9/21/08- TWD's Agenda For the Day: 1923-2008 and Week 3 in the NFL

Photo from NY Mag

Maybe it is fitting,in the first year of Joe Giradi managing the New York Yankees, that this would be the season their playoff run would come to its conclusion. Maybe it is fitting that in the first year after Joe Torre's tenure as manager of this team,(though certainly not in the least bit blaming Giradi for this disappointing year) no postseason play will take place. Maybe it is fitting that it is ending like this.

Because instead of the focus being on the team, the 100% is on it's home.

Tonight when the New York Yankees play the Baltimore Orioles on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, there will be no conversation about how many games behind this team is in the American League East or Wild Card. How frustrating a season it has been for Robinson Cano, Andy Pettite, Melky Cabrera, Johny Damon, or anybody on that roster? How Damasco Marte didn't make a difference. How Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy may have placed Brian Cashman's job as General Manager on the line. How Giradi has had to somehow soldier on and stay sane despite injuries to Cheng Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlin, along with even hearing the absolute incongruity of rumors circulating that his job could be on the line after just one season.

Instead, all the attention and energy will be on the "ghosts" (and ghosts, literally) of the past. George Herman Ruth, the man who "Built this house."

Joe DiMaggio. Mickey Mantle. Lou Gehrig, the luckiest man on the face of the Earth. Bobby Mercer, who passed away in late summer after dealing with cancer for a while. Jogi Berra. Don Larsen. Phil "Scooter" Rizzuto, who passed last year. Billie Martin. Reggie Jackson. Thurman Munson. Goose Gosage. Don Mattingly. Wade Boggs. Tino Martinez. Paul O'Neil. Jimmy Key. David Wells. Bernie Williams. Jon Wetteland. Scott Brosius. Jeff Nelson. Mike Stanton. David Wells. David Cone. -Roger Clemens-. "El Duque" Hernandez. Giradi. Pettitie. Jorge Posada. Derek Jeter. Mariano Rivera.

We could name more, but the point is made clear. They have all played for the Yankees when Yankees Stadium was the epicenter of the sports world, where championships were won at a home where champions are made.

Photo from NY Daily News

My Top 6 Favorite Yankee Stadium Moments
6. Dwight "Doc" Gooden pitches a no-hitter in 1996: In a story of overcoming adversity, the Doc pitched a no-hitter aganist a loaded Mariners lineup that included an in his prime Ken Griffey Jr., a young coming of age Alex Rodriguez, and DH hitting legend Edgar Martinez.

5. "Mr. November" in 2001: In the aftermath of 9/11, and in Game 4 of the World Series, Derek Jeter hits game winning home run as the World Series goes into the month of November for the first time ever.

4. Yankees Clinch the World Series in 1999: The four game sweep of the Braves was the second of three consecutive titles for Joe Torre's side, and the third in four years.

3. David Cone pitches a perfect game aganist the Expos in 1999: A year after David Wells did the extremely difficult feat, his fellow namesake and friend, "Coney" as some fans called him, repeated it aganist the hapless Expos. Still, to pitch a perfect game, you need luck on your side. And just like Wells doing it the year before, Cone got superb defense everyone around. It was a moment that was truly memorable, as Don Larsen was there on "Yogi Berra Day." He was there to throw out the first pitch to Berra who caught his "Perfect Game in the 1956 World Series. But Cone, as mentioned several times, followed in the foot steps of................

2. David Wells pitches a perfect game aganist the Twins
It is Jorge Posada's favorite moment, this massive event that went down on May 18 at the Stadium. David Wells, no matter if he was a jerk or crazy to some off the field, produced this perfect game at the Stadium to almost emulate what Larsen did (because Larsen did it in the World Series of all stages). Neverthless, it doesn't diminish Wells greatness and luck that day. And to make it even more enjoyable (or disparging to some) was the fact that Wells stated he was "half drunk" going into the game. He later took back those comments.

And the Number 1 Moment:
The Yankees winning the title in 1996 aganist the Braves: It was the first sports title for any of my teams that I followed (the Rangers won the Stanley Cup in 1994, but I wasn't a Rangers fan though. By the way, that is a hockey team for those who don't know). The emotion of coming from 2-0 behind after losing both opening games at home (signaling a sure end to any hopes of coming back and making it a series at least), then doing the improbable and winning all three games in Atlanta was something miraculous to say the least. Game 4, with Jim Leyritz was among one of the greatest sports moments in my life. And it was also the only parade of the Yankees that I ended up going to.

1923-2008. The focus is on you, and you alone, Yankees Stadium. We will miss you.

Finally, Week 3 of the NFL beckons before us. Here are the three critical games I look at (though all of them are important of course):

Will anybody help out David Garrard? Hell, will anyone block for him?

Steelers at Eagles- With Ben Roethlisberger's shoulder killing him, expect Jim Johnson to unleash the blitzes, while Donovin McNabb continues to fire with his young, no-name, talented receiving core, including idiotic but extremely fast rookie Deshawn "Bonehead" Jackson. Eagles and the points.

Jaguars at Colts- Playoff teams with must-win games early in the season usually ride up to the challenge when they need to. And with the Jags always playing the Colts tough, they will. Ans with the subtraction of Bob Sanders with another injury he picked up last week, expect David Garrad to finally get enough protection and score a massive win aganist a Colts team that still hasn't adjusted to their spanking new stadium. Jags and the points.

Cowboys at Packers- The Cowboys have never won in Lambeau. That will change today. Tony Romo and the Cowboys will stamp their supremacy on the NFC today in the game of the day in Lambeau.
Cowboys and the points.