27.

"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game."
-Walt Whitman

I believe that my love for baseball began inside the womb. Perhaps it was because my father was watching a double-header whilst my mother was in labor. Perhaps it's because of my Italian ancestry-- that my great-grandparents came through Ellis Island and embraced this pastime with an almost religious fervor. Regardless of the reason, this sport has always been as organic to me as the blood that flows through my veins.

I think the intricacies and subtleties of the game are what appeal most to my intellectual sensibilities. And it is the only sport that produces a unique amalgamation of self-mastery and teamwork that's fine balance is only achieved by those who truly understand it.

In perfect congruence to my reverence for the sport as a whole, is my love for the New York Yankees. In my mind, this team truly personifies the heart of the sport itself. Though I think that there have been some questionable decisions made during the Steinbrenner reign, I cannot discount the genuine, classy and humble players that have had the privilege of donning the crisp, pinstriped uniforms that have become ubiquitous with baseball itself. Legends like Mantle, Ruth, Gehrig, Maris and DiMaggio all contribute to the legacy of this team and of this inimitable game. One of my favorites quotes about the Yankees is simple, and comes from Joe DiMaggio (one of my heroes, by the way):

"I'd like to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee."

This year, it was thrilling to watch my team (primarily four of my favorite players of all time) reclaim the World Series title. I have such a soft spot in my heart for Jeter, Mo, Pettitte and Jorge, that I got chills seeing them all hold that hallowed trophy, and all contribute to a great season overall. These four play because they love it. You can see it in their faces... the passion, the drive, the almost-boyish elation. They are the epitome of class and are all what a baseball player should be.

So happy 27, Yankees. Here's to many more.

Pool/Getty Images

(top photo courtesy of Anthony J. Causi/Icon SMI)

It's gonna be a looooong season

AP Photo/Gail Burton

if yesterday's game is any indication of what's to come. Sigh.

Opening day will soon be upon us

And I can't wait.

{image found here}

I just finished

The Yankee Years. I won't lie, I absolutely loved it. And kinda hated it.

Loved it because it delved into the glory years of the Torre era, and reminded me how much I love those Yankee teams. (I heart you, David Cone, Mike Mussina, Alfonso Soriano, Andy Pettite, Bernie Williams, Paul O'Neal, Joe Girardi, Jorge Posada, Mario Rivera and of course Derek Jeter. Cano, I heart you too, but you weren't a part of the glory years.) It reminded me of how classy Mr. Torre is, and how great a manager he is. It reminded me that we actually had a flawless rotation back in the day. (You know, before they let everybody with any talent go and sought after disasters like Pavano.) It discussed the mistake of acquiring players like A-Rod (i.e. the biggest d-bag in sports history) because they changed, nee, disrupted the feel of the team. (So I'm not taking crazy pills after all... Joe Torre and Tom Verducci agree with me. And they know their stuff.)

Hated it because it demonstrated the utter idiocy of the current administration of the Yankees. (Aka, Hankenstein, Hal, the stupid ex-gardener who knows nothing about baseball but who happened to marry George Steinbrenner's daughter and yes, you, Brian Cashman. I can't believe you did that to Joe. Honestly, how do you sleep at night?)

If you're a Yankees fan, or just a baseball fan in general, I highly recommend this book. It delves not only into Torre's tenure at the Yankees, but into baseball as a whole and how it changed during those 12 years. It discusses the rise of steroids, the rise of using technology to analyze players, the fall of the dynasty that was Torre's Yankees.

Mr. Torre, you're a class act. I wish you and the Dodgers (even though you have... gag... Manny) the very best this season.

As for my Yankees, I wish them the best because I can't turn my back on my team. But honestly, I wish A-Rod (and the aforementioned administration) would just go away and that we could get some decent pitching again. Hey, a girl can dream.

I'm such a hot mess right now.

In my experience, one thing that results from a sedentary job is the propensity to look forward to certain happenings to help the week go by faster. This is a great week for such distractions.

#1: The Baseball All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium

Pretty self-explanatory since I heart baseball and heart the Yankees. (Yes, even when they suck.) This is the last year that the Yankees will be using their historic stadium, so it's kind of a big deal to those who care. And Rivera better close. You heard me, Papelbon.


#2: So You Think You Can Dance Top 10

I am seriously infatuated with this show and with its incredible dancers. Dancing is always something that I wish I would have been able to do well, and I love seeing the various styles of dance that are performed each week. This week features the Top 10 dancers, and all of the couples that have been together the last few weeks are going to be mixed up. I really, REALLY want to see Chelsie and Will dance together. Or Chelsie and Twitch. Or Will and Twitch. He hee. (Hmm, can you tell who my top three are?)

#3: Project Runway Season Five

I think this show is so fierce (sorry, I had to) and fun to watch. I love seeing the dimension and creativity of all of the designers. Plus, it's on Bravo, so you know there's always going to be some fabulous drama. And it's on the same night as SYTYCD, which is probably one of the greatest occurrences in television history. He hee.

