Play Ball!

• Deby has been following her favorite baseball team, the New York Yankees, as they claw their way up through the muck that is the playoffs. While Deby doesn't harbor any bad feelings or hatred for any of the other teams in either the American or National league (well, maybe with the sole exception of the Boston Red Sox) she is having quite a bit of difficulty understanding the intense hatred so many people have for the Damn Yankees. When Deby encounters a fervent Yankee Hater, she can't help but ask them "why?" The reasons boil down to the following:
  

The Yankees have bundles of unlimited money to fund their payroll account.

The Yankees scout out the best up-and-coming players from other teams and steal them away.

The other teams can't pay their players what the Yankees can, so their best players leave.

When the other teams raise the amount they pay their players, the Yankees just increase their offer.

I don't know about you, but Deby thinks these things define the very concept of Capitalism. Think of Corporate America. In particular, think of Microsoft vs all-the-other-companies-that-do-what-Microsoft-does:


Microsoft has bundles of unlimited money to fund their payroll account.

Microsoft scouts out the best up-and-coming "players" (CEO's) from other "teams" (companies) and steals them away.

The other "teams" can't pay their "players" what Microsoft can, so their best "players" leave.

When the other "teams" raise the amount they pay their "players", Microsoft just increases their offer.


Hmmmm. You can pretty much swap out the word "Microsoft" and insert any number of large, competitive organizations. The "players" are what make the organization successful. The largest, most successful corporations willingly pay the highest salaries for the best talent. No surprise there.


Now, Poor Deby is not a professional baseball player, but if she was I bet she would jump for joy if she received a letter in the mail from George Steinbrenner that said "We want YOU to play for the New York Yankees!"...

And, no matter what people say, Deby doesn't believe it's all about the money. Sure, making oodles of dough playing baseball for a living doesn't hurt, but there is just something about putting on those Yankee pinstripes. It's about playing for the team alongside the ghosts of all those legendary players.... Gehrig, Ruth, Dimaggio, Mantle, Ford, Durocher, Berra, Jackson ..... the list goes on and on, and it's still continuing today.

C.C. Sabathia fires in a fast one...


Andy Pettitte post launch...


Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez...


A-Rod about to hit one of his 500+ home runs...


So, until the Baseball Commissioner puts a cap on the salaries allowed to be paid to professional baseball players, Poor Deby says "Go Yankees! Go Capitalism!" That's the American Way.


Degree of Difficulty of the Day: A Grand Slam Home Run!

As a side note, Deby's husband, Dave, happens to be a Minnesota Twins fan. You can imagine the warm, fuzzy feelings going on in their home during the recent American League Division playoffs between the Twins and the Yankees. Poor Deby had to call their good friend, Jim, over to be the referee.... and here's the proof:

Now, can't we all just get along???

Cocktail of the Day:

all photos by Deby Alm http://www.flickr.com/photos/debyc/

Manhattan

3/4 oz sweet vermouth ("Vya Sweet Vermouth" if you're a N.Y. Yankee)
2-1/2 oz bourbon whiskey ("Crown Royal" if you're a N.Y. Yankee)
1 dash Angostura bitters
1 twist orange peel

Combine the vermouth, whiskey, and bitters with 2 - 3 ice cubes in a mixing glass. Stir gently, don't bruise the spirits and cloud the drink. Place the cherry in a chilled cocktail glass and strain the whiskey mixture over the cherry. Rub the cut edge of the orange peel over the rim of the glass and twist it over the drink to release the oils but don't drop it in.


Variation: No bitters. Substitute a twist of lime for the cherry and orange. Hold the lime twist in a lighted match over the drink and then drop it in. The heat really zips up the lime flavor.

Find this and more great cocktail recipes at: http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink580.html