19) Extra Innings

Everything I’ve ever needed to know about life I learned from the 2001 New York Yankees. 

The 2001 Major League Baseball playoffs were unlike any other.  Just a few weeks before the playoffs were supposed to start, our country suffered through the terrorist attack on September 11th.  The world stood still.  Time was frozen as we were faced with the task of rebuilding New York City, rebuilding America, and rebuilding our lives.  We were blessed with countless brave heroes during 9/11, specifically the first responders.  

But even the heroes needed another hero.  One who could boost morale and lift the spirits. One who could unite the city, rally them, and restore hope.  

Insert the New York Yankees.

The Yankees had won four out of the past five World Series but if there were ever a year that they needed to win, 2001 was it.  They fell behind 0-2 in the first round of the playoffs. If they lost Game 3 they would be eliminated from the series.  Time was running out for both the season and the hope. 

And then a man by the name of Derek Jeter came up with what in my opinion is the greatest play in the history of baseball.  [The Yankees had a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the 7th Oakland had a man on first and the batter hit a line drive to right field.  The right fielder’s throw missed both cutoff men and it looked like Oakland would score easily.  But then came Jeter.  Jeter ran across the field from his position as shortstop and flipped the ball to Jorge Posada who tagged the runner out at the plate.  This changed everything for the Yankees.]  

Just when it looked like they were done, they battled back and not only won that game but the entire series as well.  The momentum was now on their side.  Now on the entire city of New York’s side.  New Yorkers are resilient.  New Yorkers are fighters.  New Yorkers would rally together and battle through this.

New York was destined to win this World Series.  New York deserved to win this World Series. 

I’ll never forget the words of a New York City firefighter during an interview: “They can’t lose. They have over 4,000 angels watching over them.”

It was their destiny.

But the Arizona Diamondbacks had different plans. Again after falling behind 0-2, the Yankees would win games 3-5 in dramatic fashion.  It was an exciting series full of extra innings and late night, come from behind, walk off wins. After Arizona won Game 6,  it came down to Game Seven.  Whoever won this game would win the World Series.  The Yanks were up 1-0 going into the Bottom of the Ninth.  Mariano Rivera was on the mound and like so many games before this meant an automatic win for the Yankees.  But things didn't go as planned.  Weird things happened.  With bases loaded and the infield brought in,  a light floater hit into the outfield grass gave the Diamondbacks the trophy.  

Every year the MLB puts out a VHS tape recapping the baseball season and playoffs.  The 2001 tape was titled Destiny in the Desert. (It can now be viewed on YouTube. Watch it-it’s so beautiful!) My cousin and I would watch this VHS at least once a week.  But after Game 5 of the World Series, the last game the Yanks would win, I would quickly press pause and turn off the VCR.   To this day we’ve never watched the end of the tape. We wouldn’t let ourselves see the hard parts, the sad parts.  We gave ourselves the happy ending that we wanted.  The ending we thought we needed.

But that was not their full story.

Now when I look back I realize the story of the 2001 Yankees is so much bigger than just the game of baseball.  They didn’t get to win the prize they dreamt of.  They didn’t get to hold up that trophy.  But I believe they will be remembered for far more. They will be remembered for their lessons on hope, courage, and resiliency.  They gave us strength and lifted our spirits. Those lessons last longer than a trophy.

John (a Mets fan) will never get to win that Oscar that he dreamt of. He will never get to hold up that trophy.  But I believe he will be remembered for far more.  He will be remembered for the lessons he taught on how to live and how to love.  And yes, those lessons last longer than a trophy.

Every part of me wishes I could watch my time with John on a VHS tape.  I would pause it before the hard parts, the sad parts. I would stop it before John had to go back to LA.  We would get our happy ending.  That was what was supposed to happen.

But that’s not his full story. 

It has been over three years since John’s been gone. And if you’ve been reading my blog you already know how much my life has changed during that time. And you also know that we’re just getting started. John continues to give me the gifts of hope, courage, and resiliency. He continues to give me strength and lift my spirits. While John did a lot in his all too short life, his biggest impact hasn’t happened yet. But I believe it will. I believe his legacy will last far longer than his life did. That’s why it’s so important to me to keep him going through comedy and writing. 

And I can’t lose.

I have an angel watching over me.