On the Yankees beat

On the stadium issues...
Here's a quick question:

Would you rather have a great stadium name or a great stadium?

I thought stadium names like Veterans Stadium, Candlestick Park, Three Rivers Stadium, Riverfront Stadium, Stade Olympique were all great.

Some honored history, some honored geography, some were named after the quirky landscape and all names reflected their cities.

I saw a game in each one of those stadiums
Guess what?

They were AWFUL places to see a ballgame.
Each one was worse than the last.
No place was worse than Stade Olympique in Montreal but Candlestick (aka the Stick) was pretty awful.

Now there are stadium names like Citizens Bank Park, AT&T Park, PNC Park etc...
Cold corporate and bank names.

Guess what? Those stadiums are GREAT!
AT&T Park up here in San Francisco is as great a place to see a ball game as I have EVER been to.

And yes, it is right up there with Fenway, Yankee and Wrigley.

Forget about the name and love the experience.

Sully,

I agree with you about those parks being a great place to see a game. I've been to 2 games at "The ATT" and it's a beautiful park. The seats out in LF (upper deck) are not too cool because I couldn't see anything hit to left center that well.

You're probably right in that it's not that big a deal with the names of the parks, but I just think it's tacky. Besides, how many names has that park in SF had now?
3?

The name is part of the identity of the park along with the Coke bottle, the giant glove, McCovey Cove and the area for the kids.

Nobody ever thought of using corporate names back when those crappy stadiums were built and named or believe me, owners like Carl Pohlad would have done it.
I don't mind it when the name of the stadium is catchy, like when Bank One had the rights to Arizona's stadium "The BOB", but otherwise I like my Yankees playing in Yankee Stadium, not Snickers Stadium or Gatorade Park....nope, hate that thought. Would it stop me from going to a game? Nope.

I'd like to give a shout out to Ron Guidry for coming back to spring training this year and showing no bitterness about being fired as pitching coach, he is a very good man.

Goose team
Melky Cabrera CF = homegrown
Derek Jeter SS = homegrown
Robinson Cano 2B = homegrown
Jorge Posada C = homegrown
Shelley Duncan 1B = homegrown
Morgan Ensberg DH = FA
Wilson Betemit 3B = trade
Jason Lane LF = FA
Jose Tabata RF = home grown

Jeff Karstens P = homegrown

Gator team
Johnny Damon LF = FA
Jose Molina C = FA
Bobby Abreu RF = FA
Alex Rodriguez 3B = FA
Jason Giambi 1B =FA
Cody Ransom DH = FA
Nick Green 2B = FA
Chris Woodward SS = FA
Brett Gardner CF = homegrown

Mike Mussina P = FA

======================

I think I see a pattern. Ill be rooting for the Goose team...no particular reason..lol..I got 5 on it...takers??

As far as the park situation…Im a huge 9ers fan..OK stop laughing...Im serious, STOP! Anywho, I made a couple trips out there, soaked in the history of the place ( ugly park though ). All the championships wins for the 9ers, the field where Willie Mays roamed and the last place the Beatles played a concert in.

- In 95 they sold the rights to 3COM , 3COM park??? I WAS APPALLED!!!!
- In 2000 3COM didnt reup and the stadium was referred to as San Francisco Stadium at Candlestick Point??? Weird
- In 04 Monster Cable Products took over to rename it Monster Park….numb to it now.

So in 10 years it went from Candelstick Park or "The Stick", to 3COM, to San Francisco Stadium at Candlestick Point and now Monster Park. To the fans....was the money really worth it? The stadium owners thought so, but its a damn shame what happened. There should be a rule with older, classic stadiums when it comes to naming rights. I think, and this is my own personal opinion, that only the new parks should venture down that road.

Fenway
Yankee Stadium
Wrigley
RFK
Candlestick
Notre Dame Stadium
etc.

Should all be zoned as national parks, no naming rights allowed. I know that will never happen...but thats how I see it. Once a stadium goes down that road, there is no turning back.

Jim A..ditto on the Gator! Classy

False dichotomy, since no one has ever had to choose between a great name and a great park.

We might all agree on the great parks, but what makes a great name?

To me, first rank goes to the parks named after their teams. Close behind are those with a name commemorating some aspect of team history, and still very much worth preserving are names that are tied to the community or location of the team/park.

Extra points for being the original name of the park, partial extra points for every decade that it's stayed unchanged.

Fifty-seventh: any corporate name.

At least when it's your own name any embarrassments are your own as well.

Remember Enron's sign being ripped down in disgrace?

Not a great moment for fans...

The cops are looking for Scott Speizio.....Hey Ant- do you think the Cards are worse than the Yanks now? Let me outline your next post:

Speizio wanted by cops....six charges...SIX!
LaRussa drunk....what message does that send?
Dead pitcher...drinking in the clubhouse, then dying on the road.
Rolen hates LaRussa, traded for a steroid user

hahahahahah.....just having fun w/ ya Ant, but I did tee it up for you and since we're talking about your hometown Cards and all...

Jim,

As long as it wasn't David Eckstein, I'll live on another day!

