A year ago last night, we heard people cheering in our neighborhood as Barack Obama was elected president. It was wonderful.
Last night, one year later, we heard people cheering in our neighborhood as the Yankees won the World Series. I couldn’t have cared less.
I mean, I watched the last few minutes of the game on TV so I could see them win. But I really didn’t care. I’m happy for the city, but I’m not a Yankees fan. If I’m a fan of any baseball team at all, it’s the Mets.
Maybe it’s because my family is originally from Queens, like the Mets? Actually, I get it from my brother, who will always look back fondly on the 1986 World Series, when the Mets defeated the Red Sox. The Mets are the underdogs; they’re more interesting to root for, because they’re always losing. The Yankees are rich and can buy their way to victory and don’t need any more fans.
Of course, this also applies to Mike Bloomberg, whom I voted for the other day. But the Yankees are not running for mayor.
I’ve not yet figured out how the victory or defeat of a major league sports team affects the people of their home city in any real, tangible, material way. The Yankees’ win has not benefited me nor did their loss last year harm me. What am I missing?