I didn't see Aaron Boone's ball land. I told my buddies that if we (The Yanks!) won in walk-off fashion that I would run out of Jake's Dilemma (82 Street and Amsterdam) out into the streets of New York ... in the awaiting arms of the overspill from Brother Jimmy's, Gin Mill and McAleers.
When Boone connected, I placed down my beer at the door of Jake's, hoised the smoking-hot chick who was, well, smoking outside, lifted her up 10 times, and leaped in front of the door at Jimmy's. Dustin Hoffman was long gone. Yeah, he was there, in the same dump in which I saw Dave Attell last year. I did my victory dance so fast that I was back inside Jake's Dilemma — with my beer — when Boone's shot landed. It was the most dramatic moment to the most amazing, tenuous sports series I'd ever seen.
Hell freezing over for the Cubs and Red Sox? How 'bout monumental collapses for both?
Boone's shot was the ending to the greatest sporting event I ever saw. Ten years ago, I would have said a Syracuse national title would have been most perfect, but we won it this year with a rent-a-player (Carmelo Anthony) and who knows how good we (Syracuse — National Champs!) would have been if Carmelo went to the NBA, like so many of his contemporaries? Whatever, let's get back to the baseball game.
And I stress baseball. That was unique drama, folks. Stomach up the throat, only to be relieved when a third out was recorded. Till Boone. Inning upon inning upon inning. And then this...
Guy in Millar jersey walking down Broadway: Can you believe we lost?
Me: What do you mean we lost? WE WON!!!!
... Then the guy said something about Jews, after which I thought about my late, great dad, whom a neighbor once regretted sponsoring for the New York Athletic Club membership because "Jews have their own clubs." Cunt bitch (now dead, and good riddance.).
When Boone hit the homer I wondered if it was the greatest ending to a sporting event in which my favorite team won. The 1990-91 Giants are a close second. I broke a fellow student's glasses when I sprinted down the hall in college and jumped on him after the G-Men's Super Bowl berth. I almost cried when Scott Norwood lined up for that fateful kick.
But this was the kicker. Stomach in my throat the whole week. Teams as even as you can imagine. But the Yanks won. Hey, they won! I had a whole song planned for this night, but we're all so spent. Red Sox, Yankees. Let's just celebrate baseball. As long as the Yanks still win.
"I had a whole song planned for this night..."
thats funny, so did i. right before opening pitch my grandmother called because her heat was out and wanted me to bring her over a portable heater... on the way over there 'benny and the jets' came on the radio and i instantly started singing along with 'red sox at the yanks'...
i then realized what i was doing and quietly made my way back home.
gotta say, my stomach was in my throat all the way to the end of the game. i mean, who would ever think? aaron boone hitting a homer in the 11th inning? its wild.
now im in work with my mostly red sox loving colleagues... heh heh heh... knew this would be a good day to break out the jersey =)
Posted by Frank J. Mattia at October 17, 2003 7:15 AM