It seemed like Halloween eve was a pretty scary night in New York City. A giant finally stirred at Yankee Stadium (for a third time this postseason), and the ghost of a great once again lurked in Madison Square Garden (also for the third time). But I can’t say for sure what it was like — I wasn’t even in the state. I was much more comfortable sitting in front of the television.
Before I go any further, let me tell all you New Yorkers that I’m glad I wasn’t in “The City” last night. I was much happier sitting in my cozy common room. I could only have been happier if I had been in Omaha or Milwaukee, tucked away in the nation’s breadbasket and far away from the Empire State.
I know what you’re thinking, and you’re wrong. I did not feel this way out of any fear or loathing. I’ve gotten over those. I was happy to be in my suite — and unhappy to be so close to New York — because I was torn over which Super Tuesday game to attend (not that I really had the option), but I eased my pain by watching them both on the big screen.
New York superfan Spike Lee got to choose between the World Series and the Jordan Revival, but he chose poorly. It was great that he auctioned off one of his two courtside Knicks tickets and donated the proceeds to charity. It was even better that the winner gave the ticket to the daughter of a fallen fireman.
I’m sure they both enjoyed seeing the Knicks defeat Michael Jordan and the Wizards, 93-91, but it wasn’t a pretty game. Hype aside, watching Jordan’s fair performance (19 points in 37 minutes, 7/21 FGs) didn’t come close to the drama in the Bronx (even for this Washingtonian).
From the first pitch from President George W. Bush ’68, the Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks put on the show of the evening.
It’s just scary how things seem to work out for the Yankees. After being down two games to the Oakland A’s in the Division Series, the Bronx Bombers stormed back to win the next three games (and the first two games of the Championship Series with Seattle). Faced with a similar situation in the 1996 World Series, the Yanks came back from two games down to defeat the Braves in six.
And the Yankees got a little lucky Tuesday night, sometimes at the expense of the Diamondbacks’ Damian Miller. I hear he’s dressing up as a major league catcher for Halloween. But not all of Miller’s goofs went the way of the Yankees. The missed pop-up that rolled foul and sent back the would-be go-ahead run was a freak play fit for the eerie evening.
And it’s just scary how good Clemens is. Was he comfortable on the mound? He sure looked like it after striking out nine and allowing just three hits and a single earned run in seven innings. And spooky saver Mariano Rivera was no treat for the Diamondbacks either. The Yankees pitching staff just turned the D-backs tricks back on them.
And if all that wasn’t enough, the New York Islanders defeated the Florida Panthers, 3-2 at Nassau Coliseum last night.