and certainly not for the Yankees.

what the hell profession is that? And it's time to get a new profession then, something like sports writer or beat writer or something that allows you to enjoy being a fan. You don't have to be partisan in your articles, but what is the point of being a sports writer if you're not allowed to enjoy it?

4. Best Regards, Larry Mahnken (Dewey is a slacker) Posted: November 08, 2009 at 05:40 PM (#3382339)

And it's time to get a new profession then, something like sports writer or beat writer or something that allows you to enjoy being a fan. You don't have to be partisan in your articles, but what is the point of being a sports writer if you're not allowed to enjoy it?

Beat writers enjoy the games, but they generally don't root for a team -- they root for a story.

5. cardsfanboy

Posted: November 08, 2009 at 05:58 PM (#3382344)

Beat writers enjoy the games, but they generally don't root for a team -- they root for a story.

Maybe for their professional aspect, but that can't really prevent you from being a fan of a team. The way he wrote it, it basically implies that his profession specifically prevents him from being a fan of a team. Which is of course ridiculous, you can be a fan, you just aren't supposed to let your fandom color your work.

I can't imagine being a fan of baseball and not being a fan of a team or two (and the opposite of course)

6. sunnyday2 Posted: November 08, 2009 at 06:15 PM (#3382354)

Yankees still carry mystique of Joe DiMaggio’s days

And Babe Ruth's and Casey Stengel's and Mantle and Ford's and Reggie's and Thurman's and Guidry's and...

Stop the presses.

7. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: November 08, 2009 at 06:44 PM (#3382373)

Everybody hates New York, but a hell of a lot of people want to move there.

8. Howie Menckel Posted: November 08, 2009 at 06:52 PM (#3382379)

Most beat writers, in NYC anyway, who ever rooted for the team they wind up covering lose that passion pretty quickly and naturally. You're not sitting in front of the TV watching these guys anymore, you cover them for a living. It's an entirely different experience, and it changes how you perceive everything.

Beat writers root for whichever team is up 6-1 in the 8th to close out a 6-1 win expeditiously, aiding in the battle against deadlines. And whichever pitcher has a perfect game going in the 7th to somehow get those last outs. And the guy who has 3 HRs that day to hit a 4th, because it gives you better play in the next day's paper and it makes your year more memorable.

Who do baseball beat writers root for in the press box? Their fantasy league team. THAT they're passionate and partisan about...

9. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: November 08, 2009 at 06:57 PM (#3382380)

Who do baseball beat writers root for in the press box? Their fantasy league team. THAT they're passionate and partisan about...

Sounds like being a baseball beat writer is no fun at all.

10. Flynn Posted: November 08, 2009 at 07:29 PM (#3382396)

I asked this question to a group of sportswriters a couple years ago at a college journalism conference. It was about 50/50. I thought it was interesting that the guys who worked in their hometown were absolutely still fans of their local team. The 49ers beat writer talked about how he loved his job because he got to cover the team he grew up rooting for.

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Detroit News: Green: Yankees still carry mystique of Joe DiMaggio’s days

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