My father Rich, who got me to like the Yankees expects the Yankees to win every year. Every April, I ask him who’s going to win the World Series, he’ll say, “The Yankees and they’ll beat the Mets.” That’s his answer every year. He roots for the Mets because they are from New York and then he wants the Yankees to humiliate them in the World Series.
Of course he knows the Yankees and Mets won’t be in it every year but that’s what he roots for.
While my father was growing up, his favorite player was Mickey Mantle. A lot of people my father’s age like Mickey Mantle. My father is in his mid 60′s.
He absolutely hates the Red Sox. When I asked him if the Red Sox would ever win a WS before they won in 2004, his answer was, “never.” “They’ll never win again.”
He’s spoiled by Yankee success. He watched all of those teams in the 50′s win and then he had the 70′s and 90′s Yankees. To say he could die in peace is an understatement.
The worst part about this year is that the Yankees are so good that you are certain that they will win it all. My father didn’t always have the highest expectations for the Yankees during the second half of the season but this year is different. He is very confident. That’s why he will be crushed if the Yankees lose.
My brother is the worst. His feelings actually get hurt when the Yankees lose. You can’t talk to him for days. He starts throwing things and starts breaking stuff. I try to stay away from him after the Yankees fail in the post season. He’s a lot bigger than me too.
My mother hates sports and hates it when all we talk about is sports because she feels left out. Every time we’re in the car together, my father, my brother and I will start talking Yankees or football and my mother tries to change the subject. When us men are together, my father and brother have no interest in her choice of topics. As soon as she says something, some one changes the subject right back to sports.
I feel bad sometimes and will engage in what she wants to talk about. Some times she just wants to talk about anything as long as it isn’t sports.
At night, my father is in his bed, half a sleep with the Yankee game on. He doses in and out but always knows what’s going on. My mother will be in the kitchen or in the living room watching her tv shows.
My father is getting a lot older so it would be nice to see him enjoy one more world series. Maybe two.. Or Three.
