My hometown newspaper (
The Dallas Morning News) today featured an interesting column by Tim Cowlishaw
(a decent enough writer) about the ESPN TV miniseries, "The Bronx is Burning", highlighting the 1977 New York Yankees. Though I haven't seen any of the episodes, with the characters Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner against a New York City backdrop that included some of the country's worst rioting and the notorious Son of Sam serial killer, it would take a really bad production to make this a boring story.
Mr. Cowlishaw writes with great nostalgia about the '77 World Champion Yankees and how cool it is to see the old television footage from that period in baseball. In 1977, I was in preschool so I cannot really recall that Yankees' team with fond memories. However, I too have seen the highlights and I understand the magic and the drama of that season.
If anyone has any interest whatsoever in this topic what they should really do though is read the book,
"Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bronx is Burning: 1977, Baseball, Politics, and the Battle for 
the Soul of a City" by Jonathan Mahler. One of the best historical books I've ever read, this book has more drama than any soap opera times ten. The book, which the ESPN TV show is based on, deals equally with the Yankees, the Mayoral race for New York City, Rupert Murdoch's budding media empire, the hunt for and the capture of David Berkowitz, the Son of Sam killer, and the blackout and ensuing riots that severely crippled a mighty city. It is a fascinating picture of
characters, lifestyles, and the real darkness that covered the decade of the 1970s. Innocence seems lost forever and the revolution and new ideas of the 60s seem to be wrestling with the materialism and selfishness that marked the 80s. The Son of Sam had the world's greatest city terrified. Crime and the riots in the city, particularly Crown Heights in Brooklyn, tell like a story out of some third-world country. The political manuevering and unlikely rise to power of Mayor Koch, along with the ruthlessness and business saavy of Rupert Murdoch paint the perfect cuthroat picture of what many of us envision New York business, life, and politics to be. And of course, the New York Yankees. The highest-paid, pre-madonna superstar in the game, Reggie Jackson, vs. hot-tempered, fan favorite, blue-collar manager Billy Martin with meddling owner George Steinbrennar in the middle. All of that drama and one of the most-high profile public sports feuds ever on national television and the Yankees still win the World Series in dramatic fashion. And how about the clutch hitting of Jackson? There's a reason he's called Mr. October.
If you know how to read, skip the television show. Tell Mr. Cowlishaw and everyone else to read the book. It's worth it.
Here are some great links on the subject, including a link to Cowlishaw's column.
You gotta love baseball this time of year! Or maybe you don't, but I don't care. This is for baseball lovers. The American League Wild Card race looks like it will come down to the wire:
WEST
Los Angeles Angels 77W 54L
Seattle Mariners 73W 56L - 3 games back
CENTRAL
Cleveland Indians 73W 57L
Detroit Tigers 71W 60L - 2 1/2 games back
EAST
Boston Red Sox 80W 51L
New York Yankees 72W 59L - 8 games back
As of today, the Mariners would win the Wild Card race, but things are so close that first and second place could switch before the month is over and all six of these teams have a shot at winning their division or the Wild Card. Even Minnesota is still in the Central race. And with the Tigers winning three of four against the Yankees topped off by a 16-0 win and a three hit, 7 inning shut-out by Justin Verlander, watch out for them to move up and take over first from Cleveland. And who really doesn't believe the Yankees will not find a way to make the playoffs? Hello Wild Card? And I did predict that Seattle would surge and potentially win the division. I may be right yet. That's just the American League...
