My Retirement (Yankee Fan)

Sports is supposed to be a refuge, a resting place.  An escape hatch from reality where you can cheer the giants, jeer the defeated and celebrate comraderies of victory.  It’s a place of ‘home,’ with a feeling of belonging; the exact same elements that family elicits.  Pride, dedication, honor and acceptance.  And let’s not forget, bragging rights.

I’ve felt this way as a Yankees fan my entire life, remembering my first experiences; Reggie Jackson getting hit in the hip between first and second, his three homerun game, Chambliss, Mickey Rivers, the stability of Willie Randolph during the Bronx Zoo and of course the death of Thurman Munson.  Fasting forward to the horrible years, the 80’s, and beginning to understand the business side of sports leading to, not being upset when Dave Righetti was traded; he deserved it.  Then, a little over a decade later, the championships began rolling in – the most celebrated franchise in sports history.

Now there’s a resurgence, a renewed expectation of not just one WS victory but a dynasty in the making.  It’s possible and most likely probable.  The future looks bright.  What a great time to be a Yankee fan.

So, all that promise has made my decision that much more difficult but, with the thought hanging over my head for the past few seasons, I’ve decided, on this bright horizon, to retire as a fan of the Bronx Bombers.  Aside from my family and my childhood community, there’s no greater connection I have towards anything else.

The aforementioned memories are just a drop in the bucket of my lifelong experience as a Yankee fan but like all good things, unfortunately, they must come to an end.  With no regrets, the joys and heartbreaks were tremendous and like Gehrig – I’m glad I was a Yankee (fan).

Why now?

First, I’ll always wish my Yankees the best!  But fandom takes time, effort and dedication.  It’s an investment, mainly emotional and my decision to retire is partly based on that fact.  On where should I best invest my emotions, albeit joy and heartbreak.  Sports is entertainment but the world is real.  Sports is that escapism but instead of escaping, I’ve decided to confront and use my emotions to challenge what I was escaping from.  Why watch a game when I can read a book and gain knowledge.  Why tune in when I can teach and spread that knowledge.  Exercise.  Spend time with my family.  Learn.  Travel.  Listen to some music.  Etc.

As I get older, my time has become more precious.  I’ve established that I’m a Yankee fan but what will my true legacy be?  Not only do players retire, they change teams, a couple have even changed sports.  Direction, I’m changing my direction.