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In writing this post I must admit that I am a devout Yankee-hater and always will be. That being said I have the utmost respect for the history and tradition of the team and the stadium. I had the pleasure of attending a game there last year, and I can’t describe how it felt to sit in those seats and be where greatness had been. There was nothing special about the structure itself, in fact it was the most uncomfortable ballpark I have ever been to, but there was no denying the near holiness of those grounds. Yankee Stadium transcended sports. It was an icon to almost everyone for one reason or another, and with the continuing demise of most of the historic stadiums, Fenway and Wrigley are just about the only ones left, I am truly sad to see it go.

I watched the entire game last night, and while it wasn’t one for the ages, and in the long run meant nothing since neither team is going to the playoffs, it was still something I will never forget. The pregame ceremonies were very special with all of the former players present, and the interviews during the game were a rare pleasure. Normally I hate it when sportscasters talk through the whole game, but hearing the likes of Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra tell stories about their playing days made it one of the more enjoyable games I have ever watched. It was an opportunity that I am glad I didn’t miss.

One of the most surprising events for me was the newfound respect I gained for Derek Jeter after the speech he gave following the game:

If Derek Jeter played for any other team I probably wouldn’t hate him nearly as much, but having watched this speech and the ensuing walk around the field, I felt as if he was truly sad, and maybe even heartbroken, over the closing of the stadium. It is refreshing in this day and age of egos to see someone that may very well genuinely care about the fans and the game.

In contrast, his idiot teammates (read: A-Rod and company) were walking around pushing each other and cracking jokes like they were high school players on a victory lap. It showed their immaturity and their blatant disregard for the fans, and even winning. Maybe if the Yankees bought players that cared about winning more than about their paycheck they might actually win.

So once again goodbye to Yankee Stadium. The House that Ruth Built is being torn down, but the memories of those that tread there will be treasured in our minds and our hearts forever.