2009 Season     

Growing up in Nebraska (or Iowa)—which I think all of us did—the selection of a favorite football team is easy.   However, the selection of a favorite major league baseball team is much more difficult.   I have two older brothers,  Mark, born in 1955, and Michael, born in 1958.  My brother Mark grew up a Yankees fan, solely, I think, because of Mickey Mantle.   Michael was a San Francisco Giants fan, solely, I think, because of Willie Mays.

I was a Twins fan.  Tony Oliva, Harmon Killebrew and Zolio Versalles.  I felt it was a geographic thing.  I thought they were the team closest to Omaha.  Plus, I just loved that name:  Zolio Versalles.  (It is a kind of sad thing to admit that your favorite player as a youth was a light hitting Cuban shortstop, but he was the 1965 American League MVP.)  I became a Royals fan when I went to KU and then moved to KC, a logical transition.

So I can appreciate why Buser is a Cardinals fan.  ( I am surprised that more of us are not Cardinals fans, as that was the dominant team of the Midwest of our youth.)  I know the history of why Big Guy ,who spent his early years in Michigan, and whose family is from Michigan,  is a Tigers fan.   Not sure if Ted was a Red Sox fan before his time at Dartmouth, but I can sort of understand being a Red Sox fan even from the distance of the Midwest, in that they were the perennial losers, the hard luck stories.

But there are certain things I just can’t understand, and that is being a Yankees fan.  I will say it plain and simple:  “I hate the Yankees.”  I hate the arrogance, the East Coast bias of ESPN and I hate them now more than ever.  OK, the Minus 60 I have endured from Wang the first 3 weeks of the season has added some very serious fuel to this fire.  (And OK, I am willing to swallow some hate, if Phil Hughes throws a gem tonight, but such is the nature of the Hot Stove League.  Sometimes we have to hold our nose and draft Barry Bonds.)

But seriously, what could possibly attract someone to being a Yankee fan?  Steinbrenner?  A-Rod? Reggie? Billy Martin?  Buying Pennants?  Millions for Carl Pavano?  Wonderful fans?  Nothing.  No redeeming qualities whatsoever.  (Ok, I will concede that Jeter is a class act and I used to like Bernie Williams, but that is it.)

Nothing personal, Mouse and  Screech.  I know you have been loyal Yankee fans for a long time.  But really?  The Yankees?  I hope thousands of home runs are hit in the new stadium.  I hope CC and Burnett go 0-44.

You know the only thing that could be worse?  Having your favorite team be the geographically close team, like, oh, say, the Royals.  OK, the Royals are your favorite team.  You even name your Hot Stove League team after them.  But they have a few down years, maybe more than a few.  So you shop around and find a new favorite team  (even the concept of finding a new favorite team  is hard to deal with.)  So you look around and you choose a new favorite team, like, oh, say, the Pirates.  And why, you are asked,  is that your new favorite team?   Because you like the uniforms? Jeeeeesch…that’s just great.  A lack of loyalty during the tough times, that is what could be worse.

*former Championship Blues

Seriously, Wakefield?  Wakefield?

And who the heck is Aaron Hill?

OK, that is it for now from Kansas City, home of the Blues and the almost first place Royals.  I have been to the remodeled Kaufman Stadium.  You should all come down and check it out.  It is almost like being in a new ballpark.  Walkway all around, outfield seating, party decks in the outfield, all new wider concourses on the front.  It is not that wonderful looking at the front, but once inside it is great.  I’ll bet it will even climb into Skipper’s Top Ten.  The Royals are going to be in the hunt in the mediocre Central Division all season.  The crowds are going to be good.  (Three sellouts thus far.)  Make the short drive to KC, see some big league ball, and be sure to call your friend McBlunder.

See you in New York, home of the hated Yankees.