Tuesday, October 10, 2006

"So you got to let me know..should (he) stay or should (he) go" (paraphrasing the Clash)...

There is no bigger story in New York than whether or not George Steinbrenner should fire Yankee manager Joe Torre or not. The Post in an exclusive story this morning says that Torre will not be fired while Mike Lupica of the Daily News says that Torre has to go. We should find out today when the Yankees and/or Joe Torre will hold a press conference...

The overwhelming majority of the fans want Torre to stay but the decision will not be made by a popularity poll. According to what I've read, the Yankees stand to lose about $30 million dollars for not being in the World Series this year. I went to a Modell's yesterday and saw racks of Yankee shirts and jackets that have already been reduced in price and will soon be tossed if not sold. If you owned the team would you keep a manager who hasn't won a World Series for you in 6 years despite having won 4 world titles in his 11 years as manager ? We're not talking about any manager. Torre is the most beloved Yankee manager in the history of the team. You say that he shouldn't be replaced because of that 4 of 11 record ? You think a manager with that kind of success can't be fired ? Read on...

A Yankee manager with better results than Torre was fired and long before the Steinbrenner Era. He managed a Yankee team that won their 3rd consecutive World Series on this date in 1951. He would win 5 consecutive world titles as Yankee manager, 7 titles in his 12 year career and he was still fired. Those Yankees fired the manager because of his age. In response to being fired, that Yankee manager said "I'll never make the mistake of being 70 again". His name was Casey Stengel...

Ten Timeline Memories...

1. [1845] The U.S. Naval Academy opens in Annapolis (MD) with 50 midshipmen students and 7 professors. Midshipmen study at the academy for 4 years and train aboard ships each summer (the1st graduating class was in June of 1854)...
2. [1951] The Casey Stengel led Yankees beat the New York Giants in 6 games to win their 3rd consecutive World Series (in Joe DiMaggio's last year before retiring)...
3. [1957] Lou Burdette's 3rd victory of the World Series gives the Braves the championship over the Yankees in 7 games...
4. [1973] The Mets beat the Reds in game 5 of the NLCS to advance to the World Series against Oakland...
5. [1973] Vice President Spiro T. Agnew pleads no contest to one count of federal income tax evasion and resigns his office...
6. [1980] KC's George Brett hits an upper deck home run to give the Royals a sweep of the Yankees in the ALCS...
7. [1998] A New York judge awards $185,000 in damages to a former prosecutor who was falsely accused by advisers (mostly Al Sharpton) of Tawana Brawley of taking part in the alleged (mostly by Al Sharpton) rape of Brawley...
8. [1999] The Red Sox force a deciding 5th game with Cleveland in their 1st round AL playoff series with a 23 (3 touchdowns and a safety) - 7 win. It's the most runs ever scored in a postseason game...
9. [2003] Rush Limbaugh (was Jeff Christie when I was PD at KQV) announces that he was addicted to painkillers as he checks into rehab...
10. [2004] Christopher Reeve dies from cardiac arrest after slipping into a coma. The former Superman was 52...

"Happy Trails": 1981] Anwar Sadat is buried in Egypt...1985] Orson Welles dies at 70 from a heart attack...

Released on this date: 1964] "Leader of the Pack" - Shangri-Las...1970] "Tears of a Clown" - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles...

"Another opening, another show": 1976] The Meadowlands opens in NJ with a Giant loss to the Dallas Cowboys 24-14...

Joined at the hip: 1978] Steve Perry joins Journey as lead singer...

Premiered on this date: 1979] "The Rose" starring Bette Midler...

"Hanging up his rock and roll shoes": 1994] The Giants retire Lawrence Taylor's #56...

[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]...

Commentary...

"Happy Trails" to Tower Records which has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This is a sad day for all music lovers. R.I.P. Tower Records...

Thanks to David Hinckley of the New York Daily News for the following information (straight from today's Radio column): "Sirius Satellite Radio, which is under no FCC content guidelines, has aired the first commercial to feature a "four-letter" word. The commercial is for Sinus Buster, a hot pepper nasal spray. J.R. Gach, a longtime terrestrial radio deejay who has done Sinus Buster ads for years, this time calls it "the best s--t that ever was". It's inevitable that satellite radio will reach the point that HBO has and that's "anything goes" - no restrictions...

And finally this is my opinion on whether Joe Torre should "stay or go". He no longer can make his team drink the Kool-Aid and make them believe they can beat any team they face. He should go. Simple as that...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Brett Favre (he's 37 but plays like he's 137), Julia Sweeney (45), Tanya Tucker (47 but seems like she's been around so long, she's 147), David Lee Roth (56), Ben Vereen (60) and Peter Coyote (64)... Timeline Countdown: 12 days (counting today) until the World Series, 82 days until 2007 and 88 days until the NFL playoffs... ...