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The 2009 World Series at Yankee Stadium

So as the next pitch sailed into the left field stands to give the Rangers a 5-3 lead, I thought of game three, and Pettitte’s superb performance, holding the Rangers to 2 runs going into the ninth. In that game, Girardi decided to bring in Dave Robertson, who got hammered for 6 runs. At some point, maybe after the first hit, or maybe the second, you’d think that Girardi would have brought in Rivera – the greatest closer in the history of the game – to stop the bleeding. But Mariano watched the rest of the inning from the bullpen, watched the game slip away, 8-0.

The Yankees have been pitching-challenged for the latter half of the season. They’ve overcome that challenge with a powerful hitting attack and a great bullpen. But they can’t overcome the challenge in the dugout, the challenge of the bone-headed decisions made by No. 28, Joe Girardi. Either or both of these last two games could have been won, except for the total inability of Girardi to see the obvious, and to do something.

So now the Yankees are one game away from elimination, and I can feel the hairs on my arms rising again.

Obama was born a British Subject/Citizen to a British Subject/Citizen father and a U.S. citizen mother. Obama’s father was not a U.S. Citizen and never intended to be one. Obama’s father was never even an immigrant to the USA nor was he even a permanent legal resident. According to this lawsuit, Obama was born a dual-citizen with dual allegiance and loyalty and is therefore not constitutionally eligible to be the President and Commander-in-Chief of our military.

Kramden is a Bensonhurst bus driver whose dreams of a better life often lead him into wild schemes, while the ever skeptical Alice is either kept in the dark or stands aside, like an oracle warning of doom. Best pal Norton either lends a hand, often digging a deeper hole for Ralph to crawl out of, or serves as rival.

Ralph and Alice arguing (Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows)

In the end, Ralph’s plans usually fail, but with Alice telling him that she loves him, he looks forward to another day. And another scheme.

The Bensonhurst Bomber episode begins with Ralph and Ed chasing a wimpish fellow away from a pool table. The wimp returns with his pool partner, Harvey, who challenges Ralph to a boxing match at the local gym. It’s a great episode, with Ralph desperately trying to avoid the fight with the bigger and more frightening Harvey, and taking boxing lessons from Ed.

The Honeymooners only ran for 39 episodes, but is considered by many to be one of the finest comedies on television. The combination of pathos and comedy on live television is something rarely seen, and perhaps never done so well.

Jeter waves to the crowd after passing Lou Gehrig on the Yankees hits list.

But the numbers, important as they are, do not tell the complete story. For those that wear pinstripes, the standard is higher. Because of the great tradition of the New York Yankees, the expectation of its fans, critics and the incessant glare of media create a different standard. In the three-ring circus atmosphere that encompasses the Yankees, the chance of failure is far greater than the chance of success. Some have risen to the occasion, like Reggie Jackson, whose three home runs in game six of the 1977 World Series against the Dodgers instantly became legend. Others exceeded expectations, like Roger Maris, merely a good outfielder with a strong bat while with the Kansas City Athletics, who became the new home run king with the Yankees in 1961. And some have gone far beyond: Bucky Dent comes to mind.

But more have failed than succeeded when donning the pinstripes. Imagine, for example,  a pitcher who wins 17 games two seasons in a row. Surely the ace of the staff on many a team, except the New York Yankees, where said pitcher, Randy Johnson a.k.a. the Big Unit, was a Big Bust. Of course, Johnson shone compared to Kevin Brown. The only thing Brown seemed capable of beating was the clubhouse wall.

Or consider that fellow on third base, a one-time shortstop once considered the game’s best player, in the era before Pujols. The best that could be said about A-Rod is that the jury is still out, in spite of impressive numbers, especially in 2005, Rodriguez still lacks that one achievement that will allow him to achieve Yankees greatness. Something is lacking in A-Rod, though a great post-season could redeem him in the ever-critical eyes of New Yorkers. But were his career to end now, he’s more likely to fall in line with Johnson and Brown than Jackson and Maris.

Which brings us back to Derek Jeter. Surely his numbers are Cooperstown worthy. But what make him the player that he is not merely his numbers. We all remember his shovel toss to Posada in the ’01 ALDS against Oakland, Derek throwing off balance after picking up a throw from right fielder Shane Spencer that sailed over two cut-offs, beating Jeremy Giambi by a hair at the plate. The play stunned the Athletics, and is one of the great plays in baseball history. Impressive as that was, his diving into the stands to catch a foul ball pop up in an early season game against the Red Sox tells us more about him. It tells us that in Jeter’s eyes that there are no small games, and that everything counts. You run out every ground ball, reach for everything hit near you, make every at bat and every pitch count. In short, you do your job as a professional, and do it the best or your ability, every time. You carry yourself with dignity, respect others, and don’t make a fool of yourself.

In the world of baseball, where men are sometimes paid enormous sums of money to play a game that many would gladly play for free, these are rare qualities. But they are essential baseball lessons for those that aspire to greatness, as well as great life lessons, all courtesy of the Yankee Captain, Derek Jeter.

The message Obama delivered to America, to the families of police and firemen who gave their lives, to the innocent men women and children who burned to death, to the airline crews and passengers slaughtered by Muslim fanatics, was that if we could just collect enough petitions, or paint enough walls, everything would be fine.

To equate painting park benches or picking up litter with the horror of 9/11 not only demeans the moment, but coats the lives of those who died with a sugar coated banality. Franklin Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, Presidents Obama allegedly admires, did not liken the death of Americans in war with painting fences. But in Obama’s small world, everything is compared to one thing only: his experience. There is no greatness to a life, no moments of joy to be remembered fondly, no prayers to offer up or songs to sing in love and memory. All memories are alike, all come to down to a common denominator: the experience of a self-aggrandizing empty suit, Barack Hussein Obama. And his experience is limited to painting walls, hanging curtains, and other “community organizing” events. There is no greatness in his life, so there can be none in others.

So the next time your neighbor is murdered by Muslim fanatics,  pick up some litter in a schoolyard, sign a petition, or paint something. You’ll feel better. After all, Obama does.

On the more positive side, I expect to ramble on about the finer things in life, like baseball, families, good books, a good meal, and music.

I hope you’ll enjoy it.  I know I will.