The big question tonight at Yankee Stadium will be whether
or not we Yankee fans should/will boo Robinson Cano. During the offseason, Cano went with the
money and signed with the Seattle Mariners and spurned the franchise that helped
to grow and develop him. It was ironic
and lead many a Yankee fan to repeat Batman’s best line in the Dark Knight Rises, “so that’s how that
feels” (the gruffness of the reading may vary from person to person). Stealing homegrown players from other
franchises is our thing and boy does it feel pretty bad when it happens to
us. So tonight when Cano enters the
batter’s box as an opponent rather than a friend in pinstripes the question of
what to do emerges. Should he be cheered,
booed, or just stared at quietly? For
the answer to this question and possibly more, I invite you to follow me to the
next paragraph.
Oh hello, I didn’t notice you here for a second. My, you truly do look great! How long has it been? Since last paragraph? Why it’s been far too long. Okay, okay back to the question of how to
react when Robinson Cano enters the batter’s box. Now the rational fan or Gallant will cheer
politely for Cano thanking him for his nine great seasons as a Yankee. The man was a great cog in the puzzle from
2005-2009 and became the team’s best hitter from 2010 to 2013. Hell, last year he was the only thing keeping
the team afloat. But the rational fan is
only fun to deal with when you need to win an argument or are dealing with a
fan more obnoxious than yourself. The
obnoxious fan or Goofus will boo the shit out of Cano until he collapses into
the fetal position in the batter’s box realizing he’s made a huge mistake (I’ve
called the Yankee organization and suggested they roll G.O.B. saying that every
time Cano enters the box). Being
obnoxious at a sporting event is too much fun to pass up. How many times in real life can you boo
somebody for doing something you yourself would have done (taking the money)? Sure I think the notion of being a “true
Yankee” is ridiculous but if I were at the game you can guarantee I’d be
shouting that old axiom in Cano’s general direction. If there is one thing growing up during the
Bush Presidency has taught me, it is that being an idiot can be a hell of a lot
of fun.
Plus, obnoxious fans are what add that extra layer of excitement
to a game. When I went to a Yankee-Met
game last year the only worthwhile part was when a Yankee fan threw his drink
at the legion of Mets fans sitting below us.
Sure it was mean, petty, and disgraceful, but it was the only highlight
after a night of watching the Yankees get massacred. Sometimes that obnoxiousness is all the fan
has left. Plus we’re New Yorkers and damn
proud of it. Being obnoxious jerks to
our opponents and our own team is our MO (for the own team part I direct you to
the 2013-2104 Knicks). I’d be
disappointed if we didn’t boo and be general hypocrites about the whole chasing
the money thing. This sort of obnoxious New
York passion is missing from the new Yankee Stadium five years in. When you attend a game nowadays, the stands
are half full and half the people there are in suits. The yelling isn’t as loud and the dirty
chants aren’t as dirty. I’m hoping that
Robinson Cano’s return ignites some of the passion that has been lost in Yankee
Stadium. Let Robinson Cano get a mixed
reaction or let it be 2/3 boos and a 1/3 cheers, the actual fractional break
down doesn’t matter (but it should be at least 51% boos). I just hope the stadium is alive with the
energy that used to consume it on a daily basis. I also hope Cano doesn’t hit a home run in
his first at bat because that would suck.
I just want to see Cano ground out to the second baseman and see how
hard he runs it out with all of Yankee Stadium glaring at him. Now that will be exciting.
No comments:
Post a Comment