CR Sports: Let's Go Yankees?

For all of Stephen and Matt's disagreements, there is only one that so strongly divides an entire city and parts of three full states.  While that second part of that statement may or may not actually be true, I'm obviously talking about the Mets/Yankees crosstown rivalry.  With the first of the two teams' annual meetings set to take place tonight, Matt and Stephen decided to dissect which offered more compelling reasons for fanhood. 

Note that this is not a debate about which team is better, in some rudimentary sense (although if it were I might note the Mets' superior win total so far this season), but a defense of the overall fan experience for either team.  Beyond the championships, why should anyone value being a fan of the Yankees?  Or, for that matter, why should anyone root for the Mets?  See what the writers of CONFLICT REVOLUTION think, and then weigh in with your own thoughts below.

Stephen, with the somewhat easier task of defending the most well-known baseball team in the world, leads off:  

Posted by Stephen:

The best reason to root for the Yankees over the Mets is tradition. I'm not saying the 27 championships are the absolute reason, but they factor into the long tradition of the team. Also factoring in is Monument Park, Babe Ruth (for the traditionalists out there, the best player to ever play the game), Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and this list keeps going and going. The Yankees, I think we could argue, are one of if not the biggest, greatest, and most recognizable name in baseball and perhaps all of American sports.

Outside of the tradition there is the expectation of greatness. The NY Yankees are expected to compete every year and are extremely disappointed if they do not. The Yankees give new meaning to the sports dynasty. 

Additionally, there's just the large nationwide support. The Yankees are the most popular team in Florida, a state with two of its own teams! 

Then there's the Boss. George Steinbrenner, who, in my humble opinion, changed the game for the better. He demanded nothing but the best from his players, but also demanded that they act like professionals who are being paid vast sums of money. Also, I think he was a net good for baseball and society. 

Finally, love us or hate us, there really isn't a middle ground and that, to me, means passion which is probably the best reason to enjoy sports - the passion of the fans. The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is likely the most dramatic in all of sports.  And that's why it's great to be a Yankees fan.

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