Law Outside the Box

Yes, I admit it.  I’m a Yankees fan!  Most of my friends, family and colleagues know this.  But every once in awhile, someone learns for the first time that yes indeed I’m a Yankees fan and usually the response is disgust.

So why am I a Yankees fan?  I was born and raised in Minnesota.  I didn’t have any relatives or meaningful connections to New York.  How did this happen?

The answer to this question is difficult because when it comes to sports, my mind works differently.  I don’t tend to be a homer although I enjoy rooting for the Twins, Vikings, Wild and Timberwolves (for the most part).

In 1994, baseball was in the midst of significant labor issues.  At that time, I was 16.   While I had enjoyed watching baseball growing up, like many fans I was becoming disillusioned with the game.  This was also the point where Mickey Mantle went through his year-long battle with cancer.  I had been raised to believe that Mickey Mantle was just about the greatest player of my parents’ generation.  Something about his experience just registered and I began to follow his journey very closely (since there was no baseball due to the strike).

Around the same time, I was listening to a national radio show late one evening.  One of the speakers was discussing problems with baseball.  He said that with my generation, only around 20% of them could identify a specific baseball player as their favorite.  In addition, a significant percentage of baseball fans didn’t even have a favorite team. 

I could relate.  Again, I enjoyed the Twins but there wasn’t any one athlete that demanded my loyalty.  I collected baseball cards avidly and began to look through up and coming minor league players.  One player that caught my eye shared the same birthday (June 26) as me.  His name: Derek Jeter and he happened to be with the Yankees.

I had always respected the Yankees (in part because I hated the Red Sox) but I decided that once baseball returned from the strike, I would focus my loyalty on the Yankees.  As of 1995, the Yankees hadn’t even made the playoffs in 14 years.  But I felt like things were changing with Jeter and a few others.  And they did.  Quickly!  New York made the playoffs in 1995 before losing in the first round in a heart breaker.

As Jeter entered the majors full-time in 1996, I closely tracked his stats daily.  On June 26, I met him and got his autograph at the Metrodome.  As it turned out, he had a phenominal rookie year that ended with a World Series championship and him winning Rookie of the Year.  It was an amazing experience as a fan and there was no turning back! 

Yes, I am a card carrying member of The Empire and darn proud of it!

Growing up, my family loved to travel.  We would take at least one or two longer vacations a year and see many of the amazing sights from all over the U.S.  By the time I was 16, we had travelled through all 48 continental states.  From those travels, there are many highlights and memorable moments. 

If I had to rank the top 5 highlights from my travels, here is what I recommend:

1 – Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah): Never has a national park so captured my attention for its sheer natural beauty.  It is one of the most striking parks anywhere and is only a short drive outside of Las Vegas.

2 - The Holocaust Museum (Washington D.C.): It is not so much a museum as a deeply moving experience.  It is virtually impossible not to be emotionally impacted by the way this horrific chapter in world history is presented.

3 – Gettysburg National Military Park (Pennsylvania): No place better captures the feel of American History during the Civil War than this historic site.  It is worth the trip!

4 – Na Pali Trail (Hawaii): I love hiking.  This hike on the island of Kauai will give you the most unforgettable views of the Pacific Ocean high above while traversing through a native jungle forest.  An amazing experience!

5 – Glacier National Park (Montana): In every way, this is the idealized version of a national park.  The mountains are majestic.  The lakes are crystal clear.  This park represents all that is beautiful.

I’m always interested in hearing what others have enjoyed.  There are so many great places to see in the United States.  So don’t hesitate to share what your favorites are!