[myamoto1]

I'm about to make a confession that breaks all rules of baseball... I'm born and bread in NY and have been a Yankees fan since birth. The first major league game I ever went to was in Yankee stadium back in the 70's with Lou, Reggie, etc all playing. As if that wasn't enough to solidify my allegiance to the Yanks, I also got to witness the "I love you Lou" hottie run across the outfield w/ her top off. Mind you at 7 years of age - this makes a lasting impression and very immediately made it clear that there was nothing better on earth than the Yankees.

You see, my father is from Boston. He still has "idears" and on occasion will drive a caaa instead of a car. He naturally was a BoSox fan. After relaying what I had witnessed at Yankee stadium, I was dumbfounded that my father was in denial that the Yankees were the best. As punishment, I didn't speak to him for a week (very hard for a 7 yr old to accomplish). Needless to say, his persistence wore off on my and I moved the Mets out of spot #2 (hey, they had Tom Seaver), and knowing full well I was about to upset the balance of the universe, accepted the Sox as my 2nd favorite team.

Fast forward many years into the future and I'm living in Boston, attending numerous Sox games and proudly joining in as one of the bleacher creatures, tormenting any opposing player that was stupid enough to come within earshot. However, I was an imposter. I knew I couldn't let my true feelings show, especially with the amount of "Yankees suck" paraphernalia scattered about Yawkey Way and Landsdowne. I knew to keep my true feelings hidden, but this was harder than you can imagine. If you don't know Boston or the level of intensity and devotion Bostonians show their sports teams, it's time for a road trip.

Keep in mind, I am and always will be a Yankees fan first. So, whenever the Sox would lose, I'd have a slight smirk or grin on my face the next day. It was almost impossible to contain myself when the Sox would always do the inevitable and knock themselves out of the playoffs. You see, Bostonians always believe "this is the year" and every year, save one, it wasn't. I was even confronted by a few of the more astute fans, curious as to why I was happy on the day following a Sox loss. So, while I enjoy the Sox and have attended far more Sox than Yankees games, it gives me great pleasure in saying, "ha ha - you knew this was coming, what made you think this year was any different?" Oh yeah, and one more thing - GO YANKS!!!