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Photo of Johnny Damon and other Yankees shaking the hands of Virginia Tech players in Blacksburg, VA by AP/Don Petersen
With all the talk in the past week of the Yankees' lowering themselves -- by starting a fight and by allowing a 59-year-old Billy Crystal to take an at-bat -- cynics Tuesday had a tough time knocking the Yankees down another peg. That's because the team flew up to Blacksburg, Va., site of Virginia Tech and the shootings that took place April 16, 2007. While there, players and coaches viewed the memorial and won an exhibition game against the Hokies, 11-0.
This wasn't just minor leaguers either. Every regular position player -- save Hideki Matsui -- and the backups made the trip. The only Virginia Tech students disappointed were the ones who were hoping to spy a pitcher or Jose Molina; the backup catcher had to stay back with those who needed to throw that day in Tampa, Fla. Derek Jeter posed for pictures with friends and family of the victims, including the fiancee of one who died. Alex Rodriguez spent the third inning signing autographs in the dugout with the Hokies baseball players. The Yankees wore maroon hats during batting practice and a Virginia Tech logo on their regular caps during the game. Wednesday brings the players back to the lives of multimillionaire athletes, but Tuesday's game showed a side not usually displayed by such a corporate organization.
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jeez, couldn't let the Hokies score a few?
excellent gesture on behalf of the Yanks, though.
hopefully the placement of the "Yankees ...Visit Virgina Tech" article directly above the "Juicy Campus" headline was intentional.
Wow, wonder where they all were when David Wright was having fundraisers and lending his name and physical presence right after the shootings happened.
Man, you Met fans are a twitchy lot.
Can't we just acknowledge that they're all cool guys? Jees...
Like the Yankees really give a crap. Athletes are shaken down every day by sob stories. This one at the behest of their organization. What a stupid stunt.
Here's one Met fan recognizing how cool the Yanks are for doing this.
Congrats on the Bromance, Tim! Juicycampus is certainly good for something ;)
whoops! not you Tim--i guess my glasses might be useful on this site..
Sadly, no, not me... and how do you think it felt to find out on the site that it wasn't me???? Thanks, JDS...
Matty, how could you???
Although none of the players visited the campus in the months following the tragedy like David Wright, the Yankees did donate $1 million to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund last May. This visit was just a followup to their pledge last May to play an exhibition game at VT in spring of 2008.
Sure, there were many who lent their support in the days and months after the shootings, just like the Yankees with their donation. But who's around now? Nice of the Yankees to show up a year later and let VT know they haven't been forgotten. One of the few classy moves from this offseason.
Management has a good clue on how to engender professional humanitarianism. And from my experiences, most of the Yanks are legitimately pleasant and personable people. By today's standards, pleasant behavior is the high bar.
Apart from that, I think this was a very classy move by the club.
Agreed with Booty and Tim (though I did just pull a Client 9 on your romance)
And furthermore, I think that it's still possible to try to do right despite the zeros on your paycheck. It might look more suspect, but if you have good in your heart, you'll want to do things no matter what. Likewise, if you've got tar for blood, you'll find a way out of almost anything containing a tinge of altruism.
Next up on the school shooting tour...
By beating the shit out of Virgina Tech's sad excuse for a baseball team, we're helping to close the wounds of tragedy and contribute to the healing process.
Thanks Yankees
A friend of mine plays on Vassar's baseball team, which took a trip to play Aruba's national team (with about 5 contracted players in the Seattle Mariners franchise).
Win or lose, he said, it was a fantastic experience. As a huge Yankees fan, I'm sure he'd love to throw a few home run pitches to Derek Jeter.
The Yankees are good people.
vassar has a baseball team?? what is that like division VIII?
haha--something close. i think they're D3
By beating the shit out of Virgina Tech's sad excuse for a baseball team, we're helping to close the wounds of tragedy and contribute to the healing process.
That pretty much sums it up. The Yankees have to win where they can. So far, they've managed to strike out a 60 year old comedian and beat the Hokies.
I guess that's what we have to look forward to now that they're off the juice.