Thursday, January 8, 2009

Why I Became a Yankees Fan

Many of my friends are astonished that I could like the Yankees when I did not grow up in New York or anywhere near it. But for me, being a fan of the game has been more than just supporting the team I live near. It is about tradition for me and my dad, which is why I was brought up loving the Yankees. My dad grew up in New Jersey, and spent much of his childhood in Yankee stadium, watching Roger Maris hit homeruns 58 and 59 and watching Mel Stottlemyre hit an inside-the-park grand slam, along with countless other classic Yankee moments. For my dad, baseball, especially Yankees baseball, is more than a sport; it's a tradition, a way of life. He is one of those fans that cares more about how the the team wins than how much they win. He believes in the pride and essence of the Yankees. Sure, he wants them to win as much as the next guy, but he wants them to win the right way. It is a philosophy that I can't say I always want to agree with, but it is one that I respect, for I agree that baseball is about more than winning, but about the game itself, and the memories and tradition that go along with it. My dad taught me what it means to be a Yankee fan, and for that, I am forever indebted to him.

Welcome!

Welcome to Stiny, Get Me a Ring! As you can see in the About Me section to the right, my name is Matt Hunter. As you probably also saw, I go the the best college in the world, Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. I am 18, but don't let that drive you away. I will admit that I do not know nearly as much and I have much less experience than many bloggers out there, but you are probably not here to hear about news and information. You are here to listen to a unique perspective on baseball and the Yankees. I will not spout extreme opinions or bash the actions of Hal, Cashman, Girardi, or any Yankee players. That is not who I am, and not who I want to be. If you have come here for a loudmouthed opinion blog that you can either praise or bash, I'm afraid you are in the wrong place. But if you are looking for the opinions, thoughts, and ideas of a true, everyday Yankee fan, who will bring a (hopefully) unique perspective to the Yankee nation, then you are absolutely in the right place. Enjoy and go Yankees.

Oh, and by the way, the name for the blog comes from homestarrunner.com, in case anyone was interested.