In recent years, the Yankee Radio Network, driven by Jeep, on WCBS, failed its listening base by running the opening theme music WITHOUT the brazen, drum-beating Yankee lyrics. In fact, it's been so long since the show began with the rousing sounds of human voices, I had even forgotten what a true Yankee opening theme song should sound like. (Thanks for reminding me, J.E.)
But now, with the Yankee radio broadcasts switching to WFAN, a major question looms...
WILL THE YANKEES RESTORE THE LYRICS TO THE OPENING OF EACH BROADCAST? WILL WE AGAIN HEAR THE VOICES OF A YANKEE MALE CHORUS, HERALDING THE ARRIVAL OF JOHN AND SUZYN?
Remember the way it was?
That classic will be replaced by a new ditty composed by JZ.
ReplyDeleteWFAN and WCBS are both owned by CBS, so I doubt that anything will change.
ReplyDeleteThings sure changed for the Mets.
ReplyDeleteI miss Frank Messer
ReplyDeleteI always thought that Messer was a mediocrity--all oleaginous announcer mannerisms, no real spark or uniqueness or soul. Rizzuto was always fun, Bill White was a consummate professional, and of course Mel Allen was incomparable.
ReplyDeleteThe Yankees keep on Sterling and Waldman for the same reason that they keep on Cashman and the rest of the front-office incompetents--Big Daddy George like them, and his sons follow his Mafioso management style--ass-kissing and personal loyalty trump competence on every level.
That's why the Yankees are on a steep slide to oblivion.
No they keep Sterling because we can only handle so much change at once. You're a fan of the familiar, like I am. If we lose mariano, jeter, AND everything familiar about the broadcast at once it'll be like the Yankees aren't the Yankees and why am I spending three hours a day with strangers? That's why I'm glad they keep Gardner, why I don't miss Cano, and do miss Swisher.
ReplyDeleteYou have explained MAYBE why they keep Sterling NOW. But your reasoning does not explain why they have kept him for a quarter century, despite his manifest incompetence and grating megalomania. That fealty has more to do with George's attachments than with any more conceivably rational account. The now-routine renewal of Waldman defies any rational explanation.
ReplyDeleteBy the way--I assume that most of the readers of this blog are too young to have heard much of Mel Allen's work in his prime. Here's a snippet from the 1961 World Series:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGQZSO8XthQ
More complete samples of his work are available on the DVDs of Larsen's perfect game in 1956, the seventh game of the 1960 World Series, and all seven games of the 1952 World Series.