The Bronx is Burning

[Shoalzie]

If I wasn't so Yankee'd out already with ESPN...I would probably consider watching that. John Turturro should be great as Billy Martin.

[Shoalzie]

Who are you trying to kid? You'll be watching.

You're right...I probably will.

[Rich Fader]

If I wasn't so Yankee'd out already with ESPN...I would probably consider watching that. John Turturro should be great as Billy Martin.

Probably won't have time to watch it, but I second that. Don't know enough about the guy playing Reggie to say how he'll do, except he kind of looks like him. Oliver Platt will probably do okay as Steinbrenner. I can't think of anybody else off the top of my head who'd do better. RACK whoever tabbed Turturro to play Billy. Absolute genius choice. He looks like the guy, he's got the edgy presence to play that redass...all he needs is the 'stache.

WAR "I didn't punch no dogies!"

PS: Rizzo, where is your semiliterate, Bombers-fellating ass? How the hell are you not the first in on this thread?

[War Wagon]

...there will never be another 1977 New York.

The Royals and Yankees staged some epic ALCS's in 1976, 1977, and 1978, that's for sure.

Of course, KC lost all 3 years, but of the 3 series, 1977 was the most exciting... and most painful for Royals fan to endure. I'll forever hate the Yankees and especially Chris Chambliss for pretty much ruining my adolescence.

But 1980 almost made up for that. That was some seriously sweet payback. The greatest moment in Royals history wasn't winning the 1985 World Series. It was when George Brett turned on a 98 mph Goose Gossage fastball and deposted it into the right field bleachers at Yankme stadium for a 2 run homer. The score went from 2-1 Yanks to 3-2 Royals and essentially clinched KC's first WS berth.

Sure, I'll watch and hope they have some good footage from that '77 ALCS.

[War Wagon]

Are you still going to tell me that baseball has grown in popularity since the 1980's?

No, because I don't believe I ever stated that it had grown in popularity, just that it wasn't dying. I still don't believe anyone or anything can kill baseball.

Hell, if anyone had the right to declare baseball dead, it'd be this Royals fan after the suffering we've endured these past 20 years. There's been times I wish it was dead, as the Royals fielded shit team after shit team year after year.

If it weren't for the memory of those glorious years, I would've turned my back on MLB years ago, but not baseball itself. Hope remains that one day the Royals will be competitive again. I think Dayton Moore has them heading in the right direction.

This is really a strange debate, Todd. If anything, we should be arguing opposite sides.

How about the ensuing riot after the '77 ALCS? Chambliss just leveling some kid when on the field while making his way to the clubhouse.

Yeah, I think he was getting mobbed by rabid fans as he rounded 3rd and he started getting worried he wouldn't make it home before he got tackled. Crazy shit. You'd never see that at a Royals game.

I remember in the 1980 WS at Philly during the clinching game 6, there were police on horseback lined up and down both sides of the field for crowd control. I remember thinking what idiots the East Coast fans were. I remember how in 1985 in game 7 of the WS at KC, there were no extra security measures deemed necessary. Midwestern fans did their celebrating in the stands, not on the field.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Big John Turturro fan, but that won't be enough to get me to watch.

It's really funny that ESPN actually thinks people west of NY really give a fuck about the Yankees (other than the strictly bandwagoning, gear-loving dipshits of course). Why should I, especially today, when better baseball is being played in many other cities? With less "talent" even?

The Minnesota Twins, Brewers, Padres, Tigers. Now those are some interesting baseball clubs to follow.

[Shoalzie]

I caught most of it last night...ESPN was being a little naive thinking the home run derby would've been done by 10. That thing has become a 3 hour event. Last night's was pretty cool with what Vlad did. I'd love to see them change the format and try to get as many people is in it as they can and just have one round. Give each guy 10 outs but have 10 guys from each league and just have the guy with the most homers wins.

Anyways, about the show...it was interesting. I was born in '81 and I've lived in Michigan my whole life...the story of New York City in '77 isn't exactly something I can relate with but I can at least appreciate the baseball angle. Was Reggie Jackson really that weird? I knew he had an ego but he just came off as a strange dude. I'll try to watch the show when I can but if it's on opposite of the Tigers, I'll have to pass.

[Laxplayer]

I read the book October Men about the 78 Yankees and it's pretty much the same cast. Billy Martin was a racist drunk who happened to be a pretty good manager. It seems that a lot of the Yankees at that time hated Reggie because of his ego/attitude. I never liked him. Read the Bronx Zoo if you want another pretty good book about that time. I was born in 64 and remember that 76-78 run. It was a great time to be a Yankee fan. As far as other people from around the country watching it, I think people will because they want to see the Yankees in a negative light and this just gives many of them ammunition.

[War Wagon]

I was born in '81....

Damn, I'm old.

Hey Todd, I caught the first half hour or so. Looks like they had that Chambliss walk off (run for your life) home-run off Littell occurring in 1976, not 1977, like I had thought.

Either my memory was bad, or they got some facts wrong.

[War Wagon]

nah, I'll never forget. That memory is seared into my brain. When I'm on my deathbed in the nursing home, I'll be mumbling something hateful about Chris Chambliss.

But I do keep strive to keep my facts straight.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Todd, I'm glad the show is so entertaining you're willing to discuss it with yourself on this message board. Let me know when it comes out on DVD so I can make plans to replace my coaster set.

[Goober McTuber]

I'm struck at the parallells between my own workplace experiences and the clubhouse turmoils of the late 70's Yankees. At times in this series I think I've labelled some of the people I've worked with as a Reggie-like character, or identified my own persona as being just like Billy Martin, or felt that some of those I've worked for are exactly like George Steinbrenner.

Hopefully you have a William Reedy in your life, as well.