It Could Be Worse. I Could Be From Cleveland.

I grew up in New York City. I started going to Yankee Games when I was a wee little thing. I can name an impressive number of Yankess who played in 1979 including Bucky Dent, Rob Guidry and Oscar Gamble. You all might know Lou Pinella as the manager of the Cubs. I remember him as a Yankee. I can't really discuss Thurman Munson without getting a little choked up. And don't even get me started on Reggie Jackson. Or his candy bar. Which for the record, I totally ate.

My point is, I am a legitimate Yankees fan. I was fan long before Derek Jeter and A-Rod came to town with their chiseled good looks and steady string of model/actress girlfriends. I was a fan long before the Yankees became the winningest franchise in North American professional sports history. It's not like I jumped on the train yesterday.

You know what else I am? A Duke basketball fan. And not because my father went there or my grandfather went there or because I thought Christian Laettner was cute when he hit that buzzer-beater against Kentucky. I am a Duke basketball fan because I am a Duke alum and I am proud of my school. How many UNC fans in this state can actually claim alum status? Fewer than you think.

And while I'm on the subject - I pull for the #48 and I pull for him proudly. When I first fell ass backwards into NASCAR, I knew nothing. But I had a friend, the Racing Queen, who worked for Jimmie, and so when I needed someone to pull for, I felt slightly connected to Jimmie (via the Racing Queen) and he seemed like as good a driver as any to root for. So I did. At the time, he had 1 championship under his belt but had not yet established himself as a true NASCAR legend. It wasn't like I went with him because he was Mr. Popular. That probably still would have been Jeff Gordon. Today, Jimmie's success in NASCAR is unparalled - and yet - he is loathed and detested by many. Mainly bitter Junior and Smoke fans - but, whatever.

My point is: I AM SICK OF THE HATERS. Seriously. I am tired of hearing how the Yankees buy their penants and their championships. I am tired of everyone criticizing Duke. I am tired of everyone complaining about how boring it is to watch the #48 win time and time again.

Really? Where were you people when Tiger Woods DOMINATED the PGA and won Major after Major, tournament after tournament? Did people say he made golf dull (well - duller than it naturally is)? Did people say it got boring? I mean really - how many green blazers does one man need? No. Tiger was lauded and celebrated for being a beyond exceptional player. The likelihood of another Tiger (at least on the golf course) is unlikely.

Ditto Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. How many championships did they win? 6? 7? I don't remember the haters coming out then.

And for the record - it's not like Ted Turner is poor. So any Braves fans out there who want to take a swing at my Yanks? Think real hard. It's not like your team, or your owner, is broke.

As for my beloved Duke...last year when UNC won the NCAA championship, all I heard were whoops and cheers. This year - Duke is a #1 seed with an actual shot at winning (hello first Elite Eight berth since 2004), and all I hear are boos. Really? I know we have a storied basketball program, but we also only have 3 national championships. Three. And the first one didn't come until 1991. You know how many UNC has? FIVE. Ditto Indiana. Kentucky has SEVEN. And I don't hear anyone talking smack about John Wooden or the 11 national championships UCLA won. I mean - they won 9 out of 10 years between 1964 and 1973.

What's my point? I don't know. I'm up to my ears in NCAA Tourney play, Major League Baseball is about to start, and Jimmie has won 4 of the first 8 races and seems deadset on proving to the world that he's more than a pretty boy who knows how to drive fast. I cheer loudly and proudly for my teams, and I get my balls busted at every turn. I'm sick of it. Apparently I root for the "wrong" winners.

Then again. It could be worse. I could be from Cleveland*.

*Also known as one of the Worst Sports City in America.

7 Comments

| Leave a comment

Shelly LeBlanc | March 27, 2010 3:52 PM | Reply

Cleveland - heh heh heh!!

Mickey Mantle's Liver | March 27, 2010 5:51 PM | Reply

I'm distressed to hear that you've been ruthlessly castigated for supporting the teams that you do. That being said, you can blow me.

Oscar Gamble was a Cleveland Indian before a Yankee. So was Craig Nettles & CC Sabbathia. Thurman Munsun grew up in Canton, Ohio (and actually died there) where a baseball field is dedicated in his honor. He didn't get his toughness hanging out at the ladies mile in Manhattan, it was bred elsewhere and purchased by the Yankees. This is the way they usually do things.

