After 32 years, soggy Yanks come crawling home to the 'Cuse

True story, I think: In the mid-80s, a buddy of mine claimed he met George Steinbrenner one night at Vernon Downs, eyeing the horses, and bought the Boss a drink. George was so shocked that somebody else would grab the tab that he sat down and proceeded to get pie-eyed. At one point, my friend asked if he'd ever bring the Yanks' Triple A team back to Syracuse. George said, "Hell, no, absolutely not, never."

That's a story you couldn't print. But, hey! this is the Internet. Maybe it's true? Close enough. Go with it.

Wherever he is these days, I hope George is happy and pie-eyed and unaware that his Triple A team will be playing home games in the Emerald City once again, 32 years later.

The reason: Global Warming. Every time it rains, the Anthracite Capital of the World faces its own private Katrina. The outfield is Lake Pontchartrain. The field must rest on a giant Tupperware bowl. Either that, or they've gotta stop letting outfielders pee in the grass.

That means Shelley, Kei and the exiled children of the corn -- Frankie and Ramiro -- will hit Syracuse Saturday and Sunday. (Still working on attendance plans. An IIH event Saturday?)

The new Syracuse motto...

IT IS DRY, IT IS CLEAR, IT IS... LAWN!