BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Lady Gaga Sees Herself In Yankees Star Mariano Rivera

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Lady Gaga Sees Herself In Yankees Star Mariano Rivera

If only Robert Griffin would sign Lady Gaga to his label…

The New York Yankees are nine innings away from winning the World Series. If everything goes according to the Yanks’ plan on Wednesday night, Mariano Rivera will take the mound for the final handful of outs, leading the team to its first championship since 2000 and further cementing his reputation as the greatest closer in baseball history.

Rivera will have an unlikely fan pulling for him, one who’s become a pop superstar with a record-breaking four #1 singles off her debut album but who continues to see something of herself in the future Hall of Famer: Lady Gaga. She’s a lifelong fan whose family bleeds Yankee pinstripes. As she told MTV News, Gaga believes her approach to pumping out hit song after hit song and outrageous performance after outrageous performance is not unlike Rivera’s approach to closing out a tight game.

“I’ve actually been making a lot of Yankee analogies in my interviews lately because I get asked, ‘Do you feel pressure? How do you feel when someone says this? Or do you feel like you have to top yourself?’ “ she explained. “I say I do feel like I have to top myself. But I feel like I’m Rivera. I’m a closer.”

Repoz Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:17 PM | 72 comment(s)
Related News: General, NY Yankees, Philadelphia, Music

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

Page 1 of 1 pages

1. Ball Point Pen Guy (Will Young) Posted: November 04, 2009 at 12:28 PM (#3377411)

I didn't realize that Mariano Rivera was a transvestite.

2. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: November 04, 2009 at 12:35 PM (#3377419)

Lady Gaga is awesome.

3. Nasty Nate Posted: November 04, 2009 at 12:39 PM (#3377424)

one of the stranger headlines I've seen here at BBTF. Right up there with "Ichiro Visits Sisler's Grave."

4. Who wants Teixeira dessert? Posted: November 04, 2009 at 12:41 PM (#3377426)

I believe Freddy Mercury predicted her success.

5. Swoboda is freedom Posted: November 04, 2009 at 12:42 PM (#3377429)

Lady Gaga Sees Herself In Yankees Star Mariano Rivera

That's funny, a lot of Yankees could see themselves in Lady Gaga.

6. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: November 04, 2009 at 12:44 PM (#3377432)

Lady Gaga Sees Herself in Yankees Star Mariano Rivera

Lady Gaga: Hey Mariano, you want some pie?

Rivera: Yeah sure. ~Takes bite of pie~ Oh my gosh, this is delicious! What's in it?

Lady Gaga: Oh, just some apples ... cinnamon ... and my hair.

Rivera: ~Spits outs out pie~ What the hell?!

Lady Gaga: Mariano, now ... I am inside of you. How does it feel ... to have me inside of you? Now I am a part of you. How does that make you feel, Mariano? How does that make you FEEL?

7. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: November 04, 2009 at 12:45 PM (#3377435)

I am becoming a bigger and bigger Lady Gaga fan the more I hear about her. And I only know, like, one song.

8. Dayton Moore is a Big Fat Idiot (AG#1F) Posted: November 04, 2009 at 12:49 PM (#3377440)

If you haven't seen this, you are missing out.

9. Fumbduck Joe Bivens Posted: November 04, 2009 at 12:55 PM (#3377444)

Who?

10. Al Kaline Trio Posted: November 04, 2009 at 12:57 PM (#3377445)

Mamamamamamama closer face.

11. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:01 PM (#3377449)

This is also pretty good.

12. RB in NYC (Now with Resolutions!) Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:05 PM (#3377457)

Something tells me Rivera does not see a lot of himself in Lady Gaga

13. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:06 PM (#3377460)

I can't find it on YouTube, but Bob and Ray were the first I ever saw do that kind of bit - delivering a deadpan reading of the lyrics to Rod Stewart's "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" on SNL in the late 70s.

14. alskor Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:08 PM (#3377465)

I didn't realize that Mariano Rivera was a transvestite.

I always kind of suspected... havent you seen how ARod looks at him?

15. Jeff K. Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:08 PM (#3377466)

I had vaguely heard this person's name and knew she was a singer of some sort, but nothing else, when she was on SNL a few weeks ago. The first song was forgettably bad. The second was one of the five worst live music performances I have witnessed. Mickey Avalon (before he was 'big', he opened a Rakim/Ghostface dayshow at South By) will always be #1, and somewhere in there is the band at South by '08 which was an off-rhythm drummer, a bad guitarist, and an old black man who yelled at the top of his lungs for vocals while slowly taking off clothes. In Austin you have to put up with terrible bands playing everywhere, you get inured to hearing atrocities of music at the bookstore, or a family restaurant, or out front of the mall. That #### was remarkably abysmal.

