The NO Network
By Jim Weihofen
I can't help but feeling joy that there is something out there that is angering George Stienbrenner. There is a petition on the web to ban the Yankees from the MLB. With the signature count nearing 4,000, this great day may soon be upon us. Just imagine if Jeter ended up in Tampa Bay, or if A-Rod finally found his way into a Red Sox uniform. Wouldn't it be great if Steinbrenner became only a horse owner (Then buy all the best horses, regardless of age or health, go 6-3 in the Triple Crown hunt, then get banned from horse racing...)
There are more sites devoted to Yankee-hating than any other baseball topic out there (really!), so how is it that Bud Selig hasn't authorized this petition yet? The petition is as follows:
To: MLB Commissioner Bud Selig
Dear Mr. Selig,
We formally request that you commit to a program in Major League Baseball that will ban the New York Yankees from competing in the sport. We are asking that the organization be placed in a lock-down state for at least three years. Why do we ask this? Our reasons are many. One, by continually providing work and exposure to known criminals such as Darryl Strawberry they actively erode the character and integrity of the game. Two, by signing outside contracts for services and endorsements, then funneling that money into player salaries, they make it nearly impossible for so many other teams to compete. Only a very few teams can afford to spend the vast amounts of money the Yankees do each season. They knowingly and wrecklessly drive costs higher each year in several categories, resulting in a severe lack of competition in baseball. Consider these two prime reasons, and then listen to the many other complaints we list. We hope you realize that the New York Yankees are nothing but a disease to Major League Baseball since they continually strive to be bigger than the game itself. The likes of George Steinbrenner must be stopped in their tracks, and a three year suspension by your office would send a clear message. If they can't play nicely, why should they play at all? If you so desire, we would be happy to go along with a longer lock down of 4 or perhaps 5 years. An eternal banishment from the game is not out of the question. Thus, we ask that you examine and consider the many names signed below and then act quickly in tearing down the destructive Yankee machine and restoring all that was once good and decent about baseball back to the game. Thank you.
3879. "Yankees destroy baseball by having the biggest payroll each and every year, and by a substantial margin. Also, the Yankees have an edge in competition because of the use of steroids by at least two of their players."
3853. "the 29 others should have the same chance"
Alright, Mr. Selig, you've solved the first issue that's poisioning baseball (steriods), now fix the other (The Yankees).
