Speaking of Traitors…
We New Yorkers have a serious love-hate relationship with our former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. There’s of course 9-11. And on the flip-side, there’s 9-11 and his insistence on reminding us all about 9-11 and what he had done on 9-11 and after 9-11 and to 9-11.
But this is damned unforgivable.
Even though many New Yorkers are still mourning the Yankees’ defeat by the Cleveland Indians two weeks ago during the playoffs, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani today declared his allegiance to Boston Red Sox, and said he’d root for them in the World Series against the Colorado Rockies.
“I’m rooting for the Red Sox,” the Republican presidential contender said in response to a question, sparking applause at the Boston restaurant where he was picking up a local endorsement.
We understand the importance of pandering to an audience on the campaign trail. In Indiana, you should say how much you love Larry Bird and John Mellencamp. While in California, you’re a huge Magic Johnson fan and always admired Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg. In Iowa, all you have to do is kiss babies with a gun in your hand. We’re OK with that, I think.
But rooting for the Red Sox when you claim to be the biggest Yankee fan? Just because you want to please some people in Boston? Somehow, I sincerely doubt Giuliani was jumping up and down in his seat during the 2004 World Series.
You sir, have simply crossed the line.
October 11th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
If you look at the final standings, *per division*, and then note each team’s payroll, I think you’ll conclude that:
1 – Generally, yes, higher payroll correlates with higher *divisional* standing. This year four out of six divisions reflect that.
2 – The White Sox, Dodgers and Giants are this year’s outliers with their under-achievement. These teams along with your #23, #25, and #26 share the AL Central and NL West.
All this might be besides the point, but I think in a 162 game season, payroll counts for something.
In the end though, baseball’s six division structure along with a dynamic October playoff leaves the door wide open for teams like the Rockies to win the whole thing.
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October 11th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Paul, the lesson here is that spending a lot of money will often get you to the playoffs (see: Cubs, Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, Phillies), but once you get to the playoffs, it’s a total crapshoot. Especially in a five game series.
The other lesson, of course, is that having a high payroll is no substitute for smart personnel decisions.
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October 11th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
There was an interesting article on SI.com debunking the notion that a 5-game series is a crapshoot. Since I had heretofore supported that notion, it really made me stop and think. Over the history of 5-game playoff series, only a small percentage have gone to a full five games and a large number do end in three-game sweeps.
Here’s the link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jacob_luft/10/09/things.learned/index.html?eref=sixtra_newsletter
There’s no doubt that the Indians have done a great job locking up guys like Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez. Nevertheless, Sabathia and Blake (I think) only have one year left on their contracts, and Nixon, Lofton, Byrd, Borowski, and Gomez are free agents after this season. I feel pretty good about the Red Sox fielding a competitive team for the next several years to come, but if the Indians want to win their first championship since 1948 and don’t want to spend a lot of money, they should win this year.
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October 11th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Sarah, I can’t tell if you’re serious. Nixon, Lofton, Byrd, Gomez and Borowski are free agents? oh no! How ever will the Indians replace them?
Lofton, for one, wasn’t even on the team for most of this season, so the idea that Cleveland couldn’t win the division w/o him is obviously flawed.
And I don’t know how the Indians will replace Trot Nixon and his .251 avg., 3 HR, and 31 RBI. Or Paul Byrd and his 4.59 ERA and 1.39 WHIP? Or Borowski and his 5.07 ERA?
Let’s be serious. Cleveland needs to sign C.C. to an extension. And maybe Casey Blake. But the rest of those guys can and should be replaced.
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October 11th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Yeah, they should be replaced, but they’ve somehow all come together to get the Indians this far, right? And it’s a lot of work to replace five guys! Not only could these guys be gone at the end of the season, what are the odds that such a motley crew could ever achieve these heights again?? Clearly the Indians must capitalize now.
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October 23rd, 2007 at 8:32 pm
So his follow up sentence means nothing?
“I’m an American League fan, and I go with the American League team, maybe with the exception of the Mets,” he said. “Maybe that would be the one time I wouldn’t because I’m loyal to New York.”
Cmon, this is like picking the team in a Super Bowl you have nothing invested in. It’s more fun to watch if you have a side to root for.
Though I’d probably still root against the Yankees.
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October 23rd, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Rich, please. If you’re a Yankees fan and the Red Sox are in the World Series, you don’t root FOR anyone. You simply root AGAINST the Red Sox. Whether they get beaten by the NL team or by act of God makes no difference, as long as they are humiliated.
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October 23rd, 2007 at 8:58 pm
BTW, I’m loving that right now the Google advertisement located at the bottom of this post is for Fred Thompson 2008.
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October 23rd, 2007 at 10:44 pm
As a citizen of Boston, I reject Mr. Giuliani’s pandering. I’m not fooled, Rudy! Now you just lose points for being two-faced or, even worse, a dread FLIP-FLOPPER. Did you vote for the Red Sox before you voted against them??
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October 24th, 2007 at 8:36 am
See, Coley. That’s been my experience with Red Sox fans, but Yankee fans have usually expressed agressive indifference towards the Sox and their fans. I don’t recall hearing about “Varitek is a little bitch” or “Lugo sucks, Drew swallows” tshirts. Actually, I think that last one might have been for sale on Yawkey Way until recently.
Besides, if loyalty to a certain sports team is honestly affecting anyone’s vote for the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, they need to reexamine their politics.
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October 24th, 2007 at 9:18 am
I dunno, Rich.
I kind of like my presidents to not be Evil.
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