2009 FINAL REPORT

  

PARADE TIME!!!!!! Congrats to the World Champion New York Yankees -- and especially to Nick Swisher, Brian Cashman, Girardi,  Matsui, Kevin Dart, Tex, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, A.J., C.C., Melky, ah hell, everybody -- even A-Rod.  New York euphoria!!!! And I'm especially happy for the next generation, especially Cervelli. And congrats to the Philadelphia Phillies, well-deserved champions of the National League, for a tough battle. 

Tomorrow at 11 a.m. EST, the boys will be serenaded with all our old Incisive Media business cards and literally tons of other recyclable paper from the highrises and low-flung buildings that abut Broadway. I cannot wait. (Now I understand why Bill wanted to move us downtown :)

I'll confess: I held my breath until Mo did his magic with that 27th out. The agony and ecstasy of beisbol is that it never over until it's over -- as in our 15 walk-off 2009 wins.

OK, I have to get it out: how delicious was it the we beat Pedro -- again! I just love our chant, "Who's Your Daddy!" -- sorry, I'm evil. And as much as it killed me not to lock it up on Game 5, how sweet to win it at home, in the first year of the new digs.

Wonder what Joe G will have to give Shelly Duncan to "buy" #28 for next year? Stay tuned!

And now, on to the tradition. My annual "highlight reel" of the season:

• Things started off glum when I got my "take it or leave it" 20-pack seat assignment back in February, just as I was about to head to Hawaii for my dad's memorial services. I'm an upper-deck-sit-with-the-rowdies gal, and I was assigned main level section 234, right next to the bleachers -- at $50 a pop.
I was not happy, but was afraid to turn them down because I would have lost all my seniority.

I decided to take a chance and e-mail my rep, Shazad Ali, but I wasn't optimistic. But by the time my plane landed in Los Angeles, I had a message from him -- I was moved to the upper deck. This would not be the last bit of amazing customer service I received this season. And ironically -- over the course of the season, not once, but twice I ended up buying seats in section 233b, which proved to be terrific fun, with a great group of folks. 

• Opening weeks! The new stadium was unveiled in two sneak preview exhibition games with the Cubs. Brad Blickstein (left) and I took in the Saturday game, which helped the Yanks work out some of the kinks (the audio system died around the 6th). Captain Sully threw out the first pitch to a loud standing O. And Mark Texeira hit two home runs as we ran roughshod over the Cubs, 10-1. 

Normally, a trip to Camden "Bronx South" Yards is just like attending a home game, only much cheaper. On any given Yanks/O's fest, you can count on about 65% Yankee fans in the stands. But not so on Opening Day 09 -- more like 10%. And poor Tex -- the Maryland crowd booed the home boy so intensely it rivaled the 2004 Yankee fans screaming to Pedro about his DNA. We got trampled, but I will never complain about any day at Camden, and the brand new Hilton across the street is awesome!

The Tampa Bay Rays' home opener, a 15-5 slapdown, would have been downright depressing if it were not for Nick Swisher -- who not only hit a home run, but took the mound to pitch a scoreless frame, including a strikeout, creating his 0.0 ERA, best of all Yankees pitchers! He had such a good time, it took the sting out of the loss, and established him as an instant fan favorite. (He posts almost daily on Twitter (@nickswisher) and in April I started keeping a tally of his followers -- betting that he would break
1 million by the World Series. He did!)

Finally, a home game. Teri "Jersey Girl" McCarron flew in from Minnesota, and we went to the official Bronx opener on Thursday, April 16, against the Indians. Not a great start -- CC lost both the Away and Home openers. But we had a great time anyway, in the sparkling new digs. And it was better than watching Pavano start off a season.

• My new friends, Hal & Hank:  Like an enthusiastic Mormon, I have converted at least a handful of non-believers into rabid fans, among them, Law Technology News' former associate editor Katie Montgomery, and my 82-year-old mom, Lillian. I got to see Katie (who is now in a PhD program at the University of Iowa) at our annual Minnesota group game; and during the Twins playoff games.

Mom flew out for two games: the first, on a gorgeous May Saturday, where A-Rod had a two-run, walk-off HR as part of our season-long sweep of the aforementioned Twins. The second game proved to be one of the most memorable games I have ever attended -- and one of the best times I've ever had with my mom -- when I took her to her first Yankees/Red Sox game and we ended the evening  with the Steinbrenner family. 

• July heat: One of the most moving days of the season was July 4  when my boss, Aric Press, participated in a program honoring his college friend, Michael Goldsmith (right) and his efforts to raise awareness and money for Lou Gehrig's disease. Goldsmith would not live to see the Yankees win their 27th. He was 58 years old.

As is their usual pattern, the boys de-slumped right after the All-Star game. 

Jane Heller's wonderful book Confessions of a She-Fan hit the bookstores, and proving the power of Twitter and blogs, we became pals and she even posted an excerpt of my review on her site.

2009 brought not one, but two trips to Minnesota; the first for our 7th annual group game in late July. As always, we so enjoy the chance to share a game with the folks from the hot bed of legal techology! Shout outs to the folks from Thomson Reuters, Dorsey & Whitney, Merrill, Kroll, Socha/Gelbmann, Jersey Girl, Laverne & Linda, et al! 

(Hey, Westies: go ask Shaughnessy if you can see his latest Bobblehead, which will remain on his desk for a year, right next to A-Rod :)

My Twins rep, Luis Breazeale, conspired to annoint us the "Hormel Row of the Game" and everybody got hot dogs!

I had a feeling I was not quite yet ready to say goodbye to the Dome, and I was right.