16. Best Regards, Larry Mahnken Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:11 PM (#3377473)

Who?

He's the closer for the Yankees.

17. scotto Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:17 PM (#3377482)

I didn't realize that Mariano Rivera was a transvestite.

The rumors are that Lady Gaga's a hermaphrodite. I don't know that I've ever heard anything by her, just seen pictures of her with clothes on. She seems good at the whole self-promotion thing, kinda like Pink was way back when.

18. The Essex Snead Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:18 PM (#3377483)

A Scat Records shout-out (Prisonshake uber alles) (& 0PB too, sure), and TWO Sons of Anarchy references? In one day? Hey Repoz!

19. Ryan Jones Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:21 PM (#3377493)

She seems good at the whole self-promotion thing, kinda like Pink was way back when.

She's stated in interviews that she sees herself in the mode of a new Andy Warhol (rather than a generic pop act), which basically requires her to be extremely good at the self promotion game.

While not at all a fan of her music, and completely agreeing with Jeff K's description of her SNL performances, I do appreciate her calculatedly outlandish weirdness. At least it makes her somewhat distinct from the remaining masses of pop princesses.

20. frannyzoo Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:25 PM (#3377501)

Mickey Avalon (before he was 'big', he opened a Rakim/Ghostface dayshow at South By) will always be #1, and somewhere in there is the band at South by '08 which was an off-rhythm drummer, a bad guitarist, and an old black man who yelled at the top of his lungs for vocals while slowly taking off clothes.

I was going to guess the latter refers to a Wesley Willis show, but that doesn't sound exactly right from the description. Who was this, Jeff K.?

21. Los Angeles Softballer of Anaheim

Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:26 PM (#3377503)

I am becoming a bigger and bigger Lady Gaga fan the more I hear about her. And I only know, like, one song.

I looked up one of her songs on YouTube. It was awful. What am I missing here?

22. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:28 PM (#3377508)

"Just Dance" and "Poker Face" are pretty great club songs. They're not written to be enjoyed sitting at your computer.

EDIT: also agree strongly with DEoA in #24. Lady Gaga is a big performance that I continue to enjoy. I will also defend her songs as good dance-floor pop. nothing special, and not songs that succeed particularly outside of their intended context, but in that context, again, a lot of fun.

23. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:30 PM (#3377512)

I can't find it on YouTube, but Bob and Ray were the first I ever saw do that kind of bit - delivering a deadpan reading of the lyrics to Rod Stewart's "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" on SNL in the late 70s.

Steve Allen did it first, but you may be referring to a running joke in the Wahoo Gazette.

24. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:33 PM (#3377519)

I looked up one of her songs on YouTube. It was awful. What am I missing here?

I don't even know her music that well, to be honest. She's audacious, is self-aware and has style for days, however outlandish. I'm not sure Pink is a good comparison. To me, Pink always seemed to confuse "style" and "rebellion" with "dying your hair weird colors" and "using words like '####' and '#####'" for shock value (because she's a woman! And it's not ladylike to say words like that! How "different!"). I wonder if early Madonna is a better comp. What does Repoz think?

25. Los Angeles Softballer of Anaheim

Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:39 PM (#3377525)

"Just Dance" and "Poker Face" are pretty great club songs. They're not written to be enjoyed sitting at your computer.

I'm almost 40, so pretty great club songs are mostly lost on me these days. To be 30 again, and not be limping from plantar fasciitis.

26. Campeones de la Serie Mundial('zop) Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:41 PM (#3377529)

She's audacious, is self-aware and has style for days, however outlandish.

Why the hell would I care if a musician, or if anyone for that matter, is audacious or self-aware? What am I, a psychologist? And if she has style for days, again, why do I give a ####? She's ugly.

I expect my musicians to be able to sing and dance, my actors to act, etc. All the #### you describe is secondary to their primary job, at which this Gaga fellow fails miserably. And I'm not opposed to club music on principle, I just think this particular music sucks.

27. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:44 PM (#3377537)

After your musicians finish singing and dancing for you, do you reward them with a treat?

28. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:45 PM (#3377541)

Why the hell would I care if a musician, or if anyone for that matter, is audacious or self-aware? What am I, a psychologist? And if she has style for days, again, why do I give a ####? She's ugly.

29. Ryan Jones Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:47 PM (#3377544)

That's what makes Pedro so amazing - not only was he the greatest pitcher I ever saw, but he's constantly insightful and hilarious and weird.

