How Sweep It Is! Yankees Roll Over Mets!

"Drive on! We'll sweep up the blood later!" ~ Katharine Hepburn

I’ve never been much for housework but… sweeping… now that’s an activity I can get down with! No matter what your given profession, for any sports fan, Mondays are definitely drastically perked up by weekend victories. Yankee fans busted out the brooms last night as the Bombers did their best clean up work at Citi Field, taking all three games against the Mets.

Yankee fans will tell you the goal (to win) is always the same regardless of who the team is playing. But there's undeniably something extra special about beating up on the Queens crew because their fans are very often our neighbors, friends and co-workers. Throw in some added accolades for the King of All Relief, Mariano Rivera and you’ve got the makings for some fine water cooler conversations.

Look, there's no denying this Yankee team is still vulnerable...after all, Chien-Ming Wang convinced nobody, and the outfield is a work-in-progress but winning is sort of like women's cosmetics: can’t make an ugly girl pretty but sure can cover some serious flaws for a while.

Let’s hope the boys in the Bronx are resting up and taking their vitamins on this off day. There is certainly enough swine out there in the world, no need for it to be swirling around in the clubhouse too!

Inked Up and Ready To Pitch!

NY Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes celebrated his 23^rd birthday by getting his faith mantra tattooed on his inner left arm, courtesy of teammate Nick Swisher who had his personal tattoo artist flown in for the occasion.

And they say we’re in a recession!

Thankfully the right handed hurler was smart enough to opt for his non-pitching arm.

Frustration On And Off The Field

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put its pants on. ~Winston Churchill

It’s been a minute since I’ve posted because I’ve been busy with other writing projects (and quite frankly the Yankees have been maddening to watch) but over the weekend I suddenly received a plethora of emails beckoning my attention. (Imagine that?) Alas, it turns out the sudden influx of my popularity was seeped in a rather intruding curiosity about matters out of my control. Oh well, such is life but I’m going to try and ignore some of the off-field debauchery stories… despite any implications. Truth is, I likely will talk at some point but I do not believe that true vindication can come through public sentiment. Quite frankly, self-serving spin does little justice in my world – as I am not up for a new contract anytime soon. Though, I must admit it would be a bit more fun if the progress of life could be fueled by backhanded revelations from “industry insiders.”

Perhaps, for the Yankees, if more good was actually happening on the field fans probably wouldn’t be bombarded with any of it in the first place. And speaking of mess, couldn’t we all do without the stalker-ish reports of A-Rod’s trysts? Still I must admit that level of gossip hound devotion sort of makes me nostalgic for the days when Sir Derek Jeter was forced to tone down his now infamous birthday celebrations! (By the way, el Cappytan turns 35 on Friday. Partaaay!)

I know we aren’t even to the half-way point of the season yet but does anyone else speculate as to why there hasn’t even been a peep from Big George? I mean, he’s still alive, right? Oh how I long for a boisterous Howard Rubenstein released public pep-talk from Mr. Steinbrenner. (Rubby is still alive too, right?)

They say the truth always comes out...even if it takes years. Unfortunately, when that truth is filtered through media machines and public relations teams... winning seems almost irrelevant. I guess none of it really matters now that the Yankees plan to give Alex Rodriguez one day off a week for “rest”…Page 6 will easily be able to fill whatever quota they seem to be working with.

Shore Interrupted: Real New Jersey

Over on my other blog I launched a new series called "Shore Interrupted"...I hope you'll check it out if you get a chance. A snippet of the first post is below and I'm certain there'll be some sports cross-over since sports is such a huge part of my life.

Shore Interrupted: Real New Jersey

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“Shore Interrupted” will be my satirical chronicle of real life, dating, and sometimes insanity. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to lure more Benny’s to our beautiful corner of the world but it would be nice if people had a bit more accurate information about how things go down here! So whether you currently live in the Garden State or have found your life interruptedly somewhere else- you’ll be able to savor the unique sights & sounds of The Shore through my not-so-rose-colored glasses.

