If I Can Make It There, I’ll Make It Anywhere
Posted: September 22nd, 2008 | Author: Rob | Filed under: General, Sports | CommentsAt a certain point in every man’s life, there is a realization that people are going to remember you (or not remember you) for the things you’ve done and for the things you’ve left behind. Your legacy is largely based on what you have done, but also on the places you resided, the events you participated in, the people you surrounded yourself with. I guess I’m trying to say that to me, legacy and personal tradition go hand in hand. No, tradition may not have a score or a finite value attached to it like legacy usually does, but it is just as meaningful. As I get older, I’m understanding that sometimes it’s better for things to not change, for things to always be the way they are.
Tonight was the final game played at Yankee Stadium, the home of the New York Yankees. I traveled to New York City over the summer with my Dad for the sole purpose of seeing the stadium one last time. My Dad didn’t grow up in New York and was never a fan of the Yankees, but I’ve come to the understanding of why he was so adamant about going to see it. The Yankees represent tradition and history, maybe more so than any other franchise in all of sports. There is a certain bond that forms between large cities and their teams. Maybe it’s due to the sheer number of people who are all hoping for the same outcome, or maybe it’s the fact that for those two or three hours, we are all together and enjoying ourselves; we see our team as almost another family member. Of course, we don’t literally live and die with their wins and losses, but it sure comes close. How else would you describe the emptiness that a hard loss brings, or the sheer joy that comes from a great win? The New York Yankees, and Yankee Stadium, are a wonderful example of the greatness of sports, and tradition. One of my favorite stories of any Yankee is that of Derek Jeter. Long time Yankees PA Announcer Bob Sheppard fell ill over the past year and has been unable to announce this season. Rather than have the substitute announcer introduce his at bats, Jeter requested that the tape of Bob Sheppard doing it in years past be played. This is certainly no big feat or gesture, but it’s the small routines, the small traditions that make up the larger tradition.
After watching some of tonight’s ceremonies and honoring of former players, I couldn’t help but want to be there, witnessing it all first hand. I don’t know why it takes things like watching a ceremony on tv to get me to understand, but I’m starting to do just that. I can only hope that I am able to leave some legacy for my children and my family, but even more than that, I hope to leave them with traditions that they not only enjoy, but want to pass on to their own children. Maybe one day they will tell their kids about the hundreds of times their dad brought them to a Cubs game, and how much fun they all were, no matter how good or bad the team was, and how he would always buy them hot dogs until they felt like exploding. Whether it be landmarks like Wrigley Field or Yankee Stadium, or something as trivial as what I order everytime I go to Portillo’s with my Dad (chili dog with cheese, no onions, a large fry, and a large chocalate shake, please), I’m going to start embracing, and celebrating, the traditions of my own and those of the people around me.
Tags: New York City, New York Yankees
