LIVE IN THE NOW!

Garth Algar, faithful sidekick and best friend to Wayne Campbell, once advised the Wayne’s World namesake to, “LIVE IN THE NOW!” I think Yankee fans should take the Aurora Illinois native’s words to heart now more than ever. The 2014 season is rapidly coming to a close.


The Bronx Bombers are on life support as far as Post Season hopes go, but they remain in the fight nonetheless. I will never tell anyone to give up hope on anything. Why would anyone want to give up hope? To quote another memorable character from the big screen, “Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things.” Andy Dufresne was right. The Yankees shouldn’t give up the ship…ever.

No, I am speaking of Yankee fans. There is one thing that we should be focusing on slightly more than whether or not the Yankees play in October…each and every play, at bat and moment that Derek Jeter has in a Yankee uniform. We seem to be so focused on what some of these new Yankees aren’t doing that we just might be missing the last chance to watch and appreciate the Captain. It doesn’t really matter if his last game is in late September or late October, his last game is fast approaching. It is almost unbelievable to think that Jeet will soon do something else on nights the Yankees play baseball.

Times and faces will drastically change when #2 hangs them up. The Yankees have looked and played a certain way for the better half of the last 20 years, but they will soon not be the Derek Jeter Yanks anymore…we better savor every second.  I know Jeter would not agree with my sentiment. I know he would say it doesn’t matter unless the team wins and they are contending for another World Championship...he’d be right, but like it or not we have to hold him above the team this time.

So many of those who grew up in the 1980’s remember those teams and what it was like to go to the Stadium to see a mediocre club battle their way to 3rd or 4th place. It was a dark time in the Bronx while they were partying in Queens. I don’t want to go back to those days, but we just may have to revisit them.

The Yankees and their fans have to enjoy the Captain’s last days and prepare for the post Jetarian life. Hopefully there is a blueprint in the basement of Yankee Stadium that shows the current front office how to build a team like the one that boasted names like Jeter, Williams, Rivera, Posada, O’Neill, Pettitte and Martinez. They should enjoy the celebration of a great Yankee and his Hall of Fame career and then get to work on the farm. Make smart trades, get younger and assemble a rotation of healthy arms. Let’s all live in the now.

Enjoy the Captain’s last stand. Maybe there is a final charge and some magic left to see. Let’s hope and appreciate the player and person we’ve called our Captain one more time…because times they are a changin’.

** Bob always seems to have a song for the moment doesn’t he? Thank you, Derek.**

--Mike O'Hara
Senior "Features" Writer
MLB Fan Cave Host, Season 1
Twitter: @mikeyoh21
   "Paulie was always my favorite player."

You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in history. Now shop at the Bleeding Yankee Blue store!  Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook!