I am by no means a Yankees fan. Like a true baseball fan I definitely respect the franchise and its history and what it means to the game, but I am definitely not a modern-day Yankees fan. That's why it almost pains me to say how much I am in love with New Yankees Stadium. The stadium itself sticks out like a billion-dollar sore thumb in the generally blue collar Bronx neighborhood where it looms. It towers over the burough like a gorgeous titan that is almost too perfectly pristine. And to make matters worse, the Yankees' PR staff is amazingly wonderful to work with!
I'm sure the staff and the Syracuse media also got a good chuckle and a heavy dose of frustration when they finally got to interview coach Bill Snyder. Snyder was asked if he had decided on a starting quarterback and would he be going back and forth during the game between qb's. He answered: Yes and maybe. Gotta love coach Snyder. We actually had a bet going in the media shuttle on the way to the stadium. We were asking for the over/under on how many times Snyder said the word 'youngsters' during his presser. The line was 3 and sure enough, Snyder said youngsters three times.
Being on the field at the stadium is really really cool. It's intimidating to look up into the stands and see all the seats and just imagine it being completely sold out. Totally neat. It's just kind of funny to see people still shoveling snow out of the seats! The snow is totally off the field but it's still in almost every part of the stadium; the last piece of preparation for Thursday's game.
It's almost a little strange that there have been very few questions asked about the game itself. Everyone is asking about playing at Yankee stadium and how Syracuse's coach Marrone gets to work in Joe Girardi's office. Very little is being asked which makes me wonder how seriously everyone is taking the actual game itself?
Unfortunately I couldn't make it to the Alumni pep rally today. It started around 1pm in Midtown Manhattan and if you've ever been to this city you know it takes a really long time to get to Midtown from the Bronx. So far though I have to say this trip has been absolutely amazing. I've learned that Brooklyn Heights (where my hotel is located) is a gorgeous neighborhood and that there's no such thing as dropping someone off quickly near Times Square. I also rode the subway for the first time in my life today! I feel like that's something to cross off a bucket list I've never written. Another thing I can cross off starts tomorrow at 3:30: covering a football bowl game being played at a baseball stadium. I can't wait, even though it IS Yankee Stadium.