#4: The Dark Knight

I haven't been this excited for a movie in a long time. I've readily admitted that I am a huge Batman nerd, and Nolan's resurrection of this franchise has so far been quite pleasing. I cannot wait to see this movie. Greg and I have been so excited, we bought tickets last week to ensure that we could see it opening day. Judging from the reviews I have read, we will not be disappointed. (Plus, how can you beat 2 1/2 hours of Batmany bliss? With the Joker? AND Two Face? You can't. You just can't.)

I heart baseball season

As I sit here and gaze out at the street, I can't help but feel a little giddy. Because I happen to be munching on some seeds (of the sunflower persuasion)... and am going to my little bro's baseball game after work. I love this time of year.

Ever since I was a young child, I have been transfixed by the game of baseball. I love to play it, to watch it. I love the mental acuity that is required to play it well. Those who do not understand the game think that it is just a white trash beer fest consisting of fat guys trying to hit the ball, but that's basically just in Boston. (ZING!)

To play it well, a player must be both athletic and intuitive. That's probably why I've always loved it, the subtle nuances of the game that separate the true fans from the beer drinkers. I love trying to figure out what a manager's going to do... is he going to pull the pitcher out and put in a lefty... is he going to call for a hit and run? SO great.

And yeah, I'm a die hard Yankees fan and always will be, even though I loathe the Steinbrenners and A-Rod and wish they could pull their heads out. I've been this way since birth, and I don't really care about the people who give me crap about it. Though it does suck that Boston's been good. (Note the above comment about Boston.) To me, the Yankees are baseball, and the Yankees/Bo Sox rivalry is so compelling because it's the oldest in sports. Last night marked the 1,995 game they've played against one another. I mean, that's impressive for real. So as long as you're hardcore, I respect you, but if you bought the hat and think that makes you a fan, I think you should stick to another sport.

Anyhoo, I'm just happy that for the next 5 1/2 months I'll know what's going on in the world of sports and that I get to sit back and enjoy my favorite time of the year.

And my Yankees win!!!

Been there, done that. Ya jealous? He hee.

Hey, it wasn't that pretty, but a W's a W. A great way to start the Yankees last season (sniff sniff) in Yankee Stadium. I can't tell you how bummed I was to be so close, yet so far away. (Dang food poisoning.) All hail Joe Girardi.

Minivans, Ice cream trucks, and why I loathe George Steinbrenner

Mmk, so the first part of this entry will be an endorsement and an elaboration of Kenna's post about minivans. She raises an excellent point about the idiocy of minivan drivers, and their danger to the roads as a whole. After reading her post on Friday, as I was traveling home, I was dismayed to see that I was boxed in by minivans. I immediately felt a sense of danger, and had to slam on my brakes to avoid a collision, as one of the aforementioned vehicles cut me off. (Right in front of the SLC Temple, mind you.) The icing on the cake was that its license plate cover read, "Cougar Auto." Enough said.

On Saturday, I went to Greg's last soccer game. And what a game it was! Yellow and red cards galore (just the way I like it)... and the game was called twenty minutes early to curb any more brawls/injuries. Obviously, Greg's team killed their opponents, which is not surprising, but very satisfying, notwithstanding. Though we had a brief respite from the rain, it was still a bit on the chilly side. (And admittedly, four inch stiletto boots, no matter how amazing they are, are not the best footwear for a muddy field.) Consequently, I was befuddled to discover that an ice cream truck was driving around the field and its environs, it's tinkling music almost mocking the cold. Are you serious? Who drives an ice cream truck around during the end of October? I think somebody missed the memo that people who are sitting outside freezing their arses off are NOT in the mood for frozen goodness. If you've got a hot chocolate, hook a girl up. If not, put the truck away, and bide your time until May.

Lastly, (which I've always thought was an awkward, quasi-intellectual word... but I can't think of another one right now, so oh well) now that I have cooled off a bit, I feel the need to expound the reasons why I loathe George Steinbrenner, which is typified in the whole Joe Torre situation. I am a Yankees fan. I have been since birth. I know the players, the lineup, the rotation, so you're welcome to test me. I am a die-hard and I always will stay true to my team. That being said, I absolutely hate what Steinbrenner has done to my beloved team. True, his tenure had spanned longer than my life, but in recent years his illogical and idiotic decisions have cost my dear pinstriped team. First was the acquisition of various divas of the game, culminating in the procurement of A-Rod... and yet investing no such effort in finding good pitching. But that's enough material for another entry. Now, it's the blatantly offensive "offer" that he extended to Joe Torre at the end of this season. What a joke! Torre is one of the classiest, successful managers in the history of the sport, and he's offered a non-negotiable pay cut. For taking the Yankees to the post season for twelve straight years, taking the AL East 10 of those 12 years, and delivering 4 World Series titles? What a huge mistake. Mark my words, it's gonna cost the Yankees. BIG. I think men like Steinbrenner should stop pretending they know anything about the game, and leave it to the people who do. I still love my Yankees though. Sigh.