By Mark La Monica
Vendors tossing bags of peanuts and crackerjacks into the stands and not asking for money in return. Bob Sheppard being heard and not seen. Robert Merrill singing the national anthem (previously recorded, of course).
Hey, maybe this new Yankee Stadium thing won't be so upsetting after all.
But as Gov. George Pataki, Mayor Mike Bloomberg and 1,134 other local politicians recounted their favorite tales of going to Yankee Stadium -- the one they still play in on 161 Street and River Avenue -- today at the ground breaking for the new stadium -- the one they'll begin play in 2009 in Macombs Dam Park -- the accoutrements of a sunny summer morning lost their appeal.
Is this really such a good thing for Yankee fans? Are we so willing to throw away the Stadium we've all come to love for the moments it has provides us in our lives. If you look closely, Joe Girardi's triple off Greg Maddux in Game 6 of the 1996 World Series is still rolling around out there in right-centerfield.
When George Steinbrenner first yanked up a few inches of ceremonial dirt with his shiny new shovel, I saw myself sitting in Row W of the upper deck on Don Mattingly Day.
When Steinbrenner and the rest of the photo op-crazed politicians lifted a second scoop of dirt, I recalled sitting two boxes to the left of Rudy Giuliani when Tim Raines, Derek Jeter and Paul O'Neill went back-to-back-to-back in Game 1 of the 1997 ALDS against Cleveland. I still remember the shirt I wore that night.
That third scoop hurt as I clearly viewed a Mark La Monica frozen on the Diamond Vision screen on his 11th birthday. I remember that shirt, too. (Aqua blue golf shirt and white pants. Hey, we were all dorks at that age.)
And the fourth hoisting of dirt in the air? That was seven playings of "New York, New York" before leaving my seat after the Game 5 win over Oakland in the 2001 ALDS. Restaurant friend Rob and Consultant friend Jay can testify to that. Artist-in-Italy friend Jenny still talks about the voicemail I left her that night.
Change and progress are inevitable in this world. They bring the promise of a better tomorrow and hope for the future and all those catch phrases politicians love to throw around when a podium is put in front of them and they know the media is listening and taking pictures.
Embracing change is a good thing. Just not this time.
I love Yankee Stadium just the way it is. From the lack of luxury boxes to the lack of modern amenities. It's called "character." Thse little quirks that make a place feel like home. It's like that old barbecue in the backyard that only Dad knows how to light. You don't question why it's like that, you only know that is and you accept it and revel in it.
I don't need wide-open concourses so I can watch every pitch live while trying to buy a hot dog at the concession stand. Part of the fun of going to a game is trying to guess which top half of an inning will be uneventful enough to miss live in pursuit of ballpark fare. Besides, the TVs at the concession stands are just fine.
I don't need a Yankee Hall of Fame and Museum in addition to Monument Park. Just seeing Donnie Baseball's retired number on the wall in left field is enough for me.
I want to sit awkwardly just to feel comfortable in the hard plastic seats from 30 years ago. Leg room? Ha! That just gets us farther away from the field.
No doubt, this new Yankee Stadium will be a beautiful place, a new "American monument" as MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said at today's ground breaking. But it's going to be really, really weird. And it won't feel like home for a long time.
And if the Yankees somehow reconcile with themselves to sell naming rights to the new stadium, good luck enjoying a night at "Netflix presents Yankee Stadium Part III with Special Features."
It's not about the money (Ha, that's funny!) associated with a new stadium. Those who complain about increased ticket and concession prices are just whining for the sake of whining. If you really want to go to the game, you'll save some money or pinch elsewhere and go.
I'll be more than happy to pay the increased prices in 2009. I just prefer it to be at the old Yankee Stadium.
Comments (4)
Even though I'm a New York sports fan living in Massachusetts, I was at the closing ceremony for the old Boston Garden, considered by many to be the NBA's answer to Yankee Stadium. I've since been in the "Fleet Center," now known as the "TD Bank North Garden," which was built right next door to the old Garden site. Like Yankee Stadium, the Boston Garden had all those championships ... that mytique ... that aura ... those ghosts. The TD Bank North Garden has none of those. They took the wrecking ball to the Garden, and it's never been the same since. Whatever you do, don't knock down the old stadium -- I'm sure a small fortune could be made just keeping it alive as a museum and shrine, if nothing else.
Great piece! Yes, I have so many special, fond memories in Yankee Stadium. Went to my first game with my Dad there in July, 1977 and saw Ron Guidry mow down George Brett and the Kansas City Royals (The Royals were a big rival back then). I was there for Game One of the 1981 World Series and saw Nettles make a patented Greg Nettles Third Base fielding gem, saw Bob Watson hit a three run homer in the first inning. I was there in 1997 for the Raines-Jeter-O'Niell Back to Back to Back. I was there in 1998 for Tino's Grand Slam in Game One of the World Series, as well as Game Five of the 2001 World Series for Paulie's thank you send off in the top of the ninth inning. I go to about thirty games a year and love every inch of this Yankee Stadium: small seats, long concession lines, little leg room etc. Now that they have broken ground for a new stadium I miss the old Stadium already. I feel as if one of my granparents has been told they don't have much time to live, so now I want to cherish every moment I can and store those memories forever. I sincerely hope naming rights are NOT sold to the new Yankee Stadium when it opens in 2009. The Duetche Bank Yankee Stadium or Donald Trump Inc. Yankee Stadium just will not do it for me (or many others I assume). At least keep one tradition alive forever - the name itself - Yankee Stadium - because that is the most appropriate name for the place where the greatest sports franchise there ever was - or will ever be - should always play there home games.
I've had a hard time with this myself. All I can say is, "If it's OK by Yogi then it's OK by me".
Anyway, I'm pretty sure the Yanks will fleece us all of more than a couple hundred bucks each by selling off parts of the old Stadium bit by bit. Who am I kidding? I'll be first in line to buy some too.
I'll some up every "Anti-New stadium" article post in 3 words "We fear change".
You can't CAN'T seriously think that everything last forever, even Yankee Stadium. It's either get a new stadium now, or get a new stadium in 50 years when the old one collapses. In 2040, be happy that while Wrigley and Fenway are decaying and falling down, the New Yankee Stadium will be up and thriving.
If it were up to NYers, we'd all still be driving around in horses-and-buggys. Join the 21th century old people. (I can't wait til flying cars are invented and New York is the last city to embrace them.) Progress happens, deal with it or become hilbillies.