Wayne Countryman wrote:
OK, we know baseball players are among the most superstitious creatures on Earth, yet extremely logical and focused when it comes to marketing and self-promotion.
Yes, it would be lovely if Johnson's welcoming party was all hugs-and-kisses-and-pinstripe-pride. Williams could strum a love ballad and then a rallying cry, and Johnson could plug his CD. Steinbrenner could hire Billy Martin as bench coach. Bud Selig could slither onto the stage and give both players No. 51.
But Randy and Bernie need each other. They're past their primes on a team with too many other players past their primes or hung up on how great they are. Should they give even a half-thought to the number?
I grew up a Red Sox fan raised to hate the Yankees, so last fall's playoffs were a dream come true. But as a fan of the sport, it was painful to see the Yankees self-destruct in such a pathetic manner.
The Yankees play in a tough town. Team loyalty was never their strength. Their decades of greatness have been based on resentment of calculating owners and pride in themselves. But today's Yankees are filthy rich--a condition that inhibits passion to excel [Jeter being an exception].
Johnson and Williams should get into a wrestling match over the uniform, throw their backs out and miss half of spring training. Just be total jerks. Piss off everyone. Create factions. Light up the talk-show phones. Distract from last fall's collapse. That could inspire the team to reclaim its glory.
Good one, Wayne! But I have to note that the nonbandwagon Yankee fans know that Williams, Rivera, Jeter and Posada represent the so-called core of the championship run that began in '96 and ended in '00. All are homegrown, and all, in my opinion, have the passion to excel you mentioned without exhibiting ego.
Yes, Steinbrenner has been drifting back to his dangerous meddling ways and rebuilding the team into a collection of free agents without any thought to a coherent baseball vision. Yes, there are many mercenaries in pinstripes ("ring hos," as *Sports Illustrated*'s Steve Rushin called players in all sports who jump to winning teams for the chance at a championship).
But surely you as a Red Sox fan would want, say, Carlos Delgado (if he wore No. 32 and signed with the Sox) to defer to Jason Varitek, wouldn't you? (I don't know Delgado's uniform number, and the situation isn't quite analogous, but you get my drift.)