• Bring out the Brooms: August was a whirlwind of games, as pals arrived from all of the country to check out the new Stadium. After losing eight straight to the Red Sox, the fragile psyche of NYY fans definitely improved when we swept them in early August.

White Sox addict Ron Stevens made his annual visit, and we got to see two games, from two decidedly different perspectives: the field level and from the aforementioned main 233b. (Another sweep, btw.) As great as the field seats are, I still prefer the upper deck with the more, um, er, well "enthusiastic" folks.

By August, we were all falling absolutely in love with A.J. and his pies — which may seem out of character for NYY fans who tend to avoid schtick -- e.g., we don't do no steenking waves.

• On Labor Day, "Ed Post," the anonymous czar of Blawg Review, joined me for a separate admissions doubleheader that was a complete blast, and included yet another brush with great customer service and celebrities at the fantastic NYY Steak restaurant. There are few people who can put up with me for 10-hours straight, but we both had a great time. The only downside: Jeet went 0-8 and did not tie Lou Gehrig's record for all-time hits.

• Jeter Breaks the Record: Jeet tied it on Sept. 9 in a 4-2 win against the Rays and the city went nuts. I could not resist, so I Stub Hub'd and got playoff-priced tix for the next game, Sept. 11, where despite furious winds and swirling rain (I'm surprised NYC isn't covered in mold we had so much rain this year) Jeter stood alone at the top of the mountain.  A magic moment, especially touching on the anniversary of the attacks, and all the more memorable because I shared the game with my friend David Horrigan, who I met on 9/11/01 when we reported on the tragedy together for ALM. Nobody cared one iota that the Yanks lost 10-4 -- in fact about half the stadium escaped the lousy weather once we had honored our captain with nonstop shrieking. 

• Beyond sweep: The Yanks not only swept the Red Sox in their final matchup, but the Boys Up North had to watch us celebrate clinching the division. Too kewl.

• Adios, Farnsworth: One of my happiest days as a Yankees fan was the day they traded Kyle Farnsworth. I couldn't stand him as a reliever, and it got so bad, that everytime he got up in the bullpen to warm up I would grab my cellphone and text "Farnsworth Sucks!" and hit sent to Jersey Girl. I once saw someone wearing an "Anybody but Farnsworth" T-shirt and wasted several hours unsuccessfully trying to find it on eBay.

This season, Bruney reminded me of a reincarnated Farnsworth and I was none too pleased. However, I was very very pleased on Sept. 29 when, in the Kansas City bullpen, who should start warming up, but our "friend" Kyle! I thot he had retired! I grabbed the cellphone, but JG had beat me to it, "Farnsworth!!!"

And the karma gods rewarded us! The Yanks were behind in the 9th, but sure enough, blew his save and we got whipped cream. No pie was ever sweeter!

• City, what city? Then came one of the most amazing contests since the 2003 Aaron Boone game -- would Detroit or the Twins win the central? I had a horse in this race because I had tickets to games in both cities -- If Detroit took it, I would get to visit my dear friend Mary Kay Lawless; if the Twins won, I would head to the Dome to be with all my Minnesota pals. And I already had tix for HG 1 & 2 at the Stadium. As the fates would have it, my good friend Jon Bream (right, with JG) was in town touting his new Neil Diamond book -- and we watched the Game 163 showdown at the Mudville 9 Saloon until Alexi Casilla hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 12th and Sinatra started singing New York, New York. I pulled out my suitcases to pack, and JB and I headed to the Stadium for the Twins v. Yanks ALDS.

Monday October 11 — back to the Dome, to complete the season sweep, beating Pavano in a nail-biter. To Yankees Universe, Pavano is about as popular as 2004's villain Kevin Brown — we were not happy with his four-year-26-starts-9-wins-for-$39.95-million stint in Pinstripes. In fact, the disabled list is now called the Pavano List by the players. One of my signs was  "Pavano: I hope you pitch as well as you drive." (OK, OK, very inside baseball, but hysterical if you know your Yankees' DL history). But I ditched it quickly because, of course, he pitched a gem and we were lucky to scratch out the win.

The next day it snowed in Minnesota. (And the new Target Stadium has no roof. Ohhhhh kay!)

• Anaheim Angst: I did not attend any of the Angels games, but I'm still amazed I didn't end up in Bellevue's psych ward due to stress over the superlative Halos, who have always been kryptonite to the Pinstripes. I am not much of a drinker, but I went through an entire bottle of wine watching every agonizing inning on October 25 until it was over and we were heading to the World Series!

So another season is in the books. The Yankees won in '23 when they opened the old stadium, and we christened the House that George Built last night. And I am among those who are so very, very, very glad they won it for the Boss, George Steinbrenner. Break out the confetti, we've got a parade tomorrow!

Oh yeah, it's 161 days until opening day.

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 2009 NYY Soundtrack:

Opening Day: John Fogerty, Centerfield, and Bernie Williams, Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

Playoffs: Black Eyed Peas: I Gotta Feeling that Tonight's Gonna Be a Good Night

Anaheim: The Rally Monkey!

World Series: Jay-Z & Alicia Keys: Empire State of Mind

Queen: We are the Champions

Always: Metallica:  Enter Sandman (From 2008 last game).

Six Flags Dude (after multiple big hits)

New York on Sunday (Bobby Darin)

(Frank, never Liza): New York, New York

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Letterman: Biff Henderson at the World Series.

Photo credits: Top, New York Post. Goldsmith: The New York Times. Jeter: AP/Yankees Girardi: CNN. Pie: AP/Yankees. Swisher: unknown. Parade: ALM's Anthony Mazzocchi.