Former Yankees manager Joe Torre was in town to push his new (and #1 on Amazon) book about his time with the Yankees, aptly titled, The Yankee Years. At the Barnes & Noble where he signed copies for fans, Torre downplayed the controversy surrounding the tome, telling reporters, "It's the most memorable time of my career. There were good years and bad years - but even the bad years weren't too bad."
To celebrate tomorrow's final game at Yankee Stadium, the team will allow fans to walk on the field before the game. The grass and infield will be off limits, but fans can stroll along the warning track, behind home plate and even on the remains of one fan who recently found a new home there. The stadium will have a huge police presence tomorrow to stop fans from pocketing handfuls of dirt that are expected to be auctioned off like many of the souvenirs from Shea that have already hit the market.
Rangel claims that he just discovered the errors and that once an accounting expert performs a "thorough, independent review," he will publicly release his tax returns from the past 20 years. Rangel continues to defend himself that since these are all errors of omission that he has "done nothing to dishonor myself, my colleagues, or this House." He also refuses to entertain the idea that he will have to step down as chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.
Cuban president Fidel Castro resigned his position after nearly 50 years of rule. The 81-year-old Castro has been battling illness since 2006, notably turning over power to his brother Raul and other ministers temporarily. Though he was still ruling after his 2006 surgery, Castro was little seen. Now it is expected that Castro's resignation positions Raul Castro, 76, in line for the presidency.
With some of his current Yankees teammates on hand, Andy Pettitte addressed the media in Florida this afternoon. Pettitte, who previously admitted using Human Growth Hormone in 2002 and again in 2004, apologized to the Yankees, Astros, and his fans for the "embarrassment" he caused. Pettitte said, "I want to apologize to the New York Yankees and Houston Astros organizations, their fans, my teammates and all baseball fans for the embarrassment I have caused them. I also want to tell anyone who is an Andy Pettitte fan that I am sorry."
Derek Jeter's mom is claiming that her son wouldn't cheat on his taxes, days after the NY State Dept. of Taxation and Finance claimed that the Yankees captain owed the state hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars in back taxes. Jeter says that his primary residence is in Florida, which doesn't have a state income tax. He does, however, live in the Trump World Plaza building on 1st Ave., across from the United...
It looks like Alex Rodriguez is set to come back as a member of the New York Yankees...and for less money than what they were rumored to be offering before. The former Yankees 3rd baseman is reportedly hammering out a 10-year, $275 million contract with the Yankees. Sources tell the Daily News that a deal could actually be worked out in the next 24-28 hours. So much for the 10-year, $350 million offer the Yankees...
Stating that “this is about being a New York Yankee again today,” and proclaiming, “I expect to be in the Fall Classic next October,” Joe Girardi met the media as the next manager of the New York Yankees today. Girardi sought to differentiate himself from his predecessor saying, “I am going to be myself. There are expectations on me and my coaching staff, the same that were on Joe Torre when he came in...
Former Yankees shortstop and long-time announcer for the team Phil Rizzuto died this morning at the age of 89. Rizzuto played his entire professional baseball career with the New York Yankees after being selected by the team as an amateur free agent in 1937. He wouldn't play his first major league game with the Yanks until 1941, but then served as shortstop for 13 seasons, during which the Bronx Bombers won 10 Pennants and 8 World Series Championships.
If you're itching for some baseball during this season's All-Star break, and hate the Yankees too much to endure a rebroadcast of last night's premiere of The Bronx is Burning, The New York Sun recommends an HBO documentary on the Brooklyn Dodgers that will premiere tomorrow night. "Brooklyn Dodgers: The Ghosts of Flatbush" chronicles a decade of seasons (plus one) for the team and the borough it belonged to, from 1947 to 1957.
The Copacabana, perhaps best known as the muse for Barry Manilow's song of the same name, is closing this weekend (the papers are reporting last night, however their website has a flyer for a Last Dance, tonight).
In October 1977, Howard Cosell leaned into his announcer's microphone and intoned to the worldwide audience watching the World Series, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Bronx is burning." He was reporting yet another burning building marring the NYC skyline from his vantage point at Yankee Stadium. His line would eventually become the partial title of a superb book written by Jonathan Mahler: Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning: 1977, Baseball, Politics, and the Battle for the Soul of a City.
Yankees fans can now rejoice, because Roger Clemens is returning to the New York Yankees. The 44-year old right-hander, who last pitched for the Houston Astros last season, announced his plans to the crowd during the 7th inning stretch of today's Yankees-Mariners game (audio from WCBS), "Well, they came and got me out of Texas. I can tell you, it's a privilege to be back. I'll be talking to y'all soon." How surprising was the announcement? When Clemens left his house this morning, his wife knew, but not his children. Clemens, who has come out of retirement several times, last pitched for the Yankees in 2003. While with the Yankees, Clemens won two World Series rings, in 1999 and 2000. Last season, he was 7-6 with a 2.30 ERA in 19 starts with the Astros.
