Never Apologize For Being Passionate About Your Team

I woke up today feeling actually optimistic about the New York Yankees. The first two games in LA were brutal, but all hope is not completely lost. The Yankees came back from down 2-0 in the 1996 World Series. We've got three games back in the Bronx. The Dodgers may leave Walker Buehler out to dry tonight to save their relievers for their bullpen game tomorrow. We've got Gerrit Cole lined up for a potential Game 5. Ohtani may not be 100%. So maybe, just maybe, this series is not completely over. 

But what I really to talk about is fandom in general. Look, I was very critical of Aaron Judge on Twitter Saturday night during the Game 2 loss. I said I hate him, he's a choking loser, should be booed out of Yankee Stadium etc. Was some of that probably a bit over the top and too emotional in the moment? Yes. Do I apologize for it? No. 

I will never apologize for being passionate about the Yankees. I said before the playoffs started that I cannot be held accountable for anything I say on stream or on Twitter throughout the postseason because I get over-the-top emotional and passionate in the moment and say things I regret the next day. But that's just playoff baseball and the roller coaster of emotions that come with it. Me during Yankees playoff baseball is like Kevin Durant on Twitter. 

But it all just comes from a place of loving the New York Yankees. The opposite of love isn't hate. It's indifference. And I will never be indifferent about the New York Yankees. My dad read me the Yankees encyclopedia when I was in the womb. I traveled around the country as a kid stalking the Yankees at their hotels. And now the Yankees have become part of my career at Barstool. I live and die with the Yankees and Survivor, and so when I scream about them and curse out the players and Aaron Boone, that's just because I want them to win so badly. 

The idea that you can't boo or criticize your team is INSANE. The people who boo are the ones that care the most. The ones who don't just don't care enough. As Derek Jeter said, "Fans boo because they want to cheer." I want nothing more than to cheer on and love Aaron Judge, but he's making it impossible. I will walk back saying that he should be booed during the pre-game intros. That probably won't help him get any better. But if he continues to fail in big spots tonight, then every fan is completely within their right to boo him and let him hear it. He's a big boy, he can handle it. If he truly cares about winning and knows what it means to be a Yankee then he should almost be insulted if he doesn't get booed. 

I'll say it again. The opposite of love isn't hate. It's indifference. There are times I hate the New York Yankees but that's only because I love the New York Yankees. And if you can't see that, then you just don't care enough.