The Sterling 2nd Half Index

As noted Yankeeologist Dr. Albert Einstein once said, "Baby, de' chalkboard don't lie."

We are witnessing the classic playoff run, the tortured climb of Mount Utica, the 1,000-mile cattle drive to the gates of West Palm Beach, the march of the wooden soldier.

Only six times since July has John failed to beat his first half average. Twice, he used performance enhancing phrases -- once, to record a Boston series sweep with a 7.73 blast; and Sunday, with a pennant-clinching 11.58-second roll that is still being digested within the scholarly confines and digital laboratories of the Yankiverse.

It's hard to imagine that just three months ago, critics openly questioned whether John had the lungs to still call nine innings. A Taliban-run society might have pulled him from the Loews Broadcast Booth and hung his tongue from the centerfield scoreboard. No, he never did find a HR call for Jerry Hairston, who graciously chose not to hit home runs. But John has proven his doubters wrong.

This could be not only John's greatest season, but the greatest home team announcer season in history. He is the Lou Gehrig of Yankee voices. His love and admiration of Derek Jeter outshines Mel Allen's heartfelt lust for Mickey Mantle. But danger lurks: It was Mel who couldn't handle the staggering Yankee defeat of 1963, when the Drysdale-Koufax death machine cut down our boys, and Mel called in sick, unable to speak in the final innings of Game 4.

John survived the collapse of 2004. He can survive anything. It's written in the chart.