The Bronx is Burning........ Again

In 1977, New York City was in the midst of a year of chaos. The city was on the hunt for the Son of Sam, there was a citywide blackout, a brutal mayor's race and there was the beginning of a New York Yankee era known as the "Bronx Zoo". Jonathan Mahler in his book Ladies and Gentleman, the Bronx is Burning does a masterful job of painting the picture of that crazy year. With all that said, here we are 30 years later and ladies and gentlemen the Bronx is burning.....again. Now I know that there have been no blackouts in New York city, there is no mayor's race to be contested, and the closest thing to a crazy person on the loose throughout the city has been Rosie O'Donnell waiting in line at McDonalds but the New York Yankees are crumbling. The Yankees of 2007 are much different than those Yankees of 1977. George Steinbrenner is up there in age and a shell of himself from 1977, Joe Torre is a far cry from the combustible Billy Martin, and the only flash that resembles that of Reggie Jackson from 1977 is the drunk guy in the trench coat standing on Wall St. The burning that is taking place in New York is that of a much different nature. In 1977, while the Yankees were dysfunctional, they were dominate in route to a World Championship but in 2007, while the Yankees are dysfunctional, they are pathetic in route to an early tee time this fall. With three of there top four pictures over the age of 35 years old and unable to go past 6 innings on a consistent basis, an aging lineup, and a bullpen that makes Paula Abdul look stable, the New York Yankees are done. One can make the argument that with half the season left to play that the Yankees with their offense can make a comeback. While that argument may have merit, you have to look no further than the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, and Cleveland Indians to realize that this Yankee team is lacking in comparison to the teams that they will have to catch to see the playoffs. Relief pitcher Scott Proctor set his equipment on fire at Yankee Stadium this weekend and as crazy as it was it was also symbolic. As Proctor stood and watched the bonfire, Bud Selig and Major League Baseball had to sit in their offices and see that as the Yankee's season is going up in flames so is the season and ratings of MLB. The Yankees move the number in sports today. Whether you love them or hate them, people show up and tune to watch this team and if they are shopping with ARod's wife for new tank tops in October and not playing baseball then the American public will not be watching baseball. The Bronx is indeed burning again. The flames are different but it is burning and there is no water that MLB, Bud Selig, and George Steinbrenner can do to stop the fire.