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11.04.2009

the world series. history.





im sitting here. on the futon. legs hanging over. watching mariano rivera's long run in from center field.

the man is unflappable. someone asked him what he hears when approaching the mound. silence. he said. he comes to do his job. and he does it.

i can't imagine what it must be like to be there at yankee stadium right now. the noise, deafening. the energy, full and tangible--a moving thing.

baseball was my first love. the field, my first home.

my father was raised in the bronx. the booze for my grandparents wedding provided by three yankees of the day. my destiny was tied to the team long before i ever entered this world.

but it was the summer after my junior year of high school that i began the slow and steady apprenticeship of becoming a true lover of the bronx bombers.

my uncle (the phillies fan, ironically enough) taught me the bulk of it. and my aunt the yankee die-hard and devotee of past great center fielder, bernie williams, added her own. i spent that summer falling in love with new york city and all it had to offer, most especially, its most decorated--most storied baseball team.

it is the history of it all that really gets me. it tells the history of this country. of my own childhood. and i am indebted to the sport for that alone.


there it is. line drive to jeter for the first out of the ninth inning. the yankees lead seven-three.

two to go.

the last time my boys were in the world series was the year of my apprenticeship. they lost. i have yet to see them win the world series. for me this story is new. this is a new part of my history.

i know many think baseball is boring. but its like the equivalent of a strip-tease. it's all about tension. give and take. gentle undulations.

fly to right-field. my boy swisher gets it for out number two.

hideki matsui got six rbi's tonight. seven runs we have, and he drove six of those babies in.

the whole stadium is on its feet, but my legs are dangling. off of the futon. kicking a bit wildly at this point.

there it is!! they did, they just did it.

their bodies coming together in one mass huddle. bobbing in a sea of green.

i love baseball. i'm so proud of my boys.

november is the month, indeed.




15 comments:

Mary Q. Contrary said...

THE YANKEES WIN!! THEEEEE YANKEEEESSS WIIIIN!!!!

It's going to be some parade!!!!

27!!!!!!!!!

jill said...

How I wish I was in NYC instead of watching the game alone in Utah. I love your writing, and especially this blog post...wants me to try and be more eloquent on my post about the Yankee's win. :) Go yankees!

a tree called life said...

YES!!
I wish I could celebrate in NYC!!!!
The last time they won I was 13, so this is my first adult experience, one i'll actually remember!
I couldn't be happier right now!
Oh, how I Love Yankees baseball!

Anonymous said...

YEA YANKEES!!!!!!!!!!!! I come from generations of Yankee fans. My great and great-great grandparents were diehards. My grandpa was a cameraman for the team for years and years and knew a lot of the classic players. My brother and I played baseball through Joe Torre's little-league for a good decade and were invited to be in the ticker tape parade back in '96. The Yankees are IT. Matsui was incredible. Rivera was incredible. A-Rod, Jeter, Pettitte and Posada were incredible.

Doesn't it feel GOOD?!!

Anonymous said...

How do you make baseball sound so beautiful? What a lovely tribute to an amazing game!

Marisa said...

though i am not a yankees fan, i appreciate their history and love baseball for just the reasons you described.
how amazing it must feel to be in the city during the celebrations.
xoxo

Morgan said...

Yippee! My bf was so happy!

Anonymous said...

GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!! WOOHOOO :)

Micaela said...

I thought of you while watching their victory.

I see your love of history and it's brilliant, these words. i loved how someone commented: how do you make baseball sound so beautiful?

because she's Meg Fee :)

I was elated matsui got MVP of the World Series, ESP. this being his last year of his contract with your beloved yankees.

ps. I was sad my "Yankee Boyfriend" Johnny Damon was out with a strained calf :(

i think he's beautiful.

thobeka said...

being from south africa & now living in the netherlands...it's safe to say i know NOTHING about baseball! :) thank you for making me love a sport or team (for that matter) that i hardly know!x
i'm like a yankee secret admirer :)

Chelsea Talks Smack said...

YESSS! I LOVE IT!

Anonymous said...

I may not be a Yankees fan (sorry, born and raised a Reds fan) but I can appreciate the love of baseball! Congrats on the victory! :)

Unknown said...

What a fun look into the history of someone living back east. I don't have that kind of connection with the Salt Lake Bees, oddly enough. Thanks for sharing it.

Tim and Jill said...

Loved this post Meg! We watched all of the games in Australia (thank you ESPN)! My husband a die-hard cricket fan has been converted and is the Yankees newest fan!

Betsy said...

You should submit that to Sports Illustrated or ESPN.