The famous Red Sox message board, Sons of Sam Horn, had a legendary thread back during the 2004 postseason where posters listed people they knew who would give anything to see a Boston World Series title. Most of these were deceased friends and relatives who never experienced a championship. This gained a ton of publicity on the internet, and the thread was eventually published into a book. Red Sox fans did suffer an inordinate amount through the years, but they are not the only ones faithfully dedicating their lives to a team in hopes of a title. Every team has fans just as dedicated, some who never see their team reach the summit. This is true for teams without large, national fanbases. It is true for successful teams like the Yankees. Watching a team win it all can take on added significance just knowing how much it means or would have meant to somebody else.
This post is going to serve that purpose for the Yankees’ 2007 postseason run. There are almost no other Yankees fans in my immediate family. All of my friends who are fans are in good health. I can still think of a few people I do not know to whom winning 27 would mean the world.
Win it for George Steinbrenner. The owner is reportedly in failing health. There is no telling how much time he has left. For all of the criticism he has received through the years (much of it justified) and the bad things he has done, his heart has always been in the right place. His objective has always been to produce a winner for the fans. This is a chance to give him one last moment in the sun.
Win it for Phil Rizzuto. The man gave his life to the team as both a player and a broadcaster. He would want nothing more than for this storied franchise to add another chapter to its legacy as he left this world.
Win it for Cory Lidle. The fallen teammate is likely up in heaven right now with a big bowl of ice cream getting ready to watch Game 1 with the Scooter. Lidle provided an example of how to enjoy every moment while playing. He would have wanted his teammates to win this series for him.
Win it for Don Mattingly. The bench coach has been a Yankee lifer. He was one of the few bright spots in one of the few bad eras of Yankees baseball. Mattingly might be the greatest Yankee to have never won a ring.
I realize the above was hardly the kind of emotional heartfelt stuff from that post, but there are a lot of people who would be touched by another championship. Feel free to post your own.