Come on this is not even an argument.

"Citi Field" vs. "Yankee Stadium"

"Lincoln Financial" vs. "Giants Stadium"

"Minute Maid Park vs. "Camden Yards"

...Wrigley Field

...Soldier Field

...The Super Dome

...Lambeau the list goes on you know em when you hear em.

For Sully and Cas...

Yes "Fenway" is also one of a few dying classics as well.

Well,

Maybe it's because I was born, raised, and still live in Maine, therefore I dont feel the "connection" like a Bostonian..but as "classic" as Fenway is..and I DO love going there.....my heart would not be broken if the Sox built a new state of the art stadium that held 50K+.

With Yankee Stadium being torn down and made into parking lot in the very near future, I dont get the "tradition" argument regarding YS either.

We're talking names Cas...

The new stadium name will still be "Yankee Stadium" and that to me is important.

Same as "Giants Stadium"

Fenway I guess because it's not the Team's name would maybe be a different story.

I'm not sure if the Sox built a new state of the art stadium that it would be right to name it Fenway Park unless of course it stands on the same grounds that Fenway stands now. I've heard that it's impossible though and that's why they still play to a capacity just over 1200 people hah.

Redsox tickets are insane and that's a Yankee fan who knows how insane our prices are.

BTW, the worst stadium I ever attended to watch a ball game was the Old Yankee Stadium. There was an 8 foot wide column with seats behind it. They were spread throughout the lower level seats, seats that were in the premium class. From where I sat you couldn't see the first baseman. You had to listen to the crowd to know if the guy was out or safe at first. The ceiling dripped constantly, the seats were unconfortable and the bathrooms were a wreck. I didn't hear anyone pining for the old when that stadium was remade in 1977. Even now that new stadium is probably in the bottom third to watch a game in.

PTRS,

The new sfootball stadium will not be Giants Stadium. The Giants and Jets both will own that stadium.

Also as for Fenway, Its most recognizable "tradition" the green monster was added 22 years after its construction. So I guess someone just said.........lets make a new tradition and call it the green monster.

Ant,

Any catchy names suggestions for the new stadium. You know discriptive ones like Diane wants. Say DWI Field or F-Bomb Park. How about something that reflects the history of the team in late 60's.....Swapper Stadium!!

Michael... putting The Superdome in there is a reach

First of all it sits like a giant metal zit in the middle of New Orleans.

I keep expecting it to open up and one of those walking machines from War of the Worlds to pop up

Secondly its most famous moment was being the place for rapists and thieves to terrorize after Hurricane Katrina.

Not sure if I would put that up there with Yankee Stadium, Lambeau Field, Fenway, Wrigley and Notre Dame Stadium.

Call me crazy

I am glad they are keeping the name for the new stadium.

As for sponsorships, the Yankees are not planning to sell TRADITIONAL naming rights. It's going to be called Yankee Stadium. That is true.

Nevertheless, according to the bond prospectus for the new stadium, the team's lease with New York City stipulates that the Yankees keep "all cash and receivables" related to "naming rights" and "advertising" and specifically raises the possibility of the Yankees' selling naming rights "for parts of the stadium."

In other words, fans may enter a building called Yankee Stadium but find themselves sitting in the Bank of America bleachers or purchasing snacks at the Pfizer food court.

The Yankees could collect $50 million to $75 million a year in sponsorship dough this way.

There are many ways to 'skin' the sponsorship 'cat' (with apologies to animal lovers).

I dont mean to stir the pot, but since we're talking about how gracious MLB teams are by organizing exhibition matches against colleges, I thought this would be pretty funny.

================

Forget the Phillies. Billy Wagner nearly started a beanball war with the University of Michigan after one overzealous Wolverine tried to bunt on him in the fourth inning. With a runner on second and one out, centerfielder Kevin Cislo pushed his bunt foul.

Wagner, clearly annoyed, shook his head a number of times, and Cislo wisely swung away, grounding out. Wagner said he couldn't believe that Cislo, a junior, bunted.

"If he got that bunt down, I would have drilled the next guy," Wagner said. "Play to win against Villanova."

=================

That a boy Billy, drill a 20 year old college kid. That’s the spirit of these games!!! What's the big deal with bunting anyway? What a class act.

I am not a fan of Billy Wagner but any college kid who gets a chance to take swings against a major league pitcher and bunts in a meaningless game is a coward.

A bunt isn't going to give scouts interest in you. A home run will.

Sully,

Those rapist robbery and murder stories were in fact proven to be a complete fabrication after the fact. In fact when the statistics were processed the crime rate in the Superdome during that debacle was actually LOWER than the normal rate for New Orleans.

But that Stadium is a bust either way.

Can you imagine how boring it would be if every team named their stadium after the team. Going on the Yankee road trip. First stop is Rays field then on to Red Sox Park followed by Royals Stadium and Orioles Yard. Really shows a higher level of creativity, huh?

DRU,

Your right. Right up there with throwing a busted bat at a runner.