For a lot of us, there's a similar joy around Ichiro, both for the particular style of his play, and for his incredible collection of odd (and occasionally insane) quotes. While the style and quotes don't make him a better or more valuable player, they do make him a more entertaining player/personality.

30. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:49 PM (#3377549)

Why the hell would I care if a musician, or if anyone for that matter, is audacious or self-aware? What am I, a psychologist?

Really? You don't think a musician's level of self-awareness has anything to do with their music? Subjective, sure, but if a band like Creed had more self-awareness, they wouldn't suck as much as they do.

And if she has style for days, again, why do I give a ####? She's ugly.

Disagree but again, subjective.

All the #### you describe is secondary to their primary job,

Well, yeah. I did say that I don't know her music that well so I'm only qualified to speak on the secondary aspects of their primary job. She's always getting attention and she's always in the news these days so as it's been said upthread, she's very good at self-promotion. And she seems to have a very clear idea of exactly what she's doing, which is why I like her.

31. Campeones de la Serie Mundial('zop) Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:49 PM (#3377550)

After your musicians finish singing and dancing for you, do you reward them with a treat?

Look, Tsuyoshi Shinjo is audacious, self-aware, and has style for days (I guess?), but he's a shitty baseball player.

32. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:50 PM (#3377551)

So you're not a fan of any non-star baseball players?

33. scotto Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:51 PM (#3377552)

I wonder if early Madonna is a better comp. What does Repoz think?

I was going to go with that one, but decided to reach outside my demographic with the analogy. At least I didn't pick Tiny Tim.

34. scotto Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:52 PM (#3377557)

I guess 'zop is neither a fan of Bowie nor Reed.

35. Campeones de la Serie Mundial('zop) Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:54 PM (#3377560)

Do people really form attachments this way? I guess there are a few ballplayers I loved without knowing much about who they were other than ballplayers (Dwight Evans, Dave Roberts), but for the most part I enjoy rooting for players much more and become a much bigger fan of them when there's something more than just baseball performance to latch onto. That's what makes Pedro so amazing - not only was he the greatest pitcher I ever saw, but he's constantly insightful and hilarious and weird.

That seems very Bill Simmons-onian to me. I never felt that way- I appreciate a ballplayer for what he does, which is to play baseball. When I want humor or comedy, I watch a comedian.

Pedro is one of my favorite players too, but that's because I love changeups and I love pitchers who can adjust to losing their stuff. I don't like Randy Johnson, but not because he's an ogre- because I always thought his pitching style was sort of crude (2 pitches, both hard)

Is it that crazy to appreciate baseball players for what they do better than everyone else, which is to play baseball? I'm not going out on a date with them or going bowling or whatnot.

36. Campeones de la Serie Mundial('zop) Posted: November 04, 2009 at 01:57 PM (#3377569)

So you're not a fan of any non-star baseball players?

No, that's not right. I'm a fan of non-star players who do something baseball-related that I like. I always admired R.A. Dickey and his crazy-ass pitches. I like Johnny Damon because of his crazy swing and the way he can make contact with anything...

...but I don't see baseball, or music, as soap opera. It's the player-as-player I root for, not player-as-character.

37. Yankee_Redneck Posted: November 04, 2009 at 02:01 PM (#3377577)

Steve Allen did it first, but you may be referring to a running joke in the Wahoo Gazette.

Be-bop-a-loo-lah?

38. Jeff K. Posted: November 04, 2009 at 02:17 PM (#3377618)

I was going to guess the latter refers to a Wesley Willis show, but that doesn't sound exactly right from the description. Who was this, Jeff K.?

Oh, I have zero idea. We just started our day of free day shows (Thursday's list in '08 wasn't hot, so we did Friday) at Spiderhouse, a coffee shop near campus. They serve booze now, so we had two beers sitting out back, and there was a band there. Official SXSW day show, the band was from like Milwaukee or something, but I didn't catch the name. We were 2 of 5 people in the audience.

39. Jeff K. Posted: November 04, 2009 at 02:21 PM (#3377625)

I found, obviously, some visual evidence of her on GIS. Those pictures are all over the map in every way imaginable, so I withhold judgment on both hotness and potential transvestism/genital conundrums. I did discover that there is apparently a website called oops-sextape.com. So there's that.

40. Teal & Black Posted: November 04, 2009 at 02:22 PM (#3377629)

Idiosyncrasies are the spice of life.

41. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: November 04, 2009 at 02:23 PM (#3377630)

FWIW, she was a babe in high school.

