Yankees Win No. 27, but What’s Wrong with This Picture?

No, this is not an rant against the Evil Empire, I actually believe the Yankees winning it all periodically is a good thing, for baseball without the spirit of its ghosts just wouldn’t be the same. 

No, the article title is to be taken quite literally, I’m miffed about the trophy ceremony itself, where Commissioner Bud Selig first handed his Commissioner’s Trophy to Hal Steinbrenner—one of his bosses, no less. For a moment that should be such a crowning glory, the first championship in the new Yankee Stadium, it’s almost anticlimactic, the mass rendition of one hand clapping.

Maybe it’s because I’m from Canada and grew up with hockey, but I much prefer the presentation of the Stanley Cup. The first to raise the trophy is the team captain, in his home arena, and followed by a huge roar. 

Now, I’m not for a moment discounting the role of the owner. Without question, he is the one individual who holds the greatest sway over the long-term fortunes of the franchise. When it comes to any decision, the buck not only stops there, but starts there as well. 

But the same can be said about the relationship between a parent and a child—and imagine a convocation ceremony where the parents of the graduate go up on stage to receive the degree. It’s awkward and perverse. 

We fans deserve more. After all, it’s the players we’re paying to see and whom we connect with. There’s something out of place when the award for the best teams in baseball and football is given to someone who can’t throw a baseball or catch a football any better than the rest of us. We’re not celebrating excellence in infrastructure, we’re celebrating excellence in sport. And no matter how many seeds have to be sown to win a championship, the players are still the ones who actually go out and do it.

My hope is one day an owner will accept the trophy and merely pass it on to the players with a minimum of fuss, where they can raise it on behalf of their fans. Ask anyone who’s seen the ceremony for the Stanley Cup; it’s just a lot more fun that way.

1. alvin on July 29th, 2014 5:39 am

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