11/23/24
July 17, 2013
Classic Mo-ment: Rivera's final ASG flawless: Mariano Rivera's spikes crunched into the warning track as Metallica's "Enter Sandman" began its familiar strains over the public address system, accompanying the all-time saves leader for one last All-Star Game jog across the outfield grass.
Yeah, it was a great salute to Rivera. You can see the admiration and respect the other players have for the guy, which is so different than the charade generally put on for guys like Bonds and other tainte players. A player who is the best ever at what he does, along with being a class individual, is someing that will be seen less and less in the future.
As a Neil Diamond fan, I agree the "Sweet Caroline" overexposure is to the ridiculous point. Every time it gets to the "So good, so good, so good" part, I throw up in my mouth a little.
posted by dyams at 01:11 PM on July 17, 2013
Nice gesture in the handshake line at the end of the game when Joe Nathan handed the game ball to Rivera. Rivera is one of those people whose photograph suffices as the dictionary definition of "class".
posted by Howard_T at 03:29 PM on July 17, 2013
It's too bad he couldn't have played for a different team. He doesn't deserve that stain on his resume'...
posted by MeatSaber at 06:42 PM on July 17, 2013
Has anyone in either the US...or Ontario...done a compilation of the players and managers that have come and gone from the Yanks since Rivera was first rostered?
posted by beaverboard at 08:14 PM on July 17, 2013
There have been 193 Yankee batters and 203 Yankee pitchers since 1995 (the year Rivera made the roster).
(The pitchers do not include batters giving pitching a try, like Nick Swisher, Wade Boggs, or Dewayne Wise).
posted by grum@work at 10:21 PM on July 17, 2013
I love the fact that Girardi was the catcher for Rivera's first save.
posted by dyams at 11:25 PM on July 17, 2013
"It's too bad he couldn't have played for a different team. He doesn't deserve that stain on his resume'..."
Oh MeatSaber, you expressed my feelings so well!
posted by billinnagoya at 07:34 AM on July 18, 2013
Yeah, those five World Series rings are blemishes on an otherwise stellar career.
posted by dyams at 02:02 PM on July 18, 2013
It's too bad he couldn't have played for a different team. He doesn't deserve that stain on his resume'...
Are the Yankees of Jeter, Bernie, and Rivera all that hateable at this point?
Besides, playing for the Yankees gave him opportunities others (Trevor Hoffman) didn't have. Take away playing for the Yankees, and the resume changes drastically.
posted by justgary at 08:44 AM on July 28, 2013
It was a magnificent moment, and living in an area surrounded by Yanks haters, I want the Yankees to have a lead entering the ninth as often as possible in late fall, so I can get a few last glimpses of Rivera before it's over. And maybe a latter day Updike to write a piece for the New Yorker about his final appearance.
A particularly apt line from the linked piece: flushing away Neil Diamond's on-field rendition of "Sweet Caroline"
That musical interlude was insufferable. I so wish the singer's name was Neil Wicket, so he could go torture cricket fans instead.