Proud to be an American Sports Fan…or Cute Boys in Short Shorts

We are a nation of sports fans. We cling to our allegiances tightly and wear our colors proudly. However, across these 50 United States, the same camaraderie that binds us sets us far apart from our foes. Yankees, Red Sox. Mets, Phillies. Jets, Patriots. Giants, Eagles. The list is endless.

Yet, despite our passionate love of sports, we rarely, aside from the Olympics, find an opportunity to unite our interests and cheer for our beloved Stars and Stripes. That opportunity is upon us.

The United States Men’s Soccer Team has, for those of us who have cared to notice, done us proud. As teams around the world vie for one of only 32 spots at the 2010 World Cup, to be held in South Africa next summer, our boys can book their tickets.

To be fair, I myself am not what some would consider a soccer aficionado. But (and girls you can back me up on this) the opportunity to watch eleven (or XI – to which, I recently learned, they are referred) cute boys in short shorts trot around a soccer pitch (aka field) is a welcome one. Besides, it scores brownie points with the ManBoy when you take an interest in his favorite sport. (I’ve recently taken to learning the names of the starting XI on the US Men’s team and he is very proud).

Aside from my ManBoy though, it is shocking how few soccer fans there are in this country. I mean, come on people! This is the sport that gave us David Beckham! {Sorry babe, you know he’s not my type}. But watching the game against Costa Rica last night, as these men represented us with their hard work and graceful talents, was inspiring. They are a team of relatively unknown stars, a united front determined to prove to their critics that the United States has what it takes to compete on the international stage. I can’t wait to see what they’ll achieve at next summer’s World Cup.

In the meantime, don’t take my word for it, (because Lord knows my analysis of the sport would be shameful) hop on over to the ManBoy’s blog for an educated and in-depth look at what’s taking place on the soccer pitch around the world. Enjoy!

Finally...

Let me just say that it's about damn time! Go Yanks! 0-8 against the Sox was enough...

In case you live in a cave, the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 13 -6 last night at Yankee Stadium, and yours truly was there to witness the glory!

(As was Bruce Willis...The Officer John McClane of Die Hard fame...be still my heart)

Needless to say, the ManBoy is not pleased...sad face (in other words cry. me. a. river.)

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

The verdict is in...It is official: I have the best boyfriend...ever! (duh)

We’ve all, at one time or another, been to a professional sporting event…No? {If you have not, I have nothing to say to you except, please get on that}. You may not know this but, I, despite my exceedingly girly tendencies, have a love for all things sports – sporting events, sports bars, men who play sports, etc. etc. etc. So, every spring, when the Good Lord graces us with yet another season of athletic hotties in tight pants running around a baseball diamond, I find myself just a little bit happier.

{That said, I am also a huge football aficionada, and the smell of crisp fall leaves makes me want nothing more than to throw on my jersey, park myself in section 4-D of the Giants Stadium parking lot, grill up some burgers, have a couple beers, and toss around a football.}

Nevertheless, my point is: I love baseball; a fortunate consequence of which is the thrill that comes with going to a baseball game! I can’t get enough – the hot dogs, the sausage and peppers, (the martini bar, if we’re talking about the new Yankee Stadium), the loyal, cheering (cursing, yelling, angry) fans, and the sounds of Frank Sinatra fading off into the night…nothing beats it.

Having been raised in the Tri-State Area by native New Yorkers and die hard Yankee fans, a love of pinstripes is nothing short of hereditary – a prerequisite, if you will, for growing up in this part of the country. As a little girl, we spent many spring, summer and fall (more than we do now) evenings in the Bronx, I in my Don Mattingly tee, my brother in a full Yankee uniform, and my dad, having usually just come from work, in a suit with a jersey thrown over his collared shirt. Those were the days.

My memories of that hallowed ground include attending Games 1 and 6 of the 1996 World Series, when the Yankees defeated the Atlanta Braves to win their 23rd World Championship, their first since 1978. This auspicious occasion marked the beginning of the Yankee glory days for those of us who were too young to remember the baseball greats of old. That team embodied a beautiful harmony of old world and next generation players including veterans, like Paul O’Neill (whose jersey I now proudly don), and promising rookies, like Derek Jeter.

Through awe-inspiring victories, disappointing defeats, walk-off home runs, record-breaking grand slams, and impossible catches, to The House That Ruth Built, we remained faithful. Now, in the words of the Yankees promo, “greatness has a new home”, and with it come new memories – the first of which I made last night.

The ManBoy, a Red Sox fan since birth, having previously been an employee of the Yankees Scoreboard and Broadcasting department (yes, you read that correctly), pulled some strings, and got us tickets to the first Yankees vs. Red Sox game to be played at the new stadium. {I’ll admit, despite the controversy surrounding the project, it really is a beautiful ballpark}. While the game, after two hours and 17 minutes of rain delay, didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped, there were a few glimmers of excitement over the course of the night.

In addition to back-to-back home runs hit by Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira, both my name and my face were put up on the big screens! The ManBoy, earlier that day, had called in a favor to his former co-workers and low and behold in the middle of the game we looked up and saw “Yankees Welcome Jaclyn McLean”. I was so excited (and of course I snapped a photo)! Later in the game, one of the camera guys, who had spotted the ManBoy, came over and got a great shot of my face (laughing and pointing at my Red Sox-clad companion) that was then displayed on the massive HD screen over right field! What a good guy!

Needless to say, losing aside, it was an incredible night and a great way to start building memories at the new stadium! Of course I thanked him profusely and I’m even considering forgiving his terrible taste in baseball teams…but we’ll see.

Their New House

The Enemy (what a cutie)

The Rivals

How cool is that?