Hey, I see where the head Cheater and Liar in charge is down in Astros camp trying to act like the solid citizen mentoring the your kids out of the goodness of his heart. Nobody seems to care about that charade however. All they want to know about is how your boy is going to respond to his potential indictment. I see Congress has determined that Cheater and Liar Junior's testimony was damning and they weren't very happy........ too bad for the cheaters.

Werent the cheaters mentoring all your young studs last year. I can imagine what kind of advice they were giving. Hey, I called Dial-A-Joke the other day and got the Yankee switchboard. They asked if I'd like to be put through to the pitching staff, the first basebmen or the front office.

So tell me again were am I wrong.

McCarthy...I agree the kid should be up there hacking, but come on though...to say he would have nailed the next kid because of a scrimmage??? A kid that had nothing to do with him bunting...IN A SCRIMMAGE????

Nudge...thats what happens with roid rage. I loved that he nailed Piazza in the head, then throws a bat at him the very next time...what does Mike do? The whole world is watching Mike...GO GET HIM!!! nope, puts his arms out with a look on his face like....hey man, what gives...lol. He wanted no part of Roger "Macho Man" Savage. He would have got jacked up. Almost a sweep...4-1.

Yeah what was worse..Clemens mentoring our young pitchers on how to work out hard ( roid or not, those workouts were sick ). Or Ricky "speak in the 3rd person" Henderson mentoring Reyes on how to be a self centered douche???

So tell me again were am I wrong?

What do you think Mets fans hate more?

A. 2 WS to 26 WS?
B. That they will always be the red headed step children of NY
C. That they suffered the worse choke 6 months ago?
D. That they have to root for an X Yankee, their manager?

Ill go with E, all of the above Chuck!

So tell me again were am I wrong?

I meant to respond earlier to whomever said that it's quite normal for teams to play college teams in exhibition games.
While that is very true, do most teams donate a million dollars to those colleges? I don't think so and I've tried to find some information on it and found none except the Yankees donation to VA Tech.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/community/mlb_spirit/index.jsp

Just a quick link to MLB site that lists the charitable thing each team in the league does. Amazingly EVERY team is listed. Imagine even the Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh teams find it in their hearts to donate to the community. As previously stated....the Yankees are doing anything unique.

I said COLLEGES, not charities. Of course every team donates to charity, hell half the players have their own foundations.
The Yankees gave a million dollars to a college that was in terrible pain (I'm an alumni) and they agreed without a moment's hesitation to play this game. The Yankees understand their popularity and what they mean to the game and to fans.

Nudge, you spend so much time combing through hairs trying to find flaws in the Yankees but this time you just need to tip your hat to them.

I'm no fan of the Steinbrenners...which can be expected as a Sox fan...but when you look beyond the game and see what George has done, you have to tip your cap. Every year when the Sox are doing the Jimmy Fund drive/telethon...George Steinbrenner is always on the "top ten" list. As far as I know there is little media fanfare regarding this act of largess. Credit should be noted where it is deserved.

Jim A,

Please do't do selective reading my posts. The same post that you challanged on the college thing also give kudos to Steinbrenner. So I acknowledged in more detail what he does. Why is giving to a college a higher calling than giving to the local community? I have done much volunteer work in local organizations that many of these clubs, including the Yankees give to and do it without much fanfare. The people they help are just as deserving of the aid as a college that has experienced a tradgedy. Many support people who are terminal or have no means to provide for their childrens health care. I didn't intend to minimize the donation but to counter the impression that the Yanks are somehow doing something unique. There is a lot of Narcissism that goes along with being a Yankee fan. Its as if the only time things are done is when the Yankees do it. At least in some fans minds.

What do you think Mets fans hate more?

A. 2 WS to 26 WS?
B. That they will always be the red headed step children of NY
C. That they suffered the worse choke 6 months ago?
D. That they have to root for an X Yankee, their manager?

Ill go with E, all of the above Chuck!

So tell me again were am I wrong?"

Sorry Dru...I cant resist...

Uh...have you forgotten 2004?

At least both "biggest chokes in sports history belong to the city of NY eh.

Not a problem Cas....the Yanks blew it big time that series, no doubt. I just like having a little fun with our Met fan.

Nudge,
You are selectively reading my post as well. I said the Yankees had donated money to a college that was hurting and in need and they stepped up. This was not just some ceremonial, "big check" philanthropic ritual, this was a team stepping in and helping out people that needed them. I was simply pointing out that no other team did as much even though several teams are geographically closer.
I am not like the Yankee fans you seem to hang around, I don't need you to be my conscience either because I realize what the Yanks do right and what they do wrong, and there is plenty to talk about on both sides. I am a lifelong fan of the team but I am not without sense, my eyes are wide open my friend.
As I said, I'm a VA Tech grad so the Yanks stepping in and helping out my school makes me feel great.

Jim A...its great to hear from an actual VT alum on the subject. Hopefully the donations can somehow help with the rebuilding of the community & school.

Hey Dru,

No worries.....I mean after all...I AM a Sox fan...so let's see...there was 1967, 1978, 1986, 1995, 2003......

You get the picture.