So, okay, if New York was defeated last night in their final game at Yankees Stadium, the Red Sox would have secured themselves a spot in the Playoffs once again.  But, come on, if you have a soul for baseball, were you really cheering for Baltimore?  Who wants to see the Yanks, no matter how heated the rivalry was, lose their final game in the House that Ruth Built and George Tore Down?

I admit I was moved last night (except for John Miller constantly wondering who was going to hit the last home run at Yankee Stadium.)  It was great to see all those heroes of the game celebrated.  W ell, except Aaron Boone.  It was great to see David Wells and David Cone sitting in the stands swapping stories of their perfect games, with Wells two-fisting the whole time.  Despite the corniness of it, it was great to see the reaction the fans gave Derek Jeter when he was taken off the field in the ninth inning, just to receive a reaction.  And of course, Mariano coming out of the bullpen gate, even in a non-save situation, just so the fans could show their appreciation for him as well (Jeez, you'd think these guys were dying, not moving across the street.)

However, it did get me thinking, what will it be like when Fenway Park inevitable closes down?  Fenway, a few years older than Yankee Stadium, will probably not last the rest of my lifetime.  So, I will doubtless have to live through a night like last night.  With any kind of luck, I'll be rich and will have a ticket for the final game at Fenway, but even if I'm watching on TV, I will probably be crying like a baby.  Perhaps it is the fact that Fenway Park is so small and makes you feel like you're practically playing in the game that makes you feel more connected to it.  Perhaps it is teh fact that there is no otehr place like it on Earth, with a giant green wall in left field, originally built so people on the street couldn't watch a free baseball game, that makes you feel like you are part of the team.  Fenway is part of the mystique.  I don't want to wax too poetic, but think about this; would there be a Red Sox nation if we had to watch all our home games in the Metrodome?

I think it was different for Yankee Stadium.  They can talk about the great prize fights and great concerts and Papel masses that were held there, but would anyone have really cared if the Yankees hadn't won twenty-six World Championships?  Would they care if all those events were held at Shea Stadium?  I hate to say it, but Fenway Park helps make the Red Sox what they are, but the Yankees made Yankee Stadium what it is (or was).

I for one am disappointed that it looks like the Yanks won't be making the post-season this year.  To me, tehre's no better prize fight than Yankees-Red Sox, and let's face it, the Rays are a good team, but not fun to watch.  In fact, I kind of hate them.  I respected the Yankees as rivals.  You have to respect Jeter as a person and an athlete.  You have to respect Mariano Rivera as a competitor.  A-Rod, well, okay, you can hate him.

I have this comic strip hanging in my office that shows two little kids wax philosophic, and one says to the other, "If Batman died, would the Joker be happy?" and the kid has to think about it.  I don't.  I'm sad that the Yankees won't be playing in the post-season, and I'm sad that the Stadium is closing down.  The only silver lining is that I am not really a Yankees fan at heart, so I can still root for the home team.