The scene I refer to has Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons having a quiet drink in an East Village club and talking about Jazz legend Charlie Parker's rise to greatest. Simmons, truly one of the great actors ever, talks about how the phrase, "Good job." is the worst thing you can say to someone with talent. It means "ok". It means "fair". It means you wasted a chance to truly be great. I love that sentiment.
We have a similar sin being committed by the current regime heading up the New York Yankees, THE CHARLIE PARKER OF BASEBALL. When the late, great Boss was at the helm this past World Series fumble would have been might with a stool being flung at the heads of the GM, Manager, Star players etc... AND IT WOULD'VE BEEN THE RIGHT MOVE! Can you always win? No. Should you strive for that? YES! Especially when you have the talent to be great.
In recent years I've listened to Brian Cashman's monotoned excuse filled droning on sports talk radio. He loves to highlight numbers of wins, playoff appearances, signing this player or trading for that one. BUT he doesn't get it. He no longer has George holding his feet to the flame and demanding the best. No, he has Fredo Steinbrenner. The softer, kinder, gentler, zero baseball in his blood son of the MIGHTY BOSS running the show. He has allowed the "good job" mentality to drench the organization in mediocrity. Are the Yankees a good team...sure. Are they a great team? No.
Look, it's baseball. In the grand scheme of life, it's entertainment and we all need perspective before letting it ruin our day. But it does offer a lesson to us year in and year out. That's why sport is so relevant! It is the human spirit being pushed to be the best it can be! We unfortunately now live in a time when things are half measure. When being ok or showing up gets you a pat on the back. THE STANDARD OF THE OLD GUARD HAS FALLEN. The New York Yankees are an error filled 5th of that FACT.
What will change? Zero chance. It doesn't have to change. The money comes in. The Yankees are still the Beatles to fans across the world. The Jerseys will sell. The TV contracts will pay up. The hotdogs and beers will be a second mortgage at the Stadium...and being good enough...well, it'll just be good enough.
I know these aren't my Yankees. Mine started in the late '70s and ran through Jeter's last hurrah. When the Yankees were special to me. I still root for them. I think the world of Judge, Rizzo and some of the others...but they aren't a must see to me anymore. The sad thing is outside a select few...I don't see anyone who would watch that great seen from "Whiplash" and get the life changing message in it.
How haunting are Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel's lyrics now? And not just for Yankee fans...
"Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you..."
Band from Jersey singing for all that believe that "good job" is an awful thing to say to someone with the heart and talent to be great.
--Mike O'Hara
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @mikeyoh21
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