In a classic “get off my lawn column,” the ageless Maury Allen ripped into AJ Burnett, Joe Girardi, and the pie throwing culture of the 2009 Yankees:
Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle are spinning in their graves.
The Yankees, winners of 39 pennants and 26 World Championships, have become the pie-in-the-eye team instead of the Bronx Bombers.
Sure they are hitting plenty of home runs and blowing away the opposition in their first season at the new Yankee Stadium but they are celebrating with cream puffs in the face instead of dignity in their deeds…..
Imagine still, a pitcher of little note pushing a pie in the bulbous nose of Babe Ruth, the stoic face of Lou Gehrig, the slick hair of Joe DiMaggio or the blond locks of Mickey Mantle.
What a load of bull. Firstly, DiMaggio, Ruth, and Mantle all had their own childish indiscretions that were splattered unceremoniously across the tabloids. Furthermore, as I noted when Michael Kay made a similar complaint, this idea of respect and honor as “The Yankee Way” is a crock. The professional atmosphere has never been about class and always been about money. Prior to the advent of free agency, players signed with the Yankees counting on their playoff checks. In fact, some took lower initial offers, knowing that they would usually be bringing home a World Series share as well. The veterans, very protective of their bonuses, did not condone any behavior that would cost them their money. The focus on professionalism was always about the bottom line. The Yankee Way, if we must use the term, is about money and winning. Period. This Yankee team is following The Yankee Way by winning more games than anyone else, and if they want to celebrate to build team chemistry, I am all for it.
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6 Responses to Cranky Maury Allen On Pies And The Yankee Way
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Conspicuously absent in Allen’s criticism are the first “modern” (post-free agency) Yankee champions, such as Munson, Reggie, Lou, Gator, etc. Something tells me the scruffy members of The Bronx Zoo knew how to have fun and create chemistry, and it worked out pretty well for them.
Babe Ruth wouldn’t have mind if it was hotdogs shoved in his face and if he was doused in beer. The game is supposed to be fun, and if you act like the stuck up suits of the decade how are you supposed enjoy winning and shrug off bad at bats. This team seems that a loss will not be the end of the world and can actually win a playoff series this year.
I had to laugh in reading that garbage! I am old enough to remember a few of those older players. You are right, it was about the money, Joe D said to one of the rookies (words to the effect); “Don’t mess with my money kid!”
Besides all the times they (Mickey, Whitey, Billy, Hank, and Mose) partied at the night clubs after games. there were many times they should have been put in jail…didn’t happen, they were the Kings of NY.
If it ain’t broooooook, don’t fix it.
It’s interesting, because the local columnists who tend to slant against the Yanks (Sherman, Lupica, Klapisch, Allen) have often remarked at what a “Joyless” place the Yankee clubhouse was to be in recent years. Girardi set out to change that, encouraging guys to play music in the clubhouse, and have their fun with the pies and whatnot. Now some of these same guys are complaining that they’re having too much fun.
Some guys just like to complain.
Ruth or Mantle being bothered by guys not acting with ‘class’ and ‘dignity’ has to be one of the stupider remarks by a sportswriter in a while. Wait-actually it kind of fits in well with a lot of what they write.
By the way, DiMaggio had a roommate whose nickname was ‘Goofy’.
This is rediculous! Seriously, does this old-ass guy think we don’t know the history of the Yanks?! Who the hell is he tryin to fool? Does he think we don’t know of the stories of the Yankees getting into bar fights, fighting in the clubhouse, etc?! Yeah, Billy Martin was one classy guy. Extremely professional. Yet he got re-hired FIVE time by da same owner who still owns da team 2 this day!
Secondly, are guys who come in supposed to suppress their personalities because there’s this supposed “Yakee Way?!”
Melky, Cano, Damon, and Swisher are jolly guys who like to have a little fun. So what the hell are they supposed to do?! Act differently while they’re at work?! This is exactly what caused all the tension in the Yankee clubhousethe last few years when players came in and couldn’t be themselves because of the rigid, dominating personalities of Jeter and Posada. Enough already. Some people just HAVE to complain. The Yanks are playin great, so there’s nothing tho criticize. Allen probably thinks Joba should B in the bullpen too… What a dumbass…