Baseball Expatriates in YankeeTown

[PianoMonkey]

Anyone else out there a transplanted fan living in NYC or its environs?
Any advice for an out-of-towner going to a game at YS?
What's it like fighting the "good fight" amidst the largest population of "Evil Empire" goons in the world?

As for myself, I recently moved out here from Kansas City (MISSOURI!), and am looking forward to seeing the Royals v. Yankees series in NY later this season.
It's kind of a strange feeling. In KC, if you talk baseball with someone and they turn out (horror of horrors ) to be a Yankee fan, you can look at them with all the spite and derision they deserve , but here it's actually the norm. It seems obvious that most people in NY would root for an NY team, but it still throws me every time I encounter it. It's like being a modern M.D. thrust back into the middle ages and seeing leeches used to "balance the humours." One feels like saying, "Haven't we moved past this? Am I the only rational thinker left on Earth??"

All in all, though, I suppose it's better being in a city full of baseball fans (misguided though they may be) than in a city where most people couldn't care less.

BTW, please excuse the good-natured ribbing I give you Yankee fans from time to time. I don't really mean it, and it's all in good fun. Just tell me if you'd like me to stop.

[nyy26wc]

Originally Posted by PianoMonkey

BTW, please excuse the good-natured ribbing I give you Yankee fans from time to time. I don't really mean it, and it's all in good fun. Just tell me if you'd like me to stop.

I don't see a need to stop. So long as the ribbing is in good fun and aren't personal attacks.

Yankees fan understand why we are the marked team. We know why everyone is out to beat us. We know why everyone hates us.

Since it's because of our success, we take pride in it.

I'd just like to hear some Yankees hater admit to the following--You have to admit that, if every business in this country had the same commitment to producing an excellent product and had the same intolerance for substandard work as the Yankees and their fans, this would be a much better country.

And what fan would not want their own team to have the same commitment to winning as the Yankees?

[sweaver]

Hey, George Steinbrenner can sell the Yankees and buy the Reds today, for my dime. At least then he'd be in his home state.

[Crash Course]

Any advice for an out-of-towner going to a game at YS?

If you go, and decide to wear another team's colors, if you're in expensive seats, and stay quiet during the game, you should be fine.

If you go, and decide to wear another team's colors, if you're in the upper deck or the bleachers, you're going to hear some stuff in your direction.

If you go, and decide to wear another team's colors, no matter where you sit, and root loud and/or stand up and clap and/or do a little dance when the visiting team does something positive, well, you're taking a chance, IMHO.

I've seen some bad things happen to people who behaved that way at YS.

[rpackrat]

"Yankees fan understand why we are the marked team. We know why everyone is out to beat us. We know why everyone hates us.

Since it's because of our success, we take pride in it."

But, you see, that last statement shows that you do NOT understand whey everyone hates the Yankees and their fans. It is not the team's on field success, it is the obnoxious sense of entitlement exuded by most Yankee fans. I am a native New Yorker and lifelong Mets fan. Until 1998 or 1999, I also wished the Yankees well -- after all, they were the other NY team, they were in the other league, why not wish them well? Around this time, as the Yankees were well into thei several year roll, Yankee "fans" started crawling out of the woodwork and acting incredibly arrogant and obnoxious, as if THEY had anything at all to do with the team's success. The attitude and behavior was so off putting, that I actually began to take pleasure in Yankee losses, just for the pain and embarassment it caused Yankee fans. So, there you have it: I've been a Mets fan since 1972, rooted for the Yanks during their good run in 1976-1981, but now can't stand them.

[Craig S.]

Originally Posted by rpackrat

But, you see, that last statement shows that you do NOT understand whey everyone hates the Yankees and their fans. It is not the team's on field success, it is the obnoxious sense of entitlement exuded by most Yankee fans. I am a native New Yorker and lifelong Mets fan. Until 1998 or 1999, I also wished the Yankees well -- after all, they were the other NY team, they were in the other league, why not wish them well? Around this time, as the Yankees were well into thei several year roll, Yankee "fans" started crawling out of the woodwork and acting incredibly arrogant and obnoxious, as if THEY had anything at all to do with the team's success. The attitude and behavior was so off putting, that I actually began to take pleasure in Yankee losses, just for the pain and embarassment it caused Yankee fans. So, there you have it: I've been a Mets fan since 1972, rooted for the Yanks during their good run in 1976-1981, but now can't stand them.

