The Empire Strikes Out

            It is not a good time to be a New York Yankee.  It has been seven years without a championship in which time not only have the Red Sox won two titles, but they came back from a 3-0 deficit (and losing in the ninth inning in Game 4) to beat the Yankees and advance to the World Series.  Not only are the Yankees second best on the field but they can not take a joke.

By now you have surely heard that the Yankees are building a new stadium.  As a joke, construction worker Gino Castignoli buried a Red Sox jersey underneath the new stadium last year.  The Yankees found out and, rather than letting the jersey stay there, spent approximately $50,000.00 to remove the jersey.

Even though this was unnecessary, the Yankees could have generated good public relations because they are donating the jersey to Boston’s Jimmy Fund, which raises money for cancer treatment and research.  Instead, the Yankees sourly have said they may pursue criminal and civil charges against Castignoli.

Memo to Yankees: Grow up.  You have no cause of action and no damage.  As Castignoli says, “Anybody with half a brain knows it was all done in fun.”  Try putting your efforts into beating the Red Sox on the field, not in the courtroom. 

Jeffrey Resnick