T H E D A I LY TA R G U M
IN FOCUS
OCTOBER 28, 2009
PA G E 7
BY TYLER DONOHUE — CONTRIBUTING WRITER
L
ocated in between New York City and Philadelphia, the University’s baseball fans are divided over which team to root for in this year’s World Series. All of the University’s campuses are likely to have plenty of people wearing dark blue, but it’s just as likely for many to be adorned in red — and not of the scarlet variety. The 2009 World Series commences tonight, when the reigning champion Philadelphia Phillies square off against the New York Yankees in a baseball bout that last took place in 1950. On the Banks, the battle lines are drawn, and the trash talking will be in full swing by the time Yankees ace CC Sabathia uncorks his first pitch at 8:07 p.m., commencing game one of the best-ofseven series in the Bronx. Located 68 miles northwest of Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia and 46 miles southeast of Yankee Stadium, the University is nearly equidistant between the two cities, rendering it a melting pot of frenzied fans from both ends of the spectrum. Point Pleasant resident Steve Avon has already noticed a change in the social climate at the University. “There is definitely a little animosity between fans,” said Avon, a Rutgers College senior. “North Jersey students are rooting for the Yankees, while those from South Jersey are with the Phillies. Even my house is split since we have a mix of both.” Phillies fans, especially those who cannot remember the team’s 1993 World Series run, grew up watching a team known for its futility. Prior to 2007, Philadelphia endured a 13-year playoff drought, but the franchise with the most losses in sports history reversed its fortunes in 2008 by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series. It was the Phillies’ second championship in 126 years of existence. Many of the young Yankees supporters have had the pleasure of watching their heroes hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy four times in five years, just a decade ago. Now New York attempts its 27th championship to reclaim
what they believe is its rightful spot atop the Major League Baseball pecking order. “Tension has been building on this campus for the past few weeks,” said School of Environmental and Biological Sciences junior Tom Reed, a lifelong Phillies fan from Cape May County. “It’s going to climax in the next 10 days, and it would be hard to bear if the Yankees won.” Students all throughout the University’s campuses can be seen wearing clothing representing their respective teams, School of Arts and Sciences senior Stacie Kaminski said. “Students are really representing their teams, particularly with the way they dress. I’ve seen a ton of Phillies and Yankees gear today,” said Kaminski, sporting a Sabathia T-shirt. “Both sides are very conceited about the subject, so I’m sure whoever does win will be very pronounced about it.” Cook College junior Kevin Karcich, a Yankee fan from West Morris who is attending tonight’s game at Yankee Stadium, is concerned about the potential fallout of a Philadelphia repeat. “Being that I live on campus with a large amount of Phillies fans, I’m terrified of the Yankees losing,” Karcich said. “It would be a long year here having to deal with them constantly bragging about the win.” Beneath the bickering and bravado of thousands of Phillies and Yankees fans, there is no shortage of subplots in this series. There are big-time pitching matchups, including a duel between Cy Young Award winners in the series’ opener and the return of Pedro Martinez. Enjoy the long ball? The Yankees and Phillies belted more home runs than any other teams in the game. Looking for star athletes? Combined, the Yankees and Phillies’ regular position players — 16 in all — have been elected to an astounding 44 All-Star games while gathering 10 Gold Glove awards and five Most Valuable Player awards. The field is full of potential future Hall of Famers, most playing in their prime with a world championship at stake. “The series has a particularly special meaning with such a mixture of fans here
at [the University],” Avon said. “It should be exciting since it’s the defending champs against a team that expects to win every year.” The winner of this World Series immediately becomes Major League Baseball’s premier team and the favorite to win again in 2010. T h e University will be watching. The world will be watching. Game on.
GETTY IMAGES
GETTY IMAGES
Pitcher Brad Lidge of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates the final out of their World Series win last year against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Go online to dailytargum.com to cast your votes on who you want to win the 2009 World Series
GETTY IMAGES
GETTY IMAGES
The New York Yankees celebrate after winning the World Series in 1999 against the Atlanta Braves. They took home the title again in 2000 against the New York Mets.