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Now just a damn Yankee minute . . . By Dr. Jeff Mirus | October 26, 2009 5:01 PM

No doubt you’ve noticed Phil Lawler’s absurd On the News entry, consisting of a cheer for the Philadelphia Phillies. This has nothing to do with his name. Phil lives in Red Sox land. I had a pastor once who introduced himself at his first Mass in our parish as being “from Boston, where God lives.” So you can see how they think up there. Anyone but the Yankees. It’s scandalous.

On the other hand, even at World Series time, I am proud to maintain that unbiased, clear-headed approach to reality which is the hallmark of CatholicCulture.org. I am rooting for the Yankees, but only because it is so eminently sensible.

This has nothing to do with the fact that I grew up in the 1950’s and early 1960’s near Buffalo, New York when there was only one New York team. After all, Buffalo is a long way from New York City. I barely noticed during those years that people like Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Roger Maris where active on the Yankees’ roster, and that the inimitable Casey Stengel was managing. I can hardly remember their names after fifty or so years. As for Whitey Ford, Tony Kubek, and Bobby Richardson, well, I don’t even recall whom they played for.

Nor does this have anything to do with the fact that, during my formative years for baseball (age 8 through 15), the Yankees played in seven out of eight World Series and won four of them. And no, I did not have a transistor radio plugged into my ear during the school day on October 16, 1962. It was my freshman year in high school and, sure, the Yankees did hold on to beat San Francisco one nothing in game 7. But you wouldn’t have caught me listening in, if you see what I mean.

So, Phil, give it a rest. Some of us have standards.

Jeffrey Mirus - President of CatholicCulture.org If you found this helpful, please support our work. Make a pledge or one-time donation now!

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Sound Off! Comments

• Posted by: thrice.try@hotmail.com - Nov. 04, 2009 10:30 PM ET USA

  It's hurting to see the Phillies losing tonight. They're doing all the right things...and NY is just too good. It will take a real miracle for the Phils to win...but it's not over until the last hit....

• Posted by: daughertyb6547 - Oct. 28, 2009 11:08 AM ET USA

  A plague on both your houses. A Cubs fan

• Posted by: robertcampbell_78332 - Oct. 27, 2009 7:52 PM ET USA

  The last person I knew who cheered for the Phillies was a Catholic priest who came from (where else) Philly. They were playing against the Toronto Blue Jays. Well, we all know what happened that time. (I'm from the Toronto area). This time around though, it's GO PHILLY!! Happy to see a little humor on your website. Things have been so grave lately.

• Posted by: stonewall2678 - Oct. 27, 2009 12:00 PM ET USA

  Since the Minnesota Twins did not make it, I am afraid one must choose the lesser of two evils.

• Posted by: DrJazz - Oct. 27, 2009 10:59 AM ET USA

  This is exactly what C. S. Lewis was describing in "The Great Divorce" when he portrayed the man who preferred to return to hell rather than give up the devil sitting on his shoulder! Repent now, and leave off the Evil Empire, before it's too late! Go Phillies!!! (This post not at all influenced by the fact that I am a rabid Sox fan . . . )

• Posted by: leila - Oct. 27, 2009 10:24 AM ET USA

  Pfffttt!!!