Like many, I grew up hating the Yankees and rooting for anyone who played against them.  Even while I was living in New York, my feelings didn't change.  I was living in Manhattan during 9/11, and that year I understood how much it could help the city if the Yankees won the World Series.  It's just sports, but people were hurting and they needed something positive to happen in their lives.  The Yankees were playing Arizona, which had fans that were probably the least deserving of a World Series Championship in the entire country.

            And I still rooted for Arizona, or rather against the Yankees.  Passionately.

            You see, I've never had the slightest inclination of rooting for the Yankees.  That was, until the Boston Red Sox of 2004.

            Initially I was happy the Red Sox won, if not just for the fact I wouldn't have to hear their fans whining about their cursed and downtrodden existence.  (Please, you think being a Boston sports fan has been tough?  They've had the Patriots and Larry Bird's Celtics.  You think it's been worse than being a sports fan in Cleveland, Seattle or Utah for the last 25 years?)

            While the self-pity could be irritating at times (and entertaining at others), the boasting and self-congratulation was insufferable.  I had hoped the Red Sox and their fans could win with dignity, but instead they celebrated like they were ... the Yankees. 

            So instead of just one arrogant bully on the landscape, there were two.  The two biggest payrolls and the two most annoying fan bases. 

            But here's the problem - there's only room for one villain.  And the Yankees were here first, so the Red Sox have got to go.

            So in a twisted way, I am hoping that New York puts Boston back in its place.  If the Johnny Damon signing starts another 80-plus year championship drought for the Red Sox, so be it.  You won't hear me complaining, although you'll definitely hear the Red Sox fans whining.  And that's how it should be.