Great post, and I couldn't agree more. I wouldn't say it's true of all Yankees fans, but it's definitely a prevailing attitude among them.

[Crash Course]

I think it's about 50-50 in Yankee fans. I know many that feel like there is only one team in the world. Yet, I know many others who remember 1965 to 1972 and/or 1982 to 1992 very well and still have their feet on the ground.

[JamesI]

Originally Posted by Crash Course

I think it's about 50-50 in Yankee fans. I know many that feel like there is only one team in the world. Yet, I know many others who remember 1965 to 1972 and/or 1982 to 1992 very well and still have their feet on the ground.

This is true for some.
A lot of the reason I hate the Yankees more than say the Red Sox or Blue Jays, is the annoying fans who seem to forget that other teams are needed for a league to exist. Its the sense of entitlement they have.
Maybe the Yankee fans are just more vocal than other teams fans. They're not all bad, but the bad ones are very vocal.

[hopbitters]

Originally Posted by rpackrat

Around this time, as the Yankees were well into their (edit several year roll, Yankee "fans" started crawling out of the woodwork and acting incredibly arrogant and obnoxious, as if THEY had anything at all to do with the team's success.

This raises an interesting question. Did we become more obnoxious with success or did success create a new fan base (or both)? Personally, I like to think I was obnoxious from the start. I think you're suggesting that these are new fans drawn to the success, but I don't want to put words in your mouth.

[Crash Course]

Well, on the flip side of all the "I hate Yankee fans because............." stuff..........

I can tell you, as a Yankee fan, there is nothing more sad than seeing a fan of the Mets, Red Sox, etc. who seems to get more pleasure from seeing the Yankees lose than seeing his own team win.

There was a line in the Sorpranos this week that fits here - - where Chris told someone that other's definitions of yourself is usually more of a reflection of their own issue than a true picture of you.

One could make the case that, if the Red Sox, Mets, etc. won more championships, they would care less about Yankee fans and their whatever than they do now.

[rpackrat]

"I can tell you, as a Yankee fan, there is nothing more sad than seeing a fan of the Mets, Red Sox, etc. who seems to get more pleasure from seeing the Yankees lose than seeing his own team win."

Well, I know lots of Mets and Red Sox fans, and none of them care more about the Yankees (win or lose) than they do about their own team. Although, as you are a Yankee fan, I can understand why you would think so. Just one more example of Yank fans thinking that the world revolves around them and their team.

[Joseph]

I think long periods of sucess can breed arrogance among fans. When the Dallas Cowboys are good, their fans are pretty bad. I've heard simliar things about Celtics fans in the 60's.

I didn't have any trouble when I went to YS wearing the hat and shirt of the opposing team, but then again I was a kid and it was a period when the yankees were struggling (No yankee bandwagoners in the stands, just real fans).

[Crash Course]

Originally Posted by rpackrat

Although, as you are a Yankee fan, I can understand why you would think so. Just one more example of Yank fans thinking that the world revolves around them and their team.

rpackrat - I have many friends who root for the Mets and Red Sox. And, I swear this is true - - when the Yankees get bombed, or lose a post-season game, etc., within minutes, my e-mail box is full of messages from my friends, overjoyed about the Yankee loss. But, I never get e-mails about their team winning, etc.

How does that mean that I think the world revolves around me and the Yankees?

[JamesI]

Originally Posted by Crash Course

Well, on the flip side of all the "I hate Yankee fans because............." stuff..........

I can tell you, as a Yankee fan, there is nothing more sad than seeing a fan of the Mets, Red Sox, etc. who seems to get more pleasure from seeing the Yankees lose than seeing his own team win.

I will agree with this. I would rather see Baltimore win than New York lose (assuming they are not playing each other.)

[Crash Course]

Originally Posted by Crash Course

I can tell you, as a Yankee fan, there is nothing more sad than seeing a fan of the Mets, Red Sox, etc. who seems to get more pleasure from seeing the Yankees lose than seeing his own team win.

I see it's just not a Yankees thing - Cubs too?

A few rows back in the Fan Deck sat Diane Viti of Highland Park. Sporting Sox earrings and a necklace that spelled S-O-X in diamonds, Viti admitted she still was basking in the glow of the Cubs losing their home opener Monday.

"My father was a die-hard Cubs fan," she said. "He wouldn't even admit to Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio. They didn't exist. It was crazy. He was such a National League fan. I immediately became a Sox fan."

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/so...intID=38091138