A look at some noteworthy television this week:
Illinois Senator Barack Obama was in New York yesterday as speculating about the 2008 Presidential race started to reach a fever pitch (or as much of a fever pitch as possible this early on). He spoke at a fundraiser for Kids in Distressed situations, saying, "We have an empathy deficit. It's time for a sense of empathy to infuse our politics in America. It is time to stop making excuses for inaction." The Daily News reports his speech "invoked [Robert] Kennedy's famous 1967 trip to Mississippi to expose the horrors of child poverty in America" - which one person thought was a "cheap shot. You don't start your campaign on the mantle of someone else's success." The NY Times notes that while Obama got two standing ovations, "his performance was not flawless: at one point he referred to 'Jose' Posada of the New York Yankees instead of Jorge." And Posada happened to be one of the fundraiser's honorees and was sitting at Obama's table!
When the dust cleared after the elections on Tuesday, the Democrats were the last party standing. Even in a blue-leaning state like New York, Democrats had to play hard in their quest to dominate the old boys' club known as the Republican party. As Dems claimed victory in every state race, Republicans retreated and joined the ranks of some other New York losers.
the "Hit Man." Gothamist reader Matt sent over a link to this poster to us. It seems like it's about 20 years old. The text of the poster (click the image enlarge) reads "Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees, 1985 American League MVP and Converse. The shoes he wears every time he makes a hit." His gun? A silver bat. His ammo? Baseballs. Watch out!
- Hey, wacky junkie Jewels, last seen on the ground in the NY Times, talks to the Village Voice!
Of course, all of Steinbrenner's ranting about his players reminds us of Larry David's portrayal of The Boss in Seinfeld. And to think that on the show he once said, "chaos does not work for the New York Yankees! Not as long as I'm running the show!" Then again, with Steinbrenner, it's not chaos, just him interfering and meddling in his attempts to get a winning team.
like Gothamist loves the runs. "Welcome to New York" is what a CBS cameraman said to the newest member of the New York Yankees yesterday after Randy Johnson refused to be videotaped. Newsday has screengrabs of mildly entertaining video. The last thing Johnson said to the camera was, "Don't get in my face; don't talk back to me...all right? Or you'll see what I'm like." Yikes! At least the Big Unit cleaned up for New York, no more mullet, no more 'stache or goatee, but still wearing a sweat suit. In Johnson's apology, he said that "the past few days have been a bit overwhelming."
NYC will lose about $40 million due to the loss of economy of not having the World Series. And Mets fans are a bit gleeful. And the folks at Mickey Mantle's restaurant have - gasp - temporarily renamed their establishment "Ted Williams'". No joke - we saw it on Fox 5. A pyschologist tells the Post that Yankees fans should not wallow in sadness but rather go outdoors, go to the gym, have a cup of tea to relax; the shrink is from L.A., so Gothamist has our own suggestions for Yankees fans: Support the St. Louis Cardinals, though wearing red could be confusing (Red Sox and Cardinals seem different, but we don't know their Pantone colors). Rent The Pride of the Yankees, which shows it's not just about winning - it's about surviving. Pray Steinbrenner and Cashman make some good moves and not just add more $$$ to payroll. Think football, with the Jets and Giants doing well so far.
If you asked Jeremy Bonderman to hold the Yankees to four hits after seven innings, he probably would have told you he would be winning the game when he was replaced. Unfortunately, those four hits were all solo home runs by the New York Yankees and ended up being the difference in the 5-1 Yankee win.
Erik Bedard and the Baltimore bullpen, led by newly acquired and former Yankee Jason Grimsley, held the Bronx Bombers to two runs and seven hits. Miguel Tejada led the way for the Orioles going 3-5 with four RBI.
As if Mayor Bloomberg didn't have enough problems, New Yorkers are doubting his loyalty to the New York Yankees, as he is a Massachusetts native. Gothamist would like to see his poll numbers broken down by Yankees fans, Mets fans, Giants fans, Jets fans, Knicks fans, and disaffected sports ignorami from this point forward. [Actually, we'd really like to see voter breakdowns between those who watch Law & Order, Sex and the City, and Curb Your Enthusiasm (L.A., aka Crazyland, but Larry David's jerkiness rings true to his New York roots), but don't know if Bloomby's pollsters would want to bother.] But Mayor Bloomberg did make a "friendly wager" with Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino about the American League Championship Series, and Bloomby's speechwriters are pretty good:
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