Why do we care so much about our local New York teams?
Alex Rodriguez, David Wright, Jose Reyes, and Derek Jeter don’t know
us. Although it's likely that they're all nice people, it's quite
possible they don’t stress about our mundane workplace deadlines. So,
why is it then, that all winter, fans have obsessed about the Mets
starting pitching needs or whether the Yankees should trade Phil Hughes
for Johan Santana?
I believe the answer might – for some people, anyway -- have come in the form of a broadcast done on Sunday’s edition of Gotham Baseball Live about the book “The Fat Lady Never Sings”, written by Steven M. Reilly.
The story of Derby, Connecticut has been called a cross between “Hoosiers” and “Friday Night Lights” by those who have reviewed Reilly’s book. Although Gotham Baseball Magazine started covering high school baseball in 2006, our broadcast entity has yet to delve into that arena. Given the increasing amount of listeners to Gotham Sports Radio over the last two months, it was important to set the tone for 2008. So, as I prepared for the show, I struggled to articulate to the audience why I deemed the message by Mr. Reilly one that is worth a precious hour of their life. Then one of the reviews hit me:
“Reilly revives the competitive spirit in many of us with a story of dedication, perseverance and ultimate celebration; a memoir of fine journalism about a small town where sports defines a community. A "must-read" for both avid sports fans and those interested in the triumph of the human spirit." – Harvey Frommer, Author of the classics: "New York City Baseball, 1947-1957" and Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball" and Harvey Frommer on Sports Blogspot.
In general, most people have the need to experience the ultimate highs that life offers. Very rarely does the real world give us the rush that we need to feel completely fulfilled. Maybe that’s why we watch sports, so we can experience a real life drama that embodies dedication, perseverance, and hopefully celebration.
Baseball does that better then any other sport. The quest starts around Valentine’s Day with pitchers and catchers, and doesn’t end till nearly Halloween. The championship team perseveres through injuries, slumps, and their arch-rivals. In this town the media alone can make perseverance a daily challenge.
Throughout my life, I have taken lessons by watching the failures of the “Worst Team Money Can Buy”, the grit of Pat Riley’s early 90's Knicks, and the determination of the dynasty Yankees teams. I may not have played for those teams, but I certainly felt some vicarious emotions rooting for -- and against -- each of those groups of players.
You may not care about Derby, CT or high school baseball, but this book is so much more then just that. It may explain the reasons you do the crazy things you do to support your team. It could inspire you to take on challenges that others deem impossible. Either way, I guarantee you will learn something in the process.
Listen to Mike Silva on Gotham Baseball Live each week. You can read his column every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday here at Gotham Baseball Magazine and his blog at www.gothamsportsradio.com.
Why do we care so much about our local New York teams? 