While the Yankees are still a sports brand synonymous with platinum-plated success, the franchise has a good chance of registering its first losing season in 21 years. Things could miraculously turn around, but that does not seem likely.
The team in the South Bronx is old, injury prone and deadly dull."
Two games under .500 is mediocre.
A "turn around" -- whatever that means -- would not be miraculous. An 84-win second wild card is hardly out of the question.
As for dull? I have a personal story.
A buddy of mine attended Monday's game with his son. The tyke called Beltran's HR and was jumping up and down like a lunatic. It's probably an enjoyable lifetime memory.
I'm not being naive. The Yankees are dull and mediocre compared to the dynasties of recent past and distant past. Their chances of winning the World Series this year are about 1%. This is also when we find out that the so-called diehards aren't.
"DeLucia, 55, says fans need to fight back, and the only way is economical warfare.
The Yankees, DeLucia writes, 'must stop scamming their fans who work damned hard to put food on the table, to put their kids through college, and to put a few pennies away for retirement — ordinary people who must be concerned with the bottom line every single day of their lives.' "
He is entitled to his opinion, but I am a grown man ... I shall spend my time and money how I please.
Besides, if you're having trouble feeding and educating your children? Don't go to Yankee games. Even if they're in first place.
"The site also sells merchandise like 'Respect the Fans' T-shirts (23.99) and 'Boycott the Yankees' coffee mugs ($12.99)."
Ummm ... so boycott the Yankees so you can save pennies for retirement ... but then toss away 2,399 Retirement Pennies on a crummy tee shirt?
I'm actually a little weirded out that a newspaper gives this guy free publicity.
" 'So, it’s about organizing,' DeLucia told me. 'Let’s do something about this because the Yankees — they can’t do anything without us. They need our money. They need our cable TV subscriptions. They need us to buy their stuff. All they have to do is take care of us, and we’ll be at the stadium again.' "
Very powerful message. All of us working class stiffs refuse to be disrespected or put our economic well-being in jeopardy ... unless the team is good.
I mean, look, if you don't want to invest in a bad team -- time, money, emotion -- that's a personal decision.
For me, it's quite often still an enjoyable use of my entertainment dollar.
"DeLucia lists a number of ways the Yankees can 'right the wrongs.' These include reduction of ticket prices, monthly fan appreciation days and sending people on all-expenses paid trips to away games."
The only wrong is losing and the only way to right the wrong is to win. Can you imagine Yankee fans seriously getting psyched about a fan appreciation day? Or an all-expenses paid trip to an away game?
"DeLucia said it was no accident that his book comes just as the Yankees are experiencing a downturn. Attendance last year was the lowest since 2000, and there are noticeably empty seats this year.
Maybe the boycott is already on, confirming, if nothing else, that DeLucia is hardly a lone voice crying in the wilderness."
Attendance is down with or without this guy.
So it's not really about organizing, is it? You're just some angry dude who doesn't like to go to Yankee games anymore.
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