Ring Night @ Yankee Stadium

Yankee Legend Yogi Berra congratulates Joe Girardi for skippering New York to its 27th World Series trophy. It was ring night at the House That George Steinbrenner Built. Girardi has three rings as a player with the Yankees and now one as a manager. But Berra trumps him and the Fab Four of DJ, Posada, Mo, and Andy. He has 13 championship rings. Who is the Lord of the Rings, Bill Russell?

This one is from Ian O'Connor:

Jeter rose above the din, making the loudest statement with his quiet and dignified approach. His day started in Steinbrenner's suite, where the captain was the one current Yankee chosen to present The Boss with the owner's seventh championship ring.

Jeter, the Kalamazoo kid who spent a semester at Michigan, asked his employer to remove his Ohio State ring. Steinbrenner looked at his shortstop, pointed at him and said, "Michigan."

The Boss refused the request, removed his 2000 World Series ring instead, and tried on the new jewelry before Jeter headed downstairs to begin work on the next order.

I got goose bumps watching online the ring ceremony. The fly by the Air Force with the missing wingman, Kristin Chenoworth's singing of the American National Anthem, Hideki Matsui back in the house... incredible. I got teary-eyed too. I only get this emotional about three teams -- the Ateneo Blue Eagles, Liverpool FC, and the New York Yankees. Well, the Islanders too but they have numbed me to all the losing since their failed Drive for Five.

How about this? A warm reception and lotsa love for Hideki Matsui. I thought he'd stay as a Yankee forever. That standing ovation was incredible. It's 8pm and I'm still getting goose bumps. I feel bad that Mike Mussina and Jason Giambi didn't win a title with New York. But thanks, guys! As a long time Yankee fan and transplanted New Yorker, I am so appreciative of what you gave to the team. I'm not going to forget that walk-off home run in the rain against Minnesota that got you going in New York, Giambino. That was one for the ages!

Matsui finished 0-5 against New York as the Yankees beat the Los Angeles (can you make up your mind if it's Cali or LA?) Angels 7-5. Former Yank Bobby Abreu nearly did the team in with that monstrous Grand Slam! Good thing Mo put out the fire. Enter Sandman!