What I came to understand about sports in 2009

"The game has kept faith with the public, maintaining its old admission price for nearly thirty years while other forms of entertainment have doubled and tripled in price. And it will probably never change."

-Connie Mack

It took a while, but I've finally realized why the old men in the expensive seats in Yankee Stadium had such big smiles on their faces when I was younger. It was because they understood that their seat with the padded back meant a better show than my bench in the bleachers, and that was because they understood that it was all a show. Those Bleacher Creatures sitting around me at the time felt that they got the better show, because for one, they created the seventy-five percent of the show they lost to their poor view, and second, because they were the more passionate fans. Passion has it's place, and being quietly passionate is a trait that every decent person should possess, but boisterous, lewd passion for a team and against it's rivals has no place in sports.

That's because being a "super fan" isn't much more special than being a super fan and follower of a musical act or and actor. They're no better than people who go together in wizard costumes to Harry Potter movies. On a smaller scale, those who plainly argue to the point of sheer anger on Yankees/Red Sox, Lakers/Celtics/Cavaliers, Florida/Texas/USC, or any such debate is no better than those who argue for Blackberry over the iPhone, or the Maxima over the Camry, or white wine over red. Sports are something to be enjoyed, as we enjoy our cellular phones and cars, our theater and our movies. Some like action and vulgarity, and some like refinement. Our loyalties to these things are sometimes unhealthy and expensive addictions. Those in our society who enjoy life's pleasures in moderation-good scotch, a good record, a good team, are usually the most cultured in our society, and I aspire to be one of those men. I aspire to be in the front row at the main event in Las Vegas, and I'd like to sit at the fifty yard-line at Lambeau field. I want to sit in Wrigley Field where men in derbies sat a hundred years before discussing how dignifired it is to attend a ballgame. That's because all of these teams we root for are corporations trying to produce a product, put on the best show, and make money. The New York Giants produce football and the Los Angeles Dodgers produce baseball. Only there's no award for the Cell Phone of the year that matters to millions of people, the awards come in wins and championships.

I've come to have more respect for owners of teams. Rich men, playing fantasy baseball or football with live players, staffs, and fans. George Steinbrenner would like his legacy to be highlighted by the success of the New York Yankees, and to me, that's a dignified thing. At twenty-eight, I finally realize what it means to watch sports the way a man should. If your team can't win, understand why, if they're really good, understand that too. Understand that there's a reason ESPN discusses a team's ownership and management almost as much as they'll discuss the players. Teams that win hire winners at every position always win, it's just a coincidence that those people draft and hire winners to play on the field. To me, that adds more beauty to sports than a few colors and a city.

An Intelligent World Series Preview

The last time I was this excited for the World Series was twenty years ago. The Athletics were playing the Giants and I wanted the Bash Brothers to win worse than anyone could understand, even though I thought that players like Will Clark and Kevin Mitchell would be tough outs. The Yankees were terrible especially after trading my favorite player, Rickey Henderson back to Oakland, and the stock market was crashing, so my mother was working crazy hours. I was lost in the World Series every night, and at home alone before the Internet and cell phones when I saw that sick look on Al Michaels' face when he felt that earthquake. Game three was played after a ten-day postponement, and eventually, the A's won in a prolonged sweep.

The great show of the World Series can be anticipated like Americans anticipate the return of American Idol, or the pageantry of an election. It's one of our country's most beautiful, majestic and authentic spectacles. It's one of the few things that have been visually amazing for one-hundred years, before and after television. this year though, is compelling-mostly because the World Series is rarely as compelling as it's billed. That 1989 series, "the earthquake series," was compelling even though it ended in a sweep. Since that series, not many World Series have been between two teams that were supposed to be there, and only the Yankees/Braves series in 1996 was a series between two very special teams.

And that is why the 2009 series is perfect.

Home runs, good pitchers, nice stadiums, good teams. Very good teams. The Yankees against the reigning World Series Champion. When is the last time that happened? 1996. Visually, it's a perfect series. Blue against red. Scrappy players. Passionate fans.

Here are some things to watch out for as you enjoy this most sexy World Series:


Watch out for the Phillies to punch the Yankees in the mouth

The Phillies play more of an American League style than any of the teams the Yankees have played in the playoffs, and they hit, hit home runs, and score runs in bunches. No one in their lineup should have a problem with C.C. Sabathia or A.J. Burnett. The Phillies will have trouble with the Yankees' bullpen so look for the Phillies to score, or try to score early in most games, and watch for the Phillies' Ryan Madson to be trouble on the Yankees batters he faces.

Don't take your eyes off Jimmy Rollins

Players like Jimmy Rollins are wild cards in these types of series, because intangibles win World Series. Good teams need to be broken down, and when the Yankees are broken down it's by impact players like Chone Figgins, Jacoby Ellsbury and anyone who makes things happen. It's because taking extra bases and forcing them to play perfect baseball is the only way to have a chance against very good teams.

Watch for Robinson Cano to take over the games in Philadelphia

At Cano's spot in the lineup, he can do real damage late in games and deep into the Phillies bullpen. At least two possible left-handed Phillies starters in Philadelphia means late-inning pitching changes to right-handed pitchers to face the top of the lineup, and no changes for Cano. Meaning look for a lot of Cano against righties in a park where he can show his skills.

Watch the Phillies' pitch sequences to the Yankees' hitters

The Phillies worst flaw or Phlaw is the way their pitchers pitch batters. They're deep into the National League style of pitching and their pitch selection is so typical of stationary baseball-fastballs when behind, nibble when ahead. The problem with this style is that teams like the Yankees were constructed to seek out and typically blow up this style of pitch selection. If you look back to the way the Twins' bullpen pitched the Yankees it was quite the same way (think Joe Nathan), and think back to the way Brian Fuentes, for the most part a National League pitcher, pitched Alex Rodriguez in a key situation (he tried to nibble on the corner on an 0-2 count and Rodriguez hit an opposite-field home run). The Yankees will have no problems at all deep in counts, and that is where their success should come.

Watch out for Pedro in game two

Don't be confused, Charlie Manuel knew exactly what he was doing by pitching Pedro Martinez in game two in Yankee Stadium against a team full of players he's faced before. It was a good play, and even better play because Cole Hamels should look better than he has been at home in game three.

Watch out for surprises

Watch for Joe Girardi to out-manage Charlie Manuel. Watch out for pinch-hitters and runners. Watch out for Greg Dobbs and Matt Stairs. When two good teams get together, their great components usually cancel each other out, and the things you least expect make the difference.

Enjoy


On a side note, both LCS MVPs were black. First time ever. I hope it gets more black children playing the game.