As for Duke, they consider themselves the pride of North Carolna.Ironic since they haven't had a native Carolinian on their team since George Mikan played. And how about that football program! I refuse to follow a college that 1) I can't afford and 2) I wouldn't be accepted to if I could pay for it. Coach K does do a great job of pulling a team together from a student body made up mostly of asian medical students and trust fund babies.

While I agree that unibrow is a talented driver, he has a top notch crew chief and an owner with the deepest pockets in NASCAR. You could put Corky from "Life Goes On" in the 48 car and probably do pretty well. I appreciate the guys whive worked to get there - I'm not sold that Jimmie did. Besides, a friend who worked for him told me that he and his wife are incredibly inconsiderate to those that work for them.

In closing, I'll admit that I am an Indians and Browns fan - sometimes they break my heart and I wish I were not. They haven't won a Series/Super Bowl in my lifetime and they may not, but I won't change my allegiance to another team just beacuse they're winning. That privalege is set aside for the Yankees, Cowboys, Patriots, Red Sox, UNC and others that buy their way to the top.

harmzie | March 27, 2010 7:32 PM | Reply

OK, I didn't read any of that because it seemed to be about sports, but "Cleveland" caught my eye.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmLA5TqbIY

(via the Bloggess about a year ago. Or six months. Whatever. I'm just happy I remembered the source. Usually, I just take credit.)

Susan Sueiro | March 27, 2010 11:49 PM | Reply

No one is going to spoil this for me, what a fantastic tournament of upsets and surprises, and of amazingly talented kids playing with a lot of heart. I am so proud that my team (GO DUKE) is still in the running. And I have loved seeing tiny teams knock off giants, NOT because I have any great hatred for Kansas or Kentucky or Syracuse (more like fear, actually), but because I love watching the underdogs win. Players from N Iowa or St Marys or wherever achieve what no one believed they could. It is a thing of beauty to see them succeed, and something I wouldn't take away from a single one of them, even if they defeat my team in the process, sad as it would make me.

So those who spew venom and cheer against something instead of for something are hurting themselves, not me. And anyone who thinks Duke is primarily for trust fund babies can come to my place to watch the game tomorrow with a few people who might just challenge your bitter little notions of how the world is.

Oh yeah, GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kerr1ck | March 28, 2010 9:30 AM | Reply

Perceived class difference? People tend to hate on Duke because it's "where the rich/elite/connected folks go" ?

I wouldn't exactly be surprised, although I have trouble believing chapel hill is all that much easier to get into (While OTOH the internet tells me it may be a decent bit more affordable)

Still, the idea of being so into a sports team you'd rag someone else about whoever they follow seems alien to me.

(For the record, I'm a UNCCharlotte alum, and my sports exposure is pretty well limited to what's on at the restaurant/bar/etc)

cwmcm54 | March 28, 2010 4:45 PM | Reply

I have always hated the way people in NC pull for teams when they not only didn't go to the school but have probably never even seen the campus except on TV. I guess it is a holdover from when NC had no pro teams and Tobacco Road really existed. I say, do the work for a degree and then you will have earned the right to pull for whatever ACC school (or other) you attended. There should be some tie other than the ability to buy a shirt in school colors at Walmart and yell at the TV while drinking beer.

I, however, am in mourning after the great Orange Crush at the hands of the Butler and will be sitting on the sidelines only watching as my alma mater no longer has a dog in this fight.

But Rougie? The Yankees? Really??? Haven't we already had this discussion? David and I worked on the baseball commission that worked to get baseball to St Petersburg and did I mention that David is a direct descendant of the original settlers of Pinellas County FL (St Pete). Sure, the Yankees have been around for many decades before the Rays existed but George the asshole Steinbrenner who, yes, buys championships chooses to live in Tampa Bat because he knows what an awesome place it is.

You do know of course that TBRAYS stands for
T oronto
B altimore
R ed Sox
A nd
Y ankees
S uck.

:-)

You are welcome at anytime to join me at the Trop to hear the cowbells ring. I will have a season seat as soon as I get back to St Pete in July.

Oh BTW, what is NASCAR?

Love you,
Martinis2nite

Tom | March 29, 2010 11:06 AM | Reply

It's Ron Guidry. And don't forget Willie Randolph, Craig Nettles, and Mickey Rivers. God, I loved that team.