Terrific Gesture
The Yankees will play Virginia Tech in a charity game today, following up on their $1 million pledge to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund after the murder of thirty-two students on campus last Spring. The team also brought most of its stars for the game, and have compiled a big lineup for people to see. According to Bryan Hoch, the Yankees will wear Virginia Tech's maroon and orange colors on NY caps for batting practice, and those and their normal Yankees games caps will be auctioned off for charity. Say what you will about the Yankees, a corporation's corporation without question. This is far more than a positive public-relations ploy. It's a good, generous thing that the Yankees quite simply did not have to do, and the players seem happy to do it. I applaud it, and hope it in some ways contributes to a continued path to healing that many people are undoubtedly still undertaking at Virginia Tech.
According to Hoch, this will be the Yankees lineup to start:
Johnny Damon LF
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jason Giambi DH
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Shelley Duncan 1B
Melky Cabrera CF
Jeff Karstens gets the nod to start. As Mike Sommer says, this is a no-win situation for Karstens. Should he do well, he's succeeded against college kids. If not, he bottomed out against college kids and damaged his chances to become the Yankees' long reliever and spot starter. Still, the better he does, the better it is for him. This is a chance to impress, and he quite frankly needs it.
Speaking of kind gestures, Ty Hildenbrandt of Yankee Fan Club Radio and a writer for SI.com discussed with me the possibility of my appearing on Yankee Fan Club Radio sometime in the future. According to Wikipedia, it is the largest, independently-run Yankees live show podcast on the Internet, and they have had some big guests such as Ken Rosenthal and John Sterling. It would be a tremendous honor to appear there, and if it comes to fruition, I'll let you know beforehand. For those interested in this very good show, hop over to The Sommer Frieze and check out recent shows, or visit their website at www.yankeefanclubradio.com. It's really well done, and much of the banter is both insightful and really funny. Ty does much for the show, and "Uncle Joe," Ty's uncle, is a pistol. I'll keep you posted.
jason already knows this, but to you other readers, i listen to their show every sunday night. it's informative and a lot of fun as well. they have great guests and you can interact with the guys in the chatroom during the show.
they also make the show available as a podcast for those who can't listen live.
today all yankee fans should be proud of our team and our ownership for what's happing today at VT
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I know I am very proud of the Yankees. To give their time, on their day off, is more meaningful to me than any dollar amount, given by them, to VT. I hope the game today can help everyone in some small way, and I am sure it will be a moment I will think back on, when I have a bad day,and I will feel better.
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I am so very glad I got to see this game. To see everyone with a smile on their face, put a lump in my throat. The score didn't matter, as this game was about so much more. Loved seeing A-Rod sitting, signing balls, in the Hokie dugout. Whether your a fan of the Yankees, or baseball in general, today showed what giving of yourself can mean. Thanks Yanks, for taking the day from your daily grind to show some compasion.
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Jason!
Today's visit [by the Yankee team] to Virginia Tech was a great moment in Yankee history...
The singing of the "National Anthem", and then the release of the 32 balloons into the sky [in memory of the 32 students killed last April 16, 2007] was a very moving experience before the start of the game!
We should all thank the whole Yankee Organization... especially, George Steinbrener, for their generous support of this great cause, that will help keep alive the memory of the 32 students tragically killed last year!
I am very proud to be a Yankees fan !!!
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Also, Jason, I look forward to your appearance on "Yankee Fan Club Radio" !!!
Good Luck, on your future guest starring interview !!!
Jimmy
http://baseballtheyankeesandlife.mlblogs.com/
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Today was certainly a success, and I'm glad that it seems to have helped people in and around Virginia Tech. Steinbrenner's generosity was no doubt put to good use.
On the radio show, I'm not sure when, or whether, it will happen. Either way, Yankee Fan Club Radio is well worth listening to, a really well done show. There should be more like it, especially among Internet radio.
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