If it’s the money call it irreconcilable differences. If it’s the daily torture by fans and media call it mental cruelty. If you suspect that there is already a deal waiting in the wings call it adultery. Whatever you want to call it, Alex Rodriguez has begun divorce proceedings with the New York Yankees…and you, their fans.
This can’t end well for A-Rod, who is walking out on the Yankees but leaving more than $80 million in child support, the amount of money left on the final 3 years of his contract which just landed in the paper shredder. And now it really doesn’t seem much different than your typical boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl story…does it?
He told you many times how much he loved you, how much he wanted to be a part of your family. You heard him, but did you ever really believe him?
It was love at first sight in February 2004…right around Valentine’s Day in fact. You couldn’t believe your good fortune. The prettiest girl in school really wanted to go to the prom with you??? Together you were going places. You had your ups and downs, but you thought in the end your love for each other was going to pull you through. After all, money can’t buy you love…can it?
Of course, you’ll get another chance. You’ll have the chance to take him back. Maybe before he takes that last fateful step, before he signs the final papers and makes that phone call. You know the one. “Baby, are you sure we can’t work this out?”
But you laid down the law. Just like Gloria Gainor, you told A-Rod that if you “walk out the door, don’t turn around now, cuz you’re not welcome anymore.” If you go back on your word now, you’re inviting everyone to walk all over you for the rest of your life.
But now you start to wonder…were you to blame for this? You knew this might be a possibility. It was part of the pre-nup you signed, remember? And he didn’t keep it a secret. He hinted at it this past spring…if you don’t treat him better, maybe you won’t have him to kick around anymore. Maybe you could have loved him more, been more understanding when he was feeling troubled. He says he still wants to be with you, but you’ve had your doubts all along.
The timing is what hurts you most. You just had the best year of your lives together. It was a year you didn’t even think possible. Not after last year. You wondered if you could ever even look at each other again after that ugly affair. But you made it work for everyone’s sake.
And this year came the kids. They made both of you feel young again. The feelings were genuine and you thought this is what was going to keep the two of you together for the rest of your lives. After all, you saw the way he looked at them…little Melky and Robby. They couldn’t have looked cuter together, could they? And then of course came little Joba. It felt heavenly. It felt like family.
But this family started to fall apart. Your side of the family started using words like “transition period” and “patience” and all of a sudden he just didn’t feel like you were the same gal he knew and loved all these years.
And now it seems as if the last four years went by in a blink…so many memories, good and bad. Maybe you’re better off now. Maybe you need someone who you feel more comfortable with in times of trouble. And maybe he’s better off too. Maybe he’ll end up somewhere he’ll be truly happy. You’ll have to pick up the pieces a bit. You’ll have to figure out which direction you want to go now. And who knows, maybe you’ll feel differently about your ultimatum and think about how great it would be to get back together again. But you know one thing for certain. You may feel afraid, perhaps even petrified. But you will survive.
Emotion is for the fans, not the people who run the teams. And while Brian Cashman has as special a place as you do for the players who just brought home #27, he’s not going to let his heart keep him from moving the 2010 Yankees forward.
Did any of us really see this coming two years ago? Remember when Hank Steinbrenner was running amok, Joe Girardi was replacing Joe Torre, A-Rod was opting out and back in...
“I’ve said it time and time again, playing championship-caliber baseball starts with pitching and defense, and I think those two components were certainly the foundation for our success in 2009. I’ve always taken a great deal of pride in my defense..
“After the overwhelming public response to the historic achievement of our 27th World Championship, I would like to thank our fans for their highly spirited and remarkably steadfast support this season."
Okay, here's the story. Yes, I grew up a Phillies fan. I have never hid that fact from anyone during my time covering the Yankees (nine years and counting). But now the Schmidt has hit the FAN.
Brian Cashman has taken a lot of hits over the last six years. Now that he's built the Yankees into a pennant winner again he deserves some credit. Yes, there is still one more hill to climb.
Now it feels like October. The Yankees are playing for a trip to the World Series. It's been a while in case you hadn't noticed. They haven't gotten this far since 2004.
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It was love at first sight in February 2004…right around Valentine’s Day in fact. You couldn’t believe your good fortune. The prettiest girl in school really wanted to go to the prom with you??? Together you were going places. You had your ups and downs, but you thought in the end your love for each other was going to pull you through. After all, money can’t buy you love…can it?
