“The Yankees and Bob Sheppard were a marriage made in heaven,” said Paul Sheppard, a 71-year-old financial adviser. “I know St. Peter will now recruit him. If you’re lucky enough to go to heaven, you’ll be greeted by a voice, saying: ‘Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to heaven!’ ”

He may have never actually played for the Yankees, but he was in every way a start. It will be a shame when Jeter retires and his voice is no longer heard. It would be nice if they would adopt his “Welcome to Yankee Stadium” and play that before games. They must have a recording somewhere.

Here’s a video of the New Yankee Stadium. This is the first I’ve seen of it actually having an infield, as opposed to a dirt pit with construction scraps all over. Looks like it’s almost ready. Monument park in the old stadium has been disassembled.

I decided to take a look around NYC and make a few bookmarks. Enjoy.

Times Square

Columbus Circle

Empire State Building

Madison Sq. Garden

World Trade Center Site

Union Square

Rockefeller Center

Central Park

City Hall

On The Brooklyn Bridge

On the Verrazano Bridge

Yankee Stadium

Flushing Meadows Park (site of 1939-1940, 1964 World’s Fair).

Ed Sullivan Theater (Hello Deli is right next door).

Carnegie Hall (and Carnegie Deli).

NY Public Library

Grand Central

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Macy’s 34th Street

Flatiron Building

Port Authority

Interestingly nothing near the NY Stock Exchange is visible. It’s notably blacked out for about a block around. Same goes for the United Nations. I’m virtually certain this is for security reasons.

The media is nonstop with the parallels to 9/11, and for good reason (burning skyline, plane, Oct 11), but there are other strange examples of reliving history that come to my mind:

Empire State Building was at one point struck by a B-25. Also a brick building, which happened to survive rather well (larger airplane, larger building).

Thurman Munson had a somewhat similar fate, lack of experience and an airplane. Not sure if you need to be a Yankee fan for this to be the first thing you think of when you hear of a baseball player killed in a plane crash. I’d guess most would think of Roberto Clemente. But I’ve heard the story enough that it came to mind quickly.

It’s said Yankee contracts since Munson’s death require any Yankee piloting an aircraft to have a licensed instructor with them. Who knows what George Steinbrenner will do now. Perhaps ground the Yankees?

The other thing that went through my mind was that Seinfeld episode (The Boyfriend) with Keith Hernandez (of Mets Fame) where George (who goes on to work for the Yankees about 2 seasons later) asks:

You know Keith, what I’ve always wondered, with all these ball clubs flying around all season don’t you think there would be a plane crash? …

But if you think about it…26 teams, 162 games a season, you’d think eventually an entire team would get wiped out.

Just some random thoughts after watching the news coverage.

YANKEES WIN!!!

Most likely one of the more interesting games to watch. Exciting waiting for the Babe to come by and rape the Red Sox once again. Always fun seeing that happen.

The Red Sox are on the way back to Boston, where it’s 1918 24x7x365.

WOOT

Oh yea… Red Sox Suck