So it comes as no surprise that a franchise forged from pure, felony-grade hate cannot even get along with the city it is supposed to represent. After all, it's baseball's grand tradition to hold towns hostage until every last dime has been squeezed from the taxpayers. It's especially fun to see it happen in a state that gave the world Curt Schilling and Sheriff Joe. So, on that note, suck on this, 'Zona...
Seeking relief to look at alternative stadium options or partnerships, the Arizona Diamondbacks filed suit today in Maricopa County Superior Court against the Maricopa County Stadium District.
"It is extremely unfortunate that we have been forced to take action today following several years of attempts to resolve this matter out of court," D-backs managing general partner Ken Kendrick said in a statement. "We have made a promise to our fans, who have been partners with us on the building of this stadium and our franchise, to provide the best experience in all of baseball in a safe and welcoming environment. The inability of the Maricopa County Stadium District to fulfill its commitments has left us with no other option."
Yep, the D-Backs are suing to slither out of their commitment to stay, because it's only been 18 years since the taxpayers built them a stadium, and the park needs $135 million in repairs. (They made the toilets out of paper machete, and the phone lines were installed by Mariah Carey's sound people.) Obviously, the dispute is more complicated - lawyers v. lawyers, snakes v. snakes - and both sides are screaming foul. But fight this was one of those historical events that absolutely needed to happen - you know, like Van Morrison singing with the Band at The Last Waltz. Some fates cannot be denied.
Speaking of The Last Waltz, when we lost that 2001 series, the greatest Yankee run of my adult life ended. Considering the rule changes and our owner's zeal to be liked by his peers, I doubt we'll ever win four out five again. One of the greatest teams in history, and they ridiculed it by playing our victory song. Nope. I won't forget. And every year that Arizona misses another post-season, and every time one of their suburbs burns to the ground in a wildfire, I'll thank my stars for being a Yankee fan, and for not growing up with iguanas as playmates. Arizona hates their stadium? Good God, they hate life.
It was particularly heinous considering the shock of September 11 and what that Yankees team actually meant to the city. I suspect that even die-hard Yankees haters in Boston were even pulling for us to assuage their collective guilt. I will never forget that post season. D-backs were, and continue to be, classless pissants.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm just a sunshiney Pollyanna, but I remember this incident and, at the time, I was confused. I'm still not totally sure that it was a snarky snub. I mean, this was right after 9/11, and America had New York fever. We were suddenly lovable and huggable. I really don't think anyone back then would've played "New York, New York" as a horribly sarcastic finger in the eye, although given the Series outcome it sure could've been. There was just so much good will toward the city at that point, though, I wondered then and wonder now if it wasn't some kind of tribute, that should have and never was explained by the Dbacks.
ReplyDeleteCan such evil truly exist in the world of baseball? Selig and Schilling aside, of course.
I REMEMBER HEARING MARK GRACE'S SPEECH AT THAT PARADE.....HE MADE MY BLOOD BOIL....HE WAS TALKING LIKE A WWE WRESTLER....I TURNED OFF THE TV, AND CURSED.
ReplyDeleteYou are a better man than me, John M!
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ReplyDeleteTwo friends and I once flew to Atlanta to watch my friend's oldest son graduate from Airborne School at Fort Benning. While we were there, we caught 2 Braves / SF Giants games.
We got to see Tim Lincecum pitching for SF. These were the days when Lincecum was in full unhittable mode. Apparently, by the sensibilities of the Atlantans, he was also in full hippie mode, due to his long flowing hair.
On this particular night, Lincecum didn't have it and he struggled. He was visited on the mound a couple of times by the pitching coach, several times by the catcher, and twice by the manager, after which he was pulled.
Every time there was a mound conference, the Braves organist played "Puff the Magic Dragon" to let everyone know that long-haired hippie freaks like Lincecum enjoy smoking marijuana. The first time the organist played it, it was mildly amusing, and perhaps the second. After 4-5 times, it was annoying and stupid. After 6-7 times, it was just insulting.
When the SF manager finally pulled him for a reliever, the organist was drowned out by the stadium speakers blaring Roy Rogers singing "Happy Trails to You". All the Atlantans around us guffawed at that.
While I'm not sure it was the Braves' intent, I came away with the observation that Southerners have hatred of people who aren't like them down to a science.
Contrast the snakes' behavior with that of the Chicago fans: I was lucky enough to be at the first two games after 9/11, in US Cell, wearing my full Yankee regalia. The people treated me very kindly, some of them went so far as to say "we're all New Yorkers right now", and the like (I came in from Michigan, not NY, but they didn't know that). Best of all, Clemens drove all the way up from TX to pitch that second game, and didn't pitch like a guy that had driven all those hours; Jeets had two jacks - - the second one, a towering flyball that landed way back in the LF seats - - I jumped up & down, cheering, and the Sox fans cheered,too - - shows what a difference it can make if your Sox are White, rather than red (or yellow, like the snakes' oughta' be. Anyway, that was the second-most memorable game I have attended (the first being when the Mick, playing LF in Comiskey, turned and said "hi" to me, when I cheered him during the warm-ups. LB (no J) (just to distinguish myself from the most admirable personage who wrote in just above me - - for whom I only say, he's "no Jerk", either.
ReplyDeleteone of these days, LBJ will need to tell us the etiology of his handle. and the profile picture! Uffta!!
ReplyDeleteJohn M makes a good point. There is the possibility that it was to honor the Yankees and the city of NY for such a great series...one that they won, especially after losing so bad in games 4, and 5. Maybe they would have played that song even if it was a 1, 2, 3 ninth. I guess we'll never know for sure...that being said, I had just moved out here from staten island the year before, and that bottom 9th inning made me PUKE! I was pissed, and had the same reaction as Duque...I always laugh when you post about it because living out here, I get the feeling I was the only one who was outraged by it, and didn't think anyone else even noticed that move. Now, as to what's going on at Chase field, I've got no idea, because I haven't been there since the last time the Yanks were in town. It is sad that they've been there 18 years and the park is falling apart already, but then, they are the D-Bags, so screw em!
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