Baseball

Growing up, my mother wasn't much of a baseball fan so when it came time to pick sides she would (and probably still does) go through this process:
- Who is geographically closer? She loves the Tigers only because she was born and raised in Michigan.
- Is this team cocky? She despises the Atlanta Braves' "tomahawk chop" because it's "nasty."
- Is one team a big underdog?

If all else fails, just pick the team with the prettier colors.

Seeing as how I was, for no particular reason, a White Sox fan before ditching that poor-excuse-of-a-league (it comes as no surprise that name of the league that rewards overweight men who are no longer physically capable of playing baseball with a position that excludes over half of the game is "American") for their Chicago NL counterpart, the Cubs. My mothers love of the underdog has made me a Cubs fan.
It's no secret that if I wanted to root for a World Series champion I could have chosen more wisely (even with then-new franchises like the D-Backs & Marlins, both of which have already won championships), but at least they have been playing good baseball (minus the playoffs) the past several seasons.
This brings me to my main point: why I hate the Yankees.
As this offseason progresses, fans become aroused at the prospect of bringing in new players that are going to make their team the next champion. While everyone hopes to get lucky and get that special player, the Yankees don't hope: they expect and demand. It's as if they don't hope for anything - a strong lineup, a few all-stars, division championship->pennant->World Series victory. They expect it. The Yankees now expect to get CC Sabathia - not because he has expressed interest in joining the Yankees franchise, but because they are going to offer the most money. I can't really blame Sabathia for taking the money. In fact, I can't look down on a player because someone offered him $____ million more than the other teams, it's the mentality of the upper-level management of the Yankees that continues to irk me.
The Steinbrenners (George & Hank) are the cream of the expletive crop, only operating their franchise to win without regard for the sport itself. It's purely a business. George is notoriously unpleasant and has trained his son, Hank, to follow his footsteps.
Fortunately, the end of the tyranny is in sight with George's youngest son, Hal. He seems to be a pleasant man.
My mother probably doesn't know much about the Yankees, but if she did, she would despise them just as much as I do.

Thanks Mom.

Here are some quotes about Hank Steinbrenner.
Here is more confirmation that Hank is idiotic.
Here's a heart, from me to you.