Tuesday's Thoughts

While wondering when the Yankees will be in the World Series again, here's what is on my mind this morning:

* I have been to a Yankee World Series game, Yankee Playoff games, NHL Playoff games and NFL Playoff games but none of those compare to Thursday night's game at Yankee Stadium.  Derek Jeter's last home game is something I will never forget as here was a man who represented the Yankees and baseball with dignity and class. How that game ended typified Jeter's career as he often made a big play or got a big hit. As the game ended on his single to right and his former teammates greeted him, I had mixed feelings. I was happy that the Captain ended his Yankee Stadium career on a high note and sad because I knew that it will be a long time if we ever see this collection of players on the Yankees again. The beauty of this incredible run was that the core guys were all homegrown: Bernie, Andy, Jorge, Mo & Jeter.

* During a time where professional athletes are in the news for all sorts of criminal activity, steroids and performance enhancing drugs, Derek Jeter was clean and never embarassed the Pinstripes or baseball. As I have said often: who would you want to be the face of your sport, Jeter or Ray Lewis?

* I had the pleasure of being at Sunday's game at Fenway for the Captain's last game of his tremendous career. The Red Sox did a nice job in honoring Jeter and it was really a nice touch having Bobby Orr out there along with former Red Sox greats. I swear that half of Fenway Park was filled with Yankee fans as many, like myself, made the trip to see Jeter's last game. It will be my last time at Fenway Park.

* Have to also give Red Sox management credit for having Bernie Williams on Sunday play his guitar version of  "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." Wonder why the Yankees didn't do that either on Derek Jeter Day or last Thursday.

* How long will it be before the Yankees retire No. 2? That will mean another full house for Hal and the boys.

* Does anyone know if Hal was at the Stadium last Thursday? You know that the Boss would have been there and that's the difference. George loved the team and the sport, Hal just counts dollars and cents.

* There have been some who consider Jeter to be overrated but I would venture to guess it's because there was no one on their respective teams who could deliver in the clutch, play every game hard and do it all with class. I remember back in 1997 going to a game at Yankee Stadium and watching the players walk into the Stadium. The only one that I recall stopping to sign autographs was Jeter. The guy never forgot where he came from and understood that he was a role model.

* So as Yankee fans what do we have to look forward to?? From where I'm sitting, we could be looking at years of mediocrity. During my lifetime there was Mantle, then Murcer & Munson, then Mattingly and finally Jeter. All homegrown players. So Mr. Cashman who follows Jeter? There is no one on the horizon. It's a disgrace.

* The Cask & Flagon is a sports bar right near Fenway Park. It was selected as the best sports bar by ESPN. What a joke! Saturday night you couldn't get the Notre Dame-Syracuse game or the Missouri-South Carolina game on a TV screen. Then Sunday, the day of the last game of the season, you couldn't get a Bloody Mary because they ran out of tomato juice. Would not recommend this place to anyone.

* There has been plenty of Yankee-bashing over the money grab tied to Jeter's last season and specifically his last game. Well, the Boston Red Sox did a good job also cashing in on Jeter as they had plenty of Jeter hats, t-shirts and other items marking the Captain's last series at Fenway Park. It was unreal.

* There is a place called the Bleacher Bar which is attached to Fenway Park. When you go inside you can actually see inside Fenway. It is also home of the Bills Backers in Boston. How fitting Bills fans in Fenway Park. Good place for them!!

* Had the opportunity to hear Mike Francesa on Thursday and Friday and then Schopp and the Bulldog on Monday. Absolutely, no comparison. While Francesa was talking about Jeter, NFL and the Ryder Cup, the WGR gasbags were waffling all over themselves with the news of EJ Manuel being benched. The 2 Buffalo gasbags got into a heated argument over which is better: french vanilla ice cream versus vanilla bean ice cream. What a farce!!

* This was my first visit to the new Yankee Stadium. The amenities are wonderful and I was really impressed. However, the place was sterile when it came to the field and the stands. If Thursday's game was played at the old Stadium it would have been rocking.

* And finally, whatever happened to EJ Manuel.