42. Hector Moreda & The Generalissimo Posted: November 04, 2009 at 02:25 PM (#3377633)

Based on her wardrobe choices, I'm not so sure that she's not planning on skinning Rivera, and wearing him to the next awards show.

43. Nasty Nate Posted: November 04, 2009 at 02:32 PM (#3377645)

I know exactly what you mean 'zop.

e.g. Madonna gets tons of praise by some people for her business sense, image manipulation etc. and I don't understand. That doesn't make the music any better. The fact that she changes identities every 3 years doesnt jump out of the speakers when I'm listening to the music.

44. HOPE: Madison Obamagarner (Flynn) Posted: November 04, 2009 at 02:33 PM (#3377647)

There's something really amusing about a bunch of middle-aged mainly suburban white guys critiquing pop.

45. SJ and the pants of freedom. Posted: November 04, 2009 at 02:38 PM (#3377658)

Ms. Gaga was apparently an actress. she did some work for Punk'd or something.

She is from Yonkers, which has a long tradition of producing awesome musicians.

DMX
Mary J Blige
Ella Fitzgerald
Chip Taylor.

Other notable people from Yonkers include Jon Voight, Steven Tyler, Sid Caesar, SJ and Mike Breen

46. snapper Posted: November 04, 2009 at 02:38 PM (#3377659)

If everything goes according to the Yanks’ plan on Wednesday night, Mariano Rivera will take the mound for the final handful of outs

If everything goes according to my plan, Brian Bruney will record the last 3 outs b/c the Yanks will be up 17-0.

I can't take a good game; too much stress.

47. scotto Posted: November 04, 2009 at 02:39 PM (#3377663)

There's something really amusing about a vbunch of middle-aged mainly suburban white guys critiquing pop.

It's more amusing when we're rocking out to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" with the frilly French maid outfit on. That's as devastating a critique of post-industrial decay as any semiotician could dream.

48. Jeff K. Posted: November 04, 2009 at 02:41 PM (#3377669)

There's something really amusing about a vbunch of middle-aged mainly suburban white guys critiquing pop.

If it works for Pitchfork...

49. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: November 04, 2009 at 02:55 PM (#3377694)

Other notable people from Yonkers include Jon Voight, Steven Tyler, Sid Caesar, SJ and Mike Breen

David Berkowitz, while from the Bronx, rose to prominence while living on Pine Street in Yonkers.

50. Nasty Nate Posted: November 04, 2009 at 03:01 PM (#3377703)

Jon Voight

the dentist?

51. Jeff K. Posted: November 04, 2009 at 03:11 PM (#3377720)

David Berkowitz, while from the Bronx, rose to prominence while living on Pine Street in Yonkers.

I wouldn't call one date with Elaine "prominence".

52. Campeones de la Serie Mundial('zop) Posted: November 04, 2009 at 03:12 PM (#3377723)

She is from Yonkers, which has a long tradition of producing awesome musicians.

There's a world outside of Yonkers.
Way out there beyond this hick town, SJ.

53. jwb Posted: November 04, 2009 at 03:16 PM (#3377726)

I, too, picture Mariano Rivera wearing translucent balloons. I probably need help.

54. Tropical Storm Davis aka Quilvio "Ebola" Veras Posted: November 04, 2009 at 03:22 PM (#3377735)

There's something really amusing about a bunch of middle-aged mainly suburban white guys critiquing pop.

Hey, I'm a middle-aged, URBAN white guy critiquing pop.

55. RB in NYC (Now with Resolutions!) Posted: November 04, 2009 at 03:27 PM (#3377742)

If everything goes according to my plan, Brian Bruney will record the last 3 outs b/c the Yanks will be up 17-0.

Even up 17-0, I'm pretty Mo is standing on the mound for the last outs of the World Series.

56. vortex of dissipation Posted: November 04, 2009 at 03:28 PM (#3377744)

Lady GaGa covered the Peter Gabriel/Kate Bush duet "Don't Give Up" with The Midway State. She's not Kate, of course, but she did a pretty good job on it, and made the comment that it was "something that young people would hear and learn something about Kate Bush."

So if she loves Kate Bush, and wants to introduce her music to others, she's alright with me...

57. RB in NYC (Now with Resolutions!) Posted: November 04, 2009 at 03:40 PM (#3377761)

In fact, Mariano was the last pitcher used by the Yankees in the playoffs in 1998-2001, 2003-04, and 2007. And it seems like he's likely to be--for better or worse--the last used in 2009 too.

58. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: November 04, 2009 at 03:45 PM (#3377770)

She is from Yonkers, which has a long tradition of producing awesome musicians.

DMX
Mary J Blige
Ella Fitzgerald
Chip Taylor.

DMX is horrendous.
Mary J is fine. I'll give her a bonus point because I guess she'll be at the Stadium tonight.
Ella more than makes up for DMX.
No idea who Chip Taylor is.

I guess Ella gives Yonkers the edge over Mt. Vernon: Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Heavy D, INI, and of course, Al B. Sure.

59. scotto Posted: November 04, 2009 at 03:45 PM (#3377771)

So if she loves Kate Bush, and wants to introduce her music to others, she's alright with me...

Ooh, there goes a tenner.
Hey, look! There's a fiver.
There's a ten-shilling note.
Remember them?
That's when we used to vote for him.

60. SJ and the pants of freedom. Posted: November 04, 2009 at 03:48 PM (#3377775)

Chip Taylor is Angelina Jolie's uncle. He wrote Angel in the Morning and Wild Things, among other things.

DMX is fun.

I did not put Steven Tyler in the Great Musician catergory, because Aerosmith is horrendous.

61. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: November 04, 2009 at 03:55 PM (#3377787)

One of my most treasured memories, circa 1998, is seeing a young man walking the sidewalk, listening to DMX on his headphones, rhyming out loud with the lyrics, complete with barking.

62. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: November 04, 2009 at 03:56 PM (#3377791)

Sporty Thievez, also from Yonkers. And Adriaen van der Donck. Indeed, the town is named for him.

63. Zach Posted: November 04, 2009 at 04:54 PM (#3377885)

e.g. Madonna gets tons of praise by some people for her business sense, image manipulation etc. and I don't understand. That doesn't make the music any better. The fact that she changes identities every 3 years doesnt jump out of the speakers when I'm listening to the music.

Are you kidding? Madonna is still getting played as club music. Michael Jackson, too.

"Just Dance" will easily stay in the club music rotation for four or five years. Say what you like about it as music, but it's really, really danceable.

64. Jeff K. Posted: November 04, 2009 at 04:54 PM (#3377887)

Speaking of Angelina Jolie...not really my cup of tea, in the sense that I think she's considerably attractive but overrated by most, but:

Classy pic 1
Classy pic 2

(They're perfectly safe, no trickery here of the dickish variety, or the Albright one.)

By the way, she's 16 in those.

65. bob gaj Posted: November 04, 2009 at 04:54 PM (#3377888)

if you're into a combination between hip-hop and 80s influenced dance music, lady gaga's album is great. it's being reissued with some new tracks, which is the 3rd version of her debut album (regular u.s. issue, the "deluxe" edition which has some good extra songs, and this new reissue).

she also did some singing on the pet shop boys award ceremony in the u.k. (along with the killers' lead singer, b. flowers).

really good at the self-promotion. also very good about covering up her face.

66. phredbird

Posted: November 04, 2009 at 05:05 PM (#3377905)

I guess 'zop is neither a fan of Bowie nor Reed.

well, they have pretty mad skills when it comes to songwriting. lady gaga i can't speak to. i had to ask some youngish coworkers who she is.

67. HOPE: Madison Obamagarner (Flynn) Posted: November 04, 2009 at 07:32 PM (#3378042)

also very good about covering up her face.

And not letting you get a profile shot of her and that big Italian schnozz.

68. Srul Itza Posted: November 04, 2009 at 07:44 PM (#3378056)

All the #### you describe is secondary to their primary job,

Well, that depends on what you consider the primary job. If it is merely "singer", then yes.

If it is "entertainer", and people find the whole package entertaining, then no.

69. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: November 04, 2009 at 07:48 PM (#3378061)

If it is "entertainer", and people find the whole package entertaining, then no.

Her job is to sell records. If schtick helps her move product, she's doing her job.

70. Jeff K. Posted: November 04, 2009 at 08:06 PM (#3378080)

Technically, I do believe her job, if we're defining things as such, is to sell out the tour.

71. Bernal Diaz has an angel on his shoulder. Posted: November 04, 2009 at 10:16 PM (#3378610)

By the way, she's 16 in those.

Too old for ya Jeff.

72. KingKaufman Posted: November 05, 2009 at 12:20 AM (#3379133)

Steve Allen scoops Christopher Walken on the joke by ... 53 years. Good one, Chris! Hilaripus!

Page 1 of 1 pages

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Lady Gaga Sees Herself In Yankees Star Mariano Rivera

Reader Comments and Retorts

Support BBTF

My Bookmarks

Hot Topics