The Final Report

Call it my fall obsession -- I had the good fortune (and spent a small fortune) to attend all the Yankees playoff games except those in Fenway. I started sending out a daily “missive” to my fellow addicts – This was my final report “the morning after.” To those of you new to my Yankees missives, my last name changes daily. :) Of course, I’m still nursing the Red Sox hangover, and can’t get the image out of my mind of Johnny Damon cutting his toenails in the dugout. But I loved the Daily News cover ("See You in 2090") which blamed everything on the lunar eclipse. Anyway, I had Big Fun transforming my day-after missive and adding lots of links for my new blog! I hope you enjoy it --
Mon
Dec. 1, 2004

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Oct. 21, 2004

Dearest Cult Members:

Well, it's over.

Despite yesterday's totally embarrassing choke (we sensed it was over by the 3rd pitch) there was one very bright spot: the inning with Pedro was absolutely delicious and gave us a brief moment of hope. But as blue as we are, (and boy are we blue) it's important to step back and thank our boys for an amazing summer, full of positively astounding games.

Thanks to all of you for sharing so many wonderful experiences with me -- and creating so many memories:

Just some of the highlights:

• Sitting with Betsy Kalb on a glorious June Sunday, behind by two in the bottom of the 9th, 2 outs, against the Padres, after David Wells astounding pitching - and seeing the Yanks hit two back to back HRs to tie it, and then come from behind a second time to take it!

• Taking my West Coast parents to their first Yankee Stadium game, a quick pitcher's duel we won briskly. Seeing my parents absolutely absorbed in the game, and my 84-year-old father in a Yankees hat. (My parents are still are dumbfounded that our family's sports genes have finally kicked in and that I now am a baseball addict.)

• Girls' Nights Out, with the ever-patient Lee Ryder, and with Robin Sparkman, and for all the last minute games with Roberto Jimenez and his friends.

• The July vendor events by Sharp and Canon that taught me to love the Tier Reserved sections and enjoy the Mets.

• The fabulous Camden Yard with David Horrigan where we whipped the O's on my birthday, and then they slapped us around a few weeks later (with Yvonne Dorni & DH).

• To Sports Illustrated, for withstanding hell freezing over when I ordered a subscription, and for Tom Verducci’s inspiring baseball writing.

• Inning by inning BlackBerry commentary from Silvia Coulter, and Ed Siebel’s morning e-mail taunts.

• For Michael Potters who turned me onto the Yankee Clipper Ferry.

• Ashby Jones’ mentoring that taught me so much about the baseball rules.

• Annoying Kevin Vermeulen who dearly loves the Mets, as Bill Pollak and I talked Yankees baseball at every tradeshow or dinner.

• Jon Bream, who has known me for 32 years, looking at me with amazement and saying "You can talk baseball like a guy."

• The unbelieveable adventures in Minnesota, including our First Annual (i hope) August thriller series, where 23 of you got to taunt me mercilessly as Minnesota tromped on the Yankees. Game 3 of that series, watching Teri McCarron entertain the huge Yankee contingency with her antics as we got our revenge, after which the entire group of delirious Yankees fans started shreiking “Start Spreading the News....” Another memorable moment of the day: Teri’s husband, Shane, commandeering a stretch Limo to take us to the Dome.

Back again to the Twin Cities in October, this year against a very strong Minnesota team. Heredia hits two players in a row. I boo louder than the Twins fans. Torri Hunter makes a magnificent catch, we applaud. The Twins fans don’t know what to think. Then it’s the 8th, we’re down 5-1, and Teri and I are resigned that the series will head to the Bronx for a 5th game. But then, outta nowhere, Ruuuuuuben hits a miraculous 3-run homer to tie it, then A-Rod's unbelievable race home on a wild pitch. Teri and I, both with NYY painted faces, go nuts with excitement. Surrounding Twins fans, gracious in defeat, actually thank us for coming. (Well, some of them did).

• Wearing my Aaron Boone shirt, and enduring every single pitch of the 22-0 Cleveland blowout with Rod Oshins.

• Watching Jose Contreras' last day as a Yankee. Apologizing to the first-time visitors to the stadium sitting behind us, on behalf of the City of New York and all Yankees fans :)

• Going to PacBell Park with my brother, the game AFTER Barry Bonds got his record-setting HR. Buying a rubber chicken and a “Pitch to Barry” T-shirt.

• Seeing El Duque stand on the first base line, cross his arms, (with the ball in his hand), and tap his toe while waiting for the Cleveland Indian runner Coco Crisp to throw up his hands and give up -- then El Duque casually walks to 1B, and touches the base to register the out.

• Getting great tickets, two hours before the July 1 game, the Derek-Jeter-diving-into-the-stands game (scroll down) - and risking family disharmony because my jet-lagged niece Katie wanted to leave in the 8th inning and I refused. An “anyone but the Yankees” fan, she had much more fun on July 4, when the Mets swept us.

• Sitting with 12-year old Charlie Horn, watching the July 24 Boston/Yankees game on TV and seeing his eyes light up as I explain the rivalry and the curse. Making Andy Horn keep the TV on, sound muted, while we sang a run thru of the Brahms Requiem in his living room, the German punctuated by Mon shouting, “YES” as a Yankee run scores.

• The Tampa Bay Labor Day "doubleheader" (thank you George, for the free ticket, hot dogs and diet cokes ), and for the organist who played "If it takes forever, I will wait for you" while it took six hours for the Hurricane-drenched team to get to NY. Going to three Yankees games in one week, because the Republicans were in town. (I figured it was the safest place in the city.)

• The Lucky Flag, which traveled to every post-season game (except Fenway) - and got me on the JumboTron, ESPN, written up in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and interviewed by WABC. (And thanks to the 300-plus who signed it).

(Note: StarTrib article is now archived: the pub date was 10/9 if you want to search for it). • To TicketFast technology and the wonderful e-bay sellers who didn’t gauge me on postseason tickets.

But most of all: thank you Yankees, for all the nail biting, adrenaline pumping, voice-destroying, extra innings, Boston series all summer long and into October. For delirious highs and unbelievable lows. For "who's your daddy?" and Jeter's dive, for Mo’s saves and scraps, for the July fights, for every delicious moment of the 2004 season.

So to all of you who shared a game with me, put up with my um, er, "enthusiasm," thank you, thank you, and go Astros Cards.

May the curse live!

Faithfully, Mrs. Torre