Of course, the names will be changed in some cases to protect the guilty but I think this will be a fun way to wade through the summer. I’m just a girl, searching for her Mr. Big in an ocean full of scary sea creatures…the least we can do is have a good laugh about it!

For the Love of the Game: Yankees Make it 8 in a Row!

Well, here’s something you don’t hear everyday: Last night I had the pleasure of picking Peter Abraham’s brain for 9 innings. The popular Yankees beat reporter is serving a mandatory furlough this week and got a chance to take in the game in as a fan. (However, I’m pretty sure that he only kept score from a force of habit rather than some deep desire to document Chad Moeller’s stellar catching ability.) Pete and I have different philosophies about some things (A-Rod, “Saint” Torre, and Joba’s future to name a few) but that only made for more interesting dialogue.

I’ve always believed that baseball is the most fascinating conversation - between the players on the field and the fans off of it. There are so many layers and subplots to this game, it's mind boggling. (Trust me on this...I've lived through some.) Sure, the media interprets the script the best way they know how, given the information and “sources” they pull but it’s really the love that fuels the whole magnificent story.

The Yankees won their 8^th in a row and the field level was probably as crowded as I’ve seen it all year. The new Stadium starts to feel like home with every win but we shouldn’t forget the lessons she taught us this first month. For starters, my 84 year old grandmother could probably go yard to right field. But more importantly, money can’t buy atmosphere. Mystique and Aura are still waiting outside on the VIP security line. Hopefully, the over eager bouncers will let them inside in time for October.

Nick Swisher is the Man

You know they're loving you in NY when food starts to get involved. Check out the latest from Nick Swisher's charity "Swish's Wishes "....Head down to Foleys and meet the man himself. He'll be available 'briefly'...

Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant and NY Yankees’Nick Swisher Team Up to Launch “Swish & Chips”

Portion of Sales from Popular Menu Item to Benefit Swish’s Wishes™to Help Make a Difference in The Lives of Children

WHO: NICK SWISHER, New York Yankees

WHAT: Launch of Foley’s “Swish & Chips”(*Nick Swisher will be briefly available for interviews about baseball and his national non-profit foundation, Swish’s Wishes™)

WHEN: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 Noon – 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant (www.foleysny.com)

18 W. 33^rd St. (near 5^th Ave, across from Empire State Bldg.)

WHY: Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant will donate $1 from the sale of each order of “Swish & Chips”(Battered Fish with French Fries) sold from May 20 through the end of the baseball season to Swish’s Wishes. For more info, visit http://www.nickswisher.net

Fans Still Matter, Right?

“Innovation is the whim of an elite before it becomes a need of the public.” ~ Ludwig von Mises

The grand opening of the New Yankee Stadium has come and gone. Major League Baseball is underway, the NBA playoffs (which seem to last for an eternity) are in full-swing and the highly anticipated/over-hyped NFL draft has come and gone. Despite all this activity, it’s been over a month since my last post. Lack of fodder is certainly not the case but if all those empty field level seats in the Bronx are any indication…perhaps lack of interest (on my part) is to blame.

In many ways, sports started out as a sort of escapism, quickly evolving into “entertainment” only to ultimately crash back down to reality. Fans used to be the most integral part of the whole sordid business. We’d do anything; go anywhere to watch our “heroes” perform their special brand of magic. Growing up I can vividly recall mimicking the batting stances of favorite players with other kids in my neighborhood. Now, the closest most fans get to actually seeing the action is from the comfort of their living rooms no thanks to those over inflated cable packages.

Fans don’t need to know every detail of a players’ life off the field…in fact most would be better served not to. But now that “Stockbroker Sal” and his cronies don’t want to be seen living it up on bailout money…maybe the Yankees front office will take notice. The sea of empty blue seats surrounding the lower levels of the New Stadium separates the players from those who love them the most....almost like a symbolic moat. The question remains: Does the elitism of two thousand dollar seats ensure a teams’ financial future or alienate the loyal foot soldiers once willing to go to war for the Empire?