Still More about Haters in the House
My friend Danny has posted a lengthy rejoinder to my recent musings about Yankee Haters. I am pleased to write more about this particular topic for at least two reasons: first of all, this dialogue has increased the readership of our blog by at least 25 per cent; and second, what topic would I like to think about or to write about, more than Yankee Hating? What could possibly be more fun? So here we go.
Danny suggests that there is a difference between a true baseball fan and a Yankee hater, whom he describes as a “non-division wanna be who defines himself not by the team he loves with a passion, but by the envy that has fermented to hatred for the Yankees.” Did I get that right?
So the first question is whether being a true baseball fan and a Yankee hater are mutually exclusive. Now I’m not suggesting that every fan is both a fan and a hater, but certainly, being a fan does not preclude one from being a hater. And vice versa. In fact, baseball is an example of when hating can actually enhance one’s enjoyment of life, or in this case baseball. That’s not generally true in all aspects of life, but for sports, why not? Consider the 2005 ALDS playoffs between the Yankees and the Angels. That was a series one ordinarily would not really care about. But when A-Rod hit into a double play in the ninth inning of game five, ending the Yankees post-season prematurely, for the fifth straight year I should add, who outside of the Bronx didn’t enjoy that moment? So you see, being a hater opened one up to the possibility of enjoying an otherwise unremarkable and forgettable moment.
The next question then is, why be a Hater? There are several possible explanations, starting with the emotional one. It feels good. There are many activities in life that we do for that simple reason – they don’t hurt anyone, and they feel good. So people hate the Yankees for the simple emotional pleasure of it all. Another good reason to hate them is that it makes sense; in this country especially, we like to root for the underdog. We pull for the little guy. Back in the old days, that was one of the attractions of the Dodgers to their many fans. They were perennially the underdog to the Yankees, and it was logical to want to root for them. Then of course, there is the ethical reason – after all, the Yankees are the evil empire. And who roots for the Emperor and his Storm Troopers in Star Wars? Lastly, there is the tautological reason for Yankee Hating. We hate them because they are the Yankees.
The one reason I can’t agree with is the purported psychological explanation. And for my rejection of that theory, check out these very postings. The proof is right here on the page. Is it the RedSox fan or the Yankees fan who makes repeated metaphorical references to penis, and sperm, and Dr. Freud? So it’s the Nation who has the hang-up here? I don’t think so!
Lastly, let’s all reserve judgment on how smart the Yankee front office is these days. These are the guys who spent millions on Pavano, and Kevin Brown, and who are now speculating about whether Giambi’s contract should be voided because he came clean about past steroid use. (Doing that to Giambi would be dumb for more reasons than I could ever have time to post about.) Maybe Clemens will have a great season, and maybe his arm will tire come September or October. But the current crop of front office geniuses are not the guys who assembled the last great Yankee dynasty. And you don’t have to take my word for it; even Mike Lupica will attest to that.
In any event, I reluctantly admit that it’s time to move on. Not because it hasn’t been fun; and not because I’m running out of things to say about Yankee Hating. Rather it’s time to begin propounding my theories about the genius of the patriarch Abraham. Now we’ll have something real to argue about.
Danny suggests that there is a difference between a true baseball fan and a Yankee hater, whom he describes as a “non-division wanna be who defines himself not by the team he loves with a passion, but by the envy that has fermented to hatred for the Yankees.” Did I get that right?
So the first question is whether being a true baseball fan and a Yankee hater are mutually exclusive. Now I’m not suggesting that every fan is both a fan and a hater, but certainly, being a fan does not preclude one from being a hater. And vice versa. In fact, baseball is an example of when hating can actually enhance one’s enjoyment of life, or in this case baseball. That’s not generally true in all aspects of life, but for sports, why not? Consider the 2005 ALDS playoffs between the Yankees and the Angels. That was a series one ordinarily would not really care about. But when A-Rod hit into a double play in the ninth inning of game five, ending the Yankees post-season prematurely, for the fifth straight year I should add, who outside of the Bronx didn’t enjoy that moment? So you see, being a hater opened one up to the possibility of enjoying an otherwise unremarkable and forgettable moment.
The next question then is, why be a Hater? There are several possible explanations, starting with the emotional one. It feels good. There are many activities in life that we do for that simple reason – they don’t hurt anyone, and they feel good. So people hate the Yankees for the simple emotional pleasure of it all. Another good reason to hate them is that it makes sense; in this country especially, we like to root for the underdog. We pull for the little guy. Back in the old days, that was one of the attractions of the Dodgers to their many fans. They were perennially the underdog to the Yankees, and it was logical to want to root for them. Then of course, there is the ethical reason – after all, the Yankees are the evil empire. And who roots for the Emperor and his Storm Troopers in Star Wars? Lastly, there is the tautological reason for Yankee Hating. We hate them because they are the Yankees.
The one reason I can’t agree with is the purported psychological explanation. And for my rejection of that theory, check out these very postings. The proof is right here on the page. Is it the RedSox fan or the Yankees fan who makes repeated metaphorical references to penis, and sperm, and Dr. Freud? So it’s the Nation who has the hang-up here? I don’t think so!
Lastly, let’s all reserve judgment on how smart the Yankee front office is these days. These are the guys who spent millions on Pavano, and Kevin Brown, and who are now speculating about whether Giambi’s contract should be voided because he came clean about past steroid use. (Doing that to Giambi would be dumb for more reasons than I could ever have time to post about.) Maybe Clemens will have a great season, and maybe his arm will tire come September or October. But the current crop of front office geniuses are not the guys who assembled the last great Yankee dynasty. And you don’t have to take my word for it; even Mike Lupica will attest to that.
In any event, I reluctantly admit that it’s time to move on. Not because it hasn’t been fun; and not because I’m running out of things to say about Yankee Hating. Rather it’s time to begin propounding my theories about the genius of the patriarch Abraham. Now we’ll have something real to argue about.
posted by pops | 5:53 PM
2 Comments:
It is your blog so move on we will though I admit there is little more fun to rant about....d
Danny,
Thank you taking the torch and offering sound rebuttals to the rants of Berg's YH Hater's Blogs.
The street vendors do not sell 'Boston Sucks' t-shirts in the Bronx. There are not juvenile cheers denouncing the visiting teams even if it is the redsox. I have many friends in Boston who also take great enjoyment in being a YH. In many cases it is not during the actual games between the 2 but extends to any team the Yankees play. 'My 2 favorite teams the redsox and any team that is playing the Yankees.' Just dumb stuff from men who claim to love and understand the game of baseball.
As you have stated this YH is rooted in many years of envy. Envy of a rich tradition, Hall of Fame Players, 26 World Championships(4 in the last 10 years) and ownership that will spend what it takes to give future Yankee teams the chance to compete.
The Yankees may not make the playoffs (1st time in 11 years)but the fans will not conduct themselves in the a juvenile or envious manner because we know it is just a blip on the time line of the most storied franchise in sports history. It will not take us 96 years to get our 27th championship. All of this being said in May.
The redsox fan is so insecure that their YH t-shirts now have May dating instead of the usually August. The redsox tradition other than pink and green baseball caps in the stands is their August collapse. This year it may take a month or 2 longer.
G-man - Single Malt and Yankess
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